Chap 98-Promise

 

The being who was once Emilia was now sprawled wretchedly on the floor, her entire body tainted black with Contamination.

Twisted black roots sprouted from her back, piercing through the tent floor and digging deep into the earth.

Across her once pristine white skin, jet-black Contamination crawled like snakes along her veins.

Before her, Camilla wiped the sweat from her brow, panting heavily.

“Dorothy…”

Through Camilla’s lips, the Evil God uttered the name softly.

She had expected it.

There was no way that cunning Witch wouldn’t have placed some kind of safety measure on her own kind.

But facing that device directly still left a bitter taste in her mouth.

The powerful restrictions placed on that Witch.

Impossible for her current self to undo.

‘It was just a probe, anyway.’

She would just proceed with the plan.

“Cough, cough-!”

At that moment, Camilla’s body erupted in violent coughs, spewing dark red blood.

‘Damn it, this is annoying.’

The Evil God clicked her tongue inwardly.

‘The domain… she completely shattered it.’

She could feel the temporary domain she had barely managed to construct with her remaining divine power crumbling to pieces.

Only level 7.

To think this body couldn’t withstand facing even a healing-type Witch.

She had used far more of the power she needed to reserve for the plan than expected.

But… just one more step.

“Arise.”

Flash—

At her command, Emilia’s eyes snapped open.

Her pupils were empty, devoid of any focus.

Swish—

A moment later, the black roots and traces of Contamination covering her body were sucked back beneath her skin, returning her to an outwardly normal appearance.

“Follow me.”

The Evil God spoke curtly, then stepped out of the tent.

Emilia, head bowed, silently followed her like a doll.

…

Lina was confused.

Lea, who had been talking to her just moments ago, also seemed to be in bad shape.

But right now, she didn’t have the energy to worry about anyone else.

“It’s alright. You’ll be better soon.”

From the moment she regained consciousness, she had been tirelessly tending to the injured.

Pure white holy power flowed from her fingertips, healing torn wounds and mending broken bones.

Blood-soaked uniforms, faces stained with dirt and dust.

Countless students were waiting for her touch.

But even as she continued to heal, Lina’s mind was filled with only one name.

‘Yeon…’

In the end, she had crossed the point of no return.

Using the power of obvious Contamination, she had unhesitatingly turned her sword against her.

The moment she awoke after losing consciousness to her attack.

The surrounding students were groaning, wounded by magical beasts.

She had heard that, thankfully, no one had died thanks to someone’s help…

If that helping hand hadn’t been there, most of the students here wouldn’t have survived.

‘…It was all a lie.’

Recently, Lina had worked hard to open Yeon’s heart.

And she believed that she was slowly changing.

That she was opening up to her.

But she realized that it had all been her own foolish delusion.

She had pretended to change little by little to reassure her.

And, taking advantage of this moment when the students were not under the protection of the academy, she had revealed her dark intentions.

What she had done was an unforgivable evil, no matter what.

No matter what sad story she had, there was no room for sympathy now.

As a resident of Terra and a Saintess Candidate who was expected by the people, she had to punish her…

“L, Lady Lina?”

“…Yes?”

“Um… my wound is all healed now, so you can stop using your holy power.”

The student who was being treated spoke cautiously.

“Ah… I’m sorry. I was lost in thought for a moment.”

Lina smiled awkwardly and withdrew her hand.

However, the slight tremor in her fingertips revealed that her mind was still unsettled.

Just then, a professor came in and shouted urgently.

“The warp gate has been re-established! The injured will gather first and return to the academy!”

He added.

“The Mana in this area is still unstable, so it’s difficult to transport everyone at once!”

At those words, the students began to move busily.

They supported their injured friends, packed their belongings, and gathered in front of the warp gate.

A moment later, the professor from before approached Lina and said politely.

“It would be best if the Saintess Candidate were to move first.”

However, Lina quietly shook her head.

“There are still many people who haven’t evacuated yet, I can’t leave first.”

“The Saintess Candidate is a very important figure to humanity. You must go to a safe place first.”

The professor pleaded again earnestly.

“But…”

Lina looked troubled.

She didn’t want to leave the other students behind and go alone.

And above all… her feelings for Yeon Bennet were still unresolved.

As Lina hesitated, someone quietly approached.

“Wouldn’t it be better to return to the academy anyway?”

It was Camilla.

She first gave the professor a look that asked him to leave it to her, then spoke to Lina.

The professor nodded in relief and quietly left the area.

“Lady Camilla… I’m glad you’re safe.”

“This place is dangerous. The Calamity-Class Monster is surely targeting you, the hope of humanity.”

“Still… I don’t want to be a coward who only hides behind others.”

“Haa…”

Camilla sighed deeply.

“What if that’s just a childish stubbornness that makes things even harder for others?”

At those words, Lina was speechless.

What she said might not be wrong.

As just a Saintess Candidate, staying here would only be a burden to everyone in the end.

Lina’s eyes flickered slightly.

At that moment, Camilla stepped closer and said softly.

“Then how about this?”

