Chapter 167

“Can I go back?”

—You can go.

The existence above responded to my question directly.

We didn’t have time to ask about this world or do any of that. Time was not on our side.

Even if my body was once again connected to that existence, I was still in a less-than-perfect state. Not to mention, I couldn’t just make the monsters disappear instantly either.

—I noticed that you all disappeared from the other world.

Wasn’t the flow of time different for each world?

No, that wasn’t the real issue.

I was an important figure. So important that I had knights trailing me all the way to the association.

Of course, even on the way to Siyoon’s dormitory, knights followed us and stood waiting outside the building.

They might not have sensed it right at the moment when Siyoon disappeared, but when Siyoon vanished and traps were set off, followed by even more traps, that changed everything.

If there had been even a slight indication of an explosion, the Knight Order would have jumped into action immediately. Especially since it wasn’t just any ordinary association’s dormitory.

…Thinking about this only reminds me of how recklessly I acted. Fine. For now, I’ll focus on the fact that I’ve ‘noticed’ things.

—Emeli is moving.

Emeli. The Dwarf Princess I entrusted with researching magic stones and gates. I had heard on my last visit that she had made quite a bit of progress.

But that didn’t mean she could connect to the Elf world just yet.

—Shortly after you all vanished, traces of magic power were left strongly behind. In typical circumstances, opening a gate would not be easy.

My hands started to ache a little. Whether that existence felt it too, their words sped up a bit.

—However, if Anna can mark the location, it might be possible to connect, even if just temporarily.

This world and that world have been connected once before.

And there’s an overflow of magic power in this world. It’s hard to make an accurate comparison, but just thinking about it, the magic from this storm would probably exceed the total magic that can be stored in our world’s treasures.

Once more, if I could use the same magic from here.

I opened my eyes.

I dusted off my knees as I got up.

Amidst the chaos of monsters rushing at me, I saw the children fending them off in my direction.

And beside me, the Saintess lay with her eyes shut. Despite the immense Saint Power falling upon her, she couldn’t open her eyes.

Mari was fighting alongside Ria, constantly slicing the branches that were coming at us.

While I could block some of it with my strength, if we accounted for both magic and my Saint Power, my strength was still weaker. Even if I was connected, the fact remained that I was far away.

“Davi!”

I called out to Davi.

Davi, who was standing near Glaria, using her magic to fend off the monsters, looked my way. Her gaze returned to Glaria.

Glaria nodded. Davi hesitated for a moment but then approached me.

“Davi. You’ve seen a gate before, right?”

“……”

“And the magic we used to get in here.”

Davi nodded.

“How much can you replicate?”

Davi blinked.

“It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just somewhat. Yes, just enough to create a shape would be sufficient.”

This was merely my guess.

Davi must have had a reason for coming to our world. There had to be a reason it had to be Davi. In the original story, Davi had died, but now she was right here with us.

My presence must have altered the future.

I couldn’t hear a perfect prophecy. That existence was not omniscient. But, surely I could feel one thing. Considering everything I was going through and the changes that had occurred, that existence must have set some plan in motion by placing me here.

A delicate plan beyond my full understanding. A plan that could only play out with my presence.

I had no idea what it was. I might pout and complain about it, but

I would choose to live by my own desires.

Right now, the same applies.

Davi nodded in agreement.

“Alright.”

I said, “After we take down the demons, magic power will surely spill out and lose its form. Wait for that moment. Do it with Glaria. Go and tell Glaria to conserve her power.”

*

From Mari’s viewpoint, she saw Anna from the other world rushing toward Glaria. Mari approached the ‘Anna’ who was lying down.

She hoped a little, but still, Anna kept her eyes shut.

Maybe it was just her imagination that Anna looked a bit more relaxed.

As if caught up in something ahead, Siyoon fell back. They had shared quite a few conversations over the past two weeks. Siyoon was definitely not the quiet type.

Among those conversations, there was also mention of Anna. There didn’t seem to be any particular emotion in his voice, but it seemed he could feel a sense of pride about having such a friend.

“We will protect this side.”

“……This might be a foolish act.”

Mari responded that way.

Of course, Mari had every intent of making that ‘foolish act.’ She wouldn’t let Anna slip away.

Isn’t that why she had survived up until now?

“Because we promised to stay together.”

