Volume 9, Chapter 49 – Shattering Resolve

After explaining the subsequent matters to Atwood, Yisi opened the main hall door. As expected, Lin was leaning against the wall opposite the hall, waiting. Perhaps due to several consecutive days without proper rest, coupled with it being night, there were faint dark circles under Lin’s eyes, making her look quite haggard.

Yisi couldn’t help but recall when she, Lin, Red, and Purple had parted ways. Lin must have looked just like this when Red and Purple emerged from the main hall. Except back then, Yisi was still standing beside her, talking. Now, Lin was left waiting all alone.

Seemingly lost in thought, Lin kept her head down, her brow tightly furrowed, lips pressed into a thin line. She didn’t notice Yisi coming out. Yisi couldn’t help but call out to wake her.

“Lin.”

“Ah… Yisi, are you done talking?”

Looking as if startled awake, Lin raised her head. For that fleeting moment, Yisi felt Lin looked as helpless as a child who couldn’t find her way home. Annoyance surged within her. Yisi frowned and stepped forward, grabbing Lin’s arm.

“Never mind me. You look terrible. You should go get some proper sleep.”

“I have dragon blood. Just one day without sleep won’t make me feel tired like a human. What’s important is you, Yisi. What did you and Atwood talk about? Did Atwood assign you a mission? The Gospel didn’t choose Yisi as a follower; he shouldn’t be assigning you tasks. If he troubled you, tell me immediately. Even the Pope can’t just do whatever he pleases.”

“No…”

Yisi hesitated.

Atwood had indeed asked something of her, and it was definitely troublesome. But calling it a ‘trouble’ would be going too far.

Besides, the one who needs concern isn’t me, it’s you, Lin.

Although she thought this, she couldn’t tell Lin the truth. Given Lin’s current state, even if Yisi said she had agreed to Atwood’s request—to free these people cursed by the Gospel, to free Lin who bore a responsibility she shouldn’t have—Lin wouldn’t listen. In fact, Yisi herself had no clue how to proceed yet.

How can I free Lin, who believes deeply in the Gospel, from its grasp? Tearing up the Gospel or taking Lin far away from the Divine Religion wouldn’t work; it would only backfire. For the current Lin, the Gospel was her reason for living. Without it, she would be lost and terrified.

“Yisi? Are you listening to me?”

“…”

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The more you show this concern for others, the more anxious and angry I feel. Lin’s solicitous expression made Yisi’s heart clench.

She shouldn’t have to bear the responsibility of a savior. It’s all the Gospel’s fault. The Gospel simply wasn’t something humans—or rather, beings with emotions—should ever touch.

No, thinking about this now is meaningless. I need to calm down and sort out my thoughts. Since the opponent was the omniscient Gospel, she needed to adopt an unexpected plan. This plan absolutely could not involve directly opposing the Gospel, or it would only lead to irreversible tragedy. Given these constraints, not thinking carefully was simply not an option.

Taking a deep breath, Yisi suppressed the swirling thoughts in her mind and said seriously, “Lin, when do you plan to set out?”

“Yisi means?”

“The Gospel’s command just now. It told you to bypass the Empire’s main forces and burn the supplies and siege engines carried by the baggage train, right?”

Lin shifted her gaze slightly, the light in her eyes dimming, and responded softly, “…Yes.”

“When are you leaving?”

The hand gripping Lin’s arm tightened slightly. Yisi forced Lin to look her in the eyes—those purplish-blue eyes, usually filled with unwavering determination, now held only worry, evasion, and cowardice.

Yisi subconsciously clicked her tongue.

“Tsk. Lin, are you planning to give up? Tell me, what are your true thoughts? You’re not the type to feel lost about the path ahead, are you?”

“No… Yisi… I just feel… a little tired…”

Lin must be conflicted about the Gospel’s command—ordering her to abandon the defense of the Ducal Capital and go burn supplies in the Empire’s rear. This command only seemed fine on the surface. A little thought revealed that with a magic caster beyond the hero’s domain present in the Empire’s forces, siege engines were fundamentally unnecessary. Burning the supplies and engines would, conversely, provoke the Empire into attacking sooner, perhaps even resorting to inhumane Tier 6 magic to reduce the entire city to ashes. At the same time, there was another problem: Lin was currently the strongest combatant in the Ducal Capital. Once she left, if the Empire happened to attack, the city would have no means of resistance. Even if she succeeded in burning the supplies, when she returned, she would only find a city reduced to ruins.

