The Husband I Thought Was Dead Has Returned - Chapter 97

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Husband Who Should Have Died Returns Episode 097
Cassian entered the Ruined Temple. The path had become familiar by now. He squeezed through the debris and stood before the Servants of God. The light flowing from the bell was a clear, crystalline blue. It shone brighter than when he had come before.
“Saint Urenis.”
Cassian murmured vacantly. He knelt before the bell.
He placed both hands infused with divine power upon the bell. His hands passed through the translucent membrane and touched the metal. The bell seemed to pulse beneath his palms. A tingling sensation spread across his skin.
Cassian closed his eyes and began to channel his divine power.
Cassian now possessed the strongest divine power among all priests in the Southern Region. It was the strength Saint Urenis had granted him. Yet Cassian had betrayed God.
Tears streamed down Cassian’s cheeks.
Ever since discovering the Servants of God among the ruins, Cassian had come periodically to pour his divine power into it. The cracks in the bell, drinking in Cassian’s power, were rapidly sealing shut.
“Why did you not punish this wretched servant instead? Not Rita, but me…”
Cassian gasped for breath. Even knowing he had no right to resent God, resentment consumed him. And he resented himself. Perhaps what he truly resented was his own self.
Rita’s death was as good as his own doing.
The bell began consuming divine power at an accelerating pace. As the power drained away, he felt his life force being depleted. His vision blurred, and his heartbeat slowed.
Yet Cassian did not stop.
Divine power poured forth like a rushing river.
And at some moment, the bell rang.
It was a low, deep resonance. A sound that seemed to reverberate through the very marrow of his bones returned to him. He slowly opened his eyes.
The bell had been completely restored. In contrast, Cassian began to fade from this world.
“Rita…”
Cassian intended to grind every last ounce of his remaining life force into the bell. If only he could, he wished to save Cuspis as well. And if his sins could be erased through this, perhaps Rita might return.
“Rita…”
My poor Rita.
Cassian’s only blood relative, who had never once set foot outside these walls since birth. His sister was the driving force of his existence. Because of Rita, he could endure this harsh world.
In truth, Cassian knew all of this was futile. No matter what he did, Rita would not return. Just as Cuspis would not return.
The bell was completely restored.
The emblem of Saint Urenis was etched clearly upon its surface.
Cassian’s hand slipped from the bell, and he slowly collapsed to the ground. He felt his breath growing ever shallower. Exhaustion pressed down upon him. All his divine power had been spent.
What Cassian had destroyed, Cassian had now revived.
The image of Rita gazing at the bell with wonder came to mind.
“Rita.”
His lips moved.
“I’m sorry.”
His heart slowly ceased its beating. He hoped that with this, Rita would be made whole, that she alone might ascend to that distant heaven. Cassian slowly closed his eyes.
The bell began to ring at regular intervals. That crystalline sound seemed utterly oblivious to anyone’s death.
Cassian found peace in death. A golden radiance began to spread brilliantly across his corpse. The seal that had slumbered for nearly three years stretched like a sapling awakening from winter’s sleep.

* * *
The Rebel Forces arrived at the Dros Estate at dawn.
Gallo took the lead. As Bruarte Count had said, and as he confirmed, the Territory appeared empty. There were no sentries atop the Castle Walls.
“We’re going in.”
The moment they crossed through the Castle Walls, torches ignited like spreading flames.
The torches drove back the darkness completely.
Fully armored Knights stood along the Castle Walls. Archers in formation had their hands on their bowstrings. Their escape route was cut off, and the gates slammed shut.
“What, what is this!”
Gallo screamed.
“Break through now! We need to get out of here!”
Then Borgus revealed himself. He exhaled a sigh and stared at Gallo.
“Is it ignorance? How do you expect to break through here?”
Borgus spoke with a sneer.
Gallo’s face turned ashen. He realized this had been a carefully laid trap from the beginning. Looking around, there seemed to be no escape route.
“W-what do we do? Aren’t we all going to die here!”
Gallo’s subordinate shook him. But these were men specialized in plundering the weak and trampling them underfoot. Gallo himself had no idea what to do when facing a stronger opponent. He swallowed hard.
“Lay down your weapons and surrender. Unless you want to be buried right now. You should abandon any hope that there’s a hole to escape through even if the sky collapses. I intend to seal every last one of those damned holes.”
Borgus spoke coldly. Before his piercing gaze, the Rebel Forces became like lost rats in a cage.

* * *
The crimson moon began to fade slowly.
For days now, its blood-red hue had been growing pale. From beyond the Horizon, light rather than darkness had begun to spread.
When I stepped into the Field, the edges of the sky shone brightly. Warm golden light seeped through the darkness. It was sunlight.
“…This can’t be….”
It had only been three years since the war began. After three years, the sunlight I encountered was truly warm and beautiful.
Dazzling golden rays poured down over the Field. Over leaves glistening with dew. I raised my hand numbly to shield my eyes from the light. Light seeped through between my fingers.
Someone was walking toward me through that light.
My heart stopped.
“Cherez….”
He was walking toward me through the golden glow. Broad shoulders, straight back, an economical gait.
My breath quickened and tears welled up. It was certainly Cherez. Was he alive? Without thinking, I took a step forward.
“Cherez…!”
Had my wish for him to be alive reached the heavens? Was this untimely end to the war a gift brought to us? I took another step forward.
But in the next moment.
He vanished.
Only the golden rays seeping into the ground remained. I wiped away my tears and rubbed my eyes. But he did not return.
“Ah….”
I must have seen things wrong. I shook my head with a bitter smile. Of course I did.
Then a small voice called out from across the Field.
“Roana! Hayden is coming! Hayden is coming!”
I turned my head to see Hayden running between the fields, a small basket tucked firmly under his short arms. Inside lay three or four tomatoes, their skins ripened to a deep crimson.
The dawn light settled upon Hayden’s face, and his plump, rosy cheeks were creased with the deepest smile.
Perhaps this dawn, this early peace, was Cherez’s gift to Hayden. Even on his final path, he would have thought of his nephew. If so, Hayden deserved to savor this gift fully.
I crouched down to meet Hayden at eye level.
“You did wonderfully, Hayden. You picked so many delicious ones! Hayden, you’re the best!”
Hayden’s face lit up with radiant joy.
The phantom had vanished, but Hayden remained here with me. He pushed a tomato into my mouth.
“Roana eat too! Taste it!”
Sweet and tart juice slid down my throat. The tomato was perfectly ripe, just as Hayden said. Yet my throat burned.
“Does it taste good?”
“Yes. It’s truly delicious. I think it’s because Hayden picked it.”
I swallowed all those emotions along with the tomato.
“Hayden is the best!”
The two of us alone were enough to make this morning warm.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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