Ch.172172. The Play (2)

In the main story of Savior Rising, Yuria’s past is only briefly mentioned in one or two lines.

Just that she’s ‘an artificial life form raised by the Holy Empire.’

However, I do know that when she first grabbed the Disconnector and went berserk, this mansion was completely devastated.

And that Yuria still suffers from guilt over it.

I’ve occasionally heard about it from Lucien. He says she still has nightmares about it.

But what is this now?

“…What do you mean by that?”

I manage to continue speaking without breaking my expression.

Inside, irritation and anger are bubbling up, but I need to avoid drawing attention to myself right now.

My role—

“Everyone working in this mansion knows about it. Those cursed things will eventually be used as ‘sacrifices,’ whether they’re younger or older sisters.”

“…”

“They’re essential for the utopia promised by His Holiness.”

“…”

“You must know about it if you’ve drifted this far in. The ‘Paradise Plan.'”

The Paradise Plan is essentially the ultimate goal of the doctrine preached within the Holy Empire.

A utopia where there is no fighting, no conflict, where everyone can pursue peace and eternal happiness.

Bringing that down to earth is the goal of the Holy Empire and the Pope.

And I already know which direction the Pope’s goal will steer the scenario.

‘…Chapter 6.’

The Holy Empire’s Sacred Territory conquest quest.

With the final highlight being the Subjugation of the False God.

It’s a section infamous for filtering out 80 percent of the entire user pool, even in Sera which is known for its hellish main quest difficulty.

That’s probably because if you haven’t carefully built up various connections with the homunculus sisters, the difficulty becomes worse than the final chapter.

If you haven’t built up enough affinity with Lucien and Yuria, you’re forced to watch an event where both of them are ‘sacrificed’ to the Pope.

“…”

The problem is.

Why attach words like disgusting or monster to humans they plan to sacrifice later in the name of their ‘greater cause’?

Don’t they have even the slightest compassion?

“…Judging by your expression, you seem to find this difficult to accept.”

“…”

“It’s understandable to think that way, but homunculi are originally—”

“…”

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to contain my irritation.

I’m struggling even though I know everyone here will die soon when Yuria grabs the Disconnector.

I know the Holy Empire has a darker side beneath its outwardly sacred appearance, but isn’t this going too far?

“…Excuse me.”

Just as I was about to open my mouth to snap back, a youthful voice came from beside me.

“I-I’m sorry to have kept you waiting!”

It’s Yuria, hurrying over from across the hallway.

And then.

“Oh my, young lady. Please be careful not to fall.”

“…”

I glare incredulously at the servant who instantly changes his expression and smiles sweetly as soon as she appears.

‘…Are these even human beings?’

There’s a limit to being creepy.

How can they treat a child like this when they created her and plan to sacrifice her later?

Thinking about how Yuria will clutch her chest in sorrow and grieve alone in the future for killing these people makes me momentarily see red with anger so intense my temples throb.

“…Unfortunately, it seems we still cannot enter His Holiness’s office.”

As I barely manage to suppress the rage threatening to burst out, Yuria says with a disappointed expression.

“But he said he’ll tell me what’s inside soon, so let’s go in together then, Mr. Servant.”

“Of course, young lady. You’ll know soon enough.”

“…”

I don’t know what it is.

But considering this person’s true intentions, whatever is behind that door opening certainly won’t be good for Yuria.

As I’m thinking this, a window suddenly appears before my eyes.

[System Message]

[The progress of the current event ‘Sweet Play’ has been updated.]

[Stop the tragedy that will befall target ‘Yuria’!]

“…”

Right.

Ominous premonitions never miss the mark.

●

“…So they’re proceeding with it after all? And so quickly too.”

Elia frowned deeply as she scanned the documents handed to her.

They detailed that the second trial of the Hero Selection would soon take place, with thorough explanations of the location and procedures.

She had wondered what she was being summoned to the Chancellor’s office for, but this news was worse than expected.

“I’ve been holding it back as much as possible, but it seems we’ve reached our limit.”

Atalante sighed as she continued.

This was an event jointly conducted by the Holy Empire, the Tribal Union, and the Empire.

Even though the leaders of each nation had agreed to postpone it, an event with the cooperation of all the major powers would eventually have to proceed, if only for appearances.

And above all.

There was only one real reason they had been forcibly delaying it.

“…Both the Tribal Union and the Holy Empire agreed to resume the selection after confirming that Darwood had regained consciousness.”

“…”

“The fact that he still hasn’t recovered his memories is confidential information known only to a select few, so from their perspective, there’s no reason to delay any further.”

There’s no reason to reveal that a person who can control the Demonic Vessel just by breathing is in a vulnerable state.

From their perspective, they don’t know what defect he might have, but since he’s regained consciousness, they want to proceed with the selection.

Elia rubbed her forehead and sighed as she felt a throbbing headache coming on.

‘…Okay, I understand that but.’

What she couldn’t understand was why the entire selection schedule would change based on Darwood’s condition in the first place.

“…The focus is supposed to be on the Hero Selection, but why do I feel like everyone is more interested in my attendant teacher than the hero candidates?”

“It can’t be helped. The Emperor of the Empire, the Great Chief of the Tribal Union, and even the Pope of the Holy Empire are all unusually attentive to that man’s movements.”

“…”

Elia rubbed her chin with a deeply furrowed expression.

