How to Live as the Terminally Ill Younger Sister of the Villain - Chapter 62
“But that building is not the tomb. This is the tomb.”
Angelina pointed to the hill before them.
“This… you mean this hill?”
“Yes.”
Blake frowned.
“It’s quite funny. It’s exactly shaped like a tomb, yet why does the High Priest think that building is the tomb?”
“Then what about the tombstone and the tree inside?”
“They’re plot devices.”
“Plot… what?”
“In other words, they’re decoys.”
This was content that appeared in the latter part of the original work.
Though they pushed back the Order, the female lead was plunged into sorrow as war became inevitable when the High Priest escaped.
She came to this tomb that had given her the most difficulty when she was being made into a ‘false saint’.
Engraving in her heart the bloodshed and the countless children sacrificed to obtain this sacred object, she vowed to surely bring punishment to the High Priest.
Just then, as she infused holy power to soothe her mind while healing the tree that bore traces of battle, the sacred object suddenly appeared, as if responding to her determination.
「Catherine finally realized then.
That the true sacred tree in the literature wasn’t the tree inside the building, but this tree on the hill. That the real tomb wasn’t that building, but this hill.」
The building and the tree inside were decoys created long ago to protect the sacred object from wicked people who coveted it.
If they planted a tree right next to the tombstone and built walls around it, anyone would think it was the tree from the literature.
But as time passed, many documents were lost and stories became distorted, leading people to mistakenly believe it was the true sacred tree.
“It seems those in the past were also anxious, so they left hints in the building.”
“What kind of hints?”
“The building’s design.”
“How can the building’s design be a hint? More importantly, if there are hints, why hasn’t the High Priest noticed them?”
“Because they’ve never followed the correct interpretation method.”
“Are you saying the High Priest’s interpretation is wrong?”
“Partly. But it’s quite a crucial part.”
Angelina raised her finger from pointing at the building to point at the sun.
“How often do you think a solar eclipse and sunset occur together like today?”
“…?”
“It’s truly an incredible timing.”
Just like we’re in a novel world ruled by coincidences. When the male lead is drawn in, even the sun and moon create perfect timing on their own.
Indeed, it was an unfair and sad world for extras to live in.
“When the sun is devoured by darkness and the world is dyed in blood, heal the open wound with all your heart. The thorn that hurt me will eventually break.”
“I’ve heard the tombstone’s inscription before. I think the High Priest’s interpretation is quite appropriate, so what part is wrong?”
“‘When the sun is devoured by darkness and the world is dyed in blood.’ This part.”
Angelina crossed her arms and sighed.
“I wonder where the idea that ‘moon’ means darkness came from.”
“…?”
“Darkness obviously means night. And blood simply means ‘red’.”
Blake’s brows furrowed.
But with the added explanation, his eyes soon grew round.
“The time when the world turns red before night falls.”
“No way.”
“Anyone would hear that and think of ‘sunset’, not a solar eclipse.”
***
And now.
When Angelina stabbed the knife in, a small gap naturally formed in the tree trunk.
Though it was a small wound, the condensed holy power touching that spot was instantly sucked into the tree.
It devoured the holy power at a terrifying speed, like quicksand.
Starting from that small gap, the holy power began to spread gradually. It filled the entire tree trunk and instantly conquered the branches.
When the holy power filled every corner of the luxuriant branches and leaves, the tree pulsed with a thud.
It vibrated like a massive heart and poured out an immense light.
It was holy power.
And that holy power enveloped Angelina, who had thrust in the knife.
“My lady!”
“Stay where you are!”
Though Laura and Jake moved immediately, Angelina raised her hand to stop them. There was no sign of pain or danger.
The holy power was no longer the same holy power sent by the priests. It was the residual holy power drawn up from the tomb’s roots.
But Angelina noticed something strange about this.
‘A rotten… smell?’
Holy power was an incomparably noble force. Yet there was a fishy stench permeating it.
