Chapter 124

After moving Rahar’s body to the safest place in the Grand Duke’s castle, everyone gathered, their faces marked by a shared sense of tragedy.

Before they had recovered the body and brought it up here, a tear-streaked Belona had claimed that Rahar didn’t have to stay dead, as Hayden would use his power of Absolution just as he had resurrected Panz. At her words, all eyes had turned toward Caldeon. Caldeon hadn’t responded to Belona, silently and carefully moving Rahar with Tearen’s help. Instead, it was Enria who embraced the still-shocked and dazed Roseanne, holding Belona’s hand and reassuring her that Hayden would use his Absolution once he woke up.

Now, having reached the bedroom floor—the most secure level of the castle—the group found some measure of stability in the hope that Rahar would not be lost forever. While waiting for Hayden to wake, a debate broke out regarding the jet-black gemstone containing the sealed God of Evil. The group was split over whether or not Enria should swallow the stone.

The spirits Windel, Eva, and Blizzan argued that since Hayden was the master of the oracle, his words must be followed. Conversely, Silri, Undy, Lonn, and Graum insisted that even if the words came from Hayden, they could not allow Enria to swallow such a dangerous object based on a child’s command. Lonn and Graum spoke from a place of clinical caution, questioning whether it was truly safe for Enria to store something so perilous within her body. Undy, who had received much help from Enria, and Silri, who shared the deepest bond with her, spoke out of pure concern for her well-being.

The humans, however, were unable to take a side. The primary reason was Caldeon. Since he was the one holding the black stone and was adamantly opposed to the idea, no one could effectively argue for or against it.

“It would be best to confirm the details once Hayden wakes up,” Graum suggested.

“He’s right. We need to check if it’s even safe for Enria to swallow…”

“It doesn’t matter if it’s safe or not. End this conversation,” Caldeon interrupted Roseanne, his brow furrowed deeply.

“Blindly refusing isn’t the solution, Caldeon,” Tearen noted.

“He’s right. There must be a reason why a child who received a divine oracle would entrust something so dangerous and important to his mother,” Belona added. At her words, a murderous aura flickered in Caldeon’s cold eyes.

“As long as I am breathing, Enria will never swallow this cursed stone.”

Caldeon growled that even if God Himself appeared and told him to feed the stone to Enria, he would shove it down God’s own throat instead. Enria instinctively glanced at Hayden, who was sleeping peacefully on one side of the sofa. She was terrified that Caldeon’s words might actually reach the ears of the divine.

“Caldeon, this isn’t a matter that can be decided by emotion alone,” Windel said.

“Exactly. In the future, another human like the black wizard might try to break the seal again.”

“If Hayden, the master of the oracle, chose to seal the God of Evil instead of destroying him, it means that stone must be protected as securely as possible,” Eva and Blizzan added.

Caldeon’s expression didn’t change; he looked ready to tear someone apart. When Eva suggested he consider the world’s peace that would come from Enria swallowing the stone, he responded aggressively.

“My woman comes first. What use is world peace if she isn’t safe?”

“Your woman can only be at peace if the world is at peace.”

“That’s why Enria is the priority.”

“But your son said she is the one meant to contain the sealing stone. Therefore, she has a duty to swallow it—”

“Shut up, Eva.”

Caldeon’s voice was laced with fury as he cut Eva off, prompting Enria to grab his arm. His face softened slightly the moment he turned toward her.

“This isn’t something we can solve by arguing amongst ourselves. Let’s talk about this again once Hayden wakes up.”

“There is no need to talk about it again. I will handle the sealing stone, so you don’t have to—”

“Exactly how do you plan to handle it?” Windel asked, frustrated.

“He said he’d shove it down God’s throat,” Silri answered for him, crossing her arms and shrugging. Windel frowned at her.

“That is disrespectful to the Divine.”

“I didn’t say it; your contractor did.”

“Even so, repeating it so casually is…”

“Everyone, stop. No matter how much we discuss it, it’s all for nothing if the man holding the stone won’t give it up.”

“That’s true. Unless there’s someone capable of taking it from him.”

As Windel, Silri, Blizzan, and Eva sighed, Enria reached her hand out toward Caldeon.

“Give the stone to me for now.”

Every eye in the drawing room fixed on the two of them.

“Hayden entrusted it to me, so I should be the one to hold it.”

“No.”

“I promise I won’t swallow it without your permission, Caldeon.”

“…”

“Give it to me.”

