episode_0102

Eli’s Plan

“What do you mean, Holy Maiden-nim? You can’t pinpoint the location… Were you able to before?”

“Yes. But… how much do you remember?”

“…Up to Eli using the Siren’s Song to try and control me in Melodian. What happened after that… Ah…! I remember helping the Holy Maiden-nim when Sir Zeke was captured by some group…”

“It seems you were completely enchanted by that damn fairy, Eli, after we parted ways in Alteon. Since you don’t remember anything after being completely enchanted.”

As Aria realized Riera remembered the events in Alteon, she knew Riera had been completely enchanted by Eli after that point. Riera then slumped to the ground, covered her face with both hands, and began to cry.

“Why… Why would Eli do such a terrible thing…? *sobbing*… She promised… *hiccup*… she wouldn’t… *wailing*…”

“…There’s no time for your sorrow. Your damn sister has kidnapped Sir Zeke. Grieve later.”

“…Yes… I’m very confused, but… finding Sir Zeke and stopping Eli is important for now…”

At Aria’s words, Riera wiped her tears and stood up. She realized there was no time to grieve, just as Aria said. Aria then looked around, sighed deeply, and spoke.

“Haaah… Your damn sister is using people to try and separate me from Sir Zeke.”

“…I’m sorry, Holy Maiden-nim. I should have been more careful…”

“Sir Zeke would have said it’s not your fault. So you don’t need to apologize. That damn blonde fairy is the one who should apologize.”

As Riera tried to apologize to Aria, Aria recalled how Zeke would have acted and told Riera not to apologize. Riera then stared blankly at Aria and spoke in a deeply bewildered voice.

“But Holy Maiden-nim… you’ve changed a lot… When Robdom kidnapped Sir Zeke, you were distraught and your mind crumbled… but now you’re calmly analyzing the situation…”

“I’m a creature that changes too, Riera. And… unlike before, I’ve already prepared countermeasures for times like this. Right about now, that damn fairy… she must be going crazy, jumping around because she can’t harm Sir Zeke, don’t you think?”

“Huh?”

At Aria’s words, Riera stared blankly at her again, not understanding. Meanwhile, just as Aria predicted, Eli tried to stab me with various tools, but Aria’s barrier, protecting me, wouldn’t break. Enraged, Eli hurled the object she was holding to the floor.

“Aaaaargh!! That damn Holy Maiden!!! I hate absolutely everything about her!! How dare she come between me and my uncle like this!! I’ll never forgive her!! Aaaaargh!!!”

‘My heart already left you a long time ago, you know?’

What does she even think of other people? Even after I clearly warned her, she still controls others… and tries to force me to feel for her… Does she think she can manipulate other people’s hearts like toys according to her will? A person’s heart always changes, even if subtly. Is Eli acting this way because she’s never learned that?

‘Haaah… I never imagined Eli would harbor such feelings. Moreover… the shock of learning that Cecilia and Yuria still liked me hasn’t worn off yet… Seeing Eli, who’s even more extreme than Aria… makes me really think I need to be careful with my every action…’

“This won’t do… Since it’s come to this, I’ll use people to kill that Holy Maiden… Then this damn barrier blocking me and my uncle will disappear, right…? *Heh heh heh*… After that… I’ll engrave a mark of love on my uncle… *hee hee hee*… Yes… that dream will come true…!!”

“…!! Wh-What…?! Did you just mutter about using people?!”

Just as I was thinking I needed to be more vigilant about myself, Eli’s muttering about using people to attack Aria reached my ears, and I was utterly aghast. Aria is a powerful Holy Maiden who single-handedly brought down Robdom before. But Eli should know that, having heard it from Riera, right?!

“Aria single-handedly brought down Robdom!! She killed nearly a hundred… no, more than that number of people with just one staff!!! And you’re going to send ordinary people against such an Aria?!”

“Yes. Of course. That’s how I can bring down the Holy Maiden.”