Knowing these things would happen, yet still having to act according to the Gospel’s guidance… it must be agonizing torment for Lin. Having just experienced the pain of losing Red and Purple, she now had to prepare herself psychologically for the destruction of the entire city, powerless to do anything about it. Someone with weaker mental fortitude would likely be on the verge of a breakdown by now.

Helplessness and sympathy gradually arose in Yisi’s heart. She released her grip on Lin’s hand, her tone softening.

“Lin…”

“Yisi, I have something to tell you.”

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Abruptly, the hesitation on Lin’s face gradually changed. But it wasn’t into determination or resolve. It was an expression of reluctance, unwilling to speak yet having to, reminiscent of a sinner lowering their head to confess their crimes.

“What?”

“The Empire’s declaration of war… wasn’t a lie.”

“Meaning you killed the Eldest Princess? Even Atwood said it was the Empire’s conspiracy. Could there be another possibility?”

“…The Eldest Princess’s death is indeed related to me. The reason Gore hates me is because… when I was still living in that coastal city, my transformation into the Calamity killed her… It’s all my fault. If I weren’t the Witch of Destruction, I wouldn’t have killed the Empire’s Eldest Princess, and there wouldn’t be the Empire’s declaration of war today. The people of the Duchy of Chloe wouldn’t die because of me. Was my birth a mistake? If I didn’t exist, would Gran have done a better job than me?”

This was the worst possible news.

Setting aside the truth of the information and how Lin verified it, the primary issue was that Lin now believed it. In an already terrible situation, this was like adding frost to snow.

Do I have to divert Lin’s attention…?

If Lin lost everything worth caring about, she would become a monster devoid of human emotion. The Gospel’s plan would be truly complete. Yisi absolutely could not let that happen.

Her gaze lingered for a moment on Lin’s haggard, penitent expression. Yisi’s mind raced.

Before leaving the main hall, Lin had proposed to Atwood having the undead old Pope guard the city, which was something forbidden by the Gospel. The previous Lin would never have suggested defying the Gospel. Her proposing it now indicated a change in her thinking. Perhaps after the incident with Red and Purple, she had begun to realize the importance of those around her. Of course, it could also be that she didn’t want the people in the Ducal Capital to die because of her. But regardless of the reason, this change was a condition that could be exploited.

The Gospel wouldn’t have thought the stone it lifted would one day smash its own foot.

Word by word, Yisi emphasized with a grave expression, “Lin, it’s too early to draw conclusions.”

“Why? The Gospel has already given the best answer. Not acting according to its will only leads to more sacrifices.”

“Does that have anything to do with you wanting to protect the people in the Ducal Capital? Do you want to watch them die? Since you were able to suggest having the undead protect the city just now, why are you bringing up the Gospel again? This behavior, in my eyes, is just Lin’s self-persuasion. Your heart wants to protect the people, but your mouth speaks of sacrificing more if you don’t follow the Gospel. Your tone lacks any resolve. Do you expect others to believe you?”

“Then what exactly do you want me to do! I have no choice but to believe the Gospel! If I could protect the people of the Duchy of Chloe, wouldn’t I? But I can’t! There is only one savior in the world, only one person named Lin! All I can do is not dwell on these people who admire and revere me! That’s all I can do! I bear the lives of all the dead and those killed by me! Only when I have fulfilled the savior’s mission can I stand before their graves with a clear conscience! Only then can I—”

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Her words choked off halfway, unable to continue. Lin’s widened eyes flickered constantly. Finally, as if not wanting Yisi to see her weak side, her lashes trembled, and she lowered her head.

Yisi clenched her fists.

“Lin, can you truly have a clear conscience? Even if you fulfill the savior’s mission, the dead will not resurrect. Those executed by the Gospel… you can never face them with confidence again. They are your eternal stain. By now, you should understand: the so-called savior is just a beautiful lie. You cannot save everyone.”

“Even so, allowing more people to live is my mission. I will not beg those souls slain by my blade to forgive me. That is the savior’s responsibility.”

“So you’ll just watch the people of the Ducal Capital die?”

“I have no choice.”

“What if I say you do?”

“…?”

Yisi’s words made Lin abruptly raise her head. A glimmer of hope appeared in her eyes as she looked at Yisi, then quickly faded.

“Yisi, you don’t need to comfort me.”

