The Burden of Growth

The sun was just right, and nuns brimming with youthful energy surrounded her like a flock of lively, chirping birds.

It was a subtle feeling.

As Olivia Melianne's gaze swept over the crowd, she couldn't help but feel out of place.

Not long ago, she had been a novice nun at the monastery, just like them. Why did it feel now as if she were standing in an entirely different world?

The transcendent world had changed her.

As Olivia spoke with the nuns, news of her return to the monastery spread. More and more nuns hurried over, some approaching to say hello, others watching from a distance.

They looked at the nun who had come out of their monastery with curiosity.

Although the news of Olivia preventing the descent of the evil god's will had not yet spread, her previous deeds were enough to make her someone these nuns-in-training looked up to.

She had turned the tide single-handedly at the Soltu Statue Gallery.

She had saved a team on the brink of annihilation at the Late-Night Tavern.

Any of these feats were enough to make these nuns, who had not yet touched transcendent combat, full of longing. They fantasized that one day they too could encounter such events and display divine might.

Olivia spoke with them for a while, her expression turning slightly serious. "You shouldn't long for the transcendent world too much; it is a dangerous thing."

"But, Sister Olivia, we want to do work for the church too," one innocent-looking nun couldn't help but say.

"Work for the church? I think you'll have that chance soon. The church will likely send someone soon to invite many of you to work." Olivia paused before continuing, "Because in the recent battles against the heretics, we lost many, many, many people."

Yes, many had died.

Even though Olivia had stopped the descent of the evil god's will, many people still perished.

After all, the fighting hadn't just happened on Huys Street; it had occurred on various other streets throughout the South District.

Many ordinary residents died, and many clergy members died as well.

Therefore, the transcendent world was not something to be excited about.

The surrounding nuns fell silent, and the atmosphere became stiff for a moment.

"I hope that a year from today, we can still gather together and chat like this."

With those final words, Olivia left the group.

Just as she stepped away from the crowd of nuns, she saw a familiar figure ahead.

Mona Spencer.

This nun with aqua-blue hair and eyes was one of the teachers responsible for instruction at the monastery. She was also the one who had recommended Olivia to Ronan, allowing Olivia to get involved in various transcendent conflicts much earlier than expected.

Looking at Olivia, Mona's eyes held a sense of relief mixed with complexity. "Olivia, you seem to have experienced a lot and grown so much. I... I..."

This normally enthusiastic nun found herself at a loss for words upon seeing Olivia.

She knew Olivia had gone through many things—all of them extremely dangerous. Even if everything was resolved in the end, it meant Olivia had been in grave peril.

Olivia had been recommended by her, yet she had repeatedly fallen into danger, which naturally made Mona feel conflicted.

Finally, she could only say, "If you want to come back and study in peace, just tell me. I can let you return."

Olivia couldn't help but smile at those words.

She saw through Mona's thoughts and stepped forward. "There's no need to worry about my situation. On the contrary, I'm very grateful for your recommendation back then; it allowed me to grow sufficiently. If I could do it all over again, I would still want you to recommend me."

"...Olivia, you don't have to say that just to make me feel better."

"No, that is truly how I feel."

Olivia wasn't lying.

If she hadn't been recommended by Mona to go to the Daylight Cathedral early, she might never have met Melanie Mills and thus never stepped onto the transcendent path of the Ascetic.

While the Arbiter was certainly a good transcendent path, after becoming an Ascetic, she felt it suited her much better.

Moreover, her encounters with several transcendent events hadn't caused her much harm; instead, they had brought her various unexpected rewards.

These rewards would allow her to have better development in the transcendent world.

Sensing the sincerity in Olivia's tone, Mona finally smiled.

"That's good, then. That's good."

She sighed with emotion, as if watching her own child grow up.

After chatting for a while, Olivia returned to her dormitory.

Since she would likely be working at the Daylight Cathedral from now on, her room at the monastery probably wouldn't be kept for her. Therefore, certain things had to be handled properly.

Otherwise, the stake would still be her final destination.

She was referring to one of the culprits behind her transmigration—the evil god scroll!

Olivia returned to her room, locked the door, drew the curtains, and then, in a secretive corner, brought out the evil god scroll.

'Magic mirror, magic mirror, which evil god is described in this scroll?'

The number of evil gods was not small, each with their own authority and dangers. Olivia hadn't known much about the transcendent world back then, so she hadn't asked, but she felt she needed to understand it now.

Since this was something that couldn't be destroyed or thrown away, she at least needed to know who it belonged to.

【It is the Death Sovereign, also known by the church as the evil god of death.】

Who?

The Death Sovereign?

Isn't that the evil god worshipped by the Twilight Council?

Olivia's expression became quite a sight at that moment. She never expected that after all these twists and turns, she would still be connected to this evil god—and in a way she couldn't get rid of.

She couldn't help but swallow hard, then quickly threw the evil god scroll into the Amber Tears.

'Magic mirror, magic mirror, with my current knowledge and connections, is it possible to resolve the trouble of this evil god scroll?'

【No.】

The magic mirror's answer was incredibly simple, leaving Olivia feeling a wave of helplessness.

It seemed she would have to carry this evil god scroll with her for now. She just hoped no strange changes would occur.

Afterward, she tidied up her dorm room, putting her personal belongings into the Amber Tears before heading out.

It was time to leave.

Before departing, Olivia thought for a moment and decided to visit the Sunlight Cathedral inside the monastery to say goodbye to Sister Brittany Mason.

This nun was the one officially responsible for her. Since she had come to the monastery, there was no reason not to see her.

When she arrived at the Sunlight Cathedral, Olivia glanced inside.

Sure enough, no matter the time, Brittany always seemed to be found within the Sunlight Cathedral.