Chapter 42 - Episode 42: Conditions.

Francesca sighs and covers her face.

"See... I told you, didn't I? Trevor is not that kind of person. If he's a selfish person, he wouldn't give Thera's Heart to you. An apology isn't going to be enough. You're not just accusing him, but you're also rubbing salt on his wound."

I smirk and shake my head.

"It's fine."

Ivonna sits beside me in silence. Emma is looking at me and shrugs. I clear my throat.

"If there's nothing else, I have to go and find any information about Krestan's eye."

Ivonna suddenly stands up. Then looks at me.

"I know where it is."

I look up and look at her. Ivonna walks towards her chair and then looks at me.

"Cahrst Kingdom..."

I'm humming with understanding.

"So it's not far from the Saintess place."

All of them are surprised. Ivonna is rubbing her lips and looks at me with disbelief.

"So you also know where the Saintess is at. Then you can tell the Saintess that I sent you there as an apology from earlier. She will tell you where Krestan's eye is at. I'm sorry for what I said earlier."

I sigh deeply.

"I told you it's fine."

I can tell by her expression that she feels guilty for what she said earlier. Francesca is looking at Ivonna and raises her eyebrows. I turn around and look at Francesca.

"So is it true that Kingstar and others are here to protect Krestan's eye?"

Francesca nods.

"That's right. They offered their help to us. Seven Diamond and Lothair Ermes are here as well. Some clans from The Aarus Empire and Eluna Empire are also in here."

Leonardo looks at me.

"Since you're here now. We will be departing soon and inform them to be prepared."

Michael looks at me.

"When are you going to start?"

Everyone is looking at me. I look at Michael.

"If the Saintess gave me the location later, then I will try to get it tonight. But if not, maybe the next day or the day after tomorrow."

Emma is humming with understanding.

"Then how do we know if you know the location today or tomorrow or the day after tomorrow?"

I smirk while chuckling. Then stand up and walk towards the door.

"You don't... So just be prepared."

Emma is booing me.

"Come on, at least give us a heads up!"

I scoff and mess with Emma's hair.

"You wish..."

Emma bites my hand and chuckles. Ivonna clears her throat.

"We will be ready. We all are this time. So don't expect you will be able to take it easily from us."

I turn around and look at them from the corner of my eyes. I smirk.

"Good, because I'll do my best to take it from you all..."

I left their base and teleported to the Cahrst Kingdom.

Ivonna sighs. Hans is scratching his head.

"That was unexpected... So he's a beta tester and played with Mister Becker. No wonder he knows everything about the game."

Francesca is looking at Emma.

"Do you know about this, Emma?"

Emma shakes her head.

"No, this is the first time I heard about it as well."

Ivonna stands up.

"Let's inform the others to be prepared. We need to be cautious when the sun is down because he will come to us. We must protect it at all cost."

(At the Cahrst Kingdom)

I'm walking around the Cahrst capital city. I haven't seen her anywhere since I came here. There's still one place that I haven't checked, it's an uphill area with so many apple trees and surrounded by flowers. I hope I can see her there. If not, I will ask the woman who will replace her in the future.

I remembered back then that Becker said the Saintess is sick. At first, I thought she was dying or something, but when I read the book of the life of the Saintess in the library. I was surprised and I don't know why Becker made her that way.

I'm walking up the hill and I see an old lady with grey hair wearing a worn dress and sitting under the apple tree. She is Miriam de Angelle, the Saintess. She's looking left and right as if she's with someone. I walk closer towards her and I can hear she's talking.

"It has been a while. How are you guys doing?"

"Why have you never visited me the past few years?"

"Are you all busy saving the world? Why didn't you invite me? Even if I'm old now, I can still do my job properly."

"How can you all stay young after all these years? Did you all drink the water from the fountain of youth? There is no way such a thing exists in this world."

"Follow you all? To where? You kept saying that but you never told me where are we going."

I'm not that far from her, but she didn't notice me at all. To see it with my own eyes give me an unpleasant feeling. This is what Becker said about the Saintess sickness. She has bereavement hallucinations, where she can still see and senses her deceased fallen friends, in her case, are the fallen heroes that died during the subjugation of Queen Arachne's mission. She couldn't accept the fact that her friends are dead and she's left alone on her own.

I take a deep breath and approach her. She finally notices me and looks at me with curiosity.

"What can I help you, young man?"

I sit in front of her and smile.

"I came here to ask you about the Land of Sigrid, Ma'am..."

Miriam is looking at me in silence and then she looks around. She's surprised and lifts her body a bit as if she's looking for someone. She then sits and looks at me again.

"Did you see where all my friends go? They were all here earlier."

I smile weakly.

"I think they left when I came here. Ma'am..."

Miriam is humming with understanding.

"They must be so busy saving the world and left without saying goodbye to me. Although I still miss them..."