“No, I don’t mean to comfort you. Didn’t you say it yourself? If you had a way to protect the people of the Duchy of Chloe, you would. But there’s only one Lin in the world, so you have no choice. Then, we just need to make it so there are two Lins in the world.” Lifting her head confidently, a beautiful curve formed on Yisi’s lips. “You go destroy the things carried by the baggage train. I’ll stay behind and guard this city.”

“But Yisi isn’t part of the Divine Religion! And the Gospel likely wants to create a situation where the capital is empty! Your guarding here would defy the Gospel’s guidance!”

“So what? Doesn’t Lin want to protect the people in the capital? Didn’t we say on the way here just now that the failure of the plan against Alice, even me taking Laxy who should have been yours—all those plans I disrupted—haven’t resulted in any bitter consequences, right? Maybe everything I do, being unobservable by the Gospel, not only doesn’t affect its plan, but precisely because I’m beyond its control, what I do is better than its plan? Isn’t that a possibility too? Since you believe the Gospel, which cannot predict the Demon Lord’s actions, can save the future from the Demon Lord’s destruction, then why are you unwilling to believe in me, who has also brought about better outcomes? Or is it that I, someone whose strength rivals the Demon Lord, am not worthy of your trust?”

Her beautiful purplish-blue eyes trembled. Obvious hesitation appeared on Lin’s face. Even though Yisi’s words lacked solid persuasion, under Lin’s current desire to protect the Ducal Capital, they became the last straw to grasp before drowning. Anything that could let her believe, no matter how small, no matter how childish it might sound normally, now became the key to turning the situation around. Wanting to believe, wanting help—this was the reaction of anyone facing death.

However, this didn’t mean Lin had lost her reason. Even though her eyes were filled with longing for Yisi’s help, she still gritted her teeth, her chest heaving with rapid breaths, her expression a mix of excitement and anxiety. Her voice rose several notches.

“Yisi, you’re confronting the Gospel! This won’t end well! You’re not a member of the Divine Religion; you shouldn’t get involved in all this! If the Gospel targets you, things will only get worse! I cannot offer you any reward! I am neither human nor Blood Clan, just an incongruous thing! Ordinary people feel fear just seeing me! As an unclean being, even offering this body as repayment would only be met with disgust! I am not worth you doing this! Don’t oppose the Gospel for my sake, Yisi! This won’t end well!”

“Whether the outcome is good or bad is for me to decide, not you. Besides, how can the Gospel confront someone stronger than the Demon Lord? And I’m merely guarding the city; the Gospel didn’t forbid me from being here. What’s the problem? Or is it that Lin doesn’t believe I can protect the people of the Ducal Capital from the Gospel’s harm, just like I protected Alice? Also, I said it from the beginning: I don’t think you’re a monster. On the contrary, just like you like fluffy ears and tails, I also like the parts of you that are different from humans. It’s not ugly; it’s a unique trait belonging only to you. It only makes you more beautiful, cuter.”

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“You…”

Lin opened her mouth but couldn’t say anything.

This way of speaking is too cunning.

She couldn’t find any reason to refute it. The belief that had seemed unshakeable—’Not following the Gospel’s guidance will lead to more sacrifices’—now felt like a piece of paper burned to ash. A slight poke, even just a breath, would instantly turn it into flying dust.

Yisi’s words were not wrong. Since she could protect Alice from the Gospel’s harm, then there was a possibility she could protect the Duchy of Chloe from disaster too. Unobservable by the Gospel, she possessed infinite possibilities from the start.

But what made it hard for her to accept was that this was ultimately just a possibility. If, in the end, Yisi failed to protect the people, who would bear the responsibility? Or rather, could she accept such an outcome?

Just as she voiced this thought, the main hall door suddenly opened from within. Contrary to his previous gray-robed elder image, Atwood had combed his graying black hair back and tied it up. Two short blades were tucked at his waist. His neat attire immediately gave the impression of a warrior ready for battle.

Head held high, Atwood placed his hand on his chest. The solid sound of impact conveyed an indescribable sense of reliability.

“That responsibility will be borne by me.”

“Atwood…”

The final wall in her chest shattered instantly, as if struck by a giant iron ball. Lin’s lips quivered, but she said nothing.

Yisi revealed a satisfied smile.

“Well done, Atwood. Afterward, I must record your contribution in the annals of history. Now then, Lin, you should make your choice: accept my help, or refuse it.”

“I…” Her hesitant gaze lingered for a moment on Atwood’s approving face, then shifted to Yisi’s determined eyes. Swallowing hard, Lin answered with difficulty, “…Accept.”

Translator Note

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