Chapter 76 : Aftermath 2

“Ruina, what exactly is your true identity?”

I felt it—the moment I’d been dreading had arrived. I had hoped it wouldn’t come, but deep down, I knew it was inevitable.

After all, I had practically waved both hands and invited it to happen.

Looking back now, I’d been utterly reckless. 

Using demonic energy, wielding the holy sword… I had shown everything, both the abilities I knew I had and those I didn’t even realize I possessed.

It felt as though I had laid out everything about myself like an open book.

Perhaps the only thing I hadn’t revealed was my bare body. 

At least, that’s how it seemed to me.

And now, I was experiencing the aftermath, like waking up the day after a drunken spree—except this time, I remembered every detail vividly.

Everyone was staring at me with tense expressions.

Yeah, this reaction made sense.

If they had brushed it off despite what they had seen, I’d have seriously questioned the security standards of their sacred order.

Bliss spoke up, her voice firm and authoritative.

“From now on, each person will take turns asking Ruina questions. Ruina, please answer honestly and truthfully.”

One person would have been overwhelming enough, but five? My vision already started to blur.

Bliss, unbothered by my silent dread, turned to the hero and prompted him.
“Hero, why don’t you begin?”

“Um… I don’t really have any questions for Ruina,” the hero replied awkwardly, scratching his head. “Honestly, I don’t remember much because I was unconscious at the time.”

Good start.

“Alright, then. Agnes, do you have any questions?”

“Not here,” Agnes said, shaking her head. “There are too many ears in this room.”

She turned to me, her gaze heavy.

“Could you set aside some time later? I have questions to ask, but they must be discussed privately—just the two of us.”

Her stare was intense, as though refusing would deeply disappoint her.

How could I possibly say no to such a face?

“Sure,” I replied, nodding reluctantly.

Satisfied, Agnes looked at Bliss and said, “Move on to the next. I’ve said what I needed to.”

“Agnes, what kind of tone is that?!” Olivia interjected in a disapproving voice. Her tone was hushed, likely an attempt to keep others from hearing.

It didn’t work. Everyone heard.

“Hmm? Did I say something wrong?” Agnes replied, genuinely puzzled.

“You idiot…! That person is…! Never mind,” Olivia muttered, cutting herself off. Frustrated, she thumped her chest as though trying to release her pent-up annoyance.

Then, as though remembering something important, she froze mid-motion and glanced at me.

Our eyes met.

Olivia’s face turned flustered, and she fumbled over her words.

‘What’s that about?’

Her behavior was strange, as if she were deliberately avoiding saying something about me.

I couldn’t help but wonder why. What could she be hiding?

Then, a thought struck me.

Could she… have figured out my identity?

The realization sent a chill down my spine. My body stiffened as a cold sweat trickled down my back.

It felt as though spikes had suddenly grown from the chair I was sitting on.

As I sat there, tense and uneasy, Bliss addressed Olivia.

“Olivia, do you have any questions for Ruina?”

I swallowed hard.

Fear gripped me. What could she possibly say next?

I braced myself, preparing for the worst. If it came to it, I might have to destroy everything here and escape.

Demonic energy? Check.

Physical condition? Stable.

Good, I was ready. Bring it on!

I focused on her lips. What came out of her mouth would determine whether I lived or died.

Her lips parted. My entire attention zeroed in on her.

And finally, she spoke:
“I don’t have any questions.”

What?

“Really?” Bliss asked, sounding surprised.

“Yes, none,” Olivia confirmed calmly.

‘What?’

I was stunned. Her response was entirely unexpected.

But as I mulled over her words, realization struck, and my shock deepened.

‘She already knows!’

She must have figured out my identity. That’s why she could confidently claim to have no questions.

Her expression gave it away.

Mages share certain quirks—speech patterns, mannerisms, and so on. 

One trait stands out above the rest: the smug expression they wear when they’re confident they’ve figured something out.

Right now, Olivia had that exact look.

That irritating, condescending expression that seemed to say, “I know the truth, you ignorant fools.”

There was no other reason she wouldn’t have questions. If it were me, I’d have a million questions about my own body.

