Chapter 30: Rebecca! headbutt!, Part 2

She ran with all her might,

For her life.

“…Belladriel, running is futile. Accept your judgment!”

Berlian, once Belladriel’s protector, was now Echeveria’s puppet.

His eyes, devoid of emotion, screamed of his loyalty to Echeveria as he swung his sword.

“Ugh!”

Belladriel ducked quickly, avoiding the blow.

“You’re quite agile…”

He swung again and again, but Belladriel dodged with superhuman reflexes, rolling and weaving.

“…”

Despite being a mere priestess, not a knight,

She moved like a squirrel, evading every attack.

Berlian frowned at her agility.

‘Damn… she’s hard to catch…’

It had been a while since Belladriel had run like this. It wasn’t easy.

She wanted to purify him with a prayer, but she hesitated.

She feared her prayer might cause him to explode.

When had she become so… soft?

In the past, she wouldn’t have cared.

But since meeting Isabel, she’d changed.

–Why don’t you pray? Hahahaha. You’re inherently wicked.

Echeveria’s voice echoed, taunting her with magic.

“No, I won’t.”

Belladriel thought of Isabel and steeled her resolve.

Footsteps approached, and Berlian murmured, “This ends now… you’ll be at peace soon.”

He prepared a magic-infused attack.

“Farewell…”

A flash of light, a sharp gust of wind.

“!”

Belladriel, hiding behind a pillar, gasped as the attack sliced through the stone.

“This…!”
“There you are. Now…”

He prepared another attack.

‘Is this the end…?’

A voice echoed.

“Belladriel, get down!”
“…!?”

Another attack whizzed past as Belladriel was pulled to the ground.

Berlian frowned.

“What…?”

Belladriel cautiously looked up.

Isabel, holding a piece of cloth, smiled at her.

“Haha, Belladriel, there you are.”
“I-Isabel…!”

‘Whoa!’

‘That was close.’

I grinned and offered Belladriel my hand.

“Ready to fight back?”
“Who are you…!”

A gruff voice echoed from behind. I bowed politely.

“My apologies for the late introduction. I am the Black Hound, also known as the noble’s dog.”
“…How did you escape?”

Berlian asked. I wagged my finger.

“Haha, such a simple cell can’t hold me.”

I smiled at Belladriel.

“It’s your turn to pray.”
“…Hmm?”
“Now that your holy power is restored, there won’t be any side effects, no matter what prayer you use.”
“H-How do you know…?”
“Trust me.”

Belladriel looked at me cautiously.

“Aaaaagh!”

Berlian suddenly screamed, clutching his head. Then, he began to laugh, a strange, feminine giggle.

“Hahaha! You ran this far… but it’s over. I’ll take care of you myself…”

‘Is Echeveria controlling him?’

I smirked and shrugged.

“Really? Do you think you can hit me like this?”

I danced around playfully.

“…I’ll just cut you down.”

Berlian suddenly charged at me.

‘That’s not fair! No magic attacks?!’

But I wasn’t worried.

I glanced back.

Belladriel was praying.

“Oh God, protect them, and remember his heart… purify him. May he be saved with joy…”

‘A purification prayer?’

I chuckled and stopped moving.

“I predict you’ll collapse in five seconds!”
“…What are you talking about?”

It took him three seconds to raise his sword.

“Two.”
“Farewell.”
“One.”

…Before I could say “zero,” Berlian’s eyes glazed over, and he collapsed.

I looked down at him.

“See? I told you.”
“…Isabel!”
“Haha, Belladriel, your holy power is fully…!”

Belladriel hugged me.

I patted her head, comforting her.

“Are you okay?”
“I-I’m fine! Are you hurt…?”
“I’m perfectly fine.”
“…How did you know my holy power had returned…?”
“It’s only natural for a man who cares about you, isn’t it?”

‘All villainous heroines change when you believe in them!’

‘That’s my heroine training method!’

“…Isabel.”
“He’ll wake up soon. Now, show them the true power of a saint. Purify everyone in Luminous Garden.”
“How…?”
“Use Rain of Grace.”

Rain of Grace.

If Belladriel had Genesis, a destructive prayer, she also had Rain of Grace, a healing prayer that brought cleansing rain.

I planned to combine this prayer with a special item.

I’d spent nearly half my points on it.

A hefty investment, but…

“How do you know the details of this prayer…? This information is highly classified, even within the Order’s training grounds…”
“Hahaha! I’m the Black Hound! Of course I know! Now, let’s go!”

I grabbed her wrist and pulled her along.

“W-Where are we going?!”
“The roof!”

We rushed to the top of the bell tower.

A wide vista unfolded before us.

The area around the bell was filled with flowers, like a garden.

Flower petals danced in the moonlight, creating a mystical atmosphere.

“…Y-You want me to pray here?”
“Yes.”
“But for Rain of Grace to work, people need to…”

People needed to be exposed to the rain to be purified.

I knew that.

I smiled.

“Don’t worry, they’ll come outside.”
“How…?”
“We’ll use the villain.”
“The villain…?”

