Ch.106Divergence Point. (2)

I dreamed.

A cold that felt like it was cutting through flesh.

The empire in ruins, the Holy Kingdom that couldn’t last even a week, the day when the waves that protected Icail stopped moving, and the Atilla Mountains froze…

Aria watched the scene from afar.

A terrible memory, but one that must not be forgotten.

‘……’

Because it was a dream, watching was all she could do.

Crack.

Before she knew it, the continent had become uninhabitable for humans. Now, no one remained beside her, the former imperial princess.

– Let’s end this.

When she turned around, there was Olivia with a face that seemed regretful.

…Regret? From someone like you?

As soon as Olivia’s hand touched her, her body began to freeze from the bottom up.

Then, with the cold sensation touching her cheek, Aria jolted awake from the dream.

“…!”

Everything around her was filled with ice. Looking around carefully, she realized she was in Carthian’s lair.

The nightmare she had after so long was probably due to this cold.

“I stayed up all night undoing the magic circle, while someone was sleeping comfortably.”

“…How far has it progressed?”

“About 90 percent. Almost done.”

Eryas spoke without looking back.

When dragons hibernate, they set up magic circles to prevent intruders. Since they hibernate for hundreds of years at a time, the intensity of the magic circles is naturally set to maximum. Even Eryas, the Red Dragon Lord, found it difficult to undo.

Eryas spoke as if appraising Aria.

“You’re still pathetically weak.”

“Better than last time.”

‘Last time’ referred to her previous life.

“Tsk. Looks the same to me.”

“If you say so, Lord Eryas.”

“……”

Eryas frowned as he looked at Aria. She wasn’t normally one to agree so readily.

The reason their group had been able to hold out against Olivia for two years was entirely thanks to Aria’s mental calculations.

A person who could read Olivia’s moves in advance and always produce the best results.

That was Aria.

The reason why Eryas, the Red Dragon Lord known for his stubbornness, followed Aria was because of that. Because she had proven herself over those two years.

“…What are you plotting now?”

Instead of answering, Aria smiled sweetly.

“Don’t smile like that. It’s unpleasant.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s exactly like that damn woman’s smile.”

They say friends start to resemble each other, and occasionally Aria would show behaviors similar to Olivia’s.

“At least don’t show it to Carthian. If that woman goes berserk, even I can’t easily stop her.”

“That’s why I smiled like that.”

“…What?”

“Lord Carthian won’t be satisfied with a simple cooperative relationship.”

A cooperative relationship closer to master and servant.

At least, that’s how Carthian needed to be handled.

“Lord Carthian never lost the habits from when she was trained by Olivia. Rather than requests, she needs to be handled forcefully.”

Eryas looked at Aria with interest.

“…So you’re going to train her in reverse? A Dragon Lord?”

“It would be troublesome if she sided with them. If you object, I can’t do anything about it… but you know she won’t object, don’t you?”

“That’s right.”

Eryas grinned, seeming to enjoy the current situation.

“It won’t be easy.”

“Is it harder than killing Olivia?”

“Obviously easier than that.”

Aria glared at the magic circle blocking the entrance.

“So please do your best. Bringing in Lord Carthian is just a strategic move. As soon as we’re done, we’ll head south immediately…”

Tssssst!

Aria looked up at the ominous energy. Clouds were being torn apart like paper.

“That’s quite an unusual fighting spirit. Who is it?”

“…The King of Martial Arts.”

“Seeing how you say that, I assume he was an important figure.”

Aria nodded at the casual question.

“We don’t have time. The eastern part… unfortunately, we must consider it lost.”

“Isn’t Olivia there? Can’t we just go and fight?”

“There might be a trap.”

“A trap?”

Aria didn’t answer. Even if Esthie’s case was a mistake that revealed traces, this time there was no need to show anything.

But she showed it anyway.

Olivia’s mind games run deep. That was why Aria had decided to become friends with Olivia in the first place.

– Your Highness. How long are you going to pretend to be an innocent fool?

The only person who had seen through Aria’s true nature.

“…Do you know when humans willingly reveal their weaknesses?”

“What’s that supposed to mean all of a sudden?”

Despite the question, Aria continued without concern.

“Only when they have an even greater weakness to hide.”

Revealing one weakness to hide another.

“…So, that’s Olivia’s weakness?”

“At least that’s how it looks to me. But…”

What is she trying to hide? What on earth could it be?

Aria sat like a statue, lost in thought.

‘How many of us does she think have gathered for her to show such confidence? Is she that confident? Or is she trying to twist things around…?’

After staring at the sky like a statue for a long time, Eryas said to Aria:

“It’s undone.”

From beyond the dark cavern, a freezing cold flowed out.

Though not as intense as Olivia’s, it was cold enough to instantly freeze ordinary humans.

