Chapter 343
Not long after Alicia became Helion’s apprentice.
After a grueling training session that day, Helion once said this to Alicia.
— Alica, do you remember when I checked your curse mark back in Rikeion?
— …Yes, I remember.
After Alicia lost to Arha and was moved to the infirmary, Helion quietly visited her and eliminated a Goddess Church follower who was about to attack her.
At that time, Helion had stretched the neckline of Alicia’s clothes to inspect Vargan’s curse, which was somewhat embarrassing and surprising for Alicia, making it an unforgettable experience.
— I’ve been debating whether to say this, but actually, Alicia, you weren’t under the ‘Curse of Fascination’ back then.
— ……What?
— Strange, isn’t it? In court, Vargan claimed that he placed the Curse of Fascination on you, right?
— ….
— If it was to make handling you easier… the Curse of Fascination should have been included when the original curse was marked on you, and it should have definitely been there at that point when I checked.
The day of the trial was a traumatic memory for Alicia.
Helion casually brought up one of the charges that Vargan had laid out at that time.
— But oddly enough, I could find no trace of the Fascination in you back then. Isn’t it a curious story? …Oh, I’d stake my hero ranking on it. I looked pretty thoroughly.
— …W-wait, so you’re saying that the Young Master… no, Vargan cast the Curse of Fascination on me… after the final exam with Rikeion?
— Yes, that’s right.
— No way… This doesn’t make sense logically. If it’s after the first-year finals, then it isn’t long before the time when Vargan would destroy the Academia… Wait!
Alicia recalled the time when Vargan mentioned he would strengthen the curse.
Unlike the first time he cursed her, he had never specified what kind of curse or how he would enhance it.
At that time, he claimed it was to increase the curse’s completeness… but was that truly the reason?
— Well, it seems like something has clicked for you. Just to confirm, I didn’t tell Vargan that I examined your mark, did I?
— …No, you didn’t.
— Then it’s almost certain that Vargan cast the additional Curse of Fascination on you around the time you suspect. Vargan lied in court.
— A lie… why would he?
— Well, I’m neither a detective nor Vargan. However, when reflecting on just the results, the atmosphere was initially positive when Vargan accused you of the Curse of Fascination in court, but it quickly soured.
“It has worsened in the meantime.”
—…….
“Moreover, Alicia, who was Barghaan’s closest aide, became branded as the ‘victim.’
As the conversation continued, the trust she had been forcibly suppressing towards Barghaan began to sprout again.
Barghaan’s words, actions, and reactions…
Alicia had carefully retraced all of this, never forgetting.
Having served Barghaan from the closest position, she was simultaneously the woman who could get the closest to the truth.
—Young Master……
In the night forest where Barghaan and Alicia stood.
Clear water welled up beneath Alicia’s eyes.
Soon enough, a beam of moonlight flowed down her soft cheek.
“……Young Master. Since then, I have acted while reflecting on your words, chewing over them time and again.”
“……”
“It was thanks to your teachings that I brought Arbol Frutal this far, and grew by receiving special privileges under the Holy Emperor’s direct control…. I worked hard to create the situation you desired.”
“……”
“You sacrificed yourself to become a villain, killing Bael and shaking the Goddess Church. So, now… is it time? Everything has unfolded as you planned, so isn’t it time for you to come back?”
“……”
“Please put an end to the painful lies. I can no longer bear to see you carry all the burdens alone, enduring loneliness and the world’s hatred…”
Alicia poured out her heart.
Barghaan quietly listened to her emotions.
“I will defend you, Young Master. I will explain why it had to be this way, piece by piece. In time, people… maybe not all at once, but they will slowly begin to accept you, won’t they?”
“…Alicia.”
“If you need money, I will give you all my wealth… We promised when the first contract was made, didn’t we? All my future value is solely subordinate to you…!”
“Alicia.”
Barghaan cut off Alicia’s words sharply.
