Chapter 134

‘There it is.’

Adelia was able to locate the entrance to the hidden location thanks to Dennis. As Hestine explained, it appeared to be a cave that had been renovated and the entrance was concealed deeper than she had anticipated.

“Wow, this is the first time I’ve seen it in person. Every time I come here, they blindfold me.”

Hestine was impressed. She spoke as softly as she could. Adelia looked at Hestine as she attempted to mask the tension with her distinctive brightness, swallowing a bitter smile.

“Yes.”

“By the way, I’m sure there are a lot of guards inside; they look strong. How are you going to get in there?”

Hestine had a dejected expression as he regarded the men manning the cave. They never hurt her, but she was nonetheless terrified. And as she considered the upcoming action she and Adelia would take… Will they continue to spare her harm?

“Don’t worry about it; I’ll handle it on my own.”

“……Yes, I believe you. Adelia-nim.”

“Before we start, Hestine, I’d like to ask you for a favor.”

Hestine tilted her head and looked up at Adelia as Adelia spoke with a somber expression on her face.”

“Tell anyone who blocks your path that you are threatened by me regardless of what. Just a hostage, that’s all. I’ll treat you in that manner.”

“Yes……?”

Hestine was rendered speechless.

“I told you I’m going to dedicate my life here, leaving Hestine alone…. You might get in trouble, right?”

“Right?”

“When that happens, just throw me away.”

“Y, yes…….”

Hestine lacked confidence, but for the time being, she nodded. Adelia smiled quietly and walked straight ahead. Hestine was baffled by her movements.

‘Ah, Adelia-nim!’

Hestine was in a panic and wasn’t sure what to say.

“Who is that?”

Those manning the entrance pointed their swords at Adelia as she approached. Adelia closed her eyes and simply continued.

She didn’t feel a sense of ‘incompatibility’. They are therefore probably those who are unable to utilize the power of chaos.

‘Nevertheless, I’m sure they’re strong people.’

‘’Therefore, I must handle them before they come to me.’

Adelia performed a miracle. Her chest grew hot. a sensation to which she is now accustomed.

The time stopped for the guard shortly after that. Adelia gave them a cold, uninterested stare and lightly touched them.

Crunch~

The guards’ bodies then vanished and dispersed in the air like dust.

“Whoa!”

Hestine, who was observing the action from a distance, was forced to take a reflexive breath. 

‘That power, what is it?’

Adelia eventually made it to the door, turned, and yelled for Hestine.

“It’s your turn, Hestine; can you show me around? Of course; remember, this is a threat.”

After a brief pause, Hestine quickly nodded.

“……Yes!”

***

The interior was larger than they anticipated. Indeed, is it true that what appears on the outside is not everything?

‘I’m glad I brought Hestine.’

She wouldn’t be able to stop anything from happening if she just wandered around here by herself because she would eventually be found by “them.” That cannot happen. The relic must be completed, and time must be reversed.

Looking at Hestine, who appeared anxious, Adelia asked in a soft voice.

“Can you recall where?”

“Yes, I do recall. You must descend to the basement first if you continue in this direction, as there is a passage there.”

Adelia nodded and cautiously moved as Hestine explained, pointing to one side.

There were lots of people inside, as Hestine mentioned. But dealing with them wasn’t all that difficult. Adelia was no longer plagued by hesitation.

‘Ah, so this is what happens when someone loses something, I suppose.’

Hestine was well aware that she had no right to criticize Adelia, though. Hestine was, to be honest, comforted by her behavior.

Hestine felt free every time Adelia’s hands reduced people to dust.

“This is it.”

Hestine and Adelia finally made it to the space where her special ceremony was held. Hestine experienced intense emotion at that precise moment. Every time she comes here, she can hear screaming in the distance.

It was explained to Hestine, who trembled at the sound, that it was all an anxiety-related auditory hallucination.

‘Was it really an anxiety-induced auditory hallucination?’

She now finds it difficult to believe what they said.

‘I must verify it with my own eyes.’

Hestine followed closely behind Adelia while tightly holding her shaking hand. Adelia soon opened the door.

Her nose’s tip picked up a foul smell and an overt hint of fishiness. They said the smell was unique to the cave.

“It reeks of blood.”

Adelia, who had first checked the inside, made a remark. Hestine emerged from behind Adelia’s back while slightly trembling.

She confirmed the truth of the place where the ceremony was held.

