episode_0140

“Good heavens… what kind of experiment did they perform to bring such creatures into existence?” I examined the test subjects, who had stopped breathing from the shock of the light beam Aria fired, and was speechless. There were visible signs of them being stitched together in several places, but that alone wouldn’t explain how the test subjects could freely move the body parts attached to them. Perhaps there’s something unimaginable inside here, and the researchers here used it to create these test subjects… Furthermore, the test subject girl from just now wouldn’t have simply vanished. Considering that this is a research facility from another dimension, the researchers here must have moved her somewhere before she could be freed by Aria’s hand…

“Zeke-nim. Is it alright for you to look at the corpses?” “Yeah. Maybe because they’re not human, I don’t feel much repulsion, so it’s fine. More importantly, I’ve been thinking about how we should proceed in this situation… It seems like going inside first is the wisest choice.”

“It doesn’t matter what comes out, Zeke-nim. Who could possibly defeat me, standing right beside Zeke-nim!” When Aria declared that no one could defeat her, shrugging her shoulders, I certainly conceded that there was no creature here that could defeat Aria, just as she said, and gave an awkward laugh. Then, I took Aria’s hand, and we began to go inside together. As we walked in, I suddenly remembered Aria’s immense shock when she saw the test subject girl. Feeling curious, I asked Aria.

“By the way, Aria. Weren’t you… really shocked when you saw that test subject girl earlier?” “Hmm… I was, wasn’t I? But why do you ask?” “Well… I just didn’t expect you, who usually doesn’t care much about others besides me, to be so shocked by that child.”

“Ah, right~” Contrary to my expectation that Aria would simply view the child indifferently, I recalled that Aria had been unable to hide her shock, just like me. I surmised that the girl’s appearance had been shocking for Aria as well. However, to know the exact reason, I asked Aria about it, and Aria, understanding why I was asking such a question, told me.

“As Zeke-nim said, I don’t really concern myself much with other people. Even that test subject girl, I’m not particularly worried about her now. But… when I first saw that girl, my past self came to mind, and I was momentarily stunned.”

“You recalled your past self?” When Aria explained that the reason for her earlier shock was that her past self came to mind, leaving her stunned, I was dumbfounded. So, had Aria also been imprisoned somewhere, like the test subject girl? Come to think of it, I didn’t know much about Aria in detail. It was just that Aria had been plagued by bad memories from the Esrad Kingdom incident, and I had simply saved her from that…

“Aria, when we get out of this facility, can you tell me about your past in detail?” “Huh?” “I’ve just realized anew that I didn’t know how much more pain you’d been through besides the Esrad Kingdom incident. So, tell me about yourself later. So I can know everything about you. Alright?”

“…Hehehe… Zeke-nim, you’re quite sly too… To try and learn everything about me… In that case, right now…” Aria suddenly let out a sly laugh and began to take off her clothes. I was greatly flustered and stopped her with my whole body. That’s not what I meant at all!!! I’m not interested in your naked body, Aria?! As I tried to stop Aria from undressing with my whole body, I became breathless from exhaustion.

“Gasp… gasp… No, you want to joke around even in this situation?!” “Hehehe… Thinking about old times made me remember I used to be like this~ Come to think of it, recently there’s been so much to worry about, and there was also the camera, so I haven’t shown this kind of behavior… But now, once again, to Zeke-nim… Uhuhuhu…”

“Don’t do it again, it’ll make me uncomfortable… No…” When Aria, with the same sly smile as before, announced that she would do something to embarrass me, I tried to stop her, but knowing how stubborn Aria was, I eventually gave up. Haaah… I’ll just have to endure it… And every time, I’ll have to stop her with my whole body again…

“Alright then… Shall we continue deeper inside, Zeke-nim?” “Yes… By the way, seeing these creatures makes me wonder… Do the Saintess and priests know about these creatures?” “Hmm… Considering that the researcher mentioned unleashing the ‘Watchers’ earlier, and that we are the first people from Krantid World to enter this place, they probably don’t know about these creatures. Beings with divine power as strong as mine might have noticed, but Saintesses as strong as me are rare.”

“Hmm… So, the possibility that they know can’t be ruled out, can it?” “Yes, that’s right~ As expected of Zeke-nim~ To understand such a difficult explanation in an instant… Isn’t this also proof that Zeke-nim and I are connected by heart~?”

