Understanding. (3)
Up until now, I had assumed that 'Olivia' acted according to my play records. In fact, that had been the case.
But the current situation was an event that had clearly never occurred in the Genocide Run.
Even looking across all runs, Rebekah and Esti had never once faced each other in this form.
In a situation like this, just how would 'Olivia' act?
It was a difficult problem.
'If it were me...'
There were broadly two methods to win over Esti.
The first was a straightforward approach. Figure out Esti's objective, then perform that role in her place, and that was it.
Of course, straightforward didn't mean the method was easy. Because everything that could potentially harm Ikail was Esti's enemy.
Starting with the pirates who crossed over from Mabor, to the foreign powers constantly eyeing Ikail, and the powerhouses like Olivia or Rebekah who could topple a city single-handedly...
On top of that, the Water Demon Realm deep beneath the sea, and the fish-men of Aquar.
It wasn't without reason that Esti couldn't rest.
And the second method was...
The sound of someone running came from beyond the corridor. It was a set of footsteps I had grown accustomed to by then.
The person who opened the door and entered was one of the Four Holy Knights, Franz.
Judging by how unsettled he was, Rebekah must have disappeared without a word. Franz spoke in an urgent voice.
"Lady Rebekah? Lady Rebekah, are you here?"
"Ah...she left a little while ago. What's the matter, Sir Franz?"
"That is..."
Franz hesitated for a moment.
His face showed that he was debating whether he could tell this to Olivia, an outsider.
Franz's Status Window appeared before Olivia's eyes.
[Tailon Franz]
- Level: 74
- Favorability: 32
- Occupation: Paladin of Peace
- Title: Four Holy Knights of the Holy Kingdom, Devout Old Knight.
Franz's favorability was 32.
That was quite high for someone on whom I hadn't done any real Favorability Grinding. Of course, getting him to spill the worries he kept in his heart with that amount alone was difficult, but...
Olivia smiled as gently as she could.
"It's because I think I can help."
"...I understand."
If I coaxed him just a little, it was more than possible.
"...The Saintess has vanished."
Rebekah was probably at the lighthouse. Since she didn't know when Esti's 'work' would end, she likely intended to hold out there all day.
The reason she hadn't tipped off Franz separately was probably the same.
Because the Holy Kingdom wouldn't look favorably upon Rebekah and Esti meeting.
As far as the Holy Kingdom's higher-ups were concerned, Esti was the very person who had sent hundreds and thousands to a watery grave. There was simply no way for them to see her in a kind light.
'Because it would be disastrous if the Saintess got hurt.'
Olivia glanced at Franz.
The Pope had probably tipped off Franz separately as well. Told him to prevent Rebekah and Esti from meeting.
'...This gives me an opportunity to interfere.'
Olivia laughed inwardly.
Anyway, this wasn't interference. It was just worrying that Rebekah might get hurt.
"I know where Rebekah is. In exchange, please make me just one promise."
"What kind of promise do you mean?"
"Please don't tell Rebekah that I told you."
Franz nodded.
"Rebekah is at the lighthouse. She probably intends to meet the Wave Catcher there."
"By Wave Catcher...you mean the Wave Catcher of Ikail?!"
The startled Franz opened his eyes wide.
To think I could make the old knight, famous for his composure, act like this.
Olivia secretly marveled at Esti's fearsome reputation.
"Yes, that's probably the person you're thinking of."
"..."
Franz's body trembled faintly.
I didn't dare guess what kind of thoughts were running through his head.
Because to Franz, Rebekah was nothing more than a greenhouse flower.
Of course, that was a misconception caused by not properly grasping Rebekah's level of martial power, but Olivia had no intention of correcting him.
Because the greater Franz's worry grew, the higher the likelihood that Rebekah would fail to 'understand' Esti.
"...Thank you for telling me. Then I shall..."
"Ah, Sir Franz. I have one thing I'm curious about."
Franz turned his head.
"Until when do you plan to stay in Ikail?"
"Since that is a matter for the Saintess to decide, I don't know."
"Ah...then what about the maximum length of stay?"
"If you're asking for the maximum..."
Franz's head tilted. Then, as if understanding my meaning, his eyebrows rose.
"At the longest, it would be until the end of this year."
That made sense, since it would become problematic in its own right if the Saintess stayed in a foreign country for over a year.
Even if Rebekah threw a tantrum, this fact wouldn't change.
Because the current situation was likely only possible due to the Pope having conceded a great deal.
'So Rebekah can be with Esti at most maybe one more time in the future?'
According to my calculations, Rebekah's next memory was July of 993...so that was probably right.
That was a relief, at least.