“Those people will just end up dead!! And besides, all those people are controlled by your Siren’s Song!!”

“…*Heh heh*… You’re right about that… But uncle… it seems my heart hasn’t fully reached yours yet. What I want isn’t that… I’m not sending those people just to kill the Holy Maiden… *Heh heh heh*…”

“What…?”

When Eli said she wasn’t sending people to their deaths just to kill Aria, I was dumbfounded, unable to understand her meaning. Eli then grinned, dragged a chair from the corner, placed it in front of me, and sat down.

“Riera Unnie told me before. She said the Holy Maiden’s mind was unstable. That she was engulfed in anxiety and fear, becoming a wreck because you suddenly disappeared…”

“…That was certainly true.”

“Right. What would happen if I poked at that unstable mind even more, uncle?”

“…What…? What do you mean? Are you planning to cast the Siren’s Song on Aria?”

The moment Eli mentioned Aria’s mind, I was seized by the unsettling thought that Eli would shake Aria’s mind with the Siren’s Song. Cecilia had controlled Aria in that way before, so it wasn’t impossible… However, as if to prove me wrong, Eli smiled and shook her head, speaking.

“N-oooo… The Holy Maiden said she knew a way to counter the Siren’s Song. And besides, it probably wouldn’t work because of her divine power. But you know… as you know, it’s possible to break someone’s mind even without using abilities, right?”

“…!!! Y-You don’t mean!!! Your goal is for people to die?!”

“*Heh heh heh*… Finally, our hearts are connected, uncle? I’m so happy…!!”

At Eli’s last words, I realized her objective and was utterly shocked, while Eli was ecstatic that I had figured out her goal. Is that something to be happy about?! She’s intentionally sending people to die?!

“But those people are all under your control!! If Aria breaks the curse on them, only you will…”

“Ah~ You don’t know the full details about the Siren’s Song, do you, uncle? The Holy Maiden seems to know… The Siren’s Song, you see… until it completely takes hold, people can’t perceive that they’re being controlled. To be precise, um… they’ll mistakenly believe their body and mind are moving normally, according to their own will. And also… even if the full enchantment is broken, the caster can’t be identified.”

“…What?”

“After they’re completely enchanted, they won’t remember anything at all! So they won’t know who cast the Siren’s Song, or when it was cast!! But… what if they regain their senses and find a Holy Maiden who knows a lot about the Siren’s Song? And what if there are corpses of their neighbors and family around them? Wouldn’t people intensely hate and condemn the Holy Maiden?!”

‘Th-This is!!!’

Now knowing the details about the Siren’s Song, I started struggling. No…!! Eli’s goal is to harm Aria’s mind, and now that I knew her method, I was filled with the sole thought of escaping this place quickly. Otherwise… Aria, and countless people, would be sacrificed…!! Countless people dying just for a single obsession?!

“Oh? Uncle~ You won’t be able to untie those ropes~ Just in case, I tied you with ropes made of grass that has properties similar to divine power~ Besides, since these ropes were already tied, the Holy Maiden’s barrier can’t repel them, can it? There’s no way out, uncle~ other than for you to accept my feelings…”

As Eli grinned, making me realize the futility of my struggle again, I glared at her with furious eyes. Eli then grinned even wider, as if more delighted, and began pulling a piece of cloth from her pocket.

“*Heh heh*… I love a rebellious uncle like this too… But you know… just in case the Holy Maiden hears your screams… I think it’s better to gag your mouth. Oh, this cloth is also made of fibers infused with divine power, so that barrier won’t be any use either. It’s a bit disappointing I couldn’t find enough for actual torture tools, but it can’t be helped~”

“You… what will you do if Aria doesn’t react even if she kills people?! Even if ignorant people misunderstand and blame Aria, if Aria ignores their criticism, your plan…”

“*Heh heh heh heh*… That’s not my goal, uncle. My precise goal, you see… is for Aria to kill people and make the world aware of what kind of Holy Maiden she is~ If it becomes known in the Magurion region, this Herlos region, and even the Tania region that the Holy Maiden committed such atrocities… what choice do you think the Holy Maiden will make?”

