To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

But Liv wasn’t scared at all. Rather…

‘This is it.’

She could feel power in her body.

Muhilism, which had most of its believers in the Nandi Empire, was famous as a polytheistic religion. In Muhilism, hundreds, no, thousands of gods were worshipped. And this cave was the sanctuary of Aslan, one of the gods of Muhilism. Aslan was a god who embraced the weak and sick.

As the god’s power moved freely, Liv felt her body instantly starting to get better. However…

‘Stop.’

Liv could have completely healed her body. But she deliberately stopped the healing at an appropriate point. If she recovered completely, it would arouse suspicion…

As Liv used Aslan’s power, she felt an even more intense gaze than before. The creatures of the cave surrounding her seemed to be following Liv, but perhaps sensing Liv’s scared heart, they didn’t come close. But…

“It’s okay.”

Under the enormous god, what difference is there between a mere human and insects or beasts? In the end, they are all just insignificant, yet at the same time, great forms of life.

As Liv maintained a calm attitude even while surrounded by them, the animals’ yellow eyes blinked. Soon, they began to line up and indicate a direction as if guiding Liv. Liv instinctively knew that following that direction would lead her out of this cave.

“…Thank you.”

Emmett would be waiting for her outside. She had to quickly go out and reassure him. Liv moved a bit faster towards the outside of the cave. As she exited the cave, Emmett called Liv’s name with a more desperate voice than ever before.

“Liv!”

“You waited, Emmett. I obtained God’s power. I’m okay now.”

“Did nothing happen inside?”

“No.”

Thinking it would unnecessarily worry him if she mentioned falling into the puddle, Liv didn’t. Instead, she began to explain what Emmett needed to know.

“I could completely heal my body with the power I gained today, but I didn’t.”

“What?”

“I might get a fever, and I’ll probably cough up blood occasionally.”

“But why…”

“Because we have to deceive everyone around me.”

Emmett, realizing the meaning of Liv’s words, closed his mouth. No matter how much they filled their surroundings with trustworthy people, you never know where words might leak. Liv needed to be known as still being in bed, and for that, she really had to be sick.

“But… I could just control the servants better. To prevent information from leaking out.”

“You know it’s impossible to completely control everyone.”

“Liv…”

“Don’t worry. It hurts much less than before.”

For a moment, blood rose up her throat, but Liv swallowed it back down. Anyway, Liv had God’s power in her body, so if she wanted, she could completely cure that illness. There really was nothing for Emmett to worry about.

“Really, I’m fine. You can go to the Arendt Marquisate.”

“…I’ll be back as soon as possible.”

Unable to refuse Liv’s words, Emmett answered in a gloomy voice, then opened his mouth as if he had thought of something.

“Liv, then will you stay at the Hamelsvoort mansion?”

“What? Why?”

“First of all, Hildegard is there and can take care of you, and above all, there’s less control over the servants than at the Lartman mansion. Rumors of your illness will spread quickly.”

“Ah…”

Before, she would have avoided the Hamelsvoort mansion because of the Hamelsvoort couple, but now that their relationship had changed, it might be more comfortable for Liv to be at the Hamelsvoort mansion. If someone from the imperial family or the temple came to visit, it would be better to have other nobles nearby to protect her.

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

“Alright, Liv. Let’s go back to the mansion for now.”

Still with a poor complexion, Liv moved to the carriage on Emmett’s back.

* * *

A few days later, they arrived at the Hamelsvoort mansion. Hearing that Liv was sick, the Hamelsvoort couple was very worried, and when they heard that Duke Lartman had to leave urgently on business, they scolded him for going somewhere while leaving his sick wife. It was a markedly different attitude from before, but anyway, they seemed like they would sincerely nurse Liv.

The room Liv used before was still there. Although more than half of the things inside were gone and it wasn’t like before, it was still better than a completely unfamiliar space. Liv lay down on the familiar bed in her room.

“Emmett, have a safe trip.”

“…I’ll be back soon.”

Emmett’s lips drew closer to Liv’s lips. His gray eyes, which were always empty when looking at others, were now focused solely on Liv. As Liv slowly closed her eyes seeing this…

“Oh my!”

A loud noise was heard from downstairs. Emmett frowned, raising his head at the interruption.

“I’ll go check what that sound is.”

“Let’s go together, there might be something serious happening.”

Liv thought that perhaps the Emperor had ordered her capture after hearing she was here. Being aware that she was in a dangerous situation, Liv had been assuming the worst lately. She went down the stairs with Emmett’s support.

However, what Liv encountered when she reached the first floor was an unexpected face.

“My goodness, you’ve really become handsome! As expected of our son, you’ve grown into a fine-looking man.”

“Did you study well? Why did you come back so late?”

“I’ve been traveling around neighboring countries.”

