Ch.26So What Exactly Is That Clue? (4)

Kugugugugugu!

With a single sword strike, the sky shattered like glass into pieces.

“Hee, heek!”

The moment the thieves made eye contact with Kiel, they began to flee in terror.

Kiel, who had been quietly watching them, sheathed his greatsword.

He made no effort to chase after the fleeing thieves. After all, the mage standing beside him was more skilled than anyone at subduing others.

Ice magic specializes in incapacitating and restraining people rather than killing them. Of course, if one wished, taking a life would be entirely possible, but Olivia, at least, never killed anyone.

More accurately, it would be correct to say she couldn’t.

Her master, Grandmaster Melina, had said as much.

“Olivia is inherently gentle-natured. She doesn’t know how to harm people. Yet it’s fascinating how she doesn’t hesitate to take the lives of monsters.”

It was the first time anyone had seen the Master of Golden Tower laugh like that. Having spent her entire life driven by the pursuit of “truth,” she seemed to have rediscovered meaning in life while raising her diligent disciple.

“She’ll surpass me someday.”

“So she’ll become the next Grandmaster.”

“Grandmaster? No, my disciple will be the one to reach the truth in my place! Hahaha!”

Melina raised her glass and toasted to her beloved disciple’s future.

That was already a year ago. Back then, he had only heard about the mage named Olivia through word of mouth.

When he traveled to the magical realm of Euran and heard the name of the mage who had rescued him from danger, Kiel understood why Melina had been so proud of her disciple.

She always found the best solutions, never ceasing to be accommodating and considerate—a devoted person. Always confident but never arrogant, she never lost her positive smile.

Olivia was the person who best embodied the word “perfect.”

Perhaps that was why.

Why he had reacted so sensitively to what happened before.

“Let’s meet again in six days.”

It might have been a casual joke said without much thought. Perhaps she had genuinely forgotten. Or maybe she was preparing a surprise party that didn’t suit her.

It could have simply been a mistake.

Even the most perfect person can make a mistake once in their life, can’t they?

But.

Not Olivia.

Despite being a mage, she understands the nature of warriors and can instantly decipher ancient texts not recorded in imperial history books.

With just a few words, she moves the hearts of dogmatic elf elders, and even when surrounded by thousands of spirits in darkness where not even her feet are visible, she never loses her composure and calmness.

She is too perfect.

That’s why those words had stuck in his mind like a dagger.

Today was exactly the sixth day.

Kiel hadn’t taken his eyes off Olivia all day. It was to finally understand the meaning behind her words about meeting again.

They shared the dawn, started lunch together, and walked side by side in the evening. He hadn’t left Olivia’s side for a moment.

Darkness had fallen over the streets. The promised six days were racing toward their end.

But Olivia was still Olivia.

“…Was it my imagination?”

Kiel watched the thieves disappear into the distance. For some whim, Olivia had chosen to let them go rather than trap them in ice.

“Is there a reason you let them go?”

It was a question without much meaning. Letting go of such small fry without weapons wouldn’t cause any trouble.

“Uh, um.”

Kiel whipped his head around at the sudden high-pitched sound.

“Was I supposed to catch them?”

“…”

“Huh?”

Kiel didn’t answer. Or rather, it would be more accurate to say he couldn’t.

“…It’s here.”

Olivia was there.

She had a dumbfounded expression he had never seen before. Diverse, you might say. Who knew such an expression could appear on a face he thought only knew how to smile.

It’s strange.

Clearly strange, but…

Looking at that dumbfounded face, he couldn’t help but smile.

“Why are you laughing?”

“No, it’s nothing. Just my imagination.”

“So is it okay that I let them go?”

“Yes. It’s fine to let them go.”

Whew.

Only after taking several deep breaths could Kiel calm himself. Olivia glared at him with suspicious eyes.

“Anyway, what day is it today?”

“Counting from when you last acted strangely?”

“Yes, you idiot.”

Now he understood why she had said they would meet again.

“Exactly six days have passed.”

The Olivia he met again was thoroughly human.

*****

Olivia looked at Kiel with a puzzled expression.

‘Why is this guy grinning like that?’

