Chapter 356: Moonlight

--This Chapter is written in Maya’s POV--

After a long therapy session disguised as a guided tour of the Celestial Palace, Azure and I waved goodbye to each other.

As she went on her way, the Goddess hesitantly paused and stared back at me.

We had spent hours talking about her worries, her problems, and even her feelings. Yet, I could tell she wanted to say much more.

Unfortunately, I only had one day to rest before the next phase of the Divine Event, so the best I could do was promise we’d resume where we left off if there was ever a chance.

Maya: "Fuh... She could at least listen to my worries, too..."

As selfish as she was and as tiring as our talk became, I actually enjoyed Azure’s company.

Of all of the Gods, she felt like the most human.

If there were any hopes of changing their ways, she’d be it.

Maya: "Now, for the age-old question... Dinner first, or bath first?"

Azure only let me have a single, brief snack break. Just thinking about dinner made my stomach rumble.

It was too loud to ignore, and the Celestial Palace had a convenient instant-cooking device that fixed my dilemma.

After making up for a late dinner and a missed lunch, I tiptoed into the bathroom.

As I opened the door, I noticed that some of the white tiles were cast in darkness.

The shadows and I spent a few seconds in a silent staring contest.

Maya: "...Hi there?"

Only silence answered me.

The shadows weren’t even flickering.

Maya: "Hah... Alright. Let’s see if I remember it right..."

I completely ignored the shadows and leaned forward on the bathtub, turning on the hot water.

As the water filled the bathtub, I dipped my finger inside.

The heat quickly spread, and I felt my fingertip burn.

I swiftly pulled my finger away and blew against it, but as the steam rose, I planted my fists on my hips and struck a proud pose.

A minute or two later, the tempting melody of the water pattering against the porcelain won out against my best judgment. Unable to contain my anticipation any longer, I stripped and sank into the bath before it had finished filling.

All the tension in my body melted instantly, and my head tilted to the side on its own.

As my eyelids began to close, I used what strength remained in my arms to raise my hand from under the water.

A thin metal band wrapped around my finger reflected the bathroom’s lights.

Even though it was a gift from the King of the Gods himself, the ring was incredibly plain.

It had no gems. No patterns engraved in it. Nothing flashy, interesting, or even ornate.

Yet it felt so incredibly heavy on my finger...

Maya: "Maybe one day... But right now... I can only afford to help one of you..."

I pitied Asdrea.

Maybe more than I pitied Azure, even.

However, Miwen required me to give it my all, and I couldn’t afford to fail him.

My little brother was just too important to me...

Maya: "I just hope that... I’m not locking in a bad path..."

Asdrea felt too much like Miwen in some ways.

I couldn’t quite lower my hand all the way.

Maya: "...I don’t know what to do with you."

My eyes were about to close, yet I didn’t miss the change as a pale, almost colorless hand emerged from the shadows.

Once its arms were out, a woman with striking red hair followed, gripping the tiled wall for support as she stepped out of the darkness.

Catherine: "...If you don’t want it, would you consider gifting it to me?"

She stood in the corner of the bedroom, still as a statue while staring at me.

Instead of the ornate, all-white dress of the Divine Banquet, she wore an oversized white tee and baggy crimson pants.

Though it was hard to believe she was the same Goddess who fought against a demon the day before, I thought these casual, comfy clothes suited her much better than the pretentious white dress.

She seemed more in her element.

More approachable...

Thankfully, she didn’t give me much time to dwell on this thought.

In the blink of an eye, her pants fell to the floor, and she took off her shirt.

She folded everything into a messy pile and placed it on the dresser beside mine.

Standing bare and so close to me, I noticed how similar our frames were. We were both slender, but when it came to heights, she beat me by an inch or two.

With the sharp contrast between her pale skin and vivid red hair, she could easily make a living as a top model on Earth.

But perhaps on a beauty scale, "top model" would be a step down from "Goddess"? I couldn’t really tell, but to me, the latter sounded better.

Catherine: "May I?"

After a few seconds, Catherine stepped forward for the first time.

She never glanced anywhere but at me, and I almost recoiled from her gaze.

