Ch.97In the End, I Was Caught. (1)

Esthie stood on the surface of the sea.

She had come all this way to find the person who had released her binding spell.

She had always known about Aquar’s existence. However, every time she tried to enter, spirits would rush at her, preventing her from going in. But now, there were no spirits to stop her.

Olivia stared at the sea surface, holding her breath. That shadow wavering in the waves was definitely Esthie’s.

Fortunately, it seemed she hadn’t been noticed yet.

‘…I can’t just leave like this either.’

It was because Livga was right beside her.

They were far enough from Esthie for now, but if they got even a little closer, her consciousness would be ejected immediately with a warning message.

Just as it had always happened before.

‘…Should I send Livga away?’

She had no intention of using observation mode. Olivia no longer blindly trusted “Olivia.”

Since this was the end, she needed to finish it herself.

“Livga. Would you like to wait for me in Icail first?”

She asked, knowing Livga wouldn’t allow it.

“…No.”

As expected, not a chance.

Whatever the king had told her, she clung to Olivia’s leg like a child with separation anxiety, refusing to let go.

Olivia inwardly clicked her tongue as she placed her hand on Livga’s head.

While pretending to stroke her hair and buying time, Olivia discreetly moved her magical power to create a magic circle.

[Skill, ‘Teleport’ is being used.]

Tzzzzzt!

Livga’s body was enveloped in bright light. Immediately understanding the situation, she looked up at Olivia with wide eyes and quickly tried to resist by drawing on her holy power.

But it was already too late.

“Sister!”

With a cry that was almost a scream, Livga’s form disappeared.

Olivia had set the coordinates to the Pharos Lighthouse, so there would be no attention drawn from bystanders when she suddenly appeared there.

Olivia looked around with a sigh of relief. As the fog that had covered the city completely lifted, water poured from all directions as if it had been waiting.

Kwaaaaa!

The water quickly rose to her feet.

That’s when it happened.

“…I thought it might be you, and it really is.”

A familiar voice spread in all directions like a wave, and then the seawater moved like a fountain gushing up, instantly pulling Olivia’s body to the surface.

“What were you doing down there?”

When she turned her head back, a familiar woman was standing on the water’s surface.

“As you can see.”

“Do you know where you were just now? There’s nothing down there but spirits who have lost their reason. It’s fortunate I noticed you right away; if I’d been a little later, you would have become fish food.”

“I doubt it.”

“Don’t be so arrogant. I acknowledge that you’re strong, but the king of spirits is very powerful. For you…”

“It’s fine. The spirits won’t appear anymore.”

And those spirits included Esthie’s family as well.

Esthie drew in a sharp breath. Unable to speak, she remained silent for a long time.

“…Are you certain?”

Olivia answered without the slightest hesitation.

“Yes. You won’t hear ‘the voices’ anymore.”

“…”

Instead of answering, Esthie closed her eyes and concentrated. Indeed, the voices that had been cluttering her mind were no longer audible. Just to be sure, she waited a while longer, but the result was the same.

‘…I can’t hear them.’

Thousands, no, tens of thousands of voices. The countless voices that had constantly whispered to protect Icail had disappeared as if they were a lie.

Esthie knew better than anyone that the spirits of this sea did not distinguish between day and night. But now, not only were there no spirits, even the black fog was hard to find.

The timing was too coincidental.

“…No way.”

Esthie murmured softly. She stared at Olivia with blank eyes. Though she appeared calm at first glance, for someone with worn-out emotions, her reaction was dramatic enough.

Olivia secretly admired this.

‘…Yes. This is how it should be.’

After seeing only the ‘current’ Esthie who could be called a madwoman, seeing this numb and mechanical Esthie made her feel naturally at ease. Familiar things really are the best.

Of course, if this Esthie were to regress, she would become exactly like the ‘current’ Esthie.

“Your suspicion is correct. The ‘voices’ were made by the spirits of Aquar.”

Still looking like she couldn’t believe it, Esthie frowned.

“…Wait here.”

Swoosh!

Suddenly the waves rippled, and Esthie’s form disappeared into the sea.

It was quite a while before she reappeared.

As if something had gotten into her eyes, her navy blue pupils were tinged red.

“…It’s true as you said. They’ve really disappeared. All that’s left are ruins. There’s no way spirits could remain in a city where not even traces remain…”

Having dived so deep, Esthie’s hair carried the distinctive smell of the deep sea.

