A bright light engulfed our vision.
For a moment, I felt weightless—disconnected from the church, the dungeon core, and even my own body. The world around us blurred and shifted, as if we had been transported somewhere else entirely.
Just as I was trying to process this surreal experience, I heard Alve's voice.
"Don't let go. Keep your hand on the stone."
"Alright… I'll hold on," I replied, gripping the dungeon core more firmly.
Another pulse of blinding light flashed before my eyes. When my vision adjusted, I saw **her**.
A towering, radiant figure gazed down at us, her presence overwhelming yet strangely serene.
Is this… the Goddess?
Before I could ask where we were, or even if this was real, she spoke.
"You have done well, overcoming many hardships—"
She abruptly stopped mid-sentence.
Her glowing eyes, filled with divine authority, widened in **shock** as she looked directly at me.
Is she about to ask who I am? Or… is she surprised by something else?
Before she could say anything, Ramon spoke up.
"Goddess Glyss, it was difficult, but worth the effort. Please grant us your divine blessing so that we may defeat the Demon Lord."
"I-I understand…" she responded hesitantly.
But even as she agreed, I could feel her gaze lingering on myself. It wasn't just curiosity—there was something **else** in her eyes.
Does she not know about my summoning?
That thought unsettled me. If she were truly the god of this world, how could she be **unaware**? And why did she need human rituals to grant blessings?
Ramon spoke again.
"Goddess Glyss, we have another request. Can you send Alve back to his world? We summoned him here by mistake."
Silence.
The goddess opened her mouth as if to respond, then **hesitated**. It was as if she was carefully choosing her words.
Finally, she spoke.
"It is… not impossible for him to return. However, at the moment, it may not be possible due to the Demon Lord's interference with space and time."
Ramon's expression darkened at her words, but before he could respond, the goddess continued.
"Focus on defeating the Demon Lord first. Once that is done, I will personally see to his return. I shall even restore the lost time from when he disappeared from his world."
A wave of relief washed over me.
So, I **could** return after all.
I wasn't the only one relieved—everyone around me seemed at ease, believing that things would eventually work out.
Yet, deep in the back of my mind, a different thought emerged.
She's hiding something.
There was something **off** about her reaction.
And I couldn't shake the feeling that **I** was at the center of whatever it was.