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Chapter 88 Part 2

Ashley’s Truth and the Twilight Descends Upon the Town — Part 2

 

「When assigned a special mission, I would receive the 『Visual Preservation Magic Tool』 and the 『Sound-sealing Magic Tool』 as my reward.」

 

If a visual preservation magic tool captures scenes on paper exactly as you see them, a voice preservation tool literally preserves sound.

When infused with magic power, it can replay the voices preserved within it at any time. It’s an even higher-grade item than the visual preservation magic tool, one that common folk would never be able to afford.

…I see. For a mother who can only watch her daughter from afar, it’s certainly a reward worth killing for.

 

「Hmm… maybe you get similar conditions this time too, where you’re rewarded with that visual preserving tool or something, no?」

 

This time, it was Ashley who flew into a rage at Sybilla’s offhand remark.

 

「I won’t stab Sybilla-san for something so trivial as a visual preservation magic tool and cause trouble for Russell-sama!」

 

「Figures, what you get in return for stabbing me is probably… something in line with 『liberation』, right?」

 

「…How… do you…?」

 

Sybilla pressed on, as if she had anticipated that reaction beforehand.

Ashley, her momentum broken, was struck speechless with surprise.

 

「Even though your Job was 【Assassin】, I don’t think you’re used to killing, nor do I think you would kill someone for real. But… if it’s enough to make you decide to go through with it, then liberation is probably the only right answer.」

 

「…You really understood everything, huh? Yes, His Eminence the Archbishop said she will be 『liberated from priestess’ duty』.」

 

As I listened to her explanation, I sorted things out in my head.

 

The Crimson Salvation Church has given Ashley orders in return for a visual preservation magic tool.

This is a reward that can be obtained with little risk, provided she has the necessary tools.

 

This time, the reward is the release of her daughter, Myra, from the priestess’s duty.

Judging by what she said earlier, the target isn’t me but Sybilla.

Assassinate Sybilla—the escort of Sun Goddess Church’s Sister, who humiliated the Archbishop of the 『Crimson Salvation Church』 and then tried to manipulate Priestess Myra to open her heart.

 

But even I can tell how risky it is.

 

「Sybilla. I’m not sure if they will ever 『liberate』 her…」

 

I casually told Sybilla.

But Sybilla doesn’t answer.

 

…Instead, I heard Sybilla mutter with an expressionless face.

 

「…The 『Crimson Salvation Church』 expanded their influence by exploiting vulnerable situations and people’s weaknesses. Their methods are ruthless—they’re nothing but a gang of frauds. They never present conditions that could be disadvantageous to themselves.」

 

Sybilla begins to talk about the Crimson Church once again.

It’s as if she’s trying to convince herself.

And as if she’s trying to convince Ashley.

 

…What are you trying to say?

I have a bad feeling about this.

 

「Liberation. They said 『liberation from priestess’ duties』, right?」

 

「That’s… right.」

 

Here, Sybilla was for the first time… slapped Ashley hard across the cheek!

Caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, Ashley stumbled backward, the shock sending her crashing to the ground.

 

Even when she said the orphanage kids weren’t her real kids, even when she herself was nearly killed, Sybilla never struck back.

There’s a reason Sybilla became this enraged.

 

「It’s certainly an alluring proposal, especially when your heart is in a weak position. Being directly involved, it’s understandable that you can’t stay calm and make sound judgments. But if you’re putting others in danger, then it’s a different story.」

 

「W-What are you…」

 

「Especially if that was the most important thing to you, so much so that you’d sacrifice everything to protect, then I can’t forgive you even more.」

 

Ashley’s eyes widened at the phrase “the most important thing.”

I, too, had already guessed what she was about to say.

 

「I’m saying it’s a staple of those damn cults. Using the word 『liberation』 as code for 『sacrifice』!」

 

Sacrifice…!

