Reincarnated With Three Unique Skills

The woman stammered, sensing the cold tone of their savior.

As expected, she lowered her head in shame, right before her daughter's accusing eyes. Fear and uncertainty gnawed at her heart as well.

"N-No, I didn't. I am not lying," she meekly tried to deny the truth again.

Aengus was slightly annoyed. "Okay. Should I leave you two right here? I don't want to carry two ungrateful liars," he said, standing up, visibly annoyed, to push her into desperation.

"N-No… Please don't… My lord…" she immediately clung to his leg, wrapping her arms around it.

"Mother!" Lyra began to sob, seeing her mother's actions, tears welling up in her innocent eyes. "Please speak the truth to our savior. It's wrong."

Aengus remained resolute, not giving in to her desperate plea.

He gently slipped from her grasp, stepping back with a hint of irritation on his face.

"Alright, will you tell me now?" he asked calmly, sitting down before them, his gaze steady and unyielding.

The woman looked into her daughter's tearful eyes, then at their savior, weighing her options carefully. The choice before her was not an easy one, but the weight of the situation made it impossible to avoid. Her lips trembled as she prepared to speak, caught between fear and trust.

The woman sighed deeply, her resolve hardening. "Alright, Lord, I will speak the truth. But in return, I want your promise—you will not harm us after hearing it."

Aengus smirked internally but outwardly feigned disbelief. "Why would I harm you after learning a simple truth? Is that how you see your savior?" he asked, his expression a mix of feigned hurt and curiosity.

"No, it's not that, my lord," she denied quickly. "It's just... the thing I'm about to reveal is extremely precious. Even the gods themselves might fall to greed if they were to learn of it," she said in a low, serious tone, her gaze locked on his face, searching for any trace of avarice.

Aengus adjusted his expression to one of mild surprise. "Oh? Is that so?" He paused, then added solemnly, "Very well. In the name of ZERO, I promise that I will not lay a hand on you or your daughter."

As he spoke those words loudly, the sky trembled briefly with a faint but undeniable ripple in the air.

Aengus frowned, confused by the sky's reaction to his words, but he set the thought aside for now. His focus remained entirely on the woman before him, waiting for her to reveal the secret.

Amarian seemed to be gambling with their lives, the reaction exaggerated as though fate itself compelled her to speak.

The woman began slowly, her voice trembling slightly, "Lord, the truth is... my husband isn't dead. He worked in the Holy Mountain mines despite being an S-Rank powerhouse."

Aengus raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "An S-Rank powerhouse working in a mine? That's unusual. Continue."

"Yes," she nodded. "The Holy Mountain mines are no ordinary place. The rocks there are so hard, and the heat so intense, that only S-Rank individuals can endure the conditions deep underground for extended periods. It's a job suited only for the strongest."

She hesitated before continuing, her voice dropping lower. "Setting that aside, over a week ago at night, my husband came to our house in secret. To deliver something precious to our child while she was asleep. He called it the God's Stone."

"God's Stone?"

Aengus's eyes gleamed with interest, the answer to his growing curiosity finally taking shape.

"So, it's because of that stone," he mused internally, piecing the puzzle together.

"What exactly does it do?" Aengus asked, his expression feigning curiosity but his mind racing with speculation.

Amarian hesitated, then replied seriously, her gaze shifting to her daughter. "I don't know exactly how it works. But my husband said it can help Lyra... become a God."

"A God?" Aengus repeated, intrigued, though his sharp eyes studied the woman intently for any kind of lie.

But he found no abnormality while telling the truth.

Lyra gasped, her wide-eyed astonishment evident. "A... God?" she echoed, her small hands trembling slightly.

The very notion was incomprehensible to her. Becoming an S-Rank was already an unattainable dream, something she could barely imagine for herself. But the idea of ascending to godhood? It was nothing but absurdity.

The thought felt almost blasphemous, an affront to the divine beings her deeply religious homeland revered. Lyra shook her head, her heart pounding, unsure whether to feel awe or fear.

But deep inside, who wouldn't want that kind of power? Remembering the pain of her mother being captured and tortured only fueled her yearning for strength.

"Can I see it?" Aengus asked calmly, though inside, every fiber of his being felt invigorated.

He had finally found a clue that could lead to becoming an SSS-Rank, the power of the gods, and he would never let such an opportunity slip through his fingers—never.

Aengus couldn't detect the presence of the stone, even with his specialized eyes, confirming its extraordinary power.

Amarian hesitated but eventually sighed in defeat. She looked at her daughter and said, "It's inside my daughter, and no one could ever detect it unless she wills it to reveal itself."

Aengus turned his gaze to Lyra, who appeared utterly puzzled.

"Where is it, Mother? Why didn't I know about this all this time? Why did Father risk his life for me?" Lyra asked, her voice trembling with a mixture of confusion.

"Lyra, it was for your own good," Amarian said softly, her voice laced with sorrow. "Your father wanted you to have a happy life, free from the danger of this world. To give you eternal freedom.

But his actions brought only pain and suffering because of the Cathedral's suspicions. We can't bear this burden alone anymore. Give it to our savior as repayment, and maybe we won't have to live in fear anymore... hopefully."

Her voice broke into sobs as she added, "I don't even know if your father will ever come back to us..."