The Hunted Regressor: Rise of the Heretic Saint-Chapter 124: Let’s Tell Her About Me

Life went on for the cat.

Even in grief and pain, absurdity and softness coexisted...

Indeed, that was 'life.'

Lying naked under the sheets, Ignotus stared up at the ceiling.

The room was quiet; only the soft sound of Gaia's breathing filled the air.

She was still pressed against him, all warm and tangled up. Her blonde hair spilled over his chest while her arm was thrown lazily across his stomach.

He sighed contentedly.

'Hm… that was… good.'

It wasn't exactly how he expected his night to go.

Actually, no. He never expected this.

Of all the possible things he thought would happen so early in his regression—dueling for a bastard's honor, marrying her... That same daughter of a Lower House one had to add. Killing assassins in the street—doing that definitely wasn't on the list.

Or, well, it was, but eventually. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Wasn't that how things usually went?

Well, he wasn't all that lucky in his past life, so he wouldn't know.

It wouldn't be unfair to say that he had no proper romantic relationships.

Getting engaged wasn't exactly on his first to-do list.

The struggle to survive stopped him from thinking about such things.

So naturally, Ignotus felt like he was breaking some sort of relationship rule here, especially due to the context of this all. Or perhaps it was normal, and he was simply out of touch.

But hey, either way...

'Hm.'

He certainly WASN'T complaining.

Yet, despite the warm body and the pleasant exhaustion crawling through him, Ignotus couldn't fully relax.

It was because someone still hadn't answered him. Someone who always did, never once failing to bid him a good morning.

Eris.

Ignotus wanted to check on Her yesterday, but he found himself somewhat... busy.

In any case, now that he had more than enough time, he closed his eyes and exhaled slowly, sinking his focus inward.

The sound of Gaia's heartbeat filled his mind first...

A little slower than his.

Thump... thump...

His heart joined it, only to drown hers out.

Until eventually, it faded away as well, leaving only the void.

Slowly, the darkness shifted, and the pull came, tugging his consciousness further into himself.

His Soul.

Only this time, instead of the endless dark space filled with floating Runes and faint motes of Divinity, he found himself somewhere else entirely...

But also very, very near.

As far away from death as life was.

As far as Calamity was from Luck.

Ignotus was in a realm of light.

A warm, white light, softer than anything he'd seen before. And at the end of that light stood… a damned manor.

It was gothic and regal, towering high in the Soul's space like it didn't belong there, a castle of pale black stone with tall windows and a faint shimmer of red threading its edges.

'Definitely Eris's style.'

Ignotus started walking toward it, his boots echoing faintly against the nonexistent ground.

When he reached the front door, it creaked open on its own, welcoming him in.

Inside, the air was warm, and the lighting was dim... something that he didn't quite notice.

His attention was on the dying fire crackling in the hearth across the room. Or rather, it was on the one who sat on the couch before it.

A gorgeous Goddess.

Eris.

She was lying on the couch, one arm draped over the side. Her black hair spilled down in messy strands, while Her usually sharp crimson eyes were dulled and half-lidded as She stared at the weak fire.

This Goddess looked... tired.

And that worried Ignotus extremely.

Gods didn't have 'tired' in their dictionary.

"Are you alright?"

Eris's head snapped up, obviously startled.

Her red eyes widened slightly when She saw him.

"W–What brings you here, Ignotus?"

Oh, the fact that She noticed him only now, when he spoke to Her, was even more worrying.

So, not answering right away, Ignotus walked over, sat down beside Her on the couch, and leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, his grey eyes staring at the fire.

"I came to thank you."

That was true.

"Earlier... You got me out of my head when I needed it."

But there was more.

"And… to check on you; you haven't been replying."

Eris turned away slightly, Her voice quietening.

"I… thank you for worrying, but I'm fine. I was—am simply… tired."

Her tone faltered on that last word, as if She hated saying it.

"Hm..."

Ignotus studied Her beautiful face before sighing, not at all buying Her words.

"Whatever you say."

He leaned back and looked around the room.

"Nice place you've got here, though. Where'd you get the Divinity to make it?"

Eris blinked and gave a small smile, the faintest trace of amusement flickering through Her tired expression.

"Only a little pest."

"I see."

"Yes."

"Hm."

And that was that.

Their conversation died.

Silence settled once more.

It wasn't uncomfortable, but it was a bit heavy.

The fire popped in the background, sparks leaping and fading, making it quite relaxing.

Ignotus didn't pry further; if She didn't want to say, that was Her business. And She… looked like She needed the quiet more than anything.

Eris was feeling off.

So they both stayed there, not knowing what to do or say. A Runebearer and a Goddess, sitting side by side in a dimly lit room that existed only within the Runebearer's Soul.

Eventually, after who knows how long, Eris stood up.

"Ignotus..."

Her black hair settled neatly around as She turned and gestured for him to follow.

"Come."

Ignotus rose without question.

She led him back outside the manor.

There, She pointed up at the realm's ceiling.

The void above them wasn't an empty black.

It was alive with Runes.

Their Arcane burned across the ceiling in gold, slowly shifting, spinning, writing, and rewriting themselves in patterns too complex for human eyes to follow.

"…a beautiful sight, isn't it?"

Ignotus looked up and felt something tighten in his chest as the entire sky glowed in white gold, radiant against the darkness.

He never thought a Soul could be so beautiful—especially not his own, one belonging to an ugly owner.

"Yeah, it's—"

When he turned to answer, his eyes stopped on Her, on the Goddess of his Rune Path.

Her black hair shimmered in the glow, Her crimson eyes reflected the gold, and Her lips curved in the faintest, most peaceful smile.

For a second, Ignotus forgot to breathe.

"It's beautiful."

Eris's smile brightened a little more as the tiredness in Her face faded and was replaced by something gentler.

Unknowingly to Ignotus, his heart skipped a beat. Meanwhile, behind them, the fire inside the mansion roared back to life, its flames burning tall and bright, casting a red light through the open doorway.

"Let's tell her about me."