Esthie spoke with a slightly choked voice.

“…Don’t tell me the binding spell was also… the spirits’ doing?”

“Sadly, yes. It was.”

“Haha…”

Esthie laughed hollowly.

Looking back, it had been strange from the beginning.

The ‘voices’ that had resonated in her head were all filled with terrible resentment.

But they never whispered for her to kill anyone.

What they wanted was just one thing: to protect Icail from ‘enemies.’

Olivia said,

“The other half of Aquar is Icail. Those who lost their lives that day truly hated you, but at the same time, they realized something. For their descendants to survive, your protection was absolutely necessary.”

“…My life is already ruined beyond repair, and you expect me to accept this with just a few words?”

“No.”

In response to her self-deprecating laugh, Olivia took out a recording crystal from her bosom and handed it to Esthie.

Esthie wasn’t innocent either. No matter how much the surrounding royals had instigated her, the fact that she had drowned countless citizens remained unchanged.

But unlike other royals, she at least paid for her sins.

And paid several times over.

So she deserved compensation.

“What is this…?”

“Try playing it.”

Esthie played the crystal without much thought.

Whack! Whaaack!

– Arggghhhh!

– Aaaack! Aaaaaaack!

Royals being beaten relentlessly. With each blow that shattered their spirit bodies, Esthie’s expression changed subtly.

A full two days’ worth of recordings. As the behavior of those haughty nobles became increasingly shameful, the corners of her mouth turned upward.

“…Don’t tell me you beat them for two days straight?”

“Of course I did.”

“Haha… hahaha!”

Esthie wiped her tears. They were tears from laughter, not from crying.

Her brightly smiling face closely resembled her ‘current’ self.

“…I understand what you’re trying to say. Those so-called royals were beaten like dogs, threw away their dignity, and squealed like pigs begging for their lives, but I still feel it’s not enough.”

“I’m glad you understand.”

“Yes, you’re right. Whether intentional or by mistake, I committed an unforgivable act and killed countless citizens. 150 years was getting off lightly.”

Esthie looked at Olivia for a moment and then bowed her head slightly.

“It’s all thanks to you. I express my gratitude, Grandmaster of the Empire.”

Olivia hesitated.

To hear words of gratitude from Esthie of all people. It felt strange somehow.

Ahem.

Olivia smiled slyly and said,

“Gratitude isn’t expressed with words, Princess.”

The corners of Esthie’s mouth rose even higher than before.

“Indeed, rumors can’t be trusted. The whole world is deceived by you. How could such a sly person be kind and gentle?”

“Emotions are relative by nature.”

Esthie felt at ease. It was a feeling she had only experienced in the distant past, when she was a princess ignorant of the world.

Was it because she understood the truth behind the incident, or because she had been freed from the shackles that had bound her for so long?

Or perhaps…

“Tell me. Is there anything else you want from me?”

“Not yet. I didn’t expect this to be resolved in just three days.”

“It was quick.”

“Originally, I planned to beat them for all hundred days. Can you believe they only lasted two days? Someone endured for 150 years. Isn’t that right?”

Esthie stared at Olivia’s face for a moment and then chuckled. Then she burst into laughter again, tears flowing.

“Ahahaha! You’re good at flattery too!”

The moment Esthie smiled, a notification window appeared.

[Wavemaster of Icail’s affection has greatly increased.]

And Olivia thought,

Somehow, this ended well.

[Time remaining: 14 hours 23 minutes]

‘…I still have some time left.’

It seemed all she needed to do was appease Livga properly and wrap things up.

‘That makes four, right?’

Kiel, Melina, Livga, and now Esthie.

The risk of being severely punished by the Imperial Princess had lessened.

…or so she thought.

*****

Boooom!

Hearing the thunderous sound from across the sea, Altair looked up at the sky.

It was coming from the direction of Icail, the port city.

“…Lightning?”

The sky became quiet as if nothing had happened.

However, in an instant, Altair’s expression changed.

“Eryas.”

“…I’m thinking the same thing. As expected, there’s no way that bitch Olivia would die so easily.”

“We need to inform Aria immediately.”

After hesitating briefly, Eryas clicked his tongue as if he had no choice.

The Imperial Princess might not listen to others, but she always followed her master Altair’s words.

“Tch.”

Eryas’s form began to change.

From a beautiful man to the Red Dragon Lord symbolizing the end.

An ancient dragon language echoed throughout Machina.

[Come, Master of Dark.]