I can't look at her sad expression and I look away and exhale deeply. Miriam sighs and then gently touches my arm.

"What did you want to ask? Young man?"

I look at her and smile.

"I want to know more about the Land of Sigrid."

Miriam is smiling and lean on the apple tree. She's staring at the sky.

"Land of Sigrid. The victory land for the fallen. Why do you want to know about that place young man? That land is forbidden for us who are alive."

A screen appears in front of me.

[A lie within belief. (In progress)]

[Saintess Miriam believes that her friends are still alive. Make her remember that her friends are no longer in this world with her.]

[Reward: None]

[Failed: No Penalty]

I look down and rub my head. I sigh deeply.

"What is wrong, young man?"

I'm still looking down while shaking my head. Miriam strokes my hair gently.

"Do you want to meet your beloved friend in there? Young man?"

I shake my head and look at her. I take a deep breath.

"No, Ma'am... I think that question is meant for yourself..."

Miriam is confused and then her hands fall to the ground. Miriam shakes her head and it seems that she remembered everything. Miriam is chuckling with disbelief.

"No, my friends are here with me..."

I remembered Hacal left the Saintess' Brooch. I show it to her and put it on her hand. Miriam is trembling in denial. I'm looking down while listening to her mumbles. This is the worst...

Miriam sniffles and then clears her throat.

"Now I know why they all keep asking me to follow them..."

Miriam is laughing quietly while wiping her eyes. I look at her and smile weakly.

[A lie within belief. (Completed)]

[Miriam remembered everything and now she understands everything]

...

...

...

[Your Charisma met the requirements for hidden quest]

...

...

...

[A request from the Saintess. (In progress)]

[Would you like to listen to her story and accept her request?]

[Accep the quest? Y/N]

...

...

...

[Yes]

Miriam stands up and looks at the flower field.

"When life serves no purpose, what would you do? There is no more meaning or value in life. When the word "death" is no longer scared you, and you finally wishing for it, what would you do? When dying sounds more interesting than living, and yet killing is the only thing that prevents you from taking the next step, what would you do?"

Miriam turns around and looks at me with a bright smile.

"Would you like to be my... "Angel of Death"?"

[You have accepted Saintess Miriam's request. You cannot decline or ignore her request. End Saintess Miriam's life within 5 minutes.]

[Reward: ???]

[Failed: Saintess will kill herself and you will get a curse that cannot be broken. Every second will reduce 10% of your health until you die. Duration: 1-year in-game time. (Logging out will pause the duration)]

[4mins 59secs until failure]

God damn it... I would rather kill thousands of monsters every day for a year than this...

I sigh and look at her.

"Before I do that. Can you tell me about the Land of Sigrid?"

Miriam smiles.

"The answer to your question lies inside the book I wrote. It is inside my house, you can find the book there. I believe you will find all the answers."

I sigh and rub my face.

"There's another thing I want to ask."

Miriam nods. I clear my throat.

"Can you tell me where they keep Krestan's eye?"

Miriam is chuckling.

"Young man, you are playing with fire. I'm afraid that I cannot tell you where it is because it will endanger the lives of millions of people."

I shake my head.

"No, I know what I'm doing and I will put an end to this. I'm sure sooner or later someone will get it and use it for their own benefits. But not me, I will make sure that he can do no harm to the people of Orion, not now, not later. I can promise you that. I came here is because Ivonna Ivon sent me here to ask you this."

Miriam is looking at me for quite a while.

[2mins 15secs until failure]

Miriam finally nods.

"Krestan's eye is buried within the Tombs of Kings'. You will find it when you see it."

I nod.

"Thank you, Saintess Miriam..."

I grab my scythe from my inventory. Miriam is surprised but then smiles and closes her eyes.

"Any last words, Saintess Miriam?"

Miriam smiles.

"Don't feel guilty for what you are about to do. It is I the one who wants this. Thank you, my child."

[Voice of the World]

[Saintess Miriam de Angelle has passed away. She left the world in peace, and now she is finally can meet her fallen friends, the heroes of the Orion. The people of Orion will mourn for her leaving.]

[Players are restricted to kill during the mourning.]

[Duration: 3 days in-game time]

All the players are looking at the sky. The bells on all the cities and villages are ringing to show their sorrows. The forum is overloaded with threads about Saintess Miriam.

Ivonna and the others are on their way to the meeting point. Francesca is looking at the sky.

"She's finally at peace, huh? Do you think Trevor is the one who did it?"

Ivonna looks at the sky.

"I believe so. He must have known about her condition and accepted her request. I don't know if I should be happy or sad. Maybe I'll have the same feeling as Trevor if I'm with him right now."

Everyone is humming with an agreement.

I drop my scythe to the ground and look at the sky.

"Becker... Damn you..."