episode_0105

‘In other words, fighting is psychological warfare… Shaking your opponent’s mind is also part of the fight. And… that’s something you can master even if your physical abilities aren’t great… like Eli…!!’

I had just overheard Eli talking to Aria through an echo. That’s why I couldn’t help but be greatly astonished by the conversation I’d just eavesdropped on. Damn it… I didn’t know Eli would delve into Aria’s psychological weaknesses…

‘Of all things, Aria is still unstable when it comes to me… Even though I’ve encouraged Aria all this time, she’s still… still unsure of herself… Damn it…!!’

I resented that Eli had poked at what Aria still had in her heart, and I could do nothing but watch Eli disturb Aria’s mind. Thinking that Aria, who still believed her love for me was insufficient, would react sensitively even to Eli’s nonsensical words… My heart aches… It truly aches. Perhaps it’s because I’ve seen so much of Aria’s heartfelt efforts all this time…

“Haaah… Riera Unnie… I didn’t expect you to interfere with me like this… Encouraging the Saintess… It seems the Saintess is barely holding onto her will, which was broken because of me, thanks to your encouragement… Ah… this really isn’t going according to plan…”

‘…! Riera!! You, at least, have come to your senses…!! That’s a relief… And thank you…’

I was relieved and grateful that Riera had broken free from Eli’s control and encouraged Aria so she wouldn’t collapse. What Aria, whose mind was shaken, needed now was someone to encourage her… If it were me, the effect would have been immense… But even if someone, however little, could steady Aria’s mind… Aria would never give up… In that case, I too… I too must think of a way! I can’t stay bound like this forever!!’

I was relieved that Aria, even with her mind shaken, was barely holding on and searching for me. But I absolutely couldn’t rest easy. Because I didn’t know what Eli might do to Aria next… Now that I knew Eli had the ability to attack psychological weaknesses… I couldn’t just stand by…!!

‘Where… First, let’s figure out where I am… And my situation… Perhaps because of these ropes, no demonic energy is coming out at all… Even if I call Trahan, it’s useless since I’m bound. So… I need to search for a third option… A method that neither Eli, nor Aria, nor even I knew about… I need to think of it myself… What’s needed now is a reversal…!!’

Now, with Eli focused on Aria, is the chance. I closed my eyes and pondered, deeply pondered, what I could do here, and how I could break free from these restraints and help Aria. I couldn’t stop thinking…!! I had to struggle…!! I mustn’t give up; I had to struggle!!! While I was devising a way to escape this place without giving up, Aria was subduing the villagers who rushed at her.

“…I have to go to Zeke-nim. But… where on earth is he…?”

Even while subduing the villagers, Aria was trying to pinpoint Zeke’s location. But strangely, his location wasn’t detected even with her divine power, and Aria began to grow anxious. This was because of the fear that if she was too late after Eli’s psychological attack, she might truly lose Zeke to Eli.

‘No… I don’t want to be alone… I wish Zeke-nim wouldn’t leave me… But… was I truly lacking in resolve…? That fairy has already taken action to prevent anyone from taking Zeke-nim away… Me… I…’

“Ughhhhhhh….”

The moment Aria kept comparing herself to Eli, a villager raised a club and swung it at Aria. Aria struck the club away with her staff, then kicked the villager’s leg, tripping them, and muttered, sweating coldly.

“Am I… No… Is my love really weaker than that fairy’s…?”

“Oh my… So even the Saintess’s mind can become muddled after all. Well… I already knew that, though…”

Eli, who had heard Aria’s muttering through her ability, realized Aria’s current mental state and muttered with a bright smile. Damn it… Listening to that shameless laughter continuously makes my anger rise to my head…

‘No time for this… Aria might… her mind might break again… A way…!! Keep searching for a way…!!’

In fear of what Eli might do next, I began to rack my brain again. Meanwhile, Aria was confronting the adventurers being controlled by Eli. Aria dodged a swordsman’s swing, then powerfully struck his leg with her staff, breaking it and felling him. She then looked at the adventurers crowding around her and thought.

‘…There are too many of them. Normally, I’d simply kill them all… But if Zeke-nim saw that… he might be disappointed in me… I can’t do it… I can’t do it…!!’

