Chapter 735: Reconciliation

“Dave…!!”

When they entered the office towards the back of the restaurant, guided by Al, Marie and Forest, who had been deeply engaged in a serious conversation, suddenly stood up and called out to Oliver.

Their expressions were as if they had seen a ghost. It wasn’t out of malice, just pure shock.

After all, Oliver, who had vanished after uncovering the ugly secret of the Royal Army, liberating Randa, defeating Puppet who attacked the Tower of Magic, had suddenly reappeared within a single day.

Forest and Marie were naturally astounded to see him again so suddenly.

“Hello, Mr. Forest. Marie. How are both of you?”

Oliver, seemingly unaware of their astonished hearts, greeted them casually with a wave.

“Ah…ah….ah….”

Forest tried to say something but let out a deep sigh instead, while Marie remained speechless, just looking at him.

She was making sure he wasn’t injured anywhere. Fortunately, she didn’t find any signs of harm, and as relief washed over her, she started to glance at Oliver with caution again.

It was only natural.

She had experienced Oliver’s turmoil and anger firsthand just a few days ago.

Oliver was tormented by the fact that he was the Prince of Hell, denying himself, and expressing deep resentment and anger at his fate.

“Isn’t this too much? I didn’t ask to be born this way.”

Marie had agreed with him. He was right.

Just as being born poor isn’t something to be despised, neither should someone born into a high place be forced to bear a heavier burden.

Yet, Marie had denied these truths and treated Oliver in the very way he despised most, purely for her own satisfaction.

In her last conversation with Oliver, Marie realized how reckless her actions had been, which is why she now couldn’t meet his eyes.

If only things could stay like this…

Thud.

While Marie was sinking her head into her shoulders with her eyes shut, she felt an awkward but gentle touch on her shoulder.

Startled, Marie opened her eyes and looked up, locking eyes with Oliver.

For a second, she thought she must be mistaken, but it seemed as if he was smiling. At the very least, he was trying to.

“Could you wait for a moment? I have something to say to Mr. Forest first.”

“…”

“I’d appreciate an answer.”

“Yes…”

Marie responded as though she were in a daze.

Oliver turned his gaze toward Forest.

“Looks like I’m not too late.”

“What?”

“For doing good deeds. It doesn’t seem too late when I look outside.”

“Ah…”

Forest unconsciously let out a gasp, understanding what Oliver meant.

Before Oliver launched his attack on the Royal Army at City Hall, Forest had once told him:

‘The adults tell you to live a good life. I used to think that was nonsense, but now, as I’ve gotten older, I think I understand it a little. I should have lived better… Is it too late?’

Forest had felt both guilt and self-loathing for disappointing Oliver, who admired him but became disillusioned by his sins.

It was only in his twilight years that Forest foolishly realized why one should live upright—not to please others, but to be proud of oneself. But it seemed too late.

Forest shook his head.

“It wasn’t my idea. It was Al’s. I had nothing to do with it.”

“But if you hadn’t given your permission, we couldn’t have even attempted it. You were the one who hired Al and entrusted him with work at the restaurant.”

“…Did something happen?”

Forest asked, sensing that something about Oliver was different from the last time they met. Oliver seemed much calmer.

Oliver shrugged.

“A little… May I ask you for a favor?”

“Speak.”

“Could you retrieve the body of Mr. Kent from Room 444 of the Cross King Hotel?”

“Kent…?”

“Yes, the body is preserved and hasn’t decayed. Honestly, I’d like to handle it myself, but that feels selfish. After much thought, I believe it’s only right for you and the Brotherhood of the Poor to conduct a proper funeral.”

Forest stumbled for a moment.

In a way, this wasn’t appropriate behavior.

Brokers, after all, made their living dealing with violence and death.

Thus, a broker’s life was always close to death—not just for themselves but also for those around them.

It was unprofessional, perhaps even unethical, to waver over someone’s death.

Forest knew this, yet he was still shaken.

