96 – Misalignment (3)

The empty lot of the monastery. Celica reverently knelt down in a clearing where people rarely walked.

“Abbot.”

She raised her prayers with all her earnest heart. In her hand was a staff, a memento of the abbot.

The person who raised Celica, who lost her parents when she was young. The death of an old man who was in fact her parents came suddenly.

But she accepted reality. She said her final goodbyes to the departed old man.

During her funeral, Celica couldn’t sleep. We did help, but most of the procedure was done by her hands.

The children of her monastery also joined her hands and prayed after her. Some of them were crying children.

“Abbot. Thank you so much.”

Finally, Celica straightened her knees and rose from her seat. Her children followed her to say her final goodbyes to her old man.

That’s how the funeral ended. Although the scale was simple, the sincerity was indescribable. After checking the tidy tomb until the end, Celica turned her head.

“Thank you. It’s all thanks to you.”

She was barely smiling through her weary expression.

***

The village of Helen was barely able to be restored, but most of the main facilities were destroyed.

Commercial districts and municipal facilities. Major residential areas were hit and people took to the streets.

It’s a shame because the building of the guards was intact and the knights of the capital arrived. The village could have turned into a lawless zone.

Among them, the monastery was not safe either. At least it prevented the building from collapsing, but it was a mess.

Inside the monastery, shards of broken glass were scattered everywhere. The pillars of the building were dangerously cracked from the impact.

Celica sighed with a dark expression on her face. She doesn’t know if it’s just her, but her children who follow her are also with her.

Four children. Mark. Sophia. Jack. Daisy. They are all children who have not reached adulthood.

Though Mark is the eldest child. He is at least thirteen years old. Even the youngest, Jack, was only eight years old.

It was clear that even if the children tried to find a job, they would not be accepted. At least like Colin, he had to be 17 to do chores.

“What do you plan to do next?”

“…First of all, I was trying to figure out something.”

She immediately shook her head at Celica’s words. With Helen’s village in shambles right away, the chances of her finding out what she could do were slim.

Until now, it is said that the abbot’s mercy has treated the injured for only a small amount of money. She wondered if she might be able to work as a healer in the temple now.

But it was clear to her that the situation would not improve even if she went to the temple. There was a high probability of receiving a low salary as much as the knights.

She can’t stand her having to support her children right now. She was absolutely impossible.

As my explanation continued, Celica’s face grew darker and darker. As she faced reality, her shoulders shrugged.

Of course, Celica did not give up. She was looking for a way to be with her children somehow.

But at this rate, she couldn’t be with us.

“I’m sorry. Seohyun. I wish I could be with you, but I can’t leave my children behind.”

Celica apologized to me with her head down. Looking at her, she couldn’t hide her complex mind.

‘I don’t want to give up.’

In order to have Celica as her ally, she has put in a lot of effort so far. It was too much of a waste to let her go now.

In order to survive the vortex of her future war, she must be recruited.

Of course, he could have coerced Celica into becoming her ally. But she had her children.

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“I’m sorry. Seohyun. I know you gave me so many opportunities.”

“Serica.”

“But I have to protect my children.”

I could fully understand Celica’s position. All of her children were me, she told her.

Even to follow her abbot’s will, Celica couldn’t give up her children.

She had to take her children with her if she recruited her. It was completely out of line with the plan I envisioned.

“It can’t be helped.”

Erina spat out the words in an uninspiring tone. On the other hand, Kayla looked at Celica with her pitiful eyes.

After a moment of hesitation, Kayla opened her mouth.

“I want to help in some way.”

Then Erina looked at her with her eyes full of betrayal.

Unlike Erina, Kayla has changed.

When she first said she would bring Celica, she was adamantly against it. But now she has changed her mind to accept Celica as her ally.

At least it let me know that my efforts were not in vain.

“I absolutely hate it.”

But Erina did not change. She’s had several altercations so far, but it’s been impossible to change her mind.

My liking for myself and indifference and wariness toward others were the same as when I first met them.

But she had no intention of giving up. I’d rather lead everyone, even if I had to take all the responsibility.

Because I am the only one who can stop Erina. And because I’m the only one who can save Celica.

“Erina. Let’s talk separately for a moment.”

