Chapter 102

What does it mean for those who worship the power of magic to die engulfed by it?

If no one has ever properly pondered that, then it’s quite a bad joke.

Of course, the priests have wracked their brains over it for a long time.

And they came up with a conclusion that those who couldn’t withstand it simply lacked faith.

Those who are exposed to the heat can endure because their faith is deep. Those further below can’t endure for the opposite reason.

It was a strange story, but then philosophy was added on top of that, and doctrine became the backbone. Eventually, after much time passed, no one doubted that fact anymore.

So—what does it mean for such people to die consumed by magic?

If it had merely been their great faith that kept them from dying until now, how should they react when truly faced with a power beyond their faith?

If magic so overwhelming that even kings, royalty, nobles, and priests cannot endure it sweeps through, leaving no trace of the dwarves’ accumulated heritage, how should they accept that?

Should it be taken as judgment for those who lack faith? It’s not that such sects didn’t exist. Should they accept it as that and quietly perish?

Or should they accept that their previous faith was wrong?

Yet, in the end, there was not a single person who completely accepted all of that in their final moments.

Everyone was busy fleeing.

To the most secluded corners, escaping the encroaching magic into the corners of the mines they dreaded.

But even that, in the end, was blocked off.

It’s not that they hadn’t prepared at all. They listened to the advice of outsiders, to the king’s commands. The nobles had some understanding of what would happen if magic gathered, as their very lands were assets they couldn’t afford to lose.

Once it passed, wouldn’t they have to rebuild and continue on as nobility? That’s what everyone thought.

But before death, none of that mattered.

Magic swept everything away. Even just watching made one’s eyes sting from the immense power, and everyone fell into a panic.

Ironically, it was the outsiders who somehow managed to hold back that power. Those who possessed radiant weapons capable of purifying magic.

Yet that was still insufficient.

They could fend off monsters. It was possible to fight against all sorts of beasts made of magic.

But completely blocking the magic that overflowed between them was impossible.

Magic surged through the gaps in their walls and among the shield-bearers. The light went out. The brightness illuminated by magic was swallowed up in an instant.

In extreme pain—people succumbed to death.

…It had to be that way.

But soon, light was seen from the depths.

Whether it was reality or just a fantasy sinking deep into consciousness, there was no way to tell.

At the very end of that light, someone was seen kneeling. At the very edge of darkness, someone was praying alone.

The object of that prayer was unknown. Was it a prayer to the divine or simply for those about to die?

However, if one saw such light in the pitch-black darkness, whether they were dwarves or humans, everyone would think just one thing.

They wanted to go there.

They reached out. One step at a time, moving forward with great effort.

The bone-chilling sensation that seemed to freeze them slowly faded as they approached the light. The magic clinging to their body melted away, and the stamina that had vanished began to recover. The pain receded, and strength returned to the hand that grasped the sword.

After blinking, they found themselves still standing in the same spot.

The dwarves couldn’t immediately accept that they had survived, merely blinking in disbelief. Only the nobles, royalty, and priests realized that the magic within them had vanished, expressing shock.

No one else remained in that place. Just a relief at having survived.

The humans leaped forward.

Clutching radiant swords. Holding the shields blessed by Anna.

Toward the place their call directed them. Toward the light.

*

Light, too, was praying.

Ria thought upon seeing that sight.

In what could be called the square in front of the Dwarf Royal Palace, Anna sat in the center.

Of course, Ria had already come out after seeing Anna. The warmth she had felt when holding Anna’s hand lingered, and the sword shone following that warmth.

This, too, was a miracle. Anna’s miracle of saving people amidst the power of magic.

Prayer.

The sound of armor clattering echoed from every passageway. Soon, people began to burst forth from all the paths lit by light.

Those clad in the armor of the Church’s Knight Order or Dwarf infantry.

Upon seeing Anna, those who halted and gaped at her were greeted by Ria raising her sword.

“Form the shield wall!”

Ria had no such authority. She was merely the escort knight and attendant who followed the Saint Candidate.

But no one dared to contradict Ria, who stood beside Anna’s avatar, shining with divine light, raising her radiant sword.

“Obey the command!”

“Follow the faith!”

Such shouts arose among the knights. Various cries that were entirely disjointed.

But—

“Follow the Saintess!”

In the end, that was how it connected. They too knew whose light this was. They knew who had salvaged them from the darkness.

With a shield in one hand and a sword in the other, the knights rushed to form the shield wall.

The direction was still toward the entrance of the Dwarf Kingdom, where magic surged forth. The largest passageway.

“————!”

Monsters with indescribable forms cried out. Creatures they had never seen before. Each one had not even been given a name, merely creatures meant to wipe out all life here.

Yet no one was afraid. Rather, how the monsters in front of them appeared terrified.

Like wounded beasts, frantically trying to appear larger, they puffed up their fur and howled loudly to show fear before the burning torches in front of them.

Were they afraid of the creature behind them?

Ria stood at the very front of that line.

Her shield was too small to shield her body. Yet, she felt no fear.

Ria couldn’t afford to be afraid. The being she protected was sacrificing itself without fear.

It wouldn’t do for the protector of that being to be scared.

The first to leap in was a wolf with multiple eyes. Its mouth split to the ears, revealing a horrifying black tongue.

Ria swung her sword.

The blade dispersed sparkling white light like a whip, and the monster vanished without leaving a trace.

“…Is that so.”

Even seeing that sight, Ria could only mutter faintly.

The shield wall advanced. Slowly, but surely.

That advance was filled with nothing but certainty.

*

As soon as the battle ended, Ria rushed to the room where she had met the princess.

Anna was still in prayer. The white thread still connected to her hand.

Ria went closer, sword drawn.

It was a sacred sight, and it could indeed be called beautiful—but—

“…”

Ria felt a strange ominousness from that sight.

Crisp.

A sound seemingly backing Ria’s thoughts echoed. Reflexively, Ria swung her sword.

The sacred white thread was easily severed and vanished.

“Anna!”

Ria rushed to Anna, who was collapsing to the side.

Blood flowed from both of Anna’s hands. Small wounds marked her skin. A small wound that wouldn’t even leave a scar at first glance, like a pin prick.

Yet the amount of blood flowing from that wound was alarming.

“…Ria.”

As Ria embraced Anna, a weak voice slipped from Anna’s lips.

“…Did the battle end well?”

“…”

Ria gritted her teeth.

Everyone witnessed that sight. Even the princess of the nation was astonished by that miracle.

Seeing how she illuminated the dark passageway as if it were bright daylight, no one could remain unmoved.

She had made the catastrophe that might erase the Dwarven race disappear in an instant.

“…It ended well.”

She wanted to say something.

Because blood was still dripping from Anna’s hand. She wanted to tell her that there was no need to go this far, that she didn’t have to sacrifice herself at all.

Yet, those words simply wouldn’t come out. Her throat was dry.

Her vision blurred. Her head spun. It wouldn’t just be from the intense battle.

For some reason, she thought that this might have determined Anna’s future, and recalling the events from when Ria had pushed her forward, she wondered if that was the cause of this.

“I’m relieved.”

Anna replied as if exhaling, then closed her eyes. And then she fell asleep just like that.

Hearing her raspy breath, Ria felt reassured.

Holding Anna in both arms, Ria couldn’t even wipe away her tears.

What would happen next?

What she feared wasn’t that thing.

What terrified her was how Anna would be after that thing, regardless of its magnitude.

Anna would definitely—

No matter how big that event was, she would insist on shouldering it herself.