Because when the movements of regressors overlapped, the person who suffered the most loss was me.
"Where are you going?"
"I have somewhere to be for a moment."
Olivia bowed her head to Franz, then walked in the opposite direction along the corridor. After confirming there was no one around, I switched to Spectator Mode.
[Remaining Switches: 3]
'Olivia,' who had been standing there blankly for a moment, looked around.
[You are currently spectating 'Olivia'.]
At this rate, 'Olivia' would be kicked out of Ikail the moment the sun rose tomorrow.
To prevent that, she had to somehow negotiate with Esti.
Olivia glared at 'Olivia' from empty space.
...Now, what will you do, 'Olivia'.
*****
Esti lay on the surface of the sea. It wasn't a backstroke position. Her body floated on the water as if she were a lotus flower.
Gurgle. The sound of someone's breath expiring came from deep beneath the sea. Esti's brow furrowed slightly. But she didn't move a muscle.
Because if she didn't rest then, it would truly be dangerous.
- Protect.
She hadn't rested for more than a few minutes before a voice came, as if it had been waiting.
- Protect.
Esti gritted her teeth.
"...Shut up."
The voice changed each time. Sometimes it belonged to a young child, and other times it was a middle-aged man's. They were all horrible, but the most horrible voice was, without a doubt...
- Protectprotectprotectprotectprotectprotectprotect.
The voices went berserk. Esti shuddered at the voices that felt like they were gnawing away at her every nerve.
Even if she blocked her ears, even if she sank into the water, the voices didn't stop.
'...It's agonizing.'
Unable to bear it any longer, Esti summoned a wave and surged up over the water. She instinctively went searching for an 'enemy'.
- Pro tect pro tect pro tect.
Because that was the only way to silence these wretched bastards.
Esti wrapped both hands around her ears. The light was draining from her eyes in real-time.
"It's a wave! Ikail's mad wave is coming!"
The pirates who'd confirmed the water beyond the horizon rising abnormally shouted in a panic.
"Turn the rudder right now!"
"Captain! The plunder crew is still..."
"Abandon them! If we wait for those bastards, we'll all die too!"
A few pirates even gave up the gold and jewels in their hands and jumped into the sea.
But most of them stayed where they were.
"Don't be cowards!"
"This is a merchant ship! No matter how crazy that bitch is, she wouldn't harm a merchant ship!"
Even though it had been plundered, the ship they were riding was technically a merchant vessel.
A merchant vessel with prisoners on it, at that.
One of the pirates raised his pistol and shouted brazenly.
"You wave bitch of Ikail! This here is a merchant shi..."
But they had misjudged.
Esti was a far crazier bitch than they had expected.
KWA-BOOOOOM!
Not only did a wave sweep away everyone on the deck, it went further and shattered the ship into dozens of pieces.
The wave had no eyes.
"Th-that crazy bitch!"
"Shut up and row! Instead of swearing, take one more stroke of the oars...!"
The pirates who had fled first met the same fate. It wasn't long before red foam bubbled up on the surface of the water. They had all been torn apart and killed by the waves.
"..."
As the voices ringing in her ears quieted, the madness that had bloomed in Esti's eyes gradually subsided.
Esti slowly turned her head.
At the end of her gaze, she saw the merchants scattered haphazardly.
They weren't dead. They had just lost consciousness.
Those were merchants belonging to the Roel Kingdom. She couldn't create an unnecessary spark for conflict.
When Esti stretched out her hand, the current changed direction and enveloped the merchants' bodies. In the very moment she was about to guide the merchants to land, she felt a gaze from behind her.
It wasn't a gaze looking up from beneath the sea.
"Shall I help you a bit?"
There stood the Imperial Archmage.
Before Esti could even answer, Olivia snapped her fingers and teleported the merchants.
"You..."
"I sent them to the Roel Kingdom, so don't worry too much."
Olivia, who had approached right in front of her without making a sound, was wearing a harmless smile.
"..."
Esti glared at Olivia.
A dangerous mage.
But that didn't mean she could launch a preemptive strike.
'...The Gold Tower Lord's disciple.'
If she harmed Olivia, the continent's strongest mage would inevitably invade Ikail.
She was a harmful individual, yet one Esti could not attack.
'I must not engage in conversation.'
Even if Olivia attacked first, all she could do was defend. Having completed her calculations, Esti quickly turned around.
CRRRRRRRACK!
"...What is the meaning of this?"
A massive Ice Wall blocked Esti's view.
"I told you just now. That I'd help you."
"I don't need..."
"The voices."
Esti flinched. She stopped trying to submerge. Emerald-gleaming green eyes and sky-like blue eyes faced each other.
"I can help you."