Demon Cosplay (2)
Demon Cosplay (2)
When she opened her eyes, a familiar notification window greeted her.
[Memory of January, Imperial Year 993]
[Remaining Time: 5:00]
Olivia surveyed her surroundings first.
Shacks with walls crudely erected from wooden planks crowded every direction.
The alley was so narrow that two adult men could not pass through side by side.
'This is...'
Olivia realized where she was in an instant.
A slum near the Holy Kingdom.
"...Sister?"
Olivia collected herself and stared ahead. Countless sick people stood in line before her, waiting their turn.
'...Mm.'
She remembered.
How she had farmed Rebekah's Favorability.
"I'll come again tomorrow, so don't overexert yourself until then. Alright, next!"
Rebekah was seated right beside her. Wrapped in a thick robe to conceal her identity, she was healing the sick without a moment's rest.
Raising Rebekah's Favorability wasn't difficult.
You just had to help her out. That was all.
'It's just that it was disgustingly hard.'
You had to treat hundreds of people a day. Ordinary levels of mana wouldn't even dare to attempt it.
'Which is why I only met her in 993.'
Unless you specialized entirely in that field, you needed to be at least Archmage-class to treat hundreds without exhaustion.
Olivia stole a glance at Rebekah.
[Rebekah]
- Level: 93
- Favorability: 50
- Class: Saintess
- Titles: The Faithful, The Miracle Worker, The Light in the Darkness.
'Favorability at 50...'
It seemed like a few months had passed since they first met.
'So it's similar to Kiel's case?'
Back then, his Favorability was also around 50, so it probably matched up.
Anyway...
[Remaining Time: 3:40]
She had done practically nothing, yet time had already ticked away that much.
'...At this rate, I'm going to blow it like last time.'
While keeping an eye on her surroundings, Olivia murmured to herself.
'Switch to Spectator Mode.'
Then.
She felt as though her body had floated upward.
[You are currently in Spectator Mode.]
- Remaining uses: 4
'Oh, so that's how it works.'
Seeing things from a third-person perspective and the timer pausing while spectating perfectly matched the experience with Melina.
There was just one difference: time passed fully, without any fast-forwarding.
- Don't get hurt again. Alright, next.
- Come over here too. Where does it hurt?
It was a strange feeling.
'So I was like that in the Genocide Run.'
'Olivia' was also wearing the exact same robe as Rebekah. It was to hide her identity as well.
- Big Sis.
That was why Rebekah called Olivia 'Big Sis': to make them look like ordinary sisters.
Of course, this was a secret only the two of them knew.
"...Hmm."
While spectating them for ten minutes, Olivia came to a realization.
'Seems like it could work?'
As expected, 'Olivia' was practically the embodiment of good.
'There's absolutely no way I can make her the victim.'
While she could make Rebekah aware that she had two selves, turning her into a tragic heroine seemed impossible even unto death.
Olivia's deliberation was brief.
'I'll go with the original plan.'
If she couldn't be tragic, she just had to become a complete villain and pin it all on herself.
Of course, she had no intention of becoming a common villain.
Evil had its own methods.
'First, let's settle the titles.'
*****
The outskirts of the Holy Kingdom.
Guardian Knight Franz was pacing around with an anxious face. It was because Rebekah hadn't returned, even though her 'volunteer service' hours had long since passed.
She hadn't gone outside the outer walls.
Rebekah had headed to the slum located to the northwest of the kingdom. No matter how devout the Holy Kingdom's leadership was, the division between rich and poor was inevitable in a hierarchical society.
That was why the system of relieving the poor through voluntary service had been created.
Even clergy of bishop rank went out for service regularly, so it would be strange for someone as high-ranking as the Saintess, Rebekah, not to do service. However...
'She goes too often. That's the problem.'
It was no exaggeration to say she practically lived in the slum.
It was a good deed, true. That couldn't be denied. But Franz had good reason to worry.
That volunteer service wasn't as simple as it sounded. Healing the sick, nursing them, listening to their confessions...
It wasn't just one or two things to do.
On top of that, Rebekah did all of this while concealing her status as the Saintess. That was also why she kept him at a distance.
He understood. If she revealed her status as the Saintess, a crowd would swarm in an instant, and she might not be able to help those truly in need.
'Even so...'
It was then. A familiar voice could be heard from afar.
Franz turned around, his face brightening. A girl wrapped in a thick robe was walking toward him. Though her face was hidden in shadow and hard to see, it wasn't to the point where he couldn't recognize her.
"And so I..."
Rebekah was conversing with a woman in a similar robe. It was someone Franz also knew.
Olivia.
The youngest 'Archmage' from the Empire.
Though it was an era of peace, Franz understood the meaning of the title Archmage better than anyone. Beings capable of controlling the lives of thousands with a single spell.
