Chapter 19. Symbol and Idol (10)

I was tense even at the moment I held the flag, and after the order to advance was given, I thought my heart would fall out.

The horse shook up and down much more than I expected. Of course, that was a little scary too.

I couldn’t feel any warmth from Ria’s back. The armor was blocking the space between us.

It wasn’t this cold last night, but it was much colder now.

The sun, which was about to rise, was already completely hidden by clouds, and the rain began to fall patteringly from the sky.

It was black rain.

“……!”

I raised the flag high into the sky.

The holy power flowing from my body imbued the flag, shining white from a higher place.

The black magic that was slowly soaking down from above disappeared in an instant. The raindrops hitting Anna’s and Ria’s faces also vanished as if they had evaporated.

Someone shouted something. Was it Verena?

For the goddess, or for the country. Or for faith.

No.

“For Sister Anna!”

For some reason, Verena was shouting my name.

What should I say?

What can I refute?

I don’t know. My head wasn’t working well right now.

Blood was slowly dripping from my raised hand. The red blood was slowly soaking the white nun’s habit-no, the clothes that were hard to call that anymore.

I closed my eyes for a moment.

I calmed my mind and thought about what to say.

Thump, thump, thump.

I could hear the sound of artillery shells falling in the distance. It seemed they could still fire because it wasn’t raining on our position.

Another cheer erupted upon seeing the white holy power exploding.

It was because of my power that they could create such artillery shells.

-Anna.

Even though I didn’t pray, my thoughts reached the being above.

It was bright around me even with my eyes closed. Because light was shining around my head.

-You don’t have to bear everything alone.

“…….”

-It’s okay if you don’t pity me. Rather, I am the one who should help Anna here.

I bit my lip slightly.

This being, who is neither omniscient nor omnipotent. The one who can only lend a little power from above.

But, a being that definitely exists.

Even though I didn’t say anything, the people were already cheering at me.

Even from groups far away from us. And from those who were far behind us.

I’m not good at making up speeches. I couldn’t decide what to shout for at this moment.

I couldn’t say “fight for me.” I couldn’t even say “fight for the being above.”

Because it’s a faith I’m afraid to bear all of it. And because the being above was too pitiful to bear all of it.

I am a cowardly human.

Not superior to anyone else. No better than the countless people who reached this battlefield, led by faith.

I lowered the flag again.

I stabbed my hand onto the long flag. The blood flowing from the punctured hand was already soaking the gloves I usually wore.

As I painted the cross red, the light emanating from the flag became much brighter.

Although it looked somewhat crude, it should be enough to protect the people around me.

I raised the flag high again.

Ria urged the horse forward faster. I could hear the horse panting, and the sound of hooves hitting the ground echoed loudly.

“Charge!”

The two horses, the one carrying me and Ria, and the one carrying Verena, were at the sharpest point of the spear striking the enemy.

Monsters flying in the sky fell down above our heads. Normally, monsters made grotesque sounds, but we couldn’t hear any of that now.

Ria raised her sword high above her head. The sword was shining white.

That light made the sword seem much longer.

“Slay the monsters! Let’s avenge our homeland!”

Someone shouted that. It didn’t seem to be Verena this time.

High above, the sky opened a little. White light descended like sunlight through the black clouds.

Even though it was still dawn, just before sunrise.

Several horses fell. But the knights who rolled on the ground got up immediately. As if they were well-trained, the knights didn’t seem to get trampled.

Or, they got up even after being trampled.

They drew their swords and ran forward.

Gunshots were heard from all directions. It was the sound of knights raising their rifles and firing just before clashing with the enemy. The monsters at the very front fell. The monsters hit by bullets filled with holy power writhed in pain as they fell, and then vanished without a trace as Anna and Ria’s horses approached.

Tigers, lions, bears, eagles, deer, giant snakes, gorillas… In addition to the animals I know, the distorted monsters, described only by their silhouettes, like mythical beasts from our imagination, burned white as they approached us.

“Arrows!”

Someone shouted.

Arrows rained down from the sky. None hit Anna and Ria, but several more horses fell. The knights got up again. Even the horses.

Now, a clamor was heard. From far away, someone was screaming and shouting. What are these things, why are the monsters doing nothing? Such shouts. So loud that they could be heard even on this battlefield.

Now I see, the artillery seemed to be targeting the rear rather than directly hitting the monsters. It was an excellent choice. Whoever the commander is, they clearly understand the difference between monsters and ‘humans.’ Perhaps a survivor from ten years ago?

As we pushed through the thick wall of monsters, we saw scattered bodies between the sunken ground beyond.

Things much larger than humans, with pointed ears.

They weren’t dead either. Some were wriggling and getting up, even though their bodies were scattered.

