"Castorice (Princess Homebody), are you okay?"
Seeing Lumina's appearance, Mydei and Cipher both breathed a sigh of relief.
Approaching Castorice, they showed their concern and worry for her.
Although they had all prepared themselves to make sacrifices, or to watch their friends and comrades-in-arms be sacrificed, when this moment truly arrived, they still couldn't help but feel a tremor in their hearts.
"I... I'm fine." Castorice, who had just broken free from Lumina's embrace, stood gracefully on the spot, her hands clasped in front of her waist. The face that had just suffered a severe blow and coughed up several mouthfuls of blood did not reveal any paleness, but instead appeared very rosy.
However, despite her outward appearance, only Castorice herself knew the state of her heart.
At the very least, it was definitely not as easy as it seemed on the surface.
Pain, it hurt very, very much, but because Sister Lumina had appeared, because of Sister Lumina's warm aura, so, it didn't hurt.
As long as Sister Lumina was there, no matter how great the danger or how great the difficulty, Castorice could overcome it!
Because Sister Lumina could grant her endless strength!
Allowing her to still move forward with courage, even on this road covered with thorns.
However, although Castorice's heart was filled with courage and determination, and her tolerance for pain was also very strong, her words still could not hide the emotional fluctuations that carried a hint of pain.
"Little Sister Castorice, come here." This emotional fluctuation, naturally, could not escape Lumina's perception.
Discovering that Castorice was currently in a state of pain after being severely injured, Lumina once again focused her gaze and sight on her, reaching out her small hand and making a simple gesture to her.
Seeing this, Castorice had no resistance, nor any doubt, and with a blushing little face, she pressed close to Lumina again.
Lumina looked at Castorice, who still had a blushing little face even though her whole body was in pain and she had a severely injured body, and a warm smile appeared on her face.
Ignoring the Flame Reaver who was continuously struggling while imprisoned by an invisible cage not far away, Lumina reached out her small hand and gently placed it on Castorice's head.
While gently stroking it, a gentle warm current emerged from her palm, slowly flowing into Castorice's body, restoring the damage caused by the Flame Reaver's attack in an extremely comfortable and warm manner.
In just a few short seconds, all the physical and spiritual pain on Castorice's body dissipated, replaced by a comfort produced by the warm current spreading all over her body.
"Mmm~"
As this incredibly comfortable sensation spread through Castorice's body, a single second was fine, but this comfort that lasted for several seconds caused Castorice, who had just recovered from her severely injured body, to let out a... crisp, pleasant, and seductive moan.
"Ah!"
The very next second after this moan was uttered, Castorice snapped back to her senses, the hair all over her body standing on end, and she immediately screamed out loud.
Her cheeks, which were already very flushed, seemed as if they were about to drip blood the very next second after that moan.
Her eyes, which still held a lot of dazed looks, were filled with a wave of regret and shyness.
Lowering her head, she didn't dare to look at Lumina, Mydei, or Cipher for a single glance... This kind of thing was simply too shameful, too... too embarrassing!
Could this kind of thing... make others misunderstand something?!
For a moment, the feeling of warmth overflowing in Castorice's heart instantly turned into an awkwardness that made her want to dig a hole and bury her head in it, so that out of sight, out of mind!
At the same time, Castorice also felt something surprising, as if she had seen something shocking.
Besides Castorice, there were three other people present, and Castorice could feel their emotions at this moment.
Sister Lumina was still as warm as ever, paying no mind to her own shameful posture, while Lord Mydei's emotions remained completely unchanged... That meant, without a doubt, the owner of this gaze was Cipher.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, I never expected Princess Homebody to be this kind of person... Oh, I mean, this kind of Demigod."
Although Cipher didn't know how strong Lumina was, feeling the comfortable and pleasant aura she emanated upon appearing, her own tension regarding the battle dissipated considerably.
Having witnessed Castorice's entire posture from start to finish, Cipher, this little Catcat, couldn't help but place her hands on her hips and tease Castorice.
