Ch.96A Person More Saintly Than Herself. (4)

“…Is it human to leave someone completely unrelated like this and then rest in peace?”

Livga said.

“They must have been Esthie’s family once. How could people who were family… people who were royalty of a kingdom! I can’t forgive them. I absolutely cannot accept them achieving enlightenment as they please.”

The situation became awkward.

I couldn’t exactly tell Livga, “Actually, I punched them into oblivion.” That would not only make the atmosphere uncomfortable but would also damage my relationship with Livga.

So I remained silent.

I planned not to speak until Livga asked me directly.

[Hmm…]

The King sighed after receiving the situation report from Krauchel.

He wondered how I had obtained such a large share in such a short time, but he hadn’t expected me to use such methods.

‘Sacrifice… indeed, she’s no ordinary person.’

It was understandable that the Saintess might misinterpret Olivia’s wounds.

The King sent a telepathic message to Olivia.

– You really are a terrible person.

– …You noticed?

– Though it may have fallen, I was once a king of a nation. I should at least have this much perception.

Olivia swallowed hard. If the King were to breathe a word about this matter, things would become irreversible.

– Don’t worry. I owe you a debt, so I’ll handle this much.

The King’s form seemed to wink at her.

[Saintess. For your daughter’s sake, can you not forgive them? I will personally hunt down to the depths of hell those bastards who did this to the Empire’s Grandmaster.]

Livga flinched at the word “daughter.”

Regardless of continent, the word “parent” carried that much power.

‘He’s using that card now.’

I never imagined the King would help me. Especially someone who was once called the Overlord.

Originally, the King is the boss monster of Aquar, the Water Abyss.

With a level approaching 90, the ability to control tens of thousands of spirits like limbs, and having the former Sword Master Krauchel as his guard, he once made a name for himself as a player-killer.

It wasn’t called an Abyss for nothing… I never expected to receive help like this.

Is this the difference between game and reality?

“…But.”

Livga hesitated. It seemed she still couldn’t forgive them.

The King looked at Olivia and Livga in turn, then murmured softly to Livga.

[Saintess, would you follow me for a moment?]

The King added telepathically.

– You stay here.

– I was planning to anyway.

– Aren’t you trusting me too much? Do you know what I’m going to say?

– If not, you’d be trapped underwater for another 150 years.

– Haha. You never lose an argument.

I couldn’t tell what he wanted to say to Livga, but it wouldn’t be anything bad.

There’s no better way to persuade someone than a private conversation.

The Saintess followed the King down the corridor.

When they reached the withered garden, the King spoke.

[Saintess. Do you know why the Grandmaster asked me for four days?]

“…Why?”

[Because that was all the time she had left.]

Livga stumbled in her step.

[One of the abilities I unwillingly gained after becoming a spirit is the eye that can see through to one’s essence. When I examined the Grandmaster’s body… it wasn’t terminal.]

Not terminal. Livga didn’t know whether to consider that fortunate.

[It’s embarrassing to say with my own mouth, but I was once called the Overlord. I pride myself on my excellent judgment of people.]

Olivia is a genius.

Both as a magician and as a strategist.

[In my judgment, the Grandmaster already possesses more than enough ability to achieve her goal. Saving the world, she says. If anyone else said that, I would dismiss them as insane, but the Grandmaster is different. She has that ability.]

“…What do you mean?”

The King grinned.

[Exactly what I said. The Grandmaster stated her purpose was to save the world. If she considers 150 years a mere trifle, she must have lived for a truly long time pursuing that purpose.]

“…What are you trying to say?”

Livga’s voice grew sharp.

[I just mentioned it, didn’t I? That I have eyes that can see through to a person’s essence. For example, I can immediately tell that you are fifteen years old. But… no matter how I look at the Grandmaster, she appears to be in her twenties.]

Magic can maintain youth, but it cannot deceive a spirit’s eyes. Olivia was clearly in her twenties.

But she had definitely lived much longer than that. There was only one explanation.

[Do you think it’s possible for the mind to age while the body remains young?]

“…That’s impossible.”

[But that’s the only way to explain the Grandmaster’s situation.]

Livga could only repeat her previous question.

What are you trying to say?

[A human who achieved world-saving abilities at twenty has lived for thousands or tens of thousands of years. Let me ask you one thing. In your opinion, is the Grandmaster someone who would fail for tens of thousands of years, or someone who would save the world hundreds of times over tens of thousands of years?]

