Ch.57Loss (2)

If I could skip memories, this would be the right place to skip.

The benefit of giving Melina a fragment of truth is outweighed by the damage of arousing Kiel’s suspicion.

The problem is Melina, who will be waiting for Olivia for a year.

‘…Will she be okay?’

Her disciple who should have returned long ago hasn’t come back, so the shock won’t be insignificant.

‘Without my help, she won’t be able to see the truth.’

Of course, she won’t completely lose her mind like the ‘current’ Melina, but she’ll certainly be deeply hurt.

But there’s no choice. I can’t risk dying just to comfort someone’s feelings.

Olivia made her decision.

[You have skipped Clue #2, the memory of Imperial Year 992.]

[Would you like to access Clue #2, the memory of Imperial Year 994?]

– Time limit: 42 hours 00 minutes 00 seconds.

Olivia temporarily postponed using the clue. There were too many things to consider.

First, she needed to recall what she was doing in 994.

‘Throughout the entire Extermination cycle, this was when I was dealing with the Holy Kingdom and Eastern Alliance storylines. I also occasionally met Aria and Melina. And I chatted with Kiel in the clues.’

Olivia paused as she thought that far.

‘…Wait. How many Returners are involved in 994 right now?’

Three from the Empire. One from the Holy Kingdom. Two from the Eastern Alliance.

‘Six people?’

Her mind was in chaos. If these were just the fragments she could recall, there were likely even more she hadn’t remembered yet.

‘…Hmm.’

Olivia closed her eyes and traced through the detailed movements of the Extermination cycle.

From early 994 to the end, where she went, who she met, what she did. And she came to the following conclusion:

“…I should skip this one too.”

While she might somehow deceive the King of Martial Arts holed up in the Atilla Mountains, it would be impossible to fool the other Returners.

‘Why are they all so smart!’

Even setting aside the other five, Aria is the problem. If she used the clue and opened her eyes to find Aria in front of her, it would be instant doom.

Bombs everywhere.

If she doesn’t use the clue, she fails because she can’t reveal the truth to Melina. If she uses it, she fails because she can’t deceive the Returners.

She might be able to pretend to be her Extermination cycle self for a few hours, but this one is a full two days.

It’s impossible to act exactly like her Extermination cycle self for two whole days.

“I can skip whenever I want to skip a clue, right? There aren’t any conditions or anything?”

Olivia stared intently at the status window. This cursed status window, the epitome of unhelpfulness, always revealed important information only after she was already facing the situation.

‘No matter how crazy the admins are, they wouldn’t make the game impossible to beat.’

Olivia was certain.

And exactly one minute later, the following message appeared:

[You can skip Clue #2, the memory of Imperial Year 994.]

– Would you like to skip?

Olivia clenched her fist. As they say, even a dog at a Confucian school can recite poetry after three years—with ten years of Lactea experience, she could see through the admins’ tricks.

[Would you like to access Clue #2, the memory of Imperial Year 998?]

– Time limit: 84 hours 00 minutes 00 seconds.

One year, two years, and now four years.

If she enters this memory now, Melina will be reuniting with Olivia after a full seven years.

‘While for me it’s only been a day.’

The original plan was to pass all the fragments to Melina by 994, then have a final conversation at the end. Just like she did with Kiel.

But this time, there’s no such luxury.

Helping Melina is challenging enough.

‘At least the final one is 998, that’s fortunate.’

In 998, she doesn’t need to waste energy on other trivial matters.

Because it’s the year when the Extermination officially begins.

Olivia slowly extended her hand forward.

[This memory contains the final memory of ‘Melina Diviae’!]

– Do you still want to access it?

‘Final?’

Olivia hesitated momentarily as she realized the meaning.

But the answer was already decided.

-Flash!

Her consciousness flickered.

***

Olivia closed her eyes and waited for the right moment. Having used clues so many times, she could sense by instinct when they would take effect.

‘A feeling of weakness?’

It wouldn’t be too late to open her eyes after feeling that sensation.

But today was different.

Even after waiting for a long time, the characteristic feeling of weakness didn’t come. Unable to wait any longer, Olivia cautiously opened her eyes.

A notification window was in front of her.

[You have skipped 2 instances of Clue #2’s memories.]

[As payment for skipping, you must observe a ‘compressed version of memories’ from the skip start date to the clue activation point.]

[Current time: Imperial Year 992]

‘What is this now….’

