episode_0229

“To think my presence had weakened to that extent… How disappointing. Now that I know you haven’t fully descended, I have a gut feeling that even if I’m not R.S or one of the Kajyu, I can still wound you, Camilla…!! Before, I didn’t know because I hadn’t fully grasped your power… But now, we have a reliable ally who knows you well… So now I think I can analyze your attacks and respond to them.”

“Then why don’t you try, Otherworlder…!! The very thought of daring to oppose a Kajyu… is utterly laughable to me…!! And… you, who I defeated before… I’ll make sure you realize that you can never defeat me…!! Holy Symbol…!!”

Since Dio V Runner was defeated by Camilla before, Camilla was confident that he couldn’t win even if he attacked her again, and began to create about ten rhombus-shaped formations around herself. As she did, Dio V Runner began to attach another orb to his flamethrower, which already had an orb installed. Camilla, charging divine power into the ten rhombus-shaped formations, spread her hands towards Dio V Runner and shouted.

“O flames that almost turned to ash from my beam before…!!! This time, I’ll turn you into ash…!! Along with your heretic dragon allies behind you…!!! Holy Assault!!!”

“As if I’d let you!!! Tyrant Black Orb!!!”

Camilla furiously unleashed beams from the rhombus-shaped formations, targeting not only Dio V Runner but also the dragons fighting Shalev behind him. Dio V Runner, seemingly intending to block rather than evade, spewed powerful black flames from both of his flamethrowers. Dio V Runner’s enormous black flames immediately engulfed Camilla’s beams. When her beams failed to pierce Dio V Runner’s flames, Camilla flinched in surprise and spoke.

“What in the world are those flames…?! Why can’t my beam pierce mere flames….?!”

“Whether it’s coincidence or fate, I don’t know… but it’s truly astonishing. To think this orb, created with my ally, a being of the same race as those I protected, would be so helpful…”

“What…? Something made with the dragon race…? You blocked my power with mere dragon power…!! That’s impossible…!!”

“Why…? Are you so obsessed with Crentid World… that is, the Elum Dimension, that you’re completely ignorant of other dimensions and find this absurd…? Unfortunately, my friend isn’t such a weak being…!!”

“Don’t be arrogant, Otherworlder…!! No matter which dimension you hail from… I’ll show you now that you can never defeat me, a Kajyu….!!!”

As Dio V Runner increased the output of his flames, stating that the power of the orb he created with his dragon friend was not to be underestimated, Camilla, not to be outdone, also increased the output of her beams, trying somehow to pierce Dio V Runner’s flames. While Camilla and Dio V Runner clashed, Yuria was attacking Aria on the ground by throwing ice chunks at her. But Aria, perhaps having been caught off guard by Yuria’s surprise attack just moments before, was now deflecting all the ice chunks Yuria threw at her with her staff, charging towards Yuria. As Aria approached her and immediately swung her staff, Yuria emitted powerful cold energy from her entire body, freezing the surroundings along with Aria. As Aria’s body slowly froze from the cold and her arm stiffened, she put more strength into it and spoke to Yuria.

“Do you think you can defeat me, Yuria…!! You, who used to be afraid of me every day…!!”

“Yes… If it were the old Aria… I’d still be afraid… But if it’s you, looking so pitiful…!! There must have been a reason Dio V Runner toyed with you like that, wasn’t there, Aria….!?”

“….!! How dare you mention that… It seems you’re desperate to die by my hand…!!!”

“Die…? You always hated insults directed at Zeke more than insults directed at yourself, to the point of being unable to tolerate them…!! Now I understand this conversation clearly, Aria…!! Dio V Runner realized that your divine power only *looks* strong, but is worthless on the inside, which is why he attacked you…!!! If that’s the case, then I can also defeat you!!! Freeze!!!”

“….!!!”

Yuria, realizing that Dio V Runner had understood that Aria’s divine power had grown stronger than before but had only become larger in appearance, a flashy but empty force, became convinced that she too could defeat the current Aria and unleashed cold energy from her hands. As her body slowly began to freeze from Yuria’s cold, Aria became greatly flustered. However, Aria soon put strength into her entire body, easily broke Yuria’s freezing effect, and shouted at her.

“As if I didn’t already hate you for trying to harm Zeke-nim before…!! It works out perfectly, then…!! In this world where Zeke-nim no longer exists, no one will stop your death…!!”

