"How did this happen...?"


    I couldn''t understand what had transpired while I was unconscious. Thest memory I had was of a perfectly intact temple...


    Now, the ce where I stood was a ruin, more devastated than Eleona''s temple. It was a site so tragically wrecked that it barely resembled a temple anymore.


    "Yura...! Are you okay?"


    I quickly moved to my sister, who was almost buried under the debris.


    "Open your eyes, Yura! Yura...!!"


    I removed the pile of stones covering her and gently lifted her head.


    "Uhmm... Ah... What?"


    Thankfully, she woke up when I called her, but how to describe her reaction? In the current situation, anyone who saw the surrounding devastation and people lying unconscious would be in shock, I thought.


    "Uh... Brother? I think I fell asleep..."


    However, Yura''s reaction was so casual, as if she had just woken up from a deep sleep. No injuries, steady breathing, and more than anything...


    "Yawn..."


    She yawned like someone who had just woken up, still sleepy-eyed and seemingly unaware of the chaos around her.


    "Huh...? Wait... why does it look like this around us?!"


    Only after disying an uncanny calmness did she finally begin to grasp the situation.


    "Brother?! Why are we here?! We were in Goddess Abne''s temple, right?!"


    Was Yura under the impression that we had somehow been transported to this bizarre ce from where we werest?


    "I don''t know either... but this is definitely Abne''s temple."


    Even though the windows were now gaping open, making it feel like a different ce, that bed... it was unmistakably Abne''s.


    "You don’t know? So, did you also suddenly copse like me...?"


    Also in sight, two womeny pitifully copsed – unmistakably the darkness-consuming Mir and the goddess Abne.


    "It seems so."


    "Now that I think about it... those people over there... aren''t they your boss and the goddess?"


    Yura, too, noticed the two figures lying in the distance, confirming that I wasn''t mistaken. "Maybe those two know something. Yura, can you help Goddess Abne? I''ll take care of Mir."


    "Uh...? Yeah, okay!"


    I approached Mir to check her condition.


    Unlike Yura and me, who were unharmed, Mir''s body was in a terrible state. Simply describing her as ''battered'' would be an understatement.


    "Good heavens... What happened here?"


    Bruises and burn marks covered her body, and her wings were torn and tattered. It was a wonder she was still alive.


    "She''s still breathing..."


    Though she was just barely alive, leaving her like this, even with her tenacious vitality, would be too risky.


    "Here, I''ve brought her, brother."


    Carrying Mir, we gathered in the center of the room, where Abne was also in a critical condition.


    "Lay them down side by side; I''ll take care of the rest."


    Iid them down neatly and began to gather magic at my fingertips.


    "Sun''s Healing."


    As I quietly chanted, a gentle sunlight spread through the devastated space. Though my magic was still somewhat rigidpared to the beginning, it was extremely powerful – either used sparingly or unleashed fully.


    Given their conditions, it seemed only the strongest healing magic I knew would be sufficient for both Mir and Abne.


    As the healing magic took effect, their faces rxed, and the injuries began to heal rapidly.


    "Ugh?! Cough!"


    Suddenly, Mir sat up in a panic.


    "Mir?! "


    Her abrupt awakening was like a scene from a horror movie, startling me to my core.


    "Ugh...! It''s not over, it’s just the beginning!"


    Her words were cryptic, her pupils dting uncertainly.


    "Eh..? Harold?!"


    As Mir''s consciousness swiftly returned, she began to take in her surroundings. Seeing my face, the hatred that had clouded her features started to fade. "Oh, it''s me... Are you fully conscious now?"


    Thankfully, my healing seemed to have worked, as Mir swiftly regained her senses, though dramatically.


    "Somewhat... But where''s Abne? The fight isn''t over yet, is it?"


    Her words only deepened my curiosity about what had transpired.


    "Keep it down... Can''t you see she''s right here?"


    Responding to Mir''sment, Abne, whether she liked it or not, had alsoe to, albeit with a dishappy expression.


    "It seems we need to wrap things up. Looking at the state of the temple and the sky, it appears I''ll be quite busy for a while."


