Chapter 25 : Snow White (7)

In the beginning, there was a being.

One day, he created seven laws:

Wisdom, Temperance, Courage, Justice, Love, Hope, and Faith.

And that was the moment this world was created.

But everything casts a shadow.

So, immediately after the world was formed, seven shadows were also born:

Pride, Greed, Envy, Wrath, Lust, Gluttony, and Sloth.

Yes, those seven.

The former gave rise to the Church of Genesis, and the latter to the Cult of the Evil Gods—no wonder the Church of Genesis was a mess.

After all, seven different religions had merged into one.

If even the Church of Genesis was like that, the Cult of the Evil Gods, also composed of seven factions, couldn’t have been much better—but details were unknown.

It was a place shrouded in mystery, and unless you were part of it, there was no way to know.

“A chick from the Church of Genesis, is it? Didn’t even get summoned, but still noticed us. Must have a sharp nose.”

The woman called Reaper twirled her scythe and smiled seductively.

Leon, without the slightest flinch, held his sword forward and stared at the cultists of the Evil Gods.

Reaper continued, her voice almost a song.

“I don’t understand why you all keep calling us the Cult of the Evil Gods. We have a perfectly good name: the Reincarnation Sect. We even make sure to call you by your proper name, the Church of Genesis, don’t we?”

“Shut up.”

“My, such harsh words. Did the Reincarnation Sect kill your parents or something? Sorry, but we’re not a hive mind. Can’t blame me for what someone else did.”

“I said shut up!”

Veins popped on Leon’s neck—he was visibly furious.

I stepped behind him and whispered,

“Please calm down.”

The muscular man, known as Walker, also tried to settle Reaper.

“Reaper. We’re not here to play.”

“Sigh. Fine. So what’s the plan?”

“You’re probably more effective against the tree mage. I’ll handle the two kids.”

“Got it.”

Reaper and Walker split up—Reaper faced Flora, while Walker faced me and Leon.

As I gauged the distance and prepared a spell, Walker raised his fist and spoke:

“Thought things might go smoothly with the master gone, but I didn’t expect a tree to be guarding the place.”

“Not thinking of leaving quietly, are you? Lady Flora might just let you go if you ask nicely.”

“Can’t allow corruption to stain this sanctuary. So how about this? If you die quietly, we’ll leave quietly. Deal?”

Yep—this is exactly why the Cult of the Evil Gods was so hated.

They just didn’t think like normal people, so talking with them was impossible.

They believed this world was fake, and to create a true world, new laws were needed.

If we could reason with them, now that would be strange.

“Just from the way you talk, I’d guess you’re from the faction of Pride.”

“You can tell? How curious.”

Red lines sliced through the air, splitting into four and striking Walker.

A small explosion followed, and Walker charged forward through the flames.

Black energy gathered around both his fists.

Divine Power.

I witnessed the manifestation of a miracle and prepared another spell.

Flames of Gluttony opened their jaws and lunged at Walker, followed closely by Leon.

Walker swung his right fist at the flames, his left at Leon.

Divine Power was the strength of miracles.

The difference between someone who had it and someone who didn’t was like that between a knight who had undergone the first awakening of alchemical magic—and one who hadn’t.

Actually, the gap might’ve been even worse.

A Holy Knight without Divine Power was basically powerless.

So Leon stepping in to stop Walker was an extremely reckless move.

Shrrk! Leon angled his sword, guiding Walker’s fist aside.

The almost divine technique of his swordplay made Walker burst into laughter.

“You’re a genius!”

Walker dispersed the devouring flames by releasing Divine Power from his right arm, then drew back both fists.

“You’ll regret meeting me so soon, genius!”

Then he struck.

No philosophy.

No elegance.

Just raw brute force behind his punches.

Yet even those savage punches made Leon grit his teeth.

He deflected every strike with near-perfect swordplay, but the difference in intensity was stark.

Leon had to focus to the extreme—Walker just punched for fun.

It was obvious who was being pushed back.

