Chapter 22. Prayer and Salvation (13)

Yes. There were a few questions.

For a being that can lend its power across various ‘other worlds’, and in this world where one can leap across all sorts of worlds through gates, how could it not lend its power just because it’s a little far away?

It was understandable if it wasn’t the omnipotent God I imagined, but there were many points to question.

……In such a world, in such a place, it was difficult for ‘life’ to exist.

In Anna and Marie’s world, there were no longer any living beings. There was only Anna, who had somehow been ‘kept alive’ just before dying, and Marie, who worshipped that Anna.

Vast magic power obscures the existence of life. Raindrops of magic power falling from above, powerful magic power covering the sky. Demonic creatures filling the inside of buildings… all of them were places that obscured life and induced deeper magic power.

If the sky is open, and there is a being that can live together in the same world, the sacred power of that life takes form. It’s probably that kind of principle.

“So that’s how it was.”

I murmured, feeling the holy power seeping into my hands.

My left hand, which had been broken and disappeared, slowly took shape. My hand wasn’t restored again. Rather, beyond the broken spot, a white hand appeared.

Realizing something was strange, that immense magic power attacked me.

But, life is strong nonetheless.

In this decaying world, a world of only dead beings. Another life was pulsing.

Insects crawling on the ground. Numerous microorganisms creating the stench of decay. To become devoid of all life- this world had too many things necessary for life to survive.

To humans, insects are disgusting creatures. The same goes for decaying corpses. Perhaps it’s because humans instinctively recognized them as ‘dangerous’ in the process of forming the chain of natural selection.

……But, it’s strange to think that’s ominous.

My vision was covered by magic power. Magic power seemed about to pour onto my tattered body.

However, a faint holy power enveloped and protected my body.

For an atheist, it’s a self-evident principle that humans are animals. Human life is not dignified because it is received from God, but because it must be dignified. Humans defined themselves that way and created society to protect their fragile bodies and prosper.

So, if you dig deeper, humans are no different from insects. Humans can die from a single mosquito bite. The question of which life is more noble was, after all, a strange question for an atheist.

I simply live because I was born, and I want to be happy because I live. Living without harming anything is simply impossible. All those lives are just intertwined in this world.

“It’s a meaningless struggle.”

There was impatience in the voice that said so.

“Is there no meaning?”

If I live simply because I was born, is there no meaning in that life?

Surprisingly, I thought so. But at the same time, I also thought so.

There is no meaning, but there is will.

And because there is no meaning, the meaning attached by that will is the meaning itself.

Yes, it’s a strange and contradictory statement.

But how else can I explain it?

I touched the ground. Holy power surged into my punctured right hand. When I removed my hand from beside the corpse, the hole was filled with white.

Humans believed that life had meaning.

And that belief, gathered and gathered, created ‘that above’.

And it created those who are above it.

Isn’t that right?

-We don’t know either. It’s a story from too long ago, even from the time we knew that world.

However, that voice simultaneously contained a certain degree of empathy.

I smiled and straightened my body.

Slowly, light spread around me. I heard the sounds of all sorts of insects flitting about. The light looked like a swarm of fireflies.

The magic power that had covered my body slowly receded.

As if being purified.

I closed my eyes.

In front of my closed eyes- in the middle of the black-tinged vision. I saw a sword embedded in the ground.

I slowly extended my shining left hand towards that sword.

My ring finger shone particularly brightly. That light was connected to the sky. A single, thin but unbreakable thread of faith.

A miracle for just the two of us, Ria and me.

I grabbed that sword and slowly pulled it out.

The sword, which should not have been in front of me, came out of the ground.

Yes.

Regrettably, there was exactly one believer who believed in me in this world. Perhaps in this world. Even if it was far away.

But, isn’t it just one?

Then, wouldn’t it be okay for that believer to be a Saintess who believes in me?

And if God could borrow the body of that Saintess and say a word or two, wouldn’t that be impossible?

If that’s possible, then the opposite would also be possible.

I chuckled for no reason and gently opened my eyes.

There was a shining white hand.

That hand held a sword made entirely of light.

It was a sword that closely resembled the holy sword Ria used, the one I made.

*

The shining sword was in Ria’s hand.

“……So that’s how it is.”

Ria murmured, gazing at the shining ring.

My heart was pounding so hard it hurt.

It wasn’t because I was scared or nervous.

The two of them were connected. Ria and Anna were one body now.

What could be seen, and what could not be seen.

Ria had to deal with everything.

……Anna thought she couldn’t win alone. So, she used all her strength- even borrowing a little holy power from the small creatures that weren’t human- and asked Ria for help.

Therefore, the emotion Ria felt was joy. A joy that seemed completely out of place in this situation.

Anna trusted Ria.

Sincerely.

Perhaps, even more than Ria trusted Anna.

Thinking that Ria would save Anna here.

As Ria stood up, the prayer was broken. Magic power began to emanate from the surroundings.

Not demons or monsters, but magic power itself in the form of a monster. Extracted from rotten corpses.

But at the same time, the small insects around it were shining. The sight of them spreading everywhere like a swarm of fireflies…

It wasn’t very pleasant. In the world, flies. Even if it looked plausible from a distance, the characteristic buzzing sound of flies was something that couldn’t be hidden.

But at the same time, that light was protecting and purifying the surroundings, even if only slightly.

The tingling sensation disappeared a little. The stench remained the same, but the heavy pressure on my body felt a little lighter.

“I wonder what kind of Saintess thinks like that.”

Ria muttered as if complaining.

-Isn’t it not a Saintess who thinks like that?

Anna replied jokingly.

Just hearing that voice seemed to melt away the tension.

That emotion was not simple faith.

But, for Ria to express it in words after shedding that faith, she was a bit shy.

Ria couldn’t always be strong against someone whose lips she had stolen so many times.

“……Hoo.”

No, now is not the time to think about such things.

Although the faint holy power bought some time, it was different from holy power based on true faith.

At this moment, Anna- fights with Ria’s faith.

Ria too.

The magic power, which had been distorted many times due to the holy power flying around randomly, finally took shape.

Ria closed her eyes.

Beyond her vision, something white flickered. Ria thought it must be Anna’s situation.

“Yes, let’s go.”

Ria leaped. As if overlapping her body, she felt another body moving.

Opening one eye, Ria swung her sword. The light cleaved the magic power. It cleaved the void in front of Anna.

This time, she swung her sword while turning backward. From Ria’s perspective, she cleaved the void, but Anna felt something catch her hand.

My lips involuntarily curled into a smile. Ah, it’s problematic to do this in such a situation.

Various thoughts kept coming to mind.

-What kind of Saintess thinks like that?

Anna grumbled.

But, what can I do?

Because the overlapping bodies told me that the two of them were one. Because I knew that miracle wasn’t achieved solely by faith.

Ria fought, feeling Anna’s body. She cut down the enemies in front of Anna like knights from old tales.

In old tales, what kind of relationship did knights have with Saintesses in the end?

I have no intention of imagining anything like tragedy.

Because, at some point, Ria’s goal had become only one thing.

*

At some point, I stopped caring what that demonic crystal said to me.

I moved my body following Ria’s movements. It was as if I was being forced to move, and our physical abilities were different, so I quickly became breathless.

However, still, Ria and I were connected. We were not severed.

I lightly stepped on a mass of magic power shaped like a monster with my foot. Its head, crushed by holy power, burst and disappeared.

Although it was difficult, there was no more pain.

What will happen to my body after this is over?

……I decided not to think about it.

Just, for now.

Just, as if living. Looking only forward.

Let’s fight to live-

-At least let’s not let Ria’s efforts be in vain, I thought.