Chapter 583
"Trinity..." Erice repeated the word softly, feeling her thoughts were somewhat chaotic.
"Yes, that's right, it's the Trinity!"
Lilith blinked again, then gave Erice a mysterious smile.
Then, she pointed with the lollipop in her mouth at the Angel on either side of the screen.
"The figure on the far left represents the Father, and he is wearing a gold and red cloak."
"The one on the right represents the Holy Spirit, and is wearing a green robe."
"The table they were surrounding was interpreted as symbolizing an altar."
Lilith went on and on.
These explanations were almost identical to those written in the thin instruction manual in Erice's hand.
However, Erice had no time to ponder these theological allusions at the moment.
She was simply utterly confused.
Lilith, why are you here?
Shouldn't this guy be glued to Novia's side like a clingy leech, with a lollipop in his mouth and surrounded by that noisy group of Lilitu, 24/7?
How could someone come to the church just like me? It's unbelievable.
However, upon hearing Lilith mention the "Trinity," Erice thought of the "Holy Spirit" Novia and the "Son of God" Jesus...
How should I put it?
It feels very subtle.
Lilith seemed to see through Erice's conflicted thoughts, and with a smile, she reached out and pinched Erice's tense cheek.
"Pfft."
Although Lilith didn't quite understand the specifics of the relationship between Jesus and Novia.
But since Jesus is the "Son of God" and calls Novia "Father," Lilith finds the whole thing quite interesting.
However, what angered Lilith even more was Shekinah, who seized the opportunity after Jesus' ascension to become Novia's "mother".
Damn it!
She wants to be one too!
Such a great opportunity, and you didn't even tell me, your older sister!
Seriously...
Novia had already told Lilith that Shekinah was, in a way, his mother.
Therefore, Lilith naturally felt quite unhappy with this "sister".
She probably selectively forgot that she was the one who led to Shekinah's "fall from grace".
The reason Lilith was here this time wasn't because Luce had said anything to her adoptive mother.
Rather, it was because they sensed Erice that they came to this Sanctuary with that thought in mind.
How should I put it?
Lilith considered herself to be the former Queen of Heaven, Anat.
So, if Erice makes a wish here...
So, the fact that he himself appeared before Erice proves that the likelihood of her wish succeeding is extremely high, doesn't it?
Lilith seems to be doing something that doesn't bring her any direct benefit.
And that is indeed the case.
But Lilith now considers herself quite "generous".
She thought of him.
I was reminded of Novia.
He will always remember, and said he would always remember, those Nameless children who were not etched into the cold history.
Since that death was given to us by this world.
Therefore, it is his responsibility to remember them.
Remember why you were happy, and why Sorrow.
The death of another person is, in any case, their own affair; or rather, it must be their own affair.
Otherwise, humanity would be easily and utterly crushed by the immense Sorrow of the death of others.
But it's okay.
I am not human.
That's what I said.
That's right.
Therefore, Lilith will do the same.
Despite being Anat and Lilith's past, it is filled with all sorts of unpleasant and dark history.
But this doesn't stop Lilith from doing so, after all, her memory is exceptionally good.
Not to mention...
His brilliance probably also includes his past experiences of how this emotion could be touched.
After all--
"Yahu."
After all, there is a saying in Egypt that "Anat - Jehovah" and "Anat-Yahu" were originally one.
Clearly, Erice wasn't used to the motherly smile on Lilith's face, and couldn't help but shiver.
Then, recalling Lilith's interaction with Luce that day, and her time with those women at the Kuonji mansion, Erice mustered her courage and, somewhat awkwardly, said to Lilith:
"... I hope you can exercise some restraint."
Lilith's smile widened, and she pulled out a brand new lollipop from somewhere, stuffing it into Erice's mouth to shut the girl up before she could say anything.
Then, she brought her face close to Erice's ear, gave her a knowing smile, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"Didn't Chitose say she was Erice Erise's 'mother'?"
"Actually, calling her 'Grandmother' is fine too."
"After all, Lilith is my 'mother'."
"Chitose) means 'Grandmother'."
"And Erice, you are my 'daughter'."
"Look, isn't this kind of... Trinity? Doing that kind of thing can be quite fun."
"Enough already!!"
These words made Erice's cheeks turn bright red.
I don't know if it was anger or embarrassment.
In any case, Erice and Lilith wandered aimlessly around the Sanctuary, one after the other.
Most of the time, Erice, who exudes a cold aura that keeps strangers at bay, is usually made to blush and be at a loss for words by Lilith's casual remark.
In this atmosphere of one-sided "pleasure" for Lilith, the two finally arrived at the center of the Sanctuary.
Outside the Holy of Holy of Holies.
Erice's gaze fell on the portrait of the Virgin Mary on the left side of the royal gate, and she asked casually, as if unintentionally:
"Logically speaking, this Virgin Mary should be my... Grandma or something?"
Erice originally intended to use this opportunity to give Lilith, who had always seemed to be in complete control, a slight setback.
At the very least, don't be so smug in front of yourself.
But to Erice's surprise, Lilith simply shrugged indifferently.
"No, that doesn't count."
Mary was merely the mother of Jesus.
"What's the difference? It's the Trinity!" Erice, unconvinced.
"Yahoo, yahoo..."
Lilith chuckled softly, but didn't directly answer Erice's question. She simply narrowed her emerald green eyes slightly.
"As a 'mother'... she's probably someone very similar to me."
I wasn't lying.
Lilith is talking about Shekinah.
However--
Erice simply rolled her eyes at Lilith.
Clearly, they don't believe a single word.
So, Erice ignored Lilith, took a deep breath, and stepped into the Holy of Holies behind the door, with Lilith following closely behind.
Erice didn't care about this.
I have made up my mind.
The Black-Haired Girl stood in the Holy of Holies, saying this to herself.
Then she spoke.
The voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unprecedented firmness.
"Novia... I like you."
She knew she had fallen in love with someone whom, according to societal norms, she shouldn't have, but who was also the only love of her life.
"For most of the past fourteen years, I have been both afraid and in pain."
"Everyone's attitude towards me was full of pity, full of sympathy, full of that... condescending, nauseating tenderness."
"Only you have remained unchanged since that time."
"This fact saved me."
As the saying goes, Fate is the accumulation of chance, but also the result of inevitable calculation.
Therefore, if one is currently in a state of misfortune, one might say that the happiness experienced in the past was merely a prelude to this misfortune.
But--
"To me, you are my Savior."
Thank you for being there for me.
If he doesn't want her, she will be very troubled.
It will be extremely troublesome.
Although thinking this way was very selfish, Erice didn't care. She was going to tell him that readily.
"I feel so happy after meeting you."
"Or rather, just being able to look at you makes me happy."
"I will never forget."
"I will never forget. No matter what the world becomes in the future, I will always remember every day I met you, every day we spent together, and every day we didn't see each other."
"I don't deny that this is unreasonable."
"But ultimately, demanding a reason for the existence of something like 'love' is itself utterly unreasonable."
"I simply love you."
"Novia."