When I understood her complicated explanation in an instant, Aria, just like before, shyly asked if it wasn’t proof that she and I were connected by heart. It seems she’s showing that side of her again after reminiscing about old times… She seemed so quiet lately… Wait a minute… Come to think of it, Aria became quiet after she discovered the camera. Could it be then…?

“Hey, Aria. Can you show me what pictures you took with the camera?” “Y-yes?! Ah… Ahahahaha… Z-Zeke-nim, you really do have a sly side too, don’t you…? To try and carelessly check a lady’s belongings…”

…That flustered expression… and awkward laugh. It’s certain. Aria wasn’t quiet all this time. She was quietly doing something. Realizing this, I immediately reached into Aria’s pocket, and as I put my hand in her pocket, Aria started to whine.

“T-this is troublesome, Zeke-niiim~! If you do this, rumors will spread that Zeke-nim is a pervert~! Oh, come on…” “I’ll deal with that later…! Found it!!” “Ah… N-no, Zeke…-nim…”

“…” I found the camera in Aria’s pocket and immediately checked the photos inside. As I checked the photos, Aria tried to stop me frantically. But when I already had a serious expression after seeing something, Aria became flustered, closed her mouth, and avoided my gaze. I, speechless, continued to look at the camera’s photos and spoke.

“Pictures of me sleeping, pictures of me gathering clues… pictures of me eating… What is this? Why are there pictures of me showering?! No, before that, I didn’t hear any signs of someone coming in or the door opening, so how did you take them?!” “Mmmph…”

I couldn’t hide my shock that Aria had filled the camera’s capacity with photos, and that she had secretly filmed me even while I was showering, with my nerves on edge due to the suspicious nature of the facility. And as I continued to be flustered by the photos she had taken, Aria seemed to have nothing to say and kept her mouth shut, avoiding my gaze. I glared at Aria and said.

“No, other pictures are fine, but you shouldn’t take photos where my body is exposed, should you? I think this is going too far.” “I’m sorry… I’ll delete them right awayyyy…”

Although we were in such a critical situation, I was greatly shocked to find photos of me in such a state. Aria started crying, took the camera from me, and began deleting all the photos taken while I was showering. Then, she discovered a certain photo, smiled faintly, and showed it to me, saying.

“But this photo, taken with Zeke-nim, is like a treasure to me. Thank you, Zeke-nim.” “…It’s good that you think that way… But please don’t take photos that go too far…” “Hehehehe. I will.”

Seeing the photo they had taken together while investigating a certain lab, Aria stopped crying. She said that photo was her treasure and that she would keep my words in mind. Good… Now that the photo issue is resolved… Shall we get back to the main topic?

“Aria. Can you continue to use your detection ability? I think we need to make a preemptive move before that researcher does anything strange again.” “Of course, Zeke-nim! Would you mind waiting a moment?”

When I asked her to use her detection ability again, saying we needed to make a preemptive move, Aria readily agreed and told me to wait a moment. Thinking that Aria would emit light again, I stepped a few paces away from her and, recalling something, said.

“By the way, that Sphere of Heaven’s Might… thinking about it again, it’s quite something. Even though it tied our hands, to be able to interfere with your immense divine power… What on earth is it made of to possess such a suppressive force?” “…”

When I expressed surprise that the Sphere of Heaven’s Might could interfere with her divine power, Aria began to recall an earlier incident. It was when Aria had finished dinner and was tidying up the dishes. Aria was happily cleaning the dishes, recalling how Zeke had enjoyed her cooking.

“Heeheehem~ Today’s cooking was a huge success~! Aria’s special health meal, filled with various medicinal herbs to restore Zeke-nim’s stamina, was a great success again today~ Indeed, I am an indispensable being to Zeke-nim…?”

The moment she was humming about Zeke enjoying her cooking and tidying up the dishes, something tugged at her skirt. Aria looked down. When Tiavel tugged at her skirt, calling her, Aria, thinking Tiavel was calling her to help, said to Tiavel.

“I can do it alone. So why don’t you go play with that snow woman…?” ‘I have something to tell you, Saintess-nim.’

When Tiavel showed her a piece of paper stating she had something to tell her, Aria, realizing that Tiavel had come to her with a different purpose than she expected, tilted her head and asked Tiavel as she wiped the rinsed dishes with a cloth.

“What do you need from me?” ‘When I was a doll, I told you something while fighting you, didn’t I? That your power isn’t your own.’

