Published: August 10, 2026
Almost at the same time as Ferdinand raised his voice in panic, the people at the edge of my vision clutched their chests and grimaced, and groans began to rise from here and there. What I could see was the same as when I was pressing someone down with my aura. But right now, I wasn't feeling anger so intense that my mind went blank.
It was only fear swelling out of control.
"No... this wasn't what I meant to—"
Seeing my own fear, which had swelled up inside me, tormenting other people only made my terror of the divine power of the goddess grow stronger.
"Suppress your emotions, Rosemine."
Ferdinand grabbed my shoulders, as if to keep me from seeing everyone else's condition and to protect them from the divine power of the goddess. He too was frowning in pain, cold sweat beading on his brow as he looked down at me with a serious expression. Even Ferdinand wasn't able to keep his usual composure.
"Lord Ferdinand, please step away. The closer you are, the more the effect—"
Since Ferdinand is someone very important to me, I didn't want to hurt him with my power. As I slapped at the hand on my shoulder, I prayed that he would move away.
The next moment, Ferdinand coughed. The strange "coff" sound triggered my memory, and fragmented scenes from after my baptism ceremony in commoner life came back to me in pieces, showing me the memory of facing off with the head priest and the high priest in the temple.
Back then, I had been desperately trying to protect someone. Right now, I wasn't protecting anyone. I was only hurting them. If possible, I wanted to stop immediately, but even though it was power that should have been within me, I didn't know how to handle it.
"Use that power properly, and protect the city."
"I promise I won't use it in a way that would get me scolded... I promise."
Suddenly, a promise I had made to someone echoed in my mind. It should have been an important promise. The regret of having broken it made me feel like crying. My reason was warning me not to become any more emotional, but I didn't know how to restrain myself.
"Lord Ferdinand, please, I'm begging you, step away. I made a promise with someone. That I would use my power to protect them."
Judging by Ferdinand's complexion, I could tell the divine power of the goddess leaking out was increasing even more. Ferdinand, who had coughed several times, had red blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, the same as in my memory.
"Let go!"
I shook off Ferdinand's hand, which had reached out as if to embrace me, and fled from the spot. Because I had stood up so abruptly, the chair tipped over with a loud crash.
...How far away do I have to go before it's safe?...
I looked around the room, searching for an escape route. The door connecting to the Central Building was on the opposite side of the table, and people would suffer even more before I could reach it. The door back to the dormitory was behind me, but if I returned to the dormitory, I would only increase the number of people I hurt.
After glancing at his own hand, which I had shaken off, Ferdinand quickly wiped the blood from his mouth and turned his gaze to Foster Father.
"Aub Ehrenfest, please give Hartmut and the others permission to enter!"
"Enter, Hartmut."
Holding one hand to his chest, Foster Father sent Ordnance off with the other.
As soon as Ordnance on Hartmut's arm had the chance to say, "Enter, Hartmut," the door connecting to the dormitory opened and the six of them—Hartmut, Clarissa, Matthias, Laurenz, Grethia, and Roderich—came in.
"Excuse us."
"Hartmut, you mustn't come near me either—"
"It's all right, Lady Rosemine. We are always wrapped in Lady Rosemine's power, so while we can feel that your power has increased and sense its divinity, it doesn't affect us much."
Smiling and telling me not to worry, the men stood around me and built a wall between me and everyone else in the meeting. Perhaps because the wall blocked the divine power of the goddess a little, the groans of pain stopped. Just that alone eased my fear a little and lightened my heart.