As Leon stepped back one pace at a time, I hurled a ball of fire.

Three-headed flames flew at Walker, biting his head, shoulder, and neck.

Divine Power surged, dispersing the flames—but it created an opening in his attack.

During the brief lull—KWAANG!—the ground beside us crumbled.

Everything.

Flora stood atop a massive wooden giant, facing off against Reaper.

Shlick!

Every time Reaper swung her scythe, the giant’s legs were severed.

It was hard to believe Flora was a high-level mage—she looked helpless.

Walker had said Reaper had the advantage in that matchup, but I wasn’t so sure.

There might be a reason Flora wasn’t using her full magic.

“She’s having fun, huh?”

Walker glanced sideways, whistled, and readied his stance again.

“Guess we should wrap this up too?”

As he spoke, black Divine Power wrapped around his fists—shaped like gauntlets.

Crunch.

As he pushed off with his legs, the ground shattered beneath him.

At the same time, his body blurred out of sight.

KWA-AAANG!

An unbelievable noise rang out—it was hard to believe it came from a punch.

Thud.

Leon rolled across the floor, sword still in hand, both arms broken.

“There are lots of geniuses, but only one survives in the end.”

Walker strolled toward Leon, raising his fist—to finish the job.

And I stepped forward, drawing my dagger.

“Shine, Blue Night (Cheongya).”

Blue magic shimmered and coated the blade.

At the sight of its mysterious glow, Walker hesitated and muttered, “A magic swordsman?”

***

Leon clung to consciousness, barely grasping the situation.

“Shine… Blue Night (Cheongya).”

“A magic swordsman?”

Ruina drew her sword as Leon collapsed.

Why?

To fight?

“That can’t be. I already knew Luina’s close combat abilities were lacking.

Therefore, the only reason she drew her sword here was for one thing.

To catch Walker, even if for a moment.

To protect herself, the failed one, even just for a short time.

“No. It seems like your magic swordsmanship is still lacking in the step of arcane magic. What’s this?”

“My fighting style is more suited to daggers. Would you like to check?”

Luina lightly smiled while holding a lantern with her left hand and a dagger with her right.

Her appearance was so natural that for a moment, even Leon felt it was the truth.

Walker hesitated for a moment, then clenched his fist.

If Walker had a more cautious personality, he might have backed off here, but unfortunately, Walker was arrogant.

He confirmed any trick with his body.

No.

Leon desperately tried to rise.

But he didn’t move.

Step.

Walker took a step forward.

Leon squirmed like a bug, recalling an old memory.

People screamed on burning logs.

It was the same as now.

Helplessly, just watching everything.

He wanted to change.

He wanted to be like that person.

He wanted to become someone who could save others, like a former paladin.

To destroy evil.

To establish justice on this land.

Under that principle, Leon swung his sword.

Leon bit his lip hard.

What is this?

What is this supposed to be, justice?

There is no meaning to powerless justice; it’s nothing but empty words.

Leon bit his bleeding lip even harder, wishing more intensely than ever before.

Please.

I don’t need anything else.

Please give me the power to protect what’s precious to me.

Right now.

” For a moment, light flickered in Leon’s mind.

“Tch.”

Walker clicked his tongue and stopped in his tracks.

Leon staggered to his feet, and with an arm that seemed to revert back to its original state, he raised his sword.

“This is why you have to finish it.”

The newly established justice shone brightly, and in response, Walker shook his fist while Luina shook her lantern.

And then.

Boom.

A huge vibration silenced all sound.

Leon stopped mid-swing and turned his head.

Walker and Luina did the same, shifting their gaze.

Right next to them, where the inn used to be,

A giant tree golem had collapsed.

Standing on the tree golem, the Reaper smiled brightly.

“Walker! What are you doing? Can’t even handle a couple of rookies?”

***

I approached the fallen tree golem.

I caught Flora, falling from the golem’s shoulder, and calmly asked,

“Flora? Are you okay?”

“Haah… haah…”

Flora gasped for breath, as if she might stop breathing any moment.