Olivia hadn’t been under mind control like the hero, so she must have clearly seen me using both demonic energy and divine power—two forces that should be incompatible.

Even I didn’t understand how that was possible, and I wanted to interrogate my own body about it.

For Olivia to have no questions could only mean one of two things: she was too dim-witted to think of any, or she already knew the answers with certainty.

As for why she wasn’t speaking up despite knowing, I had no idea.

A question lingered in my mind: How does she define me?

She didn’t seem to think I was a demon—otherwise, this whole gathering would have been disrupted long ago.

Despite my curiosity, I decided to let it slide for now. There were more questions to answer, and Olivia would need watching in the future.

As I mulled over Olivia’s reaction, Bliss turned to Artorius.

“Artorius, your question?”

“The magic Ruina used just before collapsing,” Artorius began, crossing his arms and fixing me with a piercing gaze.

“Do you know anything about the black energy involved in that spell?”

Black energy… he must be referring to the dark light that appeared when divine power and demonic energy merged.

“No,” I replied. “That was my first time seeing such an energy. 

If anything, I’d like to ask all of you what that was.”

Truly, I wanted answers. This was as new to me as it was to them.

If I had to name the biggest anomaly behind this whole incident, it would undoubtedly be that black energy.

This energy had been my undoing, rendering me powerless and dragging me along helplessly.

It felt… unnatural, as though it defied any form of resistance. It seemed stronger than demonic energy, and that’s what had allowed Kairen to overpower me and prevent me from destroying her magic.

Even though I eventually managed to overcome it, such a thing shouldn’t have been possible under normal circumstances.

Her magic had never worked on me before. Yet this time, it had. 

After pondering it for an entire day, I concluded that the black energy was the culprit.

The only difference in Kairen compared to before was her use of this mysterious power.

Which means all my suffering was thanks to that cursed energy!

The irony of the situation burned. 

As much as it had caused me pain, this power had also been a key player in resolving the incident—something I couldn’t ignore, given I had wielded it myself.

I was furious. Furious at the situation and furious at myself for not understanding it.

I had always been limited to using demonic energy. Suddenly being able to wield a blend of divine and demonic power? 

How could I possibly explain that? Divine power was an entirely foreign concept to me.

‘This doesn’t make sense…’

Artorius, however, seemed oddly familiar with this energy. As an inquisitor, perhaps he knew something about it.

If that were the case, I needed to extract the truth from him.

For the first time, my mental defenses—strong enough to fend off the likes of Lilia—had been utterly breached by her subordinate, Kairen.

This was a serious matter. I had to uncover the root cause to prevent such failures in the future.

“Understood,” Artorius said, leaning back. “Bliss, I have no further questions. Let’s move on.”

“Then it’s my turn now,” Bliss announced, her voice calm yet firm.

Finally, the last one.

I turned to face Bliss, only to find her looking at me with an unusually cold, piercing gaze.

Her eyes were sharper than ever before, exuding a detached and almost icy demeanor.

After a moment of silence, she closed her eyes, as though collecting her thoughts.

“Ruina,” she finally said, opening her eyes.

“Are you… a Hero?”

“No,” I answered immediately. The question was so far off the mark that my response came without hesitation.

“Then, do you have an ancestor who was a previous Hero?”

“Also no.”

There was no way I could have a predecessor. If you consider my spirit, I’m the first of my kind in this world.

“Then how were you able to use the holy sword’s power?”

“I don’t know. It just… happened.”

Honestly, I wanted to ask the same thing. How did the holy sword grant me its power?

“Can you use the holy sword’s power now?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Then let’s test it,” Bliss suggested, turning to the Hero.

She retrieved the holy sword from him and brought it to me.

“Here,” she said, offering me the weapon.

I gripped the sword’s hilt and drew it from its scabbard.

A faint schring sounded as the blade emerged, revealing its pristine white steel.

“Do you feel anything?” Bliss asked.

“No,” I replied, shaking my head.

Nothing. The holy sword, which had once radiated overwhelming divine power the moment I touched it, now emitted not even a faint glow.

I sheathed the blade and handed it back to Bliss.

“Strange,” Bliss muttered. “Normally, it should at least emit a faint light. Hero, would you draw it for us?”

