Ch.82Understanding. (3)

Until now, I thought ‘Olivia’ would move according to my play records. That was indeed the case.

But the current situation is clearly an event that never happened in the extermination playthrough.

In fact, throughout all playthroughs, Livga and Esthie had never confronted each other in this form.

In this situation, how would ‘Olivia’ act?

It was a difficult problem.

‘If it were me…’

There were two main ways to approach Esthie.

The first was a one-dimensional approach. Figure out Esthie’s purpose, then fulfill that role instead of her.

Of course, just because it’s one-dimensional doesn’t mean it’s easy. Everything that could potentially harm Icail is Esthie’s enemy.

Starting with the pirates who came from Mabor, foreign powers eyeing Icail, powerful individuals like Olivia or Livga who could destroy a city single-handedly…

And even the fish-people of Aquar in the deep sea magical realm of water.

No wonder Esthie never gets to rest.

And the second method is…

I heard someone running in the hallway. It was a familiar footstep by now.

The person who opened the door and entered was the 4th Knight, Frantz.

Judging by his restless appearance, Livga must have disappeared without a word. Frantz spoke with urgency.

“Lady Livga? Are you here, Lady Livga?”

“Uh… she left a while ago. What’s the matter, Sir Frantz?”

“Well…”

Frantz hesitated for a moment.

His face showed he was contemplating whether he should tell this to Olivia, an outsider.

Frantz’s status window appeared before Olivia’s eyes.

[Taylern Frantz]

– Level: 74

– Affection: 32

– Occupation: Holy Knight of Peace

– Title: 4th Knight of the Holy Kingdom, Devout Old Knight.

Frantz’s affection was 32.

That was quite high considering she hadn’t properly worked on gaining his favor. Of course, it wasn’t enough to make him share his inner concerns, but…

Olivia put on the gentlest smile she could manage.

“I think I might be able to help.”

“…Very well.”

With a little coaxing, anything was possible.

“…The Saintess has disappeared.”

Livga was probably at the lighthouse. She must be planning to wait there all day since she doesn’t know when Esthie’s ‘work’ will end.

She likely didn’t inform Frantz for the same reason.

The Holy Kingdom wouldn’t be pleased about Livga and Esthie meeting.

To the high officials of the Holy Kingdom, Esthie was responsible for sending hundreds or thousands to watery graves. They couldn’t possibly view her favorably.

‘They don’t want the Saintess to get hurt.’

Olivia glanced at Frantz.

The Pope must have given Frantz separate instructions. To prevent Livga and Esthie from meeting.

‘…An opportunity to interfere just presented itself.’

Olivia laughed inwardly.

Anyway, this isn’t interference. She’s just worried about Livga getting hurt.

“I know where Livga is. But in exchange, make me one promise.”

“What promise?”

“Don’t tell Livga that I told you.”

Frantz nodded.

“Livga is at the lighthouse. She’s probably planning to meet the Wavemaster there.”

“The Wavemaster… you mean the Wavemaster of Icail?!”

Frantz’s eyes widened in shock.

To think she could make the old knight, known for his composure, react like this.

Olivia secretly marveled at Esthie’s notorious reputation.

“Yes, it’s probably the person you’re thinking of.”

“…”

Frantz’s body trembled slightly.

She couldn’t dare guess what he was imagining.

In Frantz’s eyes, Livga was just a hothouse flower.

Of course, that was a misunderstanding due to not properly assessing Livga’s power level, but Olivia had no intention of correcting him.

The more worried Frantz became, the less likely Livga would ‘understand’ Esthie.

“…Thank you for telling me. Then I’ll…”

“Ah, Sir Frantz. I have one question.”

Frantz turned his head.

“How long are you planning to stay in Icail?”

“That’s for the Saintess to decide, so I don’t know.”

“Ah… then what’s the maximum period you could stay?”

“The maximum would be…”

Frantz tilted his head. Soon, as if understanding the meaning, he raised his eyebrows.

“At most, until the end of this year.”

Well, if the Saintess stayed in a foreign country for more than a year, that would create its own problems.

This fact wouldn’t change even if Livga threw a tantrum.

Even the current situation was only possible because the Pope had been extremely accommodating.

‘So Esthie and Livga will be together at most once more?’

According to calculations, Livga’s next memory is from July 993… so that’s probably right.

That was fortunate, at least.