Faced with Enria’s firm and serious expression, Caldeon stared at her for a long time. Though he was being stubborn because he feared for her safety, Caldeon also realized deep down that Enria would likely end up swallowing it. What mattered to him was hearing proof that there would be no danger to her. He didn’t think Hayden would ever put his mother in harm’s way, but when it came to Enria, he wanted absolute certainty.

“Give it to me. I truly promise,” Enria repeated.

Caldeon continued to watch her. A heavy silence descended upon the room.

After a moment, Caldeon broke the silence by pulling the black stone from his pocket and placing it in Enria’s outstretched hand.

“You promised. You won’t swallow it.”

“Yes.”

Enria nodded to Caldeon, who was seeking one last reassurance, and stared down at the stone. The sealing stone, which shone like obsidian, felt freezing to the touch just resting against her palm. Looking closely, she could see the God of Evil—now tiny—moving restlessly inside the gemstone, searching for an exit.

A chill ran from Enria’s toes to the top of her head. The thought of putting the God of Evil, who never stopped moving in its struggle to escape, into her own stomach was naturally terrifying. Even without the promise to Caldeon, it was an act that required immense courage.

[It is laughable to even have this discussion when Hayden’s words are the words of God.]

Suddenly, Panz—who had appeared out of nowhere—spoke up. He was sitting on Hayden’s stomach in an arrogant posture, letting out a snort. When everyone’s attention shifted to him, Panz blinked his golden eyes, seemingly flustered by the sudden focus.

“What do you mean by that?” Silri asked. Panz’s darting eyes fixed on her.

[It is exactly as I said. Hayden is a part of God; therefore, his words are God’s words.]

“Hayden is a part of God?”

[No matter how much you all deliberate, in the end, everything will happen according to the divine will.]

Having dodged Silri’s question with another vague statement, Panz turned his head toward the window, his golden eyes wandering as if he were still uncomfortable with the collective gaze.

“Speak clearly. Don’t talk in riddles,” Eva said, her brow furrowing with disapproval. Instead of answering, Panz let out another small snort. Undy, who had been watching him closely, asked curiously, “By the way, Panz, why don’t you take human form?”

In the past, Panz had been a spirit who enjoyed his human form as much as Silri did. Even if he had been resurrected, his personality and preferences seemed unchanged. It was strange that he remained in the form of a tiny hatchling he clearly disliked instead of shifting.

“Is it because your human form is also a baby, just like your current form?” Undy asked, glancing inadvertently at Graum. Graum immediately frowned.

“A baby? It is merely the appearance of a young human. Besides, the younger a spirit’s human form appears, the stronger their power—”

[Tsk. If I could take human form, I would have done it already,] Panz clicked his tongue, cutting Graum off. [Since my resurrection in this body, I cannot shift at all. Likely, it is because Hayden changed my appearance to suit his own taste.]

“Ah.”

As Windel looked enlightened, Panz glanced at him with a slight scowl.

[It is a relief I do not look like a wild beast like you, though…]

“A wild beast? I am a tiger. It is Hayden’s favorite form.”

[That is my point. Fortunately, that child gave me the appearance of a dragon—superior to a wild beast—so I suppose I should be thankful for that much.]

Panz added that while he wanted to demand a human form as well, he was too afraid to even bring it up, fearing Hayden would make him look like a very young child, similar to Graum.

Graum raised an eyebrow at this, repeating that spirits are stronger when their human forms look younger.

Panz ignored Graum entirely, turning toward the window and yawning.

Enria and Caldeon exchanged glances, communicating silently about Panz’s claim that Hayden was a part of God. The fact that Panz knew this was likely because he had been brought back to life by Hayden. But the more pressing point was his statement that everything would eventually follow the divine will.

Caldeon looked annoyed by Panz’s words, while Enria felt a complex mix of emotions at the thought of having to keep the raging God of Evil inside her body.

‘Whatever happens, if swallowing this means the God of Evil can never return to the world, then perhaps that is a relief in its own way.’

Hayden would have to live in this world long after she was gone, so it was natural for her to feel anxious about the future. If her son could enjoy a peaceful and comfortable world at the cost of her own discomfort, she could endure anything, no matter how unpleasant.

‘Right. He even said the reason I exist is to swallow this.’

Enria had told Caldeon she wouldn’t swallow the stone without his permission, but she resolved in her heart that the moment Hayden woke up and said it must be done, she would swallow it without a second thought.