Then, the mana that Barghaan had been forcibly holding onto crumbled, unable to maintain its form in the air.
Alicia also expelled the holy light that enveloped her body and sword, and darkness filled the forest once more.
Barghaan, looking at Alicia, was not smiling. He couldn’t smile.
“No matter how long you talk, nothing changes. Even if there was a purpose behind it, it doesn’t erase the sins I committed.”
“……”
“As you said, many people suffered due to me to the point where it’s hard to count. Villages and cities turned to ash, and orphans who lost their families weep all night, searching for their parents.”
“……”
“The fate of those who were forcibly turned into Altife is even more tragic. Stripped of their self and freedom, they have become monsters that only kill humans, so they will likely resent me even in death.”
“B-but that was… your way of minimizing the damage…! Besides, didn’t you develop a cure to reverse Altife back to humanity!”
No matter how strongly Alicia argued, Barghaan did not bend.
“That is the product of Diphelia, not mine.”
“Young Master…!”
“Alicia, don’t make me repeat myself. I am the one who inflicted an irremovable wound on humanity. Should the words from the Hero’s mouth really be about wrapping up a notorious villain like me based on personal feelings?”
“……”
“Are you telling me to bring fear and suffering like a plague upon the victims again?”
“……”
“Consider your position now. You are no longer just Alicia of the Schugenhartz family’s servants; you are the hope of humanity, Hero Alicia.”
At Barghaan’s sharp words, Alicia fell silent.
As her eyebrows trembled, she felt tears threatening to spill out, making her hesitant to speak carelessly.
As the tremors shook me, it felt like tears would burst forth at any moment, making me hesitant to open my mouth carelessly.
Vargan thought the conversation was over and tried to move on.
In reality, speaking up was no easy feat for Vargan right now.
“…For every life you have extinguished, I will revive that many.”
Alicia spat out the words, filled with lingering attachment and sorrow.
It was as if she was desperately clutching at the end of his garment, trying to prevent Vargan from leaving.
“For the damage you have caused, I will make amends….”
Alicia’s voice was soaked in emotion.
Her delicate throat trembled pitifully like a tender leaf.
“For every sin you have committed… I will bear it in your stead….”
“…….”
“So, please… will you not stay? Will you not remain by my side?”
“Alicia, that is a personal feeling—”
“—I love you.”
Alicia, who had never been able to utter those words until now.
Despite the gazes around her, her predetermined status since birth, and an ever-clear division between hero and villain, Alicia conveyed her true feelings.
“I have long admired you. Even when you were active as a believer of the Goddess Church, I could not erase my feelings and continued to long for you.”
No matter how much she tried to shake it off, that feeling was utterly inerasable.
Alicia unveiled her heart to Vargan, unchanged and unblemished.
“Even now, nothing has changed. In truth, I want to drop my sword and run to you at this very moment, to support your legs and heal your wounds….”
“…….”
“If my words and actions differ from your concept of a hero as you define it, I apologize… I’m sorry, Young Master. I cannot become the hero you expect… I could not be a figure who thinks only of the public good and humanity.”
In Alicia’s apology, Vargan caught a glimpse of his own self in this world.
Park Si-hu too could not become the person Bae Cheol-man hoped for. He could not become an endlessly cold, calculating person who pursued only his objectives.
“Even if you find me pathetic and unreliable… even if it all stems from my selfish desires… can you please grant my one wish?”
“…….”
“I adore you beyond measure. I won’t even dare to ask that you love me… so please, please stay by my side. That alone… I would sacrifice my whole life for that.”
Alicia desperately clung to Vargan.
She didn’t even have the luxury to care about being a hero or a champion. Her heart was tormented to that extent.
In the end, she couldn’t hold back and tears flowed freely.
Vargan sensed just how heavy her heart was as he watched her.
Alicia was always someone with a gentle heart, easily swept away by emotions.
That’s why Vargan had trained her even more rigorously, guiding her to approach the ideal image of a hero.