Siyoon said with a grin.

“Right. Since we… promised.”

Before long, Yuri arrived, but she soon frowned and glared at Siyoon. Mari couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight.

Such friends had existed. They weren’t here now, but they had been companions until the very end.

“And there’s also something to be gained.”

Siyoon said.

“The power of the Saintess will surely help in blocking the magic power.”

That was true.

Mari looked up at the sky.

The storm was easing. The tempest that had covered the sky as if it were its throne was slowly coming to a stop and changing its form.

Dark clouds began to gather above the eye of the once-clear storm. Then a drop of black rain fell, followed by another, and soon it poured down heavily.

That was the rain she had seen.

Before the world would end, it rained relentlessly.

Mari softly exhaled, closed her eyes, then opened them again.

“Alright. We’ve come this far. There’s no turning back now. Whatever happens, the conclusion will be here.”

Bathed in a softly shining silver light, Mari gripped her sword tightly.

Its blade mirrored that light perfectly.

Compared to Ria’s fighting from afar, it seemed insignificant, but Mari felt pride in that light.

Because it was the last remaining light of Mari’s conviction.

*

“Let’s go, Ria!”

When I shouted, Ria dashed forward.

Glaria and Davi followed behind us. Ria had her arm around my waist.

Once again, dark clouds gathered in the sky. It seemed to be trying to slightly weaken my power. However, my blood was still showing its effects.

“Ria! Show me your sword!”

“What—No, what are you doing now!?”

“It’s okay, this much. If it’s just a scratch, it’ll heal.”

I said as I touched the blade that Ria instinctively held out. I got a little cut on my hand, but that would heal in an instant anyway.

The more important thing was that my blood, which had already been flowing, was properly staining Ria’s blade.

I didn’t quite understand the principles of that blessing. I had no idea why I could transfer my power even in a situation where I couldn’t connect with the divine, nor did I know why the light glowed instead of fading when I transferred it. But

That too, I’ll put off until later. There’s no time now—

“I’m going inside.”

I said to Ria.

The branches were now spreading everywhere, like a net trying to catch us. Up close, they looked sharp like thorns.

“I know. We will have to tear off the main body.”

Ria’s gaze turned towards me.

There was worry in her eyes.

“I’ll be fine.”

I decided to lie a little.

“I won’t die before you do, Ria.”

Sorry.

But if it’s an unavoidable situation, then it has to be done.

I never thought about dying. I still don’t. As long as I see a possibility, I have no thoughts of giving up. But if the truly critical moment comes.

The value of my own life and that of the remaining people hold the same weight. My position ultimately is just a position assigned by people; it doesn’t signify the value of a life.

If my sacrifice can save many, then that choice would be the rational and logical one.

“I will be fighting to survive.”

At the very least, that part was sincere.

Since I promised to do so.

“……Okay. Let’s go.”

Ria said.

Her face was set with a firm expression as if she had resolved herself to something.

Ria swung her sword. The branches got sliced through. The moment the branches regrew, Ria got slightly grazed. My Saint Power burned away that branch and erased the wounds on Ria’s body.

Before long, Ria’s body was starting to shine a bit.

Glaria and Davi weren’t inactive either. Magic flew and tried to burn those branches, but it didn’t seem to be so easy.

I heard laughter. It sounded like children giggling together. A sound you might hear in a forest-related ghost story.

Branches hit my shoulders and legs. Wounds were multiplying on my body. Now they weren’t healing quickly. This too was a bit strange.

On Ria’s face, there was a look of agony, as though she was feeling the pain herself—or even more so.

“I’m fine.”

I said that and reached my hand forward.

The deeper we went into the demons’ territory, the thicker the branches became, and there was no way I wouldn’t get hurt.

Crash!

A branch poked straight through the hand I had outstretched. Almost as if to mock the wounds from my Saint Power, right in my palm—

But it wasn’t just because of that attack that my hand got pierced.

I heard a cracking sound, as if something was being shattered inside Yuri.

On the back of my hand facing my face, cracks began to form slightly. Then a sharp pain erupted in my palm.

Before the enemy could wound me, a hole appeared in my hand—and from it, something started to flow out.

As if I had connected to the ‘other world.’

—I’m sorry, Anna.

For what?

Thanks to this, I might be able to live.

I thought with a smile.