Olivia Blue remembers.

as a result of one’s own actions. what kind of catastrophe happened

-Would you like to go out to play?

– I don’t like it.

-Why are you suddenly polite?

-… … Because you are a saint.

-I don’t like that… … .

Olivia explicitly expressed her refusal, but Arrieta still clung to her.

It was understandable since she was the only child of her age.

However, Olivia couldn’t help but be furious whenever she saw such immature Arrieta.

Olivia implicitly burned her rivalry toward Arrieta.

‘Why is that a saint?’

He has shallow thoughts and only likes to play.

Even so, he is several times better than himself who works hard every day.

Isn’t that really unfair?

Olivia didn’t know about Arietta’s penances, but she couldn’t help but think about it when she was young.

He was immersed in the consciousness of being the chosen people that only he was continuing the ascetic practice and that others were not.

And just like that, time goes by.

The day has come for Arietta to become a high priest.

Even then, Olivia harbored hostility towards Arietta.

She was still only a rank priest, but Arrieta thought that she was qualified as a high priest just because she was a saint.

That’s why she entered the test Arietta had to take first.

It was because I thought it would be clear that it would only be done formally anyway.

She wanted to expose it.

– Ugh… … .

Olivia finally knew it when she was surrounded by a group of naturally occurring ghosts.

The qualification test was being conducted in a very legitimate way.

It wasn’t Arietta that was immature, it was Olivia herself.

-Huh… … .

she sobbed.

He loathed his own stupidity.

The inability to do anything properly was disgusting.

On such a subject, I hated the usual behavior of not considering the goodwill of others as goodwill and only harboring distrust.

It was disgusting to think that self-mortification was the way to atone for one’s sins.

– You should have died then!

yeah, better then

Instead of escaping the kingdom, he should have fought and died.

Then I wouldn’t have to suffer so much.

He wouldn’t have disappointed the people who believed in him and supported him.

– Rather then!

– Wouldn’t it have been better if he was still alive? If you die, you won’t be able to meet the people you want to meet?

-… … .

Olivia then noticed the person staring at her.

Arrieta Domine.

She found Olivia faster than any other priest.

The priest’s clothes were soaked in sweat, and he was breathing repeatedly as if he was out of breath.

The skin exposed through the clergyman’s clothes was scratched here and there, as if he had jumped between the trees.

-Saint… … ?

She certainly didn’t look like a saint.

-Call me Arietta.

-Can’t you call me that when we’re together? you’re a friend There should be no secrets from each other~

-ah. Ari, … … saintess.

But even so, Olivia couldn’t help but call it that.

Because there was such an attitude.

-tooth… … .

But Arrieta clicked her tongue as if she was pouting at Olivia’s answer, as if she didn’t feel fear even though she had stepped into the middle of these specters.

-Why me?

-You mean the saintess. He said he had to save people he didn’t know. But if you’re looking for people you don’t know, you can’t help but look for friends.

Olivia was speechless.

Despite hitting the wall and rejecting her like that, Arietta still considered Olivia a friend.

That bright attitude made Olivia feel guilty.

-Everyone, what about the others?

– I don’t think everyone will be able to come this far soon?

Olivia’s complexion turned blue at Arrieta’s words.

It is not an environment where two young children can survive for a long time.

It is said that they are closing the barrier with divine power now, but the group of ghosts will break through the barrier soon.

– Well, then how?

– What is it, you said you were better off dying earlier, but now you want to live?

-ah… … .

Olivia lowered her head at Arietta’s playful words.

hate yourself

But Arrieta approached Olivia and said,

– That’s normal.

Olivia looked up at Arietta. The mint-colored eyes seemed to pierce her heart.

– But because of me… … !

All her supporters collapsed at her helpless appearance.

Some of them were purged because they could not escape in time.

She could not repay the trust they sent her to the point of risking her life.

that is her original sin

-Did I tell you then? I will forgive your sins on behalf of God.

But Arrieta looked at Olivia and said.

It was the same words as then, but for some reason the weight was different.

-God does not forgive sins. If it was something that could be called a sin, the law would have judged it.

-But there are people who are not judged even if they have committed sins.

-Isn’t it our job to judge them?

Arrieta grabbed Olivia’s trembling hand with both hands.

Olivia unconsciously grabbed the hand as if she had forgotten how warm human warmth was.

-There are people who do not get judged even if they commit sins. Conversely, there are people who think they have committed a sin even though they have not committed a sin.

-… … .

– Olivia. Then who can forgive your sins?

I do not know.

At least Olivia thought that was God.

He thought that if he practiced asceticism diligently, God would answer his prayers and forgive his sins.

-Your sins have already been forgiven. God doesn’t look at your sins and I, as God’s agent, have forgiven you.

-Then why am I still in so much pain?

Instead of answering, Arrieta spread her divine power to reveal the light.

The specters gathered around them hesitated for a moment in the white light and retreated.

-It’s normal to want to live, Olivia. You didn’t have to push yourself like that.

-… … .

-I have already forgiven your sins. Now you have to forgive yourself. If you can’t… … .

The light was bright.

But the bizarrely gathered group of specters was much darker than that. Arrieta’s light was like a lantern immersed in darkness.

It was dangerous not knowing when it would turn off.

– Go apologize in person to the people you thought you did wrong.

But the light will not go out.

『I will offer it.』

Arrieta sang a hymn for the ceremony. It was not a ceremony for promotion to high priest.

It was the saintess’ oath to dedicate her everything to God.

『Please allow the two legs that have been reaching for someone to become pillars that will support their legs.』

The moment she said that phrase, Arrieta started to hesitate.

