Ch.196The Witch Who Will Destroy the World. (6)

It was a question I had held for a long time.

The intuition and the extraordinary level of mana detection I possessed from the moment I fell into this world.

These weren’t things one could master instantly just by possessing the body of a Grandmaster. Just as babies take a long time to learn how to walk, I should have gone through at least that much of a process.

‘But I could use magic effortlessly from the very beginning.’

There wasn’t even a moment’s hesitation. From the moment of possession, I understood all magic and knew what to do.

That’s when the doubts began. The suspicion that ‘Olivia’ still existed within me, and that I was gradually becoming tainted by her.

If that weren’t the case, I wouldn’t have felt anger when the Master of Dark, who had always been my enemy, was in danger of being killed by Agares.

And now, that suspicion has become certainty.

“Your companions will be fine. A Demon God with sealed immortality is merely half of what it should be.”

“…Sealed, you say?”

‘Olivia’ rose to her feet. She slowly walked past Olivia.

“When a Demon God perishes, its remnants seep into the strongest being on the continent. And when that being’s life comes to an end, those remnants bloom.”

“…And a new Demon God is created.”

In existence, one’s own will is surprisingly unimportant.

In the end, one is defined not by oneself but by others.

Even if they are completely different beings, the moment they share the broad framework of ‘the source of magical energy,’ they are worshipped by others under the same name.

The name of Demon God.

Incomplete, but immortality that lasts at least until all living beings perish. That’s why it’s dangerous, and equally powerful.

“That’s why I chose to die at Cain’s hands every time. By eliminating the Demon God’s remnants dwelling in my soul, I could temporarily prevent the Demon God’s advent.”

…Cain?

“That’s the name of the child you call the Serial Murderer.”

‘…That kid had a name?’

Anyway. ‘Olivia’ continued speaking.

“But in the end, it was only a temporary solution, not a complete one. The reason is…”

“Because of ‘regression,’ I assume.”

“…Yes. That’s right.”

‘Olivia’ nodded with a bitter expression.

“As long as I continued to regress, eventually I wouldn’t be able to prevent the Demon God’s remnants from awakening within my soul. I wanted to endure forever, but… at some point, my mind couldn’t hold out anymore.”

The flood of information that came with each new cycle. Just accepting it alone required her to pay a price that was far from light.

She had to pay the price for countless reversals of the world’s laws and predetermined fate with every breath and movement.

From some point on, even the reason why she had to do so became dim…

“So, I needed to make a decision.”

In that calm voice, there was a rare hint of faint sadness.

‘Olivia’s’ steps came to a halt.

Another vision was appearing in the direction she was looking.

The final no-kill cycle.

‘Olivia’ from that time appeared. Emperor Aria’s figure and Aurelia’s figure also appeared.

– What did you just say? You… found a way to eliminate the Demon God?

– Yes. To make it possible, I need your help.

Aria shook her head. Having reached her limit long ago, she could no longer move on to the next cycle. It was beyond her domain. The moment she crossed over to the next cycle, her personality would fragment and her mind would break.

– Aria, you don’t need to cross over to the next cycle.

– Hmm…?

– Don’t be upset and listen. It’s better without you.

– Just tell me what the plan is first. Don’t beat around the bush.

At Aurelia’s rebuke, ‘Olivia’ nodded.

– I’m going to become the Demon God.

– Why? No, before that. How…?

– The qualification to reach the truth is given to only one person per category, right?

– That’s true.

– The same goes for divinity.

Confidently, Olivia declared.

– The essence of the Demon God is destruction and finality. If I get closer to its essence than it does… I can obtain the divinity as a Demon God.

– …To do that.

– I’ll have to extinguish more lives than you can imagine. I don’t intend to pass that burden onto you. I’ll bear all their hatred and resentment myself.

Aria’s face hardened.

– Now I understand why you said you don’t need my cooperation. You need as many people as possible to hate you for this. However, even without memories of previous cycles, I am still me. Before resenting you, I would certainly try to understand why you acted that way.

– That’s fine. Aurelia will stick right by your side and cloud your judgment.

Tsk tsk tsk tsk!

At that point, the vision cut off.

Olivia’s eyes trembled. She understood what those words meant. What it meant to become the Demon God.

“So… when you said you sealed the immortality…”

‘Olivia’ nodded with a bitter smile.

“Yes. I completely transplanted it into my being. As long as my self doesn’t completely perish, I can hold back the Demon God’s immortality from spreading.”

That must be why the current Demon God was described as only half of what it should be.

As long as the ‘Olivia’ before me endured in the unconscious, the Demon God wouldn’t go berserk.

“Of course, it wasn’t perfect. It was nearly impossible for me, who had just obtained divinity, to completely suppress the immortality that even the original Demon God couldn’t control at will. So it went berserk a few times.”

Olivia’s face grew serious.

If that was the case, it explained everything that had happened so far.

Agares’s glorious expression until the moment of death, the overwhelming negative emotions that became unbearable, and how the body went berserk when the mind entered Aurelia’s clue.

‘Olivia’s’ consciousness had been sleeping deep within my mind. While holding back the Demon God’s immortality.

‘So that’s what it was.’

Olivia staggered to her feet. Three existences dwelled within one body.

Myself, Olivia, and the Demon God’s immortality.

‘And what saved me back then…’

The distant darkness I felt before waking up in the demon realm.

The reason I could escape from that powerful and terrifying magical energy was thanks to the guidance of a small ray of light.

A light that emitted a warm and familiar laugh.

Everything was clear now. Although a few questions remained, there was no time to ask them.

Tsk tsk tsk tsk…

An ominous energy leaked from ‘Olivia.’ Her snow-white hair had already changed to a dull gray. Even at this moment, her hair color was gradually darkening.

“…Hehe. It’s already come to this. It seems I didn’t have as much time as I thought.”

“You just said I would be at a crossroads of choice. What exactly does that mean?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. Whether you’ll show misplaced compassion and spare someone who will become a threat later, or make a decision to eliminate the risk factor here and now.”

Olivia chuckled. Was there even a choice to begin with?

The tone that forced one option was exactly like her own.

“So if I defeat you now, that’s it?”

“Not yet. Not yet.”

I can hold out longer.

‘Olivia’ smiled and slowly shook her head. It was a gesture that seemed like she was making a promise.

The scenery was gradually changing. The white world was breaking apart, revealing the great plains of the north. Everything around was filled with thick darkness, and screams echoed incessantly.

Beyond consciousness, the appearance of the real world.

No matter how much its immortality was sealed, a Demon God was still a Demon God. And it originated from the body of a Grandmaster who had reached the realm of transcendence countless times.

It would never be easy to deal with.

KWAAAAA!

The moment the Demon God’s wings moved, black thunder struck. Countless thunderbolts poured down, and black mist accumulated like a flood.

[Regressor, you have subdued ‘Olivia’.]

[You have acquired Clue #15.]

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.

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[Main Quest is now open!]

Olivia saw that message. It had been there since the moment she pierced her own heart with the dagger.

She had been deliberately ignoring it.

“When your companions defeat the shell of the Demon God.”

‘Olivia’ slowly turned her head to look at me.

No further words were necessary. I knew better than anyone what her next words would be.

+

Clear condition: ‘Completely’ eliminate the Demon God.

+

At last, the ending of this world was right before us.