Chapter 115: I must return to hell.

Screech-!

A sharp sound cut through the air.

A vivid handprint was left on Viviana’s flushed cheek.

The hand’s owner was none other than Artasha. Her piercing blue eyes narrowed as she glared sharply at Viviana.

“Where exactly is my daughter right now?”

“She’s in Rahel Village, located at the Kiraz Front on the eastern continent.”

“That’s still a place with remnants of defeated soldiers! Are you saying you threw my daughter into such a dangerous place?!”

Artasha’s face twisted more and more ominously. Lillian, awkwardly standing between Viviana and Artasha, was at a loss, anxiously observing the two.

“While it’s technically near the front, Rahel Village is far from where the remnants are hiding, so she should be safe. I’ve also assigned the strongest warrior I know to be by Tina’s side.”

Viviana’s gaze briefly flicked to Lillian.

“Additionally, Rahel Village is a place where Tina can move freely, away from the rumors of her being a saint killer.”

“I—I was going to bring her back once we separated her from the demon!”

Lillian hastily tried to explain, but Artasha’s furious expression showed no signs of softening.

Lillian’s intention was simple. She wanted to create an environment so isolated that Tina would have no choice but to rely solely on her.

Even though her intent was to exorcise the demon slumbering within Tina, such actions could never sit well with Artasha.

“Lady Merdellia. Tina is not someone you can handle as you please. She is my daughter, and I will bring her back to the estate immediately.”

There was not a shred of mercy in Artasha’s gaze. Even though Artasha had managed to come to terms with her emotions toward Tina, thanks to Viviana, she could never forgive someone for recklessly endangering her daughter’s safety.

“…Mother.”

But at that moment, both Artasha and even Lillian were left wide-eyed at Viviana’s unexpected action.

The swordmaster of Merdellia, known for her arrogance, was now kneeling helplessly on the ground.

“…What are you doing, Lady Viviana?”

Artasha wore a bewildered expression.

No matter the situation, there was an unbridgeable gap in status between Artasha and Viviana.

Even though she was currently referred to as a lady, it was an undeniable truth that Viviana was the sole daughter and heir of the family.

Artasha tried to help her up, but Viviana’s knees showed no sign of leaving the floor.

“I know I’m being shameless… but please trust me just this once, Mother.”

“It’s not a matter of trust; I have no intention of leaving Tina there. Now, get up.”

“Tina is in a precarious state right now, Mother.”

Viviana’s serious tone gripped Artasha’s attention. As Artasha fell silent, Viviana hurriedly continued.

“Tina called herself a sinner. The last time I saw her, she was inflicting pain upon herself, saying it was to atone for her sins.”

“W-What did you say?”

“She promised me she wouldn’t hurt herself again, but who knows how that might change with time.”

What news could be more shocking to a family than learning their daughter had been harming herself? The revelation that delicate Tina had been hurting her own body made Artasha’s fists tremble.

“Tina is severely lacking right now. Love, accomplishment, pleasure, responsibility… She doesn’t have the basic things a person should have. She’s like a child who has only grown physically.”

“…What exactly are you trying to say, Lady Viviana?”

“I want Tina to experience life as a human being and to feel happiness.”

Viviana’s voice was earnest. Her eyes, which had spent half a lifetime focused solely on herself, were now filled with profound affection.

“I want her to know the joy of achieving something on her own. I want her to feel the pride of holding something in her hands that she earned through her own efforts.”

“Even if she doesn’t have your love or anyone else’s, I want her to have the strength to live on her own.”

There was a faint trace of bitterness in Viviana’s gaze as she finished.

“And… I want to make Tina strong enough that she no longer has to rely on that demon of a woman.”

“Please… let me help Tina. Just this once, trust me again.”

Viviana was an unforgivable figure who had already ruined Tina once. There was no reason for Artasha to trust her again.

Nevertheless, Viviana’s voice was so earnest and carried such weight that Artasha felt it might not hurt to listen a little more.

“…First of all, Saintess.”

Suppressing the emotions welling up deep within her, Artasha looked at Lillian.

“Y-Yes…?”

Lillian’s voice trembled, unable to hide her unease. As if her toes tingled, she cautiously took a step back.

***

“What kind of training did you say you gave my daughter?”

“Well, you sure do visit the bathroom a lot.”

Miranda, the old woman sitting with her legs crossed and her chin resting on her hand, exuded a threatening aura just by her imposing presence.

“I have a rather peculiar constitution.”

I couldn’t reveal the engraving on my lower abdomen, so I decided to gloss over it. Fortunately, Miranda didn’t press further.

But the real problem lay elsewhere.

‘…This is frustrating.’

So far, Lillian had always appeared whenever I needed to use the bathroom—several times a day.

Each time, she would press down on my lower abdomen to help me go or, if not, command me to hold it in somehow.

Perhaps because of that, my body seemed to have accepted her touch as part of a natural bodily function. Even though I had gone to the bathroom multiple times today, it never felt as resolved as before.

I knew it was crude and utterly undignified. But without Lillian pressing on my lower abdomen, the sensation below never felt completely settled.

‘T-This isn’t my fault…!’

Isn’t it?

It wasn’t as if I wanted to end up like this. Besides, someone else was responsible for making me this way—should I really bear the blame for that too?

Of course, my wrongdoings toward Lillian were far worse—so much so that a hundred apologies wouldn’t suffice.

Still, I couldn’t help but feel an inkling of unfairness in this situation.

‘I can’t possibly ask Miranda to press it for me…’

If I did, she’d undoubtedly despise me as less than a worm who couldn’t even manage basic decency.

I’d rather live with this lingering frustration.

“By the way, I’ve been curious for a while—what’s that thing around your neck?”

Miranda asked casually, her expression indifferent.

“Oh… this?”

“Yes, what kind of dog wears something like that around its neck?”

Her gaze landed on the collar hanging around my neck. It was made of black leather, with a dazzling golden gemstone embedded in the center.

It was the collar Lillian had put on me—a precious divine artifact capable of healing any wound. At the same time, it served as a control device to suppress the one slumbering within me.

Without this collar, I probably wouldn’t be alive now. If that were the case, I wouldn’t have even had the chance to atone for my sins.

“This is something very precious to me. Doesn’t it suit me pretty well?”

In the modern world I had lived in, necklaces like this were considered trendy fashion accessories.

“Well, you do look as dumb as a puppy, so I guess it suits you.”

“Hehe, I’ll take that as a compliment?”

“…Damn it.”

She turns to me with an annoyed expression.

It has already been a week since I arrived here. I’ve gotten a general sense of Grandma Miranda’s personality.

Her tone is rough, and her actions are harsh, but she’s a good person.

“Oh, Grandma Miranda! I told you I’d do the dishes!”

“Ah, you startled me!”

For example, when there’s too much washing to do, she secretly helps from behind—a kind-hearted person.

“Look at this! There’s sauce stuck on the edge of the plate!”

“Damn! Even a goddess descending from the heavens wouldn’t notice that!”

“Keeping the environment clean is a chef’s basic principle! If I saw a plate like this, I wouldn’t even give it a second glance!”

“You pesky thing, you’ve gotten cocky after just one week! Fine, you’re so great. From now on, you do all the dishes yourself!”

She’s a good person—one who should never be influenced by someone like me.

So I’ll keep my distance.

I’m a sinner.

I’ll never forget.

Bearing all my sins, the place I must return to is hell.

Just like my mother, a sinner who must never be happy.

Yes, that’s right.

That’s why I strive.

Until the day I’m worthy of death.