“Hmm… Was that so? Honestly, I didn’t think much of that fight at the time, so I don’t remember it.” When Tiavel mentioned that she had pointed out that Aria’s divine power wasn’t her own true power during their previous fight as a doll, Aria said she didn’t remember and placed the wiped dish aside. Then Tiavel wrote something on the paper and showed it to Aria.

‘Your power, Saintess-nim… that divine power, it’s truly not your own power.’

“Hmm… That’s not wrong. This divine power is more like something I received from Goddess Camilla than my own power. But now I can wield it freely.” ‘But ultimately, it remains that the power is not your own. And there’s something I need to tell you about that power.’

“About this power?” When Tiavel said she had something to tell her about the divine power she possessed, Aria tilted her head and, looking at the yellow divine power radiating from her hand, asked Tiavel. Then Tiavel wrote something on the paper and showed it to Aria.

‘Your power, Saintess-nim… that divine power will certainly hinder you.’

“Ah… I’ve already been hindered by it. That annoying Sphere of Heaven’s M-?” ‘Not just the Sphere of Heaven’s Might, that power could definitely threaten Zeke-nim too.’ “…Pardon?”

Aria was about to explain that her divine power had been hindered by the Sphere of Heaven’s Might before, but when Tiavel said it could threaten not just her but also Zeke, Aria, who became sensitive whenever Zeke was mentioned, straightened her face and questioned Tiavel. Then Tiavel wrote something on the paper again and showed it to Aria.

‘If you don’t give up that power and find your own unique power, that power will surely threaten both of you.’

“What do you mean by that? Thanks to this power, I’ve saved Zeke-nim more than once…” ‘You can’t always do that. You might not know it now, but that power will someday threaten both of you. I can even explain why.’ “Why…?”

Aria mentioned that she had saved Zeke from danger more than once thanks to her divine power, trying to emphasize that her power was by no means evil. But Tiavel said she could explain the reason for her assertion. Aria then became greatly flustered and began to read the words written on the paper Tiavel showed her.

‘I know this because I’ve experienced it myself, but another person’s power can someday even invade your soul. No matter how strong you are, Saintess-nim, as long as the power that makes you strong isn’t truly your own, your soul can also be invaded. And if that happens, you will threaten Zeke-nim.’

“…” Aria, having read Tiavel’s explanation, said nothing. Or rather, she couldn’t. Having already experienced soul invasion from Cecilia before, Aria judged Tiavel’s explanation to be plausible. However, perhaps believing that her own strengthened Holy Glow and her feelings for Zeke would allow her to endure it, she chuckled and said to Tiavel.

“It seems you’ve become quite talkative, perhaps because you have a mother now. But I am not as weak as you seem to worry. And if I didn’t have this power, I would become an ordinary person who couldn’t offer Zeke-nim any help at all, so why would I give up this power?”

“…” Aria retorted that she was now strong enough that her soul would not be invaded, and then stated that without this power, she would be unable to offer Zeke any help. Tiavel then pondered before beginning to write something. She then showed what she had written to Aria.

‘Even so, you must abandon that divine power someday. And you must awaken your own true power to be able to help Zeke-nim. I won’t say anything more than this, Saintess-nim. But please don’t ignore my warning.’

“Well… since it’s a warning you made thinking of Zeke-nim, I’ll take it to heart. However, I will make sure such a thing never happens, so just watch me!” When Tiavel asked her not to ignore her warning, Aria chuckled and told her to just watch. And then, just before using her ability, Aria suddenly froze, recalling that conversation. I, not knowing what was wrong, said to Aria.

“Is something wrong, Aria?” “Oh… No! I’ll do it right away, Zeke-nim! Ah, this time it’s a simple detection ability, so there won’t be a strong light. You don’t have to close your eyes.”

“Ah… That’s a relief then. Please do.” Seeing that I had closed my eyes, Aria explained that this time it was a simple detection ability and no strong light would come out. I felt relieved and watched as Aria closed her eyes and used her detection ability. At that moment, as if she had detected something, Aria’s eyes flashed, and she turned around. I, startled, said.

“W-what’s wrong, Aria! Is there something behind you!?” “Oh… Yes. Someone is coming. Someone we parted ways with before.” “Parted ways with before…!! No way!!”

When Aria said someone they had parted ways with before was coming from behind, I immediately intuited who it was, smiled, and looked behind me. Then, a black figure slowly approached the area and began to reveal itself in the light emanating from Aria’s staff. That person was none other than Dio V Runner.