It’s Not Night - Chapter 113

Hearing the bright ringing, Anat raised her head. The surroundings were very cluttered. The women who served as servants were looking at her with astonished eyes. What is going on? At that moment, a sharp smell hit her, and Anat looked at her hand.

It was all covered with red blood. Blood flowed from her torn wrist. But it wasn’t just the wrist that was bleeding. Blood was also flowing between her legs.

“Ah… what is this…”

Passing through her slimmer stomach, she tried to lift her dress, which was soaked in blood, but her vision started to blur. Tears dripped nonstop to the floor. What’s wrong? Before long, Anat, who didn’t even have the strength to wipe her tears, let her hand drop down. Everywhere, all she could see was the blood she had spilled. But Anat didn’t feel dizzy or sick, as someone who had actually shed blood.

She was just sad.

Something was making her feel empty. She felt that she had lost something most precious to her. What should she do with this emptiness that she would never be able to fill again, no matter what?

Anat sat there in silence like a doll, watching the blood that continued to flow down from her wrist. Red blood. It’s strange no matter how she looks at it. It didn’t look like her own blood.

Then someone came up behind her. The sound of jingling gold. Even without turning her head, Anat could tell who the guest was.

“My dear sister.”

Before she knew it, the god without animal horns was standing in front of Anat. With a colder and more severe face than ever before.

Anat wanted to smile at her, but she couldn’t. It seemed that all the power in her body was flowing out, together with her blood. She didn’t even have the strength left to lift the corners of her mouth. Anat faced Nera with her face still shedding tears.

“Nera.”

“In the end, you received a wound you shouldn’t have received, too.”

“I’m sorry.”

Nera lowered her head and looked into Anat’s tears. Transparent water droplets illuminated her bare face. A true face that is not revealed at all. That’s why she didn’t want to face Anat even more, so she put on the mask of a beast. But now she can’t. Because she has to look straight at her own sister. Nera asked, reaching out her hand and wiping away Anat’s tears.

“Do you still love that human who’s lacking?”

“I loved him because he pursued the ideal that I was lacking.”

“That’s why I told you not to believe him. No, you shouldn’t have believed him. Do you know what you look like now?”

“Nera.”

As Anat called her name, Nera said nothing and took a step back. She looked down at Anat with her stiff head. A woman who was once a god but became human because she loved a man. No matter how much she warned Anat, Anat ended up choosing to get hurt.

“The trial is over. Aren’t you curious how Mother will act?”

“I don’t know. I can’t think of anything anymore.”

She still did not know what she was supposed to think. Anat answered in a faint voice. For a long time, her mind was a blank slate. She couldn’t think of anything. It was as if her world was shattered—that everything’s gone. Anat was no longer the wise and proud god of wisdom and ideals.

Did Nera foresee this? Or did Mother already know? Rather, Dean…

Nera suddenly clicked her tongue.

“You worry about that human man when you can’t think of anything.”

“That poor child.”

“Yes, you loved him because he was lacking and pitiful.”

“…He did nothing wrong.”

Originally, really… he was a good man. He was a brave man who thought of everyone and wanted to go further. He loved her and begged her for love. He fell into anxiety because of her choice. It’s just that anxiety ruined that child. It’s not his fault.

Anat kept defending Dean. Nera listened to it silently. Then she quietly parted her lips.

“He was a man with an ugly greed. The fact that you didn’t pass the trial is proof of that. And look. He made you like this. He brought you down from god to human. He ruined everything about you. He is ugly and unforgivable.”

“Nera…”

“I’ve been looking into that human man’s greed for a long time. You should know how big and deep it is. No, are you going to love that part of him now, too?”

Nera’s tone gradually turned to reproach. Anat was still staring at Nera with tears in her eyes.

“I told you. Beware of human men. Don’t defend him. He will ruin you. I told you not to bring on Mother’s anger. You’re my sister. Why didn’t you heed your sister’s warning? Why did you cover your ears? Why did you love that man blindly? Was he that much more important than your sister or your mother?”

“…….”

“Pitiful? Did you really think you could bear all that pity? You fool! How could you love him? You say you love that ugly and lacking existence? I know what love is! You know what prank Basham was playing with love! I thought you wouldn’t fall for it. I thought that even if you fell for Basham’s prank, it would only be for a moment, and you wouldn’t fall into that absurd feeling!”

