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Chapter 79 Part 2 – Alisa and ‘Mother’. What will the intertwined Ouroboros bring about in the future?

「…… Ughh!?」

Unable to fully stop Alisa’s unexpected power, ‘Mother’ dropped one knee on the ground.

Alisa sneered.

「Get on with it and show your true colors. The ’Demon’s Cry’ is the power to pierce, distort, and thoroughly destroy. If you try to hold back now, you’re going to end up as a lump of meat on the ground.」

‘Mother’s’ hair clip bursts open from the aftermath and her blond hair, which had the same color as Alisa’s hair, flutters in the air. In the midst of the golden feast of beauty, the pupils of ‘Mother’s’ eyes became narrow and sharp like a dragon’s eye.

「Uwoooohhh」, ‘Mother’ roared. The ground around her feet sank down. The recoil rushes up as a spiral of force. The atmosphere resonated as the sky was dyed in white from the lightning. The sound of mourning bells resounded.

「You little girl!! Don’t you …… dare underestimate me!!」

‘Mother’ mustered her strength to stand up and repelled Alisa’s attack with a furious expression. But afterwards, ‘Mother’ staggered and could not follow up with a counterattack. The situation was back to zero.

「…… That is the ancient technique, ‘Thunder Chime’. Ahaha, as expected from you. I can’t believe you scattered the ‘Demon’s Cry’ with a super vibration when it’s your first time seeing this technique.」

The tree branches of the forest rumbled. Amid falling dust and dirt, Alisa landed softly and the ends of her lips strung up in a demon-like smile.

「Just as I expected, the Holy Church still can’t give up on some things, such as the worthless plan of reviving the saint and chasing after that shadow. ‘Mother’, I hate you, but honestly, that godlike strength of yours makes me feel thrilled.」

‘Mother’ laughed in response.

「Ufufu ufufufufu, I’ve sure lived for a long time. I never thought that I would actually be forced to use a technique I had sealed away and brought to my knees from an attack. Moreover, it was done by such a little baby. I wonder how long it’s been since I felt this excited. I’ve never been more grateful to be a woman than I am today. I had no idea that the worthy rival I’d been looking for so long was actually so close to me. I’ve made up my mind. …… I don’t care about God’s orders anymore. I’m going to do what I want to do and crush you, Alisa.」

‘Mother’ spoke cheerfully as if she’s broken through a restraint, but she had a bloodthirsty and terrifying smile on her face.

「Ahahaha, your true nature has finally come out. Now that’s the crazy dragon that the Holy Church didn’t restrain with chains. There is no need for pretend love, no need for a silly mask of hypocrisy, no need for a watertight relationship. The exchange of life that feeds on each other is what suits us. If it’s the you right now, I’ll listen to what you have to say for a minute.」

「Fufufu, what a cute monster-like girl. I wonder who you take after ……」

‘Mother’ rubbed her numb arm happily. Her pupils have returned to normal, but the scary smile still remains.

「Well then, let’s have a frank talk while we’re at it. It’s about the Countess Rosenthal that Alisa-chan is planning to kill. You see, when she was a young girl, a terrible witch hunt ruined her family. The Inquisition officer who did it was involved in the Saint Resurrection Project …… aka the John Doe Project. Due to that the center of the Holy Church at the time remained silent on the matter. That’s why ……」

Alisa’s eyebrows furrowed in anger just by hearing ‘Mother’s’ words halfway through.

「…… So you want to save Countess Rosenthal’s life as atonement for your sins? Because you felt responsible for her misfortune as it was because of you who ran away that the Holy Church came up with a plan to create a saint to replace you? Ahaha, don’t make me laugh. You are not moved by such human emotions. Are you still trying to deceive me?」

「Ufufufu, of course I don’t care about whether this one woman lives or dies. However, this John Doe Project has been repeatedly experimenting on human subjects at will. They used crude brainwashing techniques on anyone without caring about their identity. It’s unforgivable, isn’t it? I mean, it’s a plan to make a substitute for me. I made the Holy Church promise me that they will only use the best test subjects and methods, and yet those fools broke that promise …… Fufufu, so, I killed everyone involved in the project at the time.」

After saying that disturbing line, ‘Mother’ showed a gentle smile.

「So, I wonder how I should put this. Yes, that’s right!! I’m trying to clean up after my mess. That’s why, while I’m at it, I‘ve decided to follow up on the victims of the witch hunt done by that Inquisition official Matthew as best I could. But most of them were already dead. But you know, Rona-chan …… Countess Rosenthal was one of the victims. I didn’t notice until recently, because she had feigned her own death and her identity had been kept under tight wraps. It never occurred to me that she would be the target of Alisa-chan’s elimination.」

Alisa was taken aback after hearing what ‘Mother’ said with a proud tone.
Although her words and deeds may seem to be benevolent, the essence of the ‘Mother’s’ words was extremely selfish.

「…… In other words, you didn’t like the saints that the Holy Church attempted to create in order to substitute you. That’s why to vent your anger, you went around smashing their plan and helping the victims as a spiteful remark. Is that what this is about? As always, you’re such a deviant. I can’t believe those words actually came out from a former saint.」

Being told that by Alisa, ‘Mother’ tilted her head to the side with a puzzled expression.

「What’s weird about what I just said? I may serve『God』, but that doesn’t mean that I serve the Holy Church as well. And it is only natural to punish those that break the contract. Moreover, since to the outside world, I was announced dead as a martyr, not as a runaway, no one can complain about anything I do. There are many people who have been saved. Those who don’t like my actions can feel free to come and try to kill me. With this, everyone is happy, right? There’s nothing wrong with that.」

‘Mother’ had just said with her own mouth that she doesn’t care about 「God’s」 intentions. Furthermore, it’s also weird that she has the nerve to calmly attack her previous organization. Alisa asked ‘Mother’ who has been doing whatever she pleases.

「…… There are plenty of other victims of the witch hunts. The number is still increasing in other kingdoms. What are you going to do about them?」

「Ufufu, Alisa-chan, you’re asking such a weird question. As I told you, I’m just trying to clean up after my mess. Why do I have to take care of those people who have nothing to do with the John Doe Project?」

‘Mother’ was seriously curious about it.

Alisa did not pursue the matter any further. Because it would be a waste of time. For ‘Mother’, her own will was all that mattered. She may put on the facade of an affable saint, but she lacks human compassion.

Bradd subconsciously sensed the monster that she was, including her inflated ego. That is why he took a harsh attitude toward ‘Mother’, which was out of character for him.

「Hmm, that’s just like you to say something like that. But I do understand now. After all, surprisingly, demons do take contracts seriously. So, what kind of deal are you going to offer to me?」

「As expected of Alisa-chan, you’re quick on the uptake. I want you to swear that you won’t lay a hand on Countess Rosenthal, Duchess Wilhelm, and the baby in her stomach. In exchange, how about I teach some of the ancient forbidden techniques that only I know, such as the ‘Thunder Chime’?」

‘Mother’ smiled and offered the suggestion to Alisa.