Chapter 13. Crisis and Opportunity (11)

To put it briefly, it was a story related to the mythology of this world.

Long ago, descendants of demons who descended from the sky established a nation on this land.

They built a great nation that prospered through magic, but that nation was also on the verge of destruction because of that magic.

The demons, whom they considered gods, were actually beings who sowed magic and then reaped it.

This was the reason why the current beastmen came to worship strength.

“Magic is useful.”

This civilization was also built upon magic that utilizes that magic. Unlike human civilizations that developed entirely without the existence of magic for a long time, it was able to establish its own unique civilization a very long time ago and endure without collapsing for that long period.

“However, while magic and magic itself can be neutral forces, there are those who desire that magic.”

“Yes, I know. I’ve seen it a few times already.”

I replied, recalling my visits to the Dwarf Kingdom and the Vatican.

And both of those worlds were indeed worlds where demons were ‘sowing’. The gnomes were also destined to perish, and the dwarves were even more certainly destined to go extinct. Until I went ahead and took action.

Perhaps this world is also like that.

“That’s why we have also resisted magic with the power of light. We use the land, purifying the overly contaminated areas while leaving only what is truly necessary.”

A white sandy desert.

It was the desert where this civilization was founded.

……For a long time, land contaminated by magic turned this color. Of course, here, near the river, a certain amount of wetland was formed, which could serve as the foundation of civilization.

‘The power of light’ must mean holy power.

I thought as I looked at the light shining slightly above my head, as if to say yes.

“……But you said there are those who inherited the blood of demons.”

“……Yes, that’s right.”

The maid nodded.

That is the royal family of this land.

This civilization already knows that if magic becomes too strong, it will ultimately bring ruin. But they cannot dismantle the entire civilization built on the foundation of magic and rebuild it from scratch.

It’s like how modern civilization couldn’t stop development even while knowing that environmental destruction might lead to its collapse.

However, the arrival of demons is much more visible than environmental destruction. This civilization, which has clearly tasted the limit of world destruction once, has established a rule.

“……You create a single family that maintains strong magic?”

“And you manage that family consistently. So they don’t cross the line.”

The royal family was the backbone of the civilization.

Noble families who received a small amount of royal blood became the pillars supporting the civilization. They built massive structures and created the machinery needed to advance civilization. The children of those noble families then married individuals from families below them to spread magic again.

That marriage is calculated. It is meticulously designed to prevent magic from becoming excessively strong. To prevent the arrival of demons.

That’s why there are no slave classes in this civilization. Those without any magic at all might seem to form the bottom of society, but in reality, they had to be able to marry noble children at any time. Because their blood had to be mixed to dilute it.

“But, only one family’s magic must not weaken, right?”

“Yes. The royal family, which is the large trunk and root of all those branches, had to be maintained by consistently mixing bloodlines.”

Of course, excessive inbreeding is fatal to survival. They mix the blood of distant noble relatives, and sometimes bring in individuals with no blood relation at all.

In this society, bloodline was a meticulously designed system for everyone except the powerless at the very bottom.

And therefore, even if marriage is forced, and even if procreation is forced, they do not interfere with dating before marriage. They don’t place too much emphasis on virginity. Excessive oppression can lead to a misdirection.

But after enjoying everything and getting married…

“…….”

After hearing the entire story, Ria and I could only sit there with complex expressions.

“But sometimes, we fail in that management.”

The maid said with a look as if she were about to cry.

“We don’t pay much attention if someone with slightly insufficient magic is born. It’s impossible for that person to cause great harm to society. But…”

Those who inherited too much magic.

“……What happens?”

“They are executed.”

The maid said.

More calmly than when she was crying. As if just conveying the facts.

“At the altar, they are offered to God. Because that magic must be purified somehow.”

I closed my eyes.

Thud.

I heard the sound of something falling.

“…….”

When I opened my eyes again, the maid was kneeling in front of me.

“Please, please… save the Princess. Whatever you ask for, I will do everything I can.”

The maid, who had raised her head again, had a face wet with tears.

“Delaying any longer is impossible. By the time His Majesty and the Princess get married, their power will surely be revealed. Moreover.”

The maid closed her mouth with a slightly frightened expression.

“Moreover?”

Ria, who was listening beside me, asked.

“…….”

The maid looked up at me calmly.

“Saint-nim, you have driven back demons several times, you said.”

“……That’s right. If the being you’re talking about is the same as the being I’m thinking of.”

“Then, please. Please… can you make the demon inside the Princess retreat?”

The maid crawled towards me on her knees.

Unconsciously, I stood up and stepped back, but the maid reached out and grabbed my foot.

“Please, please…”

Placing her forehead on my foot, the maid murmured as if praying.

I looked at Ria.

Ria was looking down at the maid with a slightly blank expression.

“…….”

I bowed without a word.

And placed my hand on the maid’s shoulder.

“I will do my best to try.”

“……Thank you…”

The maid replied with a voice filled with tears.

*

“Is it true that there’s a demon inside?”

After sending the maid away, Ria asked me.

“You’ve purified the princess’s body several times already. And you didn’t just purify it weakly, but did your best without overexerting yourself. Yet, the princess showed no particular reaction.”

