Chapter 222: The Goddess Standing At The Plaza (2)

The world resembled a cracked mirror.

Slowly, little by little, the grand assembly chamber crumbled. The surface of the Amniotic Fluid flowing under my feet fractured. Marchioness Snowhite Rabbit, trembling next to me, also cracked, followed by the other nobles.

The world exuviated from the shards of the broken window. I could see different scenes from the cracks riddling the assembly chamber. While Snowhite Rabbit was swinging her whip while Viscountess Great Prawn Pearl was burning down a village. The world split into a hundred pieces. From every crack, screams leaked out.

Amethyst’s world was a kaleidoscope.

“Yes, Mr. Gong-Ja. Your deduction is correct.”

She walked to the center of the chamber, the Amniotic Fluid sloshing around her feet. With every step, the world cracked around her, revealing gaps that showcased events in people’s lives.

“This isn’t the first time I lived this life.”

I took a deep breath. “How many times have you done this?”

“I don’t know. Well, I’m sure I can figure it out if I want to, but I’m not sure if it’ll be the answer you seek. Mr. Gong-Ja, are you worried about me collapsing from exhaustion after repeating my life trillions of times?”

Pretty much, yeah. Raviel was strong, but even her heart had rotted when she was trapped in that eternal loop of ten days. So what would happen if someone did this for their entire life? What would pool up in their heart? What kind of stench would such a heart emit?

“There’s this ability I was born with.”

Amethyst reached the very center of the chamber. Even the throne in the center was cracked like a glass cabinet. The armrest of the chair was broken in the middle, sparsely showing Viscountess Pure Sacrednoir preying on another human. One of the throne’s legs was also broken. Through that crack, I saw someone draw their last breath.

“Many dragons have been around this world for a long time.”

Amethyst sat down on the throne, pressing her arm over the murderer and lowering her leg over the victim.

“Some people have made a special contract with dragons to become the dragons’ guards, knights... Their titles vary greatly depending on the region, but they have one thing in common. Their descendants inherit Draconic Blood.”

“Draconic Blood?”

Amethyst stroked the armrests of the glass throne. “Yes, you can think of it as an inferior copy of a dragon’s power. Let’s say there is a dragon who built a vast library and kept all the records of the universe. That is the dragon’s power. On the other hand, those with Draconic Blood can, at most, enter the library and borrow books from time to time.”

Amethyst was stern. Her lips no longer quirked at the corners in a smile.

“The relationship between a dragon emperor and a dragon knight can be likened to that of a god and a believer. Therefore, those who have been given Draconic Blood are also called apostles.”

It took me a while before I could speak. “Apostles?”

“One of the apostles you know would be Lady Goldencup.”

I remembered a young lady swinging a huge hammer and cursing the world. Goldencup’s ability made her almost invulnerable to physical attacks.

“My ability is

Perfect Memories,

” Amethyst said. “I remember everything I’ve ever seen, heard, or felt. Not only can I remember, but I can also look back on the memories like I’m in a lucid dream. Haven’t you seen a person with a similar ability before, Mr. Gong-Ja?”

I pursed my lips.

I had. He was close to me. The face of a now smiley part-time worker serving customers at a cafe crossed my mind. Before that, he used to be the owner of the Great Library of All Life, which stored all the records of the universe.

“Hamustra...”

“Pond of Memories,” Amethyst said, referencing Hamustra’s true name. “I inherited his Authority. In ancient times, Hamustra’s apostle descended on this kingdom. The apostle was eventually defeated, but he left behind a descendant before he died. If you trace back my family, you will find the apostle at the top. Thanks to that, I can also do something like this.”

The moment she raised her finger, the glass window making up the entire world was broken once again. A piece of the broken glass fell and clinked against another one. When the two pieces of glass collided, they glowed brightly before turning into the wings of a purely white butterfly.

The world shattered; millions of pieces of glass fell and met, and hundreds of thousands of butterflies flew away.

Craaaack, craaack...

The white butterflies danced like petals in the wind.

Amethyst gestured toward me. “Come here, Mr.Gong-Ja.”

I took a deep breath and headed toward the throne of mirrors. White butterflies were already fluttering around me. One of them passed right by me, and a voice came from its wings.

—Lord Tiger has passed away in battle, my lady.

The butterfly was made of two pieces of glass. Each silver wing showed its own scenery, revealing Countess Towerfang Tiger. The young countess pursed her lips.

—What about my oldest brother?

—He was determined to retrieve Lord Tiger’s remains, so he headed out with a unit. But there hasn’t been any news. I’m fully aware of how rude I’m being, but perhaps...

—

Ah...

—My lady, there is no other choice. You are also a proud member of the County of Tiger. Misfortune comes to everyone, but a tiger tears it apart and devours it before spitting it back to the world for daring to challenge them.