“You idiot!!! How many times do I have to tell you that Zeke isn’t dead!!! Frozen Arrow!!!”

As Aria, claiming there was no Zeke to stop her death now, prepared to swing her staff at Yuria, Yuria became greatly enraged and began to form six ice arrows around herself. She then launched those arrows to attack Aria. Aria quickly swung her staff and shattered all of Yuria’s arrows with it. While Yuria and Aria fought fiercely, Andres, watching the scene from Protega’s back, stared intently at Aria and clenched his teeth in frustration.

“Damn it… Saintess Aria… looking so pitiful…!!”

“Hm? Did you also know Aria, human Andres?”

“Yes… Before, in Ruam, Aria-nim shared some of Magnode’s Tear with me. Thanks to that, I succeeded in researching several high-level spells and wanted to repay her… but to think she’s changed into such a pitiful state…!!!”

“…. Is that so…. So Aria was like a benefactor to you too…. I also received grace from Aria. My child was dying, and Zeke and Aria saved them.”

“…. Then both of us must surely repay our debt of gratitude to them…. To do that, we first need to deal with that… follower in front of us who has activated the Halo of the Holy Ring, or whatever it is…. I have a plan, but… the state of the dragons right now…”

“Hmm….”

Andres, realizing that Protega, like himself, had received help from Zeke and Aria, regained his spirit and showed his will to fight, looking at Shalev who had transformed into the Halo of the Holy Ring in front of them. Protega, unlike Andres who hadn’t lost his resolve, seeing that there was still a way, looked at the terrified dragons around them, scared by Camilla’s attack, and shouted loudly.

“All dragons!!! Listen carefully!!!”

“….?! Protega-nim….?”

“Do you see the Otherworlder fighting Goddess Camilla right now!!! The Otherworlder who told us to show our full power earlier!!! That person is now facing a god alone for our sake, unlike us who are terrified by the goddess’s attack!!! But right now… do you think it makes sense that we are terrified right now!!!”

“….!!!”

At Protega’s cry, the dragons were dumbfounded as they looked at Dio V Runner, who, unlike them, was fighting Camilla with all his might. Then, they began to feel pathetic, realizing that while Dio V Runner, who had already experienced Camilla’s power unlike them, was risking his life to fight for them, they themselves were terrified by Camilla’s attack just moments ago. Protega then gathered energy in his mouth and shouted to the dragons.

“So we too shall show them!!! That we also have the will not to retreat!!! That we have pride!!! If you are dragons, then in a manner befitting the name of the dragon race, all of you shall show your tempered resolve and strike down the enemy!!!!”

“Pride that will not retreat….!!! Th-that’s right…. We are dragons…!! We will not retreat from any threat…!!!”

“We are pride that will never retreat!!!”

“…. Good heavens….”

As the dragons, stirred by Protega’s words, all regained their composure and began to gather energy in their mouths like Protega, Andres saw the sky filled with various colored lights created by the dragons gathering energy in their mouths, and was mesmerized by their beauty, exclaiming in admiration. Likewise, Shalev, who was also admiring their choice, took a deep breath and spoke.

“Your pride…. That one thing may have vanished, but simply regaining your will like this gives you worth. I apologize for calling you a shameful race who had lost their pride just now. However… that does not mean your sin of insulting Goddess Camilla will vanish.”

“Stop spouting nonsense!!! Do you think the sin of participating in brainwashing people will easily disappear for you!!! One of the Saintesses who was with you is still regretting that act… For some reason, unlike that Saintess, you seem to have helped Camilla’s brainwashing efforts while still sane, which really rubs me the wrong way…!!”

“Your perception is quite good, Dragon. I, by my own will… no, all the children of light who can transform into the Halo of the Holy Ring are following Goddess Camilla by their own will. Of course, the Black Saintess is different.”

“To make such a foolish choice!!! Face our wrath, you foolish human!!!”

When Shalev revealed that all the children of light, excluding Aria, were following Camilla by their own will, another dragon felt great disgust and unleashed a powerful surge of energy from its mouth towards Shalev. Following suit, the other dragons, excluding Protega, also began to unleash energy towards Shalev. Shalev instantly created numerous circular formations around himself, then covered the spread-out Holy Scripture and spoke to the dragons.

“The Halo of the Holy Ring always illuminates the dark world… so wrath born in a world of darkness can never overcome the light of the Halo of the Holy Ring….”

“….!!!”

