Chapter 90
Chapter 90
Episode 90
Olivia Blue remembered.
The result of her reckless actions. What disaster had occurred.
-Won't you come play?
-No, thank you.
-Why the sudden formality?
-...Because you're the Saintess.
-I don't like that...
Olivia explicitly expressed her refusal, but Arietta still clung to her.
It was understandable, as she was the only child of the same age.
But Olivia couldn't help but get angry every time she saw the immature Arietta.
Olivia subconsciously harbored a sense of rivalry towards Arietta.
'Why is someone like her the Saintess?'
She was shallow and only liked to play.
And yet, she was several times more skilled than Olivia, who worked hard every day.
Wasn't it truly unfair?
Olivia didn't know about Arietta's penances, but in her younger days, she couldn't help but think that way.
She was trapped in a sense of superiority, believing that only she was undergoing penance and others were not.
And so time passed.
The day came for Arietta to acquire the qualifications of a high priestess.
Even then, Olivia harbored hostility towards Arietta.
She was still just an ordinary priestess, but she thought Arietta was receiving the qualifications of a high priestess simply because she was the Saintess.
Therefore, she interfered with the test Arietta had to take.
Because she thought it would clearly be just a formality.
She wanted to expose it.
-Ugh...
When she was surrounded by a naturally occurring horde of spirits, Olivia finally understood.
The qualification test was being conducted in a perfectly legitimate way.
It wasn't Arietta who was immature, but Olivia herself.
-Sniff...
She sobbed.
She loathed her own foolishness.
She loathed her incompetence, unable to do anything properly.
She loathed her usual behavior of not recognizing the goodwill of others as goodwill and harboring only distrust.
She loathed thinking that self-imposed penance was the way to atone.
-I should have died then!
Yes, it would have been better then.
Instead of escaping the kingdom, she should have fought and died.
Then she wouldn't have had to suffer like this.
She wouldn't have disappointed the people who believed in and supported her.
-It would have been better then!
-But wouldn't it have been better to be alive? If you die, you can't even meet the people you want to meet.
-....
Only then did Olivia notice the person looking at her.
Arietta Domine.
She had found Olivia faster than any other priest.
Her priest's robe was soaked in sweat, and she was breathing heavily, as if out of breath.
Her skin, visible through the priest's robe, was covered in scratches, as if she had been running through the trees.
-Saintess...?
She certainly didn't look like someone who should be called a Saintess.
-Call me Arietta.
-Can't you call me that when we're alone? We're friends. There shouldn't be any secrets between us~
-Ah. Ari, ...Saintess.
But even so, Olivia couldn't help but call her that.
Because she had that kind of presence.
-Tsk...
But Arietta clicked her tongue, as if sulking at Olivia's answer, perhaps not feeling fear even in the midst of these spirits.
-Why me?
-The Saintess, you see, has to save even strangers. But if she saves strangers, she can't not save a friend, right?
Olivia was speechless.
Even though she had put up a wall and rejected her, Arietta still considered Olivia a friend.
Olivia felt guilty at her bright attitude.
-Wh-what about the others?
-I don't think they'll be able to get here anytime soon.
Olivia's face turned pale at Arietta's words.
It wasn't an environment where two children could last long.
They were currently protected by a divine power barrier, but the horde of spirits would soon break through it.
-Th-then what?
-What, you said it was better to die earlier, but now you want to live?
-Ah...
Olivia lowered her head at Arietta's playful words.
She loathed herself.
But Arietta approached Olivia and said,
-That's normal.
Olivia looked up at Arietta. Her mint-colored eyes seemed to see right through her heart.
-But because of me...!
Her supporters all disbanded due to her powerlessness.
Among them, some were purged because they couldn't escape in time.
She couldn't repay the trust they had placed in her, a trust worth risking their lives for.
That was her original sin.
-I told you then, didn't I? That I would forgive your sins in God's name.
But Arietta looked at Olivia and said.
They were the same words as before, but for some reason, they carried a different weight.
-God doesn't forgive sins. If it was truly something that could be called a sin, the law would have judged it.
-But there are people who commit sins and aren't judged.
-Isn't it our role to question their judgment?
Arietta held Olivia's trembling hand with both of hers.
Olivia, as if forgetting how warm human touch could be, unconsciously clasped her hand.
-There are people who commit sins and aren't judged. Conversely, there are people who haven't committed sins but think they have.
-....
-Olivia. Then who can forgive your sins?
She didn't know.
At least, Olivia thought it was God.
She thought that if she diligently performed penance, God would hear her prayers and forgive her sins.
-Your sins have already been forgiven. God doesn't look at your sins, and I, God's representative, have forgiven your sins.
-Then why am I still suffering like this?
Instead of answering, Arietta spread her divine power, illuminating the surroundings.
The spirits gathered around hesitated for a moment and retreated from the white light.
-It's normal to want to live, Olivia. You didn't need to push yourself like that.
-....
-Your sins have already been forgiven by me. Now you just have to forgive yourself. If you can't...
The light was bright.
But the horde of spirits that had gathered strangely was far darker than that. Arietta's light was like a lamp submerged in darkness.
It was precarious, as if it could go out at any moment.
-Go apologize directly to the people you think you wronged.
But that light would not go out.
『I offer.』
Arietta sang a hymn for the ritual. It wasn't a ritual for promotion to a high priestess.
