episode_0191

One night came to mind. As other strong memories kept passing through my head, I felt really funny that I couldn’t remember that moment even for a moment.

What did I do for Veronica?

Saying that you like it, telling it that you love it. In fact, other than that, I didn’t do anything special.

There’s nothing more to it than fighting for me.

So, why did I suffer more from the fight? If you asked me that, it wasn’t like that.

I only got hurt when my adrenaline exploded, and even then, I was not hurting myself, I was hurting someone else, so all I had to do was grit my teeth and hold on.

Cutting one’s own body with a knife with a sober mind was not simply mentally driven self-harm, but it was cutting the body in order to bleed because blood was needed, so there was nothing to compare it to.

So all I could do for her was fight for her. There were many times when Veronica got hurt because she couldn’t even do that properly.

I also thought that these were really bad memories.

What did you give me like that? What did you receive? The moment I thought that, the memories that passed through my mind began to depict the scenery of that day.

‘This will be convenient to have.’

One day, Veronica called me and gave it to me.

It was a rosary that was made into a holy relic by a person in a fairly high position in the cathedral.

In addition, Veronica herself was able to use her power and immediately imbued her with divine protection.

I was so happy that Veronica gave me a gift that I always wore it.

Now, my daily life with this has become so natural that I am not even conscious of it.

I thought I had simply twisted a long bracelet three or four times and put it on my wrist, and I had forgotten that I had that blessing.

Because it wasn’t something that could be used on a daily basis.

-Only once. A blessing that allows one to endure death.

No matter how good it is, there is no crisis coming immediately. I was conceited because I thought I was strong, so I figured in my subconscious that Veronica was by my side, and after weighing the calculations, it would just put my mind at ease. That was just what I thought.

But it saved me at this moment, in the world of light.

The egg made of wood was connected by a fine line and wrapped around my wrist.

It shook from the impact, then made a crackling sound, and soon the eggs began to crack.

As if it had done its job, the string broke with a snap and flew off my arm in an instant.

As the eggs fell to the floor, the senses I had lost at that moment came back.

The scenery filled with white light, the feel of the wind, and the rough breath coming out of my neck all seemed close to me, as if they were telling me that I was alive.

“… Ugh, sigh… ”

This is the power of divine protection.

Of course, even though it was a blessing, it was impossible for me to have any reaction since I had overcome death.

Still, I thought that if I could offset death just once, it would be a willing pain.

The screaming body creaked and moved.

My whole body ached. I groaned at the sensation of my head becoming hot and my mind going blank, as if I had been punched in the stomach.

The ground where I was standing was rough and curved in an arc starting from the goddess.

This must be the strength I had to endure, I thought, drawing my gaze to her and seeing that she had bruises all over her body, as if her veins had burst.

“Off, how about… Gee, how is it, ugh, cough!”

The look on her face was devastating as she questioned the fact that I was still alive and was devastated.

Even though the distance was quite long, I could vaguely feel that the veins in her eyes were bursting and bloodshot.

Unable to come to her senses due to the blood rushing from her lungs, she vomited blood, lost strength in her body and lost her balance as if she fell to the floor.

No matter how much a god he was, it would be difficult for him to exist in this world without a body. But my body is dying. That meant that this would be the last time I would ever be here.

He trudged towards her, who had fallen down.

Did I win? No, I don’t know yet. I have to finish it.

I held my sword tightly and approached slowly.

I almost died once against the goddess. I almost disappeared like this without even holding anything precious in my hands.

It was a truly chilling moment to know that I almost died when I had this much regret.

Well, this is probably a feeling I get because I survived, won, and can think calmly.

I wanted to depict a comfortable life with Veronica.

That’s why I came right in front of her, fell down, and opened my mouth hoarsely to the bleeding woman.

“… Give it back, send it to me.”

“… … .”

Not dead yet. From the way he was wheezing, I knew he was still conscious, he just didn’t have the strength to speak.

The answer was silence, but it didn’t matter. I thought it wouldn’t matter if I stayed silent as long as I could make a way to return to this situation.

But no matter how much I waited, there was no answer, either in words or action.

