Merciless Judgment and Defying Fate

A merciless judgment soon embraced me, and a familiar voice reached my ears.

"Sorry... I was too late, wasn't I?"

A warm golden light flowed from her into me, letting me realize she was healing me. With my face buried in her bosom, I didn't even need to check—it was Vanessa. Her embrace was so warm.

"Now, relax, dear."

But just as I was about to fully let go of my tension, the name Catherine flashed back into my mind.

"!!"

Desperate to warn Vanessa that this place wasn't safe, I lifted my head—and what entered my sight was Catherine, already struck by something, flying backward with serious injuries.

Yet soon... she cloaked herself in black clumps from who-knows-where and began regenerating her body. A leisurely expression crept back onto her blood-soaked face, her cold gaze turning toward us.

"...Heh, heheh... Heh, hehe..."

Only then did Vanessa release me.

"Wait just a moment. It'll be over soon."

She turned toward Catherine. A voice thick with hatred rang out from her.

"...Merciless blood inquisitor... Vanessa... Gray, Lirieta..."

"It's been so long since I heard it, I'd almost forgotten... There's still someone who remembers that epithet."

"How many precious church lives did you murder... You couldn't have forgotten."

"Precious... Do the likes of you even understand the value of life?"

The next instant, the fight began. Vanessa charged first.

"!!"

A golden mace had appeared in her hand, swung mercilessly at her foe. Countless golden spears of light rained from the sky, bursting with dazzling radiance.

"Vanessa!!!"

Black clumps surged up to counter the light, blue flames roaring to devour her. But the battle flowed one-sidedly.

Vanessa overwhelmed Catherine with sheer power and ruthlessness, tormenting her without mercy.

...Sister Vanessa?

This wasn't the Vanessa I knew. She seemed... cold-hearted. A little scary.

Her heavy blow slammed into Catherine next. Catherine tumbled to the ground again, a golden spear buried deep in her chest.

"Kuhk!"

Vanessa approached slowly to end it.

"U-um! Sister Vanessa..."

I called out without thinking, trying to stop her.

"That kid... she's possessed by an Al Sar cultist. She was... like me, forcibly dragged into the church."

But Vanessa didn't stop.

"I'm sorry, dear. If her consciousness is wiped and her body's taken over, there's no saving her. We can't show heretics even a shred of mercy—or let our guard down."

She raised her mace to finish it... then paused briefly.

"Teresa."

"Yes?"

"Close your eyes for a bit."

I understood and quietly shut them.

Crackle—

The bursting sound in my ears told me it was over.

On the way back to the monastery, piggybacked on her... she asked nothing. I wanted to know how much she knew, why she hadn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠told me... but I couldn't ask.

For today, just staying in her arms like this... didn't seem so bad.

Exhaustion brought sleep.

... .. .

When I came to, I slowly looked around. The room mixed the fresh scent of drying herbs with faint disinfectant. Shelves held neat rows of glass bottles and rolled bandages; the wall icon glowed softly in the morning sun. A breeze rustled the thin white curtain.

The usual Berna Monastery ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠infirmary.

Déjà vu...?

Maybe I could call this my room now.

Turning to the bedside... As expected, Marie sat in a chair, slumped over my bed, breathing evenly in sleep.

"(Marie, asleep?)"

I whispered her name and poked her chubby cheeks.

"...Uh, kyaha..."

A weird sleep-mumble and cute shiver—yep, out cold.

"...Sigh~"

Finally exhaling deeply, I glared at the system window floating indifferently before me.

Yesterday's events replayed in my head. What stuck out... was the system window reacting, even talking to me.

And this thing knew a ton...

Especially timing the countdown for Sister Vanessa's arrival—it knew she was coming to help.

How much I suffered yesterday! If it'd told me upfront she was coming, I wouldn't have struggled like that! Just stall for time!

Almost wasted the precious amulet... didn't use it, but...

If you know stuff, just tell me!?

Unlike yesterday, no response.

Hmph, answered fine then... silent now? Really not gonna reply?

No reaction. I checked the window everywhere—nothing odd.

...Just special yesterday?

A bit disappointing.

Mysterious vibe? Or it said it'd help but watched me suffer like some pervert...?

There! It reacted to my thoughts! So it's been reading my mind all along!? No reactions till now!?

Felt indignant.

Fine... reply now and I'll forgive you... say something~ Got lots to ask!

I prodded it more, but nothing.

Sneaky jerk... ignoring me even now!? While reading my every thought!?

Finally, I gave up, feeling miffed.

Tch, whatever... do what you want... rotten thing... guy? Or girl?

Tongue-clicking, I turned back to the quest window.

→ 【YES】

Trembling slightly from nerves, I firmly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠selected yes.

Notifications flooded the screen.

Yesterday drove home how weak I was.

I want to get stronger.

Frustration and injustice welled up.

I have to get stronger.

I didn't know what lay ahead... but I never wanted to be dragged helplessly like yesterday again.

Tch...

Calming down, I poked sleeping Marie's cheeks for no reason.

"...Uh, hehe... Ji, ma..."

Cute as ever.

...Hmm, but... next Main Quest needs total stats 60+? That's kinda high... gonna take time...

Sighing deeply again in frustration, I dismissed the notifications.

"Sigh~"

Next, I opened my status to check the new trait from the quest.

Please... let it be good.

I hoped it'd rival something busted like Apostle of the Evil God.

Long and hard to grasp... but it felt amazing.

"Mmmnya..."