“What…? Wh-What a—*muffled sound*!!”

The moment I was filled with great doubt at Eli’s words, Eli gagged my mouth with the divine-powered cloth and wrapped it around my head. Damn it… Aria’s barrier really isn’t repelling the cloth… Is it because it contains divine power? Or… is there a defined range for what the barrier repels?

“Just bear with it for a bit, uncle~ I’ll untie you as soon as I deal with the Holy Maiden~ And… oh, right! I was talking about what choice the Holy Maiden would make! So, you see… a Holy Maiden who realizes the world won’t accept her will probably leave you, uncle. Because she’ll have caused trouble for you too… Especially when she realizes your exploration has been hindered because of her, the Holy Maiden will have no choice but to leave you, you see!!”

‘…! She’s going to use me too?!’

“Well… even if that’s not it~ The Holy Maiden now, how should I put it… seeing her come up with these countermeasures, it seems her mind has become a little clearer, hasn’t it? If you break that clearer part with people’s criticism and stares, what do you think the Holy Maiden will become? *Heh heh heh heh*… Indeed, there’s nothing easier than breaking an already unstable mind even further. Don’t you agree, uncle?”

Eli’s plan sent another shiver down my spine. Eli truly cared about no one right now… to the point of using even me, the object of her affection, in her plan!!! Since Eli’s goal was to gain my love, to use even the current me, who didn’t love her, in her plan…

“*Muffled sound*!! *Muffled struggling*!!”

“*Hee hee hee*… Your rebellious look is lovely too, uncle. It doesn’t matter how negative you appear to me. Someday, I’ll turn that negativity into positivity. And… the Holy Maiden will never find this place. I’ve taken measures. I made a deal with some entity to connect you and me. I’ve prepared that thoroughly, so… look forward to it?”

‘…? Some entity…?’

While I continued to be horrified by Eli’s plan, she mentioned making a deal with some entity, which sparked a great question within me. Yes… honestly, even with the Siren’s Song, it’s almost impossible for Eli to prepare such thorough countermeasures. Never mind the people, but the gag in my mouth, the raw material of these ropes binding me… even those torture tools… Just who did Eli make a deal with…?

‘Could that entity also be in this village? If so… what on earth was their purpose for making a deal with Eli…?’

“Alright then… shall we begin? Holy Maiden… tonight will be your final journey. Forever…”

“*Muffled sound*!! *Muffled sound*!!”

As Eli prepared to do something, I struggled violently. But the ropes showed no sign of breaking, nor did the gag show any sign of coming out of my mouth. As I resisted fiercely in front of her, Eli smiled and said.

“Don’t worry. I didn’t cast the Siren’s Song on you, uncle, because I want to see your true self. This curse, you see… if I cast it on you, it’s obvious I’d be the only one who ends up unhappy… I want your genuine love… though I’ll change it that way eventually…”

‘Shut up!!! I don’t need that kind of dirty love!!’

“Alright… shall I get to work~ Before that…”

Eli stood up and plugged my ears with the cloth. I realized what that meant and struggled even more violently. But Eli chuckled softly at my efforts, then walked towards the window. She began to sing, and as Eli’s song drifted out the window, the bustling sounds of people moving outside began to be heard.

‘D-Damn it!! She must have blocked my ears so I couldn’t hear the Siren’s Song…!! And these bustling sounds I can hear through the cloth…!! Damn her!!!’

“*Heh heh heh*… Finally… we’ll live together, uncle… Forever…”

After Eli finished singing, she approached me. She then removed the cloth from my ears, sat down again, and looked at me. Seeing me exhausted from struggling, she spoke.