The moment Shalev covered the book with his hand, powerful beams spread in all directions from the circular formations around Shalev, beginning to pierce through the dragons’ energy approaching from all sides. The dragons were then helplessly struck by Shalev’s beams, which had pierced their energy. Shalev, seeing the dragons being hit by his attack, unfolded the Holy Scripture again and spoke.

“Foolishly… no matter how strong your power is known to be in Crentid World, how could it overcome a god’s power? You will merely be extinguished by Goddess Camilla’s sacred light, turning to ash…..”

“Aaaaargh!!!”

“I hope another rest awaits you at the end of these screams. Who knows? Goddess Camilla might gather your souls and reincarnate you as new lifeforms…”

“I refuse, you human with a wicked soul!!!”

Shalev heard the dragons’ screams, wished them rest, and began to be certain of his victory. At that very moment, other dragons appeared from behind Shalev and unleashed energy from their mouths. Shalev, as if he had already anticipated it, quickly formed circular formations behind himself and immediately fired beams, deflecting the dragons’ attacks as he spoke.

“It’s useless. My light is a light that illuminates its surroundings. Now that this light has awakened through the Halo of the Holy Ring, I have no blind spots.”

“Aaaaargh…..!!!”

“Th-this damn human….!!! Urgh….!!!”

As Shalev spoke dismissively, saying he had no blind spots in his current state, a red dragon who had lost his composure from Shalev’s beam lashed out at his words and reached out to Shalev. However, Shalev mercilessly fired beams from the circular formations, inflicting a penetrating wound on its arm. The red dragon cried out in pain and began to fall along with the other dragons. Shalev watched the light of the dragons in the sky fall due to his beams and sighed.

“What a truly regrettable sight. To think that light is falling downwards like this…. Light is supposed to shine continuously in the sky…. But these foolish lights, which have not received Goddess Camilla’s light, are falling helplessly like this….”

“Groooan….”

“That is why it is needed. Goddess Camilla’s light. This world will fall like this without Goddess Camilla’s light. Ahhh…. Goddess Camilla herself bestowed light upon this world that no one else saved…. And everyone felt gratitude for that light and gave her much love…. But now the world has forgotten Goddess Camilla’s benevolence. Her divine power drove out all the demons that were in this world long ago…. The world has forgotten that grace….!?”

“Grace?! What nonsense about grace!!! Do you think we’re still fools who don’t know the truth!!!”

‘From above…..!?’

The moment Shalev was about to speak of Camilla, he suddenly realized a bright light was shining down on him from above, and he urgently looked up. There, Protega and Andres, whom his divine power had not detected, were gathering a powerful surge of energy in Protega’s mouth. Seeing the light of that energy shining down on him, Shalev spoke, greatly flustered.

“How….?! I was clearly detecting everything above with divine power…. How are you above me….?!”

“It seems, as you said, that person couldn’t predict or detect your magic created through Magnode’s Tear…. A truly mysterious ability, Andres. This concealment magic.”

“C-concealment magic….?! You avoided my divine power with such magic….?! That makes no….”

“Unfortunately, that’s not possible!!! You mentioned that the Sphere of Heavenly Light, an item, avoids detection by other divine powers through divine power, right? This Magnode’s Tear is none other than a byproduct created by Saintess Aria, carved with divine power, causing divine power to flow into it!!! You know what that means, don’t you?!”

“C-could it be….!! Magnode’s Tear transformed into a Sphere of Heavenly Light?!”

At Andres’s words, Shalev realized that Andres’s Magnode’s Tear had gained properties similar to the Sphere of Heavenly Light because Aria had previously carved it with divine power. He was greatly flustered but quickly created circular formations to prepare for their attack. However, Protega and Andres, who had already gathered enough energy while concealed, looked at the fallen dragons who had attacked Shalev to draw attention, and pouring that anger into their energy, they shouted together.

“Let’s see if even this light can overcome your worthless goddess’s light!!!! Extermination Ray!!!”

“….!!! Goddess Camilla!!! Grant me the power to annihilate the heretics!!!”

As the energy gathered by Protega and Andres was unleashed from Protega’s mouth as a white beam with a powerful explosive sound, heading towards him, Shalev sensed something amiss. He recited a prayer and fired beams from several circular formations adorned with golden decorations that had appeared in front of him. However, the power of the energy created by the dragon and the mage was so strong that it began to push back the beams Shalev fired. As the beam approached him, Shalev was flustered, seeing the book he was holding disintegrating from its force.