It was a slaughter she could have easily carried out normally, but the anxiety that Zeke would be disappointed in her prevented Aria from acting rashly. Eli, noticing this from afar, spoke again through an echo.

“What are you agonizing over, Saintess? I can’t see you from here, so I have no idea what you’re thinking… Are you perhaps hesitating to slaughter them? Kyahaha!! Then you’ll die… Well, I’d prefer that, actually!!”

“…..”

“…? You answered just fine earlier, so why aren’t you answering this time? Have you decided not to listen to me anymore? Hehehe… Good. I didn’t want to hear your voice anyway.”

When Aria didn’t respond, Eli began to mock her. And I, listening from behind, began to grow anxious. Aria, with her strong will, didn’t answer? Damn it… That means she’s being mentally cornered…!! A way…!! A way…!! Something’s about to click…!!

“Well… it doesn’t matter. But… how are you going to figure out where the old man and I are? All this time, the adventurers and villagers under my control… will slowly tighten their grip on you. And you’ll eventually fall… This place is like a swamp, Saintess! And you’re sinking in it!!”

Eli mocked Aria, saying this place was a swamp. But Aria didn’t respond to Eli’s words, silently subduing the people. When magic flew at her, she put up a barrier to deflect it, and when a hammer flew at her, she struck it back with her staff. Yet, even in such fierce combat, Aria killed no one. Eli noticed this and began to ponder.

‘Hmmmm… It seems she really intends not to kill anyone. Her spirit doesn’t seem to have broken down to that extent… What should I do… I don’t know where else to poke to break her down now…’

Eli, frustrated that Aria’s mind wasn’t completely broken and thus not moving according to her plans, began to ponder again. Meanwhile, Aria struck the mage’s gnarled wooden staff with her own, rendering him unable to use magic, then kicked his leg, knocking him over.

“…..Gasp… gasp…. Why are there so many… If this keeps up, Zeke-nim will……”

She tried to grasp the fallen mage’s face to pinpoint the origin of the ability, but when that also failed, Aria grew increasingly anxious. Just then, as if a plan had struck her, Aria’s eyes flashed open. She took her hand from the mage’s face and slowly rose. Then, with chilling eyes, she looked at the people slowly approaching her and muttered.

“…Come to think of it… why was I subduing people…?”

“….!! Ha… haha…. Old man… It seems the Saintess’s mind has finally broken…!! The Saintess just resigned, asking why she was subduing people!!’”

“…!! What… what did you say?!”

When Eli reported Aria’s muttering, I lowered my head in great astonishment. Damn it… Was I too late after all…!! No… no! That can’t be…!! Aria has gone through so much internal conflict until now… So… it’s not over yet!!

“Alright, then… The Saintess will now kill peo… oh… ohh!?”

“!”

When Eli heard some sound and became greatly flustered, I immediately raised my head and smiled widely. Eli being so flustered means… that Aria isn’t moving according to Eli’s expectations, right?! Had my thought worked? Eli’s expression gradually began to darken. And Eli opened the window, looking out, and began to grow anxious.

‘What… Why on earth… can’t I control that one Saintess?! Ah… no… that Saintess… is making *that* kind of choice…?! That Saintess, who would clear all obstacles… is running away!!!’

No sound of impact, no sound of clash was heard, only the sound of something rapidly running. Eli realized Aria was fleeing and was greatly astonished. Meanwhile, Aria was indeed not fighting, only running at high speed. As she did, Aria was searching every building around her.

“Zeke-nim!!!”

If she found an empty building, she would swiftly slip out through a window to avoid her pursuers and search the next building. Eli, who was hearing all of this, was greatly flustered. Aria, who seemed like she would never flee, was now running away while searching for Zeke, making it impossible not to be bewildered.

“Da- Damn it… She’s avoiding the pursuers…?! That’s completely unexpected…?!”

‘….!! Aria had the same idea as me after all!! An idea that neither I, nor Eli, nor even she herself had considered!!’

At the news that Aria was fleeing while searching for me, I couldn’t help but smile brightly. Yes…!! Hope was beginning to appear! Aria was putting in this much effort… I couldn’t just stay still like this…!!

“Zeke-nim!!… Not here either…”

Even as I pondered my escape, Aria continued to search for me. Having searched half the village in an instant, Aria didn’t give up. This was because Aria had another objective.

