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So, there’s the potential for the biggest change to be made. The variable decided to create a miracle in the world crafted by the author. She had done too well in the role of Adopted Daughter. Chapter 160.

One day, Viola had asked Zeno about the secret to making Strawberry Ade.

“Sure, the Rasbon Ice Sword style is impressive, but the role of Spirit Water is actually quite significant.”

“Spirit Water?”

“Yes, Pongpong’s tears. More precisely, it would be Spirit Ice, right?”

Zeno had gathered the sea of Pongpong’s tears earlier, using them to manufacture ice for the Strawberry Ade. “Is it tastier if made with Spirit Ice?”

“It has a much lower freezing temperature than regular ice, making it not only cooler but also imbued with an extraordinary essence.”

That extraordinary essence was none other than the miracle water ‘Arena’. Pongpong loved swimming in the river where Arena flowed.

Thanks to that, the essence of Arena had nestled within Pongpong.

“Do you know the other names of Arena?”

“The miracle water. Or, the life-giving water.”

Viola finally understood why Zeno’s Strawberry Ade was so delicious. Arena.

So, it was thanks to the life-giving water. A floral breeze began to blow around Viola.

Sheilan quietly observed the floral breeze.

‘That’s a Grass Sword I’ve never taught her.’

Viola had created a Grass Sword by herself. To be precise, this could hardly be considered swordsmanship.

Sheilan recalled the words of his master.

“Do you know what the scariest sword in the world is?”

“The scariest sword is the Grass Sword!”

“No, think again.”

“The ultimate technique of the Grass Sword, ‘Life Sword’, is the scariest!”

“You’re wrong. The scariest sword is the one that saves a person.”

“Hey, master, what nonsense is that! How can a sword save a person?”

“They call it the Life Sword.”

Sheilan couldn’t comprehend that at the time.

And only now did he grasp the meaning of those words a little. ‘A sword that saves people.’

A flower field imbued with the miracle of life opened up. Viola sank into a state of ecstasy as she wielded the Grass Sword.

Her unconsciousness led the flow of mana in reverse through the Grass Sword. That was the power set by the author.

‘I could use that in reverse.’

A storm of purple flowers enveloped the surroundings. The petals fluttered and wrapped around Bichen’s body.

In Viola’s mind, the world she had encountered through the files in [Bellan's Shadow] unfolded.

“I will teach you the formula of the Life Sword.

Sheilan thought his master was boasting, but he listened attentively to the formula.

“Death has reigned over humanity.”

The formula flowed out through Viola’s mouth. This is why Sheilan ended up being the comic relief.

She had laughed like that. That laughter had now turned into a desperate wish.

“The song of the trees shall overcome the powers of death.”

Tundra sheathed his sword. Medea also steadied her breath and watched the situation.

She didn’t know the details, but it seemed like Viola was about to do something.

She felt the energy of life emanating from Viola’s Grass Sword.

The essence of Arena began to settle upon Bichen’s body.

The world filled with purple petals was solemn.

Medea set her sword down and walked towards Viola.

‘This is serious.’

Viola had her eyes closed. Medea took Viola’s right hand.

‘You’ve been holding up on your own for long, haven’t you?’

An immense amount of magic was flowing out from Viola’s body. She must be feeling really dizzy.

She was managing to bear this weight with that tiny body of hers.

‘I’ll be with you.’

Medea closed her eyes as well. Entering deep meditation while surveying her own body.

Her body was a universe, and the abundant energy from that universe emanated out to Viola. Tundra suddenly snapped back to attention.

‘I’ll be here with you.’

Tundra stood by Viola’s side.

He grasped Viola’s left hand.

Viola’s hand was much smaller than he expected.

And then he closed his eyes. What was it that Viola yearned for?

That was all that mattered to Tundra.

He wished for Viola to live her own life.

‘I’ll accompany you on Viola’s journey.’

It didn’t matter what that life was. At least for now, Viola’s life was about saving Bichen.

“A song infused with life shall fill all that exists.”

That line, ridiculously corny, had become a power. The life energy enveloped Bichen completely.

Viola fell into a tremendous feeling of weakness.

Strength drained from her body, and Tundra supported her.

‘I can only do this much.’

“Zeno.”

“I understand.”

Zeno quickly stepped forward and drew forth the energy of water. Using the Rasbon Ice Sword style, he rapidly froze Bichen.

Just like when freezing a butterfly.

Viola certainly realized today.

‘This world isn’t the author’s world.’

Originally, the Bichen in the novel had died. He was stabbed to death by the protagonist, Viola.