Bliss handed the sword back to the Hero.

He drew it effortlessly.

“Like this,” he said.

The sword immediately emitted a soft glow.

Bliss observed this with her hand on her chin, deep in thought.

“Perhaps Ruina was able to use it because they are a Saint,” she mused aloud. “After all, Saints, like Heroes, are chosen by the divine. What do you think, Artorius?”

“I agree,” Artorius replied. “While there is typically only one chosen knight, if they cannot fulfill their role, someone else must take their place…”

“To replace him, one must wield the divine relic he used. It seems likely that the gods might grant temporary permission to someone qualified other than the Hero. In my opinion, that person is likely a Saint. Saints are the closest beings to Heroes in terms of divine connection.

Given that perspective, it’s plausible for her to have used the holy sword. After all, she, too, is one of those chosen by the gods. I’ll need to check historical records to see if anything similar has happened before.”

“Well, we mortals can’t fully understand the will of the gods,” Bliss said, her tone shifting.

“Alright, let’s move on from this.”

Oh, relief washed over me. 

Despite not offering any answers, they seemed to have reached their conclusion regarding the holy sword’s anomaly.

There was hope. 

If the remaining questions followed this trend, I might get through this unscathed.

But just as I began to breathe easier—

“Let me be direct. Ruina, I saw you using demonic energy.”

That statement shattered my optimism like glass.

“By principle, we would need to interrogate you for this,” Bliss continued, “but shortly after displaying demonic energy, you also wielded divine power—culminating in the use of the holy sword itself.

The fact that you could wield the holy sword is undeniable proof that you are a person chosen by the gods.

For this reason, we dismissed the suspicion that you are a demon and affirmed our belief in your devotion to the divine.”

I sat stiffly, my posture rigid as I listened to her words. 

Thankfully, it seemed they did not suspect me of being a demon.

It must have been the holy sword that tipped the scales in my favor. 

The holy sword is, after all, a weapon that only the Hero can use.

“So, can you explain this? Why do you wield demonic energy?”

She posed the question, her gaze piercing. 

I bowed my head, hoping to hide the anxious expression that threatened to betray me.

‘What… what should I do?’

My mind raced, searching for a way out of this predicament.

Truthfully, I had no idea what to say.

‘I don’t know the reason either!’

Even I didn’t know why I could use demonic energy alongside divine power.

In this situation, my only option was…

‘Lying.’

I didn’t like how natural lying was starting to feel, but I had no choice. 

Surviving this moment was my priority; I could figure out the rest later.

But how should I lie?

I pondered briefly before a thought occurred to me:

‘Do I really need to provide the answer myself?’

If I presented a fabricated explanation, it might invite scrutiny or slip-ups. Instead, why not let them find their own conclusion?

Raising my head, I donned the calmest expression I could muster and spoke.

“I am bound by shackles.”

“Shackles?” Bliss asked, her tone puzzled.

I nodded and replied, “After I prophesied the location of the Demon King’s castle, a heavy, unbreakable shackle was placed upon me.”

I drew upon reality, weaving an answer that sounded mysterious and allegorical.

“Before its destruction, the forces of evil unleashed a dying wail, and that wail reached me.”

I leaned into the style of prophecy, using vague, cryptic language. 

To an ordinary person, this might seem nonsensical, but as a prophet, I could make it work. 

Prophecies were often vague and abstract, after all.

“That dying wail became a shackle that binds me even now, consuming me bit by bit.”

I placed a hand gently over my heart as I spoke, giving the impression of someone burdened by an indescribable affliction.

With this, I left them to interpret my words however they wished.

I could see the weight of my performance settling over the room as everyone fell into deep thought, pondering my explanation.

It was Olivia who eventually broke the silence.

Her expression shifted as though she had reached a revelation. Looking at me, she spoke with conviction.

“A curse! Are you saying you’ve been cursed?”

A curse? That was unexpected.

I hesitated, not responding immediately. Honestly, I was too taken aback by her sudden conclusion to say anything.

But Olivia seemed to misinterpret my silence.

“Ah, I see! If I’m correct, raise your right hand,” she urged, looking at me expectantly.

