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nChapter 78

n‘I heard that Saint Veronica, like Gabriel, was later revealed to have divine power.’

nBut now, it hasn’t manifested. Rather, it was from killing and stealing.

nAt first, the ‘maybe?’ conspiracy theory was gradually being constructed closer to the truth. Circumstances and evidence were gathering one by one.

n‘Nonsense. I can not believe it.’

nAria was in shock.

n‘But the situation fits it well this far?’

nVeronica was actually a murderer. She wasn’t a saint, contrary to what Veronica was actually known for. She had been blinded by power enough to kill people, taking away their divine power and making it appear as her own, earning the respect and praise of the people.

nIf this premise was true.

n‘What about the rest?’

nShe somehow felt nervous and restless. Aria suddenly stood up from her seat. Then, she followed his curious gaze.

n‘This is not the time.’

nShe quickly tried to get out of the room but paused and glanced back at Gabriel for a moment.

nShe had something to ask.

nWhat do you think about killing innocent people?

n“I guess it’s because I asked for the jewel. I’ll fully reflect on it.”

nNo, she was not being sarcastic. Aria shook her head and told him more clearly.

nI just wanted to ask your beliefs.

n“You’re asking the obvious. There’s no reason an innocent person should die.”

nGabriel answered straight away. It didn’t sound like a lie.

nAbove all, Aria had already met Gabriel once in the lowest place. He jumped in to save her from peril, even when he was so weak that he couldn’t even beat the vagrants.

n‘He is an undeniable good man.’

nHe had an upright personality that was closer to a paladin than anyone else. Gabriel was like a straight river. A river that rushes towards the sea.

nShe thought that if she had met him without knowing his future, they might have been good friends.

n‘I can’t believe he’ll change like that in the future.’

nIf the reason for such a change was to make the saint’s wish come true. Aria had something she wanted to say in advance.

nEven if the saint wants it?

n“…please don’t insult the saint. There is no way she would want an innocent death.”

nGabriel said with a hard expression on his face as if he had been insulted.

nI’m asking if you’re going to follow the saint even if it goes against your beliefs.

n“As a test of my faith?”

nNo, to ask what is the path for the saint.

nWill he follow her will or lead her on the right path?

n‘You in your previous life chose the former.’

nAria hoped that in this life it would be different. Because she liked Gabriel before he fell for Veronica’s beliefs.

nGabriel, I told you not to doubt the path you walk.

nShe wrote with all her heart. Not by the title of angel, but with his real name. She hoped this young man would make the right choice in the future. Taking the path he had dreamed of.

nThen, reading the card, Gabriel’s eyes widened.

nHe didn’t know what unpleasant things happened to the saint, but it was as if he had forgotten his essence for a while because of it.

n“Ah…….”

nI will keep this necklace a secret. It has no effect when I’m wearing it. Not even the angel should tell this to anyone.

n“……I understand.”

nGabriel paused for a moment, then nodded slowly.

nDon’t even tell the saint.

n“I’m not going to say anything. But… I hope you don’t speak of the saint like a bad person.”

nGabriel nodded in displeasure.

nLooking at that situation, it seems that he already believed in Veronica as if he had faith in her, so Aria became infinitely anxious.

nPeople will do anything if they can get what they desperately want.

n“What do you mean by that?”

nIt means that even the saint is a human being.

nJust like him who kicked his beliefs and became Veronica’s dog, killing innocent people.

nAria did not write down her following thoughts. Instead, she wrote something else.

nI want to tell you that your saint is not a god but a human being.

nAnd shrugged her shoulders.

n“…..I didn’t know you’d say that.”

nIt was an insult to the gentle and almost divine character of the saint.

n‘The Grand Princess must be saying that because she doesn’t know her very well.’

nOn the one hand, Gabriel was a little disappointed in her, though just a little bit, for judging someone she didn’t even know.

nBut Aria knew.

n‘It must be the first time someone had said this to him.’

nGabriel could not even imagine doubting Veronica.

nAria planted in him the buds of doubts.

n‘Go and ask secretly.’

