Ch.79How to Break Her. (3)

Looking at the eyes emitting a glow in the darkness, Olivia swallowed dryly. Through the dim vision, Livga’s hand moved slowly.

‘……I’m doomed.’

She never imagined Livga would regain consciousness in just half a day.

‘……Even Kiel was unconscious for a whole day.’

Whatever the case, this was clearly Olivia’s mistake. She should have knocked Livga out again… no, put her back to sleep as soon as she showed signs of waking up.

-Thud.

But Livga’s hand lost strength and collapsed before reaching Olivia’s face. Olivia wore a puzzled expression. A moment later, Livga stirred and spoke.

“Sister… don’t leave me behind. I’m sorry……”

Livga buried her face in Olivia’s shoulder. Her labored breathing echoed throughout the repentance chamber.

‘I-I was so startled…’

Olivia breathed a sigh of relief.

She had considered simply putting Livga in ice for peace of mind, but it was uncertain whether the frail Livga could endure it. She had no choice but to keep watching over her.

‘Right, with my luck, handling two people simultaneously is impossible. Let’s finish with Livga first.’

She felt that trying otherwise would only lead to trouble.

There were still 12 and a half years left. Even if she proceeded with one person per year, there would still be half a year remaining…

“……”

Olivia’s head slowly drooped.

Ah… ahh…

Her chest became damp. For whatever reason that made her so sorrowful, Livga couldn’t stop crying even in her sleep. It was beyond what could be simply described as “crying.”

Wailing, yes. It was closer to wailing.

Though she didn’t want to guess, the Grandmaster’s brain made it possible.

Stop, stop… please stop…

Livga’s voice echoed in her ears.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to her.

[What happens if you stop using a clue midway?]

If she had given only the first fragment to Melina and then terminated the use of the clue… Melina would most likely have become a wreck.

She would have threatened “Olivia” to produce the next fragment.

And then she would have despaired once again upon realizing she couldn’t approach the truth.

Even the strongest person can break because of a single memory.

Olivia’s expression darkened.

She couldn’t imagine how terrible the despair Livga was currently experiencing must be.

Just when she finally had a family she could rely on, that family was on the verge of being destroyed by a demon. And she, the Saintess, despite knowing this fact, could do nothing.

That profound sense of helplessness. The despair born from helplessness. The fear of losing family again.

Olivia covered her face with both hands. A sigh of guilt rose from deep within her.

“……”

She shouldn’t give more affection than necessary. She shouldn’t feel guilty either.

Hadn’t she resolved that the moment she fell into this world?

Hadn’t she vowed to return home no matter what?

[Main Quest]

Clear Condition: ????

Reward: ????

She still didn’t know the clear condition. Whether it was defeating the Demon God, non-killing, or something else entirely was still unknown.

But if it was total annihilation…

She couldn’t endure it. There was no way she could bear killing people she had grown attached to.

‘……This is fucking awful. Really.’

Olivia muttered as if spitting blood.

*****

Watching the sun rise over the sea level, Livga felt wonder.

‘……Lord Aither.’

Her hands naturally came together.

After finishing her morning prayer, Livga walked across the sandy beach. It had already been over a month since she came to the eastern Kingdom of Canis.

Thinking about all the nagging she had received from the Pope and many other high-ranking officials before coming here made her head ache a little, but it was still worth enduring.

– Saintess. Do you know how many holy knights and priests must accompany you as attendants when you go to a foreign country?

– Yes, I know.

– ……Yet why do you still insist on going?

Formally, it was to spread Aither’s teachings to the Kingdom of Canis, but the actual purpose was to make contact with Esthie Aquar, the Wavemaster of Icail.

But even after staying in Icail for almost a month, Livga had not met Esthie even once. She had only watched from afar as massive waves danced and surged.

The lighthouse keeper spoke with a dialect-tinged accent.

“I’m sorry.”

“……She’s not here again?”

“She went out to sea at dawn today. If only you had come a little earlier.”

“……”

Livga kept her mouth shut instead of adding any pitiful explanation. And as always, she asked the lighthouse keeper.

“When the guardian of Icail returns, please tell her.”

The lighthouse keeper scratched his head awkwardly.

