Ch.1125I Fell Asleep…

“Indeed, what an unexpected reunion. We all believed Zarem had surely perished… yet to think the Holy King still lives.”

Holy King of Zarem. The sudden intruder who saved me carried quite a grandiose title.

No, perhaps it’s not a title but a position?

I had no way of knowing what Zarem referred to—whether it was a place name, country, city, or organization…

‘Holy King…?’

At any rate, he must be the leader who governed the priests there. Not a Holy Maiden or Holy Man, but someone bearing the title of Holy King.

…Well, he certainly had the skills to deserve such a title.

I could tell just from that brief battle. This old man before me was undoubtedly the strongest priest of the current era, surpassing even the Holy Maiden of Elpinel.

The problem was figuring out which god he served and whose side he was on… that I couldn’t tell.

The sensation transmitted through the holy light that touched my body was certainly similar to Lacy’s divine miracles, but not exactly the same.

How to describe it… something closer to the source… somewhat crude but all the more intense?

At any rate, it definitely wasn’t the holy power of Elpinel.

“Your Grace must be quite surprised as well. Perhaps you might even be pleased… at the well-being of an old friend with whom you shared a deep connection.”

And judging by how Arthur was acting so familiar, this Heirek must also be someone from thousands of years ago, like them.

Based on Arthur’s behavior and the fact that a human from thousands of years ago was still alive, he was probably a demigod who had awakened his divinity, like Garmerlic.

…A priest from that era, a demigod from that time—that means he was one of the ancient gods’ most loyal servants. Can I really trust him?

He seems to be on my side since he saved me, but his identity makes me hesitant to trust him completely.

Judging by the color of his holy light and his actions in blocking Arthur, he’s definitely not a follower of Alfodhr or Bellona. That’s somewhat fortunate…

But regarding the other two ancient gods, Yemo and Gemina, I know too little to judge what their inclinations might be.

I don’t even know why he protected me in the first place.

If his intention was purely to save my life, I’d be truly grateful, but perhaps he wants to offer me as a sacrifice to his god.

Unable to completely let my guard down despite his help, I observed Heirek with cautious eyes while focusing on recovering my strength within the divine barrier he had created.

“You’ve grown quite talkative in our time apart, Arthur.”

Of course, Arthur and Heirek paid no attention to my concerns, busy exchanging old stories that only they understood while watching each other.

“Why would Garmerlic be pleased? We’ve always been adversaries. Just as our gods once were, before they vanished.”

“Well, thousands of years is enough time to make even rivals seem like cherished friends, isn’t it? Especially… fallen enemies.”

Arthur straightened his lightning sword that he had been pointing downward and smiled softly.

“How did you become so weak, Your Excellency?”

A confident smile characteristic of someone certain of victory.

Perhaps after gauging his chances during their conversation, he determined he could win. He seemed to have completely forgotten the dismay he felt when first ambushed.

“I pushed myself too hard. To walk from Zarem to here in one go.”

“Pushed yourself…? Ah, that’s right, you didn’t have anyone with teleportation powers there. This isn’t a distance one could cover so quickly without teleportation… what method did you use?”

“Do I have any reason to answer that?”

“If you don’t wish to reveal it, I’ll respect that. What matters isn’t how you did it, but the result… that Your Excellency has become so weakened.”

Arthur wrapped lightning around his blade and let out a mocking laugh.

So this old man Heirek wasn’t at full strength—he was weakened enough for Arthur to openly mock him. No wonder he seemed a bit weak for a demigod.

“Don’t worry. Unless the Duke himself came, I haven’t declined enough to fall to someone like you.”

Still stronger than Arthur, though.

“Are you determined to interfere with us?”

“Why else would I be here if not for that?”

Heirek struck his staff firmly against the ground.

-Gooooo…!

A demigod’s divinity. The remnants of an ancient god hidden beneath human skin began to bloom.

A halo of pure white flames appeared above the old man’s head, and rocks from the ground defied gravity to form two pairs of wings.

Overflowing holy light spread like waves, shaking the earth and burning away dark mana.

…Yes, he is indeed a demigod. Judging by his aura, he’s practically the weakest among demigods.

“Elpine asked me for a favor. She said the sword she had painstakingly forged was about to break in an absurd way, and begged me to protect it.”

“Hmm, you’re willing to risk your life for such a request? Even if it’s from the old Holy Maiden, don’t you value the years you’ve lived?”

Arthur asked while raising black energy to counter the holy light. The black and white radiance collided like waves, creating violent sparks.

