Chapter 93
“That’s natural, Liv.”
Emmett pulled Liv into his arms, and Liv, unable to move a finger, was embraced with her face almost bumping into his chest.
“Anyway, it’s natural to feel sad when you learn about the loss of someone who loved you.”
“Is that so…”
“You just need to be honest with the emotions you’re feeling now.”
At those words, Liv nodded weakly. Hmm, she didn’t know. She still didn’t understand why she felt such sadness, but still… if possible, she thought she should at least visit their graves.
“You know, I know many myths, folktales, and legends.”
“Yes.”
“In those stories, I’ve seen many tales of people avenging their parents’ enemies.”
The previous Liv felt no emotion when seeing such stories. She didn’t know the sensation of loss, and therefore didn’t know anger and vengeance. But now, as Liv regained what had been taken from her, she seemed to feel some kind of impulse from within.
“Does Emmett think so too? That I should take revenge on the Emperor, the enemy of my parents?”
“That’s of course up to Liv’s heart. I respect Liv’s will. It’s never easy to stand against the Emperor for parents you’ve never seen. If you’re afraid, you don’t have to do it, but if your anger is greater, you can take revenge.”
“It’s difficult… I’m not sure which emotion is stronger yet.”
“You might not be able to feel it yet. But someday, one emotion might grow stronger. When that time comes, Liv will be able to make a decision.”
After hearing Emmett’s words, Liv sat quietly with a contemplative expression. After watching her for a while, Emmett spoke with a determined expression.
“Liv, after we visit the sanctuary and your body heals…”
“Yes.”
“I think I’ll need to be away for a while.”
“Where are you going?”
“On the surface, the reason is that I’m going down to the Lartman Duchy, but…”
Emmett’s tone was somehow tense as he said this.
“I think I need to go to the Arendt Marquisate.”
“The Arendt Marquisate? Why there…”
“…The Arendt family is famous for revering knowledge and possessing a lot of information, so I think I should go there to learn about ancient magic.”
“Why suddenly ancient magic?”
“I think I need to find out about the reason you’re so sick.”
“But I’ll get better soon.”
“Still, if we don’t know the cause, you might fall victim to magic again.”
There was something unnatural about Emmett’s words, but for now, Liv nodded in agreement. As he said, it was important to know how much power the Emperor could use.
* * *
After telling Liv about his plan to visit the Arendt Marquisate, Emmett quietly looked at Liv. She had a face that hadn’t noticed anything.
‘I’m sorry, Liv.’
The statement about going to the Arendt Marquisate to investigate ancient magic was a lie. The reason he was going to the Arendt Marquisate was to recruit Marquis Arendt to his side. He had decided to prepare for rebellion.
‘Hayden said he’d take care of foreign forces.’
He had even joined hands with Hayden for that purpose.
After realizing that the Emperor was the enemy of her parents, Liv seemed to be contemplating a lot about whether she should take revenge on the Emperor. Nevertheless, she didn’t seem to have any thoughts of becoming the Emperor herself. But Emmett loved Liv, so he wanted to return her to her original place. There must be a reason why all the gods want Liv to find her place. He wanted to place Liv in the highest position in this world.
Riding in a carriage, Liv and Emmett headed towards a cave that was said to be near the capital. The superficial reason was to see a doctor nearby, but in fact, they were heading to a sanctuary. As Liv’s complexion worsened while riding in the bumpy carriage, Emmett had to try to make her more comfortable by embracing her.
Finally, the carriage stopped at a place. In front of them, rugged rocks could be seen.
“It seems you’ll have to walk from here.”
“Understood.”
Emmett got out of the carriage first after hearing the coachman’s words. He was about to support Liv, but seeing Liv’s cheeks flushed red with fever, he made a contemplative face.
“Liv.”
“Yes.”
“Get on my back.”
“What? I can walk…”
“It’s better if you get on my back.”
Liv tried to dissuade him, thinking it would be difficult for him, but soon she judged that it would be better for both of them to go quickly on his back rather than walking slowly on her own. Finally, she got on Emmett’s back as he lowered his body in front of her. And she carefully put her arms around his neck. Their bodies pressed together, feeling each other’s body heat.
To reach the cave, they had to pass through a rocky area. While walking with Liv on his back, Emmett was silent.
