234 – If you’re going to die anyway-1
The process of going to Reinhardt’s mansion went easier than expected.
Some believers tried to stop Saint Angela and Lumine from going again, but there was no further justification since the Holy Emperor had personally asked them not to argue with the saint’s choice.
The temple was now clearly being delivered to Reinhardt.
And
I was able to return home after a very long time.
* * *
“…Phew…”
Clearly, big challenges still remain.
The problem of the Demon King’s vessel and the problem of Black Arya in the Holy Sword were by no means light.
“Whoa…”
Still, it was a situation where we both worked hard to resolve the issue. In fact, it was a situation where great progress was being made.
Rios and Lumine were now able to heal their own trauma without screaming.
Chris was now fully accustomed to Yonghwa and was allowed to use her right arm.
Marken and Gladio were not at a remarkable level, but they were able to imprint on their bodies better techniques and Aura usage than the younger generation.
Probably the core 7 stars are not that far off.
“Huuu…. Haaa…”
Despite such good news, the playmaker who had created this situation let out a sigh that made the ground tremble.
[Why are you sighing and making such a fuss earlier?]
“Who are you talking about?”
When the lesser wise man pointed out, Leonardo pushed away his gloomy sigh with anger.
The provocation itself could not be said to be desirable, but it gave me a good opportunity to ask the reason for the nonsense I had been exhaling earlier.
“…What’s going on? “I’ve been sighing since a while ago…”
After completing training, Rios sat down on the stairs and carefully asked Leo a question.
Even in low pressure conditions, he calmly suffered less aftereffects, but he had no choice but to be cautious as he was an opponent who showed off grotesque training by bending and twisting the area that would cause the most pain.
“…Not really. “It’s work and there’s nothing to do.”
No matter who saw it, it was a lie.
As the training was coming to an end for an hour, Leo was replacing all his inhalations and exhalations with sighs.
The tone of voice just now was that of a person who was depressed, but would answer as if he couldn’t win if you asked him a question.
[The sandwich top is making the sound of exploding.]
“Shut up. “The young, old wise man has been making a fuss since a while ago.”
Of course, the problem was that the wise man was not the person to obediently accept that.
Leo and Sage glared at each other that day, fighting with only their eyes. It wasn’t just the argument that had just happened.
Leo’s patience was reaching its limit when it came to the memory issue. It’s already been over a week since the wise man said, “Don’t worry.”
Rather than carrying out the method, he did not give a single word, so Leo had no choice but to put even more stress on his mind.
“…I’m worried about Aria.”
But the essence of her worry was Aria.
When explaining about Colt, Ameri’s son, at the temple, Ariasviel treated her with a markedly different attitude after unintentionally seeing the other two girls running wild.
“…Is there anything to worry about? “It seemed more stable, didn’t you?”
Chris asked calmly, wiping the sweat flowing down with a bandage wrapped around his arm.
After returning to his mansion, Aria Spiel faithfully carried out her duties without much change.
He always ate at the restaurant, and he quietly succeeded in the heavy training given to him by Leonardo.
On the contrary, he was considerate of those around him with a brighter smile and dignified tone than usual, so it seemed like there was no problem at all.
“…That’s what it takes.”
On the surface, it meant it was okay.
Leo, who keenly understood the discomfort and danger of such an artificial mask, could not feel at ease.
“When the psychological shock is severe, some people end up acting ‘normal.’ “They act naturally to reassure others.”
“…Surely that is…”
It was credible because it was said by Leonardo.
It was trustworthy in opinion and logic, but the Reinhardt family had already experienced that behavior.
‘…Leonardo…If you think about it, it was probably all just an act.’
All manners, tone of voice, and behavior shown by Leonardo in the first episode would be like a play performed with a mask on.
You could call it deception, but no one would be able to sell it.
That was just being polite, and it was far from hiding his true malicious intent.
“So that’s the problem. The more natural it is, the harder it is to notice. “To the point where I wonder if I’m too sensitive.”
“…Isn’t there a possibility that it’s really an illusion?”
Gladio asked back.
It wasn’t that I wasn’t worried about Aria, but Leonardo had also been overloaded with work and shocked recently, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he became nervous.
As evidence of this, the training given to them was more severe than usual, and it was also the basis for them to look at them with a venomous gaze.
“That’s right. So, I looked for some evidence to confirm.”
“…Searching for evidence means…”
Lumine looked at Leo with a slightly pale expression. She felt uneasy, wondering if Aria had a clue about what she was asking.
“He played around with the food he ate. “I secretly sprinkled some seasoning that had a strong bitter taste.”
“…Yes? “Why are you playing such a joke?”
Lumine seemed to be relaxed by the prank that only the neighborhood kids would make, so she asked a question half-heartedly.
She may have been more relaxed by the trivial confirmation method than she had worried.
“Usually, such acting shows the best state to the outside so as not to cause concern.”
Leonardo took a small condiment bottle out of his pocket and waved it. The bitter, strong scent wafted into his nostrils even without him having to taste it himself.
“When Aria came to her mansion, did she ever complain about the side dishes?”
“That… Doesn’t exist.”
As Leo said, Ariasviel never once complained or raised a question when eating at Reinhardt.
Instead, she finished her plate and calmly added, ‘It’s been a while since I ate it, and it’s really delicious.’
“…I’m not saying this for messing around with food, but it’s very serious. “My mental state is like a bright apricot.”
It was not a proverb originally used in this sense, but it was a metaphor that was immediately understandable.
