Chapter 43

Chapter 43

A terrible howl echoed across the hall. Grandpa began to frantically run toward something. The only humanoid statue in the hall was standing at what seemed to be an altar—it was a statue of a woman who was kneeling, almost as if she’d used up the last of her strength and then collapsed from exhaustion.

It can’t be. Did she really stop the entire burst by herself? Everywhere I looked, the only human statue was this woman. I guess she was super strong. Ah, now wasn’t the right time for this.

“Elthea! How could this be, Elthea! Why... why are you here like this!” As the duke sobbed before the figure, I carefully approached him. I began to pat him on the back to comfort him, but I noticed something strange.

“This must be your daugh— Wait a minute.” I did a double-take at the statue’s face. “W-what?”

“What’s the matter, my dear child?”

“Uh... You see...”

Now that I was able to observe it up close, the statue seemed strangely familiar. The woman, garbed in a plain dress, had tightly clung to her weapons until her dying breath. Two superior blades that were used by this lone warrior to defeat an S-class boss single-handedly were still firmly gripped in her cold hands. Looking more carefully though, I realized the weapons were not swords but... a garden hoe! And some chains!

Prinz’s recollection suddenly flashed across my mind.

I saw her pick up the garden hoe and some steel chains before leaving for the forest.

She said that she was going to go smack some sense into some impudent critters that didn’t know their place… I was entranced by this woman—this woman who looked just like me. I called out to her before I could even catch myself.

“M-mom...?”

“What?!” The duke looked back at me with a spooked expression. It was clear that despite the distress in his eyes, he was trying his best to maintain his composure.

“Uh... You see... She looks just like what my brother said she looked like when she left us. Didn’t I tell you my mom took a hoe and some chains to go catch some runaway beasts?”

“Y-yes, I remember...?”

“See here. She has a garden hoe in her left hand, a chain in her right, and up there is the runaway beast’s... eye?”

An awkward silence fell between us. Grandpa let go of his petrified daughter’s statue and kneeled in front of me. It wasn’t long before the realization hit us both and we simultaneously exclaimed,

“Then your mother who ran away was...”

“Then your daughter that ran away was...”

Our repeat-runaway’s identity coincided. The duke began to tremble even harder, but he didn’t say anything else about it. We both silently agreed to share the joy of this unexpected reunion a little while later. We needed to take care of the petrification issue first.

“It doesn’t look like she’s sustained any fatal wounds to her body. She’ll probably be revived if we undo the petrification.”

“Yes, yes, that’s right. We must make haste to the Vatican at once. We need to ask them to undo the curse!”

I calmed him down, “There’s no need.”

“What?”

“But before I proceed, I need you to give me your word that you’ll keep everything you see here today a secret.”

“Wha— fine. I give you my word.” Grandpa sensed how earnest I was and immediately agreed. I thanked him and stood before what I hoped to be my mom.

“Divine Advent!”

“W-what?”

As I began to shimmer with a divine silver and gold light, I was lifted up into the air. Grandpa grabbed my wrist as if trying to keep me from floating away, but I assured him, “It’s okay. I’m not going too far anyway.”

“W-what in the world? Such raw and powerful divine power. And the ability to invoke Divine Advent...?”

“It’s all thanks to my devout faith in god. Do you want to join me? We’re in recruiting season.” I suddenly remembered my obligation to our little transmigration pyramid scheme and tried to convince the duke to join.

Grandpa was too shocked to say anything. He stood there gawking at me. I guess he needed more convincing.

“Omniscience.” I opened up the divine search engine and looked to see if there were any skills that undid salt petrification. I placed my hands on the statue’s forehead and took a deep breath.

I looked over to my grandpa, who was both nervous and expectant, and solemnly said, “I shall now undo the petrification through the grace of god. Please carve this moment into your heart for the rest of your life and remind yourself of god’s grace.”

“O-of course! Please, hurry! Bless her now!”

“Yes. Omnipotence. Baptism of Purification.”

⟬«System» Advanced Skill [Healing Field Lv.45] (+10) activated.⟭

My hands glowed brilliantly as the light began to enter the statue through its forehead. The surface of the statue began to split apart like an egg that was about to hatch.

“Hh... Ah!”

A salty cloud of dust filled the air as the woman’s petrification was undone and she gasped for breath. Her disheveled, yet vibrant hair was pink, just as I expected. She spat out the rest of the salt in her mouth and exclaimed irritably, “Ah, man! I screwed up at the end there and opened my eyes! I hope too much time hasn’t passed... Huh? Father?”

“Elthea! Oh, my great and powerful lord!”

I guess miracles just made people call out to god like that.

⟬«System» You’ve reformed a non-believer into a follower.⟭

As planned, Lord Voice’s holiness increased.

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World is satisfied by your clever evangelizing.⟭

⟬The Scale that Judges Souls bites the bottom of their lip in admiration and envy.⟭

I released Divine Advent and watched the father-daughter reunion from afar. The duke embraced his long-lost daughter, who was also my mother, into his humongous pecs.

“Elthea!” His painful wail echoed across the chamber. “Elthea!”

