Chapter 44: Detective Games (8)

“Did I…”

Glesia’s voice was cold, but those who knew her well would recognize the tremor beneath the surface.

“Did I hear that correctly?”

She was shaken, more so than usual.

“Yes. You heard correctly.”

The woman before Glesia was Elenore, the Academy’s theology professor and head priestess.

“It seems there’s nothing more I can do.”

“…”

Elenore had been tasked with healing Aria, and the rest of the Hero’s party.

“Aria…”

Only one person, Aria, couldn’t be healed.

“Holy power doesn’t seem to affect her.”

“What…? Don’t tell me she’s a demon…!”

In the Empire’s history, only demons were immune to holy power. If what Elenore said was true, then Aria was…

“No, that’s not what I mean.”

“What? Then what…?”

“She’s simply unaffected by holy power.”

Not just healing, but all effects.

“As you know, Professor Glesia, holy power is akin to the Goddess’s blessing.”

“I know.”

“If holy power is water, then magic is fire.”

Opposing forces that reacted upon contact. Holy power was deadly to demonic energy.

“But Aria… she’s like oil.”

Completely impervious to holy power.

“It’s like pouring water through a sieve. No matter how much I try, it just flows through.”

“Is that even possible?”

“Well…”

Elenore trailed off.

“If such a case existed, there would be records, but I’ve never encountered it before…”

“Sigh, I understand.”

Glesia sighed, ending the topic.

“Can she recover?”

“I’ve administered all possible treatment.”

“If holy power doesn’t work, what about potions?”

“I’ve already used them, but without high-grade potions, immediate recovery is unlikely.”

The Academy professors were high-ranking priests of the Church. Ironically, this meant the Academy had few potions.

No one had anticipated encountering someone completely immune to holy power.

The Goddess had existed since creation, and holy power was her blessing, her love for humanity.

Anyone like Aria would have been branded a heretic in the past.

“So, what’s Aria’s current condition?”

“Her natural healing is fast, but it will take time for her to wake up.”

“Sigh… Alright.”

Glesia stood up.

“I’ll try to acquire some potions.”

“I’ll do everything I can for my patient.”

“Thank you.”

They left the room.

“Hello.”

Blue eyes were the first thing Aria saw upon waking. A white-haired girl leaned close, their breaths mingling.

“…”

“What? No reaction? How disappointing.”

The girl grumbled at Aria’s silence.

“Is that all you have to say to your sister after so long?”

“You’re a fake.”

Lucia.

“Who are you calling a fake!”

She snapped, but Aria’s attention was elsewhere.

‘Her appearance has changed?’

The last time Aria had seen her, she’d looked like a seventeen-year-old girl. Now, she appeared fully mature, closer to her real-world age.

“Ah, this?”

The fake Lucia seemed to read Aria’s thoughts, smiling.

“I changed it a bit for you. How do you like it?”

The smile held an unpleasant edge.

“It’s pointless.”

“What’s that supposed to mean!”

“So, why are you here this time?”

“Well…”

Because you looked too happy.

“What?”

Me? Happy?

What nonsense…

“I know. I know~ You’re only approaching me because of your mission~”

“…”

“But…”

The more we see you interacting with others, the more we hate you.

The surroundings began to shift.

The hospital room transformed into a rooftop overlooking a burning city.

“It must be frustrating, not being able to call me sister.”

“…”

“How about it? You can call me sister now.”

“I don’t remember, and I don’t miss it.”

“That’s a cold response, even if you’ve forgotten.”

Well, that’s what we want.

“Why don’t you stop pretending to be my sister? It’s pointless.”

“No.”

“As expected.”

Ghostly figures materialized around them.

Aria glanced at them before turning back to the girl.

“It seems you’re the one who’s forgotten.”

“Hm?”

“You’ve died countless times already.”

The building beneath them crumbled. Sword in hand, Aria plunged downwards.

