I could only watch silently as Leticia cried.
I couldn’t even imagine offering comfort or expressing concern. The secret hidden within the Asley family was that shocking, and it froze Ian.
‘To think that giving birth to a child shortens one’s lifespan. To think there’s such a ridiculous curse.’
Normally, Ian would dismiss such a claim as a lie, but now he couldn’t take it so lightly.
Leticia had fallen ill with an unexplained disease, and even the high priests of Edenria couldn’t cure it.
If her lifespan had been drastically shortened, it would be no surprise that they couldn’t treat her.
Even with the blessing of the Goddess, she couldn’t extend the lifespan of a human chosen by God.
“If there’s such a curse, haven’t you considered curing it? Or perhaps even now, there’s a way?”
“… No, there’s no need for that.”
Shaking her head while holding Ian’s hand tightly, Leticia’s words didn’t mean that she refused treatment. It meant that she had already explored all possible methods, but there was no suitable solution.
As a noble family, the Asley family had surely tried everything to break the curse.
They must have used all the means at their disposal.
“Perhaps they tried Miler, who is famous for curse magic, or even reached out to Edenria for help.”
Even after trying all these things, the reason Leticia was still bedridden was simple.
The Asley family had not found a way to lift the curse on them.
If they couldn’t find a solution soon, Leticia might soon close her eyes forever.
‘I don’t think using Super Regeneration would have much effect, but… it might be worth trying since there’s nothing to lose.’
Her lifespan had been shortened, not just from an injury or illness, so Ian didn’t expect great results from using Super Regeneration.
Still, he couldn’t just watch idly by.
‘I’d prefer not to wake Neltalion now… but…’
He thought to himself that he would have to use her power to try anything. He might need to use ultra-regeneration quickly and then put her back to sleep.
Just as Ian was about to call upon Neltalion within him, he was interrupted.
Suddenly, Leticia began stroking his hand.
“Hmm? Do you have something to say?”
When their eyes met, Ian could tell that she had something she wanted to say, but she didn’t answer.
She simply shook her head and held his hand tightly.
But Ian immediately understood what his mother was trying to convey.
“Wouldn’t it be better to get treatment…?”
“It’s okay. I’ve already accepted what the end of my fate will be.”
“Even so, if we just let it go, it will get out of control.”
Death. Once it arrives, everything will end.
The face of Killain, with whom she had hoped to stay together since their academy days, and the faces of the children they had together, would soon disappear.
Most importantly, it would be the end of any opportunity to regret or apologize for the actions of her younger years, when she oppressed her son.
“Death will come.”
To be honest, she was scared. Who wants to die?
When life is hard and hopeless, such thoughts may arise. But now that the Demon God had lost its life and all turmoil had settled, the world Leticia would live in from now on promised a peaceful life without major struggles.
To think that she alone would be absent from this world everyone else dreams of—it was a terrifying thought.
However, Leticia had long since realized that she would never experience that future.
“Before you came, I had many conversations with your father. Since childhood, even when we attended the academy.”
“…”
“And as time passed, our conversations gradually shifted to the time when we had you. At that point, Killain quietly said. Though he couldn’t express it, he felt like the gods were playing with him.”
“God… were playing with him?”
Ian’s face twisted at her words.
What Killain felt wasn’t a mere sentiment.
‘If you think about it, it’s true that the God were playing with him. Ian Volkanov wasn’t supposed to exist in this world.’
It wasn’t that the Goddess directly ordered Ian to be hated, but Gaia had already considered him a being that should have died.
Those who lived in Gaia also felt that strange dissonance.
Killain had realized it, but Leticia hadn’t known, probably because his instincts, which had sharply increased since becoming a Mana Master, had caught onto it.
Seeing her son’s stiffened expression, Leticia tried to reassure him with a smile, even though she wondered if she had made him worry unnecessarily.
“I’m fine. Death doesn’t bother me at all.”
“Aren’t you afraid?”
“I am afraid. How could I not be afraid?”
But there was something more frightening than that.
“However, there was one thought I had. Even though I couldn’t do what I should have as a parent, I thought maybe it would be better to die and leave this world with a sense of relief, rather than living without ever seeing you again.”
To close her eyes without being able to say a single word of apology.
Leticia looked at Ian with gratitude to the Goddess, thankful that such a terrible thing would no longer happen.
“I’m sorry, Ian… I won’t ask for your forgiveness. What I did is something that can never be forgiven.”
Tears flowed from her eyes, and before she could even wipe them away, she continued speaking.
“I’m sorry for everything. I kept you locked away in a room just because I didn’t want to see you cry. I made that messy warehouse your room. All the favoritism I showed to Ariel. As a mother, I couldn’t even tell you I loved you.”
When death comes, people tend to look back on their lives.
Leticia, too, had slowly reflected on the past during her time alone.
How she had been cold to her son when he asked for praise after getting perfect marks.
How, instead of speaking out against those who disregarded him, she had joined in.
She had known all along that her son suffered because of her personal feelings, yet she had closed her eyes and ears to it.
There were many other mistakes too.
She hadn’t helped her son develop his extraordinary talent, and had even trampled on it.
She hadn’t known that her son couldn’t eat seafood until he was an adult, yet she scolded him for being picky with food.
Finally.
“What I regret the most is that I never said ‘I love you’ to you… I’m really sorry.”
“…”
“I know that saying this now is a terrible thing, and that I’m not deserving of being a mother, but I still wanted to say this at least once.”
She poured out almost all the feelings she had been holding inside.
Now, there was only one thing left.
“I have one last request. Would you hear me out, Ian?”
“What is it?”
“I know I don’t deserve it, but… could you please call me ‘mother’ just one more time?”
If she could hear those words, Leticia felt that she could face death and die peacefully, having overcome her fear.
Her last request, with her life nearing its end.
There was only one answer Ian could give.
“That… would be difficult.”
“I see…”
“I once read something in an old book. It said that when a person dies… they go either to heaven or hell, depending on the sins they committed in life.”
“…”
“It said that those who go to hell are punished for their sins. And once they’ve paid their debts, they’re given another chance to live a new life as a human.”
“Ian… what do you mean by that?”
Ian, with his head lowered, continued speaking without answering her question directly.
“When that time comes… when all the sins are cleared and a new life is offered, please treat your children well. If you do that, I believe I will be able to forgive you.”
Ian stood up abruptly, unable to hold back the tears that threatened to burst.
Leticia, stunned by his words, could only watch him silently as he walked toward the door.
He would leave soon. Once he walked through that door, it would likely be the last time she saw him in this life.
At least, Leticia felt that way. As she stared at him, not wanting to miss even a moment of his final moments, she was lost in thought.
“Oh. There’s one more thing I didn’t say.”
“What is it…?”
“They say that family bonds are the strongest things in this world, and they can’t easily be broken. Not even by death. Perhaps because of that, once people become family, they’re likely to become family again in the next life. I also heard that when children die, the parents who died first come to welcome them. I really like that story.”
“… Son.”
“I will wait eagerly for that day. So, close your eyes peacefully.”
Leticia knew exactly what Ian’s words meant.
She smiled warmly and nodded silently.
“Thank you for being born as my son.”
Without looking back, Ian left the room.
Leticia sent him off with a sense of relief.
‘I, too… will wait for that time.’
In that moment, death could no longer scare her.