“I hate to tell this to such an esteemed person, but it’ll be hard to meet that Esthie. I’ve been doing this job for over twenty years, but I’ve spoken directly with her less than three times.”

“……But I must meet her.”

This was the only way to understand Olivia’s pain.

“I absolutely must speak with her.”

If she couldn’t live forever, she had to at least live with only a purpose remaining.

That was the only way she could save Olivia.

“So please, tell her.”

Livga came out of the lighthouse with no results.

Beyond the ocean, the horizon was undulating up and down.

“Frantz.”

“Yes, Saintess.”

“What’s your purpose in life, Frantz?”

“Purpose… you say?”

“Yes.”

Frantz stroked his chin beard.

He answered without the slightest hesitation.

“To protect the weak and spread Aither’s will to all nations until the day I die.”

“……Do you think you can achieve such a difficult purpose without your own will?”

“If God helps…”

“Without Aither’s help.”

Frantz turned his head. His gaze was directed at the same place as Livga’s.

Beyond the ocean.

“……Wouldn’t it be difficult?”

Even Frantz, known for his steadfastness second to none in the Holy Nation, said it would be difficult.

Will was that important to humans.

Just as one cannot win without the will to fight, no matter how excellent their weapon.

‘But how…’

Livga couldn’t understand.

How could that person protect without the will to protect?

Livga bit her lip. Her lips hadn’t been intact for days lately.

They say time heals all wounds, but why did her heart grow more urgent as time passed?

The reason, Livga already knew.

– You know nothing. Even if you died and came back, you would never understand.

Asmodeus had been quiet lately. But that very fact made Livga uneasy.

Demons are never quiet. They only “appear to be quiet.”

Surely he must be eroding Olivia’s mind.

“……Where is Olivia now?”

*****

[Clue #3]

[Memory of April, 993]

[Time Remaining: 160 minutes 00 seconds]

It was an unfamiliar ceiling. Neither the white ceiling characteristic of the Holy Nation nor the ornate ceiling of the Golden Tower.

Patterns with no discernible meaning were randomly arranged. But through that irregularity, Olivia could guess her location.

“……Canis.”

More precisely, the capital of the Kingdom of Canis. The port city of Icail.

Fortunately, it seemed the clue had been used without any issues this time.

The first thing Olivia did after assessing the situation was to examine her arms and legs.

And as expected, all the holy bindings had been removed.

Given Livga’s nature, she wouldn’t have been able to bear leaving them on.

Olivia sat on the windowsill with a bitter smile. The distant horizon stretched as far as the eye could see.

There were only two places in Lactea where one could see such a view.

Icail in the east, and the Mabor archipelago in the west.

Though the land is flat, the planet is round, so if you travel in a straight line beyond that horizon, you’ll reach Mabor.

To describe Mabor in one phrase…

A lawless zone.

Simply put, it’s a land where criminals expelled from the continent have settled.

Anyway.

“……We really came to Icail.”

Originally, 993 was the year to start the affection quests for Livga, Esthie, and Ashe Balthar.

However, since Livga had the highest priority among the three, she remembered not leaving the Holy Nation until Livga’s affection reached 90.

But here they were in Icail.

The port city of Icail, located at the eastern edge, more than two months’ walk from the Holy Nation.

It was certain that things had changed from what the total annihilation playthrough remembered.

“……Sister.”

Livga was suddenly by her side.

Eyes hiding sadness.

Instead of questioning, Olivia stroked Livga’s head.

“You’re up early.”

At the gentle tone, Livga’s face showed relief.

“Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

Tsk tsk tsk.

[‘Saintess Livga’ uses ‘Lie Detection’.]

Livga’s eyes took on a faint white glow.

From the way she used lie detection without hesitation, Olivia could tell how Livga had spent the past month.

A corner of her heart felt heavy for no reason.

“I’m fine. Nothing hurts.”

[Your statement is ‘true’.]

Livga breathed a sigh of relief.

“……If you’re in pain, don’t hide it and tell me right away.”

Tap tap tap!

It was then that someone’s footsteps were heard.

A familiar sound of splashing water.

[Warning! Warning! Warning!]

[Within a clue, you can only interact with 1 regressor!]

[Usage will be forcibly terminated soon!]