Chap 16-The Things She Should Have Received

 

Bella sat upright in her chair, facing Dorothy.

“Alright. I’ll tell you about that child. But…”

Dorothy smiled gently.

But Bella found that smile frightening.

“I’m going to read you through the eyes of a Librarian. It’ll only take a moment.”

Librarian.

A unique ability granted only to a gifted few.

The ability to access the Star Library, where the ‘Akashic Records,’ the library of absolute records where all the world’s truths, records, and pasts are stored, exists.

Those qualified as Librarians could discern a person’s past or the truth behind a place simply by looking through those records.

Of course, one couldn’t easily peek at just any record.

Most records had corresponding restrictions.

The higher the level of the being involved in the record, the stronger the security, limiting the records that a Librarian with low stats could view.

Naturally, this was of no concern to Dorothy, a transcendent being of level 10.

“I need to make sure you’re not a danger to that child, is that alright?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

It was about exposing her entire life to someone else, but Bella readily agreed.

Because there was something more important at stake.

The space flickered hazily, giving the sensation of looking at a world beyond a transparent curtain.

Dorothy’s eyes glowed faintly.

Bella’s breath caught in her throat.

It felt as though she was being stripped bare to her very core.

Dorothy was reading her emotions, actions, and memories—everything.

Dorothy’s gaze wavered for a moment.

“Okay. That’s enough.”

She closed her eyes, took a slow breath, and then opened them.

At the same time, the surrounding energy dissipated, and the oppressive tension vanished.

Bella gasped for air.

The records that had permeated the space slowly faded away, and the light in Dorothy’s eyes dimmed.

“…Haa.”

Dorothy sighed softly.

A stern tension settled on her usually composed lips.

Her gaze turned to Bella Staren.

It was an incredibly heavy and cold gaze, but tinged with sorrow.

“You killed her… with your own hands. That child.”

It was a quiet voice, but it contained suppressed anger.

The atmosphere turned icy, as if the room’s temperature had plummeted.

Bella didn’t respond.

She simply pressed her lips together and lowered her head.

She offered no excuses or justifications.

She knew very well that she couldn’t dare deny her sin.

Dorothy stared at her for a moment, then pressed her temple with one hand.

And soon, the heavy energy dissipated.

Dorothy looked at Bella once more and continued.

“It must have been something that child chose. I don’t have the right to be angry with you.”

There was a faint smile and a hint of bitterness mixed in her words.

“I will forgive you. But be sure to apologize to her.”

Bella raised her head.

Her lips trembled slightly.

“Will she… forgive me?”

There was fear mixed in her question.

She knew that the mistakes of the past could not be washed away with a single apology.

“Are you trying to avoid even apologizing because you’re afraid of not being forgiven?”

A brief silence followed.

Bella slowly nodded.

“I understand. I will apologize sincerely.”

“Good, then I’ll tell you now.”

Dorothy quietly looked at Bella.

“Before that, I have something to ask.”

A breathless silence lasted for a few seconds, and finally, Dorothy opened her mouth.

“That day, were you able to understand what Envia was saying?”

It was a sudden question.

Bella hesitated for a moment, then shook her head honestly.

“I could hear what Yeon was saying. But that monster, Envia… I could barely understand what she was saying. I could hear the sounds, but strangely, I couldn’t understand them.”

At those words, Dorothy nodded slightly and breathed a sigh of relief.

“That’s a relief. It seems the restriction is still in place.”

“Restriction?”

“The monsters can’t tell the truth about Yeon.”

“Because…”

Her eyes slowly turned towards Bella.

“Right now, Yeon is a true ‘Evil God.’”

“What does that…?”

Bella’s face hardened.

She wondered if she had misheard something, if she was mistaken for a moment, but there was no wavering in Dorothy’s tone.

She continued heavily.

“The Evil God has currently lost their name. The name of the Evil God currently recorded in the Akashic Records is ‘Yeon Bennet,’ that child’s name.”

“How is that… possible?”

“I can’t tell you that. Instead, as promised, I’ll tell you about the path that child has walked. From now on.”

Dorothy quietly raised her finger and pointed to the air.

“System.”

