Ch.75It’s All Your Fault. (2)

“Again, I’m going to lose?”

After Olivia disappeared, Livga stood there blankly for a long while.

Among the clergy, there was no one who didn’t know that Livga had lost her parents.

However, only a very small number of people knew how Livga’s parents had died.

At most, only the Four Knights and His Holiness the Pope knew.

But Olivia spoke as if she knew all the detailed circumstances.

No, she knew facts that would be impossible to know without having been there.

Livga’s hands trembled.

But it wasn’t fear—it was anger.

‘……’

Only then did she realize why she had trembled in fear when she saw Olivia earlier. It must have been because the terror of that day, hidden deep in her subconscious, had resurfaced.

No matter how she thought about it, there was no other possibility.

‘Since when…?’

This place was land blessed by Aether, the Goddess of Light.

No matter how powerful a demon, even one of the four great demons ruling the demon realm, it would be impossible to manifest in this sacred territory.

They would instantly burn and perish.

But Olivia didn’t burn.

‘That means…’

The demon hadn’t completely taken over Olivia’s mind.

Glancing at the clock, Livga bit her lip hard and headed toward the papal office.

*****

[You are currently observing ‘Saintess Livga’.]

[Remaining observations: 4]

I was worried that my act might be seen through, but fortunately, Livga fell for it without any issues.

From the moment I sat in the dining hall until I teleported outside.

Except for one transition I made in the middle to change the atmosphere, it was all Olivia’s acting from beginning to end. Including swearing by mana.

‘Now I just need to wait until midnight?’

There were about 10 minutes left before the time limit.

It was far too little time to change someone’s perception, but more than enough time to encourage someone who had already gained some conviction.

– Saintess? What brings you here?

– Your Holiness. I have a question.

So that’s why she went to the papal office—to meet the Pope.

Livga’s face was filled with conviction.

The conviction that the Pope could resolve her current doubts.

Olivia decided to observe the situation more closely.

“A question?”

“Yes. I want to ask about… demons.”

The Pope, who had been reading the scripture, flinched. He put down his magnifying glass and gazed steadily at Livga. It was an affectionate look, like a grandfather looking at his granddaughter.

“Livga.”

“Yes, Your Holiness.”

“I believe you’ve thought about this thoroughly before speaking.”

Livga nodded.

“But before that, let me ask a few things. Did the Empire’s Grandmaster encourage you?”

“…No.”

“Then what did he say to you?”

“It’s not that either.”

The Pope looked surprised.

“So you came here entirely of your own will?”

“…Yes.”

At those words, the Pope’s eyes widened slightly.

He looked at Livga with a much more serious expression than before.

“Then let me ask you one last thing. Do you really want to know what happened that day?”

“Yes. I do.”

The Pope spoke to the holy knight standing on his right.

“Sir Johan.”

“Yes, Your Holiness.”

“Please give the record to the Saintess.”

“…Yes.”

Johan handed over an old parchment.

“This is…”

“Please read it.”

Livga slowly read the writing on the parchment from top to bottom. It was a kind of report. When, where, what happened, and how many people died.

[Deaths: 142, Survivors: 1]

-Large amounts of demonic energy identified, presumed to belong to the Great Demon Asmodeus.

-The sole survivor is a 4-year-old girl, secured and protected at the Grand Cathedral.

“That little girl is you, Saintess.”

“……”

Livga was speechless. More accurately, she was too shocked to speak.

“Is this all?”

“Unfortunately, yes. By the time Sir Johan arrived at the scene, it was already over.”

“How… did I survive?”

The Pope let out a shallow sigh.

“You had Aether’s blessing.”

Whether surviving alone when all relatives died could truly be called a blessing was questionable, but Livga had unconsciously awakened her holy power and survived.

Holy power so tremendous that even a Great Demon retreated.

“Then that demon…”

“That’s right. Asmodeus was not vanquished.”

“Then… does that mean he will return someday?”

“Yes. But there’s no need to worry. This place is soil blessed by Aether, and no matter how powerful a demon is, they cannot invade here…”

Livga couldn’t focus on the Pope’s words.

Her tongue felt parched.

– You’ll lose again, just like last time?

Her head was spinning.

“…Saintess? Are you alright?”

“……”

Blood seeped from Livga’s fist.

