Vol 6. Chapter 155: This Is My Choice

When Leon entered the palace, he was still thinking that even if there was only a one-in-a-million chance to keep Aurora, he was willing to fight with everything he had to seize it.

But when Chronoz uttered the absurd number “seventeen million,” Leon felt as if a bucket of icy water had been poured over his head.

It was clearly just a weightless number, something that couldn’t possibly compare to any mountain Leon had ever passed, yet it bore down on him with crushing force.

He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t straighten his back.

Noa slowly stepped forward, the pure white aura flowing around her. She gazed at the blood-soaked Chronoz and asked softly:

“I know that as the exalted God of Time, you only need to act as you always have, even if my thoughts align with yours. But now, you have to force yourself to understand me and stand in my shoes. The former me also shared your perspective. But ever since I met this person and her family, my view on emotions and things like that has slowly started to change. I believe that even if the ending can’t be changed, with your power... is it possible to make some minor alterations to the outcome for the sake of the Melkvey family’s bonds? For example... even if Aurora is destined to ascend the throne, can you at least allow her to meet her family periodically? Or, perhaps, use some special method to establish contact?”

Chronoz’s pure eyes slowly turned to Noa.

From this girl, he could sense a presence that was not entirely human.

Chronoz narrowed his eyes slightly, and then, as if realizing something, he murmured:

“Ah... so it’s you... No wonder you’re speaking to me in such a tone. As the light side of Tiamat, you’re considered a half-divine being yourself. You should already know, for us gods, there’s no such thing as ‘for the sake of something or someone.’”

The Ancestor secretly gritted her teeth. She was facing a truly unyielding opponent. He wasn’t going to budge, not even a fraction.

All the paths were blocked.

Here with Chronoz, there was clearly no way to prevent Aurora from becoming the next Time Successor.

“Cough, cough—”

A sudden fit of coughing shattered the silence.

Everyone turned toward the sound.

Navia’s god was leaning heavily against the armrest of the throne, one hand clutching his chest as he coughed violently.

He was too weak.

But as a god who coexisted with the world, this was the natural end of his lifespan.

Of course, Chronoz’s fall signified the impending disappearance of the last force suppressing the Void Gate.

The time left for Leon and the others was rapidly dwindling.

It could practically be counted in seconds.

Leon clutched Rosvisser’s arm.

“Let’s go,” he said.

Rosvisser nodded softly. She took Noa and Xiaoxue and turned to walk toward the exit of the sanctuary.

Chronoz stood beside the throne, quietly watching their retreating figures.

He ruminated over what the Primordial Dragon King had just said, then closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.

“To gain the indulgence of a god... words alone aren’t enough, Noa.”

But just as the two golden doors were about to fully shut, a small pink figure slipped through the gap, using her petite size to her advantage.

Boom!

The doors closed.

Chronoz stared at the little intruder, momentarily stunned.

In this Sanctuary of Time, although it wasn’t completely airtight, it was still somewhat embarrassing to be outmaneuvered by a little girl like this.

But...

Chronoz couldn’t help but shake his head and chuckle.

After all, this pink-haired little girl had embarrassed him more than once before.

“Aurora Melkvey, you finally came.”

Chronoz looked at the girl, his gaze a complicated mix of emotions. Relief, anticipation, and even a hint of loss.

“I don’t really understand the ins and outs of the whole thing, but from what Dad and the others said, if I take your place and inherit your power, I’ll be able to drive away all those monsters from the other world and protect my family, right?”

Aurora got straight to the point, her tone unusually serious.

Chronoz lowered his head.

“...That’s right. Have you made your choice? We don’t have much time left.”

“Mm, I’ve already made up my mind.”

Aurora barely hesitated.

She lowered her eyes, staring at her open palms.

“All this time, it’s always been Big Sister protecting us. Because she has the strength, she’s always taken it upon herself to bear that responsibility. But this time, it’s my turn to do something for my family.”

Half an hour ago, while hiding in the storage room, Aurora had nearly been consumed by fear and helplessness.

During those few short minutes, she had thought about many, many things.

Her past, her present, and her future.

Every one of them was so beautiful.

Because she had been born into such a wonderful, happy family.

From the very beginning, she had grown up surrounded by her father, mother, sisters...

There was no one in the world who could take their place.

If someone asked Aurora if she could bear to let all this go...

She would answer without hesitation—absolutely not.

Of course, she couldn’t bear it.

She couldn’t bear to lose her father’s doting love, her mother’s gentle care, or her big sister’s protective embrace—

Her sister’s Muse heartfelt words that once cut to the bone.

Those were the building blocks of her entire life. How could she possibly give them up?

But...

That was also the reason Aurora made her decision.

If she didn’t come here, then all those beautiful things and that happiness would be destroyed.

“If I inherit the God of Time’s legacy, then I can keep watching them...

Even if I can no longer be part of it, even if I can only gaze from afar, separated by the river of time.”

Chronoz slowly stepped down from the throne and walked over to the dwindling hourglass.

“Before you become a god, is there anything else you regret as Aurora?”

Aurora pondered for a moment and then softly answered:

“I... don’t really have any regrets. If I have to say something, it would be that I couldn’t help Dad and Big Sister carry some of their burdens earlier.”

She lifted her gaze to Chronoz, her expression resolute.

“This is my choice, not theirs. A mere trickster of time is not truly qualified to bear the title of God of Time. In the future I imagine, I will absolutely be worthy of that title.”

Chronoz smiled with relief.

“Alright. Then, let us begin.”

“What do I need to do?”

“Stand at the other end of the hourglass. When all the sand has flowed to your side, it means you will have officially become the next God of Time.”

Aurora looked down at the hourglass beneath the steps.

To the left, it connected to the other side of the Time Throne.

It was just like the °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° dream she’d had.

Aurora took a deep breath, clenched her fists, and whispered to herself:

“Alright, I understand.”

She closed her eyes and took a step forward...

But before she could move, a hand pressed down on her shoulder from behind.

Aurora stiffened and slowly opened her eyes.

She turned around to see who it was, and her eyes widened slightly.

“Safina-sensei?!”