Ch.50The Only Salvation

# 1.

Nahan.

No, Ian Red thought.

His first ability was to determine whether the owner of an object was alive or dead by touching it.

Since priests with multiple abilities typically gain powers related to their first ability, the best excuse for the current situation would be…

“My second ability is communication with lost souls.”

The first ability manifests through the energy of buried souls, and the second ability deepens to see the souls themselves.

“Indeed, it seems that multiple abilities do extend in related directions.”

“Did you already know that, Head of the Family?”

“Isn’t it a famous hypothesis?”

“……”

Everyone nodded as if they understood as intended, and Balkan rushed up to my face almost before I could answer.

“Communication with lost souls!! Does that mean the Founder has lost his way to the Goddess’s garden?!”

“Souls with unfinished business can sometimes remain bound to this world.”

“I see! …By the way, could you tell me what ‘this world’ means?”

“This world, the present world we’re living in.”

“Ohh, I see! Thank you for your kind answer!! It’s been so long since someone answered my question, I could almost cry!!”

True to his word, Balkan shed a large tear.

Watching him, Tehelan sighed and nudged Hestia.

“…Hestia.”

“Yes, Head of the Family.”

Click.

Her leg recovery must have been temporary, as Hestia had returned to her wheelchair and rolled up to Balkan’s feet, whispering in his ear.

“Lord Rohan and the family warriors wish to learn from you, brother.”

“Oh!! Right now?!”

“Yes. Right now.”

“How admirable!! Head of the Leather! May I take my leave?!”

“It’s not ‘Head of the Leather,’ it’s ‘Head of the Family,’ brother.”

“Whatever!!”

When Tehelan nodded, Balkan grinned broadly and ran outside.

“Let’s play!!!”

CRASH!!

Through the window.

The only people left were Tehelan, Hestia, Asha, and Nahan.

With the office finally quiet, the soundproofing barrier was raised again.

“I apologize. If he were to meet the Founder, he would cause chaos under the pretext of sparring.”

“It’s fine.”

The Founder has a similar personality, so I was quite worried too.

In any case,

‘Since they said they’re preparing to meet the Founder, they must know not only about communication but also about descending into a vessel body.’

Honestly, they can’t help but have various suspicions, but since I claimed it was the Goddess’s power, they can’t easily doubt it.

‘They’re in a position where they need to protect the barrier, so they’re the ones at a disadvantage, not me.’

But since I caused this situation, I’ll help them without asking for anything in return.

While thinking this and waiting for Tehelan’s next words, after contemplating for a while, he turned to Hestia.

“May I ask for your help?”

Tehelan knew.

That the wisest person among the family members was not himself but Hestia.

“Yes, Head of the Family.”

Knowing this herself, she immediately accepted and rolled her wheelchair toward Nahan.

Red hair and red eyes.

Features that proved he was from the exterminated Red family.

Hestia was momentarily overwhelmed by his appearance but soon spoke.

“First, I thank you.”

It was three times.

That this man had saved her life.

One of those times, she had almost killed him due to hasty suspicion, so she needed to apologize as well as thank him, but…

“Given the urgency of the situation, I’ll properly greet you after we deal with the barrier.”

Not only was her gratitude late, but she had stabbed him in the stomach, and yet she was asking him to solve a problem that had occurred in their family.

‘…He must surely hate me.’

Why was it?

The thought of being hated by the man before her made Hestia inexplicably sad, but that feeling didn’t last long.

The reason being,

“Please don’t worry. I’m truly fine.”

Nahan still smiled at her with a benevolent expression.

And that wasn’t all.

“I should ask the Founder about the location of the heirloom, or if that’s not possible, whether there are alternative means, correct?”

“Ah… Yes, yes!”

“I’ll do my best.”

He accurately understood her intentions and even brought up the topic first to spare her any embarrassment.

The Lady of the Gardner Family,

The Legion’s Strategist, and so on.

For Hestia, who had always had to speak and act first, Nahan’s consideration was incredibly knowledgeable and kind.

‘…I hear priests can marry these days.’

Without realizing it, for the first time in her life, Hestia’s thoughts strayed in a different direction.

Regardless, the barrier issue was urgent now, so Nahan quietly knelt down and clasped his hands together.

“To Aria, the owner of brilliant light, this stray lamb offers a prayer.”

A supremely noble act of praying to the one God, Aria.

“With the additional power you have granted me, prepare me for the calamity to come. Bestow mercy upon the countless lives that will fade away.”

A man as warm and gentle as embers, befitting such a noble act.

Grip.

His clasped hands trembled slightly, and the late afternoon sunlight settled on his upturned face.

Dust particles floating and sparkling,

A soft, measured prayer,

The dignified attitude of one who earnestly wishes.

“Ah…”

Asha, who had unconsciously opened her mouth, also knelt down, and Tehelan followed her example, while Hestia remained in her wheelchair and clasped her hands together.

At that moment.

The clouds parted, the sunlight grew stronger, and those who had closed their eyes opened them.