It was difficult to balance the body.

It was a sacrifice of stamina and freedom of movement to the gods.

『I will offer it.』

But as if that wasn’t enough, Arrieta raised her voice.

『Please grant my light to others so that they can show the hope in their eyes.』

and that moment.

Arrieta’s eyes lost their light.

All the specters who had gathered strangely disappeared.

* * *

Olivia was looking at Arrieta, whose eyes were slightly closed.

-Where are you?

-Here, here I am… … .

Olivia knew that Arrieta could no longer see.

it was because of her

Because of her immature behavior, Arrieta became an adult too early.

– Take this.

While Olivia was blaming herself, Arrieta reached out to her.

Olivia accepted it politely with both hands.

-This… … .

– Because I won’t be able to run like I used to.

It was the hair tie Arietta had been using to tie her hair all along.

It would be safe to say that it was an object that symbolized her vitality.

She was walking all over the place with that hair tie on.

-I, I… … .

-Yes, Olivia.

-I’ll be your bridge.

– It’s okay if you don’t. Just running as much as I can’t run is enough.

– No, I… … . I must… … . I will become a bridge that enables the saintess to go where she wants to go.

– Uhm… … . okay.

Arrieta, too, scratched her cheeks in agreement, perhaps knowing that Olivia’s stubbornness could not be defeated.

That’s how Olivia found her true faith.

* * *

Olivia undid her hair tie, recalling the past.

It was the proof of the oath I had received then.

“Olivia… … .”

“You promised not to lie to your heart when we were alone.”

A childhood promise.

Even so, Olivia had never been comfortable singing Arietta until now, but it was different now.

Now I had to act as her friend, as a witness who shared the oath.

“but… … .”

Arrieta hesitated.

What Olivia says is sophistry.

Aren’t there already numerous ＜Shields of Light＞ around you?

Still, Olivia didn’t care. At that, the ＜Shields of Light＞ were silent as if they would respect Olivia’s will.

It meant that the conversation from now on was only for the two of them.

“The lively girl I knew, Arietta, was a person who wanted to do a lot.”

“… … .”

“He was a tomboy who loved to run and play.”

Olivia placed her hair tie over Arrieta’s hand.

The day Arrieta lost a lot. The day I couldn’t help but lose it.

Just when Olivia promised to replace her feet.

It was a hair tie approved by Arietta for that oath.

“Tell me, Arrieta. If it was you then, if it was you before you gave up a lot… … . What do you think you would like to do now?”

“Olivia… … .”

Arrieta felt the touch of the hair tie on her hand, then answered with a sob.

“I want to run towards Oz.”

“yes.”

“I want to save… … .”

“yes… … .”

“Please, Olivia… … . Save Oz from dying.”

“Okay, I’ll replace your leg. Because that is a promise.”

Olivia took the hair tie again from Arietta and started tying her hair neatly.

It was a contrast to the ＜Shield of Light＞, which was wearing a helmet.

“Raise your shields of light.”

While tying her hair down, Olivia declared to the ＜Shields of Light＞ burning with fighting spirit.

“There’s no lesser guy here who thinks he can’t carry out the saintess’s orders without me, right?”

thud!

Instead of answering, the ＜Shields of Light＞ made a path by widening gaps in formation.

It was the place where Oz fell.

They proudly announced that it wouldn’t be a problem just because Olivia wasn’t there.

“Then let’s go.”

Before long, Olivia threw herself into the gap.

Her blue hair began to rise, carving a current into the waves of the black dead.

“Hmm… … .”

Faid was looking at Olivia’s advance.

I understand the flow of the series. Originally, he would have to stop it.

[The successor of the King of Sorcery] is definitely strong, and it would be better to defeat it when it can be defeated.

“Anyway, I’m just a human.”

Even so, Pide did not give Olivia any more attention than was necessary.

It was just to the extent of using the nearby dead to hinder her movements.

But I didn’t put a lot of numbers on it.

It’s just a matter of wasting a little time. But that was enough.

Faid knows that Olivia is not a special person.

Even though she is a member of the group, she is not qualified to become a hero on the battlefield.

so that… … .

“Grrr… … .”

Although it is said to be in a near-moribund state, there is no way that it can withstand Gigantes.

“Ugh… … ?!”

When Olivia, who had been caught by Pyde’s dead men, arrived by Oz’s side, Gigantes had already arrived.

Even if Gigantes reached out, she and Oz would be captured. It is impossible to escape.

Faced with Gigantes head-on, Olivia was overwhelmed even though he was in a tattered state.

‘It seems to create a respect that wasn’t there.’

Oz must have fought the monster while it was still intact. It must have been that they fought like that and pushed it to that level.

Then what about yourself? Do you have the strength to face that monster?

“Whoa… … .”

no, no

It is impossible to injure that monster with her crude sword skills.

Conversely, even if he raised his shield to protect Oz, he would surely not last long.

So Olivia corrected her posture even more.

“There’s not much I can do, but I can’t back down now.”

I grabbed the shield with both hands and blocked the front of Gigantes.

You cannot knock down your opponent. It will be difficult to block.

There was such a difference.

It wasn’t that I couldn’t back off. She was Arrieta’s leg, and she was obliged to put it in the direction she wanted.

How long can you not stand it?

“That is enough.”

If so, it is her role to earn that little time.

“Hoo… … .”

Faid looked at Arietta and ＜Shield of Light＞ while looking sideways at Olivia.

Clearly, he was not a hero.

but… … .

“There is a pulpit… … .”

she was holding on