“I’ve lived long enough. No, I’ve lived far too long… why would I care about my life now?”

As if Arthur’s threat to kill him if he interfered meant nothing, Heirek calmly nodded and pointed his staff at him.

“…Fine. If you insist on choosing punishment. I’ll leave just your head to send to His Grace.”

Arthur revealed his murderous intent openly and ferociously, as if the conversation was over.

“Try if you can.”

Heirek folded his stone wings to cover his body like armor and ignited several orbs of pure white fire at the tip of his extended staff, firing them like artillery at Arthur.

Brilliant flashes filled the cavern, while darkness and lightning tore through the light with thunderous roars.

Chains of light coiled around the undead armor like snakes, while shadow creatures rising from the darkness tore at those chains with howls.

Ancient divine miracles colliding and shattering. Black and white debris swirling like a sandstorm.

In this battlefield reminiscent of thousands of years ago, the ancient demigod who was blocking and pushing back the charging Arthur with a display of light—

“Young star. Chain that binds the wolf, sword forged by heaven.”

The next moment, he turned his gaze slightly toward me and spoke.

“Uh, are you talking to me?”

I reflexively used formal speech.

It wasn’t because he looked older than me… it’s just, in this situation, if I turned this old man against me too, I’d be dead for sure.

With that thought, formal speech came out automatically.

“I’ll hold off this undead somehow. Go recover your strength and prepare for what’s to come. Your cradle is breaking, and the waves of the old era are approaching once more.”

“Um… what does that mean?”

“……”

Hey, grandfather. If you want to warn me about something, could you please use expressions that normal people can understand?

“The end is near, and a dull blade will only meet the same fate as us. Seek power relentlessly. Forge weapons and build walls. That is the role and duty of a sword.”

Ah, I can understand this a bit better. He means I shouldn’t wallow in this level of crisis but become stronger, right?

But now isn’t the time for such warnings.

“Uh, well… I kind of get what you’re saying, but that undead guy isn’t the only problem right now. Behind us—”

“I know, so leave with peace of mind. This old man will open the way.”

Heirek cut off my words about needing to eliminate Invidius first, and extended his right hand wrapped in holy light toward me.

Then, the next moment, the pure white holy light covering the old man’s hand shone brilliantly and expanded to envelop my entire body.

“What is this…?”

A healing miracle? No, that’s not it. This sensation…

A strange floating feeling, as if my body was being lifted and pushed away somewhere.

My vision twisted strangely like it was covered in heat haze, then spiraled inward as if being sucked into something invisible—

In the blink of an eye, everything vanished like a mirage.

“…Huh?”

Pitch-black darkness where nothing could be seen, not even the smallest light.

Before I could feel bewildered by this sudden change, the next moment my vision flashed as if exploding and everything became bright again.

…What’s going on?

With the sudden burst of light that hurt my eyes, I reflexively frowned and quickly scanned my surroundings.

“This light, what…?”

Murmurs filled with confusion. Looks of astonishment.

Instead of the underground ruins where supernatural forces had been raging, a campsite full of wounded and exhausted people spread out before my eyes.

“This is… so…”

The Crusader camp?

“Wait, Lord Median?! How did you get here…!”

“Are you safe, Lord Median!”

Yes, that’s right. Seeing the Crusaders who had retreated after reaching their limits all gathered here.

Indeed. In the time it took to blink a couple of times, I was suddenly sitting in the middle of the Crusaders’ rear assembly point.

Was that strange sensation and phenomenon just now something like spatial teleportation?

I don’t know what kind of magic Heirek used—Arthur had said he didn’t have spatial teleportation powers—but apparently he had some method.

…But didn’t he say earlier that it consumed quite a lot of power?

That thought made me slightly anxious.

If Heirek, weakened further by teleporting me to safety, were to lose to Arthur, it would be a catastrophe of epic proportions.

Surely he won’t lose? Not after stepping up so confidently?

I gazed toward the western horizon with eyes containing faint anxiety, praying for the victory of the old man I had met for the first time today.

That was all I could do.

It was already too late for me to go back there, and until I recovered, I would only be a hindrance anyway.

No… actually… I’m starting to…

“Uh…”

Perhaps because the tension eased after leaving the battlefield, fatigue began to wash over me like a tidal wave. My body, which had been pushed beyond its limits multiple times, desperately called for rest.

The irresistible drowsiness. Consciousness rapidly fading.

“Uh, UH?! Lord Median? Lord Median!”

With my vision flickering and a dizzy sensation, I closed my eyelids and collapsed backward.