“Sigh…”

Aria opened her eyes to a white ceiling. Sitting up, she realized she was alone in what appeared to be a hospital room.

“Hnn…”

A dull ache throbbed through her body. The pain, though familiar, was unexpected, and she groaned involuntarily.

“Was I injured?”

She looked down to see bandages wrapped around her torso.

A familiar sight. She dismissed it.

“How long has it been…?”

Her sense of time was hazy after being in the dream world.

As she looked around for a calendar, the door opened.

Thud

Something fell to the floor. Aria turned to see Lucia, who had dropped a basket, and Alicia standing beside her.

“A…ria…?”

What timing…

“So, I’ve been unconscious for three days?”

“Yes. We were worried because you wouldn’t wake up.”

Lucia recounted the events after Aria collapsed.

Three days had passed.

‘Three days…’

A Legion Commander was a high-ranking force in the Demon Realm. They weren’t deployed often.

This meant their deployment signified a significant event.

Aria had fought countless battles while injured, so three days of unconsciousness was unusual. The Zeroth Legion, despite its small size, required more potions than other legions.

“What happened with the incident?”

“That’s the first thing you ask about?!”

Lucia sounded annoyed. Aria stared at her, and Lucia sighed.

“…The truth has come out, and the professors are handling it.”

“The culprit?”

“When Professor Glesia arrived, the attacker had already escaped, leaving only you injured.”

“I see.”

So, F had escaped after their deal.

“What about the others?”

“Their injuries weren’t serious. The theology professor healed them.”

“That’s good.”

The conversation felt strangely normal.

But Aria had noticed the emotion in Lucia’s eyes.

“What do you want to say?”

“H-How…!”

“Your thoughts are written all over your face.”

“…”

Lucia was speechless. It was obvious she wanted to ask something.

“Alicia, could you go get a professor?”

“What? They’ll be here soon…”

“Please.”

“…Alright. Five minutes?”

“Yes, that’s enough.”

Alicia, initially puzzled, seemed to understand Lucia’s intention. She nodded and left.

“So, what is it?”

“…Aria.”

Lucia addressed her, her voice firm.

“Are you really my sister?”

It came down to this question.

A voice echoed in Aria’s mind.

‘Because you looked too happy.’

Had she already distanced herself from the others?

“No.”

“…”

The answer came without hesitation.

Lucia flinched, but Aria continued.

“As I said before, I’m not your sister, Lucia.”

Lucia lowered her head.

A moment later, she murmured, but Aria heard her clearly.

“…You’re lying.”

“It’s the truth.”

“You’re lying!”

“Baseless accusations…”

“They’re not baseless!”

Lucia stood abruptly, tears welling in her eyes.

“You’re immune to holy power.”

Aria was momentarily startled. Had they discovered it during her treatment?

“After joining the Church, I searched for any cases of immunity to holy power.”

“…”

“But there were none. No matter how much I searched. I checked every book I could access.”

As the Saintess, Lucia held a position almost equal to the Pope. The books she could access represented the entirety of the Church’s knowledge.

“It could be an unrecorded case.”

“You’re lying again…”

Lucia murmured, ignoring Aria’s denial.

“You know?”

“What?”

“You said I wear my heart on my sleeve.”

“And?”

What was suspicious about that?

“Even Alicia, who’s been with me for years, and no one else in the Church can accurately read my emotions or thoughts from my expression.”

“…”

“No one, except my sister.”

Lucia’s voice was filled with conviction.

“And…”

A cold sweat trickled down Aria’s back.

“Not just her, I could read her expressions too.”

“…”

“Just like now.”

“So tell me, Aria. Are you really not my sister?”

“No.”

“Ha… Haha…”

Lucia laughed, a hollow sound.

But Aria sensed the emotion beneath the laughter.

“Ha… Ha… Hic… Sniff…”

The laughter turned into sobs.

“I finally… found you… I finally…”

It seemed this sister wouldn’t let her go easily.