What was strange was that it didn’t feel completely foreign.
Though spoiled, holy power was still holy power.
And truly strangely…
‘It feels similar to when Haley casts healing magic on me…’
It was a familiar sensation.
But magic doesn’t usually have this rotten smell…
In that moment, everything before her turned white and the surroundings changed.
It was a vast field in full bloom.
It was beautiful.
Far across that dreamlike field, someone was running.
‘○○! Look what I found! I think it will suit ○○ well!’
‘Give that here! I made that to give to you!’
Though their faces weren’t clear, she could tell they were two men. The one running in front was holding a blue rose.
A memory?
No, this isn’t a memory.
At least, not my memory.
I couldn’t have such memories…
‘♧♧, that thieving bastard! I’ll kill him!’
Massive wings spread behind the back of the man chasing in anger.
Something that couldn’t happen in reality.
Then another man’s voice was heard nearby.
‘What are those idiots doing, suddenly showing up after being away all this time.’
When she turned her head, there stood a man with a black sword at his waist. Again, his face wasn’t visible, but the sword was.
That sword.
She had seen it somewhere…
That was all.
The time allowed to her.
The space changed again.
Angelina was back standing at the ‘Witch’s Tomb’.
And the holy power that had enveloped her left her and moved toward one branch.
A world completely dyed red by the sunset.
One branch that looked different from the others, touched by the light of the tree imbued with strong holy power.
Unlike the other leaves, that crimson-tinted one snapped itself off from the main branch and fell to the ground with a thud.
“Found it.”
Angelina picked it up.
“The crimson thorn that guards the Sun’s tomb.”
It was too pointed to be a willow leaf, and the thing stuck tightly to the branch was clearly in the shape of a thorn vine to anyone who saw it. But since it wasn’t a real vine, it was stiff like it was made of leather.
She had obtained the sacred object.
It was then.
[My lady. It seems they’ve noticed.]
Haley’s voice was heard.
[Oh? Oh, oh, those guys are now rushing towards where the light pointed! Get out of there immediately!]
Though he shouted urgently, Angelina calmly turned to Sean.
“Catherine?”
Sean immediately relayed her words.
[The Duke went to the ‘detention cell’ with Lord Mason, but still no news… Ah! They’re here! That woman is with them too!]
“Then tell them to escape immediately, taking advantage of the confusion.”
[Yes! See you at the mansion!]
No sooner had Haley finished speaking than a holy knight at the foot of the hill shouted.
“There! The intruders are there!”
Drawn by the voice, guards poured out from all directions, but…
“Let’s bolt!”
As Angelina grabbed Jake, Jake tore the scroll cleanly.
“They’re after the sacred object! We must not let them…”
The High Priest rushed out belatedly, but Angelina and her group had already vanished without a trace.
***
“Those bastards are truly insane! Not only are they overflowing with madness, but they’re scum who’ve given up on being human!”
Having safely escaped through different routes, they met again at Angelina’s mansion.
As soon as they reunited, Mason was pouring out his anger. He had shouted so much that his voice was slightly hoarse.
“Those lunatics, bringing children from the slums, the children, the children’s blood…! Aaargh!”
He screamed and ruffled his hair frantically as if it was too horrific to even mention.
“Mason, calm down.”
“Your Grace, aren’t you angry? Is this something to be calm about?”
Mason beat his chest in frustration.
“You saw them smearing blood on that sword! Derek, that container the bastard brought in! It was all blood!”
Derek was the priest Angelina and Mason had met in the ‘prayer room’ when they went to the Grand Temple.
He was a priest in such a ‘high position’ that he was said to be the High Priest’s secretary, the one who made Mason quit being a holy knight.
“And then they use holy power to preserve that…! Ha, these truly insane bastards…”
“Mason.”
Only after Blake restrained him once more did Mason close his mouth. But he was still seething, unable to swallow his anger.
Angelina, who had been watching quietly, opened her mouth.
“So you saw it. The true nature of the Order.”