Because Kent had been more than a broker; he had been a friend. After decades of separation, they had reconciled, and now that friend was dead.

“He died because of me. Though he denied it.”

Oliver spoke to the dazed Forest.

Forest remained silent.

“You can blame me—”

“—I don’t blame you… I don’t. And Kent wouldn’t want that. Never.”

Forest took a moment to collect his thoughts.

“Would you excuse me?”

“Of course. Please.”

Once permission was granted, Forest grabbed his coat and moved to leave the office, passing Oliver as he did.

Just as Forest was walking past, Oliver stopped him.

“It may be confusing and heartbreaking—the Brotherhood that Mr. Kent was responsible for.”

“…”

“Just something to think about.”

Oliver looked into Forest’s eyes as he spoke, and after a brief pause, Forest nodded.

Forest then left the office, leaving Oliver and Marie alone.

“Would you like a drink?”

Oliver picked up a bottle of liquor from the desk and casually poured it into a crystal glass.

Instead of answering, Marie changed the subject, as though she seemed to be aware of something.

“Oliver… Are you planning to stop the end of the world?”

“It’s a good drink.”

“Are you going to defy your fate?”

“Do you want me to follow my fate?”

“I want you to escape from it!”

Marie unexpectedly shouted, expressing her true desire for Oliver.

Once, and still even now, Marie believed Oliver to be a god, but paradoxically, she now hoped that he would flee from his destiny.

She had realized just how selfish she was when Oliver came to Wineham to rescue them.

Oliver had spent peaceful days in Randa, yet had to endure hardship and suffering just because people like her worshipped him as a god and called for his help.

After crossing over to Randa, it became clear how much Oliver suffered each time he became aware of his fate.

And then, to make matters worse, a demon had appeared in front of Marie.

A woman on a camel materialized from the shadows.

The woman informed Marie about Oliver’s cruel and irrational fate. Just as Ewan had said it would be.

The trials he would face were so harsh, no god, angel, or adult could handle them. The burden was instead placed on a child. Literally unfair, unjust, and painful.

That’s why Marie now wanted Oliver to run away.

She had seen how much he suffered. She didn’t want Oliver to be in pain anymore and hoped he could find peace.

Even if that led to the end of the world. This was why she hadn’t rejected the Dark Sorcerers from the Black Hand who had been approaching them and maintained some distance from them, in case they became useful.

“Aren’t you worried about the others? Like the people you have taught, Marie.”

“…The Selectors would agree with my opinion.”

“I’m not asking about their thoughts; I’m asking about yours.”

“…”

“Did your time with them mean nothing to you?”

Oliver stared at Marie. Beyond her appearance, he could see the sins she had committed.

She had seduced people, coercing them into spreading a faith she had created for her own satisfaction. And yet, it was also true that she had helped those in need along the way.

Orphans, single mothers, the sick, and the elderly. Those who had received Marie’s guidance genuinely followed her teachings.

“My days were mired in sin… just as you’ve said, Oliver. I used you as I pleased for my own satisfaction.”

“I forgive you.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, Oliver said.

Marie stammered.

“And… And I rejected those who didn’t follow my teachings, manipulated, and subdued them… I am a sinner. I only used you for my pride and fulfillment, proving I was special without considering your feelings….”

“Marie.”

Just as Marie was about to completely collapse from her confession of sins, Oliver gently called to her.

The tears she seemed on the verge of shedding and the face that was about to crumble began to find stability again.

Marie gazed at Oliver with those same calm eyes, and Oliver, looking into hers, asked:

“Do you love me?”

Do you love me?

Marie froze in place, unable to react or speak.

It was as if she’d been caught committing a crime she must never confess.

While Marie stood paralyzed, Oliver removed his leather mask, revealing his true face.

It was still a boyish face, not yet fully grown, but strangely, within those youthful features lay an indescribable depth.

As if he had weathered countless storms and emerged stronger instead of broken.

“Ah…”

Seeing Oliver’s bare face, Marie unconsciously took a step back, like a criminal retreating in guilt. Oliver moved closer to her.

