episode_0165

Rough and fierce.

That’s how Kylie saw Lucia’s movements.

‘You got emotional.’

I clearly felt that I was not able to perform to my original ability.

You can know the cause without even listening.

Ian.

The thought that he might die makes me shiver.

My body shrinks in fear.

To force yourself to overcome that fear, you work harder.

Naturally, movements become unnatural.

‘But even taking that into account… ‘What on earth is this?’

Did you say that it has been less than a year since you became a warrior?

Compared to other warriors, he became a warrior last.

Vivian had even worked as a warrior in the past, and Helena had been training as a priest since she was young.

On the other hand, Lucia did not have a particularly steady career.

‘I thought it wouldn’t be easy, but… . ‘Isn’t that too much?’

Despite her unnatural strength, Lucia sharply parried or parried Kylie’s attacks.

Although Kylie was moderately accepting, it was not something that an article that was less than a year old could avoid.

‘Those eyes.’

What I’m particularly concerned about are Lucia’s eyes.

Quickly moving eyes capture all the information they see.

Movement of the shoulders or feet, twisting of the pelvis, shifting of the center of gravity, etc.

‘I’m seeing everything and reacting.’

I was shocked.

What kind of time are you living in?

‘But, seeing and reacting also has its weaknesses.’

Kylie plunged the sword deeply.

When Lucia’s sword blocked horizontally, Kylie raised her sword high.

The cross guard on the blade lifted Lucia’s arms upward, leaving her abdomen empty.

Kylie didn’t look and took a picture of her knee.

“Qu… !”

Lucia was pushed back.

Those who see and react are vulnerable to deception.

No matter how fast your reaction speed is, it is impossible to undo your actions that you have already reacted to.

It is bound to take time to turn it back.

What makes up for it is experience.

“I don’t know as much theoretically as Ian, and I’ve never taught anyone. So all I can do is beat you until you realize.”

“Phew.”

Lucia straightened her back and smiled.

“It’s worth a try.”

Lucia raised her shield.

“That pile of equipment, are they finally showing off how to use it?”

Until now, Lucia had fought with only a sword.

Rather than having no intention of attacking, it was because they were busy defending themselves.

In other words, taking out another tool meant seizing the opportunity to attack.

“Yes. Look carefully. Because if you do it wrong, you might miss it.”

“So… .”

Without speaking, Kylie reflexively raised her sword to block.

-bang!

Something flew and hit me.

‘For throwing shields?’

Next, a dagger flew and hit Kylie’s knee, but it did not cause any damage to Kylie’s body.

When I put away the shield, Lucia was running towards me, holding a hatchet in one hand.

The moment Kylie cut diagonally, Lucia fell to the side and caught Kylie’s sword under the ax blade and pulled it down.

‘Did you read it? With my strength… ?’

Kylie’s sword was stuck in the ground, and Lucia stepped on the back of the ax and pinned it to the floor.

At the same time, he stabbed the sword held in reverse with the other hand.

-Kang!

Kylie blocked it with her arm armor, rolled forward, pulled out her sword, and widened the distance.

I grinned as I looked at Lucia’s changed mood.

“It’s quite sharp now.”

Instead of answering, Lucia rushed back.

Kylie really liked that spirit.

*

Many people came and went looking for Ian, who had collapsed.

First, many of the prisoners staying in Ian Territory came, including Galatea, Marlion, and Lesentiment, who were helping to supply supplies at the front.

The timid opposition of some magicians who had not yet accepted the concept of beastmen was ignored by many magicians, including Scarlett.

Ian was injured while fighting to protect the magic tower.

He was the one who came to visit me, so it made no sense to dare to kick him out.

“Ian… .”

Marlion wiped his face with a confused expression.

Many of the prisoners, including Galatea, were silent.

It was grievous, bitter, and painful.

They were the first humans to recognize them and give them their land.

The sight of him just lying there helpless felt somewhat absurd.

The baby in Galatea’s arms.

Shion, who is now about 5 months old, noticed the adults’ gloom.

Galatea smiled bitterly and patted Shion.

“Zion. This is the person who gave you your name.”

Although Shion could not fully understand the words yet, he could understand that his mother was talking about the man lying on the bed.

“We should pray together so that we can wake up safely. Right?”

Galatea took Zion’s absent-minded hand and placed it on Ian.

Shion reflexively grabbed his hand.

That was all.

A baby who had just been born held the hand of someone who was on the brink of death.

With that alone, guests could feel an unknown hope.

However, even from that hope, Kati was far away.

After Lescentimants, an unexpected guest came.

King of the elves and father of Mercy, along with Ian’s elven scouts.

Miseri has arrived.

“Dad… ?”

“… okay. It’s been a while.”

