Chapter 101

“It’s darker than I remembered.”

Not too long ago, this underground place was bursting with beautiful light sources, but now it was just a realm of darkness.

Maybe it was because the source of that light was magic power?

No, even if it wasn’t the source of magic power, it wouldn’t have made a difference. Electronic devices break in the face of high-density magic power.

The only reason the people could endure the storm of magic power was simple.

It was light.

In that dark underground, there was a shining presence. In a place where sunlight never reached, there was a warm light shining as if ceilings had no meaning at all.

“…What on earth is this…”

It was no wonder the Princess mumbled like that.

Chaeun, despite having seen the scene once before, felt the same way.

Previously, things had rushed by so quickly that there were things that hadn’t been thought about.

Anna had talent in almost every area, but that didn’t mean she could master everything all at once. It wasn’t just a matter of talent. Even the smartest genius takes an enormous amount of time to learn and realize things on their own.

Moreover, no magic in the world could move a person from one place to another in an instant. If that were possible, there would never have been a need to go through all this trouble to save the Dwarf.

But Anna had done it. At the most dangerous moment, she had saved Ria by swapping places with her.

That was a power that couldn’t simply be called magic. Yet it couldn’t merely be called saint power either. The saint power Chaeun had witnessed until now was a healing force; it couldn’t produce a force similar to magic.

So, if anyone had seen that scene, they would have thought of one word.

Miracle.

Something that no one expected to happen, yet everyone hoped would.

If someone praying to God has a wish, then that itself would be considered a miracle.

From the sky—something that must never be seen on this earth, from that pure white sky, a thread-like thing was gently descending.

If all the clear light in the world were woven together, would such a thread be its color?

Sounds of commotion filled the air.

Monsters were fleeing from that light. As if they couldn’t touch that fragile, thin line. Even though it was just light descending from the sky with no intention of harming them.

The light gently touched Anna’s hand.

“…Oh my goodness.”

Glaria murmured as she turned around.

Han Yu-ri, who was right next to her, even the male Lee Si-yoon who was at the forefront battling the enemies, had light flowing from his sword, but compared to the saint power overflowing from Anna, it was nothing.

“…”

The first person to grasp the situation was Lee Si-yoon. Taking a sharp breath, he dashed through the broken door.

“Wait, Si-yoon!”

Han Yu-ri called out as she turned to Ria.

“I’m just going to follow him for a bit! We need to check outside!”

Seeing Ria nod, Han Yu-ri dashed out after him.

Glaria, who had been silently watching Anna, slowly walked over to her.

“…What on earth is this person?”

“I don’t know either.”

Ria answered like that.

Slowly, she moved in front of Anna. Then she sat down facing her.

Just like Anna, she kneeled as if praying, gazing into Anna’s face.

That face remained calm.

“…You said you don’t believe in gods.”

Ria muttered.

What could possibly be so amusing that put that smile on her face?

The feeling Ria had while watching her was fear.

She seemed like a friend who could normally keep her close and comfortable, yet at times like this, she looked like someone who might disappear at any moment.

Just like the saint power she summoned, once everything was over, it seemed like she would vanish without a trace.

She looked up at the slender miracle.

Is that what it means to be connected to the divine?

…Several decades ago, when this world was being consumed by chaos, a Saintess appeared in this world. No, in fact, people gave her that name.

This Saintess had died carrying the chaos of the world. And thus, she created a world where some semblance of peace could be maintained.

If even she was a being sent by God, then what kind of being was Anna standing before them now?

From beyond the broken door, the sounds of chaos were heard.

“…I can hear the voices of the people.”

Glaria said.

“I hear shouting… I hear fighting. Should we go?”

“…”

Maybe they should.

Ria had been trained to fight in any situation. She was the proud daughter of a hero and was meant to be one of those who would protect the world in the future.

So, she had to fight for the people shouting outside. If Anna could speak right now, she would have told them to do just that.

Even if someone came charging in here to stab Anna, she would have told them to save more people instead.

Whether chosen by God or not, whether capable of using saint power or not.

Anna was also a person.

When weighing the lives of others against her own, in the end, she could only carry the weight of one life.

If she could sacrifice herself to save many, she would definitely say that was good enough.

Ria slowly reached out and placed her hand over Anna’s.

Anna’s expression didn’t change. It was just a beam of light touching Anna’s hand that also wrapped around Ria’s hand.

But somehow, just from that, Ria felt like she understood what Anna was saying.

“…I see. Got it. This time.”

Ria withdrew her hand.

There was warmth left. Just for a moment, Ria’s hand was shining like Anna’s hand.

“…”

With her eyes closed, she took a deep breath.

When Ria opened her eyes, she looked at Anna.

“…Let’s talk when we come back.”

Ria said that and stood up from her seat.

“Princess.”

When Ria called her, the Princess, who had been struggling to fully accept the situation, jumped a little in surprise.

Not long ago, she had been nonchalant, but seeing her like this, it was clear she had no idea how to proceed.

“What do you want to do?”

Ria asked.

“It’s okay if you want to wait here.”

“…Ah, but if we leave the Saintess like this…”

Saintess.

If Anna had heard that, she would have surely corrected it, but for now, Ria decided to leave it be.

“It should be fine.”

Ria said, looking up at the light.

Yeah.

If God can’t protect the Saintess, then that belief doesn’t matter at all.

*

Feeling warmth in my hand, I smiled.

Only Ria was in that room to hold my hand like this.

It was also proof that Ria was safe because of my power.

If I was able to help, I was glad.

“…You can go.”

I told Ria.

“I’ll be protecting things here.”

The sounds of commotion slowly faded away.

The starlight gradually grew stronger, now feeling like sunlight. I could sense people approaching near where I was being illuminated.

The souls that had been entwined with the thoughts of magic power slowly entered the light and disappeared. They were returning to the place they belonged.

“…Do you think it’s worth something?”

“I don’t know what value you’re referring to.”

“The value of your sacrifice.”

The voice slowly began to fade away.

“The worth of investing your life, not knowing whether you can win or not. That power of yours will prevent you from being in that world. In the end.”

“That might be true.”

I replied calmly.

“But you haven’t really answered my question properly.”

I opened my eyes.

And looking up at the yellow eyes above, I spoke.

“What’s the worth? What does that even mean?”

“…”

“I’m just… just one.”

Yeah. Just one person.

If that’s the case, then the worth is merely the value of one person; it has no other worth. There could be no greater soul or more useless soul in this world.

Society determines that and divides the layers, but if even beings above look at people like that, then what meaning does life have?

Making a lot of money doesn’t mean you take money with you when you die. Saving someone else doesn’t necessarily increase the value of your soul.

A person’s life is just the life of a person.

As an atheist, if I could save hundreds of thousands with my one life, I would see that as a gain.

And above all.

“Who says I can’t win?”

I asked with a smile.

The other party remained silent.

Maybe they couldn’t answer. Even that power was slowly fading away.

I sensed someone rising before me.

After watching me quietly, they turned away.

Ria was holding a sword, facing the outside.

Yeah.

The people here aren’t just me.

Do I look like someone who can’t even make that calculation?

“…”

Well, but when Ria looked back at me at the very end, I definitely felt a chill run down my spine.

Must be my imagination?