‘How can this be….!!! Mere… mere beings born in this world…. defeating me, who wields a goddess’s power…. who has transformed into the Halo of the Holy Ring….!!!’

“Crumble to ash!!!!”

“Aaaaargh!!!!!!!”

Shalev denied that mere dragons and humans had defeated him, the Halo of the Holy Ring, and began to be slowly swallowed by the beam. Protega and Andres then let out a battle cry and increased the beam’s output. Shalev, engulfed by the beam, slowly began to crumble away. And as the beam that had engulfed Shalev hit the forest and exploded, Protega and Andres felt their victory and smiled.

(Special Chapter) If Scenario – #7

[The last if scenario to conclude]

1. What if Aria reacted before Rapien revealed their identity in Chapter 183?

“Or how about we dissect it? It just tried to kill Zeke-nim… Oh? The lid…” Curious about how the mimic moved, we discussed various possibilities. Then, when Aria suggested dissecting the mimic, its lid suddenly opened, and something was about to emerge… Aria, startled, began to strike the mimic repeatedly with her staff. “Still, I absolutely cannot forgive it for daring to wrap Zeke-nim with its tentacles!!! And how dare it try to do it again…!! I wanted to do that myself!!!” “What are you talking about, Aria?! What do you mean *you* wanted to…!” “Aaaargh!! It hurts!! I said it hurts!!! Stop hitting me!!!” “I… I hear a person’s voice…?” As Aria pounded the mimic, as if venting her frustration that she wanted to be the one to wrap me with tentacles, I was greatly bewildered and shouted at her. At that moment, a woman’s voice came from inside the mimic, which bewildered me further. But Aria… “…What is this? Is it a woman again? Ha… It seems there’s a woman inside… I can’t let her flirt with Zeke-nim. I’ll just kill the mimic whole…!!!” “E… Ehh?! What’s…!! Aargh!! It hurts so much!!!” “Aaaargh!!! Aria, what on earth are you saying?! Stop it right now?!” Aria continued to pound the mimic for a long time, and only when several bumps formed on the box did Aria stop her attack. And Rapien, the trap mimic who revealed their identity, reportedly felt such great fear towards Aria that they would never forget being repeatedly beaten with the staff… It seems Aria has a lot of complaints these days…

[Aria’s personality, where other women were simply a thorn in her side, remained unchanged.]

2. What if Aria’s patience finally reached its limit while fighting Rubaea in Chapter 187?

“I don’t want to answer anymore!!! You are our enemies…!! That’s the only thought I have right now!!! Fire…” “WaterSp…?” The moment Rubaea declared that we were her enemies and began to create fireballs around herself, a stream of water suddenly shot out from the side, intending to engulf Rubaea and the fireballs floating around her… but perhaps annoyed that Rubaea had been talking to herself the whole time, Aria rushed at Rubaea with a furious expression and punched her, knocking her to the ground. Saphia, who was beside them trying to calm Rubaea down, looked greatly bewildered, and Rubaea, who had fallen to the ground, shouted at Aria with an angry expression. “How dare… How dare you hit me like this…?! I’ll never forgive you…!! I’ll burn you to… Uh…” “Go ahead and try. It seems you still haven’t realized whose patience has reached its limit… I’m exercising quite a bit of restraint right now, you know?” As Aria gathered divine power at the tip of her staff, looking down at Rubaea with a chillingly terrifying expression, and instilling immense fear by claiming her patience had reached its limit, Rubaea’s hands trembled, instinctively reawakening her fear of Aria. At that moment, Aria nodded her head slightly and spoke to Rubaea again. “If you don’t calm down… I don’t know what I might do to you, Rubaea… I’m only showing this restraint because you helped me before… So I hope you make the right choice, alright…?” “Yes… Yes…!!!” Rubaea, feeling true fear from Aria, looked terrified and then strongly nodded her head, with a face about to burst into tears, answering that she understood. Saphia trembled at Aria’s terrifyingly cold demeanor, and I, too, was slightly scared seeing Aria, whose patience had reached its limit, for the first time in a while.

[No one could stop Aria.]