In the novel, Viola ultimately became the mistress of Winter Castle but felt loneliness.

No one remained by her side.

That was the world the author had painted.

‘But no.’

She could feel Medea’s warmth from her right hand. And Tundra’s kindness flowed in from her left hand.

Tundra was firmly standing by her side, supporting Viola.

While the Viola in the novel was all alone, Viola now was not.

‘The ending the author wants and the ending I wish are different.’

When she was a reader, Ah-rin had never groused about the ending.

[This is the world of the author] because of that.

Reader Ah-rin had supported and respected the author.

‘Things have changed now.’

Viola, as a person, decided not to respect that world.

‘Neither you nor I, we are not characters in a novel.’

This was no longer a world of words.

This was now a world where Viola lived, Viola’s world.

‘Your death has no place in the conclusion of the world I’ll draw.’

She was determined to save Bichen without fail. * Medea decided to head to Winter Castle.

It was to investigate the incident that had occurred there.

Just before leaving, Medea said,

“Do make sure to achieve what you wish.”

Medea gently kissed Viola on the forehead. “Save my little sister, Viola.”

Just as Viola was Medea’s sister, Bichen was also Medea’s brother. Medea departed for Winter Castle.

Inside the carriage.

Gaia spoke.

“Elder Iventa resides in the ‘Elf Forest’.”

“You know the way?”

“I do, but… I already sent a butterfly to be treated.”

Elder Iventa was known as an eccentric. A retired cleric who had grown weary of treating patients and no longer treated anyone.

Nevertheless, the reason she could send a butterfly was that Medea had asked her to do so.

“I can manage to fit the time, but… we might have to choose between either the butterfly or Prince Bichen.”

Both the butterfly and Bichen were in critical condition.

“However, the butterfly’s request came first. That old fogey values the order of things, so…”

That meant it was highly likely Iventa would treat only the butterfly and not Bichen. Honestly, she felt a bit hopeful.

Elder Iventa was notorious for having a bad temper.

‘Could the Iron-Blooded Princess of Bellatu charm Elder Iventa?’

The ‘Elf Forest’ where Elder Iventa resided was not too far away. The forest was uniquely dense with greenery.

The trees were massive, and the tree vines completely covered the surroundings.

“You can only enter upon receiving the elves’ permission.”

Gaia pulled out a green leaf from her pocket dimension. Then the tree vines automatically moved aside, opening a path. “But be careful. The elves are a free and independent race.”

The elves aimed for a horizontal relationship. For convenience, a ‘king’ exists, but the elves do not follow the king’s orders too well.

Some among them were hostile towards humans and might fire arrows at random.

“… But I don’t see any arrows.”

Gaia quickly realized what was going on. ‘Thanks to the energy of spirits brimming in Princess Viola.’

To think a person could hold such spirit-like power. Normally, with such a high spirit affinity, one would be prone to transformation into a spirit.

Though rare, there had been spirits who had progressed to become spirits and left the human world without a backward glance.

‘But it’s different.’

What was it that made Princess Viola so earnest? According to Gaia’s investigation, Viola and Bichen did not share such a close and affectionate relationship.

Viola was thoroughly the Iron-Blooded Princess.

‘Maybe my investigation is wrong, or has Princess Viola changed?’

It didn’t matter either way, in Gaia’s eyes. She personally preferred the current Viola over the Iron-Blooded Princess.

This side was much closer to the appearance of a true ruler.

‘The moment you start treating your people as commodities, the fall of a ruler begins.’

At least, such a side had not been visible in Viola. A princess who had inherited all the virtues and abilities needed as a ruler, yet had not given up her humanity.

That was Gaia’s assessment.

“Alright!”

The vines kept moving aside, creating a path. It almost seemed as if they were guiding the way.

Sheilan stopped speaking.

“Whoa, whoa.”

A tremendously large mushroom appeared. Oversized, but it was definitely a mushroom.

The mushroom had doors, windows, and a chimney.

The door opened.

An old man stepped out, using a cane.

「Elder Iventa lived in a gigantic mushroom house.

His face was full of wrinkles and age spots. He always walked with a cane made of palm tree wood.」 Viola immediately sensed that the old man was Elder Iventa. In Elder Iventa’s arms was a butterfly.

Perhaps comfortable in Elder Iventa’s embrace, the butterfly yawned widely.

“I have a request.”

“Are you barging into someone’s house with a carriage and then asking for a request?”

Elder Iventa snorted. “You’re quite rude. Better turn around before you get into some trouble!”