Miseri smiled bitterly and looked back and forth between Mercy and the fallen Ian.

“Dad… !”

Mercy was hugged by Warak Miseri.

“What should I do… . I don’t know what to do… .”

Miseri just hugged her daughter.

It was the first time Mercy showed herself like this.

It must be difficult because there is no place to lean on.

Unfortunately, there was nothing I could say.

Mercy knows too.

I just needed someone to vent my frustrations to.

He couldn’t say these things to Kati, who was in more pain than he was.

Kati, whose daily routine consisted of just sitting by Ian’s bedside, did not even eat.

If Mercy hadn’t brought it to her, Kati would have continued to starve.

“Princess… .”

The scout team looked at Mercy with pity.

“… I hope it happens.”

Miseri said that and introduced the elf who came with her.

“These are people with deep knowledge in pharmaceutical science. It might be of some help.”

“Dad… .”

Until Miseri, who was so reluctant about human society, brought them in herself.

How much thought and conflict did you have?

It was difficult for Mercy to know.

“If there is something you can do, shouldn’t you try it?”

Miseri spoke with Scarlett and the two pharmacists were allowed to stay.

Miseri, who stayed with Mercy, waited for quite a while before returning.

After he left, people from the imperial family and Seonghwa Church came to visit.

Emperor Julian frowned and looked down at Ian.

I heard that it was like this to protect the magic tower.

‘Was it an inevitable choice because he was a prophet? . Or is this also a future you did not see?’

Either way, the burden of knowing the future was difficult to fathom.

Emperor Ediphus, Princess Grace, and Hayden, leader of the Imperial Magic Corps, were also with the emperor.

They brought the elixir, just as Grace had left immediately.

However, the elixir could not be administered like this, and there was no guarantee that the elixir’s efficacy would completely awaken Ian.

A different method is needed.

Outside the spacious bedroom where Ian rests.

Several people discussed the elixir.

Iris, Scarlett, Elven Apothecary, High Priest of the Holy Church, Hayden, etc.

They were people who knew well about elixirs and had extensive knowledge about treatment.

“It is true that the condition has improved, but it is only a relative improvement. Even if you consistently administer elixir, there is a high probability that all you will be able to do is barely breathe.”

“More than anything, if you take elixir for a long time, toxicity builds up and it can be harmful to your body. If the injury is moderately serious, ignoring the toxicity and administering the drug would be beneficial to the human body, but not for Ian.”

“In other words, it is unclear whether this current elixir alone will be able to save Ian or not. Rather, it could be a matter of shortening the number of people.”

“It means that the elixir needs to be improved.”

Everyone had already thought about that idea, so everyone brought all the materials they could.

Iris and Hayden practice alchemy, which has been passed down in the history of imperial magic.

Scarlett has research data on herbs, potions, and healing miracles studied by other magicians.

Elven pharmacists have knowledge of herbalism that has been around since before history.

Priests of the Seonghwa Church have known historical methods of healing, the efficacy of miracles, and even the resurrection ritual.

At the part about the resurrection ceremony, the atmosphere in the audience became slightly tense.

“… Resurrection somehow seems like bringing someone back from the dead, but it may be meaningful information.”

So, experts from all over the world came together and began experiments on improving elixirs.

Grace took great care of Ian.

She sat next to the bed and stroked Ian’s arm.

Right arm, from wrist to shoulder.

There was a large and long burn mark.

These are the burns that occurred while rescuing Grace.

“Ian… .”

Her hands gently and carefully traced the burn scars.

“Now, it’s my turn to give it back. Nothing will happen, so don’t worry and sleep well… . When you wake up, everything will be better… . all… .”

Grace spoke with strength in a trembling voice.

Those words filled with hope were also words of comfort to oneself.

*

The area above the human union’s northern front is called the Demon World, but in reality, it is not a place dangerous enough to be called the ‘Demon World’.

It is a place where people lived in the past, and traces remain.

Typically, it is a place known as the place where the god of Seonghwagyo stayed in the distant past.

A sacred place named ‘Iunu’ is located in the demon world.

The place where Helena and Aria were headed was Iunu.

To be exact, I am on my way to meet someone who will come to the ruined Iunu.

According to Ian’s note, you must meet the target to obtain the final relic.

Fortunately, Iunu was not deep in the demon world.

It was quite close to the front lines currently secured by humanity.

It doesn’t change the fact that I had to walk for a while, but that was fortunate enough.

Since there was no corps commander anymore, there was no enemy that could threaten them.

‘Ian said that there were four ‘Reaper’ enemies left, but he said they never come out near the Demon King’s Castle. So it will be safe.’

So, Helena and Aria walked in silence for quite a while.