Below her line of sight, she could see Melina. She was pacing around her office with an anxious expression.

[Currently observing ‘Melina Diviae’.]

Olivia had become an observer.

*****

Summer of 992.

Olivia returned from her training. Many mages of the Golden Tower rejoiced at the news, but the happiest person was undoubtedly Melina.

‘…Finally!’

The period Olivia had been away for training was only about half a year. But Melina’s wait had been at least twice as long.

A year and several months.

It had been a full year and a half since she received the eighth fragment of truth.

Melina gazed at the papers with the fragments written on them with a wistful look. One of the few things Olivia had left her.

Whenever she missed Olivia, Melina would touch these papers. Doing so helped her overcome the sense of loss, if only slightly.

– I promise. When the time comes, I’ll definitely tell you.

‘My disciple is not one to lie.’

Melina thought that something unavoidable must have happened.

‘She will return. If it’s my disciple, she will definitely return.’

It was close to self-hypnosis now, but Melina herself didn’t realize that fact.

“When do you think she’ll arrive?”

“She should be here within an hour.”

“That’s too long…”

Melina was visibly tense. She couldn’t take her eyes off the entrance to the capital for even a moment.

Seeing Melina fidgeting, her secretary cleared his throat.

“Tower Master. You must maintain your dignity…”

“Ah, she’s here!”

“…”

Ignoring the gazes around her, Melina ran to Olivia who was walking through the city gate.

And embraced her immediately.

“M-Master?”

Olivia’s eyes widened in surprise. Regardless, Melina had no intention of letting go.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No. I’m fine.”

“Um… my disciple.”

“Yes, Master.”

“D-did anything happen during your training?”

Melina asked with a hopeful heart.

“…Happen?”

“Like, something strange with your memories…”

Melina looked at Olivia with desperate eyes, then shook her head.

“…Never mind. Don’t worry about it. You must be tired from your long journey, I shouldn’t keep you here. Let’s go inside and rest. Is there anything you’d like to eat?”

Melina tried to act nonchalant.

She already knew that this child was not the Olivia she had been waiting for. Yet, facing her directly, it was difficult to hide her disappointment.

That’s why she embraced her. She didn’t want to show her disappointed face.

‘I know this child will grow up to become that person, but…’

Melina secretly bit her lip.

Sometimes she had such thoughts.

The first person who gave unconditional love to someone like her was ‘Olivia.’

The one who revived emotions she had forgotten for a long time was also ‘Olivia.’

– Smile. And straighten your shoulders.

Since it was that child who gave one-sidedly, naturally it should be that child who receives in return.

“First, steak. With plenty of spices.”

…Not this child.

Melina squeezed her eyes shut.

It’s a thought she shouldn’t have. But even knowing it was wrong, she couldn’t stop thinking it.

Of course, she loves both her disciples.

It’s just that she loves ‘Olivia’ more.

It’s not discrimination. It’s simply what’s right.

“Alright. I’ll tell the secretaries to prepare it in advance.”

[Currently observing ‘Melina Diviae’.]

Olivia watched Melina’s daily life silently with her arms crossed.

This state of ‘observation’ had truly ambiguous aspects. She had no physical body, but she couldn’t call it a soul either. If it were a soul, Melina would surely have sensed her.

If she had to describe it:

‘It feels like watching through an incredibly vivid screen.’

In this observation state, all she could do was literally observe.

‘Is this the penalty for skipping?’

Still, Olivia thought this wasn’t so bad.

If she had to experience the full six years, that would be different, but time passed very quickly except for specific situations.

‘Three days have passed in that brief moment.’

Now she understood why it was called a compressed version.

Still, she didn’t feel much about it. She roughly knew how the story would unfold.

The scenery changed again. This time it was the conference hall of the Golden Tower.

[Today’s meeting ends here. Everyone is dismissed.]

A secretary approached Melina and whispered:

[Tower Master. Duke Kiel is waiting in the reception room right now.]

[Duke Kiel? What business does he have?]

[He, he didn’t say.]

Melina immediately headed to her office.

[Well, who do we have here, if it isn’t Duke Kiel?]

[Yes. I came because I have something to ask…]

[Ah, let me organize these documents first before I listen.]

The documents moved to their proper places following Melina’s gesture.

[There. Now ask your question.]

[Is it possible…]

At Kiel’s next words, Olivia’s eyes widened.

[For a mage’s self to be split?]

This was the first time.