I Healed the Cold Dark Goddess’s Loneliness, and Now She Won’t Let Me Go! - Chapter 29

Pain. Pain, pain, pain, pain—!

An agony I’ve never experienced before courses through my entire body.

It feels as if my fingers are being pulled out one by one and replaced with something else. As if this is being done to every bone, every muscle, and every inch of my skin throughout my whole body.

Why is this happening to me?

I can’t even find the mental capacity to remember that much.

Next, a pain like my back is splitting open strikes. A dull, heavy ache, as if a blunt object is forcing its way through my body.

It hurts so much. My body writhes, trying desperately to escape the agony. I try to move my arms, to flail around, but even they are seized and pinned down by cold hands.

Who is it?

I can’t remember.

The pain spreads even into my head.

“Headache” is too mild a word for this.

The “me” who is thinking and feeling is being painted over, layer by layer.

“Hi… ah… agh…”

Sounds that don’t even form screams leak from my throat.

What’s going to happen to me?

I’m scared. I’m so scared.

I don’t know. Anything.

How long will this go on?

I want to be at peace soon. I want to give up on everything, find relief, and then—

Suddenly, my vision cleared.

In the center of my previously blurred sight, there was someone.

Someone was crying.

An intense feeling of dislike welled up within me.

My hand moved of its own accord, wiping away those tears.

“Haruno…!”

When I did, the tears I thought I’d wiped away began to overflow even more, and I was pulled into a tight embrace.

“…Lady Reine…”

And finally, I remembered the name of the Goddess I love.

“Forgive me, Haruno…! I will never again! I will never let such a thing…!”

From those words, I understood. This was my fault. This was my punishment.

That’s right! I broke my promise. The promise never to go where Lady Reine couldn’t reach me.

“I’m the one who should! I’m sorry, Lady Reine. Even though we promised, I almost died at someone else’s hands.”

“Haruno, you did nothing wrong! It is all because of my own inadequacy! It must have hurt, you must have suffered. No matter how much anger you feel, it would be justified. But even so… even so, please, I beg of you, do not hate me, Haruno…!”

“I could never hate you.”

I hugged the weeping Lady Reine back, and we held each other for a long while.

Actually, once the danger passed… well, I know it was supposed to be a big deal, but now that it’s over, it feels like the pain was maybe on par with a dentist visit without anesthesia. …Hmm, okay, it was still really painful but I can tell that it was all for my sake. That’s why there’s no way I could ever hate her.

As the pain receded, I could feel Lady Reine’s presence more vividly… but at the same time, I noticed something strange.

“…Hm?”

Looking down, I saw something black fluttering in the corner of my vision. And every time it moved, I could feel it moving, a sensory connection. Like it was a part of my body.

“Mmm?”

Looking closer, it seemed like those black fluttering things were attached to my back…?

“L-L-L-Lady Reine! Wh-what is this?! My back! Something… on my back!”

“Hm…? Ah, those are your wings, Haruno.”

“WINGS?!”

When I woke up, I had grown black feathers. Why?!