Chapter 133

A mother is strong.

And so I argued back against the Goddess with all the strength I had.

"What kind of cruelty is 'give and take away'! If you were going to do this, you should never have given at all! You allowed me to carry and birth three living, breathing children — and now you speak of judgment, of erasing them from existence! Goddesses shouldn't behave this way! If I have committed a transgression, then punish me alone — why must innocent people suffer for it? And you put everyone here to sleep against their will as well! How can a Goddess do something so cruel!"

The Goddess's immaculate brows drew sharply together.

"...Are you presently arguing with me? The Great Goddess? And — in informal speech, no less?"

I promptly moved my mouth in a swift act of self-defense.

"A lowly mortal like myself, daring to argue with…