172 – 51. Let’s go back (6)
Judas raised his cup.
‘… Let me drink.’
The decision was made a long time ago.
A river that loses precious memories.
Judah seemed to know what memories would disappear.
She just can’t be sure.
However, it was too harsh to have Elijah, who had already sacrificed himself once, lose her memories.
Perhaps he may forget Elijah.
Still.
Even if that happens.
‘I guess I can think of it again.’
Believing that, I drank the river water.
Hop, jump.
Cold water flows down my throat.
“Whoa…” .”
I emptied the glass.
A cup that fills up again if the wrong person drinks from it.
But the glass was clean.
“… Done. “Let’s go now.”
Judah held Elijah in his arms.
At that time, Yuel approached.
She must have been hiding and was not seen earlier.
“Yuel! “What happened to you!”
When I fell from the sun, Yuel supported me.
She didn’t even think about it at the time.
“Why are you here? No way… Are you dead too?”
“Kkiwoong-?”
Yuel did not respond to Judah’s words.
She just tilts her head as if she doesn’t understand.
“You don’t even know the concept of death?”
“Kkiing?”
Yuda muttered while stroking Yuel, who was tilting his head innocently.
“Umm…. It’s not like there’s something going on outside… ?”
Yuel, unaware of Judah’s worries, tapped Elijah with her horn and told him to ride Elijah on top of her.
“Okay, okay. “Let’s get out of here first.”
Judah placed Elijah first, and then he himself rode on Juel.
Elijah leaned into her arms.
“… But where should I go? Yuel, do you know the way?”
Yuel just looked around blankly.
“How did he really get here…? ?”
At that time, a white dot appeared in the distance.
This is the same phenomenon as when Judah arrived here.
“Yuel, let’s follow that.”
Yuel moved at a brisk pace.
The scenery of the underworld passed quickly.
Just like when chasing Balak, the white dot guided him somewhere while maintaining a close distance.
And we arrived at a ferry port full of fog.
This is the place where I entered the afterlife.
Judas finally faced the white dot up close.
“The name is Maria… Was it?”
The person who guided Narcisi to Elijah and held Narcisi as he ascended the Black Sun.
Elijah’s biological mother.
As Mary looked at Judas, she smiled lightly.
“Okay. “This is my first time meeting you by your real name.”
“You are the one who guided me… Is that correct?”
“Yes. Because only you can save Elijah. “For that, thank you so much.”
“Not much to say…. “Thanks to you, I was less lost.”
As Mary approached, Judas got off Juel.
Elijah also held her in his arms and joined her.
Mary came closer and smiled as she straightened Elijah’s hair.
“My beautiful daughter. Now, it really is goodbye.”
Maria was smiling, but her tears flowed endlessly.
Judah did not even dare to guess her feelings.
How did she feel as she remained by Elijah’s side, hiding her identity?
“… The longer a breakup lasts, the more foolish it becomes. Ellie is a child who shouldn’t be here, so she shouldn’t be kept for long. “I’ll send it to you right away.”
Judas quietly watched Mary who was crying and whispering.
Black hair. Black eyes.
I didn’t know when I had red hair.
Because the makeup was particularly thick back then.
But looking at it this way, she looks a lot like Elijah.
Mary took Elijah’s face in her hands, pressed their foreheads together, and whispered to him.
“You were not born wrong. You didn’t do anything wrong. You are someone who deserves to be loved. Leave your guilt, which you mistakenly thought was a sin, here. “You are just happy.”
Her mother kissed her daughter’s forehead and said her final goodbyes.
“I love you, Ellie. I’ll tell you again when it comes in the very distant future. Even if I become a dead person, I will never forget you.”
Maria was confident with a trembling voice.
“That’s right, because I’m your mother.”
Now it was time to go.
… Then, Judas had an idea later.
After she saved Elijah, she was too busy worrying about her memories.
“Ah. That…. “I’m sorry for speaking a little late.”
“Huh?”
“We must go together.”
“What is that…?” Is it a sound? Me? I’m dead… “What?”
“No. It’s difficult to explain in detail, but no. “We will be able to go back.”
Judah carried Elijah and boarded her ferryboat.
There was plenty of space when I arrived, but when Yuel got on, it was very full.
“Well, it’s narrow, but let’s get in.”
“Is it okay to do this…?” ?”
“I have spoken with God.”
“Umm… ?”
I can’t believe I’m done talking with God.
It was difficult to understand in many ways.
Besides, what is that attitude of treating God like a local merchant….
Even though Maria was confused, she got on the ferry. She
She rode up to Maria until the meat of Yuel’s sides and buttocks was sticking out of her narrow belly.
Yuda patted Yuel, smiled and said.
“I’m leaving.”
He placed her empty glass on the bow.
This is where the cup was originally placed.
The ferry boat moved on its own.
Away from the fog-filled ferry, we head towards the void outside the underworld.
Maria looked down at her own hands and then looked around at her scenery.
When an unauthorized person attempts to leave the afterlife, his body gradually becomes more transparent and then returns to its original position.
“Really…. “Can you survive?”
“Probably so.”
The ferry went as fast as it came.
After being silent for a while, Maria spoke carefully.
“Well, from next time, if you tell me about that a little earlier…” I wish…. Because I’m embarrassed….”