However, her fundamental essence could not be changed nor erased.
Vargan, who should have known that fact better than anyone, acknowledged that there was a flaw in his plan.
“…I’m sorry, Alicia. I’ve caused you pain all this time.”
He understood her feelings.
But to prevent any disruption to his plan, he had pretended not to know.
As he continued to ignore her, Vargan became a burdensome presence in Alicia’s heart.
“Your suffering is all my fault. My selfishness has made your life miserable.”
“…Young Master.”
“Yet, even so, I cannot respond to your feelings. I… will surely be a different person from the ‘Vargan’ you once knew.”
The original soul of Vargan had died, leaving only the essence of Park Si-hu behind.
Han Park Si-hu’s possession.
It surely wouldn’t be Vargan, who Alicia confessed her love to.
“…”
With tears streaming down her face, Alicia looked bewildered.
Vargan faced Alicia with a smile tinged with loneliness. For that brief moment, he shed the character of ‘Vargan’ and revealed his true expression.
Only then did Alicia sense a significant change in Vargan, who continued the dialogue.
There were still plenty of episodes left to unravel before the curtain could fall.
“Alicia, Cardinal Jephar and Archbishop Glashalabolas have retreated from the battlefield. The Beris, reported missing, has absorbed Archbishop Crosel and is currently draining the life force of many. Surely, they will emerge as a formidable foe before you someday.”
Given Vargan’s standing within the Goddess Church, he held much information.
He slowly revealed it in a way that would be easy for Alicia to understand. That much he could do.
“…Also, to spoil a bit, the divine tree known as Yggdrasil is actually the cursed form of Cardinal Buer. The Holy Emperor, Liovergo, is merely a façade created by Bishop Plauros using his powers.”
Eventually, when she returns, the Saint Diphelia will make this a public affair under the pretext of a coup.
There was no worry that anything significant would happen just from learning this a bit sooner.
“Recently, you must have seen a familiar face named Tigres in the City of Rhodes. The blessing that turned him into a young girl stems from Plauros’s powers. Plauros, the founder of the Yggdrasil Church, has been devouring all past Saints while posing as one himself.”
The humanity’s Holy Body meant to counter Altife was, in fact, created by Altife.
Ironically, Vargan, having seen the past, was certain of this.
The Schugenhartz had died without lifting Buer’s curse, so Plauros, who was in Troa, desperately tried to save Buer.
As a result, to counter the Goddess Church threatening Buer, he founded the Yggdrasil Church and aligned with humanity to use them.
“…There’s endless discussion beyond this, but this should make the work proceed much more smoothly.”
“…….”
“With that tear-soaked face looking dazed, you’re quite the spectacle.”
Vargan chuckled softly before slowly turning his body.
Alicia would be wrong to step off the stage just yet.
Though Vargan claimed to have resolved the story’s biggest issues, there were still events pending.
She, along with the story’s protagonists, had to unite their powers to resolve everything to conclude this tale with a happy ending.
‘But… if I leave her irresponsibly like this, it won’t be long before Alicia falls apart.’
Thus, Vargan left some leeway before departing.
So that Alicia wouldn’t repeat the same mistakes as Park Si-hu.
“I’ve told only Helion, but I have one goal I wish to accomplish. It’s the true happiness realized only after a major failure.”
“…What is that?”
“Hmm… I’ve only imagined it, I haven’t realized it yet. If you want to know, finish your tasks first and come find me.”
“E-eh? Do you mean…?”
“I’ll be waiting for you. Of course, this is assuming your feelings remain the same until then.”
Alicia’s eyes widened in astonishment.
So stunned, her rigid body slowly let the heavy sword tip drop to the ground.
“What a face.”
Vargan turned his head one last time to speak to Alicia.
It seemed a bit childish, yet he wore his own arrogant smile.
“If a hero shows such a face, they’ll become a target for ridicule in the world.”
And with that, Vargan left the forest.
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