“A curse?” Bliss echoed, her voice laced with curiosity.

Olivia nodded, her tone confident.

“Yes, I believe Ruina is under a curse. The dying wail, the shackles—it all fits.

At first glance, it might seem like magic, but magic doesn’t emit such sinister energy.

That leaves only one explanation… It’s a curse.”

“Hmm… cursed, you say. But if you were cursed, couldn’t you have just told us outright? Why speak in such a roundabout way?”

“I think it’s likely that the curse prevents them from revealing its details directly,” Olivia interjected, her tone firm. “They had no choice but to speak in veiled terms.”

At that moment, Artorius, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.

“If it’s truly a curse, that would explain much. It’s not unheard of for clergy members to become demons due to a curse. However, it’s curious that someone as high-ranking as a Saint would succumb to such a fate.”

“Could it be because the curse was placed directly by the Demon King? He was a being on an entirely different level from other demons,” Olivia suggested.

“A curse directly from the Demon King…” Artorius mused.

“Then answer us, Ruina,” Olivia pressed. “Have you been cursed?”

All eyes turned to me, waiting.

‘What now?’

I had spoken offhandedly, expecting them to dismiss it as a simple explanation. 

Instead, they had come to their own conclusion and were now asking for confirmation.

Cursed… it wasn’t a bad excuse. 

Unlike magic, curses often involve rituals and lack the precise structure of established spells, making them harder to analyze or prove.

‘And curses have an air of mystery about them.’

Yes, this would work.

Looking at their expectant faces, I slowly raised my right hand.

A gasp swept through the room.

“A curse on a Saint? Is such a thing even possible?!”

“Curse that wretched demon! Even in death, he seeks to corrupt the world?!”

Artorius’s voice rang out with anger.

“Was it impossible to lift the curse?”

“If it were possible, it would have been removed when I invoked Sanctuary earlier,” Bliss replied.

“Wait… Bliss, does that mean this curse is… unbreakable?!”

“That seems to be the case… Damn it!” Bliss exclaimed, frustration evident.

“Why such panic?” Agnes asked, confused. “Couldn’t a higher purification spell be used to break it?”

Bliss sighed heavily and explained, “Sanctuary is the highest purification spell we can perform.”

“There’s only one person capable of a greater purification,” Artorius added solemnly.

“Then summon them! Surely they can resolve this!” Agnes pressed.

Artorius shook his head. “That’s… not possible.”

“Why not?”

Bliss hesitated before answering, her voice trembling slightly.

“Because that person… is the Saint of Healing.”

Agnes’s face darkened at the mention of the name.

“But the Saint of Healing is…”

Bliss trailed off, leaving the room in a heavy silence.

As the atmosphere grew increasingly somber, I felt utterly bewildered.

‘What’s going on? What are they talking about?’

The unexpected turn of events had me completely thrown off. 

I had anticipated a casual acceptance of my fabricated curse explanation, but their reactions were far more serious than I had imagined.

I couldn’t understand their cryptic exchanges. Why was this such a grave issue?

The oppressive mood in the room weighed heavily on me. 

Seeing grown adults wearing such grim expressions because of my lie made me feel both guilty and uncomfortable.

‘I need to get out of here.’

Remaining here any longer might lead to more complications. I decided to make my escape.

“Um…” I began cautiously.

“Yes?” Bliss responded, turning to me.

“May I go check on Reina now? I was told she’s okay, but I’d like to see for myself.”

“Ah, of course! We’ve kept you here too long!” Bliss replied, her tone almost overly enthusiastic.

Relieved, I stood up and headed for the door.

As I walked out, I glanced back at the others. They were still deep in thought, their expressions serious.

‘I don’t know what’s going on, but… well, it doesn’t seem bad for me.’

With that, I opened the door and stepped outside.

Then I realized something.

‘Wait… I didn’t ask where Reina is.’

I turned to look back at the door. For a moment, I imagined the somber faces I’d just left behind.

I let go of the doorknob.

“I’ll just find her myself.”

Turning away, I began walking down the hallway.

“I really need to see Reina soon.”

More than anything, I needed her presence to heal my frayed nerves.