Ch.272Episode 12 – The Strongest Mage in History

“In the name of the merciful and loving Lord, praise be to the Lord, Master of all creation.”

A prayer flows from Veronica’s lips.

She rummages through her pocket while reciting the next verse.

“Almighty Lord who presides over judgment.”

Two shotgun shells are slipped between her fingers.

The shells enter the two broken barrels, and as the mechanism and barrels align properly,

the geometric religious symbols engraved on the silver mechanism gleam vividly in the darkness.

“We worship only You and beg for salvation, so guide us on the right path at the door of our hearts. Therefore…”

Click!

The hammer is cocked. Veronica, having finished loading, turns the muzzle toward the monsters of hell.

The saint, holding a double-barrel shotgun with impressive religious symbols and elegant appearance, aims at the demons and recites the final verse.

“Please send those bastards straight to hell right now.”

Episode 12 – The Most Powerful Magician Ever

Lightning strikes.

Thunder and lightning made of steel and gunpowder shake the deepest, darkest place.

-BOOM!!

The thunderous sound violently shakes the air as a flash of light bursts forth, driving away the darkness. The fired bullet travels straight, violently tearing off the monster’s head.

Veronica pulls the trigger toward the monsters charging at her from the front.

The monsters that had attached themselves to human bodies and crawled up from hell were hit by the saint’s bullets and fell back to hell.

A second flash illuminates the darkness once more.

-BOOM!!

The shotgun blast tears through the demon minions’ heads as it moves forward. The Muspels hit by the shots float up into the air, splattering their brains on the ground.

Was a shotgun’s power always this strong? The shotguns I’ve fired didn’t have this kind of firepower.

After finishing her shots, Veronica breaks the barrel.

Smoke rises as two shell casings eject, and Veronica pulls new shells from her pocket, stuffing them into the barrels before the smoke even clears. Then she aligns the barrels with the mechanism, cocks the hammer, and pulls the trigger again.

Three Muspels charging at her are torn to shreds by the shotgun blast, flying several meters. Caught in the storm of steel and gunpowder, the Muspels return to hell with their death cries.

Overwhelming firepower.

It seems different from other hunting or military shotguns. Perhaps it was made for a special purpose.

As I stand watching Veronica methodically dispatching the Muspels, she tilts her head while reloading.

“What? Is this your first time seeing a cleric with a gun?”

“…I’ve seen clerics who enjoy drinking, dancing, and gambling before.”

“You must be quite devout. The fact that you weren’t excommunicated suggests you’re very faithful.”

“How could I not be, Saint?”

Veronica flashed a grin.

The shotgun illuminates the darkness once more.

Like moths drawn to a flame, the monsters from hell rush toward the saint.

“Block them!”

A shout erupts from the middle-aged priest’s mouth.

The clerics who arrived at the cavern with Veronica exert all their strength to prevent the monsters from reaching the saint.

Some drew weapons, some opened scripture, and others clasped their hands in prayer.

The middle-aged priest who shouted now held a radiant sword and shield in his hands.

“Kill them!”

“God wills it!”

With those words as a signal, clerics and monsters began to clash.

*

-KIEEEEEK!!

A priest with a shield lowers his body and takes position.

The priest gauges the distance from the monster swinging its claws.

With legs bent in the opposite direction moving busily, the monster kicks off the ground, and the priest, waiting for the right moment, raises his shield when the monster comes within reach.

The priest pushes the charging monster upward into the air.

As the priest lifts the monster with his shield, a spear rises from behind him, piercing through the Muspel’s stomach.

Weapons wrapped in radiance flash like flames spreading across a field, and as brilliant flashes burst forth, the monsters’ screams spread high into the sky.

-THWACK!

A cleric who had thrust a spear into a demon’s chest looks around. Two Muspels were baring their teeth at him.