For the first time in her life, she was truly angry.

Why do demons trample on human emotions so mercilessly?

“Livga!”

A firm voice.

The sharp scent of blood.

Livga snapped back to her senses.

“…I’m sorry. I showed an unseemly display.”

The Pope looked at her with pity. It was a face that said he knew this would happen.

“Let’s stop here for today. I’ll speak to the Archbishop, so just take the day off.”

Livga couldn’t refuse the Pope’s kindness. She knew better than anyone that she couldn’t properly conduct mass in her current state.

She needed time to control her emotions.

“…Thank you for your consideration.”

Livga immediately headed to the Grand Cathedral. As if she couldn’t endure without relying on God, she prayed for hours without even drinking water.

“Saintess, it’s almost midnight.”

“…How much time is left?”

“About 10 minutes.”

Only then did Livga rise.

Seeing her suddenly haggard face, the priests looked concerned.

“Thank you for letting me know.”

“Are you going to sleep now?”

Livga was silent for a moment. The moonlight was obscured by leaves, momentarily casting shadows on her face.

“I’m going for a short walk.”

*****

Livga had spent months with Olivia. But that doesn’t mean she followed her like this from the beginning.

She hadn’t been Saintess for just a day or two, so there were plenty of people who approached her with ulterior motives.

Naturally, she kept her distance at first. But as days, then weeks passed, she gradually became interested in Olivia.

She couldn’t help but notice someone who came out earlier than herself to help the poor.

At first, she was surprised that Olivia was a mage, not a priest, and was surprised again to learn she wasn’t just any mage but a Grandmaster.

When she first saw her without her robe, she truly mistook her for the embodiment of beauty. But back then, Olivia’s face was illuminated by sunlight, while now it was moonlight.

Olivia spoke.

“Not too late?”

“Get out of my sister’s body right now.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. How can I leave my own body?”

[‘Saintess Livga’ is using ‘Lie Detection’.]

– Your statement is a ‘lie’.

Olivia smiled faintly.

As expected, she would use that ability after all this.

“…Get out now.”

“What if I can’t?”

Instead of answering, Livga spread pure white flames from both hands.

Holy fire that burns evil.

Livga’s eyes were resolute.

It was the face of someone who had made up her mind. Even if Olivia got slightly hurt, she was determined to kill the demon hiding inside.

But Olivia didn’t look afraid at all.

“Livga.”

“Don’t call my name with that filthy mouth.”

“What should I call you then? Little Saintess? Tsk, that doesn’t sound right. Then… sister?”

Tssssss!

Instantly, the flames doubled in size.

Livga was clearly agitated.

Toying with a child’s emotions was certainly something only a demon would do, but there was no choice. It was the only way to survive.

Olivia, with a smile playing on her lips, suddenly walked toward Livga. Then she grabbed both her hands.

“Ugh…!”

Livga hastily shook off those hands and retreated, but the flames had already spread all over Olivia’s body.

However, surprisingly, the holy fire couldn’t burn Olivia.

“This won’t kill me.”

Livga’s pupils trembled as she watched Olivia casually brush off the flames as if they were nothing.

To be unaffected by holy fire… just how high was her rank?

“You’re afraid, little one.”

“Kugh…”

“With such fear, how can you protect this child from me?”

Sharp ice spikes appeared behind Olivia. She picked up one of them and slashed her own arm.

Slash.

Blood flowed mercilessly.

“I’ll make you an offer. Of course, you can refuse. But… then this child will die.”

Livga gritted her teeth.

She had no choice.

“…What do you want?”

At those words, Olivia smiled coldly.

“Keep my existence secret from everyone. Including the owner of this body, of course.”

Livga secretly swallowed.

She was certain now.

That demon hadn’t completely taken over Olivia’s mind yet.

“Is that all?”

“Yes.”

“How can I trust you?”

“Don’t trust me. It would only hurt you anyway. Feel free to devise a plan to destroy me or do whatever you want. Just keep it secret from others.”

“……”

Livga glared at Olivia with sharp eyes.

But that was all.

Olivia glanced at her status window.

[Time remaining: 00 minutes 05 seconds]

It was close. She needed to wrap things up.

“Remember. This is a competition. Whether you save her or I consume her.”

The next moment, Olivia collapsed into Livga’s arms.