Chapter 163

“Ria and I were the last ones left.”

It was just Mari who volunteered to stand guard alone.

She must have had plenty to think about when she decided to be the first to take the night watch, so she probably needed a moment to reflect.

There’s no way she didn’t think about Ria and me.

What would I have done in her place?

If I had lost Ria and couldn’t leave her side as she lay dying, pouring all my Saint Power into her.

And then, running into—well, not Ria, but someone like her, someone else.

I’d probably feel a feeling that’s hard to describe.

That possibility existed, too.

There was even a chance that both of us could survive.

Of course, to be precise, it’s different. The Saint Power I draw in is literally energy I ‘pull from’ that being up there. By recognizing that this being ‘exists’, I can harness power superior to the other priests.

On the other hand, this world’s ‘Anna’ wasn’t a Saintess in that sense.

As Mari said, one could even say she was a goddess. An entity that became a deity because people believed in her… Thinking about how her power gradually disappeared as faith waned gives it even more meaning.

That being up there had once claimed she was a nun. Maybe she was revered as another goddess due to some event.

“…Hah.”

What even is the concept of a god?

I thought of it as the ultimate form of divinity that everyone desires. An entity that watches over everything and can do anything if they desire. Therefore, no matter what I wish from that entity, I shouldn’t feel guilty.

A god is supposed to be such a being, right? Originally, the essence of religion is that it provides a place to lean on and rest when life gets too tough.

To deify something that can’t fulfill that role is too harsh.

That’s what this world’s Anna was like.

“……”

Ria next to me didn’t say a word.

Ria had once told me that since the concept of a god doesn’t exist for me, “God is merely what people call something.” That wasn’t a religious thought; it was just her trying to logically rebut my views.

Honestly, I couldn’t properly counter that argument.

And what about now?

Thinking from the viewpoint of a guard who has to protect me.

Although it was called guard duty, there wasn’t much for us to actually do. The place we were in was quite far from the raging storm of magic visible in the distance.

Monsters don’t aggressively hunt people. Is it because there are only two beings left in this world? They seemed relaxed, as if they’d eventually find us no matter what.

That must be the reason Mari could hold out alone.

What does Mari think about Anna in this world?

Is she desperately trying to maintain her faith? If the last surviving Mari loses her faith, that moment the Saint Power would stop flowing from Anna.

And that would mean Anna’s death.

“Oh my……”

Only after thinking that far, could I somewhat understand Mari’s feelings. After the world turned like this, with no one left to save, how terrifying must it be to maintain faith while sitting by the sleeping Saintess’s side?

To have such a thin hope that can barely be called a thread and live a life just trying to get by. Simply because they can’t let go of the Saintess in front of them.

Then came a wave of fear.

The reason they sent us here is clear. Once major figures protecting the world are removed, it would become much easier to attack that world.

The reason humanity has survived this long in this world is largely due to Anna’s existence. They know that.

How many demons are there? Do all those demons living across the vast world even know each other? Or are they competing and fighting among themselves like humans do?

But the most important thing is that our world is in danger.

If we can’t return quickly—

“Anna.”

That thought was interrupted by Ria’s voice.

“Yes, Ria.”

“You can… fix that Saintess, right?”

Ria’s voice was very cautious.

We were just outside the room, at the door.

Since Ria was the one to bring it up first, she must’ve confirmed that everyone inside was definitely asleep.

Even so, her voice was wary, so I simply nodded in response.

“It’ll come at a great cost, though.”

Ria repeated and nodded again.

Her voice now felt like it was almost whispering in my ear.

If it weren’t for this situation, I would have been happy to hear that voice. Just like when we sat side by side on a bed watching a movie together.

Right. I probably can fix it.

If I’m willing to sacrifice myself, that is.

When ‘Anna’ awakens, she probably wouldn’t be able to heal me. The only one maintaining faith in her is Mari.

If my hand breaks off and I bleed out, maybe they could save me, patching together my remaining arm or cooking it over fire to keep me alive for a bit longer.

But that’s the limit.

That level of injury isn’t what they mean by ‘fix it’, it’s more like ‘leave it to fate’. If my wound gets infected, or if I’ve bled too much in the process—

…Or if the required Saint Power turns out to be more than I expected.

Just one of those issues could lead to my death.

The only chance we have of escaping this world is along with that.

Ria looked at me.

Her expression was set in stone. Could it be she thought I’d phrase it as a sacrifice?

“Anna, listen.”

With her hand resting on my shoulder, Ria said.

“You said it yourself. You’d gladly sacrifice your life to save me.”

To be precise, I promised I could guarantee it, but it’s close enough. No matter how it turned out, I’d do that.

“I’m the same way.”

My heart nearly dropped at her words.

It’s obvious that she wasn’t just sharing a fact. It’s a bond to prevent me from sacrificing myself in this world.

The bond I proposed first.

“I feel the same way. I could sacrifice myself to save you. And.”

Her grip on my shoulder tightened.

“…Others too.”

“……”

That felt a bit different from my own position.

“If, and I mean if, that being over there has a role in this world, I bet they’d think like that. Wanting to save the Saintess who’s barely clinging to life, and all.”

“……Ria.”

“Even if it means you can’t even have a conversation anymore.”

“Huh?”

I blinked at Ria’s next words.

“If after coming to this world, you were in danger of dying and then saw that Saintess over there.”

“Ria?”

“I might do anything for you.”

That left me momentarily stunned.

“Maybe that’s the difference between you and me.”

I fumbled with my mouth.

Is that how it is?

I don’t really know. If Ria were in such a situation and I was left alone, seeing other people swarm in.

And if there were someone who could save Ria by sacrificing themselves.

What choice would I make?

“…Ria.”

“Yeah. I know. You wouldn’t be able to forgive me after awakening.”

Ria said.

Her crimson eyes glinted like they were aflame.

“You could never understand me for sacrificing someone else’s life to save you.”

No way.

I wouldn’t be that kind of person.

Well, I’m not sure.

I thought saving someone was a belief. Even if I couldn’t save everyone, if a change in thinking could save people, I’d gladly do it.

Then what about me?

Might I shatter even the belief that defines me? Would I abandon the justification to stand up to god and say, “I believe in you above everything else”?

…..

Ah, I see.

So that’s it.

If it were Ria, I’d do that.

And I’d probably willingly head to hell.

Because I like her.

Just for that once, even if it means going to such a world, even if it’s just to hear those resentful voices— I just want to listen.

“……”

“So, be careful. Never fully believe what that guy says.”

I’m not different, probably.

And yet, I couldn’t bring myself to tell Ria, who I believe is a far more noble being than I, that.

“……Alright. I’ll do that.”

That was all I answered.

Ria seemed slightly relieved as she nodded.

“For now, let’s think of a way to go back.”

And with a light sigh, she leaned back against the door again.

“…Yeah.”

However, my tangled mind couldn’t come up with a decent idea.

Ria couldn’t either.