C172
He felt distant.
"If I were to say that I could die if I told her, it was obvious that I wasn't being sincere, if you think about it with common sense."
But for some reason, I could read the sincerity in Liena's eyes.
As if she were someone who would return to the execution site and wait for the day of execution if I said so.
"No, if I say that, they might turn around and attack me."
I couldn't read Liena's thoughts at this moment.
Although her way of thinking wasn't normal in the past, I could still roughly predict how she would act.
But now, I had no idea what change of mind had occurred or what the purpose was.
"Honestly, it's scary…."
It was easier to deal with the old Liena, who clearly showed her true feelings and burned with hostility.
Moreover, Shadow was also problematic.
Would the monster under the influence of the evil god obediently watch as they executed Liena?
Even if it had to watch, I couldn't imagine what Shadow would do when Liena died and there was no longer anyone controlling it.
Above all.
"I'm sorry."
I spoke carefully not to provoke Liena.
"I'm not asking for you to be executed, but what if you die? The same with Shadow…"
"I know what you're wondering. Shadow is Shadow, but aren't you most curious about what happens with the wave of monsters?"
That's right.
"Perhaps the Evil God will select a new apostle again. Haven't you heard much from Goddess Miella?"
"......"
"Gods can choose apostles until it's clearly decided which side won."
I knew. I asked this when the Goddess called Liena and me.
What would happen to the world if I ended my life without completing the task entrusted to me?
"It's very kind of you to worry about what will happen after your death. Don't worry too much, because I can choose another being as long as I'm not defeated by the evil apostle, that is, if he kills me."
In other words, if I were defeated by the Evil God, the world would end.
Once again, the shoulders bearing the fate of the world were heavy.
"From the moment I decided to expel Liena, I was prepared to do her job."
Until just a few months ago, my only goal was to divorce Leandro, but I'm not sure how I came to have such a big goal.
Anyway, I have no choice but to do what I have to do.
As a member of this world, I couldn't be free from monster waves either.
I thought about what options would be beneficial to stop the wave of monsters.
I felt like I wanted to quickly get rid of this troublesome person right in front of my eyes, but no matter how I looked at it, telling Liena to simply go back and be executed was not a good option.
Fortunately, even if Liena returned smoothly and Shadow caused no trouble, the Evil God would eventually choose a new apostle and everything would start again.
"No, the situation could worsen…"
In that case, I wouldn't know who the enemy I had to defeat was.
There's a possibility that the role would fall to the character who originally appeared as the apostle of the evil god in the novel, but it was impossible to guarantee because the plot had already gone wrong.
On the contrary, now at least I know clearly who the enemy is.
While Liena watched, I opened my mouth.
"I don't want you to be executed."
Liena seemed pleased with what I said.
"Thank you for saying that, Ethel."
"But since the Empress died and the Emperor was injured because of you, I can't let you off the hook."
"I understand. Actually, I was thinking of going far away."
"Go away?"
"Yes. Although I can't do it now, Shadow could still hurt someone again. I want to go to a place with as few people as possible."
"… Not a bad idea."
There shouldn't be any more victims than this.
"There. However…"
Suddenly, Liena looked at me and hesitated to speak.
"What is it?"
"I know it's a really bold request, but I really feel sorry for you."
"Say it."
"Would you like to come with me?"
"What?"
"To be honest, I don't have the confidence to survive alone. Even now, I still hear the voice of the Evil God inciting my hatred towards the world."
Liena pleaded and took my hand.
"So I want Ethel to stay by my side. Then I'll do my best to endure. I can control monsters, so there won't be many inconveniences in your life."
"… I don't understand. I don't know why suddenly you're so fixated on me."
"It's simple. When I was about to die, I realized. Even without the blessing of the goddess, you were the only person who showed me true affection."
The person Liena remembered was the true Ethel, who is no longer here.
"It's a past story. I don't like you now. You know that, right?"
"It doesn't matter. Even so, that doesn't change the fact that Ethel was good to me in the past."
Assuming what I just heard was true and that Liena didn't have another agenda, I felt like I could somehow understand Liena's psychology.
Isn't the happiness of her childhood the only thing Liena can trust now?