“……You said her body produces magic.”

I murmured, contemplating.

“Humans also produce magic.”

“But it’s weak. If it weren’t connected by a gate, perhaps magic wouldn’t have been usable on Earth.”

Because this world could be connected by gates, Earth’s mages could be mages. The concept of fantasy was something that only existed in imagination.

“On the other hand, beastmen… that is, descendants of beastmen who accepted demons seem to be able to do more than that.”

Just as dwarves can receive external magic and store it in their bodies, beastmen probably have similar powers.

But there’s a limit fundamentally. Because they deliberately diluted it by mixing blood. Both the power to create and the power to possess are like that.

“…….”

“Hey, don’t.”

“……I haven’t said anything yet?”

“Do you think I’ve been by your side for a day or two? I can see exactly what you’re thinking. You’re really bad at acting, honestly.”

“……Then, shall we hear it? What I’m planning to do.”

“You’re planning to make the princess go berserk, aren’t you? And then you’ll find out if it’s a demon or something inside.”

“…….”

“You’re dangerous.”

“It’s been fine so far.”

“No, it’s not fine at all. The wound on your hand, it’s getting bigger every time you exert yourself that much.”

Ria said, almost glaring at me.

“Besides, demons haven’t truly revealed themselves so far.”

“I don’t think the princess will become a demon just by revealing her magic.”

Doesn’t “not yet berserk” mean she’s controlling her own power for now?

Even if the situation worsens severely, it would only be a descent into her body. Not the demon itself descending.

…….

Of course, I don’t know what will happen to the princess in that situation.

Just as I don’t know what will happen if a god possesses my body.

Demons tried to persuade me every time I entered that power. Every time I resisted, my hands felt like they were burning, and I bled just from that holy power.

If my body, made solely for such purposes, is like that, how much can the princess endure?

“…….”

Ria glared at me, who was lost in thought, and said,

“You’re going to do it no matter what I say, aren’t you?”

“……Ria.”

“You say you trust me so much, and that you can give your body to me, but in the end, you’re going to do it again.”

“But I can’t just leave someone who is in danger of dying.”

“……Is it okay for you to be in danger?”

“Ria.”

“Is it okay for you… to be like that? No matter how much blood you shed, no matter where you’re stabbed or cut. Is it all okay?”

“Ria, that’s not what I mean.”

“……I am the one who protects you.”

Ria said that and came closer to me.

Is it because of the height difference? Ria, looking down at me, had a certain imposing aura.

“And that’s why I’m the one who thinks about whether you’re in danger or not. As your knight, at least as the only knight you’ve acknowledged, I object to that opinion. No matter what you say.”

“But this world-“

“……Whether it’s this world or the princess, it’s not worth as much as your life to me.”

It’s strange.

Surely, I should have gotten angry when I heard that. I should have expressed my objection.

For some reason, deep in my heart, I felt joy.

My heart pounded.

In Ria’s eyes, as she looked down at me, I felt a dark thrill at the struggle within them.

Even though it was definitely not a good feeling.

“…….”

But feelings are just feelings.

Ria’s way of thinking about me is probably not the way I want.

I bit my lip.

And then, I said to Ria.

“……Ria, can I ask a favor?”

In the end, it was an act of pushing my feelings onto Ria.

I don’t really know myself.

My beliefs remain unchanged. Just like my past self, I find it hard to give up the idea of helping others until the very last moment.

But, there is someone who wants me to live so much.

Even if it’s not the way I want to be wished for, is it wrong to try to fulfill that wish?

Light.

The light I always feel when I fall into deep thought shone on my face.

That light always says.

It’s okay.

Even if I don’t like it, despite the reason I came here-it’s unavoidable.

If only it were truly a divine revelation, if I could believe that, it would be so much easier. If I could entrust everything to that voice, think that I’ve done enough, and run away.

But because I couldn’t, I am surely here.

“…….”

“Ria.”

Even as I say that, my heart feels like it’s being squeezed.

Ria is good.

So much so that she can’t give up on me, her friend. So much so that she would risk her life to protect me.

I wish we hadn’t become so close.

I wish I were someone who didn’t matter to Ria.

-No.

I wish I could think of Ria as nothing special.

If only I could just burn away, without any hesitation, without caring about the person left behind.

Ria looked blankly at me as I pleaded.

I don’t even know what I’m asking for myself.

Am I asking her to allow me to do so? To stay by my side?

Either way, it’s terribly immoral.

Am I trying to jump into a fiery pit with my close friend to save someone?

If so, I should just say something mean and push her away.

I- couldn’t even say that.

Because that fact was so terrifying. Because I was simply afraid of our relationship breaking and becoming irreparable.

I am just a coward, unable to step back or forward.

Ria frowned and quickly waved her hand in front of my face. It was a gesture as if she were about to slap me.

Unconsciously, I flinched and trembled, but her hand never touched me.

Ria’s hand merely scattered the light in front of me.

“……Fine.”

Ria said with a growl.

“Let’s see how far you go.”

And, listening to that growling sound, I felt relieved.

In the world, is this what a Saint is?

I thought that couldn’t be right.