I WAS The Rank–1 Hero-Chapter 73: Nathalia [4]

"I never intended to go against you, Master, not even in my dreams." She lightly shook her head.

Lilith’s voice carried no hesitation. It was laced with absolute loyalty and an unwavering devotion for her Master—that reflected clearly in her blood-red eyes, even I noticed that.

A warm smile spread across Nathalia’s lips. She didn’t say anything, but the way she looked at Lilith, though blindfolded, felt almost affectionate.

’What exactly is the relation between these two?’

But that didn’t answer my question.

If she was this loyal to her master, then—

Why did she do that to the Defender?

He was someone who wouldn’t dare to attract any unnecessary trouble towards him.

But before I could voice my own thoughts, Nathalia spoke again.

Her voice now lost its previous warmth.

"Explain why you went against my order."

Her tone was sharp, her words carrying the weight of the authority she held.

The air around me grew heavier, as if the room itself bent under her presence.

My eyes widened as I saw something which I would never forget.

A sight I never imagined I would witness.

A sight worthy of being praised.

The 𝘮ost uptodat𝑒 novels are pub𝙡ished on freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

Two beings stood in stark contrast with each other.

One with silver-white hair with a pure white blindfold, and the other with obsidian hair.

One, a deity. The other, a fallen angel.

Both of their white-feathered wings shifted slightly with each little movement they made.

Lilith, the ever-loyal servant, knelt on the cold marble floor. Her wings twitched with the weight of her emotions.

Nathalia, standing before her, she was radiating an aura of divinity. She was a vision of absolute power—by a mere sight at them, one can tell who the master and servant were.

It was a scene that should have belonged in myths, paintings, and scriptures.

It was as if—

A disciple was kneeling before her goddess.

It was a moment frozen in time.

A tale from legend.

But this was no legend.

This was all real.

And I was witnessing it with my own eyes.

Lilith took a slow breath.

"Master Nathalia," she spoke, her voice now filled with deep regret. "I… I simply wasn’t able to control my emotions."

She lowered her gaze for a moment before continuing.

"That human… the one I left on his deathbed… his willpower was beyond anything I have ever seen. He was—"

She hesitated.

"He was worthy of being recognized by my mother."

…Mother?

Who—

Wait.

She was talking about the Defender?

I blinked, deducing her words.

Lilith’s mother… that could only mean one thing.

The Defender possessed a willpower so strong that even a being like Lilith’s mother, the Goddess of Will, found herself drawn to it.

So, was he worthy of being an Authority Holder?

I didn’t doubt it.

If there was anyone who could fit the role, it was probably him.

His willpower was nothing short of insane.

No matter how dire his situation was, no matter how much the odds were against him—

He never gave in.

He always pushed forward.

Even I envied that.

After hearing Lilith, Nathalia spoke.

"Is that so?" her voice carrying a hint of amusement.

Then, she turned to me, her expression unchanged, her blindfold gaze locked onto me.

She held her right hand to her chest, and apologized.

"My deepest apologies to the great Paradox. My servant here has a bad attitude toward those who possess strong wills. After all… controlling humans with unshakable resolve tends to have… uncertain consequences for the wielder of Will. Isn’t that right, Lilith?"

At her last sentence her head slightly shifts towards Lilith.

"Yes, my master," Lilith answered.

Then, Lilith turned to me, lowering her head once more.

She pressed her forehead to the floor, and with her sincere voice, she spoke.

"Please accept my humble apology, Sir Paradox."

I remained silent.

’Please stop with all this head bow.’

Nathalia, however, continued, "That is correct," she said. "But don’t worry. I shall give her a suitable punishment of your choice."

’My choice?’

I didn’t bother questioning her further about it.

Instead, something else weighed on my mind.

So, without wasting any more of our time, I asked.

"What do you want in return?"

There was no way she was just offering her help without expecting something equal in value.

She stepped back from me and made herself comfortable on her bed. Placing one of her smooth, exposed legs over the other, she answered me.

"I already told you what I wanted."

Her voice was steady, filled with certainty.

"Trust."

That’s what she wanted.

But why?

And from me, of all people?

I narrowed my eyes, and asked the most important question.

"How did you know I was an Authority Holder?"

A warm smile formed on her lips.

"Isn’t it obvious?" she said. "I am the Dream Authority Holder. I can see and alter every dream, every memory you have ever seen…"

She paused, then added with a playful tone,

"And more than that… I even trapped you in one of my dreams. That’s when I knew."

A light chuckle escaped from her.

"Hehe… I even sent the girl of your dreams to you. Did you like it?"

The girl of my dreams?

What was she—

Then, my Ruler skill activated, and with my heightened intelligence, I quickly pieced it together.

She was talking about Ruby.

"...Haaah."

A long sigh escaped my lips.

I know my current feelings towards her very well, and I didn’t want to think about that matter now.

But something still didn’t sit right.

"Is gaining my trust the only reason you teleported all of us here?"

I know it was a ridiculous question, honestly what was I thinking?

Isn’t it obvious, she only realized after the teleportation that I held the Authority of Paradox.

If that was the case, then there was no way she could have teleported all of us just to meet me—someone she didn’t even know existed at the time.

Nathalia’s lips curled into a smile.

"How would I know that an Authority Holder got caught up in my teleportation?" she said.

"I simply teleported all of you here because of ’His’ order."

…His?

As if reading my expression, she continued.

"Curious? I have worked under him for over a millennia. I have watched the Demon Continent grow with my own two eyes. I even witnessed the destruction of Olympus. I know every detail about both the Gods and the Demons…"

She stood up, and took a step forward, her voice lowering each time into something almost conspiratorial.

"If you agree to help me with a small favor… I shall bestow all of my knowledge about the Gods, Demons, and The Authority upon you."

"..."

I went silent.

She must be crazy.

She was offering too much in return for something as simple as my trust.

"Why?" I asked, my voice now was almost a whisper evn to my own ears. "Why do you want my trust? I am nobody. I am only a human… a human who was once humanity’s strongest, who was betrayed, and had his legacy taken away."

A huge smile spread across Nathalia’s face.

Sera, who had been silent all this time, remained the same.

And then, Nathalia spoke.

"Of course, I want your trust," she said.

"And not only me—almost every god and their apostles of the fallen Olympus will, too."

Then, she tilted her head.

"Didn’t Ylthea tell you?"

…Ylthea?

My heart pounded.

"That…"

Nathalia’s smile deepened.

"You are the child from that prophecy."

End of Chapter.