It was a scene I had seen before.

I asked cautiously,

“Did you already reach the end of your lifespan?”

Flora replied,

“…It’s eerie, the prediction of my master. The prophecy that I would die in the spring of my 29th year wasn’t based on when I lived normally. It was after I became a high-ranking mage and fought to survive that the prophecy said I would die in the spring of my 29th year.”

So, that was it.

The period of spring at 29 included the process of searching for the Holy Grail, discovering the castle, and eventually becoming a 5th-tier mage.

“I extended my lifespan in various ways, but I could feel the end approaching. I’ve been in a state where I can only use light magic for a long time.”

“So, what now?”

“Yeah. I’ve used powerful magic beyond light magic, so my lifespan has been severely reduced. It wouldn’t be strange if I died right now.”

Flora gestured, and from the ground, a new tree golem rose.

As the tree golem roared, blocking the Reaper and Walker, I gave her a pipe.

With a snap, I lit it, and Flora took a long drag, exhaling the smoke.

“Just as you said. The prophecy of my master about me dying next spring has been avoided.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“Your sincere congratulations must be your best trait. I’ve twisted fate, and now I feel fresher than ever.”

Flora let out a loud laugh, as if her frustration had been cleared.

I whispered to her.

“If you extend my life by a few years in exchange for a deal, you’ll extend your life, but I have a promise with my master. So I can’t trade my lifespan. I’m sorry.”

“I won’t take it. What would I do with a little more life?”

As she stared blankly at the pipe smoke, Flora eventually met my gaze.

She murmured softly,

“Crazy woman.”

“I’m perfectly sane.”

“After watching you for a short time, I can confidently say you’ll become the greatest mage in history.”

“I’m already the greatest Arcana Chess player in history.”

“You’re aiming to gather all magic, aren’t you? Right?”

“I’ll obtain all the magic that exists and all that will exist.”

“Among that, there will be magic to revive the dead. Am I right?”

“Of course.”

At my affirmation, Flora closed her eyes.

Then, she finished her words.

“If you gain the magic, bring me back to life. Then grant me immortality. If you promise that, I’ll give you my unique magic, [Growth].”

“Wait, it can’t just be like that. I have a prior agreement.”

“A prior agreement?”

“I promised that after having a child, I’d revive my master. If it’s before that, I can revive you, Flora.”

“Hahaha. Heh. Cough, cough.”

Flora, laughing as if it was the funniest thing, then calmed her breath and spoke.

It was unsettling, but reassuring.

A deal.

Luina.

“That’s what I wanted.”

The price is on the scales.

What I offer is a promise.

What Flora offers is her unique magic, [Growth].

The cost is equal.

The deal has been made.

“Crazy woman.”

“I’m perfectly sane.”

“You take the castle. You also use a pipe, so you can make something out of it, part of the castle, right?”

“That’s my master’s relic. I won’t trade it for anything else.”

“…Then at least make a lantern out of it. Isn’t that allowed?”

“Strictly speaking, it’s a relic, but this is fine. Alright. I’ll make a lantern out of the castle and make some other things. Is that good?”

“Yeah.”

Satisfied with my answer, Flora spoke weakly and slowly closed her eyes.

I took the pipe from her mouth and placed it gently beside her, then stretched my hand toward Walker and the Reaper.

Then, an army of trees emerged from the ground.

“Reaper! I’m not sure, but that mad mage did something! What are you going to do?”

Walker, who had been pounding the tree golem’s leg, shouted in panic.

The Reaper looked at me holding the sword of justice and controlling the tree soldiers, then frowned.

“We retreat. The variables are too big.”

“Understood!”

At the Reaper’s command, Walker quickly fled.

The Reaper chased after him.

I watched them until they disappeared completely, then dispelled the magic.

“Luina! Are you okay?”

I heard Chris’s voice from afar. I guess they had been hiding well.

I summoned a tree soldier and lifted Flora.

Then I spoke.

“Chris.”

“Yeah?”

“Can you help clean up?”