Ch.94A Person More Saintly Than Herself. (2)

[‘If this momentum continues…’]

Krauchel let out a sigh. Nearly a thousand spirits had vanished at once. Olivia’s ritual for the dead had worked properly.

If she could do this a few more times, not only would the curse engraved on Esthie’s soul be removed, but it wouldn’t be a dream for all the spirits of Aquar to find peace.

‘…What kind of person is she, really?’

Even a warrior who had been through thick and thin would normally foam at the mouth in front of that many spirits.

[Resisting status ailment, ‘Curse’.]

[Resisting status ailment, ‘Weakening’.]

[Resisting status ailment, ‘Corruption’.]

Occasionally, there were spirits that wouldn’t vanish obediently. As if seeking compensation for their lives spent wandering as spirits, they only accepted their dissolution after directing all their arrows of hatred toward Olivia.

‘I knew this would happen.’

Even if they had regained their senses, it would be stranger for them to accept this willingly after wandering with lost minds for hundreds of years.

This was why she had brought Livga. These mere status ailments could be healed instantly with holy power.

[“…Are you alright?”]

“Yes. I’m fine.”

It wasn’t an exaggeration. Thanks to Livga’s healing, she truly wasn’t in pain.

‘Compared to the pain of being expelled from the Tower, this is heaven.’

Her head felt dizzy and her heart seemed to beat faster than usual, but this much was within the expected range.

“If we can just do this a few more times, then until then…”

Thud.

Livga had approached and grabbed her wrist. As if not wanting Olivia to continue speaking, her eyes were brimming with tears.

“…I’ll do it from now on.”

Surprised by this unexpected action, Olivia looked at Livga.

“…Please.”

Livga’s trembling hand and gradually lowering gaze.

Olivia decided to take a step back.

‘I was planning to do a few more myself.’

But with Livga acting this way, it was right to step back for the sake of her mental state.

‘I’ve achieved my goal anyway,’

Judging by the reaction, this much emphasis on “self-sacrifice” seemed sufficient.

The more Olivia’s spirit of self-sacrifice was emphasized, the weaker the connection with ‘Asmodeus’ would become.

If this matter concluded well, Livga would believe that all the evil deeds ‘Olivia’ might commit were actually the work of ‘Asmodeus’.

How could someone who sacrificed so much for complete strangers commit mass murder?

Olivia slowly nodded.

“You don’t need to follow my method exactly.”

“…I can do it just like you, sister.”

“I’m not saying this because I don’t trust you.”

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

Your words are true.

“…Oh.”

Olivia closed her mouth at the sudden notification window.

She never expected Livga to use lie detection.

She could roughly guess why Livga had used it.

Probably because she was worried Olivia would sacrifice herself again.

‘Even so… She’s really upset.’

In a different sense, it seemed she had lost Livga’s trust.

Sometimes she forgot that Livga was just a child in her early teens.

Quickly regaining her composure, Olivia said:

“I’m a mage, so I can only use such extreme methods, but you’re different. Use your position as Saintess. It won’t be difficult if Krauchel helps you.”

With those words, Olivia looked at Krauchel.

He immediately understood what her gaze meant.

Without fail, a telepathic message came.

– Are you asking me to be your accomplice?

– If you think of it as being an accomplice, then it’s being an accomplice. If you think of it as chivalry, then it’s chivalry.

The spirits might not know that Livga is a Saintess, but they know that Krauchel is the Knight Commander.

His conduct must have been publicly renowned, so if Krauchel confirms that Livga is indeed the Saintess, everything will proceed smoothly afterward.

– Help the people finish their lives in God’s embrace, Krauchel.

The Light Church established itself on the continent five hundred years ago.

The Kingdom of Aquar must have been greatly influenced by the Light Church and would have had a significant number of believers.

‘At least 60 to 70 percent.’

Krauchel wouldn’t be able to refuse.

[“…I’ll do my best.”]

“I’ll trust you with this, Krauchel.”

At their conversation, Livga opened her eyes wide.

“…What about you? Aren’t you coming with us, Olivia?”

“Since I’ve entrusted this task to you, I need to go take care of something else. Thanks to you, I can just barely make it in time.”

Livga’s wavering gaze. Olivia’s mention of time constraints cut into Livga’s heart.

“Where… are you going?”

“To the royal palace. I think I need to personally persuade the high-ranking officials.”

“…Ah.”

Deliberately ignoring Livga’s widening eyes, Olivia stroked her head.

“Thank you. I’ll be back soon.”

Livga’s hand pitifully grazed through the empty air.

