I WAS The Rank–1 Hero

"Why did you two just freeze suddenly?"

Looking at Maria as she asked this question, I was about to dig the ground to hide my head.

How the hell did it get reverted?!

I tried once again to channel Essence through my hair and eyes. But no matter how often I tried, it reverted back within a second.

"It's not that bad," Maria said, narrowing her eyes as she regarded us, "...or are both of your faces unappealing?"

"Tsk,"

It's not working at all, and this AI mask has become useless to me.

Does this door affect artifacts?

I turned to Ruby, watching as the mask she once wore mysteriously slipped from her face, no matter how many times she attempted to fasten it back on. The result was always the same.

"Stop hiding your faces; your identity means nothing to me," Maria said, her tone icy and unforgiving.

I can't do that.

If she finds out who I really am, then…

"You still don't trust me, huh?" Her icy tone echoed once again. "I understand… I've been there too."

Noticing my thoughts, Weaver Sera tried to console me.

—'It's fine, human, you can trust her.'

How can you be certain she won't come after searching for me?

To my question, Sera reminded me.

—'Remember what the fate's interface showed you when it sensed Maria.'

I remembered.

There was one line beneath the 'Alert' message:

►Threat level: None

It shows me that she has no intention of causing me any harm.

Sera continued in my head.

—'Trust in Fate, and remember it never lies.'

—'Lift your head and confront her. She's not concealing her face, so why should you?'

But…

—'No buts.' Sera scolded. 'Trust grows stronger when it's reciprocal, and by deceiving her, you're showing her disrespect.'

I thought and didn't speak.

From this point on, after we opened that door, I had to completely rely on Maria, who knows more about this place than any of us.

After Sera's scolding, I felt as though I had been deceiving Maria the whole time. She had kindly allowed us into this place and provided Lily with a safer place to stay. Maria taught us everything we needed to know about the traps and trials that this temple contains.

And maybe—just maybe— I can allow myself to trust her.

Just for this time…

Can I?

I lifted my head, locking my silver eyes onto Maria's, a warm smile spreading across my face as I greeted her once more.

"Zane Skylark," I gave a courtesy bow. Placing my right hand on my chest, "The holder of Paradox, and the only apostle of Goddess Yelthea, I once again greet you."

Beside me, Ruby was stunned, disbelief gasping on her face as she looked back and forth between our faces.

Maria's eyes widened for a brief moment, gaze wavering to my face, but then, as if composing herself, she bent her knees, lifting her foot and crossing it behind her right,

"It's my pleasure to guide you, Zane."

In that moment, she appeared to me as a princess. She was a member of a royal bloodline, destined to rule.

I don't think a simple, honest greeting can build trust. But seeing her like this makes me want to believe it.

Maris's gaze shifted to Ruby as I spoke. "We're getting late, Jasmine; you don't have to worry about your identity—"

"Ruby." Cutting Maria off mid-sentence, Ruby stood up confidently.

"Hmm?"

"Ruby Oliver, that's my name." She puffed up her cheek and said, "And I'm his girlfriend."

"Oh, thanks for telling me, Ruby; it's a lovely name, just like you." Maria giggled, covering her lips with her fingers.

"Eh?" Ruby tried to say something, but Maria cut off the conversation.

"The time ends near the Door of Endless, and to enter the door, you have to be in your true form. That's one of its conditions, and for the other, well… let's just get it over with quickly."

The closer we get to the door, the more intense the cold becomes.

"Think of something else, except the door." Maria reminded.

It took us fifteen whole minutes to come close to the door.

As I looked upward, I felt like an ant in front of this giant door. It was humongous.

This sight reminded me of Olympus, with its giant thrones and the gods seated upon them. This gate seemed fit to be called one of their entrances to home—if, in fact, they had one.

There are strange patterns etched on its obsidian surface, with a few hourglasses that are constantly rotating. The corners of the door have weird glowing patterns that I have never seen before.

My eyes drifted to a stone slab just in front of the door.

"What language is this?" Asked Ruby, inspecting the stone.

This language…

I was able to read it, thanks to Sera, who infused this language inside my mind.

Maria glanced at Ruby and spoke. "It's God's tongue, a language lost to time. As it stands, I believe I'm the only one alive who can read it."

"God's tongue?" Ruby's interest was piqued; tilting to Maria, she asked her. "What's written here exactly?"

"Two—"

But as Maria was about to read it out loud, I interrupted her, reading what was written on it aloud.

"Two shall stand before time. One born with Divinity. And One bearing the Highest Authority…"

Both Maria's and Ruby's eyes were stunned. Their eyes focused on my lips as I continued reading.

"...their blood shall bind the seal. Only then shall the path unveil."

"H-How?" It was my first time seeing Maria as stunned.

"Zane?"

"Who taught you the tongue of the divine? Only one who has lived through the ages and carries the blood of the gods can read it. How is it possible for you to read this…?"

Maria asked seriously.

"Are you a deity?"

Deity, huh?

I don't know myself. It was only thanks to Sera that I was able to read it; after all, she was someone who lived in the era when literal Gods walked the land.