The Great Chief of the Tribal Union made sense. That was the most transparent kind of interest. His daughter Riru clearly showed obvious affection toward Darwood.

But why the Emperor and the Pope?

“So, how is Darwood’s condition now?”

At Atalante’s careful question, Elia unconsciously swallowed dryly.

Well, hmm.

The intent behind the question was probably concern about whether he could participate in the second trial after losing his memories.

But she couldn’t honestly disclose that there was currently a feeding frenzy of people trying to take advantage of his defenseless state.

She had heard that just recently, someone named Serath and Riru had a major fight over Darwood before being thoroughly scolded by Elnore.

And on top of that, Elia herself had added an outrageous lie.

“…He doesn’t seem too bad.”

Atalante’s eyes narrowed slightly at Elia’s forced smile.

“Really?”

“…”

She seemed to be asking as if she already knew something.

As Elia maintained her smile while inwardly breaking out in a cold sweat, Atalante spoke with her eyes still narrowed.

“I heard there was a big fight between student Serath and student Riru at his dormitory earlier.”

“…”

“I understand their tendency to lose their minds around Darwood, but we need to consider his current condition.”

Atalante continued with a sigh.

“He’s not the thick-skinned, brazen Darwood Campbell we know, but an artificial soul in a completely blank state. No one knows how he might be warped by shock or what impulsive actions he might take.”

“…Yes…”

“In my view, his mental state is already quite precarious. If he receives any more shocks there… something serious could happen.”

Actual beads of sweat formed on Elia’s forehead at Atalante’s words.

She tried to make an excuse.

“Oh, come on, surely nothing will happen. Everyone should know to maintain appropriate boundaries after getting scolded once.”

“…”

“Really, I mean it! I heard that after getting thoroughly destroyed by the student council president, both Riru and that Serath person have calmed down!”

Elia, who was about to say this to the skeptical-looking Atalante, suddenly closed her mouth.

“…Huh?”

She uttered in confusion as she felt an unexpected surge of energy flowing through her body.

Of course, as someone who trains diligently every day, she always maintains her body in peak condition, but…

Yes.

This sensation had come before, whenever Darwood felt his life was threatened.

“…!”

“What’s wrong?”

Atalante asked with a puzzled expression as Elia stood up with a hardened face, but Elia spoke urgently, indicating she couldn’t easily explain.

“…The teacher might be in danger right now!”

“…What? What do you mean…”

“It’s hard to explain, but I need to go see the teacher right away!”

“…”

The fortunate thing was that Atalante was also someone with great interest in Darwood’s wellbeing.

Instead of questioning further despite the chaotic explanation, she immediately grabbed Elia by the nape and hastily formed a spell.

“…He should be in the dormitory at this time.”

Spatial movement. The coordinates were right in front of Darwood’s personal room.

After the light surrounding them dissipated, Elia quickly scanned the area near Darwood’s door.

Nothing seemed unusual. There was only one woman standing there, holding her chin and looking at Darwood’s room.

Elia spoke in a blank voice when she saw her.

“…Lana?”

Lana Ray Delvium.

The immortal who had previously been bound by Darwood and used as “bait.”

But what business did she have here?

“Hmm, Elia? It’s been a while!”

“…It has been a while, but what brings Lana here?”

“Oh, no, I came to greet Darwood, but it was quite lively. There were so many women clamoring to spend time with him.”

“…”

“Darwood seemed distressed, wondering if he had been involved with so many people.”

Elia deliberately avoided Atalante’s piercing gaze from beside her.

She could almost hear her screaming in her ear, ‘He’ll be fine? He’ll be fine?!’

“And in the midst of all that, Darwood asked me, almost like clutching at straws, if he had ever been involved with me too.”

“…”

An ominous feeling rose simultaneously in both Elia and Atalante.

“…So what did you tell him?”

“I just recounted all the things Darwood did to me during the previous trial, reminiscing about each pleasant memory.”

“…”

“I told him I’d never met such a manly person who could commit such cruel, brutal, and immoral acts without batting an eye. Isn’t that right?”

“…”

Elia and Atalante’s faces turned ashen.

-No one knows how he might be warped by shock or what impulsive actions he might take.

Certainly.

They had just discussed this moments ago.

And what Darwood had done to Lana was, by anyone’s standards, an act of unimaginable trash behavior.

“…Did I do something I shouldn’t have?”

As Lana’s blank question echoed in the corridor, Atalante hurriedly flung open Darwood’s door.

There was no one inside.

And the room was terrifyingly neat and tidy.

As if someone preparing for a final mission had steeled their resolve.

“…”

Atalante, her face ashen, quickly scanned the room.

It was an attempt to find any clue about the man’s current state, and she was somewhat successful.

She discovered a small note placed on Darwood’s personal desk.

“…What does it say?”

In response to Elia’s tense question, Atalante stared at the sentence written there without answering.

Several minutes passed.

And several more minutes after that.

Atalante placed the note back on the desk with trembling hands.

Elia, who had been standing nearby watching, quickly followed and checked the note.

[I think it would be better if someone like me didn’t exist. Goodbye everyone.]

“…”

“…”

Everyone fell into silence.

After some time had passed.

Atalante spoke with a trembling voice.

“…Gather all the women who have been clinging to that man. Time is of the essence.”

Then.

“…If you don’t want to die, find this man immediately–!!”

Such a scream-like cry fell like thunder from Atalante’s mouth.

●