‘Zeke-nim… Was I bothersome to you…? Recently, it bothered me that you looked at me with an awkward expression… Perhaps because of that fairy’s words, my heart feels so heavy… I’m so afraid to even ask… But… if I just stay still like this… that fairy will do many things Zeke-nim would dislike… So… if I save you… please tell me your true feelings… I will be ready for it…’

Perhaps Riera’s encouragement had worked, as Aria continued to search for Zeke, prepared for whatever she might hear from him later and whatever shock she might receive. After searching for Zeke for a long time, Aria…

“…You…”

“…Saintess.”

She found Melian sitting on a chair atop a hill, having outrun all her pursuers. Perhaps because she remembered her as the woman who had previously kidnapped Zeke, Aria remembered Melian, and Melian also remembered Aria, who had tortured her.

“…Are you also with that fairy?”

“…I… I tried to warn… Zeke… but… it was… too late…”

“…! Then… Zeke-nim… The place where Zeke-nim was kidnapped… surely it’s…”

At Melian’s words, Aria realized this was the place where Zeke had been kidnapped. Aria then gritted her teeth and approached Melian step by step. Then, Aria grabbed Melian by the collar and shouted.

“Why did you just let it happen!!! With your ability to move quickly, you could have protected Zeke-nim….. Huh…?”

The moment Aria was about to resent Melian for letting Zeke be kidnapped, Aria noticed Melian’s limbs fluttering like paper in the wind and was greatly flustered. No… that wasn’t all. Melian’s neck was also limply slumped. As Aria stared at her in great astonishment, Melian slowly began to speak.

“Because… because of your torture… I… I can’t… move… my body… well… I… became… crippled… So… I… couldn’t… protect… him…”

“…..”

When Melian said she couldn’t move her body well anymore and added that she was now crippled, Aria slowly lowered Melian. Then Melian looked at Aria and spoke.

“Your personality… has changed… a lot…”

“…Then why did you stay here…”

“…Now… I’m… crippled… So… I can’t… move… without… someone’s… help…”

When Melian said she couldn’t move by herself anymore, Aria was speechless. This was because she had already noticed Melian’s inability to move her mouth properly, and it was she herself who had made Melian this way.

“…Do you resent me?”

“…No… That’s… the price… for what… I did… So… I want… to apologize… to you… too.”

“…It’s alright. I no longer resent you…”

“Zeke’s location… I… know…”

“…!!! What did you say?!”

When Melian said she knew Zeke’s location, Aria said, greatly flustered. Then Melian stared intently at Aria’s face before slowly opening her mouth again.

“I’ll… tell… you… but… are you… alright? You… look… pale…”

“…..”

When even Melian saw through her mental state, Aria’s expression darkened, and she hung her head low. Then, when Aria let out a sob, Melian slowly began to speak again.

“You… In that state… how do you intend… to meet Zeke…”

“…I don’t know… I’m scared… Scared of knowing the truth…”

“…..”

Melian, realizing Aria was mentally weakened, stared blankly at the bowed Aria. Then, she turned her head to face forward again and spoke to Aria.

“Down the hill… there’s a house… outside… this village… You should… go quickly… It’s far… so… it’s better… to run… and find out… rather than… hesitating…”

“…..Understood…”

As Melian told her Zeke’s location and encouraged her, Aria stopped crying and wiped her eyes with her arm. Then, she swiftly headed down the hill, and as Aria’s previously unheard footsteps became audible again, Eli gritted her teeth fiercely.

“Damn it… How did the Saintess figure out this location…? She left the village without searching it…!! Damn it!!! How did she know!!”

Since there were no pursuers where Melian was, Eli, who hadn’t heard their conversation, had no idea what had happened. But she immediately took a deep breath to compose herself, then turned her head towards me with a wide smile.

“Old man~ It seems this place might be dangerous~ The Saintess seems to have gotten a feel for where this place is~ So let’s go hide somewhere else~”

“…..”

“Of course, even while we’re escaping, the Saintess won’t be able to pinpoint our location~ So rest assured…”

“Eli. This is your last warning. Release this right now. And remove the curses on the villagers and adventurers.”

“…Huh?”

When I suddenly gave a chilling warning, Eli, who had been acting cunning, was greatly flustered. Then I raised my head and glared at Eli with narrowed, angry eyes.