CH 498

The moment she entered the village and gazed at the sky with her mysterious gesture, I wondered if she was manipulating the flow of time.

Had I been dreaming?

Did I really go to Rezaira?

But it seemed certain that I had not dreamed, but instead, I had entered and returned from the world called Rezaira.

"Ha, hahaha..."

I couldn't help but wonder why she hadn't told me about this.

Perhaps because knowing that time wasn't flowing might cause it to spread.

Knowing that time wasn't flowing would make it too easy to relax.

So she remained silent to stimulate my anxiety and impatience, but also to help me overcome it on my own.

I hadn't left Edina for the length of two seasons.

It hadn't even been a month since I left Edina.

I had lived in another world, another time, before returning to this world.

-Woosh!

In the midst of the harsh wind, I looked down at the scenery of the Sren mountain range.

She hadn't taught me anything.

She hadn't given me anything.

What I needed most right now.

And what I lacked the most.

Time.

I had received an enormous amount of time, so there was no way I hadn't received anything.

"Huu..."

Although I didn't shed tears, I wiped away the moisture that welled up in my dry eyes.

If I had known that time wasn't flowing, I could have actually lived more peacefully. I decided not to dwell on such thoughts.

Luna had given me what I needed the most, and in the end, I was able to obtain what I wanted.

I don't know how far I can go with this power.

However.

Though the actual time spent away wasn't long, I had been away for too long.

Now, I must return to where I belong.

------

"To be honest, I don't think you did anything wrong. Um... I'd even like to give you a pat on the back for a job well done, if I could."

"..."

In response to Olivia Lanze's words, Liana de Grantz looked at Olivia with a stern expression and said nothing.

Olivia Lanze was not wearing casual clothes, but the priest's robes she usually wore.

In fact, Olivia hardly ever wore casual clothes now, so those robes were virtually her everyday attire.

When Olivia heard that Liana de Grantz had been selecting and killing refugees on her own in Port Mokna, she listened to the details and responded that it was only natural.

"Personally, I don't like it, but I can't say I don't understand the Council's decision. After all, you did deceive Reinhardt. Even if you had no choice but to deceive him because he would never have allowed it if he knew, the result is still the result."

"..."

"Anyway, I personally support your decision. However, our affairs have grown too big to be decided solely by personal judgment, right?"

"...Yes."

"You've deceived Reinhardt up until now, and as a result, you've deceived me as well."

The majority of the forces in Port Mokna are either the magicians of the Vampire Council or the priests and knights of the Holy Order.

They were so loyal to Liana in the Holy Order's Port Mokna that they deceived Olivia Lanze.

Olivia had effectively been betrayed by the priests and knights of the Holy Order.

"For someone like you, who by nature has no talent for politics or anything of the sort, to win over the hearts of everyone in Port Mokna and prevent rumors from leaking out while carrying out such deeds... it's nothing short of a miracle."

Liana had no talent for capturing someone's heart, nor did she enjoy such endeavors.

What allowed Liana, as the commander of Fort Mokna, to captivate everyone's heart was her innate charisma.

"Putting aside any trivial emotions or feelings of betrayal, I can be on your side."

Olivia lightly tapped the table.

"It would have been better if there weren't these 'strange side effects'..."

Olivia didn't come to Fort Mokna to pursue Liana, nor to punish the Holy Order's knights and priests who failed to report their duties.

The outskirts of Fort Mokna, a pit.

She had come to resolve the strange omen discovered by Lucinil.

No one in this environment, with plenty of priests and knights, had realized that such signs were present.

Only Lucinil, with his strong spiritual sensitivity, could detect the strange omen before it materialized into a sinister phenomenon.

That's why Olivia Lanze came here, bearing the duty of purification and exorcism.

Liana, too, had no idea that the massacre she had committed would lead to such events.

Feeling the bitterness of her mistake, Liana couldn't even tell how her actions would bring about any form of disaster.

It wasn't just things within predictable boundaries.

Worldly events could cause unforeseen problems in completely unexpected places.

But Liana's enemies were living beings, beings with physical forms.

Since she didn't know how to deal with ghosts and vengeful spirits, Olivia Lanze had to bear the responsibility for Liana's actions.