nEven if he wants to confirm that this was never going to happen, he will definitely think about Veronica.

nAria was sure.

n‘And I hope the results don’t go the way I expected.’

nAria wished so.

n***

nAria was dreaming.

nThe reason she was convinced it was a dream was because she was breathing underwater. Had it been real, she would have drowned as she had never learned to swim.

n‘Wow…….’

nThe muffled sound of being submerged in water. Bubbles that rise with every breath. Wherever Aria’s eyes could reach, there was only pure blue water.

nShe waved her hand. A blue wave rippled between her fingers and moved forward in front of her. Like swimming.

n‘Is this a place called the sea?’

nShe was seeing in her dreams a sea she has never seen before. It was a wonderful experience.

n‘So pretty.’

nAlthough it was in a dream, she didn’t feel it.

nAria patted the fish passing by her.

nThen she felt the touch of a fish that had swam leisurely in the sea until then, and ran away when they felt her touch.

n‘Hmm? I can touch it.’

nThis is the first time she had ever had such a vivid dream.

nAria went a little deeper. She of course thought there would be something like seaweed or deep-sea fish down there.

n‘A city?’

nTo her surprise, she saw a building that had been eroded over time.

nA submerged coastal city.

n‘Atlantis?’

nSiren’s hometown.

nA legendary city that was said to have sunk and disappeared 1500 years ago was unfolding before her eyes.

n‘A very strange dream.’

nAs soon as she got used to the sea, she swam more proficiently than the first time and headed for the largest building.

nAs she entered the glassless window sill, she saw a chandelier that had nothing but the frame left.

n‘It is…… silver.’

nIf this was Atlantis, this building must have been the lord’s castle.

n‘It has been preserved almost as is.’

nAria thought so, and she looked around the inside of the castle. Fortunately, the building was submerged in the sea and nothing collapsed, so it was easy to see.

nThen something shiny caught her eye.

nIt was when she was looking around at what was supposed to be the study.

n‘This…….’

nIt was a small storage box in a cylindrical shape.

nIt has a structure that opens when she turns the dial to set the password.

n‘It seems to have been enchanted by preservation magic.’

nDoes it contain any important documents? Aria picked up the box without any doubt.

nBut at that moment, the sound of cracks in the building was heard.

nBoomboomboom-

n‘What…….’

nAria hurriedly turned her head and looked around.

nThere were cracks in the pillars that seemed to support the center of the building. In real time.

n‘No way.’

nAn ominous feeling ran through her head.

nIt’s just a dream anyway. Why was her survival instinct suddenly sounding the alarm? She felt an eerie glint across her spine.

n‘Run, run away.’

nAria quickly tried to get out of the window. At that moment, there was a sound of something breaking. She was very nervous and looked up.

nA huge building rubble was about to fall towards her head.

n‘Aack!’

nShe barely escaped. The wreckage brushed against her shoulder. She thought it was just a dream, but she was struck with a distinct pain she hadn’t thought of.

n‘Isn’t, isn’t this a dream?’

nShe didn’t even have time to think deeply.

nIn the midst of the pain, she had to stay as far away as possible from the collapsing building. Aria grabbed her arm, where something was obviously wrong, and she swam desperately.

nAnd at that moment,

n‘Gasp!’

nShe woke up from her dream.

n“…!”

nAria bit her lips tightly.

nA terrible pain rose through her left arm. It was the first time since her return that she has felt pain to this extent. She felt like screams would come out if she let her guard down.

nShe bit her lip until blood oozed out, examining her immobile arm.

n‘Why?’

nThe wounds in her dreams were carried over into reality.

n‘Then this is not a dream.’

nBut Aria obviously got up from the bed. Like waking up from a dream.

nShe had never experienced or heard of such a case in her life.

n‘Furthermore…….’

nShe brought this too.

nAria looked down at the cylindrical box in her right hand, making her even more confused.

n‘Ah.’

nAria realized it later.

nShe put her hand in her arms and stuttered. And pulled out what was caught on her fingertips.

n‘Conch Pearl.’

nIt was the map to Atlantis.

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