*****

‘That side is more or less wrapped up…’

With Livga and Krauchel, they could probably secure about 30 percent in three days. Given Livga’s intense gaze, they might even reach 40 percent.

Livga would continue the ritual day and night to reduce Olivia’s sacrifice as much as possible.

But that would be the limit.

There would be those who reject the ritual entirely, and above all, there would be those who had become inhuman entities.

True spirits who had forgotten they were once human, only craving the flesh of the living.

Those who had given up on being human couldn’t be brought back to their senses even with holy power.

For them, the ritual was impossible. Annihilation was the only answer. Naturally, it was impossible to obtain their share.

‘The king probably thought it was impossible because of this.’

Even if they gathered all the citizens who could regain their senses, it wouldn’t reach a majority.

That’s why Olivia was heading to the royal palace.

In the end, to obtain a majority share, she needed to persuade the royal family.

‘Krauchel was 0.3 percent, so the high officials would be slightly less. The royal family would be more.’

Olivia was lost in thought as she walked through the palace corridor.

Of course, she had no intention of making such an appeal this time. The citizens were clearly victims. They had lost their families overnight, and even their own lives, which is why she had appealed for forgiveness.

But the ones in the royal palace were different.

They were all perpetrators. It was these bastards who encouraged Esthie to move the sea, and who spread propaganda that Esthie was the one who killed them.

⌜Hmm, what brings you here?⌟

A black figure spoke. Olivia already knew that it was one of the royal family members.

“Where is His Majesty now?”

⌜Are you planning to ask for an extension? Give it up. His Majesty is not one to bend his will.⌟

Olivia knew that too. The history books clearly showed what kind of person the Tyrant King of Aquar was.

And he had clearly said:

– For the next four days, no spirit of Aquar will touch you.

The king didn’t simply mean to guarantee her safety.

To begin with, how could one control citizens who had lost their minds after becoming spirits?

Just because he was king in life doesn’t mean he would still be king after death.

The person called the Tyrant King couldn’t have been unaware of this obvious fact.

“I have something to ask.”

⌜Something to ask… He should be wandering around the third floor, so look for him there.⌟

Judging by the ready answer, this seemed to be one of the royal family members who had taken a liking to Olivia.

Olivia immediately headed to the third floor. Finding the king wasn’t difficult. The place where he stayed was uniquely dark.

[You’re early. It hasn’t even been an hour since we met.]

Instead of answering, Olivia extended her hand. A chain fragment too small to be called a fragment appeared in her palm.

[Your share is 7.43%.]

⌜How already…!⌟

The royal family members drew in a sharp breath. The king, however, was simply staring at Olivia.

“I’ve come for a definitive answer.”

[…What kind of answer?]

Olivia deliberately stalled. Not to agitate the king, but as a silent request for the other royal family members to leave.

The king understood her intention.

[Everyone, withdraw for a moment.]

The royal family members hesitated briefly before disappearing somewhere.

[Now speak. What do you mean by a definitive answer?]

“Your Majesty wishes to forgive your daughter. Is that correct?”

[…I won’t deny it.]

“But you also know that you don’t have the right to forgive yourself.”

[That is also correct.]

Her guess was right.

The king wanted to release Esthie from her curse. But he couldn’t because of opposition from the other spirits.

After all, his share was only 0.7 percent.

‘Now I understand.’

It felt like the puzzle pieces were falling into place. She could also understand how ‘Olivia’ had been able to destroy Icail.

‘She must have manipulated the king.’

The curse engraved on Esthie’s soul was to protect Icail from ‘enemies.’ And the criteria for ‘enemies’ was determined by the spirits of Aquar.

If Aquar attacked Icail, Esthie would have no way to stop it.

Aquar was once part of Icail, so she couldn’t have prevented it either.

The king would have wiped out his descendants for his daughter’s freedom, and Esthie would have been satisfied simply with the fact that she couldn’t hear the ‘voices’ anymore.

“May I educate the royal family members a bit?”

[Educate?]

“I mean beat them. Until they agree to forgive your daughter.”

[…Do you think I would permit that?]

“If you weren’t going to permit it, you wouldn’t have assigned Krauchel to me.”

If the king had wanted to protect the royal family, he wouldn’t have sent Krauchel outside the palace.

Probably from that moment, the king had this in mind.

The king spoke as if dejected.

[Is that the only way?]

“You already know, don’t you?”

[…Please take good care of Esthie.]

“I’ll listen to that story after everything is settled. I need to stay up all night to persuade dozens of spirits.”

The king turned his body away. It meant he would tacitly approve of everything that was about to happen.

And that was exactly what Olivia wanted most.

“I’ll return with good news, Your Majesty.”