The cleric steps on the spear shaft stuck in the chest, breaking it. Then he pulls the shortened spear from the monster’s heart and thrusts it into the monsters charging at him.

At that moment, a coat flutters in the wind, and silver armor wrapped in radiance flashes.

I immediately sensed the cleric’s true identity.

“…A holy knight.”

The holy knight who had improvised a short spear formed a battle line shoulder to shoulder with a nearby cleric. It seems some holy knights were mixed in among the priests.

No wonder they fought so well for priests.

While the priests and holy knights dealt with the approaching monsters, a small force broke away from the formation to protect Lucia and me.

A priest holding scripture knelt beside the fallen Lucia.

“How is the saint’s condition?”

I informed the priest of Lucia’s condition.

Amidst the sounds of clashing weapons and explosions, Lucia, with her pale complexion, moaned softly.

“She lost consciousness after being attacked by the necromancer earlier. The overall symptoms are similar to shock, but I’m not sure of her exact condition. It seems she’s been cursed.”

“A curse. Have you administered any emergency treatment?”

“I gave her holy water, but I’m not sure if it had any effect…”

The priest placed his fingers on Lucia’s wrist. Then he closed his eyes and concentrated all his senses.

“Fortunately, it seems the holy water wasn’t ineffective. I’ll pray for her to regain consciousness.”

At that moment, pure divine power burst forth from the priest’s feet.

A healing priest’s prayer.

Looking down, I saw that Lucia, who had been collapsed, was now clasping her hands together in prayer.

“Ugh…”

I firmly grasped her hand.

“Lucia. Are you conscious?”

Opening her eyes drowsily, Lucia barely managed to turn her head to survey her surroundings.

“The demons, where…”

A shout cut off her words.

“HYAAAH!”

One of the four clerics protecting us, wielding a mace, let out a battle cry.

The spiked mace cuts through the air, crushing the head of a Muspel crawling on the ground. After smashing the demon’s head, the cleric swings the mace again, pulverizing another monster that was following.

But perhaps he put too much force into it, as his chest was exposed when he swung the mace widely, and the Muspel didn’t miss that opening.

The Muspel burrowed into the cleric’s chest.

“Kuk…!”

“Matthew!”

The cleric who collided with the monster fell down on the spot.

Another cleric who appeared to be his companion rushed to help him, but there were too many monsters surrounding them.

The Muspel mounted on top of the cleric drooled viscously.

Sharp claws were raised high, about to tear into the exposed chest when—

-BANG! BANG!

Two holes appeared in the Muspel’s head, and its body fell backward.

I lowered the smoking pistol and took a deep breath.

“Whew… That was close.”

The cleric who had just stepped back from death’s door quickly turned his head to look at me.

He pushed away the Muspel’s corpse, staggered to his feet, and shouted his thanks.

“Thank you!”

I shot at the monsters surrounding us with my gun.

The holy knights swung swords and spears, splitting the Muspels’ skulls, while the clerics raised divine power, supporting them in various ways.

Among them all, Veronica stood out the most.

She stood in a relaxed posture, holding an antique double-barrel shotgun like a noble out on a hunt.

“……”

Veronica shouldered the shotgun and opened her eyes, searching for her target.

When her eyes narrowed upon confirming her target—

-BOOM!!

With a thunderous sound like lightning, a flash of light burst forth.

The muzzle was pointed toward where the fleeing demon and necromancer were.

At the thunderous sound, the limping necromancer turned his head back. He frantically waved his arms.

Immediately, the surrounding Muspels gathered around the necromancer.

The hell monsters formed a barrier of flesh, and not a single bullet reached the necromancer or the demon.

Veronica lowered her shotgun and clicked her tongue in disappointment.

“…Tsk! I only managed to hit one leg. He’s quite cunning.”

“……”

The necromancer glared at Veronica.

Magical energy in the air gathered around the necromancer, beginning to draw a magic circle in the void.

