This Is All Your Fault (2)
This Is All Your Fault (2)
'Lose them again?'
After Olivia vanished, Rebekah stood there blankly for a long time.
Among the clergy, there was no one who didn't know that Rebekah had lost her parents.
But only a very few knew how Rebekah's parents had died.
At most, the Four Holy Knights and His Holiness the Pope.
Yet Olivia had spoken as though she knew the detailed inside story.
No—as though she knew something no one could possibly know without having been there.
Rebekah's hands trembled violently.
But it wasn't fear. It was rage.
'...'
Only then did she realize. Why she had trembled in fear upon seeing Olivia moments ago. It must have been the terror of that day, buried deep in her unconscious, resurfacing.
No matter how much she thought about it, no other possibility existed.
'...Just how long has it been?'
This place was land blessed by Aether, the Goddess of Light.
No matter how powerful a demon, even one of the four great demons who ruled the Demon World, manifesting within the Sanctuary was impossible.
Its body would instantly burn and be annihilated.
But Olivia had not burned.
'Which means...'
The demon had not yet completely devoured Olivia's mind.
Rebekah glanced at her watch, bit her lip until it stung, and headed for the papal offices.
*****
[You are currently spectating 'Saintess Rebekah'.]
[Remaining spectation uses: 4]
I'd worried my act might be seen through, but fortunately, Rebekah had swallowed it without a hitch.
From the moment I sat down in the dining hall until I teleported back outside.
Apart from a single switch I'd made partway through to refresh the mood, everything from start to finish had been Olivia's performance. Including swearing on my mana.
'Now I just have to wait until midnight, right?'
The remaining time was roughly ten minutes.
Far too little time to change someone's perception, but more than enough to prod someone who had already reached a certain conviction.
- Saintess? What brings you here?
- Your Holiness. I have a question.
I'd wondered why she was going to the papal offices, and it seemed she wanted to see the Pope.
Rebekah's face was full of conviction.
The conviction that the Pope would be able to resolve her current doubts.
Olivia decided to observe the situation a little more closely.
"A question?"
"Yes. I want to ask... about a demon."
The Pope, who had been reading Scripture, flinched. He set down his magnifying glass and gazed at Rebekah steadily. His gaze was tender, like a grandfather looking at his granddaughter.
"Rebekah."
"Yes, Your Holiness."
"I shall trust that you have agonized over this enough, and deliberated enough, before coming to speak of it."
Rebekah nodded.
"But before that, let me ask a few things. Has the Empire's Archmage been inciting you?"
"...No."
"Then what did she say to the Saintess?"
"Not that either."
The Pope looked surprised.
"Then did you come before me purely by your own will?"
"...Yes."
At that, the Pope's eyes widened slightly.
He regarded Rebekah with a far more serious expression than before.
"Then my final question. Do you truly wish to know the full account of that day?"
"Yes. I do."
The Pope spoke to a paladin standing to his right.
"Sir Johan."
"Yes, Your Holiness."
"Hand the Saintess the records."
"...Yes."
Johan handed over a worn piece of parchment.
"This is..."
"Read it."
Rebekah slowly read the words written on the parchment from top to bottom. It was a kind of report. When, where, what had happened, how many had died and in what manner.
[Dead 142, Survivors 1]
-A large quantity of demonic energy presumed to belong to the Great Demon Asmodeus identified.
-The single survivor is a young girl aged four, now secured and under protection at the Cathedral.
"The young girl recorded there is you, Saintess."
"..."
Rebekah was silent. More precisely, it would be correct to say she was too shocked to speak.
"Is this all?"
"Regrettably, yes. By the time Sir Johan arrived at the scene, the situation had already ended."
"How... did I survive?"
The Pope released a shallow sigh.
"There was Aether's blessing."
Whether being the sole survivor after one's entire extended family had died could truly be called a blessing was another matter, but Rebekah had unconsciously awakened her divine power and survived.
A divine power so immense that it had driven the Great Demon back.
"Then that demon..."
"Correct. Asmodeus was not vanquished."
"You mean... that it will eventually return?"
"Correct. But there is no need for worry. This is soil blessed by Aether, and no matter how powerful a demon, an intrusion here would..."
Rebekah could not focus on the Pope's words.
Her tongue went dry in her mouth.
- You're going to lose them again, just like last time.
Her head spun.
"...Saintess? Are you all right?"
"..."
Blood seeped from Rebekah's fist.
For the first time in her life, she was truly furious.
Why. Why did these things called demons trample human emotions so horribly.