So, so… I chose you… Nera couldn’t control her anger and her body was shaking. Her eyes glistened with anger. Nera glared at the blood that was drenching Anat’s feet. Through this blood, the life of the most precious and important god in this world was being wasted. Because of only one human man!

“Anat, you knew! You knew! How is it that among the gods there was not a single one who could oppose Mother! Knowing what Mother was worried about and had in mind, why would you love a human man? You know… You know better than anyone…”

When Nera couldn’t bear to speak any more, Anat answered.

“…That’s why I was the ideal. I’m so sorry, Nera.”

Nera bowed her head. Then she began to let out sobs as her shoulders trembled pitifully. My sister. My dear Anat. You can’t do that. Why did you do that, why… Soon Nera raised her head in a weeping face. Then she cut off her little finger and bled. Blue blood gushed out.

“Don’t die. I can’t watch you die.”

Nera opened Anat’s mouth and inserted her little finger into it. They would be in a predicament if their Mother, the primordial god, would find out about this, but she couldn’t watch her sister die. Her sister was dying for one human man.

It was the ugly human men who had to die, the human who was looking beyond the realm of the gods.

“Nera, then you…”

“Live, Anat. Live and see carefully how Mother shall punish the humans, including your human man. That is the punishment and trial for you.”

The blue blood began to restore Anat’s body. It made the severe wound on her wrist heal, and the blood flowing between her legs stopped. The pale complexion gradually became lively, and the delicately dried limbs returned to their normal state. Her body was rejuvenating and sprouting.

“Don’t, don’t do this, the more you…”

“You can make mistakes… Even gods can make mistakes. So let’s start over after erasing everything. Just like Mother, like the other world she created, you just need to start over. I’ll ask Mother. To erase all your memories, and to let you be reborn.”

“Nera, are you going to go against Mother’s wishes too?”

Anat, who had gained strength, struggled. However, there was no way that Anat, who was still only a human, could overcome Nera’s grasp. Anat was forced to drink Nera’s blood.

“I won’t blame you anymore. Mother’s trial is over, and the human man has revealed his true nature. My sister, my dear Anat. Don’t try to die. You can’t die. You must see the end of the existence that made you this way. Will you become weak just like you became human? So why not hold your sister’s hand?”

When Anat fully recovered, Nera withdrew her hand. The blue blood stopped there. Anat looked up at Nera, wiping the tears from her cheeks. Nera was holding out her hand to her.

Anat hesitated to hold that hand. Can she really hold that hand?

“I still have Dean…”

At that time. The ground started to shake with a roar. Something was randomly pouring down from the sky and attacking Hezel. Anat stared out the window with a surprised face. Beside her, Nera spoke calmly.

“Mother’s wrath has begun.”

* * *

Bang! Andra was awakened by a ringing sound somewhere. It was still early in the morning. There were a few more hours before they left for the border area. Bang! When she checked the time, the ground rumbled again.

Andra hastily jumped out of the carriage. But strangely it was quiet outside. Like everyone hadn’t heard it, no one was awake except for a few soldiers standing guard.

‘What? Am I the only one who can hear it?’

Andra decided to walk in the direction of the sound, avoiding the eyes of the soldiers standing guard. It seemed to be coming from a place not far away, but she needed to find out. It might be a monster. She wished she could get it out of the way before it would harm the others.

Bang! As she left their camp and went forward through the woods, she heard it again. Where? Where is it? Andra looked around, trying as best she could to find the source of the sound.

At that moment, there was a hand hugging Andra from behind. Andra tried to scream, but as she felt the familiar touch, she looked up instead.

“Dustin?”

It was Dustin who simply hurried out in a simple outfit, as if he had heard the banging too. He raised his index finger and gestured to Andra to be quiet. Dustin pulled her even more into his arms.

“That sound. Did you hear?”

“Yes, I thought I was the only one who could hear…”

“I think it’s over there, near the tree.”

Dustin, who had excellent senses, muttered with a low voice, listening to the sound. Andra turned her head to follow his gaze. A very large tree stood in the distance. Andra hurriedly struggled to get out of Dustin’s arms, and said.

“Let’s go.”

But in Dustin’s strong grip, Andra failed to break free. He held Andra tightly and wouldn’t let go. Dustin narrowed his eyes as he spoke to Andra.

“Do you know what it could be? It’s dangerous.”

“I still have to go. I can’t just stand here and listen.”

Again, bang! As if it was urging Andra to hear the sound. Then Dustin immediately thought of something and took off his jacket and put it on Andra.

“Then stay here. It’d be better if I go.”