“… Ah. Sorry.”
“Oh, no. “It’s not something to apologize for.”
Afterwards, they both spent an awkward time stuck in Yuel.
Maria was the first to speak.
“Thank you. “For saving Elijah.”
“Nothing to say. “It’s something I have to do.”
“Still. Actually, I think it’s something I, as a mother, should have done…. “I feel sorry for you and Elijah.”
“You don’t really have to apologize to me….”
Judas was embarrassed for no reason and scratched the back of his neck.
Maria smiled lonelyly at herself.
I felt like she was new and amazing.
Among those close to her, none is as weak as Maria.
As Elijah said, she was a magical accident of a natural disaster.
The SS and Gawain are knights outside the category of ordinary people.
It’s been the same with all the times I’ve fought.
Balak, Cain, Emperor John, etc.
In this way, only superhumans are those whose personal power is beyond normal.
If he was not a superhuman, he was a powerful person backed by a huge force or background.
Objects such as Eurydice, Narsisi, or the children of the Bebel family.
Maria does not fit any of the above.
Pure ordinary people with weak personal power and no power.
Just as Judas himself is a little special, there are many extraordinary people around him.
In fact, the people who make up the absolute majority of people in this world are ordinary people like Maria.
It cannot be said that Mary did a good job of hiding her truth from Elijah.
Then, did Maria have any other options?
She faked her death because her very existence was Elijah’s weakness, and for this person who had already built up so many lies that she could only fear the hurt Elijah would receive if she told the truth, there was a more rational and wiser option. Was there a
Judas did not know.
She was just pitiful.
Maria too. Elijah is also at the center of this tragedy.
“You have nothing to blame yourself for.”
“Huh?”
“Many people may not want to admit it, but in life, you will inevitably encounter situations that you cannot help with your own efforts. Whether you like it or not. “Maybe someday.”
There was bitterness in his eyes as he looked at the distant universe.
This is because it reminds me of my previous life where I could not achieve or change anything.
“It’s just that the wall of this unavoidable situation was higher and thicker for you than for others.”
“… Thank you for saying it like that. “But you cannot be forgiven for that reason.”
“Well…. “I think it’s a matter for you to decide.”
The person who is most hurt is Elijah.
So, it is up to Elijah to decide whether to forgive Mary or not.
Maria She is not herself.
“… That too. “Unlike me, Elijah has a good eye for men, so I’m glad.”
“… ….”
Judas looked embarrassed, but Mary smiled and said.
“You know what? “Your way of speaking is very similar to Elijah.”
“Is that so?”
Yuda blushed for no reason and cleared his throat.
Maria smiled happily as she looked at him.
“It wasn’t like that before, but at some point we started to resemble each other, and now we’re the same. “I don’t think you’d be able to tell them apart if their voices were the same.”
“Hmm….”
“I don’t know if I have the qualifications right now, but I can leave Elijah to you with peace of mind.”
“… “It’s a grateful and happy story, and that’s probably when my memory is still intact.”
“What are you talking about?” ?”
Judas explained briefly.
The water I drank earlier.
Someone had to pay for her memory in exchange for taking Elijah, and she paid that price herself.
That was the condition set from the beginning.
“I see….”
“Don’t say you’re sorry again. “Because that’s what I decided to do.”
Maria hit the nail on the head.
In the end, she had dedicated her memory to her daughter and there was nothing she could say to him.
After that, there was quiet silence.
The ferry sailed through space.
Judah caught the sight of Elijah.
She saved Elijah.
Going back.
And now, she herself will lose her memory.
What and how much will we lose?
It’s okay to take everything, but she hoped she wouldn’t forget Elijah.
Judah held the sleeping Elijah in his arms with such hope.
“See you later. Miss.”
*
“… “Huh!”
Elijah let out a harsh breath.
Her body jumped up.
“Lady?!”
Someone shouted in a threatening voice.
The woman sitting next to me was a familiar face.
May.
Councilman of the mansion.
“Miss! “Gwae, are you okay?!”
May asked, shaking off her fuss.
Elijah looked down at her hand, catching her breath.
White and beautiful hands.
I squeeze it and open it.
The senses are clear.
“I…” .”
He is definitely dead.
Destroyed together with the evil god of the void.
And after that….
“Ugh-!”
“Miss!”
At that moment when I was holding my head and stumbling.
Elijah remembered everything.
Black sun. Judah. Maria.
Memories of what she experienced in the afterlife remained in her mind.
It wasn’t perfect, but the point was clear.
Judas saved him.
Elijah suddenly got up from the bed.
Right in front of the bed is crystal-shaped ice where Maria is trapped.
She is exactly as she was before she disappeared.
In the afterlife, my mother too….
“Lady, lie down! “You need to rest now!”
“Judas.”
“Yes, yes?”
“Where is Judas?”
“That’s….”
Elijah touched her right hand.
Ivory ring.
An artifact shared with Judas.
She gave him a signal.
There is no response.
Rather than that, Judah’s position in the first place was….
“… ?”
It was right next to her own.
The necklace given to Judah was placed on the table next to the bed.
Elijah grabbed her hand again.
“Where is Judas?”
“That’s it….”
May, who hesitated, carefully opened her mouth.
