“I believe so. The Demon King Armament he wore is a legendary set that only Ville can wield.”
Sophie answered Altes’s question.
The person she had met was undoubtedly the Demon King Ville himself.
“It’s truly him in the flesh…”
Altes looked troubled by this.
The existence of the Demon King posed an extremely grave threat to humanity. As long as the Demon King lived, the demons could rally under his banner and launch another war against humans.
He paced back and forth, deep in thought for a moment, before fixing his gaze on Sophie.
“If that truly is Demon King Ville, what will you do?”
“Me?” Sophie’s eyes widened.
“Do you still remember the vow you once made to humanity?”
“I remember, Your Holiness. I will continue to protect humanity and oppose the Demon King. Though I don’t know what method he used to survive, if the opportunity arises, I will send him back to hell once more.”
“Very good.”
Altes was deeply satisfied with Sophie’s response.
He knew full well that the girl before him was different from Sylvia. This was a soul that had endured countless trials. Both in her previous life and this one, she had devoted everything to the peace of the human world. She was utterly trustworthy.
No one would ever doubt the sacrifices the Silver Sword Princess had made for humanity.
“Besides the fact that Demon King Ville was wearing the Demon King Armament, did you notice anything else?”
“Well…”
Sophie lowered her head.
Her body trembled faintly.
From her conversation with Altes, one critically important piece of information stood out—something no one else knew.
In the final moment before her death, Demon King Ville had cast a curse on her, binding their souls together.
If her soul had been guided back to the human world, would Ville’s soul have returned with it?
She didn’t know.
Under normal circumstances, even after regaining her past-life memories, she would never have considered such a possibility.
Yet she had encountered Ville in the Demon King’s Castle ruins, sensed the cross necklace on him, and afterward, Via had not told the truth about it—she had concealed something from her.
All the signs pointed toward the direction Sophie least wanted to face.
“Selina, it seems you do know something more that you haven’t said.” Altes noticed the abnormality in Sophie’s demeanor.
For a brief instant, panic flickered across Sophie’s face. She wavered, wondering whether she should tell Altes about this.
She had once been the Silver Sword Princess, and now she was a saintess candidate.
From either standpoint, she ought to stand firmly on humanity’s side. She should never shield any demon who might endanger humanity’s future.
“Your Holiness, actually—”
Just as the wavering red-haired girl was about to voice her thoughts, a scene flashed through her mind.
A young version of herself waking from a nap, with the sleeping Via beside her and their mother Sylvia nearby.
Their mother sat on a hillside covered in flowers, gently stroking her cheek with a tender smile.
It was a memory Sophie would never forget in this lifetime.
How desperately she had wished back then to live happily forever with her mother and sister, just like that.
“Besides Demon King Ville, there was also a demon maid. I had seen her once in my previous life, before entering the Demon King’s Castle. Therefore, I suspect Demon King Ville is secretly rebuilding his forces, preparing to rise again.”
“If that is truly the case, then we have a serious problem. We must take appropriate measures and have the empire prepare in advance.” Altes furrowed his brow.
“Your Holiness, please prepare for the worst.”
“Of course.”
Altes stroked his beard, gazing at Sophie with eyes that seemed to hold deeper meaning.
“Selina, the intelligence you’ve provided is crucial. As expected, God’s revelation was correct. You will never let us down.”
“This is my duty.” Sophie paused, then continued. “Your Holiness, may I ask one question? Regarding my reincarnation, how many others know?”
“You may rest assured on that. Within the entire Holy Land, I am currently the only one who knows. Your potential now surpasses even your previous life. You possess not only the memories of your past cultivation but also the saintess bloodline of the Shirleyford family. If you can fully harness both, you will surpass all previous human heroes and become the key to utterly crushing the demons. Therefore, until you are fully grown, I have no intention of making it public, to avoid unforeseen complications.”
“Understood.”
“And regarding your sister—even though there are indeed some unpleasant voices within the Holy Land—I will continue to let her remain here.” Altes’s meaning was clear: he hoped Sophie would have no worries holding her back.
“Your Holiness, the pressure in the Holy Land is too great. It may not be suitable for her…”
“If that is the case, the Holy Land can also provide for the rest of her life, ensuring she wants for nothing. I never go back on my word. Sophie, in the future you will become the saintess and can offer your sister protection yourself.”
“With your word, I am reassured.”
“You faced great danger in the Demon King’s Castle ruins and have been traveling without rest. Your mind must still be unsettled. Go and rest now.”
“Yes.”
Sophie bowed and prepared to leave.
As she walked toward the doors of the sacred hall, a voice called from behind her.
“This is my final question. If one day your sister were to fall and become a heretic, what would you choose to do?” Altes’s words were razor-sharp.
Sophie closed her eyes.
Her hands clenched into fists, nails digging painfully into her palms.
When her crimson eyes opened once more,
“If that day truly comes, I will handle it personally.”
“Via…”
Having left the sacred hall, Sophie stood on the steps and pulled out a key.
It was the birthday gift she had prepared for her sister.
Altes’s words still lingered in her ears.
If Via truly was Ville, then she would have only one choice.
But…
Would the truth really turn out that way?
Could Ville’s soul truly have reincarnated alongside hers because of the curse, becoming her twin sister?
Perhaps there were other possibilities.
After all, everything now was merely unilateral speculation based on various suspicious points.
In short, there was still no conclusive evidence that would settle it once and for all.
If Via truly was just an ordinary sister, then all her worries until now would have been needless anxiety.
That was the outcome she hoped for most.
“I’ll test it myself. Whether Via truly is Ville—if everything is as I fear, I’ll make my decision then.”