Volume 2, Chapter 30-2 – Mom or President, That Is the Question

Dorothy still felt that she had been deceived.

Every emotional attachment she had poured into it, every bold declaration that had once moved her to tears, every belief that had supported her as she walked forward through her dreams, all of it had turned to ash the instant the truth was revealed.

All that remained were the remnants, along with hatred that wrapped around her heart like thorns.

The deeper the emotions a person invested, the deeper the pain they suffered once they learned that everything they had devoted themselves to was false.

The feeling of being personally shoved into the abyss by the person she trusted most was enough to shatter anyone’s reason.

But…

Dorothy trembled slightly in Stella’s embrace.

The feeling of being hugged was unfamiliar and unexpected.

She could not deny that being hugged felt good.

It was comfort for the flesh, and a reward bestowed by the mortal world.

A little warm, tinged with a faint bitterness, as though something were slowly tightening around her chest.

It really was strange.

Only a moment ago, she had wanted nothing more than to burn this liar to ashes with holy fire. Her heart kept urging her to push Stella away, yet her body honestly yearned for this warmth.

She was like a child who had wandered through a freezing night for far too long. Even knowing that the fire ahead might only be an illusion, she still could not stop herself from drawing closer to steal a little warmth.

How reassuring it was to be embraced. How cherished it made one feel.

Dorothy actually found herself racking her brain, trying to remember just how long it had been since she had last touched another person.

For as long as she could remember, her world seemed to have consisted only of cold paintbrushes, rough canvases, and malicious ridicule.

And so, she had learned to raise her spines like a hedgehog. She had learned to arm herself with indifference and fanaticism, yet she alone had forgotten… the warmth of skin against skin.

Even one hug would have been enough. Even one sincere handshake would have been enough.

In the end, all that talk of chasing the sunlight and trying to awaken her compatriots who were pretending to sleep had simply been her longing for the recognition of others.

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And whenever she thought about that, her heart trembled.

Yet Dorothy still could not understand.

Why had Stella ultimately chosen to accept her?

Why had she still said that she would take Dorothy to see the sunlight?

Stella had clearly said herself that her relationship with the Lionheart Society was nothing more than shameless exploitation.

She had also openly admitted that all their bonds had been built upon lies.

Stella exploited, deceived, appealed to emotions, and laid down one move after another, carefully playing the cards in her hand.

Scheming, selecting pieces, planning out her moves across the board through methods no one could fathom.

She was a thoroughgoing conspirator, a demon who toyed with people’s hearts.

Dorothy did not know whether Stella’s words right now were also part of the lie, nor did she know whether this new promise was yet another trap.

But the embrace was real.

The heartbeat pressed close beside her ear was real, and the fingers gently stroking her hair were real.

And the fact that she liked this embrace was real too.

Even if she did not respond, even if she let her arms hang stiffly at her sides, as long as Stella did not let go, she could not bring herself to break free.

No wonder everyone longed to be embraced.

This feeling truly was happiness.

Her heart felt so full that it seemed ready to swell, and that wonderful warmth even awakened Dorothy’s memories of her mother, memories that were warm yet distant. She could clearly remember that she too had once lain peacefully in her mother’s arms like this, surrounded by safety and a love that seemed as though it would last forever.

That was what it felt like to be loved.

Dorothy looked at Stella.

On Stella’s face, she saw a kind of concern without the slightest reservation.

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This feeling of being treated so gently… was just like Mom.

Perhaps… Stella really had not lied to her.

Dorothy greedily yet carefully savored this happiness, but never said it aloud.

The lecture hall had already been quiet for quite some time. The humming of shattered glass and the crackling of burning holy fire had both ceased. All that remained was the whimpering of wind passing through the broken windows.

Cheryl staggered to her feet.

Thanks to the Valentine family’s formidable regenerative ability, the wounds on her body had long since healed. Only her dress remained tattered and stained with dried blood.

“So… what exactly is going on now?”

Cheryl stared at the scene before her, speechless for a moment.

Her Elder Sister Stella was currently embracing the madwoman who had nearly killed her just moments ago. The two of them held each other, leaning against one another as naturally as wind and rain.

Cheryl pursed her lips.

She seemed to sense a gentle atmosphere between them, something quiet and restrained, almost like a lingering thread of affection.

Faced with an enemy who had tried to kill her, Stella had not chosen to retaliate with force. Had she simply accepted the other person, then used that acceptance to dissolve all her hostility?

Forgiving and helping up an enemy who had already surrendered was at least an ordinary philosophical question.

But truly loving enemies who were still overbearing enough to threaten you was something Cheryl had never seen anywhere in the Abyss.

Stella…

Really was just too unfair.

Tap, tap, tap.

Urgent footsteps came from outside the corridor.

“Stella, why did you leave in such a hurry? You didn’t even wait for me.”

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Remedios kicked open the classroom door, which was already on the verge of falling apart, and barged in.

“You certainly made quite a commotion. Hopefully you didn’t attract any professors… Hm?”

Miss Book Demon raised an eyebrow, her gaze moving back and forth between the wreckage covering the floor, Cheryl with blood all over her face, and the two people embracing.

“Did I miss a good show?”

Stella ignored Remedios. Like soothing a child, she gently stroked Dorothy’s head.

“Such a good girl.”

It felt rather nice.

Soft and fluffy, like petting a frightened kitten.

‘What an adorable little lamb.’

The Lord had once said that every child was born possessing good qualities.

As she grew, she would be influenced by many things. There was malice from the surrounding environment, and there were lies told by adults. Those good qualities might be damaged and buried beneath dust.

That was precisely why she, as a Saintess, had to discover those good qualities as early as possible, help them flourish, and raise the children into people with distinct personalities.

Although this little lamb had nearly roasted her shepherd just moments ago, that was only because she had gotten lost and become too frightened.

As long as she was given a little warmth and pointed in the right direction, she would still be a good child who shone brightly for the sake of her dreams.

“Good girl, good girl.”

Stella coaxed her softly.

Then Stella saw Dorothy raise her head.

Her eyes were filled with dreamlike longing, shining especially brightly.

Her cheeks were like peach blossoms just beginning to bloom, and within the happiness overflowing from her face lingered a sweet aftertaste.

Dorothy murmured in a daze, her voice was soft and gentle.

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“…Mom.”

“Huh???”

Stella’s hand froze halfway through stroking her head.

A question mark slowly appeared over her head.

‘Mom?’

‘Who?’

‘Me?’

Stella was completely losing it.

‘What is going on now?’

‘My succubus daughter?’

Come on, she was only fourteen years old even if you counted every last day.

‘Wasn’t it enough that after coming to the Abyss, I had somehow acquired two bargain-bin moms and one bargain-bin younger sister?’

‘Why did a bargain-bin daughter have to suddenly appear out of nowhere too?’

Translator Note

Damn author describing the feeling of embrace with so much detail TvT

And getting a daughter is completely unexpected lmao