Their gaze was directed at the still devout free priest Ian Red, who was trembling with tears and thinking to himself:

‘I am an idiot. I am Balak, skilled in brainless physical combat. I am a Gardner…’

Preparation for immersion.

The target of the performance was,

-[…? What the hell is this……]

Balak Gardner.

Nahan, who had slightly opened his eyes, looked at Balak Gardner and conveyed inwardly:

‘Did you hear? We need a way to activate the barrier without the Celestial Shield.’

-[There is one, but why should I tell you?]

‘If you tell me, I’ll let you spar with Asha soon.’

-[Asha?]

‘That one from earlier. Blue hair.’

-[I accept!!!]

With that, the negotiation was complete.

Now then,

【Notice – <Acting> has begun!】

【Stage 1 – <Analysis> has been completed!】

【Your understanding of character – <Balak Gardner(SS+)> increases exponentially!】

【Stage 2 – <Immersion> has been completed!】

【You will recreate the image of <Balak Gardner(SS+)> that you understand without any error.】

Time to use my specialty.

# 2.

A few minutes later.

Having finished his introduction, Nahan began to expound his thoughts as if they were Balak’s.

Balak said that his only vessel was Hestia.

The reason being that Nahan was essentially his master. It wasn’t that Nahan was Balak’s vessel, but rather Balak was Nahan’s vessel.

Anyway, he said that descent was easy even from a distance, and due to their good compatibility, he could draw about 50% of his original power, so,

“Do you understand!! The barrier’s original charging cycle is also once a week!! So I shall visit through that child once a week!!”

This should be enough.

“Yes! Founder!”

Following Tehelan’s dignified, Gardner-like response, Nahan addressed the most important matter.

The Celestial Shield.

There was a high probability they thought it had been stolen by the Black Wolf, and they would likely try to recover it soon.

“And worry not!! The Celestial Shield will return soon!! Remember this well!! The moment you actively search for it, it will disappear completely!!”

Thus, he preemptively blocked that course of action.

“Yes!! Founder!!!”

Another resounding response from Tehelan.

‘This should be enough, right?’

Since it was obvious he would be called upon repeatedly if there were no time constraints, Nahan had already lied that he could manage about 5 minutes at the cost of several years of his lifespan.

‘Time to exit.’

Nahan opened his mouth one last time.

“The Gardner shield is the world’s finest!!!”

“It will never break before any power!!”

“Excellent!! Rest now!!”

And that was the end.

“Cough, cough!”

Having possessed Balak and achieved everything he wanted, Nahan staggered as if the connection had been severed and collapsed to the floor.

“Ah! Priest!”

“Are, are you alright?!”

Hestia and Tehelan both approached and reached out their hands, but before they could grab him, Asha picked me up.

“I’ll take him to the infirmary.”

Asha responded before even hearing an answer.

Her expression was rather dark as she ran at a speed almost imperceptible.

It was because she was worried.

The kindness of the free priest Ian Red was not limited to himself.

-At the cost of several years of my lifespan, I think I can manage about 5 minutes.

-Ah… T-then it’s fine.

-No. If I can prevent a war with a few years of my life, it would be an honor.

Even now, he had prevented a war at the cost of what might be several years of his lifespan.

‘Why?’

Why, being so light and fragile, does he try to save even those stronger than himself?

Crunch.

She bit her lip to swallow her sigh.

‘I don’t know.’

I want to stay by the priest’s side, but I don’t know if I should.

I am living misfortune.

If I stay by his side, the priest will surely become unfortunate too.

So this time. Not to protect my feelings as before, but for the priest’s sake, shouldn’t I endure?

“…Can the priest really endure having misfortune like me by his side?”

With each step, Asha was filled with worry and anxiety.

Carried on Asha’s back, Nahan thought in the midst of the dizzying speed:

‘I’m getting motion sickness. I really feel like I’m going to throw up.’

He wanted to ask to be put down immediately, but he didn’t think she would hear him.

So what could he do?

“I can endure…”

Thinking he should bear it as punishment for stealing the Celestial Shield.

But sadly,

“…!!”

The physical abilities of S-rank powerhouses far exceeded Nahan’s expectations.

Asha’s eyes gradually reddened as she heard Nahan’s murmur.

“…Indeed, you are the only salvation in my otherwise meaningless life.”

Therefore, I would easily do anything for you.

So my next goal is to ensure your life is not spent in vain.

…Yes.

For example, exterminating the Black Wolf, the main cause of your shortened lifespan by several years.

“…Would that be alright?”

“Urgh. Mmm…”

After Nahan’s groan.

For the first time in ages, the corners of Asha’s mouth curved up gently.

“Thank you for your permission.”

# 3.

【Warning.】

【Warrior – <Asha Mirabel(SSS)>’s hostility level toward <Black Wolf(Ex)> has exceeded the limit.】

【The difficulty of Bad Ending 7. – <The Fanatic’s Rebellion> increases exponentially.】