It was the Saintess's oath to offer everything she had to God.
『May the two legs that approached for someone's sake become pillars to support their legs.』
The moment she uttered that phrase, Arietta began to falter.
It was difficult to maintain her balance.
She had offered her stamina and free movement to God.
『I offer.』
But as if that wasn't enough, Arietta raised her voice.
『May my light be granted to them so that I can show others the hope I held in my two eyes.』
And at that moment.
Arietta's eyes lost their light.
And the spirits that had gathered strangely all vanished.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Olivia was looking at Arietta, whose eyes were gently closed.
-Where are you?
-Here, I'm here...
Olivia knew that Arietta could no longer see.
It was because of her.
Because of her immature actions, Arietta had become an adult too soon.
-Take this.
While Olivia was blaming herself, Arietta reached out to her.
Olivia respectfully received it with both hands.
-This is...
-I won't be able to run like before.
It was the hair tie Arietta had always used to tie her hair.
It could be said to be an item that symbolized her vitality.
She had run around everywhere with that hair tie.
-I-I...
-Yes, Olivia.
-I will be your legs, Saintess.
-You don't have to. It's enough if you just run as much as I can't.
-No, I... I will definitely... become the legs that can take you where you want to go, Saintess.
-Hmm... Alright.
Arietta, perhaps realizing she couldn't break Olivia's stubbornness, scratched her cheek and agreed.
And so, Olivia found her true faith.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Olivia untied her hair tie, reminiscing about the past.
It was the proof of the oath she received then.
"Olivia..."
"We promised not to lie to our hearts when we're alone."
A childhood promise.
Even so, Olivia had never called Arietta casually until now, but it was different now.
Now, she had to act as her friend, as a witness to the oath they shared.
"But..."
Arietta hesitated.
What Olivia was saying was sophistry.
Weren't there already numerous [Shield of Light] members around?
Yet, Olivia didn't care. And the [Shield of Light] members remained silent, as if to respect Olivia's wishes.
It meant that the conversation from now on was solely between the two of them.
"The energetic girl I know named Arietta was someone who wanted to do many things."
"...."
"She was a tomboy who loved to run around and play."
Olivia placed her hair tie on Arietta's hand.
The day Arietta lost many things. The day she had no choice but to lose them.
The very moment Olivia promised to be her feet.
It was the hair tie she had received from Arietta for that oath.
"Tell me, Arietta. If it were you back then, before you gave up on so many things... What would you want to do now?"
"Olivia..."
Arietta felt the texture of the hair tie on her hand and then answered, as if sobbing.
"I want to run to Oz."
"Yes."
"I want to save him..."
"Yes..."
"Please, Olivia... Save Oz so he doesn't die."
"Yes, I will be your legs. That's a promise."
Olivia took the hair tie back from Arietta and began to neatly tie her hair.
It was a contrasting image to the [Shield of Light] members who had pulled down their helmets.
"Listen, Shield of Light."
Olivia declared to the [Shield of Light] members, burning with fighting spirit, while tying her hair.
"There's no one here foolish enough to think they can't carry out the Saintess's orders just because I'm not here, right?"
Thump!
Instead of answering, the [Shield of Light] members parted their formation, creating a path.
It was the place where Oz had fallen.
They were boldly declaring that Olivia's absence wouldn't be a problem.
"Then I'll be back."
And then Olivia threw herself into the gap.
Her blue hair began to flow against the black wave of undead, carving a path.
"Hmm..."
Pied was watching Olivia's advance.
He understood the flow of events. Normally, he should have stopped her.
The [Successor of the Mage king] was definitely a strong enemy, and it would be best to defeat him when possible.
"Still, just a mere human."
Even so, Pied didn't pay Olivia more attention than necessary.
He merely used the surrounding undead to obstruct her movements.
But he didn't send many.
At most, it was just to buy a little time. But that was enough.
Pied knew Olivia wasn't a special human.
She was a member of a group, but not the material to become a hero of the battlefield.
Therefore...
"Grrrrr..."
Even if he was near death, Gigantes couldn't possibly be defeated by her.
"Ugh...?!"
By the time Olivia, whose ankles had been caught by the undead Pied had deployed, reached Oz's side, Gigantes had already arrived.
If Gigantes just reached out, she and Oz would be caught. Escape was impossible.
Olivia, facing Gigantes head-on, was overwhelmed, even though he was tattered.
'Even respect I didn't have is forming.'
Oz must have fought that monster when it was in perfect condition. He must have fought and pushed it that far.
Then what about herself? Did she have the capacity to defeat that monster?
"Phew..."
No, she didn't.
Inflicting wounds on that monster was impossible with her crude sword skills.
Conversely, even if she raised her shield to protect Oz, she clearly wouldn't last long.
Therefore, Olivia straightened her posture even more.
"There's not much I can do, but I can't back down now."
Gripping her shield with both hands, she stood in front of Gigantes.
She couldn't defeat the opponent. It would be difficult to even block him.
There was that much of a difference.
But that didn't mean she could retreat. She was Arietta's legs, and she had an obligation to step in the direction those legs wanted.
She wouldn't last long?
"That's enough."
Then her role was to buy that little bit of time.
"Hmm..."
Pied, while observing Arietta and the [Shield of Light], glanced at Olivia.
She certainly wasn't hero material.
But...
"She has guts..."
She was holding on.