Chapter 98

When they heard that Hayden could use absolution, the eyes of Caldeon, Rahar, and all the spirits widened at once.

 

“Absolution…?”

 

“Hayden, you can use absolution?”

 

“Baby can use it.”

 

After Panz murmured in shock, Caldeon, his face hardening, asked again. Hayden nodded brightly.

 

Silri stepped toward Hayden, cautious.

 

“Hayden, do you know how absolution works? For example, do you need something to use it?”

 

“Yeah. I need something.”

 

“What?”

 

“What do you need?”

 

As Caldeon and Silri asked at the same time, Hayden’s pitch-black eyes sparkled clearly.

 

Caldeon and Silri exchanged a look, then returned their gaze to Hayden.

 

Hayden extended his index finger, pointing at himself, and said with a sunny expression, “Baby’s life force.”

 

Everyone around them widened their eyes to the point of popping out.

 

“With your life force, you can save me?”

 

Only Panz showed interest, his red eyes burning.

 

“Explain in detail, Hayden. You need life force to use absolution? Your life force?”

 

“Yeah. Baby’s life force.”

 

“Oh my god…”

 

“Just a little. I only need a little.”

 

Hayden pinched his fingers together to show a tiny amount, trying to reassure the horrified Silri. Caldeon’s voice turned harsh.

 

“Whether it’s a little or a lot, any power that uses your life force is absolutely forbidden.”

 

“He’s right, Hayden. Abilities that consume life force shouldn’t be used. Enria would faint if she heard this.”

 

“But it’s just a little. With baby’s little bit, horn demon can be saved.”

 

“Nonsense!”

 

“Don’t just yell ‘no.’ Calm down a little, Caldeon.”

 

The moment Caldeon shouted, Hayden flinched at the unfamiliar harshness in his father’s voice. Eva soothed him.

 

“Exactly. You’re scaring Hayden. Explain calmly why it’s not allowed.”

 

“If I were Caldeon, I’d be agitated too.”

 

Rahar ran a hand down his face, muttering that he never would’ve imagined this.

 

“If he can’t, then what am I supposed to do?!”

 

Panz’s brows shot up, wild. Caldeon snapped at him.

 

“I’m not using my son’s life force to save your worthless life.”

 

“What? Worthless life?!”

 

“Caldeon.”

 

“Let him vanish, Hayden. He needs to take responsibility for what he’s done.”

 

Even as Tearen called him urgently, Caldeon continued, unrelenting.

 

“If he’s so afraid of vanishing that he’d let the god of evil devour him, then let him. That path is worse than vanishing.”

 

Panz grimaced, glaring at him. Caldeon didn’t hesitate.

 

“If you feel even an ounce of guilt, pay with your life.”

 

“He’s right. You devoured not only human souls but even the soul of fellow spirits. Why should you be saved?”

 

Before Caldeon even finished, Silri spoke sharply to Panz. He pouted, insisting the dark mage who fed him the spirit’s soul was more at fault. Then, shamelessly, he turned to Caldeon.

 

“Your brat—the child of the oracle—has the power to prevent my vanishing. They said it only takes a little life force…”

 

“Whether it’s a little or a speck of dust, I’m not giving anything to a creature that devoured souls left and right.”

 

“It’s not your life force!”

 

Panz yelled. Caldeon’s response was ice-cold.

 

“That’s exactly why. It’s my son’s.”

 

***

 

 

After healing Tearen and Belona, Silri explained the situation to Enria. Enria’s face froze.

 

A power that could resurrect the dead—on the condition that it required the caster’s life force.

 

‘That condition being Hayden’s life force.’

 

The realization hardened Enria’s face as much as Caldeon’s.

 

Then the fundamental question rose, the one she had wondered about countless times.

 

“But how does Hayden even know that…?”

 

Her temple throbbed.

 

‘Could Hayden also be someone who transmigrated like me?’

 

“Where’s Hayden now?”

 

“In Caldeon’s study. Caldeon’s been lecturing him for two hours to ensure he never uses absolution on Panz…”

 

“Rose!”

 

Enria stood immediately, calling out to Roseanne, who was discussing medicine with the apothecary.

 

Roseanne hurried over.

 

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

 

“I’ll explain everything again—go, quickly.”

 

Silri pushed her forward. Enria nodded sharply and headed toward Caldeon’s study.

 

As she climbed the spiral stairs, her mind churned: ‘If Hayden really is transmigrated like me, how do I react?’

 

If he had read the original, then the changed relationships—hers with Caldeon, Rosanne’s love for Tearen—would all be information he knew. Hayden might look poorly upon her attempts to alter the story.

 

‘No—he would have reasons too, being born as the son of the villainess doomed to die.’

 

Still, possibly—maybe—what if—

 

Her head filled with endless conjunctions as she climbed.

 

And all those messy thoughts funneled back into one thing: ‘That damned absolution ability that uses a child’s life force. A baby’s life force, no less.’

 

What on earth was the “god” thinking?

 

Even the fact that her child had been made the bearer of the oracle was baffling.

 

In any case, using life force was impossible—especially Hayden’s.

 

***

 

 

“Enria.”

 

“Mom.”

 

Determined to oppose absolution even if Caldeon agreed to it, Enria entered the study, her expression stiff—only to soften instantly at the sight of the two identical men smiling brightly at her.

 

Then she froze again when she saw two shadow-crafted copies of herself standing behind them.

 

“What… are you doing?”

 

“Perfect timing. Look at the form I made of you. How is it?”

 

‘How is it…?’

 

“Mom, how’s the one baby made?”

 

‘Hayden too…?’

 

Both pointed proudly at their shadow Enrias, asking whose was better.

 

Enria stared at Caldeon, speechless, then at Hayden with a look that said, Why are you doing this too?

 

“Let’s stop, Hayden. Nothing beats the real thing.”

 

Caldeon slipped an arm around her waist as the shadow figure behind him vanished. Hayden nodded and erased his as well.

 

She brushed off Caldeon’s arm and sat next to Hayden.

 

“Hayden.”

 

Caldeon sat beside her, prompting her silent Why there? glare. He caught it instantly and tugged her closer.

 

“I’ve been away from you too long. Let me recharge.”

 

Before she could respond, he pressed soft kisses to her crown, cheek, and ear.

 

“Wait—I need to talk to Hayden…”

 

“If it’s about absolution, don’t worry.”

 

Caldeon gave her an assuring look. When she turned toward him, he kissed her lightly on the lips.

 

“W-what…”

 

Her face reddened. Caldeon stroked her cheek.

 

“God gave Hayden his absolution power—and gave him life force different from humans.”

 

“…God?”

 

Confusion deepened.

 

God? Hayden’s life force being different?

 

What did that even mean?

 

“I know you’re wondering.”

 

Caldeon smiled.

 

“Hayden, show Mom.”

 

“Okay.”

 

Hayden nodded twice, then reached his hand out to Enria.

 

‘Hand?’

 

She instinctively took it. Hayden’s eyes sparkled.

 

“Look now, Mom.”

 

“Huh? Look at what?”

 

The instant she tilted her head—

 

Her mind flooded with infinite knowledge.

 

“—!”

 

Through Hayden’s hand, everything stored in Hayden’s mind poured into hers.

 

Knowledge of black magic, holy power, spirits, monsters—the oracle.

 

Every conflict of good and evil in this land, every mechanism of every ability—

 

An endless torrent rushed in.