When regression users’ paths overlap, the person who loses the most is oneself.

“Where are you going?”

“I have somewhere to be.”

Olivia bowed to Frantz and walked in the opposite direction down the hallway. After confirming no one was around, she switched to observation mode.

[Remaining transformations: 3]

‘Olivia,’ who had been standing blankly for a moment, looked around.

[You are currently observing ‘Olivia’.]

At this rate, ‘Olivia’ would be expelled from Icail as soon as the sun rises tomorrow.

To prevent that, she needs to somehow negotiate with Esthie.

Olivia glared at ‘Olivia’ from the void.

Well, what are you going to do, ‘Olivia’?

*****

Esthie was lying on the surface of the sea. Not in a backstroke position. Her body was floating on the water like a lotus flower.

Gurgle, from the deep sea came the sound of someone’s last breath. Esthie’s brow furrowed slightly. But she didn’t move.

If she didn’t rest now, it would be truly dangerous.

– Protect.

As if waiting for this moment, a voice came before she could rest for even a few minutes.

– Protect.

Esthie gritted her teeth.

“…Shut up.”

The voice changed every time. Sometimes it was a child’s, sometimes a middle-aged man’s. They were all terrible, but the most horrifying voice was undoubtedly…

– Protectprotectprotectprotectprotectprotect.

The ‘voices’ went berserk. Esthie’s body trembled at the voices that seemed to gnaw at her every nerve.

Even if she covered her ears or sank underwater, the voices wouldn’t stop.

‘…It hurts.’

Unable to bear it any longer, Esthie rose to the surface on a wave. She instinctively began searching for an ‘enemy.’

– Pro tect pro tect pro tect.

That was the only way to silence these damned voices.

Esthie covered her ears with both hands. Her pupils were losing their light in real time.

“It’s a wave! Icail’s crazy wave is coming!”

Pirates who spotted the horizon abnormally rising shouted urgently.

“Turn the helm now!”

“Captain! The raiding party is still…”

“Abandon them! If we wait for those bastards, we’ll all die!”

Some pirates jumped into the water, abandoning the treasures in their hands.

But most remained where they were.

“Don’t be scared!”

“This is a merchant ship! Even she wouldn’t dare harm a merchant ship!”

Although they had plundered it, the ship they were on was technically a merchant vessel.

And one with prisoners aboard.

One of the pirates raised his gun and shouted confidently.

“You wave bitch of Icail! This is a merchant…”

But they had misjudged.

Esthie was much crazier than they had anticipated.

KWAAAANG!

The wave not only swept away everyone on deck but also shattered the ship into dozens of pieces.

The waves had no eyes.

“That, that crazy bitch!”

“Shut up and row! Instead of cursing, pull the oar one more time…!”

The pirates who had fled earlier met the same fate. Soon, red foam rose to the surface. All of them had been torn apart by the waves.

“…”

As the voices in her ears quieted down, the madness that had bloomed in Esthie’s pupils gradually subsided.

Esthie slowly turned her head.

At the end of her gaze, she saw merchants sprawled about.

They weren’t dead. Just unconscious.

They were merchants from the Kingdom of Roel. She couldn’t create unnecessary sparks of conflict.

As Esthie reached out her hand, the ocean current changed direction to wrap around the merchants’ bodies. Just as she was about to guide the merchants to shore, she felt a gaze on her back.

It wasn’t a gaze looking up from beneath the sea.

“Need some help?”

There stood the Empire’s Grandmaster.

Before Esthie could answer, Olivia snapped her fingers and teleported the merchants.

“You…”

“I sent them to the Kingdom of Roel, so don’t worry too much.”

Olivia, who had somehow approached right in front of her, was smiling harmlessly.

“…”

Esthie glared at Olivia.

A dangerous magician.

But she couldn’t strike first.

‘…The Golden Tower Master’s disciple.’

If she harmed Olivia, the continent’s strongest magician would surely invade Icail.

She was harmful, but someone who couldn’t be attacked.

‘I shouldn’t engage in conversation.’

Even if Olivia attacked first, she could only defend. Having finished her calculations, Esthie quickly turned around.

CRACK!

“…What is this?”

A massive ice wall blocked Esthie’s path.

“I just told you. I’ll help you.”

“I don’t need…”

“The voices.”

Esthie stopped, about to dive. Emerald-green eyes and sky-blue eyes met each other.

“I can help you.”