Then, he stretched out both arms and gently embraced her.

Tightly….

It was a soft, gentle embrace. Marie’s tense body stiffened even more.

“Thank you, Marie. For loving me. Thank you, truly, for giving me more love than I deserve.”

At Oliver’s whisper, Marie’s rigid body relaxed.

“But, because of that, I don’t want you to love only me. I want you to love other people, too. The people who risked their lives to protect you, those who loved you—they are also worth your love. I want you to find joy in that.”

Marie’s widened eyes filled with tears again, and then, a single tear gently rolled down her cheek.

Sensing something in that tear, Marie gathered all her courage and strength to step away from Oliver and confess her selfish desires and wishes.

“I… I just… I just want you to be happy. I don’t want you to suffer anymore. The demon told me so. The woman on the camel.”

“What did she say?”

“She said whether you follow your fate or rebel against it, it will only bring you pain. That getting closer to your fate itself is a source of agony. I don’t want you to go through that pain.”

Marie pleaded tearfully.

Oliver silently gazed at her before eventually responding:

“My fate is indeed a painful one, but it no longer pains me, for I have accepted it.”

“…”

“I love you, Marie. At the very least, I will try to love you. So, Marie—”

Gently clasping her hands and helping Marie straighten up, Oliver made sure her posture was upright.

With a soft touch, she stood as he guided her.

“Will you help me? So that I may love others, too?”

***

After his conversation with Marie,

Oliver asked Al to prepare a fine bottle of liquor and some food for free meals before stepping out of the Forest Restaurant.

Oliver then went to X-District, where he had a brief conversation with Joe from the Fighter Crew and Captain Hook, who was temporarily staying there.

After speaking with them, Oliver went to visit the Anti-Development Committee in Z-District and met with someone he needed to see.

“Mr. Bartholomew.”

“…”

After another meaningful conversation there, Oliver visited another part of X-District—an abandoned building untouched by the redevelopment—a derelict hospital surrounded by an old, crumbling fence.

Entering through a side gate behind the fence, Oliver made his way through a large door leading into the underground.

As soon as he descended underground, the darkness greeted him. Shortly after, the putrid stench of decaying corpses, skeletons, half-rotted bodies, and maggots followed.

Passing through these, Oliver continued until he arrived at a hallway to his right.

After walking down the hallway for some time, he reached a large room.

Despite the considerable time that had passed, the room was still piled high with corpses.

Among those corpses was a body leaning against an altar, its right arm missing.

“It’s been a while, master.”

Oliver greeted the corpse with a missing arm and set down the food and drink he had brought in front of it.

He poured the liquor into cups and served the food on plates, carefully and thoughtfully.

Then he sat down across from the corpse and took out a book from his coat.

It was a book he’d once been interested in, but at some point had stopped reading.

It was a demonic text he had received from Edith. Oliver began to read it.

The book, detailing matters related to demons, had had more blank spaces than writing when he first received it, but now it contained much more text.

Having consumed another demonic text, the book’s contents had filled themselves in, and Oliver slowly read through them.

Flip. Flip. Flip.

Descriptions of demons filled the book, and with every word read, his head throbbed, and his eyes ached.

His vision began to darken as the pain in his eyes intensified.

Yet, Oliver continued reading, and as his darkening vision blurred, the letters in the book reorganized themselves.

It was as if each letter had a will of its own and was dancing across the pages.

The rearranged letters formed a symbol, and the symbol soon rose, taking shape.

Thud.

At that moment, Oliver closed the book and looked ahead.

In the spot where the letter-formed shape had been, something was now standing.

A small horse made of decayed flesh and a skull, with an old man riding it, with hair and a beard made of intestines. It seemed like Joseph’s corpse formed the skeleton for the old man.

Oliver lowered his gaze and saw that the food and liquor placed in front of Joseph’s body had disappeared, as if someone had consumed it all.

Confirming that, Oliver raised his head again and addressed the old man on the horse.

“Hello.”