Did Sybilla just deduce that the Archbishop of the Crimson Church was going to use the child priestess as a sacrifice… calling it 『liberation』, and forcing Ashley, her mother… to commit murder!

 

A despicable method to the very end.

A truth that’s far too cruel.

 

Ashley’s eyes widened as she clutched her head and began to shudder violently.

Her face bore only the deep imprint of despair, her eyes trembling with terror.

 

「…Then… if I had killed Sybilla-san today…!」

 

「Myra-chan will die, and after that, the Crimson Church will dispose of you and call it a day. After all, this town’s Courier Guild is run by the Crimson Church. They can deliberately delay the news, make it look like suicide or an accident, destroy the evidence, and cover it all up.」

 

「The Courier Guild…?」

 

「The room on the upper floor of the Courier Guild was bright red. That’s why the Adventurers Guild’s aid never arrives. They’re keeping everything under wraps. We just uncovered it this morning. And we found this hidden behind the Courier Guild building.」

 

Sybilla pulled a scorched scrap of paper she’d picked up this morning from her bag.

Upon closer inspection, it was barely readable—it appeared to be a rescue request from the Adventurers Guild.

 

「Well, to sum it all up.」

 

Sybilla spoke with such a cruel tone to Ashley, but… with eyes that couldn’t entirely hide her pity for her.

 

「Both you and your daughter were just tools in that shitty archbishop’s eyes.」

 

Ashley, realizing the harsh truth… covered her face with her hands as tears streamed down her cheeks.

 

「…Uu, huuu… How awful… This is too much… What did I… Just what did I do to deserve this…? I’ve always been a dedicated sister… Working hard every day for other orphaned children… And yet, I still held onto the hope that one day I could get Myra back…!」

 

Her voice was too heart-wrenching to hear.

 

What did she ever do wrong? …Nothing, of course.

Even I, who’s been watching her up close, can see that Ashley’s just an ordinary woman—a sister who pushes herself harder than most.

 

The reason Ashley suffered such a cruel fate.

It was the fact that her hair was red. That was the only reason.

…It was too cruel. The Crimson Salvation Church isn’t a religion that makes people happy just because they’re born with a part of their bodies red.

 

「Ashley.」

 

Sybilla called out her name with a strength that seemed to hold resolve.

While still shedding tears, Ashley turned toward Sybilla.

 

「If I said I’m going to save Myra-chan, would you cooperate?」

 

Given the current situation, it’s a hopelessly optimistic view.

Whether she succeeded or failed her task, the Child Priestess Myra was in a desperate situation where she would be used as a sacrifice.

 

—But if it was this Sybilla who said it…

 

「I’ll do whatever it takes. I’d give my life if I had to. Even if I can’t be saved, even if I die, it’s fine. As long as that child is safe.」

 

Ashley gave a firm answer.

In response, Sybilla shook her head.

 

「That won’t do. Even if you thought of them as strangers, the children at the orphanage already think of you as their real mother. Even I can see that much.」

 

「—-!!」

 

「You must treat your real daughter, Myra, as an 『equal friend』 without favoritism, who watches paper theater shows with the children at the orphanage while waiting for fried snacks. That is the condition for my cooperation. Therefore, I won’t allow you to die.」

 

Ashley, her eyes still overflowing with tears at the overwhelmingly kind conditions for cooperation, opened them and nodded firmly.

Seeing her sincere expression, Sybilla nodded back.

 

「Very well. Now then—」

 

The sunset faded, momentarily erasing the color of the cult that lurked in this town.

The world was quietly preparing to welcome the night.

 

A red that seems to have been painted over the entire city.

That sky, too, will surely be overwritten when night falls.

It’s a promised inevitability.

A blue curtain then descends, turning this town upside down.

 

It is the hour of Twilight.

 

Sybilla then manifested her black wings.

 

「——That wish, shall be granted by this 『Twilight Goddess』, Sybilla.」

 

Thus, the goddess of strategy promised victory to the stunned, devout sister.