Black hair reminiscent of deep darkness, a hairstyle that slightly covered the forehead, tousled unlike the fashion of the Holy Hilysid Empire, and below that, purple eyes shining sharply. The man’s elegant and upright posture exuded a noble atmosphere.

Moreover, unlike the male ideal of the Holy Hilysid Empire, which prioritizes a strong and wild image, he had a delicate face that could rival even the noble young ladies famous for their beauty, and a gentle impression. However, upon closer inspection, it was odd that no vitality could be found in his face.

“Oh, brother, welcome back…”

Hildegard greeted awkwardly, and he just nodded quietly at her.

Walter Hamelsvoort.

The eldest son of the Hamelsvoort family.

He had returned from studying abroad in the Merna Empire. His eyes met Liv’s in the air as she stood in front of the stairs and he stood at the entrance.

“Liv.”

He approached Liv with a friendly expression upon seeing her, and Liv greeted him in a small voice. Faced with him, Liv couldn’t help but feel intimidated. Who would have thought Walter would return just when she was here.

“It’s been a long time, brother…”

“Yes, it’s been a long time. But why is my sister looking at me with such an expression?”

He smiled gently, curving his eyes, then whispered in Liv’s ear.

“My dear sister, are you thinking of giving me… again?”

At those words, Liv stepped back with a pale face. On the other hand, Walter was still looking at Liv with a smile. On the surface, it was no different from the attitude of close siblings.

Walter Hamelsvoort hated Liv terribly. He even went to study abroad in the Merna Empire to avoid her.

However, Walter’s dislike for Liv was not because she was an ‘adopted sister’ or a ‘fake Saintess’.

The reason Walter hated Liv so much was.

Because in the past, he had received divine punishment because of Liv.

* * *

“Your name is Liv, right? Nice to meet you.”

When Liv first came to the Hamelsvoort family, Walter was a kind older brother.

“Dear, don’t you think it’s strange no matter how you look at it? That child just can’t use the Saintess’s power at all.”

“I do suspect she might be a fake.”

Around the time when the Hamelsvoort couple started to gradually suspect Liv.

“Liv, why are you here like this?”

“Ah, I…”

“I heard you didn’t eat today, shall we eat together?”

Walter was the only person in this household who took care of Liv.

“If I had my way, I’d like to throw you out of this house, but know that you’re alive because of imperial law! Just try to appear before our eyes again!”

Even when it was revealed that Liv was a fake Saintess.

“Why are you alone in a place like this?”

“Well, I…”

“Let’s go back to the mansion together, Liv.”

Walter had never mentioned the word ‘Saintess’ in front of Liv. Regardless of what kind of being she was, Walter was always kind to Liv.

However, Walter, who was faithful to the ideology of the Hamelsvoort family, wanted Liv to serve people in low places, if nothing else.

“Liv, won’t you come volunteer at the infirmary with me today?”

“Are there many sick people there?”

“Yes, so if we help…”

“Then I don’t want to.”

“…What did you say?”

“I could get sick too, you know.”

Even when Liv said that, he didn’t get angry with her. Instead, he tried to persuade Liv to take her to the infirmary.

“Liv, take my hand. Let’s go to the infirmary together.”

“N-no.”

That day, Liv was arguing with Walter on the stairs. Walter kept trying to take Liv to the infirmary, and Liv was trying to stay at home. Knowing that this was also an action Walter was taking out of genuine concern for her, Liv couldn’t bring herself to get angry at him.

But Walter, who had been repeatedly moving back and forth holding hands, suddenly let go of Liv’s hand. The color was draining from his face.

“What is this…”

“What?”

“You didn’t die this time.”

“What do you mean?”

“You, you fell down the stairs and died.”

Walter’s face as he said this was so cold that it was hard to believe he was the same person as the kind older brother who was always gentle to Liv.

At those words, Liv, precariously standing on the stairs, could easily grasp the situation. He said she didn’t die ‘this time’. Then…

It seemed that Liv had died falling down the stairs while arguing with Walter, and their time had rewound to before Liv fell to her death. Walter, who had always smiled kindly at Liv, was now looking at her as if she was the most abhorrent thing.

“Ah, my parents have brought a demon into the house.”

Seeing this, Liv realized. Walter Hamelsvoort had already experienced divine punishment.

“B-brother, perhaps the gods…”

Afraid that she had harmed someone else again, Liv was about to ask what kind of divine punishment he had received in a trembling voice, but.

“It seems you don’t even know that much. But even if I told you, how could you understand the pain I’ve been through?”

Walter’s eyes looking at Liv were already filled with hatred that she couldn’t dare imagine.

“Because of you, I’ve repeated the same time dozens of times. I’ve lived the year after your death for so long that I can’t remember.”

A life where no matter how much he struggled, he would return to a year ago, and the people he had built relationships with would forget him. How could the mind of someone who repeated this dozens of times possibly be sane?