“F-father, why are you here?” Her hesitant faltering lasted only a moment before my mother snapped back at him. “Get off of me! What’s gotten into you?!”

“E-Elthea!”

“I said get off!”

“El— Oof!”

My jaw dropped at what I’d just witnessed. My mom had slammed my grandpa into the ground. S-she lifted him up with such ease! He probably weighs over two hundred pounds!

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World whispers that you’ll probably need to be super obedient when you both return home.⟭

That sounds about right. My mother dusted the rest of the salt off her shoulders as if it were no big deal. As she brushed her hair aside, she exclaimed, “What’s this? It can’t be. Are you Ailette?”

She spotted me.

“Um...”

She called out my name, but I was too bewildered to respond. I...need to greet her. All I needed to say was a simple “hello,” but strangely enough, I just couldn’t bring myself to say it. As I stood there motionless, my mom approached me.

“Ailette! Allie! You’re my Allie, right? How are you so big now! N-no! It can’t be! I’ve missed out on my adorable little girl’s childhood!” she exclaimed. “Wait, that’s not the issue here. Why are you in this dungeon? Do you know how dangerous this place is? Are you hurt anywhere? Let me see.”

She knelt down and met me at eye level. Her eyes were filled with worry and affection as she searched my arms and legs and face for any injuries.

What’s this? Why does my chest feel so heavy? It’s such a strange sensation.

“You don’t seem to be injured. Are you okay?”

I nodded slightly.

“Phew, that’s a relief. Anyway, this is all so crazy. I can’t even begin to fathom how many years have passed. How old is my baby girl now?”

I could feel the weight of what I was about to say resting heavily on my shoulders. “Ten... I’m ten years old.”

“What! What the hell! It’s already been six years?! Ah! I’m so sorry! Mommy said a bad word! Allie! How have you been? Did you miss Mommy?” she asked. “D-do you not remember me? It’s mom. I’m your mother... You didn’t forget about Mommy, right? What’s the matter, Allie? Talk to me. Don’t make such a sad face.”

What did my expression look like to make her say that? I covered my face with my hands. But I just couldn’t respond. I couldn’t think at all right now. The rush of love and affection was just too sweet and warm and mushy. I didn’t have any sort of tolerance built up in response to this kind of sappy, cotton-candy kindness from a grown woman.

My mind was in a state of chaos. Why? What was happening? It hasn’t even been that long since I took over Ailette Rodeline’s life. Why was I so shaken by the presence of my transmigration host’s mother?

I tried my best to swallow the lump in my throat and managed to say, “I-I’m... sorry. I don’t think I remember.”

“Well... Y-yes. Of course, you don’t. The last time I saw you was when you were four.” Mom’s face became downcast. Perhaps it was because she was about to burst into tears at any moment, but she pulled me into her arms. My mom hugged me tight and soothed me. She rubbed my back softly as I stood frozen and unable to move.

The heat emanated from her completely de-petrified body. I knew it wasn’t right, but I really felt like I was reverting back to being a child. The happiest moment I had experienced after becoming Ailette Rodeline was when I found out that I had a father and a brother again. The mere existence of a family that loved me unconditionally and was always on my side was more than enough to make up for this world being at an S-class difficulty level.

Yes, I admit it. I like the life I’ve transmigrated to. Maybe it was because my father and brother in this world felt remarkably familiar to me. I imagined that this is what it would feel like if my entire family on Earth transmigrated into this world. It had seemed ironic to me that even my transmigration host didn’t have a mom, but I was already used to that. Having a father and brother was more than enough.

Yes, more than enough. I had the body of a child, but my mind was much older. I’m a grown person. I’m way past the age where I need a mo... But that wasn’t really true, was it? No. Me too. I want a mom too. Please. I wish I had a mom. I needed a mom. I’ve always yearned for a mom.

This wish of mine would remain the same, even if I were to return to my original age. No, my wish would stay the same, even if I were to become an old grandma with white hair. Even to an adult, even to a grandma, a mom will always be a mom.

Recognizing what I really yearned for deep down allowed the little girl inside me—the one who was never able to grow due to a lack of love—to raise her head and awaken. As I rediscovered a hidden part of myself, my mom spoke up with a wavering voice.

“B-but... Mom is back now. I’m with you right here, next to you, Allie. So... won’t you call me Mom...? Please?”

“Mom...”

“Yes, yes! Yes, Allie! It’s Mom!”

There was something that I really wanted to ask. “Are... Are all moms like this?”

“Hm?”

“Do they all hug their kids like this? Do I... Do I really have... a mom now?”

The words just slipped out of my mouth like a thoughtless child.

I didn’t get a response. But instead, her embrace became a little warmer. “Mom is... Mom is so sorry. I’ve left you and Rinz and Dad alone for far too long, haven’t I? I’m sorry. I’m really sorry! And thank you. Thank you for growing up into this beautiful, brave young girl, even though mom wasn’t there for you. I’ll never leave you again. I will never leave Allie’s side. Moving forward, we’re going to live together. Happily. Okay? Pinky promise.”

“You... You promised.”

I finally discovered the answer to the biggest question of my life.

So this is what having a mom is like.