"The Regent did say it might be better to abandon Fort Mokna without taking risks..."

Not knowing what kind of sinister influence this threat could have, Charlotte suggested that it might be better to turn a blind eye.

"In my experience, such events can become more dangerous once they're out of control."

Not knowing what could happen meant that even if they left the area, some unknown disaster could still strike Edina.

That's why Olivia Lanze judged it better to take precautionary measures rather than ignoring this level of danger.

In the end, Olivia came here to face the danger herself, not knowing what threat could arise for Reinhardt.

Her actions to protect Reinhardt from danger created another threat to him.

"I'm sorry, sister."

At Liana's words, Olivia chuckled.

"I didn't know you could say that."

"Can we... resolve this situation?"

"Well..."

Olivia twisted her head and bit her lip.

"Who in the world would know what could happen when the scale of the problem changes?"

Unprecedented events could lead to unprecedented results. Just as Lucinil couldn't predict what would happen, neither could Olivia.

Whether it could be purified or exorcised...

She didn't know.

Liana, who read Olivia's playful but serious attitude, looked at her with a determined expression.

"Don't get hurt, sister."

"It's amusing. You must have disliked me quite a bit."

Olivia laughed loudly.

"Is it because someone we both dislike has appeared?"

That person was none other than Charlotte.

"But you know, it's said that people usually become friends while talking behind each other's backs."

Liana had nothing to say to that wicked jest.

"I'll go. I have work to do."

"…Okay."

Olivia stood up as if she were going for a walk.

------

Upon leaving the Fort Mokna command post, Olivia watched the group of knights and priests lined up outside.

Although they were all under Olivia's command, Liana had been delegated authority for quite some time.

These were the people who had deceived Olivia by keeping a secret from her and remaining silent.

They were all tense, fearing Olivia's possible wrath.

Betrayal.

She couldn't say it didn't exist.

But she understood why Liana had made such a decision and the reasons for keeping it a secret.

Now, she was on her way to deal with the consequences of those actions.

"Well... shall we begin?"

Olivia smiled as if she had no interest in judging those who had betrayed their faith.

"I'll be the one to clean up the mess you've made."

Olivia Lanze was known for her coarse language, except during her sermons.

------

In the outskirts of Fort Mokna, quite far from the main area.

Olivia, escorted by a large number of knights and priests, headed for the site.

Though Olivia was not involved in this matter, most of the priests and knights heading to the site were directly related to it.

They had sorted and weeded out people, even taking some to the execution site.

"Did you really think nothing would happen after killing so many innocent people? At least you should have performed purification rituals periodically, right?"

Olivia calmly spoke as they walked through the outskirts of Fort Mokna.

"That's a reprimand."

Even if Liana hadn't anticipated the vengeful spirits, the priests and knights should have taken such measures.

A high priest walking beside Olivia paled and lowered his head at her words.

"Your Holiness... It's not that we didn't do it."

"You did?"

"Yes, certainly..."

Even though they hadn't anticipated this outcome, they had been performing purification rituals and offering prayers and blessings regularly, even for those they had killed themselves.

Olivia's playful expression hardened.

"So, even with the purification rituals, this still happened."

Too many deaths.

The overwhelming grudges, vengeful spirits, and injustices that couldn't be resolved through periodic purification rituals and prayers.

Anger and hatred.

The fact that this was happening despite the blessings of numerous priests indicated that the severity of the situation was beyond normal.

Olivia and the priests she led soon arrived at the site.

"It seems like the situation is getting worse..."

What only Lucinil could sense a few days ago, had become palpable to Olivia, making her feel a chill on the back of her neck.

It wasn't visible, but there was a sense of foreboding that could be felt on their skin.

Cold air.

Olivia slowly approached the pit hidden between the rocks that Lucinil had seen before and looked into its depths.

"…This is terrible."

In the dark pit, countless charred corpses were piled up, too many to count.

Judging by their burnt appearances, they were all the victims of Liana de Grantz's lightning strikes.

"Did that madwoman kill them all with her own hands...?"

Olivia bit her lip as she gazed upon the horrifying scene that could hardly be described as anything but gruesome.

