CHAPTER 2.5: HOME REPORT

***The Holy Palatial Gardens***

The success of Kuro’s mission to Equality/Cherhom was brought to the Human Saint by no other than the Lady Helgath herself. Teleporting to the Holy Palatial Gardens, she and Maddie had a previous agreement to ‘update’ them once the god-powers were united under the otherworlder’s care.

And this is that moment.

“It’s been a long while since we last saw each other, isn’t it, Lady Helgath?”

“!!!” The Dwarf Saint was taken aback by the Demon Saint’s greeting to her, though she did remember Natasha when her senses returned.

“I really can’t see you as someone so big,” Natasha admitted, remembering the appearance of Lady Martelle. “I guess I got used to your smaller body.”

“I can say the same, Your Holiness,” the Dwarf Saint countered. “Last time I saw you, you still have darker hair.”

“Your consciousness is in your golem, right? That ‘Lady Martelle’ thing? You haven’t seen me before?”

“It was a joke, Your Holiness,” the Lady Helgath chuckled. “Though, I must admit, I still have to get used to your new identity as Natasha Bellingsen and not Cassandra David.”

“Eh, I made sure my new appearance is prettier, so get used to it as soon as you can.”

The two holy ladies laughed at their silly banter, though it was soon cut short when Maddie and the other saints appeared. And with that, the Dwarf Saint delivered her news, along with the activities where Kuro was involved. “The Lord Kuro is still in Cherhom, fixing the problems left by Her Holiness the Lady Seirna.”

Of course, with Seirna’s name in the story, the saints asked what happened. The Dwarf Saint explained the events that led to the fall of Hemelin, and Kuro’s subsequent problems. All throughout her narrative, Maddie listened calmly, though Ruro and Natasha could tell that she was a bit annoyed at the Overseer Saint’s impulsiveness.

“That’s not how Her Holiness the Lady Seirna does things,” the Human Saint muttered after the Lady Helgath finished her story.

“I have no idea what went in her mind when she disappeared,” the Dwarf Saint shrugged. “Nevertheless, the Lord Kuro already possessed all six god-powers, and we’re just waiting for his ascension.”

“It can take a while,” the Lady Hinwe said. “The gods and goddesses have time of their own, far different from us mortals. All that needs to be done is to keep Kuro from doing stupid things such as putting himself in harm’s way. You know how much he can get wor—oops!”

“Milady!” Ruro blurted out, trying to keep the Elf Saint from saying anything else. Everyone in that room—save for the Lady Helgath—knew that Maddie could get tense whenever Kuro’s safety was involved.

However, the Human Saint exuded an air of calm. “I trust in him,” she said, with a confident smile on her face.

“I can tell everyone in this room loves him,” the Lady Helgath commented. “I’m so glad I met the Lord Kuro, too. At least, he helped me moved on from my painful past.”

“Sir G helped us in some way, most of which he dismisses as his ‘duty.’ But well, you know him; it’s part of his charms.”

“Annoying charms, if I may say,” the Elf Saint added.

“Well, in any case, Lady Helgath,” Maddie took hold of the Dwarf Saint’s hand. “Speaking of pasts, I believe there’s someone you should meet. He’s been worried about you ever since you went to Equality.” Then, she pulled the Lady Helgath with her, and went to the door. The halfling prince, Giuseppe Uhrian, stood behind, with a bouquet on his hand.

“Your Highness!” the Dwarf Saint blurted out as she received the flowers.

“Welcome back, Your Holiness!” the prince smiled, though it was one filled with sadness. “It’s been a while since we met each other.”

“You know my spirit is always with you, Lord Uhrian.”

The dwarf prince shook his head. “Still, it is a different feeling to see you as yourself, Your Holiness. The times when I played in the palm of your hand came back all of a sudden, along with the memories of my mother and father, who served you.”

“Your mother has also awakened, Your Highness,” the Dwarf Saint reiterated. “Though…the Lord Louis…he is already dead.”

“I can understand. It is his wish, after all.”

A moment of silence floated across the room. Maddie and the other saints kept their distance, to allow the two to have their privacy. Nevertheless, it was the Lady Helgath who broke the ice…

“Would you like to see the Lady Ahri? She’s as suspicious as ever.”

“Mother is always like that. Did she meet the Lord Kuro?”

The Dwarf Saint’s face beamed as she recounted their encounter. The sad atmosphere in the room slowly dissipated while the Lady Helgath narrated the Black God’s exploits to everyone.

Author's Note: Hello again! Well, I just rewrote the ending for my novel series, and added a new volume between Book 19 and Book 20, which will become Book 21 after a few edits. This is the new Book 20, and I hope this gives a proper closure to Kuro's adventures in Cherhom. Thank you for dropping a visit!