At my words, Erina slowly stood up. Celica and Kayla couldn’t hide their anxious expressions.

“My lord…”

“I’ll be back soon. Wait a munite.”

Since Kayla was determined to accept Celica, she only had to convince Erina.

She left the monastery with her. A garden with no people. The leaves fell as the branches blew in the wind.

Her white hair fluttered with the lonely wind. Her cold eyes melted warmly as they turned to me.

“Erina. I want Celica to come in as her colleague.”

Of course, there was no way she would welcome Celica. Even when she accompanied her temporarily, she ignored her.

Maybe even this situation was what she wanted. Did she aid the Demon King’s army in order to drop Celica?

“All I need is you.”

“…”

“I want to expel that Yongin right away. I’m holding back for you though.”

I knew everything. How much Erina likes me and how much she hates Kayla.

However, this world was different from the first playthrough. Erina might have noticed a sense of incongruity.

Unlike the world she destroyed, the monsters and enemies became stronger.

She did the same when she faced Ragnar’s forces. Although she fell down in front of her, she did not show an overwhelming appearance like the figure of the snowy mountain.

Now we are only halfway through. In the future, the enemies will be stronger.

Can Erina defeat the demon lord alone? She was truly unfazed.

But there was no way she could hear me. It was clear that she would not accept it no matter how much I persuaded her.

I needed another method. What did Erina want the most? After all, it had to do with me.

“Erina. Come on.”

Without even a reply, Erina was immediately put into my arms. She made a pod in her hand while hanging from her waist.

Even when I scold you coldly, when I treat you warmly, even when I’m consistent with a calm attitude.

Erina didn’t even pay attention to others. She was always looking at me.

“Erina. Please. I want you to accept Celica as her colleague.”

“I don’t like it. I absolutely hate it. Why are you looking at a woman like that?”

“I know. But if we don’t defeat the Demon King, this world might end.”

The same excuse came up again. As usual, the conversation continued in place.

Now I knew. It was impossible to convince Erina. It would have been wiser to negotiate.

“Let’s do this. From now on, I will always stick by your side. I won’t say anything even if you stalk me.”

Even if it meant giving up my freedom, she was determined to recruit Celica.

It’s bittersweet, but I can’t get what I want. We had to find an agreement that we could both be satisfied with.

But Erina had too much desire.

“Please don’t talk to other girls from now on. And please never leave my side.”

“…”

“Always be by my side when I sleep, when I take a bath, and when I eat.”

All of them were harsh suggestions. Anyway, don’t even talk to other people.

But Erina’s words did not stop. She continued her request in an excited voice.

“If you get a mansion in the future, please use the same room as me. Please don’t let that woman come into her room.”

“…”

“And promise me you won’t do anything dangerous like last time. Always stay behind me when fighting.”

Since then, nonsensical demands have continued one after another.

There were simple and childish requests as well as endlessly heavy and serious demands. There were so many that I can’t remember them all.

Of course, we couldn’t do everything. Erina didn’t ask to hear all of this either.

I just vomited up everything she wanted.

Even the last request could never be fulfilled.

“Lastly, please be my lover.”

Lovers. Sincerely love each other. Erina wanted to be alone with me.

For an instant, Kayla’s face flickered before her eyes. The confession she heard along with the wind blowing from the snowy mountains lingered in her ears.

‘I love my lord.’

I couldn’t accept Erina’s feelings. She was the one who brought me into this world and the monster who destroyed it.

“I will always love you. Until I die, this feeling will not change.”

“…”

“Please accept my heart now. Please be my lover.”

The day will come when we will have to expose her lies. Until then, she had to cheat on her.

But no matter how much she lied, she couldn’t be a lover by lying. At least it was the last line left for me.

“Erina. I’m sorry, but I can’t accept it right now.”

I didn’t say why. She already knew. It was obvious to her that the same excuse as before would come back.

I’d rather postpone the answer.

“If the Demon King defeats you, then I will tell you the answer.”

After defeating the demon lord, what will I do with Erina? Conversely, how will Erina act after her lies are exposed?

When the time comes, what answer should she give her. She was totally unpredictable.

“Then,”

When even her confession to be her lover was rejected, Erina looked up at me and grabbed her face.

“Please kiss me.”

At Erina’s words, I fell over the neck without even realizing it.

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