⊱Je n'ai pas vécu en vain⊰

I did not live in vain

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The three Heavenly Virtues sat around the table, engaged in a conversation that was long overdue.

"How was she able to remember her time as a Heavenly Virtue?" Humility looked at Diligence, subtly demanding an answer.

"Until now there was no such case," Temperance whispered, crossing her arms. No one could know the thoughts that filled her head.

"I don't know..." Diligence shook his legs while sitting. "She came to me first, telling me she was having weird dreams and asking me if I was a Virtue. She already knew many things from her memories that came to her out of nowhere."

"I have no idea what to make of this," Humility said in a low tone with a long sigh. "Not to mention, I still can't believe a human could replace a Sin. To give up a life like that... And a sinner to get a second chance at the expense of someone..."

"A former Virtue at that," Diligence murmured. "We still don't know how she got there."

Temperance stirred in her seat, her eyes casting downwards.

"Diligence?" An angel suddenly appeared, startling the said man.

"Yes?"

"You are summoned to be released from your duties."

"What? Why?" Humility asked.

"There is no more Sin of Sloth. Therefore, the Virtue is to be relieved."

Diligence abruptly stood up in shock. "What?! What about Bloom? Is she...?"

"She's gone now."

Temperance froze as guilt crept into her chest. "What? H-How?"

"She betrayed her sin. She couldn't make people sin," the angel stated monotonously. "As it continued for a long time, the other side could not accept her failure. She was erased recently."

The Virtues broke down in silence, the reality being too unreal. The fact that a person who was once considered their own would be erased without a trace right before them was too substantial to enter their minds, too heavy to bear.

"Diligence," the angel called again, not giving them the time to get in touch with the bitter reality.

The maroon haired man clenched the material of his pants and gritted his teeth before giving in and standing up to walk up to the angel.

"Can I listen to what she had to say before... disappearing?"

The other two turned to look at them as the angel delivered what was heard.

"Life takes effort. And so does love. I'm satisfied that I was able to give efforts to both. I did not live in vain."

Diligence bit his lips and let the angel take him to God for his release.

"What a 'Diligence' thing to do and say... I would say the same."

The end.

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There is one more chapter for Epilogue!

Diligence/Jaesung is being released like Seoyun/Kindness so don't worry 🥰

Also, you may be wondering what Hyunjin is doing there in the picture at the top 🫢
He'll show up in the next book 🫢