Chapter 22. Prayer and Salvation (9)

It’s good to spend peaceful time.

It’s a good thing to be pressed against Ria, and to be reminded that the person I love is there.

That person also loves me, and I think I want to be with her for the rest of my life.

Moreover, marriage. Marriage.

It was nice that we naturally brought up such topics without anyone initiating it.

Yes. In fact, we are still young. If I count my past life, I can’t say I’m that young, but Ria has just turned 20.

Ria has no experience. Although I have no dating experience either, aren’t not being able to do things and not knowing what will happen in the future completely different issues?

Therefore, I don’t know what will happen to our relationship in the future.

Because the future is literally ‘what might happen’.

…….

So, even amidst such happiness- I always felt a hazy feeling, as if there was fog in a corner of my mind.

I don’t know what the future will hold.

I don’t know if our feelings will continue like this forever. But this is entirely up to us. If we pay attention to each other, accommodate each other, and spend time together happily, that period can be extended indefinitely.

But, what about other things?

It’s not just the two of us in this world.

Every time something enjoyable happened, every time something happy happened, my mind recalled why I came to this world.

I heard the sound of swords being swung. I didn’t hear the sound of them being cut. Holy power was more like burning fire, or hot light, rather than a solid blade.

Light that burns the enemy.

The screams of demonic creatures surrounded us. A sound so loud that it drowned out even the sound of hooves.

Centered around Ria and me, white light enveloped us like a dome. The black rain did not reach us, and the land that had been colored by magic power slowly regained its original color.

However, the opponent was by no means idle.

Did the target change? The demonic creatures that were running towards the fortress turned towards us. Although flares were still falling from above, their frequency had significantly decreased. Since we entered the enemy’s embrace, indiscriminate shelling is almost impossible.

They must have changed it to projectiles that only show light, not those with lethal power.

“Ria, Anna.”

Si-yun approached us.

He held a shining sword, like Ria’s, but it was slightly different.

Si-yun’s sword didn’t seem specially made; it looked not much different from what other hunters used.

I did receive his blessing. But even so, that alone wouldn’t make the sword shine like that.

I don’t know what thoughts he lives by to emit holy power like that. Perhaps it’s just talent. Just as my body was made to channel the power from above and holy power directly, Si-yun’s ability is also innate.

“We’ll deal with the demons.”

Si-yun said so.

Slowly, the black magic power that had stained his body was disappearing as if drying. This was because he had fought right up until now, covered in the blood of demonic creatures and demons.

Although the number of giant demons was considerable, those demons seemed strangely weakened. It didn’t seem like the holy power shining from above was the only cause.

“—-!”

Yes, the giant far away.

To create something like that, it wouldn’t be enough for just one demon to gather its strength.

Do they hate me that much? Or is it for their own religious goals?

“I’ll leave it to you.”

As Ria nodded, Si-yun moved away. Behind him, Gloria, who was running with us, waved her hand with a bright smile towards us.

After that, a few knights followed to support them, and hunters also followed.

I could see some demons raising their heads from beyond. And a bright light too.

I wanted to believe it would be okay.

Gloria and Davi were now running beside us. Gloria was holding a rather large staff, unlike anything I had seen before.

Perhaps, that might be the weapon of the Elf royalty.

Davi was riding behind Gloria.

Gloria nodded towards us.

Is she saying she’ll go with us until the end?

……Yes.

If there’s anyone who needs to take revenge on the demons, it would naturally be Gloria.

*

Thump!

Finally, a demonic creature fell to Ria’s sword.

My hands were starting to go numb. Strangely, my body wasn’t tired at all, but the amount of blood gushing from my hands was much more than before.

There was only one reason my body wasn’t completely breaking.

Ria.

Blood was also flowing from Ria’s hands.

……The more places where my strength drains, the less likely my body is to break instantly.

Light slowly shone from behind my head, and my entire body was glowing faintly white. Like a fairy I saw in an old movie.

Where does this faith come from? What do people see me as?

From afar, I could hear thumping sounds. Some of them were probably gunshots, and some were cannon fire.

Did some of them reach the fortress?

Yes. The reason those people can fight might be because of me. In their eyes too, they must have seen us shining in the midst of the demonic creatures and demons far away.

Even if they couldn’t see our appearance, the white light visible far beyond the dark world.

“Running!”

Ria shouted. I clung tighter to Ria’s body.

The surroundings had become a little quieter, but demonic creatures or demons did not enter this area.

They were standing sparsely in the distance. It was partly because we had broken through the horde of demonic creatures and demons to the end, but the atmosphere was slightly different.

They might fear me, but more than that, they probably fear the monster looking down at us.

I could feel the horse I was riding breathing heavily. Was it because it was becoming difficult to endure with holy power alone? It’s understandable since we haven’t rested properly since coming this far.

Knights and hunters ran alongside us, forming a barrier. So that the demonic creatures and demons far away wouldn’t suddenly change their minds and charge at us.

“—-.”

The monster’s face looked down at us.

A human form made purely of magic power, without a face. At first glance, it looked like a black cloth wrapped around the face.

“……!”

I raised my right hand high above my head. The pouring blood scattered backward at the speed of the horse’s gallop. The red blood was now glowing faintly white.

The mass of magic power falling from above collided with that force. With a rustling, the shattered force did not reach us, but it did not completely vanish, just as the rain falling from above did not reach us.

“Ria.”

I whispered to Ria.

“I’ll trust you.”

“Of course, isn’t that obvious?”

Ria glanced back at me for a moment. The expression on her face was genuinely one of disbelief, so I laughed.

“So, Ria, please trust me too.”

“…….”

Ria couldn’t answer for a moment.

Now, I think I understand.

I know what to do.

I don’t know much about fighting. I knew how to shoot a gun, and as Ria said, I learned a little about swinging a shield or a sword.

However, among these people who fight so well, my abilities weren’t very helpful.

Then, how should I fight?

“You don’t trust me?”

“Uh.”

Ria answered my question.

“Yes. To be honest, I can’t.”

That’s right.

Even now, blood was pouring from my hands. My blood was dripping onto the ground, and red blood was flowing onto the white fur of the horse.

Ria knows that I will push myself too hard.

That I will risk my life.

“But, I trust Ria.”

I trust Ria.

Because Ria will risk her life for me. Even if I hate it. Even if she tells me to run away alone. Ria will never abandon me.

That trust wasn’t born from my desire.

It was because I got to know Ria that much. Because of the time I’ve spent with Ria so far.

So, in fact, Ria probably already knows.

“……That if I’m in a truly dangerous situation, Ria will definitely save me.”

“…….”

“So, let’s go together, Ria.”

I said.

I lowered my arm and hugged Ria’s body from behind.

“Let’s go and see the end.”

Certainty.

I haven’t had many conversations face-to-face with demons. Even then, it wasn’t enough time to fully understand each other.

However, is it because of the reason I descended to this world?

Or is it because I know the being above?

I knew that this battle would somehow come to a ‘conclusion’.

At least in this life that I will live.

“……Honestly.”

Ria said, as if it were absurd.

“If you say that, I can’t refuse… “

Hearing that voice, I smiled slightly.

“…….”

Ria was silent for a moment, then,

“Okay, let’s go.”

She answered like that.