Irene Decided to Die - Chapter 15
The voice of the Goddess echoed through the prayer room.
[It was because they did not know.]
“What did they not know?”
she asked, sobbing.
[That any color, by its mere existence, is beautiful.]
“But black hair and red eyes are considered cursed colors! How can such colors, by their mere existence, be beautiful?”
[True, in the past, those with black hair and red eyes were hated as descendants of demons. But that was a long time ago. After all, they are my children too. I wanted to correct that.]
“Why… Why did it have to be me?”
Irene collapsed to the floor, weeping. Tears flowed endlessly from her reddened eyes.
[Because you had the purest and cleanest soul, I believed in you.]
A soft and clear air enveloped Irene.
Yet, the tears would not stop. The resentment and pain stored in her heart only seemed to grow larger.
“You said I have a pure soul.”
Irene whispered, looking into the void. Through her blurred vision, she saw a flickering white light.
“Why must I suffer so?”
If she truly had a pure soul, should she not harbor such dark thoughts? That thought occurred to her.
[Irene.]
The goddess looked upon Irene with pity.
She believed in the potential of humans, but they had let her down. The precious child had already been hurt beyond repair.
[Go as you wish.]
“Do you know what I want?”
Bitter revenge. For those who caused her pain to suffer just as much.
That was all Irene wanted.
[I know.]
“And you tell me to go as I wish knowing that?”
[Yes.]
Hearing the goddess’s voice, soft yet firm, Irene caught her breath.
[Whatever you do, you are a child I love.]
For the first time in her life, she heard words of love and cried incessantly.
[The only atonement I can offer is this. I am sorry.]
At those words, she cried out loud like a child.
Her life, long neglected, filled her with sorrow. It was only now that she heard kind words for the first time, causing her heart, festering with bitterness, to ache.
Yet, there was a part of her that could not give up on revenge. The grudge that had built up once was not easily dissolved, and the goddess who had chosen her still filled her with hatred.
“I hate you.”
[I do not expect to be forgiven all at once,]
the goddess said.
“I hate you. I will never forgive you.”
And to such a goddess, Irene spoke as if making a vow.
After a long cry, Irene was finally able to calm down. She then looked at the space where the goddess’s presence had vanished and got up from her spot.
Her legs trembled, but by clinging to the wall, she somehow managed to stand.
‘I have to leave.’
Since she couldn’t stay here forever, she had to leave.
When she touched the corner of her eyes, she felt the warmth. The tears had dried, but her eyes were swollen, making it hard to see clearly.
As she struggled to move and was about to step out the door, strong hands caught her, preventing her from falling forward.
“Are you all right?”
It was Burt. Irene tried to compose herself.
“I’m fine.”
Though she said so, her body shook again.
Not a doll to be picked up suddenly. Swallowing her complaint, Irene relaxed her body.
She wanted to rest for a moment. But the situation did not allow her to relax easily.
“Saintess.”
One of the two high priests, who looked upon Irene with disfavor, stood right before her. He must have been looking for the prayer room.
As soon as the priests following High Priest Archcleric Roxon heard the term ‘Saintess,’ they looked this way. Irene had never enjoyed their attention, and involuntarily, her body tensed.
“Did you enter the prayer room?”
High Priest Roxon asked with a calm voice, a level of politeness Irene hadn’t imagined possible before.
“Yes.”
“Did you see the goddess?”
His rolling eyes carried a hint of skepticism. It was a look that doubted Irene could be the Saint, believing she had not met the goddess.
Hiding her trembling hands, Irene answered calmly.
“I did meet her.”
“You truly met the goddess?”
Roxon asked again.
“Yes, she was a gentle being. She told me I would make a fine Saint.”
“That’s wonderful to hear.”
The voice carried a hint of skepticism, but Irene chose to ignore it. Now was not the time to confront him.
“May I go and rest now?”