"Lady Cipher..."
Castorice's face turned even redder as a tiny voice escaped her lips in an awkward and shy tone.
"Huh? Princess Homebody, what did you say? I can't hear you!" As a Demigod, Cipher could naturally hear what Castorice was saying.
But just because she heard it, did that mean she couldn't pretend not to?
Thus, in order to continue putting a little pressure on Princess Homebody, Cipher feigned not hearing clearly and asked back in a puzzled tone, making Castorice even more embarrassed.
Even with Sister Lumina's warm hand gently stroking her head, Castorice still couldn't withstand the pressure. She leaned forward slightly, her head burying itself directly against Lumina's chest.
"Alright, alright, don't tease little sister Castorice anymore," Lumina said softly, glancing at the grinning Cipher while continuing to pet and soothe Castorice.
Little Kitten Cipher, don't be in such a hurry. Take it slow. Everyone will have their turn.
"Eek!"
Though Lumina's gaze was incredibly warm and gentle, Cipher's kitten-like instincts were screaming at her: Danger, danger, danger! Extremely dangerous!
Run, run, run! If you don't run now, it'll be too late!
Cipher trusted her kitten-like instincts. She would run, but not right now.
Although the current atmosphere was quite relaxed, the enemy was still right in front of them. Until this Flame Reaver was dealt with, Cipher wouldn't run no matter what.
Hmm... I won't run after it's dealt with either.
At this thought, Cipher's mood suddenly turned a bit somber. She looked up at Okhema's crimson sky, a complex emotion flickering in her eyes.
Cipher never imagined that her curtain call as the [Deliverer] would happen under such circumstances.
She fixed her gaze on the Flame Reaver, who was still struggling desperately inside the cage, and countless fires of rage ignited in her heart.
She didn't know how the Flame Reaver had learned this news, but she knew that at this moment, only beating the Flame Reaver to a pulp could quell the fury in her heart!
As for whether Lumina might have been the one to tell him?
To be honest, it was possible.
After all, in Cipher's memory, the only person who knew about this "Lie" was Lumina.
But... but Cipher believed her, believed Lumina.
Even though she hadn't known or spent much time with her, Cipher still trusted Lumina.
This matter definitely had nothing to do with her!
"Hmm?" Just as Cipher was firmly convinced of Lumina's character, Lumina herself seemed to notice something. After a soft hum, she turned her gaze to Cipher.
Taking in Cipher's posture, which was now filled with rage, she suddenly understood.
"Don't worry, little kitten. I'll take care of the Okhema matter." Knowing what she was worried and angry about made things much simpler.
Lumina spoke softly, offering a straightforward and simple promise.
For Cipher at this moment, a thousand words would probably not be worth more than this single sentence.
Sure enough, just as Lumina had expected, Cipher's tense expression immediately relaxed considerably upon hearing this promise.
"...Thank you." After a moment's hesitation, Cipher also whispered a thank you, just like Castorice had.
The voice was very soft, as faint as a mosquito's buzz, but to Lumina's ears, it sounded as if it had been murmured right into her ear, heard clearly.
Hearing this made Lumina's heart blossom with joy, feeling extremely happy and comfortable.
She couldn't help but want to pull this little kitten into her arms and, just like Castorice, let her receive her pampering!
Fortunately, Lumina had powerful willpower and ultimately forced this thought down.
"Phew..."
After suppressing the urge to pull Cipher into her arms and pamper her fiercely, Lumina took a deep breath and then stopped caressing Castorice, slowly withdrawing her hand from Castorice's soft head.
For a moment, a sense of loss spread through her heart, leaving Lumina feeling a bit uneasy.
It was as if she had been abandoned by something precious, valuable, and important.
Which was pretty much the case.
But it wasn't that serious. After this sense of loss affected Lumina's heart for a while, it soon completely dissipated, leaving no trace behind, as if it had never existed.
On Lumina's side, she just dusted herself off and walked away, having only been sad and heartbroken for a short time.