“Is it hard?”
“No, it’s not hard at all.”
Emmett’s voice was level as if it were true, so Liv didn’t say anything more and rested her head on his back. Anyway, she had been holding back a state where she felt she might say nonsense due to the dizziness she had been feeling for a while.
Liv, with her eyes closed like that, soon felt a chill coming on. As her body involuntarily began to shiver, Liv opened her eyes and raised her head.
In front of them, a huge cave appeared. The dark cave without a single point of light instilled fear in those who saw it. As Emmett seemed about to enter the cave while still carrying Liv on his back, Liv stopped him.
“Wait a moment.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Let me down for now.”
Emmett obediently lowered his body and let Liv down, but he didn’t loosen his grip on Liv’s arm while doing so. Liv supported her body with his help and looked up into the cave. She couldn’t see at all what was inside.
Liv had read numerous books since leaving Abgrund, including ones about the structure of the world they lived in. Liv had sufficient knowledge about caves.
For example, she knew how dangerous it was to enter a cave that had not been explored by people. There could be pits in the cave deep enough that one couldn’t get out. Or the cave could suddenly collapse. If the internal structure of the cave became even a little complex, it was easy for people who had entered to get lost.
Anyway, since this was a sanctuary, Liv wouldn’t get hurt inside, but Emmett might lose his life if he wasn’t careful.
“I’ll go in alone.”
“What? Liv, but…”
“Caves are dangerous places. But since this is a sanctuary, it won’t be dangerous for me.”
“But you’re sick right now.”
“I’ll get better once I go inside anyway.”
Emmett looked like he wanted to dissuade Liv, but he seemed to know rationally that Liv’s words were right. Finally, he closed his mouth with a face that didn’t want to admit it.
“Just wait here for a little while. I’ll be back soon.”
“Liv…”
“I’ll really be back soon.”
After saying that, Liv turned around to face the cave. Anyone would be reluctant to enter a cave without a single point of light, but…
“Cough, cough!”
“Liv!”
Emmett cried out in horror seeing the blood on her palm. Liv frowned, thinking she might really faint if she didn’t get inside as soon as possible. No matter how scary the cave was, she had to survive for now.
“Then I’ll see you in a bit.”
After saying that, Liv stepped into the cave.
One step, then another. The slower she walked, the more darkness engulfed her surroundings. When she could no longer see even an inch in front of her, Liv stopped walking.
‘…Why isn’t anything happening?’
By this point, she should have received God’s power, but she still didn’t feel any power. The damp air of the chilly cave touched her skin. She seemed to hear the sound of insects crying somewhere. Thinking it might be better to walk with her hand on the wall, Liv extended her arm and slowly moved sideways.
“Ugh.”
Touching the cold cave wall and shuddering wasn’t a particularly pleasant feeling. As she walked slowly with her hand on the wall, Liv touched something squishy and shook her hand vigorously in surprise. She could guess what it was, but she didn’t really want to know…
‘I hope I receive power soon.’
Perhaps because no light was entering, she had been having difficulty breathing for a while. Or was it because her throat was swollen? It could also just be that the air in the cave was unfamiliar.
It wasn’t a situation for Liv to be scared, but it was inevitable that fear washed over her when she felt she had gone far enough from the outside. After turning several corners and walking, even when she looked back, no light could be seen.
At that moment, without even time to scream, Liv’s body fell.
There was a puddle where she had stepped, and before she knew it, Liv was sinking deep into the water. Because there wasn’t a single point of light, she couldn’t tell how deep she was falling. Even when she kicked her feet, she couldn’t feel the bottom.
Fear more intense than ever before enveloped Liv’s body. Following the thought that she might be trapped in the underground of this cave, memories of Abgrund filled Liv’s mind at that moment.
“Ah.”
The water surrounding Liv began to glow dazzlingly. No, the cave itself above began to glow.
Before she knew it, the water was pushing Liv’s body up. Liv, who had barely emerged from the water, crawled on the ground to get away from the puddle. As if the entire cave was covered with fireflies, the cave was glowing brightly.
Through those lights, Liv realized that all the creatures in the cave were staring at her. Bizarrely shaped animals that didn’t live outside the cave were quietly observing Liv.