episode_0188

Clang—*whirr*

From far away, a clear metallic sound echoed, and as if a fluorescent light switch had been flipped, the sanctuary’s barrier vanished.

The golden magical barrier that had enveloped the entire Sacred Kingdom shattered.

Already breathing ether and using it as if it were my own limbs, I felt my skin tighten, as if I’d just gotten into a hot bath. It was stuffy and uncomfortable.

The moment the magic was dispelled, I felt as refreshed as if my breath had been unblocked.

Aspi, who had been diligently unleashing a storm, turned towards me and nodded.

“Alright… now for the fourth round—or was it the fifth? Whatever.”

*Click—Clack—*

Having just watched Aspi’s performance, my butt had fallen slightly asleep.

After gently loosening my neck, shoulders, wrists, and ankles…

Whoosh—!

I leaped, pushing off from the ground.

Thanks to Aspi’s skillful power control, the temple knights, who had been knocked down a while ago, soon got up one by one.

I gathered ether into my fist and then, plunged it down towards the stairs where the knights were gathered.

“Grow again—!!”

Floraine martial arts, Hundred Ghosts Mirror!

*Thwack—!!*

My fist, thrown into the air, caused a second explosion, throwing the knights to the ground, armor and all.

Passing through the falling debris and dust, I ascended the stairs and re-entered the temple.

Inside, on the altar, which was also in utter disarray, Tier, upon seeing me, hurried down.

“It’s over somehow.”

“Yeah, I think so. Good job—”

*Swish swish—*

I brushed the dust off her head and gently stroked it for a moment. She leaned into me, offering her head.

She looked like a cute animal—a puppy, a kitten, something along those lines.

No more pretense, no more resistance.

A slightly unfamiliar, honest Tier.

I took her hand and walked out of the temple.

“I want to get back what was entrusted to me right away, but unfortunately, it’s not over yet.”

“Yeah, I know.”

Now that I look at it, even for a country built on a hill, the temple’s location is too high.

They surely didn’t build these steep stairs just so we could get some exercise going up and down, right?

From the first pope—from the very beginning when the Sacred Kingdom was established—this hierarchical perspective remains symbolically, if nothing else.

It’s natural to worship God in the place closest to God.

Even so, this is excessively high.

Under the wide-open view, from Aspi, who’s holding off the knights, to Philip, who’s controlling the people in the Third Diocese…

I think I’d also develop an authoritative attitude if I stood in such a place.

Everyone had a long, long dream.

A life devoted to her, even if slightly painful, by receiving the false word of .

It was nothing but a sweet nightmare.

It’s time to wake up.

“I have an idea, what do you think?”

“Whatever it means… I’ll follow you, Saint.”

“Saint… huh.”

Ugh, I hate religion.

Regardless, Tier pressed her shoulder tightly against mine, looking up at me.

“Those cardinals sprawled out over there have never met the Goddess. Among those alive now, it’s only you and me, right?”

“Even so… I absolutely won’t spend my life only worshipping that Goddess.”

And then, whether intentionally or instinctively…

She smiled, brighter than usual, a childlike smile.

“Of course… you’re the second being worshipped by a ‘Saint’ from now on!”

It’s heavy.

Tier’s sudden love, and the responsibility placed on my shoulders at the same time.

Her chest pressing against my arm.

But something heavy means it contains a lot, doesn’t it?

Let’s think of it as a good thing; I got more than I expected.

Luminus Sacred Kingdom Central Orthodox Church, Saint Tier.

The reason she seemed weaker than the saints I knew was because she was only using half her power.

Now, wielding two powers, serving two beings as granted, Tier’s pupils…

began to shine with two colors, gold and purple.

. . .

We soared into the sky of the Sacred Kingdom.

“Ready?”

“Yes.”

I had two ideas in mind.

First, Dispel.

Even if it’s powerful brainwashing magic, magic is still magic.

With the [Ether Manipulation] skill that disrupts the flow of mana and the [Defying Nature’s Order] attribute that absorbs mana, the [Dispel] I created…

should be able to dispel any magic.

