“Ugh!”

As soon as I opened my eyes, I took a deep breath.

I couldn’t understand the situation because the place that had been completely dark suddenly became bright as I opened my eyes.

[You’re awake?]

I opened my eyes in the same position I had collapsed in. Startled, I looked around and checked the time.

‘Only five minutes have passed.’

Fortunately, not much time had passed, so it didn’t seem like anyone had entered my room.

After the day I began calling the Duke and Clemens “Dad” and “Brother,” their attitudes completely changed.

Now, if I were to get slightly hurt, or seemed likely to get hurt, or even seemed dangerous to them based on their own standards, they wouldn’t hesitate to take care of me immediately.

‘They both worry too much.’

I was already worried enough about the two of them, and now, if they found out that I had fainted, who knew what kind of chaos would break out in the mansion.

‘But why is my body like this?’

It wasn’t just today.

I had collapsed on the floor feeling dizzy before Silver Serpent ran away, and even before that, I suddenly felt nauseous at the auction.

It would be understandable if this happened while I was living with Rebecca; we were lucky to get even one meal a day back then.

‘I’ve been eating well these days…’

Every day, the chef brings nutritious food, I even have snacks, and under Sofia’s strict supervision that children should go to bed early, I have been getting plenty of sleep. Yet, I still fainted.

‘Am I really not sick?’

Just then, Silver Serpent gracefully climbed onto the sofa. Sliding next to me, Silver Serpent gently tapped my wrist with its nose.

[That’s not it, mortal.]

“Huh?”

[It’s not what you just thought.]

I took a deep breath. Can this deity read other people’s thoughts?

“You, you can read my thoughts?”

[What are you talking about? I don’t even care about a mortal’s thoughts, let alone have a contract with one.]

“…Then what?”

[Your thoughts are written all over your face. You thought you were dying, didn’t you?]

So that’s it; my thoughts are that transparent on my face.

Come to think of it, the Duke always knew what I was about to say even before I spoke.

As I awkwardly scratched my cheek, Silver Serpent opened its mouth again.

[I thought about it while you were briefly unconscious.]

Scratching my cheek, Silver Serpent straightened its head and continued to speak.

[Let’s make a contract.]

“Why are you suddenly bringing this up?”

[I think I know why you fainted all of a sudden.]

Silver Serpent jumped down from the sofa. Then it climbed up the table leg in front of the sofa.

Meeting my gaze once again atop the table, Silver Serpent spoke again.

[Life energy that should have dispersed is sticking to the earth. Things that you should have lost, you forcibly held on to.]

As it spoke, its voice began to sound heavier in my head. Come to think of it, Silver Serpent also seemed to have grown a bit in size.

“What do you mean?”

[I mean people who should have died, haven’t.]

Until now, Silver Serpent’s voice had been thin and young. But gradually, its voice became weightier. My head was gradually tilting back to look up at the shadow forming before me.

“Why are you suddenly growing?”

[I was originally very, very large. You mortals are so small compared to even my toenails.]

I blinked. Silver Serpent, growing larger, soon filled the room.

It wasn’t until its head touched the ceiling that Silver Serpent stopped growing.

[That’s why I say, you mortals always light a fire without even knowing if it’s going to rain.]

For the first time, I felt the overwhelming presence of Silver Serpent.

An overpowering aura that made it difficult to breathe. I had to tilt my head back severely to barely see Silver Serpent.

Now that I looked, it wasn’t just its size that had changed. Silver Serpent’s face had also changed.
The once plump and adorable silver snake now had a solid body. Sharp scales protruded near its eyes, and its nearly white skin had changed to a color close to blue moonlight.

The silver snake, which had been lifting its head near the ceiling, slowly lowered it.

[Getting scared with just this? What will you do if you see my real form?]

The silver snake smirked, dissipating the sense of intimidation that had filled the room moments ago.

‘If only it would keep its mouth shut.’

[Let me clarify since you still look confused. When the magical energy exploded earlier, humans who should have died did not, because of your intervention, understand?]

“Magical energy, you say…”

[Children born on the same day, sharing the same fate. I’m talking about the magical energy emitted by lives that have been split in two. You’ve seen it with your own eyes, haven’t you?]

The magical explosion had been due to the twins’ fight. Servants had rushed out of the mansion in alarm.

Delma and other maids came out to witness and worry about the situation. Knights who had been at the distant training ground also ran over.

“Are you saying everyone else should have died?”

[Yes.]

“Everyone who was out there…?”