Veronica glanced at the necromancer preparing his attack, then lowered her gaze without showing any sign of tension, maintaining a relaxed attitude.

Breaking the barrel and extracting the shell casings, she extended her hand to a priest standing behind her.

“Number 3 bullets. The penetrating ones.”

“Yes, Saint.”

-WHOOOSH…!

As magical energy was drawn in, a fierce wind blew.

Her long hair fluttered, and the pure white fascia that only a saint could wear swayed like a ship docked in a harbor during a storm.

But Veronica showed not the slightest hesitation.

-CLICK!

The saint finished loading and aimed the muzzle, while the necromancer swung his arm.

The fired bullet and the magic crossed paths.

The thick lead bullet tore through the flesh barrier and reached the necromancer and demon standing behind it.

“Kuhek…!”

Conversely, the green curse shot by the necromancer failed to reach Veronica.

“…The Lord shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

As the saint offered her prayer, the green curse changed direction, bypassing her. As if someone had deflected the curse in front of her.

The diverted curse flew behind her, exploding against the wall and dissolving it.

Despite her wildly fluttering hair, Veronica calmly loaded bullets. The lightning shaking the cavern and monster heads exploding were as natural as flowing water.

Standing tall on the risen stone bricks, Veronica sent the monsters crawling up from hell back down to hell.

Seeing this, the clerics and knights cheered, while Lucia groaned and pushed herself up from the ground.

“Ugh…”

As I was about to support Lucia, I suddenly noticed a long object rolling on the floor.

A familiar staff handle with a long white blade extending below it. It was Brother Agato’s staff-sword that the demon had dropped when first fighting Lucia.

I picked up the staff-sword from the floor and placed it in Lucia’s unsteady hand.

“Use this to support yourself. Are you feeling alright?”

“…Yes.”

Blue eyes sparkle in the darkness.

Staggering to her feet, Lucia tightly bound the loosened cloth and wrapped it around her fist, straightening her posture to prepare for battle.

At that moment,

“Don’t get up.”

Veronica reprimanded Lucia.

“You’re not well. Don’t fight and risk getting more seriously injured. Just lie down.”

“But…!”

“Enough.”

Veronica, while loading her gun, turned to look at Lucia with a cold gaze. That gaze was so frigid that Lucia flinched and shrank back.

“What have you done well enough to speak up?”

“……”

Lucia lowered her head, and Veronica pulled the trigger.

With a heavy gunshot, the chest of a Muspel pouncing from the air burst open. Blood and flesh stretched out behind it like dark wings sprouting.

After pulling the trigger, Veronica received new ammunition from a cleric, and as she inserted the shells into the broken barrel, she added:

“Let’s leave this conversation for now. We’ll talk when we get back.”

Lucia murmured in a low voice.

“…Sister.”

While the saint with clenched fists looked at the saint holding the shotgun, the latter finished loading and turned the muzzle toward the front.

When she pulled the trigger, a powerful gunshot spread, creating light.

The hell monsters screamed and rushed toward the flashing light like a beacon.

-KYAAAAK!!

-KIEEEEEK!!

Veronica fired at the monsters. But there were far more Muspels than her two bullets could handle.

While reloading her shotgun, Veronica watched the clerics and holy knights blocking the monsters rushing toward her and clicked her tongue softly.

“Tsk…!”

No matter how many of these hell-spawned monsters they killed, their numbers showed no sign of diminishing. For every one killed, two more emerged from the ground, which might be the natural order of things.

Until now, Veronica had been shooting clustered Muspels with her shotgun like sweeping with a broom, but in that short time, as if they’d learned a lesson, the Muspels began to spread out to avoid the shotgun blasts.

“This won’t work.”

Sensing that the shotgun’s effectiveness was diminishing, Veronica lowered it.

She handed the shotgun to the priest who had been giving her bullets, and without a word, opened her palm.

“Gun.”

