Upon hearing Hames theory, I reflexively blurted out:
“That setting wasn’t in the original story.”
“…What?”
“I mean—no! I’ve never heard anything like that before!”
My true Feelings suddenly came out, so I quickly tried to cover it up, but I wasn’t exactly lying either.
In the original novel, it was only mentioned that Ceres possessed divine power—there was never any detailed explanation as to why he had it.
How was I supposed to know something the original didn’t even cover?
“An interesting theory, but if that really were the case, Mother would probably know.”
If it had anything to do with the family bloodline, then someone beside me—and arguably even more informed than the real Ceres—was right next to me.
When I looked at Ares. She shook her head.
“I’ve never heard of anything like that. And if I don’t know, it probably means it never happened.”
“Really? But isn’t there a legend about the first Hyperion using holy power to fight the Demon King?”
“A legend, yes. But even that story says it was holy power—not divine.”
She shut down Hames’ persistence with a cold tone and then turned to me, her eyes filled with worry.
“Why is it you who ended up with such a bothersome power? I’d honestly like to know that myself.”
“…Those Death Knights seemed to recognize it though.”
“Just the ramblings of wicked undead. Don’t give them any weight.”
Unlike us, Ares didn’t seem to believe a single word those Death Knights said.
She clasped my hand and helped me to my feet.
“I don’t want to talk about such unpleasant things anymore. If you’re done eating, let’s go somewhere else.”
“Where to?”
“To get you a gift—something to lift your mood.”
Her words made me feel both curious and apprehensive.
Curious about what she might buy… and apprehensive about just how much it would cost.
“This brooch is 100 gold.”
As expected.
Ares had walked into a lavish jewelry store, picked up a random piece, and the clerk answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
It was just a small brooch—but with a ruby embedded in it, the price was astronomical.
Even the store owner looked like he wasn’t sure she’d actually buy it.
“You may handle the merchandise if you intend to purchase. Otherwise, kindly leave it alone. Gems are sensitive.”
“…Do you not know who I am?”
“And who might you be?”
Unlike the restaurant manager earlier, this shopkeeper didn’t recognize Ares and wore a look of pure skepticism.
Instead of yelling, Ares calmly stepped aside and revealed me—who’d been standing behind her.
“You know who this is, right?”
“…Oh.”
The shopkeeper froze like his brain had short-circuited. Then—
“M-my deepest apologies! Countess Ares! Lord Ceres! My utmost apologies to both of the esteemed Hyperions!”
He practically slammed his forehead to the floor in a panic.
“P-please, take the brooch! Consider it a gift! No charge, I beg you!”
“I’ve already touched it. I’ll pay.”
She tossed a platinum coin—the equivalent of 100 gold—onto the counter.
Then she stomped the brooch underfoot, smashing it into shards.
“This shop doesn’t suit you, Ceres. Let’s go somewhere else.”
“…Okay.”
That was all I could manage to say, utterly overwhelmed.
Why buy something just to destroy it?! Was that 100 gold just a tantrum tax?!
Still baffled, I followed her to the shop directly across the street.
“Welcome, Countess Ares Hyperion! Lord Ceres Hyperion!”
“We are beyond honored to serve such distinguished guests!”
They must have seen what happened next door.
Every employee, including the owner, came rushing over, bowing at perfect right angles and showering us in flattery.
“If His Majesty is the sun of the Empire, then Lord Ceres is its moon! What a divine beauty—I could die right now and have no regrets!”
“Hm. Is that so.”
Apparently, the flattery worked. Ares’ expression softened.
“That’s right. Ceres is here, so find something that suits him.”
“But Countess, our humble shop surely can’t offer anything worthy of someone like Lord Ceres…”
“That’s fine. We’re only shopping for fun. Just find something that fits.”
“Then how about this?”
The owner cautiously brought out a sparkling necklace adorned with a diamond.
“It’s made from magically infused silver and high-grade diamonds, with a simple enchantment that lets it glow softly.”
“How much?”
“500 gold.”
“Cheap.”
Excuse me???
Ares said it was “cheap,” handed over 500 gold like it was nothing, and presented the necklace to me.
I was about to protest when—
“Here. Have this too.”
—another brooch was held out to me. This time from Hames.
“I’ll buy one too while we’re here. How much for this one?”
“120 gold, ma’am.”
“Now this is a bargain.”
She also tossed over 120 gold like it was loose change and pinned the sapphire-studded brooch onto me.
I was still stunned speechless when the money madness continued.
“And this outfit?”
“800 gold, ma’am.”
