Ch.164Melina. (1)

It’s not a matter of memory. There’s no way her enlightened intellect, having touched the truth, would be so deficient as to forget a few names.

Olivia bit her lip.

This wasn’t a simple problem. If it were mere forgetfulness, she could simply recall memories from when she first arrived in this world.

But…

‘Why… did I mistakenly believe I knew who the 14th Regressor was all this time?’

The real problem was that she only now noticed this discrepancy.

She only recognized this inconsistency the moment she decided to subdue Aurelia and obtain the 14th clue.

To deceive Olivia, who had reached enlightenment, the opponent would need to be at least a mental arts practitioner who had also reached enlightenment.

But even so, they shouldn’t be able to tamper with her memories from when she was observing this world from beyond the screen.

The last Regressor Olivia killed was definitely Princess Aria. She remembered that with certainty.

If so, it would be reasonable to think the unmemorable [14th] had been manipulating things… but there were too many strange points for that to make sense.

Olivia had “mistakenly” believed she remembered all fifteen Regressors’ identities from the moment she arrived in this world.

That would mean the [14th] had manipulated her at precisely that moment…

‘No matter how I think about it, it doesn’t make sense.’

To begin with, mental arts techniques have very strict activation conditions. For there to be no trace like this, the caster would need to be at least within visual range, if not in direct contact, but she couldn’t recall meeting anyone else in the north.

Olivia stopped her train of thought and relaxed her hardened expression. It was because of a familiar presence she sensed halfway up the mountain.

This matter could wait. Perhaps it wasn’t as serious as she’d thought.

No matter how she considered it, the assumption that the [14th] had manipulated her didn’t make sense.

She was missing something. For now, it was enough to have realized that.

Right now, facing Melina was far more important.

Olivia descended from the tree and landed on the ground. On one side of her chest on the robe she always wore was a brooch symbolizing her membership in the Golden Tower.

Passing through the dense forest path.

Olivia’s steps halted.

“Ah…”

It wasn’t that she hadn’t thought about what to say when they met again.

Though it might be inconsiderate to Melina, honestly, she didn’t think she could show a dramatic emotional change. After all, Melina’s five years of waiting had been merely ten days for her.

Meeting after just ten days, there was no reason she would shed tears.

That’s what she had believed.

“Meli, I…”

Melina was there.

Uncharacteristically filled with tears.

Moving her lips that wouldn’t part, standing in the middle of the forest path.

The mage who had guarded the tower for countless years had changed slightly from what Olivia remembered.

She still maintained her youth, but Olivia could perceive the subtle changes. It was because they had been closer than anyone.

Faint wrinkles had formed on her forehead. The light in her eyes had dimmed slightly. Her hair, which had always shone brilliantly, had turned slightly white.

Having apparently shed tears several times on her way here, faint tear marks remained on her face.

She must have rushed here in such a hurry that her knees were scraped. Leaves clung to her disheveled hair.

Seeing her like this, mixed emotions surged—guilt, sadness, joy, relief…

Olivia tried to smile.

“I’m sorry. I…”

It didn’t work well.

Words failed her. Her breath caught, making it impossible to utter a single word.

“I, I was too…”

An unfamiliar emotion welled up. There must be something wrong with her tear ducts. Even if her mind didn’t remember, her body had fully experienced those five years.

If not that, then it must be the influence of the Demon God’s remnants. Sadness, after all, is similar to anger in that it makes one express raw emotions from within.

That had to be it.

Olivia slightly averted her gaze. She needed a moment to calm herself.

This wasn’t her world. If she shed tears here, nothing could be more shameful. She, as a mere observer, had no right to cry.

Hadn’t she firmly resolved to return to her original world? Hadn’t she decided to kill the Demon God, see the ending, and leave this world without regret?

She needed to smile.

To leave this world without a trace of attachment, she couldn’t shed tears.

But why?

Why couldn’t she control herself?

Why?

Olivia clenched her fist. She didn’t want to bring her hand to her face. She didn’t want to turn her head away. She wished Melina would tactfully look away, giving her time to wipe her eyes with the back of her hand.

But knowing she couldn’t do that, all she could do was endure the emotions surging up to her corneas.

“Did I… come too late?”

Trying not to reveal her trembling voice, she twisted her lips as much as possible.

“I tried to come as quickly as I could, but… I guess it wasn’t enough.”

Her voice didn’t waver. She didn’t… cry. That was enough.

Melina looked at Olivia with a weak smile.

What was there to be so sad about?

Despite being on the verge of a dramatic reunion with a disciple she thought was dead, Melina closed her mouth and remained silent. As much as she wanted to rush over immediately, she simply couldn’t.

Bloodshot eyes, a face struggling to hold back tears.

Knowing better than anyone what Olivia must be feeling, she waited without saying a word.

“Livi.”

Only after Olivia’s breathing had settled did she speak.

“May I hug you just once?”

Pure maternal love, without a trace of doubt.

“…Ah.”

Facing that, Olivia swallowed her breath once more.

She simply couldn’t meet those eyes.

Her head ached. A bitter taste filled her mouth. Her heart pounded with the scent of guilt. Her body trembled, unable to withstand the vibrations of her heart.

I, I… am not the person you speak of.

I am merely…

“There, there… it’s all right now. Everything’s all right.”

Olivia flinched and hunched her shoulders. She was already in Melina’s embrace.

Melina gently hugged Olivia. She patted Olivia’s back and murmured in a small voice.

“Everything’s all right.”

That was the final straw. Olivia could no longer endure. She surrendered to the torrent of emotions.

“Ah… ahhh…!”

I deceived you.

I tricked you.

I used you to survive.

Such self-accusations swirled in her mouth. Knowing she could never speak them aloud, yet moving her lips as if she could, she despised herself.

In the end.

“I’m… sorry. I… I…”

She could only ask for such formal forgiveness.

Melina stroked her disciple’s back. She caressed her head and patted her back. Clearly, she was blaming herself for something again.

“…”

Melina couldn’t guess the reason. She had known from before that Olivia was hiding something more. But Melina had no intention of pressing her.

Melina showed consideration through silence. She simply repeated her comforting gestures until Olivia could calm down.

Pat, pat.

After shedding tears for a while, Olivia wiped them away with her sleeve.

“…My face is all puffy now.”

Olivia said in a self-deprecating voice.

She had been fine until she saw Melina’s face. She hadn’t expected this to happen.

“I never knew you were such a crybaby.”

“…You cried first, Master. Don’t try to shift the blame.”

“…”

“Still, it seems you’ve been well these five years. Honestly, I still can’t quite grasp it. It doesn’t feel like even a few days have passed, but when I woke up, five years had gone by.”

Olivia grumbled as she turned her body. She decided to accept the fact that Melina had completely entered the sanctuary of her heart.

“Livi.”

Melina said with a faint smile.

“The curse on my body is gone now.”

“…What are you suddenly talking about?”

“It means you don’t have to pretend anymore. You can rest assured that I won’t hurt you now.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, hmm, really.”

Melina chuckled and pinched Olivia’s cheek, wiggling it.

“Inseok, what was that just now when you called me ‘Master’ while crying?”

“…”

Olivia’s eyes trembled like aspen leaves.

Did I? No, I don’t think I ever…

Melina laughed softly and removed her hand from Olivia’s cheek.

“Caught you.”

“…Ah.”

Melina smiled as Olivia opened her mouth.