Chapter 5: Madness

‘···What the fck?’

What in the world is this?

Certainly, in the original story, Aria was depicted as a woman with a pure heart.

“Hmph.”

But what is that?

Aria, who had broken the assassin’s neck, let the limp corpse fall at her feet and instantly collapsed.

She covered her face with both hands and her body trembled.

At first glance, it seemed she was despondent from the shock of killing someone, but…

“…Pfft. Heh.”

She was just desperately trying to hold back the ‘laughter’ that was escaping.

Watching all this from up close, my mind went blank, and this thought automatically came to me.

‘She’s not a saintess, she’s just a crazy bich…?’

–Aaaaargh!

–Gu-guards! Call the guards immediately!

Separate from my impression, the people around, belatedly, were in an uproar.

Most of the nobles were screaming and fleeing outside, while some remaining nobles had a slight interest in her decisive ‘execution’.

“Hoho, her handiwork is quite sharp.”

At the very least, those who came to this ball would have similar statuses, and since she was ‘young, had a good figure, and was even skilled in combat,’ they judged it would be fine to build connections if possible.

The nobles, who were used to navigating social situations and sowing discord, slowly approached her, contemplating how to use even this situation.

Just as they were approaching Aria, hoping she was a wandering knight or a hereditary noble.

Snap-

“???”

Aria broke the corpse’s leg.

Crunch-

Afterward, she even broke the undamaged arm.

Her appearance, so calmly breaking the corpse’s limbs, felt as if there was even some sublime will behind it.

“Haha. I should get out of here quickly too.”

Only then, the nobles who sensed Aria’s madness stepped back and hurriedly joined the fleeing crowd.

I was also startled by the sudden situation, but soon decided to leave.

‘An assassination attempt happened, so if they find out I snuck in, they won’t just let it go. Let’s get out of here quickly.’

Just as I was about to quickly move my feet.

“…You there. Master Fox?”

“Yes, yes?”

Aria pointed at me and called me to stop.

“Could you perhaps help me a little?”

“…Ah. Well, I have urgent business.”

‘I can’t get involved here.’

Original story or whatever, the woman in front of my eyes was a crazy woman who broke people’s necks while smiling.

I had to get out of here, no matter what excuse I made.

However, my excuse was useless, as a slightly lower, more somber voice came from Aria.

“Will you, help me?”

Staring intently at me, she slowly turned her neck, looking utterly terrifying.

‘Fck.’

With a demeanor that looked like she would break my neck at any moment, in the end, I had no choice but to listen to her.

“…Even if I have urgent business, it’s right to help someone in need. Haha.”

***

“Come closer.”

At the irresistible call, I approached her as slowly as possible.

“Look closely. How’s my handiwork?”

“Ugh.”

The first corpse I had ever seen in my life.

Looking at a corpse at close range naturally evoked physiological revulsion.

There was no blood, but the corpse, dead with its limbs twisted, was too grotesque.

And only then, did I properly realize the true reality.

The true horror of this world, which I hadn’t felt while working as a servant.

As the urge to vomit rose to my throat.

Aria looked at me and whispered closely, as if finding it cute.

“…Cute. Judging by your reaction, it’s your first time, right? Seeing something like this up close?”

“?”

‘Crazy bich.’

Ironically, Aria’s insane words brought me halfway back to my senses.

If I talked more, I felt like my sanity would be contaminated, so I had to quickly get to the point.

“Wh-what is it you need help with?”

Words squeezed out with barely mustered courage.

Aria touched her rabbit mask and said to me.

“Hmm, there’s someone I need to find. Could you help me find that person?”

‘Aria is looking for someone?’

She was waiting for someone even before the attack happened, so is she looking for that person?

…But one thing that puzzles me is.

‘Someone she can’t find even with her status as a saintess?’

The power of the church that serves Solennea is considerable within the empire.

With the status of a saintess in the church, she should be able to find anyone she wants easily…

‘Is it to hide her identity?’

Well, if news spread that a saintess killed someone and desecrated a corpse, the church’s reputation would be ruined in that instant, so it was understandable.

Perhaps she thought I was a noble at the ball and was asking for help.

It’s not difficult to find one person with the power and connections of a noble.

However, the problem is…

‘I’m not a noble.’

That’s right. How could a powerless servant find anyone?

Regarding this, it would be better to be honest than to lie unnecessarily.

“Well…!”