—I know nothing about politics. I’m not ready.

—Humans are born into this world unprepared, and face death they cannot prepare for. Life is not about preparing. It’s about enduring, my lady. Please take over the White Throne.

The white butterfly lightly flew away, joining the others of its kind fluttering like petals in the wind. The wings of one butterfly showed Snowhite Rabbit holding back tears. Another one showed Pure Sacrednoir gritting her teeth.

Suppressing her anger, Great Prawn Pearl muttered,

—These losers couldn’t do anything during the rebellion. When they come to the Noble Assembly, they all think they’re decorated generals, or generals at least. Fuck, should I teach them a lesson?

Hundreds of thousands of butterflies were fluttering about, every single one making noise.

When I arrived at the throne, Amethyst said, “As you can see, all my past is recorded here. Originally, I could only remember my life, but after obtaining the

Gold Dragon’s Gaze

and the

Icewater Dragon’s Breath

, my memories started including other people’s lives as well. This world records my memories. You’re the only person other than me who has set foot here. You can consider this an honor, Mr. Gong-Ja.”

“Have I been invited into your subconsciousness?”

“Yes, you have. According to your way of saying, you’re looking at my Skill.”

Amethyst opened her palm. There, a golden, sparkling card—the Tower master’s last Skill Card—appeared.

All Life

Class: EX

Effect: This ability was originally limited to possessing photographic memory. However, as it overlapped with several Skills, it blossomed into a higher-level Skill.

This is a glass garden where the people, objects, and events you have witnessed are being recorded. You can replay any memories stored here if you wish.

That’s not all.

...

Flutter.

Something landed on the back of my hand. It was the butterfly I saw earlier.

—

Aaaaaaah!

Red spread on the transparent surface of the glass wings. I was a little familiar with the sight now. The moment playing out was Snowhite Rabbit whipping that child, but the face of the child suffering under the whip was different.

—

Uh, ugh! Ah, aaaaah!

It was Amethyst, much younger than she was now.

I gasped. “Tower Master, what in the world is this?”

“A scenario showing what would have happened if the person who ran into Marchioness Snowhite Rabbit at the time was me, not that commoner child.”

Slap!

The thick whip ate away young Amethyst’s back, staining the snow with crimson.

“This is what would happen in this what-if scenario. I can fully grasp the causal relationships of the past that lead to this moment, then construct what-if scenarios, such as a different person taking the place of someone else, causing something else to happen. I can do this as many times as I want.”

A scream broke out.

“Why are you looking at this scenario in particular?”

“Because that’s how I can find out how much pain the child felt as Marchioness Snowhite Rabbit whipped her to death.”

On the surface of the glass wings, Amethyst fell to the ground with foam at her mouth.

“People don’t want to be easily understood. They don’t like it when others tell them that they know how much pain they are in. People generally don’t like it when others tell them that they understand them. Of course, we’re all strangers to each other.”

Whip!

The young Amethyst quivered. Whenever the whip made contact with her skin, she dug her fingers into the snow and squeezed it, as if she was holding onto her lifeline as death loomed over her.

“I will stand before those who have suffered in this kingdom and tell them ‘I know how much you have suffered.’”

The snow in her grip melted because of her body temperature, turning into a puddle and mixing with the blood on the ground.

“I’m talking about all the pain of the past, present, and future. Only by knowing all the pain can I speak to the people without uttering a single lie. ‘I know how much you suffered, so take the pain out on me.’”

“The Golden Rule...”

“Yes, that’s right. The people the kingdom sacrificed and neglected can finally be understood thanks to me. They couldn’t take out their grievances and resentment whenever they wanted, but they can do it on me now. Do you understand? I’m not comforting them with simple sympathy, nor am I doing it with just words. Thanks to my actions, they can truly be understood,” Amethyst said with her clear eyes.

I was speechless.

“With me receiving my dukedom, not a single citizen will be neglected in the kingdom anymore. Of course, this won’t stop their misfortune. They will continue to suffer, but the kingdom can understand their pain through me. Their pain will be accepted and resolved.”

I looked at the hell around me.

—Spare me! Please, General, please spare me!

—Aaaaaaaah!

—Ugh... Ugh, ah...

The pillars, the arches supporting the dome, the countless glass windows that made up the walls, the space around the pillars, under the dome, and the hundreds of thousands of butterflies fluttering next to the walls—everywhere I looked around this glass garden, Amethyst shed blood and screamed on behalf of someone else.

That wasn’t all.

—M-My name is Snowhite Rabbit. I’m from the Marquisate of Rabbit. You’re just a commoner. Consider this an honor!