“Also reasonably priced.”
“Indeed. Even as a priest, I could afford that.”
They bought me clothes nearing 1,000 gold and then complimented themselves on how thrifty they were being.
Are they insane?
At that moment, I overheard whispers from the clerks nearby.
“Look at Lord Ceres’ outfit!”
“Unbelievable. Those are things we can’t even dream of selling.”
“That’s easily tens of thousands of gold combined. As expected of the Hyperions…”
…Wait. The casual clothes I wear every day? Those?
I mean, sure—I knew noble kids wore expensive stuff, but not to this degree.
This… this is the world of the ultra-rich.
“Hm. The sun’s setting.”
While I was still reeling from the sheer wealth being thrown around, Ares pointed to a grand hotel in the distance.
“Let’s stay there for tonight.”
“Can we just walk in without a reservation?”
It was easily the largest hotel in the city. I wondered if we could just barge in like we had at the restaurant.
“Why would the owner need a reservation? That’s your hotel.”
“…Sorry?”
“You probably forgot. I gave it to you on your tenth birthday. Look.”
She pointed to the sign above the building.
[Ceres Hotel]
That’s when I learned something new.
Ceres was way richer than I thought. He even owned a hotel, which had been a birthday present.
…Not that it matters much.
In the original story, he never even got the chance to use any of it before dying in misery.
What mattered more was—
“Ceres, will you bathe first? I could help if you’d like—”
“I-I’m fine! You go first, Mother!”
We were sharing a room.
I tried to book a separate one, but Ares insisted on a two-person suite. I couldn’t say no—after all, we were “family.”
Still…
“I’ll be going in first, then.”
She disappeared into the bath.
The sound of water running filled the room, and for some reason, it made me weirdly self-conscious.
“…What is this feeling?”
It wasn’t anything perverted—just… awkward.
Ares may think I’m her son, but I’m not. Not really.
I tried to shake off the weirdness by changing into something lighter, but halfway through, I gave up.
“…I need some air.”
Unable to handle the awkward tension, I slipped out into the hallway.
While I was pacing restlessly—
“Ceres?”
“Hames?”
We ran into each other.
“What are you doing out here?”
“Just getting some air. You?”
“Same. Let’s go together, then.”
She opened a window and beckoned me over.
I hesitated, then walked to her side and opened another window, sitting on the sill.
Then, something crossed my mind.
“When did you figure it out?”
I looked at her, thinking back to earlier.
“All the advice you gave in the Deathlands—none of it would’ve made sense unless you already knew I had divine power.”
She must’ve realized it already. And yet, she hadn’t reported it to the temple. She’d kept it a secret.
“…Hard to say.”
She didn’t look at me, her gaze fixed on the horizon.
“…But what about you? Judging by the way you talk, sounds like you’ve known for a while now that your power is divine.”
“I had a hunch, just based on how strong it is. But I’m not totally sure.”
She seemed to buy it.
“Well, judging by your actions today, you clearly didn’t understand it that well. You hesitated when dealing with the undead, like you pitied them.”
She didn’t press further, instead steering the conversation in another direction.
“Ceres, why did you pity them? Most people feel disgust and try to destroy them on sight.”
“…They were people once, too.”
It was hard not to feel pity. They’d once been loved, cherished. Now they were just corpses stumbling around, a grotesque mockery of life.
“I kept thinking… if I died and became an undead, would I end up like them?”
There was a strange sense of kinship. After all, I was kind of like them—a soul trapped in a borrowed body, stuck in a world that wasn’t mine.
Maybe the real me had already died.
I didn’t say any of that, of course. I just vaguely implied that I was afraid of ending up like them.
Hames was silent for a while.
Then she said, “Even if your body were rotting… I think I’d still find you lovely.”
“…What?”
She still wasn’t looking at me, and her voice was strangely soft.
“Are you joking right now?”
It was so unexpected that I laughed without thinking.
Just as I was about to ask what she meant, her expression changed.
“What’s that?”
“You’re the one who brought up weird stuff first! Don’t change the subject just because—”
“Look! In the sky!”
On reflex, I looked up. Against the backdrop of the night sky, massive winged beasts were approaching.
What the hell… giant birds?
Among them, one was clearly leading the charge—and riding atop it was a person.
Who was it?
As I squinted to make them out, our eyes met. And the person grinned wickedly.
“There you are!! Ceres, I told you, didn’t I?! Once you recover your wounds, I’d make you pay for what you did! And now I’m here to collect—so stay right there and wait for it!”
“…Red?”