Ruchellini’s Black Rose (5)

Rael posed a truly valid question. Even if the girl before him was really… really a great mage who could drop meteors and lift the earth, his brain still refused to comprehend it. No, ‘unwilling to admit it’ was a more fitting expression. The girl in the black dress, looking so shy, was only twenty years old.

He knew magic. And he knew how absurdly talent-dependent it was. Magic couldn’t blossom without talent.

And even if one managed to painstakingly bloom a flower, it would wither if there was no one to water it. Every mage had a master, and if they didn’t, they had to create one by any means necessary.

It wasn’t for nothing that mages gathered at the Magic Tower. Wandering mages, those without masters, shared their knowledge to walk the path of magic. They wanted to reach higher realms, even if it meant doing so.

So, Rael couldn’t believe it. He even suspected that the girl before him was lying about her age. Most mages looked much younger than they actually were.

It took decades just to master one branch of magic. It took Pekapolis 17 years to rise to the position of Vice Tower Lord. Even with that incredible talent, even after becoming a disciple of the Tower Lord and learning magic, it took 17 years.

Shuriel, on the other hand…

That red-haired mage said she could fluently handle all attributes of magic. Fire, water, light, darkness. Even those that deviated from the four elements, she could skillfully handle and control. But was that even possible? At the mere age of twenty?

“…Yujin. I can’t believe you.”

The reason they believed in gods was because they felt the certainty of their existence. It was a mercy granted by the gods. This world was too harsh and cold to believe in things that weren’t certain. Belief without evidence was blind faith and fanaticism.

Rael raised his head and looked at the red-haired girl. A single red rose blooming on a black stem. Eyes shining like rubies stared back at Rael. Yujin quietly emptied her teacup and said,

“You need faith, I see.”

“Yes, everything we do is because we have faith in the outcome.”

“What can I do?”

“Asking again after saying it?”

-He needed faith. Rael chuckled and took off his glasses. Taking off his glasses revealed sharp eyes. His real face, hidden behind the lenses, was worn out and looked tired.

“Pawin.”

Rael spoke to Angheln, who had been silently listening. Her tightly closed eyes fluttered open.

“…I’m listening.”

“What if I have to see her skills with my own eyes to believe it?”

“…If you can’t believe it otherwise, I will set up a Sanctuary for you.”

“Do you believe everything that golden-haired brat says?”

Pawin’s answer was extremely indifferent, showing not a shred of doubt. She was one of the few humans who could believe what she hadn’t seen. Having lost her original personality by engraving countless stigmata on her body, she had instead gained the ability to see the world with her eyes closed.

She judged that Shuriel’s words were without falsehood.

She could be certain.

The stigmata that reacted to lies didn’t shine.

Also, he had no reason to lie. Rael had no choice but to believe Pawin’s words. Yet, the reason such doubts arose was probably because Rael believed in ‘existence’ more than anyone else.

The Prukaise clan engraved unwavering faith until the moment of death, as long as they could confirm it with their own eyes. The immense divine power they possessed originated from this faith. Because they believed in God more than anyone else. Because they had no doubt in the blessings of God.

Rael pondered Pawin’s words and took out a handkerchief. He wiped the glasses he had placed on the table. Then, he put the glasses back on. The world, tainted by doubt, might have become a little cleaner.

He opened his mouth without even looking at Yujin.

“Can you give me faith?”

Yujin only tilted her head without answering. It wasn’t that she didn’t understand the meaning of the words. It was just that there were too many ways to do it.

“In what way?”

Rael burst into laughter at the girl’s audacity. He grinned, revealing his sharp fangs.

“Hey, golden-haired brat.”

Rael suddenly called out to Shuriel. Shuriel, who had been silently listening like Pawin, turned her head and said,

“What is it?”

“If I fought her, do you think I could win?”

“No.”

It was an immediate answer. There wasn’t even a moment’s hesitation. The corners of Rael’s mouth twisted.

“Then, if you and I fought together?”

“…It would be difficult.”

“Then, then. If Pawin joined in?”

“….”

Shuriel didn’t answer. No matter how strong Yujin was. Lushellini, known as the strongest in one-on-one combat, Angheln, who could unleash power enough to split the earth if a Sanctuary was set up, Prukaise, who pressured opponents using God’s blessings and curses. If these three gathered to face one, something might happen.

“…That, I can’t say for sure.”

Shuriel trailed off.

Yujin’s magic was very delicate. Because she drew mana directly from nature without refining it, there was no unique artificial energy felt. In short, it was difficult to perceive. Until the moment Yujin wove and fired her spell, nothing was felt.

Since she activated her magic outside the opponent’s range of perception, those on the receiving end couldn’t react. If she teleported over the sea in the blink of an eye like when she defeated the twin demons – regardless of victory or defeat, they wouldn’t be able to avoid a disaster.

But if they finished all preparations and faced Yujin. If they set up a Sanctuary and restricted her movements. If they pressured her without giving her a chance to use magic. Their gazes crossed. They turned their heads and looked at Pawin.

However.

“…I refuse.”