“…Yes?”

“If you return to the academy, I’ll show you the truth about Yeon Bennet.”

At those words, Lina’s eyes wavered subtly.

“You’ll… show me the truth?”

When Lina asked, Camilla nodded silently.

“Can’t you just tell me?”

“Unfortunately, I can’t talk about it.”

Camilla shook her head firmly.

“……”

Lina pursed her lips and pondered for a moment.

Camilla’s offer was definitely suspicious in some way.

Suddenly appearing and saying she would show her the truth about Yeon Bennet.

Wasn’t the situation too sudden?

But…

The truth that Yeon was hiding.

If there really was a hidden truth about her, she had to face it.

Even if it was just to sort out her feelings for her.

Lina reluctantly nodded.

“…Okay.”

Camilla gave a gentle smile, then turned around and walked away silently.

Lina hesitated for a moment, then silently followed her.

And.

A pair of blank eyes watching that scene.

‘Surely… I was trying to convey something…’

Lea was groping for fragments of lost memories.

Then suddenly, Lina’s figure following Camilla came into view.

‘Lady Camilla…?’

Surely… she was… kidnapped by Yeon Bennet…

She looked too fine for that.

‘Something’s wrong.’

Quietly.

Very carefully.

Lea began to follow the two of them.

…

Thud-

I collapsed weakly onto the ground, which had been devastated by Richard and Lagriel’s fight.

‘I’m tired…’

It wasn’t my body that was tired.

Perhaps it was because I had overused my Unique Ability to save the students.

My brain, which had been soaked in pleasure for so long, was now numb to the point of being insensitive.

My mental fatigue had reached its peak.

And…

[SYSTEM]

Aegis Magic System – Decaymal Reverse

Caster: Dorothy Lightshield (Connection severed)

Remaining lives: 2

Up to eight deaths.

“Haa…”

I wanted to rest just a little bit, just a little bit more…

But cruelly, the world didn’t even allow me that luxury.

Morning sunlight streamed through the trees.

And familiar faces appeared, squeezing through the gaps.

You’re all being too much.

I’m still your student, after all.

Aren’t those eyes… too murderous?

Expressionless faces and sharp gazes.

The professors had quietly surrounded me before I knew it.

“Here… the corpse… it’s Duke Medici…”

One professor reported Cassandra’s death in a sorrowful voice.

The professors’ reactions to those words were varied.

Some clenched their fists in anger.

Others lowered their heads, lost in grief.

“…Did you do this?”

Professor Merlin asked me with a complicated expression.

“……”

“Did you do this!”

“If I say no… will you believe me?”

At my mocking words, the professors’ faces hardened in unison.

Some frowned and glared at me sharply.

Professor Merlin silently gave a signal to the other professors.

“Arrest her.”

The professors approached in unison.

“Don’t even think about doing anything foolish.”

“If you move even a little, we’ll cast magic immediately.”

I closed my eyes.

Just feeling them approaching.

Sleepy…

I was just tired of everything.

No matter what happened to the world.

No matter what happened to me.

I just wanted to fall asleep like this.

…

“You! Are you crazy! Who knows what the Scales will demand from you in return!”

What…?

Someone’s shouting startled me awake.

When I lifted my blurry vision, two women were arguing in front of me.

Or rather, it was closer to one person being unilaterally scolded.

“You… I’ve watched you since you were a baby… that’s too much… sob.”

The black-haired woman playfully sobbed.

That woman…

She was definitely the one who appeared in my dream the day I first met Bella.

Strangely, her face was still blurry.

“Haa… I knew you were a pushover, but I didn’t know it would be this bad…”

“P, pushover! That’s too harsh…”

“What! You’re a System-certified pushover, you are!”

A Celestial…? Or a Demon…?

In front of her, an unidentified being with one angel wing and one demon wing was huffing and puffing.

Unusually, the angel wing was not the pure white of other Celestials, but a gruesome blood red.

Could it be…

There was no way I wouldn’t know her, after playing the game so diligently.

Because… she was the character who appeared whenever important announcements popped up in the game.

The System Administrator, the transcendent who was called GM among the users.

Aisha.

“Why are you, the only one who opposed the alliance with the Evil God, trying to take responsibility for everything!”

Aisha shouted, as if frustrated.

At those words, the black-haired woman proudly puffed out her chest.

“It’s because I’m too capable. I’m just doing what I can do.”

Aisha shook her head and sighed deeply.

“What did you decide to give in return?”

The black-haired woman replied something.

I couldn’t hear it well.

I tried to get a little closer, holding onto my hazy mind.

I still couldn’t see her face.

“Hmm? You’re giving up your swordsmanship instead of that strange divine power?”

“Why? Is there a problem?”

The black-haired woman asked back.

“It’s not that… Do you know how much Dorothy and Anaide complain every time you deliberately hurt yourself to use that power?”

“I don’t particularly like this divine power, but… still, no.”

I couldn’t see her face properly, but I could tell that she was smiling brightly.

“This is… a promise.”

Author’s Note

The update cycle will return to normal from today!