On one glass wing, Lady Snowhite Rabbit came to apologize to Amethyst. In that what-if scenario, Amethyst didn’t die. She was healthier and had better endurance than the child who had died. Although it ruined her physically, Amethyst didn’t die.

—My name is Amethyst.

—Amethyst? That’s a strange name.

—My lady...

In this world, Amethyst and Snowhite Rabbit grew closer. Amethyst, who was born as a commoner, was smart enough to make up for Snowhite Rabbit’s lack of knowledge. Thanks to Amethyst’s secret lessons, Snowhite Rabbit was able to neatly complete her grandfather’s homework.

—M-My grandfather complimented me for the first time! What should I do? I’m so happy that I can’t stop smiling. What should I really do?

—Congratulations, my lady.

—

Haha

! It’s all thanks to you, Amethyst!

Lady Snowhite Rabbit grabbed Amethyst’s hand and jumped up and down. In this scenario, the stubborn and prejudiced young noble lady was nowhere to be seen.

A small coincidence made a difference. The difference created an encounter. This one short encounter then made someone human.

—I will live for you.

Viscountess Pure Sacrednoir, who had met Amethyst a little earlier, smiled brightly. No, she was no longer a viscountess. She and Amethyst had joined the kingdom’s royal special task force together, becoming close friends and solving the kingdom’s crimes one by one.

—We must avoid massacring civilians, General.

Viscountess Great Prawn Pearl, who had Amethyst as her advisor, pouted.

—Why? It’s quicker to slaughter everyone, isn’t it?

—It may be fast, but it isn’t correct. It becomes much more difficult to clean up afterward. Although this is now enemy territory, this will be part of the kingdom. General, you should make these people the kingdom’s citizens, not enemies.

Countless glass pieces that made up the white butterflies, showing endless possibilities.

On the butterflies’ left wings, Amethyst bled, screamed, and died. The other side showed a slightly better outcome. There were no victims or murderers on the right wing of the butterflies.

There were so many butterflies in her world. So much death and life alike.

“Because I wasn’t there...”

Glass and butterflies. Blood and screams. Death and life.

“Because I was born too late, all the tragedies in this world happened.”

Under the melting white butterflies, the goddess clasped her small hands together as if she were praying.

“If I had been by your side, your life would have had a happier ending. You would have lived a happier life. I couldn’t always be by your side. That is my fault and sin. Therefore, I’ll scream as much as all of you have. Forever.”

I took one more look at the Skill Card to read the whole thing.

All Life

Class: EX

Effect: This ability was originally limited to possessing photographic memory. However, as it overlapped with several Skills, it blossomed into a higher-level Skill.

This is a glass garden where the people, objects, and events you have witnessed are being recorded. You can replay any memories stored here if you wish.

That’s not all.

You know what causes each event, as well as its effects. The more precisely you identify the causes and effects, the more accurately you can construct what-if scenarios.

You can simulate the world.

※This Skill can only be activated if you have the

Gold Dragon’s Gaze

and

Icewater Dragon’s Breath

.

She had the power to create hell at her fingertips.

The Master of All Life said, “Mr. Gong-Ja, you asked me how many times I’ve repeated this life. Giving a clear answer doesn’t hold much meaning because I’m not just repeating my own life. On behalf of the citizens of the kingdom, I’m living their lives for all eternity.”

That was why Amethyst’s entire life was a trauma and why my trauma penalty showed me her entire life.

I couldn’t think of what to say next. “Do you... always replay these moments in the corner of your mind? Even when we were sitting in the chamber earlier?”

“Yes.”

“Even when you were smiling in front of your lovers?”

With an expressionless face, Amethyst muttered, “Yes, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for being born too late and not being able to live with you all. I’m sorry I couldn’t save you.”

The butterflies flying in the glass garden uttered apologies in unison.

—I’m sorry.

The happy what-if scenarios stopped playing as the silver wings now reflected reality. Snowhite Rabbit whipped a young free citizen, Pure Sacrednoir tore up human flesh to eat it, and Great Prawn Pearl burned down villages.

“I’m sorry.”

The young woman apologized to all the victims, murderers, humans, and inhumans for all the deaths, disasters, and catastrophes that had occurred in this kingdom so far.

“I’m sorry, everyone.”

Those were the only words left in her heart.

I couldn’t take it anymore, so I took a step forward. “Tower master...”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Gong-Ja.”

Amethyst took my hand. Something warm traveled from her hand to mine. When I looked down, I saw a white butterfly curled up in my hand, its wings folded.

“Because I wasn’t by your side, Mr. Yoo Soo-Ha killed you.”

I stopped breathing.

“So you had no choice but to kill him back.”

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Swish.

The butterfly slowly opened its white wings, unfolding the world reflected in its glass wings.