She could have been more like a child and cried…

To think, she had tried to hide such excruciating pain. She was not just an innocent and lovely girl, she was beyond lovely; she was like a lotus that had bloomed from the deep darkness of the world. She tried to bury her pain to protect others.

"Has she been carrying this misery all along?" Sungjin asked Kuga as he continued holding Rachel in his arms.

"Yes, every time the curse engraves deeper on her heart, it activates the pain."

"The Holy Nation…what did they do to this child?" Sungjin's voice was ice cold.

He was not angry but in a cold in rage.

"Her tattoo is not a tattoo; it's an embodiment of the curse. The real curse has been engraved on her heart."

"What's the curse?"

"She gets the pains every day, and it further chains her heart and body. Eventually, the time will come when the evil G.o.d will take away her life."

"When is that?"

Kuga paused before answering the question.

"Her next birthday; we have six more months."

Sungjin now understood why Rachel said she hoped the day would come when she would be grown up. It was not because of the fear that the fanatics of Rupellions may come after her. It was the fear of death she was fighting every day. It was through her pain that she realized her death was near.

She had kept it to herself to prevent others from worrying about her. Sungjin would have preferred that she had been crying out for help. She thought she had no future; she thought she would never become an adult or fall in love with someone. But now, it was going to be different.

I will give her that future.

"Tell me how to lift this curse."

"You need to get the fruit of G.o.d."

"The fruit of G.o.d?"

With Sungjin's question, Kuga looked at him with his glowing rainbow-colored fur. It looked like a star had come down from the sky and was s.h.i.+ning before him. Kuga's voice didn't come from his mouth; the air around him vibrated and made the sound.

Through a thousand years, the sentiment of the world has flowed underground to make an ocean of sentiments and to bloom one flower of a dream.

Sungjin couldn't figure out if it was Kuga talking or the G.o.ddess.

That is the crystalized miracle of G.o.d. When someone deserving holds the flower, the person's wish will come true.

The light made ripples, disappeared, and Kuga took a deep breath.

"Those were the words of the G.o.ddess. The fruit of G.o.d is produced once every thousand years in secret."

"The fruit of G.o.d…when is the next fruit due?"

Sungjin eyes shone sharply. Believed to be a myth, if Kuga said the cure was the fruit of G.o.d, it had to be more than a myth.

"Yes, we should be able to catch the timing."

"The child of G.o.d and the fruit of G.o.d..."

"The timing is not a coincidence."

"Of course; where can we get the fruit of G.o.d?"

"On illusion island."

"Where is illusion island?"

Sungjin knew it was possibly in Valhalla. It was a place where they had the power of G.o.ds, both mystery and magic together. A place with an invincible s.h.i.+eld and a cursed blood sword that could destroy a mountain. The fruit of G.o.d was real.

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"It's in the middle of Aselan Ocean on the east side from here. We can locate it on the marine chart, but the problem is it's in the middle of the ocean between Rupellion and the four kingdoms."

"So, we should be the first ones there. Let's talk more about that later."

"Hmm…there's one more thing."

"What's that?"

"Hmm..." Kuga hesitated before speaking.

"I should tell you the whole truth. With the fruit, we can lift more than just the curse of Rachel."

"What else?"

"We could probably solve your issue with the level."

"What?"

"The legend says everything is possible with the miracle of G.o.d, and a thousand years ago… the fruit was used to give the level."

"Really?"

"Yes, well, the story is from a thousand years ago, so we can't be 100 percent sure, but it's most likely true."

Should he save Rachel or should he use the fruit to achieve his dreams?

"Got it," Sungjin answered without hesitation.

"What will you do?"

"Save Rachel; that was the whole point from the beginning." When he answered without delay, Kuga didn't know what to say.

"But don't you want to get your level? Isn't that what you've always wanted?"

"Wanted? I would say it's a necessity."

Sungjin knew to get to the center and then the sacred territory, he wouldn't be able to keep up with only his intelligence and physical power as a human. His enemies were getting stronger and at some point he wouldn't be able to fight them without a new kind of power.

But that's why...

"I will find a way myself. The fruit that can save the child has to be used for the child." When Sungjin declared this confidently, Kuga bowed down.

"I apologize for thinking you needed time to make your decision."

"It's okay. Let's tell Rachel the good news." Before he finished his sentence, Rachel woke up.

"Oh…Sungjin Oppa?"

"The next time you're in such horrible pain, tell me."

"Sorry, I didn't want to make you worry about me."

"Yes. I know sometimes I can't really help you, but..." Sungjin held Rachel's hands.

"I know, but I want to at least try to find a solution. Not knowing the pain of your team members is a sad thing."

"Is…it?"

"It is. Let me worry about you and try to help you."

Rachel blushed.

Oh…your arms are so warm and sweet.

Sungjin's every word touched her heart. She was so happy that there was someone worrying about her and wis.h.i.+ng she wouldn't feel pain. When he held her in his arms feeling the same pain…she felt bad but relieved.

Before, when experiencing the pain, she sometimes doubted if the G.o.ddess would really save her; but when he hugged her, she felt like she was able to see a brighter future.

"Rachel, there's good news."

"What's that?"

"I know how to lift the curse; Kuga had a divine revelation."

Rachel's body was s.h.i.+vering with surprise.

"Re…really my curse can be lifted?"

Kuga nodded with a smile.

"Yes, the G.o.ddess revealed how."

"The G.o.ddess..." Rachel didn't know what to say or do.

"Thank you…thank you…really thank you..." She started to cry again.

"Thank you for saving me…I will try…harder…from now on..." Sungjin had cheered her up.

"Now you don't have to hide your pain anymore."

"So I can…be cured? I won't need to feel the pain anymore?"

"Yes, soon you will be," Sungjin promised.

"...I'm so happy…so happy…but I can't stop crying..."

"Because you're so happy," Sungjin held her tight.

Her body was so small and thin.

She was a child of G.o.d who could hear the voice of nature, and she was the saint who had saved everyone from the epidemic. She was a supporter of level seven and, at the same time, just a little fragile child. A child hidden away from the sunlight until recently, one who religious fanatics had made a sacrifice, forced to feel pain tearing her body apart every day, the whole time waiting for the G.o.ddess to save her. That was Rachel.

I will find the fruit of G.o.d to lift her curse.

Sungjin promised himself again.

There must be more than just a child of G.o.d or the fruit of G.o.d. Rupellion and Eldorado were hiding something, but it doesn't matter. Whatever conspiracy they were hiding, whatever plan was waiting for me, I will keep going forward and save her. There must be people trying to use this, but I will save this little girl.

"I will save you." Sungjin promised.

"Sungjin Oppa…thank you..."