I smirked, looking at the door.

This was part of the normal ending.

Echeveria, intent on attacking Belladriel, would come up here.

“…There she is.”

As expected, the witch and her knights appeared, running towards us.

“There she is!”
“Out of the way!”

Echeveria pushed past the knights and glared at me, pointing.

“You escaped…! How did you get out and come all the way here…?”
“I just escaped.”
“Isn’t that the Black Hound?!”

The knights drew their swords and pointed them at me.

Echeveria glared at me coldly.

“…Did you free the cult’s knights as well?”

I shrugged.

“They’re my comrades.”
“You’re insane. Hahahahaha…!”

Echeveria cackled.

“…You’re the insane one. Hahaha…”
“Very well. In the name of God, I’ll behead you, burn that woman at the stake, and show the people of Luminous Garden what true divine judgment looks like!”
“If you want to show them, shouldn’t you call everyone outside?”
“What…?”
“It’ll be a better show that way. Don’t you think? Haha.”

I grinned mischievously.

Echeveria raised an eyebrow, incredulous.

“…Do you think this is a joke?”
“No, it’s not a joke. But if I’m going to die, I want to go out with a bang. Let everyone see your judgment.”
“You’re insane…”

I yelled, “Yes, I am! Now, call everyone!”
“…”

Echeveria narrowed her eyes and bit her lip.

I continued to provoke her.

“Can’t do it?”
“What did you say?”
“A saint who can’t even control her people. What kind of saint are you? Tsk, tsk. Everyone obeys Belladriel’s every word.”
“…Hee, how amusing. Yes, I’m inferior to Belladriel. But…”

Echeveria suddenly yelled, “I am a saint!! I’m greater than her!!”
“Haha, then prove it. It’ll be awkward if you can’t.”
“Why…?”
“Our comrades are… quite active right now…”

I smiled sweetly.

“Active? What do you mean?”
“Shhh.”

I put a finger to my lips and grinned.

Screams and crashing sounds echoed from below.

Then, the knights’ voices, chanting, “Find the Shine Order!”

“Looks like your knights are already losing. Guess you guys are the real villains, since we’re winning. Haha.”

‘Neener-neener~♥’

My taunts seemed to infuriate Echeveria even more.

“…You cockroaches, how dare…”
“S-Saint…!”

Her eyes flashed with purple light as she prepared to use her magic.

A pillar of purple energy erupted from her body, reaching towards the sky.

She raised her hands and yelled, “Everyone! Wake up!”

Groaning sounds echoed as the villagers stumbled out of their homes.

“As you wished… I’ll show you what a public execution looks like. You too! Move!”

Echeveria controlled the knights, their movements becoming jerky and unnatural as they approached me.

I spoke confidently to Belladriel.

“Now’s the time. Use your prayer.”
“…A-Are you sure?”
“You succeeded before. You can do it again.”
“But what about the knights down there…?”

The villagers had to be outside for the plan to work.

Echeveria couldn’t control everyone individually. She was already struggling to control the knights here.

The villagers were just puppets, drawn out by my taunts, to watch the show.

“Trust me. And trust your God.”
“But what about them…?”
“Leave them to me.”
“…”

Belladriel thought for a moment, then her face hardened with resolve.

She nodded and stepped onto the wide railing.

“…By the grace of God, I, standing here, am a saint. I seek light in the darkness and pray for those who suffer. Oh, holy power, heal their pain through my hands and shine the light of hope upon this place. Let me know God’s will within my heart…”

As she recited the prayer, Echeveria yelled at the knights, “Stop her prayer! Kill her!”

Several knights charged towards Belladriel.

‘Rebecca’s turn.’

I yelled towards the door, “Rebecca! Body slam!”

A blur of motion.

Rebecca rushed forward, cutting down the knights with lightning speed.

“…Phew, phew.”
“Well done, Rebecca!”
“I-I didn’t do it for you! Don’t praise me!”

Rebecca blushed and glared at me, then turned her attention to Belladriel.

“Why is the Shine Order praying up there…?”
“She’s performing a purification prayer. We have to protect her.”

Rebecca nodded and faced the remaining knights.

“Attack!”

Echeveria tried to control more soldiers to interrupt the prayer, but Rebecca held them back.

The prayer was nearing its completion.

“…Guide us to the path of righteousness. Give strength and courage to those who fight against darkness, and may their souls find peace through the blessings I bestow. Under God’s protection, I will offer love and compassion to those who need my strength, respecting all life and nature. Through this prayer, I pray that my will grows stronger, and God’s will illuminates my path!”

As the prayer ended, I threw the item.

A flask filled with blue liquid.

It shattered in mid-air, releasing a fragrant mist as a bright light descended from the heavens, and a downpour began.

The item I threw:

“Heartfelt Reminiscence”.

An item that worked best when combined with weather-related magic.

Anyone who touched or inhaled the liquid would experience vivid memories.

Memories of Echeveria’s betrayal, of their manipulation.

The Rain of Grace would break the brainwashing, and my item would remind them of their past.

This would save everyone in Luminous Garden.