The problem is the range and precision.

Is it even possible to cover the entire Sacred Kingdom with my ether and cast [Dispel] on every single brainwashed person…? It’s still unknown.

Backing down before trying isn’t my style, but I also don’t know what side effects might occur if I fail, so I decided to be cautious.

I considered devising a similar magic spell.

However, unfortunately, Nyx, the master of mind control magic, isn’t here. Even if she were, I wouldn’t want to go looking for her and beg her for help.

The knights are still getting knocked down by Aspi’s attacks and then getting back up at the Pope’s pronouncement.

Like me, who faced them all, they must have accumulated fatigue that threatens their lives.

We shouldn’t drag this out.

So, I decided to give Tier the lead here.

“I haven’t used large-scale magic like this before…”

“Don’t worry. I’ll provide plenty of power.”

As a saint, she has curse-dispel and mental resistance magic spells.

But she hasn’t used anything but the light mana, has she?

If we add dark mana, which specializes in mind manipulation, to the same spell, wouldn’t the effect be greatly enhanced? That was my second idea.

Curse dispelling divine magic doesn’t require the precision that [Dispel] does.

A multi-purpose saw cuts everything, but a kitchen knife is more useful and appropriate for slicing food.

I believe it’s a similar principle.

In other words, for a curse like mind control, curse-dispelling magic is the best.

The problem, however, is the range.

To cover the entire Sacred Kingdom requires immense mana, so I’ll assist in that area.

“Huu…”

With a short breath, we aligned our mana wavelengths.

“Haa…”

Matching each other’s inhales and exhales, we overlapped the mana waves spreading through our bodies.

When our souls resonated with the same tremor…

Tier activated her magic.

[Sacred Purification]—!

Whoosh—

Her right half body glowed golden, emitting powerful light mana.

“Ugh—”

“Don’t waver… grip my hand tight—!!”

The light mana emanating from the saint’s body, not the temple, was relatively weak.

But as my ether glowed and lent her strength, it spread a little more powerfully.

Tier’s magic, beginning to scatter throughout the Sacred Kingdom, began to cleanse various poisons and curses from people’s bodies.

However, it didn’t reach their minds.

*Crunch—*

Tier tightened her grip, strengthening her magic.

[Unholy Purification]—!

*Rustle—*

This time, her left half body glowed purple, emitting powerful dark mana.

“Uuuugh…”

“Trust me, Tier—!!”

Like the light mana, the dark mana scattered throughout the Sacred Kingdom with a powerful wave.

With its mind manipulation property, Tier’s second magic began to delve into people’s minds.

But it didn’t release the brainwashing.

*Creak—*

Tier gritted her teeth and finally emitted both mana attributes simultaneously.

[Grand Purification]—!!!

“Uaaaaah—!!”

A groan of pain, whether mine or Tier’s, burst forth. At the same time, both of our bodies spread the light and dark mana throughout the entire Sacred Kingdom.

*Whoosh— Bang—Flash—*

Like the tide, ebbing and flowing.

Golden and purple mana intermingled and spread to everyone in the Sacred Kingdom.

Penetrating minds where light mana alone couldn’t reach.

And dissolving the powerful brainwashing that dark mana alone couldn’t undo.

The opposing mana attributes sublimated faintly within everyone’s minds.

They cast off the false pronouncements that bound them and opened their eyes.

Even while using resonance magic with Tier, the appearances of the people of the Sacred Kingdom unintentionally flowed into my eyes and ears.

“Th-this is…”

“…what have I done until now?”

In their eyes, which had been completely filled with golden light, their own colors began to bloom again.

We were able to see it all together.

“It’s like… I had a long dream.”

“You too…?”

“Lo-look over there—”

Twilight, where the reddish sunset and the dark night sky mingled, the most beloved of the Goddess of Light.

In that brief moment when light fades and darkness descends, it shines more beautifully than even the brightest midday.

Not light, nor darkness, the evening sky, like our hearts.