Astral Online: Cursed by the Demon Lord to Become the Strongest Beautiful Girl, I Rapidly Grow and Dominate with Cheat Skills Despite Being the Weakest Profession - Chapter 194

Chapter 194: The Songstress’s Confession

While watching the massive sea creatures swim by, Sora and her companions walked deeper into the underwater tunnel, heading toward the temple.

Beyond the transparent walls of the tunnel, they could see familiar monsters: Krakens, each one a beast they had encountered before. From this angle, the sheer size of these 10-meter-long monsters was even more overwhelming.

Though the underwater tunnel was an indestructible object, there was always a chance it could collapse in a special event. If that were to happen, combat would be inevitable. As they contemplated this, the distant structure gradually grew closer.

A few minutes later, they reached the temple without encountering the dreaded event.

“Wow, what a beautiful building,” Kuro remarked with awe, gazing at the towering structure in front of them.

Before them stood a single, pyramid-shaped building, the final destination of their journey, encircled by massive 10-meter pillars that glowed a soft blue.

This was ?Enoshigaios?, the Underwater Temple.

Named after the same sea god as the royal family, this ancient ruin was also a training ground designed to cultivate songstresses.

The pillars around the temple were connected by lines carved into the ground, forming a beautiful hexagram that created a powerful barrier, making it nearly impossible to enter. The strength of this barrier was such that even a powerful strike from the magic spear ?Gáe Bulg?, previously wielded by Arisa, would likely not be enough to break it.

When Laura stepped forward, the barrier recognized her as a songstress and temporarily lifted its effect for Sora’s party, allowing them to enter.

As they prepared to move inside, a window appeared before Sora, the party leader, presenting her with two choices.

The first option was to enter the temple grounds with Laura and one other party member.

The second option was to turn back quietly and leave this place.

Having come so far, no one would choose the second option, which would mean wasting all their effort.

Naturally, the next question was who would accompany Laura. Given that Kuro’s main weapon was broken and Inori wielded a bow, which was meant for back-line support, they were ruled out.

This left the decision between Sora and Arisa.

“I’ll stay here to protect Kuro and the others,” Arisa said. “Sora, you should go with Laura and protect her.”

When Arisa declared early on that she would stay by her daughter and her friend, it was decided that Sora and Laura would enter the temple as a pair.

“Well, let’s just take it easy,” I said with a wry smile as I stood beside the blue-haired songstress.

The two of us ascended the softly glowing stairs and stepped inside the crystalline pyramid. Inside was a spacious hall, supported by pillars on all sides. At the center, a pedestal protected by a hexagram barrier held a ring adorned with a blue gem.

—?The Azure Gem Ring?.

It was a sacred treasure imbued with the power of Archangel Gabriel, carrying a healing force. It was the third unique item we had sought, marking the end of our long journey.

As we approached a certain distance, seven armored knights made of blue crystal emerged from the floor, ready to defend the ring. ?Crystal Knights?, guardians set to protect the ring, would revive with full HP whenever defeated, endlessly rising to fight again. This trial, therefore, was not simply about defeating the enemies.

Understanding this, Sora instinctively stepped forward to protect Laura, the key to overcoming the trial.

“I’ll be your opponent,” she said, drawing her ?Silver Magic Sword? and taking a stance.

The Crystal Knights, ignoring Laura, focused their murderous intent on Sora and charged toward her at blinding speed, each wielding a weapon.

…………………….

While walking toward the temple, Laura found herself recalling memories from long ago.

As a child, she loved listening to her mother read her the royal family’s exclusive storybook, ?The Six Brave Adventurers of the Heavens?. It told of a group of heroes who fought ancient monsters to save their kingdom.

The six adventurers never lost. They were highly skilled, among the best of all adventurers. And the key to overcoming most dangerous situations was a lone hero among them, one who wielded seven divine artifacts and possessed unrivaled combat prowess.

His title was ?Black Flash?.

Even if everyone else fell, he would stand on the battlefield until the very end. He saved lives ranging from young girls in slums to entire nations, too many to count on both hands. Racing across countless battlefields with the seven artifacts, he was seen as the embodiment of a god of war.

But he had one flaw: he was hopelessly oblivious to romance. Though two of his female companions harbored feelings for him, he never noticed, his mind always focused on the next battle. His unfortunate nicknames included “The Oblivious God of War Gigolo” and “The Sword Saint Who Lost Love for Power.”

Yet, like his female companions, Laura had grown fond of this kind, selfless boy who extended a helping hand to all. She would reread the pages of his story, feeling a surge of emotions and looking to the sky, wishing to meet him, even just once.

As Laura watched Sora bravely face the Crystal Knights, vanquishing them with her sword skills, she began to sing, drawing strength from the “feeling” welling up within her chest.

Facing any formidable foe head-on without fear—such a valiant figure.

Her very presence offered reassurance and strength.

—Ah, of course. You are the one chosen by the heavens to save this world.

As she watched the night view from the lighthouse and told her everything, the image of the silver-haired girl who had suggested defeating, rather than sealing, the Great Calamity overlapped with that of the boy in the story.

She told herself not to get her hopes up, thinking it might just be her imagination. But as they traveled together, each time she stepped forward in battle, she couldn’t help but see the vision of the dark-haired boy from her childhood stories.

While singing, Laura recalled the advice her mother had given her when she helped her sneak out of the castle.

“To awaken as a songstress, you must experience a love so passionate that you want to be with that person forever.”

The true power of her calming song could only manifest if she had a love strong enough to encompass everything.

Growing up, there was no one she truly felt that way about, no one except for the characters in her storybooks. She had always wondered if she could ever feel that kind of love in real life.

So…

Ah—thank you, God, for allowing me to have this wonderful journey.

She hoped the intense feelings in her heart might somehow reach her, even as she felt a twinge of guilt toward her black-haired and blue-haired friends after that earlier kiss.

The Songstress sang, gradually stilling the Crystal Knights one by one, halting their functions.

When all the Crystal Knights had stopped, the barrier guarding the ?Azure Gem Ring? vanished.

“You have completed the final trial. Songstress, well done. Please take the ring and use the transfer crystal to return to the surface.”

It’s… over?

Stunned, Laura looked at the words ?Mission Complete? displayed before her. Sora, having sheathed her sword, turned back to her with a beaming smile and said, “Good job, Laura,” exactly as she would have in the story.

“So, the outer barrier hasn’t disappeared yet, meaning Kuro and the others can’t come in until we retrieve the ring?”

She turned her back and began to walk slowly toward the pedestal where the ring rested. Laura followed and stopped beside her before the pedestal.

The ring, set with a blue, radiant gemstone and crafted from crystal, was breathtakingly beautiful.

Sora reached out her right hand, took the ring without any trouble, and then glanced back at her. She had always intended to give her the ?Azure Gem Ring?, so she nodded and said, “I’ll give it to Sora-sama.” She then stored it in her item storage.

“Well, the barrier is down, so now we just need to head back. A lot happened, but I’m glad we were able to make it through safely together.”

She stretched lightly, a smile playing on her lips.

Without thinking, she gently looped her left arm around her right, leaning against her as she summoned her courage to speak.

“So… Sora, I… I have something I need to tell you.”

“Hm? What is it, Laura?”

“I… I love you, Sora.”

With her heart pounding like a star’s pulse, the Songstress confessed her feelings to the silver-haired adventurer she loved.

She hesitated for a moment, then lowered her gaze and, in a voice only she could hear, responded,

“Laura, I…—”

It was an answer she had known all along.