    Unlike Mir, Abne tried to maintain herposure, fitting her dignified image.


    "Looks like you lost consciousness too, huh?"


    They exchanged prickly remarks in a strange atmosphere.


    "Let''s call this duel a draw."


    Despite their mutual animosity, both seemed too exhausted to continue their sharp exchange of res.


    A duel? Had they really fought each other? That could exin the ruined temple and the world''s current state.


    "The condescending way you look down on others... I can''t stand it. I won''t deal with you anymore."


    Disgusted by Abne''s remark, Mir was the first to rise from her seat.


    "Harold and Yureal, I''m sorry, but could you please leave for today? I''ve strayed too far from what I originally nned to do."


    If it weren''t for Mir, what was she nning to do to us?


    "Of course, if you insist..."


    Yura responded before me, her voiceden with emotion, and followed Mir through the crumbling corridors.


    "Then, I''ll see you next time..."


    Reluctantly, I bade them goodbye and left the temple.


    To summarize, Abne had intended tomit a significant act using Mir, Yura, and me, after drugging us with tea. She had confided a bold n to me. "Such an event could''ve happened while I was unconscious... It sends shivers down my spine. But thanks to Mir, who resisted the sleeping drug, a major fight ensued to prevent me from being taken. The once peaceful sky now seemed on the verge of copsing. As we emerged onto the streets, everyone was anxiously looking up at the temple. Overheard conversations confirmed that a ck dragon and some figure had been rampaging in the sky for a while. The world is so damaged it might as well be called post-war trauma. The streets will be buzzing with talks of Mir for some time. And as for me...


    "My knight, the stench of trouble seems to follow you even in my absence!" I guess I''ll end up in Eleona''s arms for a while...


    "With not just one, but two...! I can''t bear it! Even if it''s a reality I have to ept, you must reassure me!"


    It looked like I''d have to spend the night at Eleona''s temple, unwillingly...


    "Lay in bed, I need to cover you with my scent again!"


    With no chance of escape, I had no choice but to ept...


    "I want to hold big brother too!" Yura, boldly eyeing me with mischievous intent in front of Eleona...


    "Step aside! Harold is mine!"


    "Hehe... Big brother ?"


    Tonight seemed destined to be the most ufortable night of my life...


    Rewinding a bit, back to a certain goddess''s temple. With everyone gone, Abne was left alone in the room.


    "Ah..."


    Looking around her ruined sanctuary, she let out a deep sigh.


    "So I couldn''t have Harold this time either..."


    Staring at the now-exposed sky, she continued her monologue. The scars left by the battle between Abne and Mir were a stark contrast to the skies she was used to - bleak and pitiful.


    "Couldn''t even im aforting victory... Did I fail to settle the score with that dragon?"


    Then, Abne finally rose from her spot, sitting on her bed, exhausted and sighing with frustration.


    This part of the story delves into the aftermath of the dramatic events, reflecting on the characters'' feelings and the consequences of their actions. "Perhaps it would have been better to determine who holds the upper hand for the sake of the future." Despite the catastrophes that had urred, Abne wore a thoughtful smile with a hint of nostalgia. She then infused her gaze with magical energy, peering into something unseen.


    "Truly... it''s confusing..." Like Tempus or Morione in the myths, Abne too possessed a certain ability to foresee the future, albeit not as pronounced.


    "Why are so many drawn to one man... Well, I''m no different, I suppose..." What future was Abne envisioning, observing with such mixed emotions?


    "The world is bustling, yet peaceful." In this world, it wasn''t umon for a man to be involved with multiple women.


    "For the sake ofpromise, it’s best to adapt quickly..." However, this only worked when mutual understanding was firmly established. If one party couldn''t ept it, endless discord would ensue.


    "Harold must be having a tough time..." Therefore, Abne felt the need to reconcile even with those she despised, for the future she believed in.


    "At least I don’t see a withering future... That must be good, right?" What did Harold look like in the future Abne saw, that she wore such a contemtive and mixed expression?


    For a while, she appeared almost entranced by her prophecy, blushing as she gazed into the unknown.