I had no idea why she seemed so intent, and while I could imagine she wanted to talk about the Divine Event, she usually explained the rules to us a few minutes before the next phase...

Despite how odd it was, I felt a familiar tingling deep inside my heart.

Maya: "...What are you doing?"

Catherine stopped in front of the bathtub and dipped a finger in the hot water.

Even worse than me, she swiftly put it inside her mouth to cool it off.

Pretending nothing had happened, she smoothly held onto the tub’s rim.

Catherine: "I wanted to apologize."

I couldn’t believe my ears.

But she seemed serious.

Even as I stared in silence, her eyes never left me.

Reluctantly, I folded my legs slightly and fixed my posture, creating just enough space for her to join me in the bath.

Maya: "...I know you’re interested in the ring, but believe me, you don’t want it as much as you think. It might not be a malicious trap, but it is a trap nonetheless."

Thanks to our... modest builds... the bathtub wasn’t exactly cramped. However, we still had to make a conscious effort not to press our legs against each other’s.

The hardest part was to confront her unchanged, blank expression as we faced each other. It felt like I was the only one embarrassed, even though I knew that was just common sense.

Catherine: "...Would you mind answering a question?"

My head slightly tilted to the side.

Catherine had never been rude before, but she wasn’t particularly polite, either.

It felt like she was just fulfilling her obligation, as professionally as she could, despite her clumsiness.

I wasn’t sure what to make of her newfound forwardness.

Catherine: "Why did you walk on your tiptoes?"

My body sank a little.

Just enough that the water reached my shoulders.

Maya: "It’s a habit..."

I avoided her gaze and stared at my own reflection in the water.

It was me, but it was slowly morphing into someone I wasn’t anymore.

Catherine: "I see... Forgive my curiosity. I was simply wondering if that was somehow related to you and your brother being able to notice the shadows so well."

It wasn’t her fault. I knew that.

Yet I couldn’t stop my fists from clenching.

She was the only one whom I wouldn’t forgive for bringing that up.

Maya: "...You really don’t know why that is?"

Catherine shook her head.

Noticing my expression morph, she instinctively pulled her legs.

It was a meaningless gesture, but it gave me more space to stretch mine. Slightly more comfortable, I relaxed enough to hold back.

Maya: "Miwen and I spent most of our lives living alone. With no one waiting for us back home, we had to check every corner and be very quiet when entering the house..."

A memory reflected in the water.

The number of missing cases increased every day. It wasn’t unusual to run into corpses on the streets and hear mysterious screeching in the distance.

One of those days, Miwen and I heard scratching in our bedroom.

I was only five back then, almost six.

Miwen was even younger, yet when I hesitated to check, he pushed forward.

That time, it was only a stray kitten, but...

Maya: "You can never know when a monster is lurking in the shadows."

Of course Miwen and I would notice the vampire hiding in the dark.

We spent our entire lives watching the shadows.

Maya: "...Whose fault do you think this is?"

My tone came out more accusatory than I intended, but I didn’t think about apologizing.

Not to her.

Throughout my entire life, she was the only one I harbored these feelings for.

I knew I shouldn’t blame her for everything.

It wasn’t her fault that our parents worked as adventurers and couldn’t be home.

She might not have chosen to make our generation hopeless and powerless.

But...

She was the one who brought the monsters into our world.

How could I not imagine life without them? Without the fear and death they brought?

How could I not imagine how different life with Miwen and my parents could’ve been?

Maya: "Sorry. I’m not a saint... I doubt I’ll ever forgive you."

People often said I was a genius, and even a saint...

Miwen would call me the brightest star, too.

However, there was a crack I hid from everyone.

She was the only one I allowed myself to keep from forgiving.

I thought I’d never meet her, and that this would never matter, but...

Maybe I was wrong.

Catherine: "Good. I wasn’t planning on apologizing for that..."

She relaxed her knees, and her feet reached my thighs.

Catherine: "These were consequences of an act required of me, as your world’s Goddess."

I froze.

Despite the water’s temperature, a chill ran down my spine. For a moment, I thought about hitting her again, but...

What use would that be?

Twisted as it was, I was almost glad that she showed no remorse.

It meant I...

I didn’t have to show any for feeling this way all this time without even knowing her.