She rejected their proposal. It was because the stigmata of foolishness was shining. This crimson stigmata engraved on her right arm gave her a stinging pain whenever she made a wrong choice. But the moment she tried to accept their proposal, an excruciatingly strong pain assaulted her right arm, almost severing her mind.

Pawin gasped and said,

“…It’s not possible. God is speaking.”

“Is it your right arm again?”

“…Yes. But, I don’t know what’s wrong.”

The stigmata of foolishness applied not only to herself but also to others. If her surroundings, for example, Rael or Shuriel, made a choice they would regret, it would give her pain without exception. But Pawin and Shuriel didn’t care how the fight with Yujin would turn out, and wouldn’t.

Rael was different.

The stigmata was speaking. No matter how the battle between Rael and Yujin turned out, it would have a significant impact. Rael himself knew that fact. From the moment the stigmata answered that it was true, his argument was no different from a child’s stubbornness.

“Rael, I need to know what you’re afraid of.”

“….”

Rael clenched his teeth.

Really. Really. If the girl was a mage with the skill to wipe out all the demons and still have strength to spare. He was afraid of relying on her too much. The only being he could rely on was the absolute existence that supported this world, God.

“Relying too much on one human… I don’t like it….”

It was one of his useless values. He didn’t particularly force it on others. He himself thought it was an unsightly value.

The Agent was just a tool to suppress demons. Anyone with power could become one, not just Rael himself. But there was no substitute for Yujin. If he relied too much on Yujin, there would be too much to bear when she was gone. Looking at Shuriel’s plan right now, if Yujin died in the middle, it would lead to a catastrophe.

Still.

“If you can plant enough faith in me to cover this constantly rising doubt….”

Still, if you can give me faith, I will gladly support you. I will become your ardent follower. Rael didn’t finish his sentence. He just quietly stared at Yujin.

‘Reliance…’

Yujin glanced at Shuriel and fell into thought.

Rael and Yujin had completely opposite goals. One was trying to live without relying on anything, and the other was trying to be given a goal in life, even at the cost of her life.

It was funny. Not Rael, but myself.

Yujin mouthed something to Shuriel, seeking unspoken permission.

“If I can dare to plant unwavering faith in the Agent-nim, I will gladly accept the proposal.”

There was no tension. They weren’t fighting to kill. They just had to prove it. So that Rael Prukaise could believe. And to instill confidence that they could defeat the demons.

But.

“Before that. Can we move the location?”

It wouldn’t be good to fight here.

-Kugugugung…

The entire room shook the moment they nodded.

“Ugh―?!”

“Kuk. Yujin!”

“….”

Not extreme, but enough vibration to be felt by the body. Yujin used telekinesis to fix the teacups and furniture that were about to fall, and gathered mana.

Long-range teleportation.

The coordinates were the middle of the Sierra Rock Zone in the West.

“Haaaah….”

Eyes that had been shining with blue mana returned to their original red color. Yujin calmed her throbbing head and took a breath.

“Haa. Sorry. Was I a little too rash?”

It was a technique she didn’t use often because of the severe headache, but… it didn’t interfere with magic or actions. Yujin held her head and opened the door wide.

“Where is this…?”

Shemel, who had been observing this conversation, opened her mouth for the first time. The flower garden she usually tended to was nowhere to be seen. All that was visible before her eyes was barren rock.

“It’s the middle of the Sierra Rock Zone.”

Yujin kindly explained to them, who were gaping.

“Here, it doesn’t matter if you break the ground or cause an earthquake.”

In fact, it seemed like showing this alone would be enough. There were very few mages who could use long-range teleportation without a separate incantation, and there were almost none who could move a large number of people without casting – especially from the East to the West.

However, neither Rael nor Yujin had any intention of being satisfied with this. For a more certain faith, they could have shown reconstruction or something else, but it seemed they both had a desire to clash swords.

-Tak! Yujin flicked her fingers and scattered mana in all directions. The Sierra Rock Zone had twisted ley lines, maintaining a dry climate all year round. She twisted it slightly. As the twisted ley lines returned to their original state, the sandstorm stopped and a cool air descended.

“It’s a little easier to breathe now. Should I plow the ground a bit? It’s uncomfortable to move around like this.”

She crossed her hands and spread them out. Then, a rectangular magic circle was created. This was the surrounding terrain information. Curves and small grains visible above the magic circle. Yujin pressed down on the protruding part above the magic circle.

-Kuoong!!!!

At that moment, a low rocky hill crumbled into dust. It was a simple technique. All she had to do was miniaturize the magic circle linked to the surrounding terrain. That was what she learned while manipulating the boundaries of the world. If she could materialize the boundaries, wouldn’t other things be the same? Not only terrain but also biological data seemed possible. Like a straw doll in occultism. If she broke the doll’s arm, the real arm would break.

“Please wait a moment. It might be a little noisy.”

Vowing to use it later, she began to clear the terrain. Kung, Kwajik. Waaarrreureu. Yujin smashed the hills protruding above the magic circle as if popping bubble wrap.