Chapter 133
Chapter 133
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: Olga Virtus #02
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"Did you see that? This is how you handle things."
In the office of the Heavenly Realm's Terrestrial Countermeasures Headquarters, where computers never went dark, a white-haired angel puffed up with pride as he showed off what he'd just entered.
"Fallen Angel Arkrael! This violates the manual! A quest targeting a specific individual and pushing them away? And a quest with nothing but penalties—it wouldn't even be valid!"
"Hmph! That's why you've all kept failing! Five regressions just to subjugate a mere defeated Demon King? It's all because of your lax attitude!"
After Sardiel had been demoted for her previous abuse of authority, the one newly assigned to manage Arthin's status window was Fallen Angel Arkrael.
'At first, I thought it was great that he pursued efficient, emotionless processing...!'
Zetael couldn't hide his shock at Arkrael's arrogant expression as he manipulated Arthin's actions. There were countless manuals on status windows, but this angel was brazenly breaking one of the unbreakable rules.
"Wh-what if he actually refuses the quest? Are you planning to force a regression? That tramples on the reincarnator's free will!"
Sardiel might not have been the best superior, but at least she'd immersed herself in Karen and Arthin's lives, cheering them on sincerely, crying and laughing with them.
Her attitude sometimes led her to bend rules with personal feelings involved, but even Zetael, who advised against it, had secretly felt a thrill of satisfaction at times.
"Who cares? Are you saying the Goddess's believers should suffer just for the free will of one or two people? If anything, letting them run wild this long has been the Goddess's mercy enough."
But this new Fallen Angel was different. Unlike Sardiel and Zetael, who had empathized deeply through endless observation, this man saw them as mere game pieces.
"Kaiyen aside, that guy Arthin is utterly repulsive. Five regressions just to clear the tutorial? How long will it take to subjugate the Demon King at this rate?"
"Even so, if that's the natural process, we should be a system that watches it unfold, issues trials, and gives appropriate rewards! Controlling him like this isn't what the Goddess wants!"
"Controool? This is guidance! Instruction to lead that foolish mortal! Revelation!"
—Snap!
Arkrael unfurled a baton from somewhere and began poking Zetael's forehead with it.
"Ow! What are you doing?!"
"Punishing an incompetent subordinate, obviously. Do you have any idea how twisted the causality has become because of my predecessor and you?"
"Th-that's...!"
"It wouldn't be strange to force a regression and wipe his memories right now! You think I'd do this if I really wanted to force it? I'm just cleaning up after you and that useless predecessor!"
Zetael clenched his fists in frustration, but he had no retort. Sardiel had deviated from the manual several times, leaving causality on a knife's edge.
"Does the world end if Arthin doesn't fool around with the Saintess? From now on, I'll strictly control him to subjugate the Demon King. He already has plenty of women—after the Demon King dies, he can enjoy glory and riches on his own."
"...Even so, that's...!"
"Quiet! If Arthin tries to refuse, I'll use Kaiyen to stop him, so prepare the status window. This is all for the Goddess! To fulfill the greater good!"
Zetael wasn't given a chance to argue.
He wanted to smash the back of Arkrael's head as the angel set down the baton and turned back to the monitor, but as a regular low-rank angel, even a full-force strike wouldn't faze him. Unlike Sardiel, Arkrael wouldn't just take it—he'd crush Zetael in return.
'...This isn't right. If we don't fix it now...!'
But Zetael, who knew the stories of the Saintess and Arthin, couldn't just stand by. Was there any way?
'...Right, if I can't...'
Zetael glanced at Arkrael warily, sat at his station, and began typing on the keyboard. Arkrael shot him a glance and smirked with satisfaction, scoffing through his nose.
"See? You'll do as I say anyway, so why the pointless rebellion? Act like the low-rank angel you are and obey your supe—"
Annoying bastard. For the first time since becoming an angel, Zetael inwardly cursed with words he couldn't utter aloud, but instead of the status window, he started sending a message via the Heavenly Messenger.
The message, detailing the situation and Arkrael's tyranny, didn't go to the Heavenly Audit Team. That massive bureaucracy would take too long to mobilize, and it'd be too late by then.
But this angel would react faster and fiercer than anyone, surely helping Arthin, Kaiyen, and the Saintess.
'Please don't be asleep or drunk...!'