It was Helena who broke the silence.

“Aria… Mr.”

“Yes.”

It was fortunate for Aria.

I wanted to step forward and help like Sylvia, but I had no idea how to do it.

In the first place, let alone teaching anyone, it was rare for me to even have a conversation with anyone except for the first warrior party.

“You seem to be using a unique miracle.”

Helena remembers the time when she and Arya fought together.

A light that burns the opponent while providing vitality and healing to allies.

Light emanating from Bangho in all directions.

It was a very unique miracle that seemed to use the commonly categorized miracles of healing, burning, and protection at the same time as one light.

“Can you tell me how?”

Aria sighed in relief.

I was worried about what would happen if I asked about my faith.

Fortunately, it was an area I could explain.

Although she was naturally lazy, she worked hard to achieve maximum efficiency with minimum effort to maintain her status.

Even Ian doesn’t know about the ‘miracle’ that Aria revealed.

“Miracles are divided into three types. Healing, Ignition, Protection.”

“That’s right.”

“What do the three have in common?”

“Commonality… ?”

Helena stroked her chin and pondered.

“Miracle… ?”

“That’s true, but all three have ‘light’ in common.”

“Ah!”

When using Heal, your hand glows, and when you use Ignite, it glows as well.

Bangho is the same, appearing as a translucent curtain of light yellow light.

“Do you know who the god worshiped in Seonghwagyo is?”

Helena hesitated to answer for a moment.

Because she no longer follows that god.

Even though I gave up my faith, miracles still remain the same.

In fact, it even became stronger.

It’s just as Ian said.

Faith and miracles have nothing to do with each other.

Even Aria’s faith is weak, but miracles are more powerful than anyone else’s.

Helena responded, feeling the contradiction.

“… He is the sun.”

fire, light. Or lights.

These expressions are all metaphors.

The object truly revered in Seonghwagyo is the ‘sun’, the source of all fire and light.

Sun god, Ra.

A being fundamentally revered by the Seonghwa Church, whose name cannot be uttered without permission.

“The light that causes sprouts to sprout and the light that causes plants to dry out and die. The light that wakes people up and the light that causes them to die from the heat. It all stems from one thing. Therefore, the three miracles we use also essentially mean one light.”

“Then… .”

“Yes. Heal, Ignite, Hexproof. The three are the same. So, what we do is simple. It is about putting the desired thoughts into each light.”

“Yes, yes?”

Helena found it difficult to follow Aria’s words.

Putting your desired thoughts into light.

So, doesn’t this mean that the formed light must be adjusted to have different effects at every moment?

“Hmm, is it difficult to understand?”

Helena looked blankly at Aria.

I was realizing that the understanding of a genius is different from that of a commoner.

Why does someone who is so lazy and has no religion have such talent? .

“No, I understand… I did it.”

“Thank goodness.”

“Aria… Do you believe in God?”

“… … .”

I do believe in the existence of God.

However, if you are asking whether I have faith, like a religious person, relying on and respecting God.

“No.”

It’s fair to say that I don’t believe it.

“Then, what do you believe, Aria?”

“Hmm… .”

Aria felt strange.

Ian was the only person in my life who told me this.

He was outspoken when talking to him, but for some reason, he hesitated with Helena.

Did he even want to be respected?

Myself, I dare.

“Profit.”

“Profit… ?”

“Yes. I believe that the world runs on unfair exchange and profit.”

And, because he didn’t want to be in that unfair position, he gave up the competition.

I had a desire, but I believed it was inevitable.

It was Ian who fulfilled that practical desire.

“… Is that so?”

The two walked in silence again.

I faced a few monsters, but easily defeated them.

Before you know it, it’s far away.

A ruin warmly covered by the setting sun on the mountainside.

The City of the Sun, ‘Iunu’, began to become visible.

And around that time.

“Ah.”

I found someone I needed to meet.

The figure from the east wore tattered gray robes.

He was a blind man who, like his robe, wore an eye patch made of old, tattered cloth.

What was more characteristic than that was that he came rolling a round stone that was up to his waist.

They greeted Helena and Aria first as if they felt them.

“Nice to meet you. Judging from their energy, it looks like they are sisters.”

The pilgrim introduced in a cracking voice.

“It is a pile of cooling ashes, ash.”

Pilgrim, Ash.

Those whose names are burned in the sun have no names.

All that remains is the burnt ash.

So, all pilgrims are called ‘Ash’.

“This is Helena, a feeble kindling.”

“This is Aria, a small spark.”

A pilgrim who crossed the eastern no-man’s land bare-handed.

A person who does the same thing as the first apostle, who spread the gospel alone across a world where there was no salvation.

This pilgrim was the subject written about in Ian’s notebook.