Just as I was about to tell the truth.

Seeing the corpse with twisted limbs at my feet, I instantly changed my words.

“…I’ll do my best to find them, so are there any personal details or characteristics of that person?”

For now, it seems I have to at least ‘pretend’ to search in order to survive.

Seeing my definite willingness to help, Aria rested her chin on her hand and said.

“Hmmmm. That person… well, ‘right now,’ they’re about your age.”

“They have black hair like someone from the Eastern Continent, and especially, their eyes are very small, making them look sneaky.”

“Crucially, that person absolutely does not believe in God.”

Black hair, squinted eyes, atheist.

If these are the characteristics…

‘Wait a minute. Something familiar…’

All the characteristics Aria mentioned were pointing to ‘me’.

As I hesitated for a moment, Aria noticed it eerily and turned her head.

“Oh?”

Aria, looking at me ‘directly’ for the first time, let out an exclamation of admiration.

No, to be precise, should I call it excitement?

She said to me in a very excited voice.

“Take off that mask.”

“…Yes?”

“Right now. Immediately.”

I’ve rarely felt the vague sensation of a ‘hunch’ in my life, but right now, I feel it instinctively.

‘If I take off the mask here, I die.’

I don’t know why, but the person Aria is currently looking for is ‘me’.

It’s not too late to think about the reason later.

‘For now, I have to somehow get through this situation.’

My head is getting hot, and my thoughts are expanding.

To buy at least a minimal amount of time to think, I obediently placed my hand on the mask, as if following Aria’s words.

One second.

I lower my hand again and reconsider.

Two seconds.

Eventually, making a decision, I touch the mask as if to take it off again.

Three seconds.

Aria, unable to bear it any longer, reached out her hand to me.

Four seconds.

Just before her hand touched the mask.

My mouth opened first.

“Wait a moment. I think you’re mistaken about something.”

A voice, a little too calm, came out.

“Based on the appearance alone, it’s quite similar to me, but it’s probably not the person you’re looking for. In the first place, we’re meeting for the first time today, aren’t we?”

“…That’s true, but it’s just showing your face, that’s not difficult, is it?”

Aria looked at me with interest, as the guy who was scared until just a moment ago suddenly spoke calmly.

Of course, her hand still hadn’t left the mask.

‘Good. There’s at least some room for persuasion.’

If Aria had resorted to brute force here, it would have been over, but the fact that she ‘refuted’ my opinion meant there was still room for conversation.

“Honestly, I don’t mind taking off this mask right away. But for both your sake and mine, wouldn’t it be better if we didn’t know each other’s identities to avoid any trouble later?”

“Well, I don’t know. Really? Honestly, saying that makes me want to take it off even more…”

Seeing Aria giving me a chance, as if telling me to try making more excuses, I decided to try ‘that method’ here.

‘Approaching this rationally is a trap in the first place.’

Even if the opponent accepts a little, it’s just a brief amusement, like watching a monkey in a zoo.

Fundamentally, it was impossible to persuade a madman.

Therefore, if the opponent is crazy, wouldn’t it be okay for me to show my own madness as well?

“…Then do as you please.”

“Huh?”

“Do as you please. After all, no matter what I say or do, you’ll doubt and dig into it, won’t you? Take it off. Just do it.”

Unlike my previous refutations, I allowed it so easily it felt futile.

The strategy I was using was simple.

Simply put, it means, ‘Go ahead and do your worst.’

The corners of Aria’s mouth began to curve up insanely.

***

It was a long battle.

Blood splattered, and flesh was torn dozens of times.

The two, whose accumulated karma alone would make even the gods of the continent shake their heads, were transcending the limits of mortals and reaching transcendence in this fight.

The man instinctively knew.

‘One of us will die.’

The winner of this battle might be the first ‘human’ to reach ascension.

The man smiled inwardly and swung his sword with his last ounce of strength.

The Saintess of Apostasy also forcibly squeezed out the ‘divinity’ she had consumed and blocked the attack with her greatsword.

There wasn’t much stamina left for either of them.

This battle, which had lasted for well over a week, was slowly coming to an end.

With only the final, ultimate blow remaining.

The man said one word to her.

“Do you want to become a god?”

If she, who held divinity, transcended the limits of mortality,

Eventually, she would become a new god.

The saintess who despises gods the most,

Does she truly wish to become a god?

At the man’s words, for the first time during the battle, her expression began to stiffen.