episode_0160

The aftermath of the battle between the overwhelmingly powerful forces was indescribable.

The great palace collapsed beyond recognition.

The earth had long since been torn apart countless times by the engulfing flames, turning it into a devastated land.

And somewhere in there.

The dark knight was breathing shallowly, the pure white sword still embedded in his chest.

“You’re really strong. I’m quite surprised.”

The lady of the sun approaching him. Athena spoke to the knight with interest.

“The Demon King’s…..ambition…..”

Even at this moment when her breath was fading, Athena looked down at him with a tired expression at the knight’s unchanging appearance.

“There is no dog that is truly loyal.”

“You, who have no heart or feelings, wouldn’t know.”

Athena seemed to disagree with the sharp knight’s words. She snickered and aimed her sword at his neck.

“I don’t know. But I don’t really want to know.”

“……Kill him.”

With no more strength left, the dark knight quietly closed his eyes and waited for Athena’s sword to cut off his life.

“As you wish.”

Phew-

Without an inch of hesitation. Without an ounce of pity. Without even a shred of mercy, Athena plunged her sword into his neck.

The knight’s breath was cut off so quickly.

It was an almost absurd moment for the death of a powerful man who had terrified the empire.

Athena, who had been standing still and looking at the knight’s helmet, placed her sword on it out of curiosity.

As he slowly lifted the helmet with his sword, the knight’s face was revealed.

“…..I didn’t think of that.”

Athena raises one eyebrow as if surprised.

But soon, with weary eyes, she began walking back the way she had come.

Wondering what kind of fun things might be happening outside.

* * *

As time passed, the dark dawn began. Before I knew it, the sky had broken and the surroundings were brightly lit.

And fortunately, a brief moment of peace came to the barracks where the screams had not ceased.

Now that we have finished providing first aid to all the injured people.

All the injured people who had been running wild just a moment ago were now sleeping peacefully.

“Thank you for your hard work, Saint.”

“…Thank you.”

A priest speaking while handing over water.

Iris took the glass of water he offered her and took a careful sip.

Her appearance was so bad that it could not even be described in words.

Iris, who had already exceeded her proper amount of divine power a long time ago.

If he were an ordinary priest, he would have a hard time even opening his eyes.

Juruk-

“Ah..”

Iris, who was blankly staring ahead, felt something strange on her nose. She wiped it away with her hand and what came into her eyes was bright red blood.

At her appearance, the priest’s eyes began to shake violently.

“Seo..Saint! Nosebleed..!”

“..It seems a bit too much.”

“Let’s look for high-ranking priests around here!”

The priest immediately tried to get up and seek help, but was stopped by Iris.

“There’s no need for that, Your Majesty.”

“Ha..but the saintess’s physical condition..”

“The high-ranking priests are probably busy treating the injured right now. They are the priority.”

“….”

The priest looked at Iris with a sad expression.

After much agonizing, the priest finally seemed to respect Iris’s wishes. He handed her a wet towel and sat down again.

While Iris was closing her eyes and taking a brief moment of rest, someone spoke to her and woke her up.

“Over there..”

When Iris turned her head towards the voice, she saw the people who had caught her before. They were all looking at Iris with dark expressions.

“What’s going on?”

A middle-aged woman speaks hesitantly as Iris smiles.

It was the woman who had previously screamed at Iris.

“I’m sorry for yelling at the saint earlier..I also lost my senses because my husband felt like he was going to die..”

“It’s okay.”

Iris gently wrapped her hand around the middle-aged woman’s hand.

“I completely understand. The life of the person you love is at stake.”

The middle-aged woman could not help but stare blankly at Iris’s blue eyes, which seemed to embrace the sea.

Then, instead of just quietly watching from behind, other people also began to approach Iris one by one and apologize.

“I apologize for raising my voice, Your Majesty..”

“…I’m sorry about earlier too.”

“I have no face, Saintess.”

A bright smile appeared on Iris’ face as she received a series of sincere apologies.

“Thank you all. You must be tired, so get some rest soon.”

After hearing Iris’ words, everyone went back to their seats and tried to sleep.

After making sure everyone was sound asleep, Iris also tried to close her tired eyes.

But the heavens are indifferent.

Disaster has struck again.

Kuwaaang–!!