"Rebekah!"
A firm voice.
The sharp scent of blood.
Rebekah snapped back to her senses.
"...I apologize. I've made an unsightly display."
The Pope's face was full of pity. It was the face of someone who had known it would come to this.
"We shall stop here for today. I will speak with the Archbishop, so go and rest for the day."
Rebekah could not refuse the Pope's kindness. Because she knew better than anyone that she could not properly lead a mass in her current state.
She needed time to govern her emotions.
"...I am grateful for your consideration."
Rebekah headed straight for the Cathedral. As if she could not endure without relying upon the Goddess, she prayed for hours without even drinking water.
"Saintess, it is nearly midnight."
"...How much is left?"
"About ten minutes."
Only then did Rebekah rise.
Seeing her face, which had become haggard in an instant, the priests all looked sorrowful.
"Thank you for telling me."
"Are you going to sleep now?"
Rebekah closed her mouth for a moment. The moonlight was obscured by leaves, and for an instant, darkness fell over her face.
"I'm going for a short walk."
*****
Rebekah had spent more than a few months together with Olivia. But that did not mean she had been close to her from the beginning.
She had held the office of Saintess for more than just a day or two, and there had been no shortage of people who came seeking the crumbs of her influence.
Naturally, she had kept a certain distance at first. But as a day, then two, then a week passed, she had gradually become curious about Olivia.
When someone came out even earlier than she did to provide relief to the poor, it was impossible not to notice.
At first she had been surprised that Olivia was not a priestess but a mage, and when she heard that she was not an ordinary mage but an Archmage, she had been surprised once more.
The first time she had seen Olivia without her robes, she had almost mistaken her for beauty incarnate. Though back then, it had been sunlight that illuminated Olivia's face, and now it was moonlight.
Olivia spoke.
"You're not late."
"Get out of my big sister's body. Right now."
"I don't know what you mean. How could I leave my own body?"
['Saintess Rebekah' is using 'Lie Detection'.]
- Your statement is a 'Lie'.
Olivia grinned.
Just as I thought, after all that, she was likely to use that ability.
"...Get out. Right now."
"And if I say I can't?"
Instead of answering, Rebekah kindled a pure white flame at the tips of both hands.
Holy Fire, which burned evil.
Rebekah's eyes were steadfast.
That was the face of someone who had made up her mind. Even if Olivia were hurt somewhat in the process, she would kill the demon that had hidden itself inside her.
But Olivia's face was utterly without fear.
"Rebekah."
"Don't you dare say my name with those filthy lips."
"If you don't like that, what should I call you? Little Saintess? Hmm, that doesn't sound right. Then... little sister?"
Tsss-tsstsst!
In an instant, the flame doubled in size.
Rebekah was clearly shaken.
Seizing upon and manipulating a child's heart was certainly the kind of idea a demon would have, but I had no choice. This was the only way to survive.
Smirk returning to her face, Olivia suddenly strode toward Rebekah. And then she seized both of her hands.
"Kh—!"
Rebekah frantically shook the hands off and retreated, but the flame had already leaped onto Olivia's entire body.
Yet, astonishingly, the Holy Fire could not burn Olivia.
"You can't kill me with this."
As Olivia brushed the flame away as though it were nothing, Rebekah's pupils shook.
To be utterly unaffected by the Holy Fire. Just how high a rank was this thing?
"You are afraid, little one."
"Ggh..."
"As frightened as you are, could you really protect this child from me?"
Sharp ice spikes materialized behind Olivia. She picked up one of them and slashed her own arm downward.
Slsh.
Blood ran down mercilessly.
"I'll make you an offer. Of course, you may refuse. But... if you do, this child dies."
Rebekah ground her teeth.
There was no choice.
"...What do you want?"
At those words, Olivia smiled chillingly.
"Make sure no one knows of my existence. Including the owner of this body, of course."
Rebekah swallowed secretly.
That statement confirmed it.
That demon bastard had not yet fully devoured Olivia's mind.
"Is that all?"
"Yes."
"How am I supposed to trust you?"
"Don't trust me. That would only be your loss. Whether you decide to do your utmost to devise a plan to annihilate me, or whatever else, do as you please. Just make sure no one else finds out."
"..."
Rebekah glared at Olivia with a sharp gaze.
But that was all.
Olivia glanced at her Status Window.
[Remaining Time: 0:05]
It was cutting it close. I needed to wrap this up soon.
"Remember. This is a contest. Whether you save her, or whether I devour her."
The next moment, Olivia collapsed into Rebekah's arms.