The answer was obvious.

“…”

Of course, the latter.

Livga’s eyes slowly widened.

Her head turned back involuntarily, toward where Olivia would be waiting.

– You know nothing, Saintess.

Her breath caught. No words came out.

[She probably mentioned four days because it had become difficult to maintain her sanity any longer. Humans can go mad after just 150 years… tens of thousands? I dare not even imagine.]

The demon must have entered through that gap.

The King stared at Livga’s face.

The Saintess, who had been brave even before a spirit, was now trembling, having lost her courage.

[As you know, the Saintess only appears in times of chaos. I don’t know what will cause that chaos, but one thing is certain. If the Grandmaster becomes that cause, no one will be able to stop her.]

There was no need to say this much. Even without these words, Livga would use her share to forgive Esthie.

But this was the King’s way of repaying Olivia.

‘If I leave it like this, she’ll never speak up till the end.’

Creating the worst possible situation was for the same reason. Only then would Livga recognize the severity of the situation.

Humans become most desperate when they’re about to lose someone precious.

They’ll do anything to prevent that loss.

Olivia is a benefactor who liberated his daughter and people. Shouldn’t she be saved?

“How can you say such things…!”

[That’s why you must prevent it from happening. You have that ability. You are the Saintess directly appointed by the Goddess of Light.]

As Livga closed her mouth, the King continued calmly.

[That is why you should forgive my children who made the Grandmaster like this. If Esthie becomes free, she will be a great strength to you.]

He was telling her to consider what would happen if Olivia collapsed.

Livga bit her lip.

It wasn’t wrong. But acknowledging it as right was a different matter.

[The Grandmaster may have even considered the possibility of her own collapse. That might be one reason why she’s gathering strong individuals like yourself.]

“…”

Looking into Livga’s trembling eyes, the King was certain.

With this, there was less worry about Olivia’s mind collapsing. The Saintess wouldn’t leave her side for a moment.

[Think carefully about what the Grandmaster has been repeating that long life for.]

But there was something the King had overlooked.

Livga thought.

‘You don’t know.’

He didn’t know about the demon that had invaded Olivia’s mind.

‘…That’s why you can say such things.’

Livga stared at her own hands with a blank expression.

Blood.

Was it because her vision was blurry, or was it a hallucination?

When the worst situation came, would she really be able to judge Olivia?

The conversation ended there.

*****

“What were you talking about for so long?”

Olivia asked accusingly. The King answered telepathically.

– No need to worry now. It’s been well resolved.

– Her expression doesn’t look that way at all.

Livga’s face was concerning. What conversation could have changed an angry person into someone with such a sorrowful expression in just thirty minutes?

‘…Did they talk about Esthie?’

Certainly, Livga was quite sensitive.

“Are you okay?”

“…”

Livga ran over and threw herself into Olivia’s arms.

‘…Such strength.’

She hugged so tightly that it was difficult to move. Olivia half-opened her eyes and glared at the King.

“…Will you let go?”

“No. I absolutely won’t let go.”

Realizing she couldn’t escape, Olivia resigned herself and stroked Livga’s head.

“It seems the time has come, Your Majesty.”

A long chain appeared from Olivia’s fingertips.

[Your share is 26.3%.]

[‘King Pram’s share is 4.2%.]

“Livga.”

“…”

Livga flinched as if pricked by a thorn.

Squeeze.

Was it my imagination? The embrace seemed to tighten.

[‘Saintess Livga’s share is 21.5%.]

The chain moved with a rattling sound. After a moment, the chain disappeared like scattering dust.

Simultaneously, a notification window appeared.

[You have released the binding of ‘Wavemaster Esthie’.]

[You have acquired the title ‘Liberator’.]

The King bowed respectfully. Krauchel did the same. It seemed Krauchel was also among the friendly spirits the King had persuaded.

[Thank you. I will not forget this favor even in the afterlife.]

And then he melted away.

– Thank you.

The King’s form flowed down like water. The palace corridors, roads, trees, everything dissolved as if scattering. In the middle of the collapsing Aquar, only Livga and I remained standing.

[Water Abyss, Aquar cleared.]

Olivia raised her head toward the sky.

Whoosh…

Beyond the clearing darkness, someone was approaching, riding the waves.