“…So Lumine, do you have any clues?”
“…Yes? “Are you saying that?”
Suddenly, the arrow headed towards Lumine again. With an embarrassed tone, adult Lumine is at a crossroads as to whether he should keep his secret as a hero.
It was a difficult problem for a young adult.
As an adult, he had a duty to hide the hero’s secret, and he also hoped that the hero would overcome the ordeal.
{…Lumine Investigation…}
But Angela knows.
There was no guarantee that the pain that Leo went through after concealing it through his own personal judgment would be any different now.
If someone is hurt by your choice…
“…That’s it. “Because you haven’t said anything about Aria properly since a long time ago.”
This was meant to include not only the 2nd round, but also the 1st round of Lumine.
Even though the harsh words were straight to the point, Lumine did not feel much discomfort. That may be the biggest reason why Leo took on Lumine’s responsibility.
“It would be better for me to go and ask in person.”
With that said, Leonardo got up from the stairs. The concern on his face was a goal for one Sanga Leo.
[But, what are you going to do if Ariasviel feels transcendental jealousy over you flirting with other women in the first episode?]
Everyone felt goosebumps rising at the wise man’s harsh criticism. If this was a big picture created by Ariasviel out of jealousy, it was a fear worse than the Demon King.
Considering the jealousy Aria has shown so far, it seems quite possible…
“What do you think? That’s a relief. Rather…”
Leonardo turned around to face her, making her blush slightly. She seemed to realize that this kind of thought was embarrassing to her ripe ears.
“…Isn’t it kind of cute? “You’re going crazy like that because of me.”
[…?]
“…Yes?”
{…Yes?}
She asked back, leaving even Ain confused.
Even her daughter and granddaughters, Glaradio and Marken, were so jealous that Arya’s wrinkled hands trembled.
Even if they were her parents, it would be impossible for them to fully receive such jealous affection.
She was a vessel of emotions that even adults could not understand.
[…It may be surprising, but you are the craziest person in the Reinhardt family.]
“Ain-ah.”
Ain struck the top of Sunae’s head for insulting her, despite her insanity.
“Yes, enjoy your date privately.”
“It’s not like that.”
“Then, enjoy a private chat with your mother.”
“..So… No, that’s enough.”
The reason she kept her mouth shut now was to save her stamina for talking and persuading Aria.
It’s not that she couldn’t deny it because she secretly felt good about her daughter saying that she was on a date or that she was having an intimate chat.
* * *
Aria Spiel showed off her regular activities after returning to her mansion. She was able to train, eat, and even maintain cleanliness more perfectly than at her temple.
However, whenever she rested alone in her room, Aria Spiel took out her holy sword and looked at herself.
Although his actions seemed like meditation, his essence was completely different.
Unlike meditation, which calms one’s emotions, my emotions do not calm down every time I look at my face on her holy sword.
The feeling of all kinds of distracting thoughts pecking at myself in the form of disgust only intensified.
She said that she was reflected in the holy sword.
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[Leo, a selfish woman, sacrificed that much.]
I cannot answer. I know it instinctively.
Arias Viel in the first episode, Black Aria is not involved at all.
This is purely the implementation of one’s own thoughts.
[You are still hesitating.]
“…No… Me too…”
[I was just playing hero like a child. Leonardo always threw himself into the mud so you could be in the light.]
I know. I saw it too.
[No, what you saw was only part of it. Leonardo would have spent all his life in a world ruined by your incompetent failure.]
Leonardo said it was okay.
Feeling guilty like this will not solve anything.
[You’re running away like that. By using Leo’s kindness, you justify my greed in that way.]
“No…”
Why not? You already noticed everything.
I noticed it when Angela answered.
“…That…”
Angela answered her Aria’s question.
Two heroes cannot exist at the same time.
But when I added the second question, I was able to become more confident.
‘{If the current generation’s warriors disappear, warriors can certainly appear in the next generation. If only awakening was achieved through the Holy Sword…}’
Clearly, Angela hadn’t failed yet, and she was trying to do well, so she was encouraged not to have such self-harming thoughts.
But there was no way that kind of comfort would reach Ariasviel’s ears right now.
[Black Arya said there were three great heroes.]
“…That’s right…”
The three great heroes are better than him and are brave enough to fulfill his duties as a hero.
There is only one person that Ariasviel in the first episode can evaluate so highly.
Other than that man, Ariasviel has no one that comes to mind.
[…Are you really planning on running away? If you sacrifice, the world and Leo can survive.]
“…”
[A cowardly b*tch, a prostitute who only knows her own greed, a waste of the title of warrior, an egoist disguised as love.]
It cannot be denied.
You must not deny it.
You must not deny it.
“…That’s right…”
Because that’s right.
[…Lift the holy sword.]
I lifted the holy sword and turned the blade inward.
In a shape that allows you to stab the boat vertically.
So that I can die for sure.
[You freely enjoyed what others wanted to enjoy. You deserve to die.]
“…Okay…”
Leo is worried about me dying…
Knock knock…
At that moment, the door rang.
Ariasviel was so startled that he placed the holy sword on the floor.
A soft, concise knock stopped Aria.
“Ah, Aria. The weather is nice and hot, so let’s go eat ice cream for the first time in a while… How about going?”
Leonardo’s voice rang out in a very awkward tone, suggesting that we go out.
I didn’t have the courage to answer.
Thanks to that fear, my courage to die disappeared for a moment.