Evernight pondered for a moment before saying, "You could understand it as this: we are all from the Grand Duchy of Augustus, five hundred years in the future, and we are companions of Tribios."
Olivia blinked, then said, "Wait, so you're saying the Grand Duchy of Augustus successfully weathered this calamity and has continued to exist peacefully for five centuries?"
After all, the moment Evernight's memories resurfaced was precisely when the Grand Duchy of Augustus had been targeted by other nations and was on the verge of being invaded by the Allied Forces. Olivia had been agonizing over what to do. So when someone from five hundred years in the future suddenly appeared, she was stunned for a moment before her face lit up with excitement. "So, we succeeded, right?!"
Evernight sighed. "Yes, you succeeded. In the end, the Grand Duchy of Augustus sacrificed only three lives, while the rest were safely evacuated to secure locations."
Olivia murmured, "Three lives..."
Olivia didn't need to be told; she had already guessed who the three were. If anyone else had learned of their impending death, they might have panicked or been filled with dread. But Olivia felt none of that. Her mind was filled with a single thought:
Everyone in the Grand Duchy of Augustus is safe! That's wonderful!
After a pause, Olivia said, "So, the Grand Duchy of Augustus was later renamed Okhema, right? What a beautiful name~!"
As she spoke, her mood suddenly darkened. With a hint of regret, she murmured, "If only I could see Okhema five hundred years from now... With Tribios there, everyone must be living such happy lives."
Aria chimed in, "Yes, yes! That's exactly right! Everyone in Okhema lives such incredibly happy lives every day! I've never seen such radiant joy on the faces of people from any other country. The people of Okhema are truly unique!"
Olivia sighed wistfully, "How wonderful~"
The atmosphere fell into a brief silence, broken only by Half's struggles. "Hey, man! If we're teammates, let me go already!"
Evernight finally glanced at Half and said, "Sorry, I forgot about you."
As she spoke, the ice encasing Half slowly melted away. Half grimaced, "You..."
But when he saw Evernight's crimson eyes, he involuntarily shrank back. "Never mind, never mind! A magnanimous soul like me will forgive you!"
Douglas couldn't help but scoff, "This isn't about being 'magnanimous.' You're just chickening out, aren't you?"
Half immediately bared his teeth, snarling, "What did you just say, you mutt?!"
As the man and wolf bickered, Aria hesitated before turning to Olivia. "But... you were supposed to be a good person, a savior. You single-handedly withstood immense pressure, buying time for the people of the Grand Duchy of Augustus to evacuate. Yet in later generations, most people depict you as the Demon Lord, while the Allied Forces are hailed as heroes."
Although Feidric had successfully enlightened Aria, helping her understand that "Olivia and the Demon Lord in the book are two distinct entities," it couldn't be denied that Olivia served as the prototype for this Demon Lord. Seeing such a virtuous person unjustly vilified was understandably painful for Aria.
However, upon hearing these words, Olivia wore an expression of serene composure. She smiled gently and said, "What does it matter? Let others say what they will. As long as those I care about are safe, that's all that matters."
For some reason, in that instant, Evernight seemed to suddenly understand why Olivia had been unable to wield the Paladin Divine Artifact in her youth. Although Olivia and Aria were essentially the same person, both being Paladins, subtle differences remained.
Due to their divergent origins and upbringing, Olivia was somewhat more "selfish"—though this "selfishness" referred not to herself, but to the Grand Duchy of Augustus.
Olivia was undoubtedly a good person with a kind heart. Yet, when faced with an irreconcilable conflict between her principles and the interests of the Grand Duchy of Augustus, she would unhesitatingly choose the latter, prioritizing the well-being of those around her.
Aria was born in an ordinary rural village. Though her childhood wasn't wealthy, it was carefree. Then she encountered tales of heroes and Demon Lords, which ignited a longing within her. She drew a false "Legendary Weapon" and became a Paladin.
Therefore, Aria needed to be purer and more selfless.
Listening to Olivia's candid words, Aria couldn't help but turn to look at her companions—Feidric, Douglas, and Cipher—muttering, "The people around me?"
"Clap, clap~" Evernight gently clapped her hands, drawing everyone's attention. "Alright, since the trial is over, we can leave this place anytime. Of course, if you want to stay a little longer and talk to someone, that's fine too."
The four of them simultaneously turned to look at Evernight. Perhaps because they had previously mistaken her for an enemy, they hadn't had much time to observe her beyond her face. But now that they knew she was an ally, they naturally took a closer look.
Aria noticed a large amount of black, viscous fluid on Evernight's clothes. The fabric over her right shoulder appeared corroded, exposing her fair shoulder and a sliver of collarbone. Her pale legs, bare to the air, featured a sticky black band around her right thigh, lending the overall ensemble an oddly seductive air.
Slightly embarrassed, Aria averted her gaze to look elsewhere, specifically at Olivia beside her. For some reason, their eyes unexpectedly met.
Feidric then asked, "How long can this temporal anomaly last?"
Evernight replied casually, "As long as you want."
Feidric pressed, "So, you're using some kind of time-related Authority? Will our actions here affect the future?"
"Not at all," Evernight assured him. "This is merely a memory of the past, not the actual past itself."
"Then I'd like to stay a bit longer," Feidric said. "I have some questions I want to ask that Great Mage named Jay. Thank you!"
"No problem, no problem~" Evernight replied.
The instant she finished speaking, everyone vanished from their original location and instantly reappeared at the city gate of the Grand Duchy of Augustus.