Since it was her decision, she couldn't allow others to dirty their hands, so she killed them all herself.

Even though others had selected and brought them here, it was certain that Liana de Grantz had personally driven them into the pit and snuffed out their lives.

-Woooooo

The eerie resonance of the wind blowing into the deep pit sounded to Olivia like the cries of those who had been unjustly killed.

It must have been a delusion, but the strange echo felt as if it was not a delusion at all. Olivia slowly retreated from that spot.

Staring at this dreadful scene wouldn't solve anything.

"I'll create a sanctuary."

Thankfully, the power of Tu’an, the goddess of purity that Olivia had mastered, was optimal for solving such a problem.

At Olivia's command, the priests and holy knights began to move busily.

What would have happened if they had left this place as it was?

If they had been just a little late?

If the silver-haired little girl who was the Lord of Wednesday had not detected this omen beforehand, what kind of phenomena would these resentful spirits have caused to harm the Demon King?

Hoping that somehow measures would be taken, Olivia summoned Tiamata.

-Woong

Olivia planted the shining Tiamata in the center of the field.

-Thud!

Olivia quietly watched the priests arrange themselves according to the proper formation and the holy knights take their positions.

-Woooooo

Olivia was quite knowledgeable about spirits and the souls of the dead. Tu’an was a goddess of purity that repelled impurity, and thus understanding impure, unnatural entities was necessary.

Olivia felt a strange sensation as she watched the wind howling across the field, swirling oddly.

She didn't know how many people had suffered unjust deaths here.

However, considering the entire continent, it would ultimately amount to a handful of deaths.

It was true that Liana de Grantz had committed an unforgivable sin, and Olivia had no intention of denying that. She simply thought it was a necessary act for Reinhardt.

Countless people had died.

That was not the only problem.

Just as evil spirits cling to places filled with spiritual energy, this place had become a den of vengeful spirits, boiling with resentment and hatred, attracting more spirits.

Those who died here.

Wandering spirits, ghosts, and paranormal phenomena.

Massacres.

People who hated the Demon King were slaughtered by his minions.

The problem was not only those who died here, but also that this place itself had attracted a tremendous number of vengeful spirits.

And now, with most humans believing that everything was the Demon King's fault, all the spirits would hate the Demon King.

Spirits that hated the Demon King were infiltrating this place.

Like a magnet or a pitfall trap.

If Olivia's speculation was correct, this place would become increasingly dangerous if left alone.

No, it was already far beyond the point of danger.

Therefore, Olivia's decision to take action before the area became more dangerous and expanded was not wrong.

It was undoubtedly the correct decision. Measures were necessary, and the ones who could handle this situation were Olivia, the holy knights, and the priests.

However, it wasn't as if there hadn't been purification rituals until now.

Despite the periodic purifications up to this point, the situation was still this bad.

The Prayers of the priests. The Summoning. The Exorcisms of the holy knights.

Could these really have worked effectively?

Olivia quietly thought as she watched the movement of the priests.

Praying for the repose of the souls I've killed.

Though I've killed you without reason, don't be resentful, and ascend peacefully.

What kind of deed is this?

Do these people have the qualifications for prayer, summoning, and purification?

The holy knights.

The priests.

And herself.

Do they have the qualifications?

If I were a vengeful spirit.

Seeing the murderers who brutally killed me trying to make me ascend.

What kind of feelings would I have?

Is this the hypocrisy of demons destined to fall into hell?

I don't know what other methods there are, but.

Something is definitely wrong.

"Wait!"

Just as Olivia, who felt that something was seriously wrong, cried out.

-Woooaahhhh!

From the pit, an abyss surged forth.

With wide eyes, Olivia saw the physical manifestation of hatred and resentment.

-Wraaaagh!

A ghastly scream of pain, hatred, anger, or injustice - it was impossible to tell.

No, it was a mixture of all those things, a physical manifestation of resentment, wailing in agony. Olivia clenched her teeth as she watched.

"Fine."

Olivia pulled out the Tiamata embedded in the ground.

"Of course, it wouldn't be easy."

Olivia's entire body was enveloped in a divine light.