The Pope must have known this too, which was why he assigned Franz, one of the Four Holy Knights, as the Saintess's escort.
For protection, and also to monitor an Archmage affiliated with the Empire.
"You were quite late, Lady Rebekah."
"...I'm sorry, Franz."
"Aiding the poor is good, but you know it means nothing if you miss afternoon Mass."
Franz, who had been about to say one more thing to the deeply bowing Rebekah, hesitated.
- Before she is the Saintess, she is a child.
It was because of what Olivia had told him a few days ago.
'...Hnngh.'
After a moment of hesitation, Franz spoke.
"...Still, you did well."
"...Pardon?"
"I meant that you finished earlier than last time."
Seeing Rebekah's eyes go wide, Franz's eyebrows twitched.
Franz glanced at Olivia.
Olivia gave off just as much of a benevolent impression as Rebekah.
Of course, if only her appearance had been polished, Franz would never have opened his heart to her.
It was a judgment he'd arrived at after observing her with his own two eyes over the past few months.
This woman was a good mage.
What kind of mage would treat thousands of patients 'free of charge'? At least, none that Franz knew of.
Franz turned away and cleared his throat.
"Anyway, follow me. We'll be late for Mass at this rate."
Franz took the lead, with Rebekah and Olivia following behind.
'...Would this be okay?'
Sizing up the distance from Franz, Rebekah whispered in a small voice.
"...Lady Olivia."
At those words, Olivia turned her head.
A serene smile.
Seeing that smile always made Rebekah feel good.
"What did you say to Franz for me?"
Franz was a man of few words. Where in the world was there a holy knight who wasn't rigid? But Franz was especially taciturn, even among them.
The fact that such a man had praised her must have meant there had been some change of heart.
Olivia lightly stroked Rebekah's hair. At the warm touch, Rebekah smiled brightly.
"That's right."
"Why did you do that?"
"Because if you did well, you deserve to be praised."
"But... I didn't start doing this to be praised."
Olivia thought for a moment before speaking.
"Still, it makes you feel good. Doesn't it?"
"...Yes."
It was true.
Who could possibly hate receiving sincere praise?
Rebekah had always believed good deeds should be done in secret, but actually receiving praise had changed her mind.
'It feels like a reward.'
She knew she shouldn't expect compensation, but she felt Aether would forgive her for just this much.
Rebekah liked Olivia.
She had never had an older sister, so she couldn't say for sure, but she guessed this was what it would feel like.
How should she put it? She felt at ease when they were together.
'Even though it's only been a few months since we met.'
That was why the fact that they'd soon part felt even more regretful. Olivia, who wasn't affiliated with the Order, couldn't attend evening Mass.
Even though they met daily, it was a shame, and there was nothing she could do.
The group soon arrived at the Cathedral.
'...Even though I walked as slowly as possible.'
Rebekah pouted in secret.
The only time they could meet privately was during their volunteer service in the slum.
As the Saintess, Rebekah had a tightly packed schedule every single day, and Olivia was no different.
Rebekah took a deep breath, forcing herself to quell the regret.
It was time to part.
"So, Lady Olivia. Shall we meet tomorrow as well...?"
"Just a moment, Saintess."
Olivia cut her off.
"Sir Franz. How many minutes remain before Mass begins?"
"About three minutes."
"Then could you give us just one minute? There's something important I need to say."
Franz frowned.
"That is beyond my authority..."
"Franz."
"...Yes, Saintess."
"Just one minute."
"..."
Silence flowed.
In the end, the winner was Rebekah.
"Just one minute, exactly."
The moment Franz closed the door and left, Rebekah's expression bloomed brightly.
"What is the matter?"
Olivia stroked Rebekah's head as she spoke.
"Rebekah."
"Yes."
"My little sister."
"Uh, uhh...?"
Rebekah's eyes flew open.
Though she had been the first to call Olivia 'Big Sis,' the reverse had never happened before.
On top of that, even the address 'Big Sis' was only supposed to be used during volunteer work...
"Do you hate it if I call you little sister?"
Rebekah clamped her mouth shut and shook her head frantically.
There was no way she could hate it.
No, she had secretly dreamed of it.
"But..."
"I-it was just so sudden..."
"So you do hate it."
Urk. The sound escaped her involuntarily.
"Alright, if you hate it, I can't help it."
Olivia removed her hand from Rebekah's head. Rebekah sighed without realizing it.
"..."
In that fleeting moment, Rebekah had thousands of thoughts.
There was nothing wrong with calling Olivia 'Big Sis' in itself.
But if she did that...
The door burst open.
"Saintess, you must go now."
Franz had opened the door and entered.
"W-we're still..."
"No, we are finished. Thank you for your precious time."
Olivia spoke with a gentle smile.
"Saint-ess."