Holy Night: My Husband is Definitely a Paladin - Chapter 308
TL: Elphie / PR: Marm
A deafening scream erupted. A sound that had never been heard before.
The Impossibility, the being that had toyed with countless worlds, that had forced Michael into despair and tormented Irene herself, was screaming. Its form twisted violently in her grasp, trying to escape, but it was already too late.
Irene had begun the purification, and there was no stopping it now. Purification would always erase a monsterās miasma.
The Impossibility cracked, its form splintering like fragile glass.
[This world isā¦!]
Chomp-chomp popped out of the bag and waved its tentacles in panic.
ā¦.!!!
The Hand of Appraisal cowered as well, clutching Chomp-chomp in a helpless grip.
The entire space trembled. Reality itself seemed to waver. But Irene did not falter.
The immeasurable, unbelievably strong cleansing power that Michael had left her.
Everything was disappearing.
Even the Impossibility.
Even the things he had left her.
In the explosive flash of light, Irene saw the Impossibility crack.
GAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!
The space, once filled with laughter, was now consumed by screams.
It was the scream of the Impossibility.
Hearing it, Irene shed tears.
The thing that had mocked him, that had tormented her endlessly, was finally vanishing.
The realization brought her overwhelming joy.
And at the same time, she felt profound sorrow.
Because everything he had given her was disappearing.
“Michael.”
As her consciousness grew hazy, Irene called the name of the one she had loved, and the one who had loved her.
All of her purification power was erasing the existence of the Impossibility.
At the same time, the space it had created was beginning to distort.
No one had to tell her. She already knew.
Once the Impossibility was completely erased, she would return to the past.
To the moment of her most painful regret.
But still.
“ā¦I want to see you again.”
Even if you don’t remember me.
Even if you donāt love me.
Even if you hate me.
I still want to see you again.
At that moment, the Impossibility vanished from the world.
* * *
Irene opened her eyes.
She blinked a few times, her blurred vision gradually sharpening as the sounds around her became clearer.
“Is that the one? The Grade 10 purifier?”
“Looks like she still hasnāt found a pair.”
Cold laughter pierced her ears.
Slowly, Irene lifted her head.
“Ahā¦”
The moment she recognized where she was, a sigh escaped her lips.
She stood in the banquet hall of the Fortress.
Irene looked down at herself. She was wearing an old, tattered dress, its fabric wrinkled and worn.
She remembered when she had worn this dress.
The day she had begged the count to let her come to the Fortress, desperately trying to find her pair.
The day she had been rejected by everyone, only to cling to Michael in the endāthe moment that had begun all her sorrow.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she stood there.
She had known this would happen.
For someone who had shattered her dream and thrown everything away, this was the only place she deserved to be.
Irene reached inward, searching for her purification power.
Once, it had surged inside her like an endless ocean. Now, there was nothing left.
Only a faint, drying puddle of energy remained.
It had been so long since she had felt this small.
Irene raised her hand and wiped away her tears.
Everything that had happened felt like a long dream.
A foolish, pitiful dream woven by a lowly 10th-grade purifier. One too pathetic to even feel shame.
As she wiped her tears, her gaze fell upon the ring still on her finger.
Before she had faced the Impossibility, it had shone flawlessly, without a single blemish.
Now, it was as dull and battered as the first time she had seen it.
Just like her.
But Irene clutched the ring tightly.
“It’s still here.”
She had thought everything he had given her was gone. That this, too, would disappear.
Yet, it remained.
The tears she had barely wiped away spilled over once more.
It didnāt matter what it was.
Even if the Michael of this time didnāt know her, even if he disliked her, even if he despised her.
As long as she had proof that everything she had been through wasnāt just an illusion.
Irene could endure this hardship once more.
As she wiped away her endlessly falling tears, she straightened her clothes and adjusted her posture.
She knew what would happen next.
Near the end of the banquet, Michael would enter this hall.
And upon confirming that there were no purifiers left to contract with, he would leave again.
She had no intention of stopping him.
If she did, everything would simply repeat itself.
But if this was to be the last time, she wanted to see him once more.
Even if he wasnāt her Michael.
Just one last time.
At that moment, the doors of the banquet hall opened.
And the man she had first laid eyes on so long ago stepped inside.
Clad in the robes of the temple, his appearance was pristineāan immaculate, noble knight of the sacred order.
Looking at him, Irene smiled.
Thank goodness.
She was able to see him again.
He, too, existed beneath the same sky as her once more.
For Irene, that was enough.
Now, Michael would survey the banquet hall, exchange greetings, and leaveājust as he had in the past.
Just as he would this time.
Or so she thought.
But then, he looked at her.
And without hesitation, he began to walk toward her.
Irene froze, watching him approach.
This couldnāt be happening. His memories had been erased.
Which meant that in this world, Michael should notācould notāremember her.
Yet, standing before her, he gazed at her in silence.
Around them, the murmurs of onlookers filled the hall, whispers of confusion and speculation.
But neither of them heard any of it.
At that moment, Michael knelt on one knee before her.
āIrene.ā
āā¦ā¦!ā
At this moment in time, she had never met him before.
There was no way he should remember her name.
āH-How do youā¦?ā
Ireneās voice trembled as she whispered, her mind struggling to comprehend what was happening.
Michael only smiled.
That radiant smileāthe one filled with warmth and loveāwas the same as she had always known, the one that always left her staring in awe.
āMy pair.ā
He spoke as he took her hand.
āMy wife.ā
Then, he pressed a soft kiss to the back of her hand.
Slowly, he rose to his feet.
With tears brimming in her eyes, Irene stared at him in disbelief.
And Michael, with infinite tenderness, placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
āMy everything.ā
āM-Michaelā¦ā
Ireneās entire body trembled.
This couldnāt be real.
Michael gently caressed her hand, his voice softer and more tender than ever.
“You have no idea how much I’ve longed to return to this moment.”
His fingers brushed against Ireneās ringāold, scratched, and worn.
At that instant, Irene saw it. A ring identical to hers rested on his hand.
Scratched, faded, humble. The mark of a pair.
āH-Howā¦ How did youā¦?ā
Tears welled up as she gazed at him.
Michael pulled her into his arms, holding her close. As her tears streamed endlessly, he pressed a gentle kiss to her damp cheek.
“I have passed through countless impossibilities. Perhaps thisā¦.”
Tears glistened in his own eyes now.
“Perhaps this is the very first miracle granted to us.”
And so, he whispered to the one he heldāthe one who was his world.
“I love you, Irene.”
At long last, the words he had once failed to say finally reached her.
Those who had lost everything embraced each other.
Everything was beginning once more.