“Anna.”

Ria said softly.

“I might have to get off soon. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

I said, hugging Ria’s waist.

I couldn’t feel her warm skin. All I felt was the cold touch of the armor.

But, even so, I felt reassured by Ria’s voice.

“Okay.”

Ria said so and gripped the reins again.

The horse leaped powerfully.

Then Ria let go of one hand holding the reins and twisted her body to hug my waist. Ria was now sitting sideways on the horse.

“Let’s go!”

Ria said so and leaped into the sky.

With one hand, she held her sword high.

The Saint holding the flag, and the hero holding the holy sword.

Are the people below looking at us like that?

Ria, as always, leaped upwards, stepping on the sky.

Looking down, people were fighting fiercely.

The people who followed me.

Winged creatures flew towards us, but I raised the flag high.

From the flag, where my blood had already flowed down the flagpole, white light burst forth.

The monsters disappeared without even making a sound.

White light exploded, and the cloud spread in all directions.

“Look there.”

Ria pointed somewhere with her sword. A place slightly different from the direction we came from. One of the groups that had broken through the monsters.

That group was larger than the others.

It had the appearance of a mix of elves and monsters, and it glared at us with a giant staff.

That wouldn’t be the ‘Grand Duke.’

But I could imagine it being the largest kind among those who started the rebellion.

There was someone shooting magic at that monster. Gloria, with white skin and blonde hair. David was held in her arms.

“Let’s go.”

When I said that, Ria nodded.

We ran with all our might towards that monster.

*

Gloria thought she had seen many things following Anna on Earth.

But seeing an elf mutated like a monster was new to her.

A form that seemed as if their magic and body had become one, as they boasted.

“……You.”

Gloria said, panting.

“Ah, Gloria.”

The giant, who had been looking up at the sky, slowly lowered its head and looked at Gloria.

“I heard you went far away, and you came back after selling out the country.”

“……It was you who sold it out.”

“We merely followed our faith.”

He swung his staff.

“……!”

Before I could even react, shattered magic bullets filled my vision. Some of them hit Gloria’s body.

Gloria gritted her teeth and endured the pain. The armor she wore somewhat reduced the force, but she couldn’t do anything about the pure physical power.

“Faith…!”

“If there is a God who bestows power, don’t you think it is right to follow His will? There is a way to live eternally as a soul even after death and gain a new life. Your royal family refused that power, and we proved our faith. That’s all.”

We couldn’t communicate.

The arrogant tone unique to those intoxicated by power.

“Even after seeing this situation, you say that.”

“Didn’t I say it? We will live even after death.”

The staff was slowly raised upwards.

Again, magic bullets rained down like rain.

But-

Just before Gloria squeezed her eyes shut, David intervened between them.

“Lady Gloria!”

David shouted loudly.

A magic circle was drawn on the hand David extended.

Gloria took that hand.

And, a wall appeared in front of the two of them.

Most of the magic bullets were blocked by that wall. However,

Cough, blood flowed from David’s mouth.

“David…!”

Gloria shouted, catching David as he collapsed towards her.

David never said why he was still protecting Gloria. Gloria had lived without even knowing David’s face.

But, as if David’s sacrifice was in vain, magic gathered at the tip of the giant staff once more.

Gloria reached out her hand. She shot her best magic at the giant, but it didn’t work.

And once again, magic bullets rained down… but they didn’t.

The magic bullets that were pouring down on Gloria’s head burned white midway.

Thump.

Two people landed in front of David and Gloria.

A knight in shining armor, and a Saint in white clothes.

The white flag held by the Saint had a red cross drawn on it. It looked much cruder than the original embroidery, but even Gloria, who had only known this religion for a little over a year, could tell that the red cross had more ‘power’ than any cross in the world.

The Saint raised her hand.

To Gloria’s ears, which were sensitive as an elf, a cracking sound was heard.

Gloria’s back was not clearly visible. Due to the light behind her head, she could only tell that her hair was golden.

“……Anna?”

Gloria muttered unconsciously.

The pain in Gloria’s body was disappearing. David, who had collapsed spitting blood, was also breathing more comfortably.

“……My goodness.”

It seemed like something had gone too far.

The giant in front, and Anna’s appearance.

Even seeing that divine appearance, Gloria felt like she could vaguely understand why Anna had been rejecting that power.

Cheers were heard. All the humans fighting on the battlefield, men and women alike, were shouting.

Among them were Anna’s name and the name Ria.

Some were shouting that it was the will of the goddess.

That giant symbol, standing firm at the very front, never looking back.

All the shouts were directed at her.

No one could see what expression Anna had on her face as she heard those words.

Only one person, in a position to see, was Ria, who was protecting her from in front of her.