Catherine: "I would enjoy, however, your forgiveness on another matter."

Seemingly forgetting her situation, or doing it out of habit, Catherine bowed her head.

Into the hot water.

Almost immediately, she raised her chin, but unsure of what to do next, she silently stared at me.

Catherine: "I have talked with your brother recently. He agreed to help me with a certain project, so long as I earned your forgiveness for making you cry."

I knew it.

As I grew older, I naturally became more attentive, and fewer things slipped by me. The surprises I loved so much became rarer.

Miwen was the only one who consistently derailed my expectations.

This situation and Catherine’s unusual behavior had his name written all over it.

Maya: "I see. But you don’t feel any regret, do you?"

I wanted her to say she did so much.

However, I also appreciated how much she struggled to answer.

Her honesty meant...

Oh.

Catherine: "Unfortunately, I do... not?"

Seeing the smile on my face, Catherine looked confused.

Her knees folded, and she curled up in the corner of the bathtub.

Maya: "Well, I didn’t cry just because of the arena. I’ve hated you for a long time now..."

I finally expressed this.

It felt liberating.

Maya: "If you want my forgiveness, you’ll have to work for it."

I threw my hands into the air, stretching my arms lazily.

My body had grown used to the hot water, so I increased the temperature slightly with magic.

Catherine: "He said as much, and I came ready to provide you with benefits..."

The boiling water turned red, muddy, and sticky.

It was pretty gross.

Maya: "That’s... What are you doing?"

She showed me her palms, telling me to remain calm as blood soaked me.

Catherine: "It’s similar to a blood transfusion. It’ll help revitalize your skin and you’ll look younger and prettier...?"

Knowing what it was, I appreciated the sentiment, but...

Maya: "Why would you prepare that!?"

Her eyes darted around awkwardly.

Meanwhile, I refilled the bathtub with water.

Catherine: "Many human women have approached me with the desire to become my familiar, seeking the ageless body of an undead. You were staring intently at my body, so I thought you were concerned about it, too..."

I didn’t look at her for that long.

And even if I did, it was just because I was surprised by how different she was compared to when I met her after the First Phase of the Divine Event.

Maya: "I guess I can understand that somewhat, but... I’m fine, I think?"

With all of the blood and water gone, Catherine had a clear look at my body.

She examined me from head to toe, but her gaze annoyingly stopped at my chest.

Catherine: "...Are you sure?"

I bit my own lips.

Maya: "...Y-Yeah. It’s not like the size matters that much, either. I think boys love boobs of all shapes and sizes. You know... Boobs are boobs and all that..."

At least that was my experience so far?

But maybe...

Uh...

Maya: "Y-You’re not doing that much better than me there, so enough of that..."

If she was bigger, it was only because she was taller.

Nothing else.

We were both firmly on the slender frame.

She and I.

Yes.

Catherine: "That may be true, but..."

She leaned forward and pressed her palm against my chest.

I felt thin strands of blood enter through my pores, and my breasts began to burn from within.

It was painful, but brief, and when I looked down at my chest...

Maya: "...Did you do anything?"

They looked exactly the same.

Catherine: "I expanded the veins slightly. It should help with blood circulation and... Maybe half a centimeter or so..."

She looked oddly proud.

Had she done the same to herself?

Then again, it was pretty obvious that she could reshape herself, so maybe...

Whatever.

Catherine: "So? Is that enough?"

I thought it was a joke, but she looked serious about it.

Even though it was rude, I couldn’t hold back from giggling.

Maya: "Not even close. Did it never occur to you that as his opponent in a war, I don’t want my brother to get an alliance with a Goddess?"

Catherine blinked a few times.

She didn’t know Miwen the same way I did, so she probably thought there was only one dimension to this.

That she was the only one being tested.

But of course, that wasn’t the case.

Miwen was offering me the chance to get over my own hate.

Just like always, he made sure I’d shine as brightly as possible.

Maya: "So he put a moon before me..."

By all means, I had every reason to reject Catherine and not offer her the time of day.

It’d be easier, it’d help with my war effort, and I’d get to keep the only crack in my saintly image.

As painful as it was, I rejected that notion immediately and showed her the path to earn my forgiveness.

For everything.