“If… if the Holy Maiden is killed, you see… I’ll make you love me, uncle. And… we’ll live together in a beautiful mansion!! People won’t pay us any mind… because they won’t remember! The people who were used will hate and curse the Holy Maiden, and we’ll live in peace!! That’s my dream! How about it!! Isn’t it beautiful!?”

‘How can a dream soaked in people’s blood be beautiful!! Such an abnormal dream, full of indelible stains… I feel so disgusted I could throw up, Eli!!’

As Eli continued to spout nonsense, I began to feel revulsion. Even Aria wasn’t that crazy!!! Do you think you’re saner than Aria when you’re acting more abnormally than her?! It’s the opposite, Eli!!

“*Heh heh heh*… I’ve waited a long time… I’ve truly waited a long time for this moment… It seems waiting for you, uncle, in one place was the right thing to do…”

While I genuinely felt revulsion towards Eli, unable to do anything, Aria continued to pinpoint my location in the alley. But when she couldn’t detect my location at all, she sighed deeply and said to Riera.

“Haaah… Your sister… seems to have gotten her hands on something other than just the Siren’s Song. I used to be able to clearly see Sir Zeke’s location no matter how far away he was… but now he’s not visible at all.”

“…”

“…? Lady Riera?”

When Riera, sitting with her back against the wall, didn’t respond, Aria looked back. Seeing Riera staring at the ground, her head bowed deeply as if lost in thought, Aria shook Riera’s shoulder and said.

“Riera. You mustn’t fall asleep now.”

“…Ah, I’m sorry. For a moment… I lost myself in all sorts of thoughts… I didn’t know Eli would do such a thing… and I’m worried about Tiara and Melian…”

“I understand those feelings. I’m worried about Sir Zeke too.”

“Yes… Huh…? Yes? Wait… Holy Maiden-nim, what did you just…?”

Riera, who had been responding to Aria’s words about understanding her feelings, suddenly recalled what Aria had said and looked at her with a greatly surprised expression. At that moment, the bustling sounds of many people moving began to be heard from outside, and Riera, startled by the noise, sprang up and said.

“Wh-What?! What’s that sound…?!”

“What else? It’s the sound of your sister sending the people she’s controlling to eliminate me, the obstacle. Well… I did expect something like this. Now then… shall we find out what purpose that insolent fairy had in kidnapping Sir Zeke…?”

**Regarding the Author’s Current State**

…. Hmm… Hello. This is Photon, the author.

Well…. This time, I’m not posting to commemorate anything.

Uh…. To put it simply, my current state has started to become increasingly negative.

More simply put, my heart is turning negative.

All my novels, excluding ‘Dimensions,’ and even the story I’m currently writing, have started to shift towards a serious and sad atmosphere.

To match that atmosphere, I always play heavy and dark BGM while writing my novels….

Continuously listening to BGM that fits this mood seems to have brought about a change in my emotional state.

That’s why lately, both the work of revising my novels and writing new ones haven’t been going well, and I’ve started falling behind.

However, I can’t rest because of the strange stress that arises when I stop working on the story.

So, well…. I’m thinking of irregularly uploading one novel with a bright atmosphere, which is currently in ‘Dimensions’ Part 3.

For now, I’ll just create the work, and upload the chapters whenever I feel like it.

Anyway… if I get better, I’ll continue with the work I’m doing, but if this state persists, I’ll occasionally upload chapters of the new novel.

Of course, even if it’s a bright atmosphere, there might be dark parts in the middle.

Just like ‘Dimensions’… no, like all my stories.

So, well…. I sincerely apologize for having to show you this kind of message from an author who can’t even rest.

I’m truly sorry that the author is struggling due to their emotional state, even with a short message of only 5,000 characters.

….But I won’t stop publishing mid-series….!!

…. Oh, and the reason I posted this here, in ‘Black Saintess’ instead of the main ‘Dimensions’ series, is….

Because today is the chapter upload day for ‘Black Saintess’….