Welcome Home

Beatrice's eyes widened.

"--Did you write this?"

"Yes. I directly linked my name to your Gospel record using the Tome of Wisdom."

"How is that possible? The Tome of Wisdom is clearly..."

"It's entirely possible."

Higashino Makoto stood up, walked up to her, and looked down at her.

"Beatrice, your name is now on your Gospel. It didn't appear randomly; I wrote it down for you. I chose you, so I am the one you've been waiting for."

Beatrice looked at him, tears welling up in her eyes.

She didn't wipe it; she just sat there, looking up at the silver-haired, golden-eyed man.

Tears slid down her cheeks, dripping onto her gorgeous dress and leaving a small water stain.

"You... aren't you afraid of upsetting Mother?"

"I'm not afraid."

"Why?"

"Because she can't beat me. And this is what she owes you. Four hundred years of waiting, she owes you a name, and I've repaid it for her."

Beatrice's lips curled up slightly; tears were still streaming down her face, but she couldn't hide her smile.

Higashino Makoto.

"Um."

"You're such an annoying person."

"I know."

She stood up, walked up to him, and looked up at him.

"Betty... can we leave now?"

"Sure. From now on, you can go wherever you want. I recommend my library; it's bigger than here, sunny, has Garden, and a kitchen. Echidna is there too; I can give her a good beating."

Beatrice lowered her head, looking at the Gospel in her hands, the golden name shimmering in the candlelight.

Higashino Makoto.

"Um."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome, it's what I should do."

Beatrice took a deep breath, closed the Gospel, and hugged it to her chest.

Then, she walked to the bookshelf, reached out, and gently touched the neatly arranged spines of the books.

"Four hundred years... Betty should go."

The library began to glow.

The books on the shelves began to disappear one by one, as if they were being stored away in some kind of space.

Hmm, Yin Magic is quite useful.

Beatrice turned around and looked at Higashino Makoto.

Let's go.

Higashino Makoto nodded and extended his hand.

Beatrice looked at the hand, hesitated for a moment, then reached out and grasped it.

Her hands were small, soft, and cool.

Betty... is not used to holding hands with people.

"You'll get used to it eventually."

"Um."

The two walked out of the library and into the corridor.

Novas Etier, Fourth Level, Silent Great Library.

When Higashino Makoto pushed open the door to the library, Echidna was sitting at her desk reading.

Her long, silvery-white hair cascaded over her shoulders, her eyes fixed on the book in her hands, her expression focused yet indifferent.

Echidna.

"Um."

She didn't look up.

"I brought someone with me to see you."

Echidna's fingers paused for a moment, then she looked up.

Her gaze passed over Higashino Makoto and landed on the petite figure behind him.

Cream-colored double-curled ponytails, a gorgeous ruffled dress, and blue butterfly-shaped pupils.

Beatrice stood behind Higashino Makoto, clutching the Gospel in her arms, and looked timidly at Echidna.

"Mother."

Her voice was very soft.

Echidna's lips parted slightly, then closed again.

Beatrice...

She put down her book, stood up, walked over to Beatrice, and looked down at her.

Her long, silvery-white hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her petite figure was reflected in her silvery-white pupils.

"You... how did you get here?"

"He brought me here."

Beatrice glanced at Higashino Makoto.

Echidna looked at Higashino Makoto, her dark eyes flashing with a complex light.

What did you do?

"I linked her Gospel with your Tome of Wisdom, and then wrote my name in the records of the future."

Echidna gave a strange smile.

"You always do weird things."

"That's how I am, do you have a problem with that?"

Echidna stared at the other person's "go ahead and hit me" expression for a long time.

Then, she chuckled softly.

"Ha, I already belong to you, what more could I possibly want?"

"Good to know. Also, even if you're pretending, at least pretend to be a good woman, or I'll teach you a lesson."

"I see. Honestly, Beatrice should at least call me Mother."

I don't believe you for a second!

Higashino Makoto looked completely incredulous.

She turned around and looked at Beatrice.

Beatrice.

"Mother."

"Since you're here, why not stay? I apologize for what happened before."

Beatrice lowered her head, looking at the Gospel in her hands. The golden names shimmered in the light.

"Mother."

"Um."

Betty... it's not your fault.

Echidna's tears finally welled up.

She didn't wipe it; she just stood there, looking at the child she had waited for for four hundred years, the child she had been deceived for four hundred years.

Beatrice.

"Um."

Welcome home.

Beatrice's lips curled into a slight smile. She walked up to Echidna and looked up at her.

Betty... is back.

Echidna knelt down and hugged Beatrice.

Welcome back.

Beatrice didn't struggle; she simply leaned on her shoulder and closed her eyes.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, dripping onto Echidna's long black dress.

Higashino Makoto stood at the entrance of the library, watching this scene, his golden eyes devoid of any emotion.

In the distance, Typhon lay sprawled on the table, his crimson eyes fixed on them, his short, grass-green hair sticking up slightly.

"Sekhmet."

"Um..."

Betty is here.

"Hmm... I saw it..."

Aren't you going to go and take a look?

"I'm not going... I'm too tired..."

Typhon sighed, stood up, and walked towards Beatrice.

Betty.

Beatrice peeked out from Echidna's arms, her blue eyes looking at the little girl with dark brown skin.

"Who are you?"

"Typhon, my name is Typhon."

She reached out her hand.

"Welcome."

Beatrice looked at the small, dark brown hand, hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took it.

Beatrice.

"I know, Echidna mentioned you."

What did she say?

"She said... Typhon forgot, you can ask Echidna later."

Beatrice's lips curled up slightly.

"Mother... really..."

Typhon smiled too.

"Come on, let me show you your room."

"Room?"

"Yes. There's an empty room on the east side of the library. Higashino said it's for people who come later. You can see the Garden from the window."

Beatrice turned her head and glanced at Higashino Makoto.

Higashino Makoto leaned against the doorframe, his golden eyes fixed on her, without saying a word.

Beatrice withdrew her gaze and followed Typhon deeper into the library.

Echidna stood there, watching Beatrice's retreating figure, her long, silvery-white hair cascading over her shoulders, a smile playing on her lips.

I don't know how much of it is genuine.

But it doesn't matter, Echidna is a smart woman, she knows what to do.