“There was a taboo in the Vishna Religion in the past…”

Adelia kept talking in a low tone.

“Transplanting the divine power of young children. They are said to have failed due to inefficiency, but they did not fail at all.”

Hestine then understood the nature of the ceremony she was performing and the identity of what she had initially believed to be a hallucination.

“As expected, the holy relics served as the experiment’s medium. It appears that the transplant rate increases with the number of holy relics.”

Adelia found the relic in the middle of a platform that appeared to be a foundation. 

“Ugh!”

Hestine couldn’t stand it any longer and vomited. Adelia walked slowly in the direction of the foundation as she anxiously eyed Hestine.

‘I have finally gathered them all.’

The relics began to attract one another like magnets as they gathered together.

The relics eventually merged into one.

After all, it’s a pocket watch.

Whatever shape it took didn’t matter. What mattered most was that she could now go back in time. They don’t have to die.

A voice that did not belong to Hestine echoed underground the moment she thought so.

“Hestine, you’ve made a lot of trouble.”

Berkian Valkyr. The moment Adelia recognized the voice’s owner, she grabbed Hestine.

“Is it a hostage drama? It’s a very noble act for a saint.”

“…a saint?”

Hestine turned to face Adelia in shock at Berkian’s words. With expressionless eyes, Adelia also regarded Berkian and the priest Peloche who was standing next to him.

“A saint? Wasn’t that an illusion? All you needed was a doll with vast sacred power anyway.”

Berkian’s mouth exhibited a sardonic smile. Strangely, it sounded like a mashup of various voices. Adelia immediately realized he was not in normal condition.

“Oh, my. Did Vishna tell you that you’re a brilliant saint? Whatever it is, it’s fine. You came here on your own like this. It’s less hassle.”

“Hey, don’t do this! Brother! Peloche! “

Adelia scowled as Hestine begged the two in a pitiful voice.

‘I told you to act like a hostage.….’

“Poor Hestine. You betrayed me. If so, you ought to be disciplined.”

“……she’s still useful.”

“Brother Peloche. Don’t worry. Puppets can always be made again. What’s the worry when the real thing will soon be in our hands?”

Adelia instantly performed a miracle after instinctively sensing a crisis; fortunately, her talent worked for Berkian and Peloche.

Adelia grabbed Hestine’s stiff wrist and bolted. They must leave the area as soon as possible. Only when they leave their base will they have a chance to live.

“Run as fast as you can, Hestine. You have to keep running even if your feet are broken.”

Although she intended to speak to Hestine, she actually said it to herself.

“Ack”

Adelia heard a scream from behind her as she was running erratically. She then experienced a nagging pain on her side.

Adelia averted her gaze gradually. Her side was penetrated by something. And Hestine, who is standing behind her is..

“Watching you run frantically was entertaining.”

When Adelia turned her head in the direction of the voice, a man wearing a black robe and a white mask appeared.

She had a feeling it was the man named Lasette.

“Don’t be afraid, I’m not going to kill you; you’re going to let me see the end of the world.”

Suddenly, something that had pierced her side vanished, and intense pain followed.

Flop.

Adelia reached out to Hestine’s lifeless body, but quickly withdrew as it became clear that she needed to flee.

“Oh, my. Do you still intend to go further? I won’t stop you then.”

‘You’re going to let me leave this place now? You’re going to extend my time?’

‘He probably isn’t aware of the relic’s second power.’

Then it was worthwhile to give it a shot. However, Adelia had no idea how to use the second power.

“You will not succeed.”

‘But I’ll never give up.’

Lasette’s mouth grinned at Adelia’s movements as she moved her body once more. He slowly followed her, like an experienced hunter pursuing a rabbit.

“Heuk..”

She was gasping for air. Has she lost too much blood, perhaps? Her head was spinning, and her eyes were fuzzy.

The situation was made more difficult by the fact that she was facing a cliff and that a hunter was pursuing her from behind.

‘Ha… Vishna. How in the world am I supposed to proceed?’

The rustling sound was approaching. It meant the hunter was approaching. The cliff in front of her is her only means of escape.

“Does chaos only occur if I get caught?”

She chuckled.

Her remaining options didn’t appeal to her.

“Vishna, it’s up to you. I’m going to jump.”

Adelia threw herself while tightly closing her eyes. With a dizzying sensation, she soon lost her mind.