The priest placed a gun in the saint’s hand. More precisely, he extended the handle of a pistol housed in a leather holster.

Veronica, keeping her gaze fixed forward, drew the pistol from its holster. The pistol, visibly larger and heavier than the one I carried, fit snugly in her palm.

A long barrel,

A round cylinder,

Religious symbols engraved along the barrel,

And checkered wooden grips to prevent slipping.

A revolver as elegant as the double-barrel shotgun.

“…Hah.”

Holding the revolver, Veronica closed her eyes and took deep breaths repeatedly.

Then, in a very small voice, she recited a prayer.

“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Holy Spirit is risen upon thee.”

At that very moment, light appeared in the void.

The light that appeared in the void gradually took the form of a sphere, and like dandelion seeds riding the wind, it slowly descended.

Veronica, having finished her prayer, opened her eyes and looked at the light.

Simultaneously, someone’s frantic murmur reached everyone’s ears.

“…No.”

Brother Agato, supported by the necromancer. It was the voice of the demon possessing his body.

The demon, glaring at the gently falling sphere of light, cried out in an urgent voice.

“No!”

“…What’s not allowed?”

Veronica, raising her middle finger toward the demon, grinned and kicked off the ground.

She ran with the revolver, stepped on the bewildered holy knights and clerics, and soared into the sky.

“NO!!”

Just as the demon stretched out his hand and let out a death cry,

Veronica’s hand, soaring into the void, touched the sphere of light.

-FWAAAASH!

At that moment, divine power began to rage like a storm.

Everyone squinted and turned away from the sudden gale and baptism of light. The demon’s death cry echoed through the pouring light and wind.

Veronica, who had grasped the sphere, was enveloped in light.

Surrounded by a pure white halo, she floated in the void and opened her eyes, which she had briefly closed.

“……”

Below her were monsters from hell, clerics, a demon, a necromancer. And one troublesome sister, one familiar man.

Veronica raised her head to look at the sky.

While numerous monsters swarmed below, the sky above was wide open.

Above her head were only stars.

-CLICK.

The sound of the revolver’s hammer being cocked was clearly heard.

The saint, who had raised her head to look at the sky, lowered her gaze to look down at the monsters, the necromancer, and the demon.

Like a fish swimming in the deep sea, the demon, seeing the saint gliding through the night sky, gritted his teeth with bloodshot eyes.

“…Damn priest!”

Veronica, floating in the sky, shifted her gaze.

Past the demon, necromancer, holy knights, and clerics, her gaze reached us. She looked once at Lucia, who was standing dejectedly, then glanced at me.

Suddenly, a smile appeared on her lips.

Surrounded by a pure white halo, she smiled as she slowly descended from the sky.

And then, passing the clerics and holy knights again, she looked at the demon, necromancer, and monsters, and began:

“Well.”

The saint said.

“Your order of divine punishment is ready.”

*

The silver barrel gleamed in the starlight.

The cocked hammer struck the bullet, and with a heavy gunshot, a flash burst forth.

The fired bullet flew straight through the demon’s body. The next bullet pierced the necromancer’s abdomen, and the remaining bullets rained down on the heads of the monsters rushing toward us.

It was like a bombardment from the sky, or thunder and lightning.

The moment the bullets fired from the revolver hit the Muspels, pure white light burst from within them, causing them to explode.

The explosions, filled with abundant divine power, swept away the surrounding Muspels, who fell to the ground without even being able to scream.

“……”

“……”

Everyone was speechless at the sight of dozens of Muspels being swept away in an instant.

Veronica, who had fired the revolver from mid-air, landed softly on the ground with a smooth movement.

She blew on the smoking barrel of the revolver with a “whoo-” and then twirled the revolver once with her index finger.

After dispatching the monsters and twirling her gun, Veronica suddenly met my gaze. She smiled brightly and threw out a light joke.

“What?”

“……”

“First time seeing a cleric who’s a good shot?”