Book 13: Chapter 29


    I apologise for burdening you two.


    Dont force yourself. You took care of our husband, so its only right we take care of you. Plus, you saved us. Focus on healing your chest wound first.


    Ying wouldnt listen to me. Yet, for some reason, she got along unbelievably well with Nier. Perhaps it was because the two of them found traits that resonated with each other. For instance, despite being concerned for each other, they both maintained expressionless looks whenmunicating. Additionally, perhaps Nier felt a sense of nostalgia, as looking at the current Ying mustve been tantamount to seeing her former self.


    Nier sat down to one side, while Ying lied on the ground. Ying turned her head to look at Nier and softly said, You cant wear shoes indoors.


    Oh? NIer looked to me, hoping Id trante.


    I was their trantor. After I told Nier what Ying said, Nier took of her shoes and handed them to me. She then said, Ying, Ive heard about your sister.


    You shouldnt know about it, replied Ying. She turned Lucia, who was under the tree, looking eager to try climbing it. She stated, Its our business. Its useless even if you know. You dont need to know about it. It was my mistake; thus, I should be here. The vigers didnt do anything wrong, either. I was the one who caused my sisters predicament. The vigers arent at fault.


    I retorted with frustration: Its not your fault!


    Nier pressed her hand onto my shoulder: Dear, calm down. Ill speak to her. Dont be agitated.


    I only realised how emotional I was when Nier stopped me. She sighed then said to Ying, If you think its your fault, let me ask you: you know what wouldve happened if you didnt kill the children, dont you? You only did what you considered to be right even if that right answer meant blood would be spilt.


    I shouldnt have let them touch my sabre. Its a curse. I failed to protect them. The fault was mine. I hurt the vigers. I shouldve protected them, yet I killed their children. Those five kids used to always y here at my ce. I really liked them, but I had to kill them.


    Ying recalled her past. I was surprised that she would face her past so candidly. She didnt bat an eye when she recounted her past for us; even her tone changed. She shut her eyes and went on in a soft voice, It was all my fault. I failed to protect them and even failed to protect my sister. I deserve to stay here and atone. I shall stay here for my whole life to make up for my mistake.


    Not everybody is worth protecting.


    Its only natural and right for us to protect those without power, since we have the power to. Seeing those around us die when we possess power is our fault.


    You cant protect everyone.


    Thats why I do my best to protect those around me.


    Ying and Nier conversed very harmoniously. The two of them spoke calmly. However, I, as the trantor, couldnt keep calm, so my tone continued to fluctuate. The two of them didnt bother with me, though. Nier stopped talking after that; Ying didnt intend to say any more, either.


    Nier shifted her gaze to me and chuckled: Ying is as stupid as you were back then.


    I didnt have such a strong sense of duty back then, okay?


    Thats because you didnt have Yings strength back then. If you did have that sort of strength, I guarantee you wouldve made the same decisions as her, said Nier, eyes on Ying, who shut her eyes to rest. She carried on in a soft voice: Ying resembled a demon gone mad when she foughtst night. When she fought that creature, she spilt blood with her sabre. She wouldnt have been wounded if she didnt protect us. Your Majesty, that thing is more terrifying than Ling Yue. Its extremely deft in the water, and I think it possesses mana.


    This ind doesnt have mana.


    That may be because it absorbed the mana here on this ind, said Nier, then looking at Lucia: Lucias mana isnt of superior grade, but even she could sense a tremendous flow of mana that concentrated all the mana nearby in its direction. If my conjecture is correct, its absorbed the mana from the ne Queen Vyvyan gave you.


    I nodded: But even though its a monster with mana, Ying can fight against it, which means Ying should be physically immune to mana, right? Put another way, mana should be ineffective on her.


    I would surmise so. With that said, as it is a creature with mana, you could say weve encountered something were familiar with, answered Nier, borating further. Actually, I think I can fight with it.


    I paused to think then responded, I have a thought: if its a monster with mana, I have just the thing to deal with it. I have a form for making a potion which dissolves mana. Seeing as it absorbs the mana nearby here, I just need to pour the agent into the ocean. The potion nearly took my life. It could weaken the creature if it dissolved the mana it absorbed, right?


    I went through my breast pocket and took out a small book. The small book was thest item Mera left behind for me. I always carried it with me. It was made from fur, so the contents were easily kept in good condition. Part of the book detailed the form of the mana dissolving potion that almost killed me.


    When Nier saw me take out the small book, she turned serious all of a sudden. In a stern tone, she said, Your Majesty, are you seriously nning to kill the creature? While I did say that I could go and fight it, I wasnt hoping wed go out of our own way to pick a fight with it. Your Majesty, this has nothing to do with us. This isnt our territory and is not our business. If we bump into the creature on the way back, we can engage it, but dont go out of your way to pick a fight with it.


    I want to help Ying.


    That has nothing to do with killing the creature. Ying can defeat the creature. She can resist the harm damage it inflicts, but we cant, argued Nier. I am your wife, Your Majesty. I cannot let my husband risk his life. We dont know much about the creature, and its not an ordinary human. Therefore, there are many unknown variables. There is no need to bring trouble upon yourself. Furthermore, saving Xia would be the greatest magnanimity we could show.


    I contended, Its pointless to save Xia. If we want to help Ying, saving Xia alone is pointless. As a matter of fact, wed fail, as shed still end up locked back in the prison. We must y the wyrm. Its the only way we can remove the shackles on the sisters. I must y the creature! I insist! Ying wont be able to atone. Xia wont attain salvation, and neither will I unless its killed. I dont want to leave this ce with shame and regret. Ying is right; not doing anything when you have the power to is a sin!


    Youre a little simr to your past self, Your Majesty.


    But didnt you fall for the me of the past?