Dorothy quietly raised her finger and pointed to the air.

“Let’s get some insurance first.”

“…Yes?”

Bella blinked.

“Monsters can’t, but humans can say the truth as much as they want.”

Dorothy’s voice was lower and heavier than usual.

“So far, I’ve been controlling it so that only a few people who can be trusted with information about her know. Now, in this place, that number will increase by one more.”

Bella pressed her lips tightly together.

Her eyes held both responsibility and confusion.

“I trust you, Bella Staren.”

Dorothy gave a cold smile.

“But… you’re still weak.”

At those words, Bella’s shoulders twitched slightly.

Dorothy spread her palm and displayed a System window above it.

[SYSTEM]

Creating a special oath.

[Oath of Silence]

Oath-taker: Bella Staren → Dorothy Lightshield

Effect: Bella Staren may not, under any circumstances, be the first to tell another being the truth about Yeon Bennet.

Oath Revocation Authority: Dorothy Lightshield

…

…

…

After that, the truth that the Headmaster told her was very shocking.

Yeon Bennet, she was different from the facts known to the world… no, she was the opposite.

“What on earth have you people been doing all this time?”

After hearing the truth about Yeon, Bella lost her reason and shouted at the transcendent being.

It would have been unthinkable under normal circumstances, but…

Dorothy didn’t point out the rudeness, but quietly accepted Bella’s anger.

Bella looked out the window at the peaceful scenery of the Academy and continued.

“Is all of this… built on the sacrifice of one child?”

It was terrible… and disgusting.

That she knew nothing.

‘I’m the same.’

She didn’t have the right to be angry either.

Bella unconsciously clenched her fist.

The sensation remaining at her fingertips.

Hot blood.

The feeling of a pierced heart,

The memory of that moment seemed to dig into her palm.

Yeon was sitting on the bed, looking out the window, seemingly awkward.

She was just as she was when they first met.

Just as she thought she was a villain.

But now she looked different.

Bella quietly inhaled.

She took a step towards Yeon.

She slowly looked up at her.

Her eyes were still calm.

“I’m sorry… no… I apologize. Lady Yeon.”

The moment she pierced her heart.

The child who only smiled even in that terrible pain.

That smile…

She still couldn’t forget it.

“Huh? Suddenly?”

Yeon asked back with an expression that genuinely wondered if Bella had anything to apologize to her for.

She was as if she was saying that she was completely fine and that she had already forgotten everything.

That made her feel even more guilty.

“Your heart… must have hurt…”

“If it’s about that story, it’s okay. It was what I intended in the first place. Besides, in the end, Senior saved me, right?”

She continued, trying to make a bright expression.

“I was grateful at that time. So it’s okay. Senior, you’re more timid than I thought. Hehe.”

She waved her hand and laughed lightly as if it was nothing at all.

Bella pressed her lips tightly together.

And once again, she looked at her.

Yeon Bennet, who took on six High-ranking Monsters alone and still thanked her.

‘Who saved who…’

She was truly… the most foolish idiot in the world.

And looking at such an idiot, Bella felt strangely suffocated.

She took a deep breath and bowed deeply to Yeon.

“On behalf of everyone living in Terra…”

She could feel Yeon’s gaze.

Bella bowed her head towards her.

“I sincerely thank you.”

“For dealing with the monsters.”

“For blocking the Evil God alone.”

“For everything you’ve done all this time.”

Yeon’s expression wavered.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, then closed it again.

Bella raised her head slightly and quietly looked at her.

Has this child ever heard such words from anyone?

The people who tried to condemn her.

Those who pointed fingers at her, calling her a villain.

The whole world was her enemy.

But.

The mere twenty-year-old child just smiled…

And was protecting the people who had hurt her.

“Really… thank you so much, Lady Yeon.”

She felt disgusted with herself.

That she was changing her attitude now and expressing her gratitude.

That she had driven her to the edge all this time.

Still…

The gratitude she should have received.

The words she deserved to hear.

She wanted to say them now, even if it was late.

Bella bowed her head deeply once more.

“Thank you so much, Lady Yeon.”

Author’s Note

I will try to upload every day until Sunday…

Thank you for reading!