A bitter silence continued to deepen.

Unexpectedly aware of a future I hadn’t foreseen, I was so bewildered that I couldn’t say a word.

“How is it?”

My silence, which had lasted far too long, was broken by Mew, who was waiting for my reply.

“Do you feel like moving now?”

“Is what you just said true?”

“The gods may not speak, but they do not lie.”

“…Then will things change if I move?”

“Perhaps.”

Mew did not give a definitive answer.

“There are countless paths in human behavior, so the trajectory may change the moment you move. But even I cannot know the tens of thousands of possible outcomes that might follow.”

It sounded plausible, but in the end, it meant that even if I stepped forward, Elihu might die, and there could be many casualties.

‘The moment I step forward, it will be revealed that I’m a saint.’

If I were to step forward and the future would certainly change, I would not hesitate.

The continent that has been waiting for the birth of a saint for decades would be in turmoil.

I might get caught between those trying to use me and those trying to kill me, and if I’m unlucky, I might die just like that.

No one will take responsibility for that.

‘…But still.’

I glanced at the fallen novice priests and soldiers in the annex.

The disparity between people dying where I cannot see or hear and dying before my eyes is great.

Hearing that someone has died hurts, but it’s quickly forgotten.

But watching someone die right in front of me, even a stranger, is shocking and terrifying, and it sticks in my mind.

And now, I was the key to stopping hundreds of deaths.

‘I have no choice…’

If I don’t move. And people die because of that.

Even if I hide the fact that I’m a saint and survive for a long time, that life would be painful.

Moreover, if Elihu dies, Levanfell and the Advent will naturally die together… Wait, what?

“No!”

I jumped up from my seat. As I suddenly stood up, Mew, who was quietly eating a cookie, was surprised and stood up too.

“What, what is it! Why not!”

I ignored Mew’s words and stomped my foot.

‘If Levanfell dies, my power will disappear too!’

If the emperor dies, a new emperor is crowned. Since Levanfell and I have no child, I will become the former empress just a few days after the wedding!

That’s not right! That’s not right! I can’t leave Levanfell to die! I haven’t even seen the entire Damascus Palace yet!

“Mew.”

I turned my pale, tense face towards Mew. Mew flinched and shrugged as our eyes met.

“Mew, I…”

“Ah! I understand! I understand! It’s not something to be that frightened about…!”

I was going to say I’ll help you, but Mew cut me off and took the initiative, then moaned as if very angry, tearing at his hair.

“Then… I… horse…”

Mew mumbled in a tiny voice.

“What? Mew?”

“…I’ll give you the holy artifact I hid.”

…Wow, look at this? There’s even more?

“You wise child! You’re really milking the god to the very end! How about it! I’ve told you the future, taught you how to use power, and even given you a holy artifact, so now you have a valid reason to move, don’t you!”

I didn’t ask for it, though. I was already thinking of stepping forward, though.

“Ugh. I was going to make a cool appearance with it later!”

“Mew. You are really amazing.”

“This is really the last! I have nothing else to give!”

Seeing the tears in the hamster’s eyes, it seemed he really had brought out his last resort.

If it’s a holy artifact imbued with the power of the god Semula, it might quell the destruction a little.

And since calling it costs money, I might even sell it later if I run out of money and buy a massive piece of land with it!

“…Okay. If you insist.”

I was already thinking of stepping forward, so I pretended to lose and lifted Mew onto my shoulder.

“You’re like a brittle child. You are indeed worthy of having my power.”

Having concluded our deal, we passed by the fallen novice priests and soldiers and opened the door to the annex.

And then.

“Aaah! Here, someone is dying here! Someone, please look! My husband…!”

“Move away! We’re moving him! Move away!”

“Kill them! Kill those infected with the plague first! Otherwise, we’ll all die!”

“Save me! Save me!”

“Let me out. I’m, I’m fine. My family… My family is outside.”

“Lord Elihu! Please! Please save my child! Sob.”

There was hell spread out there.

The previously peaceful annex was in chaos.

The air changed just one step after opening the door.

“What is this…”

Certainly! Here’s the translated passage:

The hall of the temple, seen directly below the star chamber. All the people gathered in that great hall were crying and begging desperately to be saved.

“It’s hell.”

Mew, looking down from my shoulder, seemed calm, as if this situation was familiar to her.

It was my first time seeing a situation where death had approached so close. The cries of people wanting to live were heartwrenching, tearing at my ears.

I didn’t know about all this noise inside the star chamber. Closing both eyes and ears had been disastrous.