You're Cheating? What a Coincidence, So Am I

Olivia was startled by the sudden voice. She turned quickly and sighed in relief when she saw who it was. "Oh, it's you, Mirabelle."

Seeing Mirabelle wasn't much of a surprise to Olivia.

Mirabelle, however, was beyond shocked. Her ruby-like eyes held a deep intensity as she asked, "Olivia, why are you here? At this time, you should be in the classrooms teaching the students."

Olivia gave a faint smile. "I'm here for the same reason you are."

Mirabelle’s pupils constricted instantly.

Under normal circumstances, the two should have exchanged information and reached an agreement to cooperate. However, with time being of the essence, Olivia didn't want to waste too much of it on explanations.

Before Mirabelle could ask anything else, Olivia spoke at a rapid-fire pace. "Don't be surprised by my situation. It's simply because my spiritual power is exceptionally strong. The first time we returned to the starting point, I felt something was wrong. I deduced that the reset was related to me because Dean Georgina kept following me afterward. But then, the reset happened a second time. That’s when I realized that besides me, there must be someone else capable of resisting the memory loss. That person had to be one of the other nuns. Now, I can be certain that person is you, Mirabelle. You must have a powerful and outstanding spiritual power just like I do."

Olivia naturally couldn't let on that she knew about the second soul hidden within Mirabelle. Using herself as an excuse, she spoke with a tone of certainty, assuming Mirabelle’s situation was identical to her own.

As Mirabelle stood there stunned, Olivia continued, "Although I don't know exactly what Georgina is hiding, I imagine it's something very sinister—perhaps even something that opposes the church. That's why we aren't allowed to know. But regardless of what it is, as nuns and members of the church, we have every reason to resolve this. Don't you agree, Mirabelle?"

Mirabelle felt a flood of questions rushing through her mind, making it impossible to process everything at once.

She had always thought she was the only one fighting against the orphanage's bizarre phenomena, only for Olivia to suddenly pop up and seemingly be on the same side.

She didn't have time to carefully analyze the other girl's words, but they sounded logical enough, so she nodded subconsciously.

"Then, we should cooperate." Olivia pointed toward the dining hall door. "You told me not to go in earlier. Is there something wrong inside?"

Mirabelle snapped back into focus. "Before the last reset, I came here and met the chef. There is something very wrong with him."

She explained that the obese chef was an Initiate who had tempered his body with magic particles until it was incredibly strong. In a close-quarters clash, even she had to avoid a direct confrontation, though she had ultimately won.

Of course, she didn't mention how she had won.

However, just as she had defeated the chef and was about to enter the back of the kitchen, she had sensed that mysterious power again and returned to the starting point.

"If you enter the dining hall now, that chef will definitely be there to stop you," Mirabelle said seriously. She didn't think Olivia would be a match for him.

Even though they were both Initiates who had tempered their bodies with magic particles, one's natural physical constitution played a massive role in the early stages of transcendence. The chef's massive, sturdy build was his advantage; Olivia’s small frame didn't look like it could withstand him at all.

As for her?

She was different. She had a cheat.

Olivia nodded in understanding. "In that case, Mirabelle, I'll leave you to deal with the chef. I'll find a way to bypass him and see what's happening in the back."

Mirabelle tried to stop her. "Wait, have you considered that we might return to the starting point again?"

Through the soul of Arilla within her, she now knew about the Oblivion Pocket Watch, but she felt Olivia was still in the dark and didn't know how to explain it.

Olivia smiled. "Returning to the starting point? I don't think we need to worry about that. Every time we go back, the speed at which I regain my senses increases. What does that tell you? The human body develops a resistance."

Human resistance?

Mirabelle blinked, chewing over the theory in her mind. It sounded plausible enough.

But then she raised another concern. "But there's another problem. Do you know what dangers are waiting for you behind the scenes of this orphanage? Aren't you afraid that if you rush in recklessly, you might never come back?"

"Regardless of what I have to face, I should face it. Besides, I've come prepared. Look." Olivia opened her hand, showing the talismans she had crafted.

This actually surprised Mirabelle. She hadn't expected Olivia to be carrying talismans. Could Olivia have made them herself?

But even with talismans, they weren't necessarily useful. She was about to continue dismissing Olivia's plan, but as her gaze swept over them, she paused on one specific talisman and changed her mind.

"I see," Mirabelle said. "It's clear you're prepared. Then... I'll take the lead."

Mirabelle knew time was running out; otherwise, she would have had many more things to confirm with Olivia. For now, knowing Olivia was an ally was enough.

She told Olivia to hide to the side, then opened the door and entered the dining hall.

As soon as Mirabelle entered, Olivia heard a familiar voice from outside. It was Georgina. The woman had actually come here as well.

"Lady Zoe, what are you doing here? It is not mealtime. You should be in the classroom right now, teaching the children assigned to you. Do you know how much those children long for knowledge? As the one responsible for their education, you should not leave them."

"Cut the nonsense. I'm going to get to the bottom of the truth behind this orphanage today!"

Mirabelle's voice rang out with conviction.

Back at the monastery, Mirabelle had kept an extremely low profile to avoid exposing her identity. It was only at this moment that she revealed her assertive side, facing her opponent without a hint of fear.

Olivia nodded inwardly.

'I wonder if Ashley Hewitt will use the Oblivion Pocket Watch again. She should know by now that this forbidden artifact is losing its effectiveness... Fortunately, it's only a sealed-grade artifact.'

Olivia listened as the sound of numerous tables and chairs being overturned echoed from the dining hall.

She took the opportunity to slip inside. At a glance, she saw the obese chef gripping a cleaver in each hand, staring deathly at Mirabelle.

On the other side, Georgina was holding a table leg, looking determined to keep Mirabelle pinned there at all costs.

Georgina knew she had been exposed. She could no longer continue as the dean of this orphanage. But because of that, she understood that she had to ensure that adult completed the advancement, and then she would follow them and leave this place.

Suddenly, Georgina seemed to sense something. Her gaze snapped over, landing on Olivia, who was already rushing toward the kitchen.

Inside the kitchen was a passage leading to the cellar—the place Rose had spoken of!

"You are not allowed to go there!"

Georgina screamed, pulling a talisman made of spiritual paper from her robes. The talisman was circular, inscribed with a red sickle and dense Sylvan Runes.

She hurriedly tore the talisman, causing a surge of magic to erupt and lock onto Olivia.

"Watch out!" Mirabelle shouted, seeing the scene unfold.