In the end, I guess she is a foolish goddess who does nothing more than satisfy her own greed in a lame way from beginning to end.

“… Well then, go. Don’t get involved anymore.”

So I picked up the sword and put it to her neck.

Even though I have killed monsters, and even though I have hurt people and left them to die, this was my first time feeling the sense of killing them myself.

Phew!

A knife pierced her throat.

It was as if the cervical vertebrae had been forcibly opened and a blade inserted into it, possibly due to the weight being placed on it.

When even the wheezing breath stopped and the Pope’s blue eyes became cloudy, I could not stop my heart from pounding.

Now I’m the one who killed someone like Veronica. Still, since we are in the same situation, if we understand and live together, everything will work out.

The moment I thought that, the threat came again.

*

When the moment came when I felt like I had to step forward, I ran to help them without hesitation.

However, Flora cut in the middle and prevented the people behind from coming to the front, and Linda and Agnes blocked those who ran towards Kylon, and Kylon was struggling against the goddess who had swallowed the Pope’s body.

So, it seemed like there was no time for me to step forward.

Should I join in every time I see Kylon fighting desperately? I wanted to, but as I watched them continue to fight while drinking the blood I gave them, I felt strongly that I was not given a chance to fight.

Still, it was okay.

I was just preparing just in case, and I wasn’t a crazy person who couldn’t go out and fight.

At the end, when everyone ran away and a huge light flew towards Kylon and swallowed him, I couldn’t even get out.

Because I didn’t think anything would happen if I stopped it.

In the end, I just prayed that Kylon was alive, and as if answering that prayer, Kylon withstood the attack and finished off the goddess.

It was a moment when all emotions intersected.

Nervousness becomes relief, worry becomes joy.

I clenched my fists like that and wanted to tell them, from a little distance away, that they were amazing.

I wanted to tell them that they fought really well and prayed that they would come back here quickly.

But that was only for a moment, the moment the goddess died, dark clouds began to fill the world.

How persistent is the goddess who ate the Pope’s body? Are you trying to separate me and Kylon by messing with nature like this?

Just when I thought I was getting tired of it, red thunder rolled through the clouds.

I turned my head and quietly looked at the figure. I had no doubt that it was the work of a goddess, but I heard Kylon’s voice nearby.

“Veronica! Pack your bags quickly! We have to move again… !”

“Uh, why… ? Don’t you need to rest quickly?”

“No time to rest! Linda, Agnes, and Flora have already packed their bags, so they can go soon!”

In the end, in response to his yelling, I whined and approached him, holding miscellaneous items.

It was the moment when both the holy sword he threw and my luggage went into the inventory.

I couldn’t understand why he was suddenly in such a hurry, but Kylon’s expression was serious, so I decided to wait until he spoke on his own and quickly left.

We headed back to the ninth village we had been in before coming here.

While Kailon was walking like that, he gave an explanation.

“… It’s a sign that the devil has awakened.”

“Damn.”

It was Linda who cursed at Kailon’s short words.

I thought I had finally caught the goddess, but what followed immediately was a signal from the devil.

Seeing that Kylon was so desperate, it seemed like catching the goddess would not open the way for us to go home.

It was incredibly sad. I can see that you fought this hard, but I can’t believe this isn’t the last time.

Kylon’s breathing was heavy. It was no different for Linda and Agnes.

Flora, who uses magic, doesn’t look that tired, but she must have consumed a lot of invisible magic power.

Everyone devoted themselves to fighting like this, but in the end, they achieved nothing and just moved on to the next enemy.

Is this fight really just something to avoid making the situation worse?

If yes, if that was the correct answer, the only thing left in my mind was the thought that I had done something pointless.

I know I’m just trying to find out because I didn’t know anything, but I guess it’s inevitable that I’ll feel regretful when I realize there’s nothing.

As I was returning down the path I had worked so hard to follow, Kailon quietly spoke to me.

“… Thank you, I survived thanks to you.”

At those words, I opened my eyes wide and looked at Kailon.

Then, who is it?

A smile naturally appeared on my face at the feeling of subtle pride of unknown origin.