The ground shook with a huge explosion, as if a meteor had fallen.

That was the starting point for screams that erupted again everywhere.

Startled, Iris hurried out of the tent to check on the situation.

“What is this…”

Iris’s eyes began to shake violently at the unbelievable sight.

The season must have been summer.

As I exhaled, my breath turned into pure white vapor and dispersed into the air.

My body was shivering, unable to bear the cold chills.

The empire that had been burning until then was completely frozen, as if a huge blizzard had swept through it.

A sight that, when viewed from a distance, could be thought of as a beautiful ice kingdom.

But this is reality.

In an instant, people who had come to the frozen ground were screaming.

Some people lost their lives instantly with their entire bodies frozen.

Some people felt a piercing pain as if their body was only partially cooled.

“Kkaaaak!!”

“Honey..!! Honey!!”

“My arms won’t move!!”

The annoying screaming is heard again.

Iris instinctively shut her eyes tightly and covered her ears, trying to escape from reality for a moment.

But he had no choice but to open his eyes because someone grabbed his ankle.

“Stand..Stand..Saint..I..Please save me..”

A man shivering, his whole body frozen and breathing shallowly.

Iris flinched at his appearance for a moment, but quickly regained her composure and bent down to help him.

“Saint!! You must avoid it!”

The knight rushed out and grabbed Iris, pulling her back.

Then, a huge shard of ice crashed into the ground where Iris had been standing just a moment ago.

Kwajik-

Red liquid splashing everywhere with a popping sound.

When I wiped my hand with the sticky feeling, I could see the bright red blood of the man who had been alive until just now coming out of my hand.

“…..Ah..”

Iris, who can no longer even properly express her sorrow.

“Oh my god…”

I turned my head to look at the paladin’s voice speaking in a dejected tone.

A knight standing still, blankly staring at the sky.

I looked up in the direction he was looking.

I couldn’t help but be astonished.

“That…that’s…”

Soaring through the sky with two pairs of giant wings.

It was covered in blue scales that seemed impenetrable, like armor.

A supreme being that is so fearsome that it makes your flesh tremble, even though it is called a wyvern.

A monster of natural disaster.

A dragon was looking down on the empire from the sky.

[Kooo!!!!]

The ground shook as the dragon let out a roar that was ear-piercing. Once again, numerous huge chunks of ice fell from the sky like meteors.

An empire that is being destroyed in an instant by a dragon.

Iris could only stare blankly at the sky at the unimaginable disaster.

“Why…the dragon…”

“Saint, you must run away.”

A knight calling himself with a calm voice.

Only after hearing his serious voice in her ears was Iris able to move her body.

“Ki..Sir..easy..”

“I don’t know why, but I’m very angry. If this continues, the saint’s life will be in danger.”

As the knight finished speaking hurriedly and whistled with his hand, a horse clad in pure white armor suddenly galloped towards him from afar.

“You must escape from the Empire. I will take you there.”

“Ha..but people..”

“Anyway, since the dragon is angry, not everyone can live. Even the saintess must live to plan for the future.”

“No, my lady!!”

While Iris was hesitating, the people in the tent ran over and blocked her path.

“What will we do if the saint leaves!”

“Please take care of our family, Saint..!”

“My…my father is sick…”

They bow down and earnestly ask the saint.

As Iris looked at them with trembling eyes, the paladin stepped forward first and raised his voice at them.

“These selfish things! You should be grateful that I treated you. Who dares to arrest you!”

Despite the knight’s words, which were full of pressure, the people did not let go of the saint’s hands.

“Oh my. If the saint leaves, we will have no choice but to die!”

“My whole family is in a tent..Please have mercy..!”

“Please help me, Saint…”

Iris couldn’t lift her feet off the ground due to their desperate cries.

“I..I..”

“I like how consistent it is.”

That was when.

While Iris was hesitating, a voice was heard from the back of the tent.

Iris opened her eyes wide and looked at her at the voice she knew all too well.

Everything around her was frozen cold. But around her, all the ice had melted away, revealing her true form.

“Ah…Athena..”

“See you again, Iris.”

Despite the hopeless situation with no sign of hope, Athena looked at Iris indifferently and laughed.

“Yeah. Are you sharing the love you were talking about?”

For some reason, Iris was speechless at her mockery.