*
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Quest content has been updated. "...Hic, what is it?"
In a dim room, a blue-haired angel, clad only in underwear and dozing off while watching mortal cartoons, snapped awake at the alert sound.
"Huh, a text? Who'd message me...? I paid the card bill, right?"
Too lazy to get up, she stretched her arm, barely snagging the phone with her fingertips. Grinning triumphantly, she lit up the screen and checked the message.
"...What the fuck is this shit?"
Crunch!
In a burst of rage, the phone shattered instantly, but that was trivial.
"Daring to manipulate and toy with my kids that I raised?!"
As the angel clapped, a pristine white suit she hadn't worn since her disciplinary action enveloped her. Behind her ordinary-looking form, four wings unfurled in a brilliant glow, reclaiming her divine authority.
"I won't forgive this...!! Absolutely unforgivable...!!!"
It was the unofficial return of Fallen Angel Sardiel.
**
What the hell is this...?
Right after reading the quest, my frozen mind began to churn forcibly. It had no choice.
...Refuse Olga's proposal? Reject her love?
I'd just felt her love for me, so I was confused, but the quest window's content was even more baffling.
Until recently, the quests had seemed to egg me on toward building a harem.
It even taunted me like as if you could pull off a harem, offering ridiculous titles as rewards, yet it consistently demanded my growth into a man worthy of those women.
But this quest window... not only was its tone different, it threatened to force a regression—effectively kill me—if I didn't obey.
...Why? Other women were fine, so why only Olga?
Because she's the Saintess, called the Goddess's proxy? Because in the original story, she sacrifices herself to open the path to the Demon King's castle? Does the world demand she remain alone and sacrifice until the end?
...That's...
I slowly looked at Olga.
Her usual relaxed demeanor was gone. Instead, her eyes trembled with anxiety—an expression of Olga's I'd never seen before.
"...I'm sorry. I wanted to show you only my perfect side, I had to... but I let my weakness slip out..."
Olga squeezed her eyes shut in despair, then shook her head, murmuring apologies.
It was strange. What did she have to apologize for to me? What had she done wrong?
"I tried not to love you... I tried to hide my feelings... but I couldn't..."
Maybe this was a dream, like last night's hazy one. Olga crying? She'd wept for others, but never shown her own vulnerability.
"...But this is my true heart. Please, run away with me, Arthin... We've both suffered too much already..."
"..."
I couldn't rashly respond to Olga, who gripped my hand and shoulder tightly.
The status window said it would kill me if I didn't reject her and keep my distance.
Forced regression—like this regression—would that be the end?
No.
Seeing it try to control me with such harsh penalties now, it might do the same forever. Was I prepared to sacrifice this life to accept Olga's love?
...No.
Olga was telling me to abandon everything and start anew together. But could I?
Olga knew I was dating Agnes. She might even know about Violet or Shaomei.
Was I ready to face death and forsake everything for just one woman, Olga?
...No.
I wasn't.
Shaomei, who from the 1st regression gave up the academy to follow me and was first to restore my memories.
Violet, my closest friend from the 2nd regression, who loved even my trivial flaws.
Agnes, my first lover, who supported my mad quest to the Demon King's castle, cheered me on, and waited until the world's end.
Unicorn, who vowed to stay with me even forsaking her identity.
And Sion, Al'Miraz, Sirka—abandoning them all was too hard for me.
...
If I refuse, reject Olga, deny her love... I lose nothing.
...Really? Nothing at all?
At that moment, I chuckled bitterly inside. I despised myself for even thinking it briefly.
I remember.
Olga's sad face as she came alone to the religious tribunal's underground prison to save me, defying the Pope.
Her bright smile whenever she looked at me, no matter the hardship.
Her innocent request to practice love letters on me, telling me not to misunderstand.
The first time she opened her heart, how her awkward smile bloomed into a real one.
"I..."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Quest content has been updated. Quest: Refuse Olga's request and reject her love. Quest Failure: Forced Regression, Memory Wipe, Privilege Removal ...As I opened my mouth, the quest updated again.
As if telling me not to try any tricks.
'...Memory wipe, privilege removal...'
Back to when no one remembered me. Restarting all relationships from scratch.
—That terrified me more than dying by fire after dozens of tortures. This moment was too precious.
Seeing the status window, my resolve hardened.
"I—"