But on Castorice's side, things were a bit more miserable.
In the blink of an eye, she fell from paradise back to the mortal world. In the blink of an eye, the warmth vanished, leaving only the sense of loss that continuously spread and affected her heart.
Castorice had fallen into a deeper quagmire than Lumina, and while sinking into it, she had willingly offered up her all...
As expected, when the warmth Lumina had given her vanished, leaving only a lingering fragrance, she froze on the spot, unable to snap out of it for a long time. Various thoughts and emotions raged in her heart, making Castorice feel extremely distressed.
It made Castorice... want to return to Sister Lumina's embrace and continue feeling her warmth.
She would do whatever it took to achieve this goal.
This thought sprouted in Castorice's heart, constantly stimulating her soul and urging her to act on her desires.
"No, no no no!"
But soon, Castorice snapped out of these temptations and urges. She hurriedly shook her head, shaking the thought out of her mind.
Under normal circumstances, Castorice might have yielded to this thought.
But what time was it now?!
Was this the time to be joking around?
The people of Okhema were living in misery and despair right now, and Castorice absolutely could not abandon them to enjoy happiness alone!
This was not the conduct of a Chrysos Heir!
At least... at least she had to wait until this crisis had passed!
Driven by these thoughts, the emotions in Castorice's heart were quickly suppressed deep within, no longer able to influence her actions.
As for why they were suppressed deep inside rather than completely dissipating, only Castorice herself knew.
Or perhaps, whether the emotions suppressed deep within would erupt at some point in the future, only Castorice herself knew...
At least in Castorice's view, they definitely would.
These emotions hidden deep within would erupt, they definitely would...
But as for the exact timing, at what point they would erupt, even Castorice herself was not entirely clear.
She only knew that if these emotions erupted, she would obtain something... something she desperately wanted to obtain.
"Flame Reaver..."
Lumina noticed Castorice's slightly strange expression, but she didn't care about it at all, completely ignoring Castorice's unfavorable thoughts about her.
Hmphing softly in her mind, Lumina dismissed Castorice's thoughts as being too naive, then turned her gaze to the Flame Reaver, who was struggling endlessly within the cage she had imprisoned him in.
"Twilight... has already descended."
"The World... must... restart!"
The Flame Reaver continued to struggle incessantly. He did not stop this action despite his futile efforts, constantly resisting, trying to shatter the cage that trapped him, and then kill everyone...
"World restart? Another cycle, huh."
Lumina knew the Flame Reaver's identity, and after hearing his words, she couldn't help but fall into a state of contemplation.
No matter how Lumina looked at it, Phainon should never have become a madman like the Flame Reaver...
Even if he watched all his friends, everyone, die before his eyes, it would still be hard to become like this, wouldn't it?
He could become a madman, but there was no way he could become a madman with such a deep obsession.
Hmm... to put it in simpler terms: it's as if he has some kind of mission, a mission he must complete, otherwise the world will be destroyed.
Could this actually be the case?
Lumina pondered this possibility in her mind, and she felt it was highly likely.
After all, she couldn't think of any other explanation.
If it was all to protect the World, then that would still make sense.
Cycle after cycle, saving the World time and time again, his mind and body had long been utterly exhausted.
The reason he was dragging his broken body to prevent the Era Nova was there something wrong with this Era Nova?
Actually, the Era Nova wasn't a true Era Nova, but rather the Destruction of the World, where everyone heads to the ends of the west winds to lead a happy life in the Era Nova?
If she thought about it this way, it seemed to make sense.
In reality, is there anything more peaceful than Death?
No.
"Forget it, forget it, whatever his goal is, we'll wait for Herta to arrive." After thinking for a while, her head aching a bit, Lumina stopped thinking.
Anyway, Herta was also in Amphoreus, serving as Lumina's external brain, so it was time for her to start thinking.
Thus, Lumina waved her small hand, and a green light that materialized out of thin air knocked the struggling Flame Reaver unconscious.