[Kiel Rothschild]

– Level: 88

– Job: Sword Master

– Affection: 52

– Titles: Duke, Wandering Swordsman, Seeker of Sword, Dragonslayer, Ruin Explorer…

Surprisingly, Kiel’s affection level hadn’t changed at all from six days ago.

“…Why is it like this?”

If it increased by 2 in three days, it should have gone up by at least 3 or 4 in six days.

‘Even just feeding him sandwiches should have raised it by 1.’

Giving someone their favorite food increases affection by a decimal point per instance.

Olivia quickly checked her subspace.

[Ham sandwich without tomato] * 164

[Ham sandwich without tomato but with pickle] * 121

[Ham sandwich without tomato but with pickle and bacon] * 74

They hadn’t decreased.

The numbers matched perfectly with when she had last checked.

‘He didn’t eat any.’

More accurately, Kiel must have refused. There’s no way she would have missed the affection event that’s only possible three times a day.

And if he didn’t want it, she wouldn’t have insisted since that would only lower his affection.

It was obvious what had happened.

But it was unexpected that his affection hadn’t increased at all and remained stagnant. She definitely didn’t remember this happening during the Extermination playthrough.

[Time remaining: 19 minutes 45 seconds]

‘My brief entry into his memories must have affected it.’

Otherwise, that affection level would be inexplicable.

‘Well, that’s not important.’

Affection isn’t important. No matter how much effort she puts into raising affection, what awaits at the end of this memory is bitter betrayal.

Because this is both Kiel’s memory and the past.

Eventually, “Olivia” will head toward the predetermined destination of the Extermination playthrough, and changing that outcome is impossible.

Kiel dies at the hands of the Olivia from the Extermination playthrough.

This fact cannot be changed.

‘Then at least a justification.’

She needs to provide a reason why “Olivia” had no choice. A reason why she had to kill the Emperor. A reason why she had to bring down the Empire.

Olivia tightly closed her lips and looked at Kiel.

‘A reason why I had no choice but to betray you.’

That’s what she needs to create from now on.

[Main Quest]

– Clue #1 – Acquired

– Clue #2 – Not Acquired

.

.

.

– Clue #15 – Not Acquired

Only then did she see those clues differently.

‘…’

The fifteen clues represent fifteen returners.

When she subdued Kiel, the first clue was revealed. And Kiel was the first returner to fall by “Olivia’s” hand.

‘…That’s the order.’

The order in which they died at the hands of the Olivia from the Extermination playthrough.

First was Kiel, who rushed in as soon as he confirmed the Emperor’s death, and second was Melina, who denied her disciple’s betrayal until the end.

Now she understands why Kiel was placed first.

Kiel saw the Emperor’s death but didn’t witness the Empire’s downfall. He saw Melina fighting valiantly but didn’t see her death.

He didn’t see the imperial citizens being slaughtered. He didn’t see the ocean freezing over with death.

Being the first to fall, he was the most ignorant.

Only now did she see it. Why those were clues.

They’re signposts.

They’re telling her which returners to meet first.

‘So I have to meet them after all.’

Among them were those who met tragic deaths. Those who held out until the very end, remembering everyone’s deaths before their own.

It means she’ll have to enter the memories of such people from now on.

She couldn’t help but sigh.

“Follow me.”

Kiel followed, reading the situation.

After walking for some time, Olivia stopped in a plain covered in thick darkness.

“Go ahead. Ask anything you want. I might not be able to answer all your questions, but I’ll do my best to answer as time permits.”

“…As time permits? Are you disappearing again?”

Olivia raised her hand as if to calm him.

“One question at a time. By time, I mean exactly how long I can maintain this [consciousness]. And by disappearing… I mean exactly that.”

“You…”

Kiel looked speechless. He opened his mouth with difficulty, as if coughing up blood.

“…How many minutes do you have left?”

“What?”

“The time you can maintain that [consciousness].”

Olivia quickly checked the remaining time.

“About 10 minutes.”

“…And then you’ll disappear again?”

“And I’ll come back again.”

“In six days?”

“Probably in twelve days, I think.”

“…”

Olivia spoke in the most calm voice possible.

“That period will gradually increase. And eventually…”

The easiest way to justify an evil act is…

“I won’t disappear anymore.”

“…”

To have the victim create the justification.