I knew this because I glimpsed her memories through the resonance of her soul.
In Liena's life, which was filled with misfortune after being abandoned by her biological parents and subsequently by her adoptive parents, the only happy memories were those of playing with Ethel.
Now that all the happiness she had accumulated through blessings in this life and even the belief that she was loved by the goddess had disappeared, it was not strange that Liena was trapped in the past.
"But I can't accept it."
She has gone too far. Even if I were the real Ethel, I wouldn't have been able to forgive my old friend who has now crossed the line.
After thinking for a while, I came up with a response to Liena's suggestion.
"It's okay, I'll go with you."
Liena had a blank expression for a moment.
"Really?"
"I can't help it. If that's the way to stop the wave of monsters."
"Thank you! Thank you so much! I'll never have bad thoughts! I'll hold on until the end!"
Liena, with a flushed face, shouted.
"I'm not going with you because I like you, so there's no need to be too grateful."
Because I just decided. I'll go with you like this and personally take you to a place where no one else will get hurt... And then I'll end it all.
Since each was destined to compete against each other as apostles, that was the safest way to stop the monster wave.
Still, thanks, said Liena as she hugged me.
"Unless I'm an idiot, I probably have some idea of my intentions."
But the reason she's so happy, is it because she's striving to ignore the worst possibility?
Or is it because she also has other intentions and has set a trap to catch me?
Either way, I couldn't let Liena go alone to a distant place.
It would be troublesome if Liena hid and created a monster wave.
"There's nothing you can't find if you take the time. But people will keep dying while we search."
About 10,000 people. This was the number of people sacrificed by the monster wave in <Return and Walk on a Flower Path>.
In the novel, it is expressed that it ended with the least sacrifice among all monster waves because Liena quickly defeated the evil god's apostle and sealed the evil god.
But there are up to 10,000 people. 10,000 people. There are up to 10,000 people like me who breathe, eat, and live with their loved ones every day.
It was impossible for me, now that I was no longer a reader, to ignore the figure of 10,000 and say, "Well, normally millions of people die, but this is a small number".
"Anyway, since Liena has become the apostle of the evil god, I have no choice but to handle it with my own hands."
In that case, unlike the novel, I will deal with it before the monster wave occurs.
That was my goal. And to achieve it, I inevitably had to take some risks.
Well, I'll do my best to prepare.
"Wait a moment, there are two conditions for me to follow you."
Liena, who was so happy, opened her eyes at my words.
"What are the conditions?"
"First, I'm going with the divine beast."
"Okay. No problem."
"Second."
I looked towards Shadow.
"I'm afraid of Shadow, who broke through strict security measures and murdered the Empress. So use this on Shadow until I'm sure it's safe."
After saying that, I approached the desk and opened the drawer.
After a while, what I had in my hand was the small rope I used to tie Herciso in the main temple.
"What is that?"
"A binding artifact."
"That kind of artifact doesn't work on Shadow. It will be absorbed."
"But just in case, try it. It might be dangerous if I do it, so do it yourself."
It seemed that Liena didn't know what was going on, but she obediently followed my instructions.
I handed her a small rope and showed her how to use it, and Liena threw it at Shadow.
The rope grew larger and wrapped around Shadow, then disappeared into the black body.
"Do you see?"
I clicked my tongue without responding to Liena's words.
But this was my anticipated failure.
With this, one of the conditions to neutralize Shadow was achieved.
Liena urged me to leave before others noticed that something was wrong in the annex, so I quickly packed my bags.
Also, I didn't want anyone to access Shadow's realm.
I packed a large bag not only with clothes and essentials, but also with things that could secretly be used as weapons, and the last thing I did was pick up a pen.
"Terence..."
I left him a brief letter, holding my hand still.
Since the emperor was seriously injured, he should be in charge of taking care of the empire on his behalf.
No, even if it wasn't that, I didn't want to put him in danger.
In his case, his situation was different from that of the divine beast, to whom the goddess had entrusted a mission.
"Let's go now, Ethel."
The time had come. It was then that Liena reached out to me and I was about to take it.
"Ethel!"
A desperate voice came from outside the window.
When I came to my senses, I had already jumped onto the balcony.
I could see Terence in the distance.