After walking for a while, Eryas realized something and stopped.

“…Aren’t you cold?”

He had forgotten to cast a warming spell.

When a startled Eryas turned around.

“I told you. I’m better than before.”

Aria was smiling, looking exactly like Olivia.

*****

Olivia checked the notification window with her arms crossed.

[You have acquired 5 clues.]

[Special reward will be given.]

Until now, the clue rewards had never disappointed Olivia.

They always appeared at the most desperate moments, providing exactly what was needed.

[Special Reward]

[Reverse Subjugation]

– From now on, you can obtain clues even when you are subjugated by others.

But what kind of nonsense is this?

And as a special reward, no less.

‘…This is ominous.’

It’s not even like cursing her to fail.

When returnees are subjugated by Olivia, their memories just get slightly twisted.

But if Olivia gets subjugated?

She would be torn limb from limb.

Maybe they wouldn’t simply kill her. They might tie her up in some underground cell and torture her to the brink of death.

‘Why are all these ominous things happening one after another lately?’

First the shaman who had prophesied her existence decades ago, and now even the clues are acting up in pairs.

“…Damn, that’s tough. How are you still alive after taking such a beating?”

Esthie nudged the unconscious King of Martial Arts with her foot.

Taking those two to Glacia’s lair would be unreasonable. Not only would they be uncontrollable, but it would be more efficient to leave them behind.

Clue #4, Clue #5, and one key to enter the Moon’s Magical Realm.

She had obtained everything she could.

Therefore, there was no reason to stay in the eastern part of the continent any longer.

“…Are you planning to leave?”

Kiel, who had been quietly watching, spoke.

She had noticed it before, but Kiel was surprisingly perceptive in strange areas.

Especially when it came to farewells.

“I have to go. I only came here because I got caught up in some magic.”

“Caught up?”

“Was it the Red Tower Master? I met him in Icail, and he attacked me out of nowhere as soon as he saw me.”

Anyway, coming here was the Red Tower Master’s fault.

Getting caught by Esthie, meeting the King of Martial Arts.

All of it happened because of the Red Tower Master.

Beside her, Esthie chimed in as if agreeing. Thanks to that, it became much easier to persuade Kiel.

“…Why was the Red Tower Master in Icail? No, before that… he attacked you?”

With a grinding of teeth, Kiel’s eyes grew fierce.

…He seems to be focusing on a different point.

Anyway, if Kiel is talking like that, it shouldn’t be difficult to cover this meeting up as a random happening.

“It’s fine. I subdued him and threw him in the trash.”

Olivia deliberately spoke as if everything was okay.

It was an action taken knowing that Kiel would react strongly to the words “it’s fine.”

If he returns to the Empire like this, he’ll probably discipline the Red Tower Master first thing.

Well, there are plenty of reasons to beat him up. If there aren’t any, he can just make them up.

Like suddenly declaring support for the First Prince… something like that.

If the Rothschild family, the Emperor’s closest confidants, sided with the First Prince, the Second Prince would immediately fall from grace.

To prevent that, the Second Prince would demand that Galdur take responsibility, and after that… well, it’s obvious, isn’t it?

“I’ll drop by occasionally.”

“Do you think I’ll still be alive by then?”

“You said you wanted to die by my hand.”

Esthie’s previously expressionless eyes sparkled for a moment.

“Are you going to kill me?”

“…No.”

“I thought not.”

Esthie clicked her tongue.

“I’ll tell the King of Martial Arts. That you’ll come again next year.”

“Next year is… a bit difficult.”

“Then the year after.”

“The year after that too…”

“Don’t come then. If that’s the case, just never come back!”

With those words, Esthie dove into the pond. Olivia smiled at the sight.

She had noticed Esthie’s consideration, trying not to burden her.

“I’m going.”

[Using skill ‘Teleport’.]

Kiel’s regretful face gradually disappeared.

Even Esthie, with just her eyes peeking above the water, vanished from sight in an instant.

Under the clear sky, the beautiful snow-covered mountain appeared.

Halfway up the mountain, familiar faces could be seen.

“Now, today…”

Olivia’s figure was reflected in Melina’s pupils.

She brightened up and ran over.

“L-Livia!”

The disciples also approached cautiously. All of them had become incomparably stronger than when they first started.

“Meli…”

At that moment, golden chains bound Olivia’s body.

“…na?”

“Do you know what day it is?”

Her smile carried a murderous intent.

Come to think of it, the promised week had… already passed.

“Ah, that’s… well.”

Melina shook her head as if there was no need to listen.

“Children, show your teacher the progress you’ve made.”

“…How should we show you, ma’am?”

At Aramis’s question, Melina said:

“Attack her.”

Surely she won’t die, right?