3. What if Camilla revealed her true feelings to the other Children of Light in Chapter 193?

“Understood, Goddess-nim.” Camilla proceeded with her initial plan, ordering that if more otherworlders connected to Dio V Runner existed in this world, they must be killed. The priests and saintesses agreed, then rose from their seats and began to leave the room one by one to attend to their respective duties. At that moment, one saintess remained behind and asked Camilla. “By the way, Goddess Camilla-nim… How strong was his power?” “…? Why do you ask me such a question, my child?” “If I may be so bold… I felt a slight pain from my own light through divine power, which transferred to my body. So I was curious if the reason my Light was so concerned about him was because he was that strong…” When the saintess confessed that she had felt lingering pain in her body through divine power and asked how strong Dio V Runner truly was, Camilla sighed deeply. Then she suddenly rolled up her sleeve, looked at the burn marks from Dio V Runner’s flames, and began to shed tears, saying: “Sobs… It was the first time I’d ever felt such pain…!!” “Pardon…?” “If you experienced it just once, you’d clearly scream first…!!! I didn’t show any pain in front of the heretic, so they still think I’m strong… Of course, my power is immense, but his power… Sobs… I don’t know what kind of flames he emitted…!!” “……” “Even if I am a god, flames hurt me too…!! And the burns last a long time… That damned otherworlder brat… Sobs…” The saintess was bewildered to see Camilla, recalling her battle with Dio V Runner, begin to plead with tears about how much she had suffered from the flames he unleashed, admitting that it had actually hurt her immensely. And it is said that the saintess dedicated herself to prayer all night to forget this incident.

[Camilla actually said it hurt.]

4. What if Aria was multi-talented in Chapter 199?

“Black Saintess-nim, what happened…? Did she miss that?” “She completely missed the target… She must have made a mistake, right?” The audience, like me, seemed greatly bewildered, muttering and unable to comprehend what was happening. As Aria continued to shoot but failed to hit the target at all, the host was also so shocked that he was speechless. No way, Aria… She can’t properly use a bow for archery…!! Th-That’s right!! If I think about it, it’s simple…!! Aria has no experience handling a bow…!! “O-Oh my… Only one arrow left… But Saintess Aria-nim… Who knew she wouldn’t be good at archery…!!!” “Ah… Aria…” Oh… What should I do…? Aria is making a face like she’s disappointed in herself, isn’t she…? As Aria missed all but one of her arrows, I started to worry. Aria must have wanted to win this competition and claim the prize, like with Magnod’s Tear… Damn it… I didn’t think there was anything Aria couldn’t do… “Ah… Only one arrow left. But… my preparations to show a magnificent sight to Zeke-nim are perfect…!!!” “Huh…? What are you talking about, Aria…?” “Now…!! Zeke-nim!! This is the magnificent sight I present to you!!!” Aria suddenly grinned, then declared that she was perfectly prepared to show me a magnificent sight, drew her bowstring, and shot an arrow. Then… astonishingly, the arrow Aria shot began to deflect all the arrows Aria had missed just moments before… then they started bouncing off each other…?! Th-They all hit the bullseye?! “Hehehe… What will the score be now, Host?” “……” “……” As Aria, in a feat nothing short of outlandish, embedded all the arrows she had missed right into the center of the target, everyone was greatly bewildered and couldn’t close their mouths in astonishment. And I, too, no matter how amazing Aria’s display was, was frozen in shock, having never imagined she could do something like this. And so, Aria… broke the elves’ record and even won the prize to give to me. Isn’t that cause for celebration…?

[The crazy saintess who ricochets arrows.]

5. What if Aria was… brainwashed differently by Camilla’s divine power in Chapter 207?

Aria spread her arms and, with an enraptured expression, praised Goddess Camilla—no, Camilla—saying she had taught her the answer, and I was about to shout at such an Aria. Then I remembered that the statues—no, people—were brainwashed by divine power, and I was greatly shocked to realize that Aria was now brainwashed by Camilla. But… but with Aria’s mental fortitude… “Aria… What whispers did you hear? After the Cecilia incident, you had the strong mental fortitude to not let your mind be swayed by other beings!! But now…” “Hehehe… That’s right. But Goddess Camilla-nim gave me a realization…!! Thanks to that realization, I came to understand…!!!” “The realization of creating an ideal world… Aria has now returned to my embrace… Now my plan…!? *Gasp*…..” “…Huh?” The moment Camilla spread her arms to welcome Aria, who was flying towards her, Aria suddenly flew rapidly and fiercely struck Camilla in the abdomen with her staff. Camilla cried out in pain and was flustered. I, too, who had thought Aria was brainwashed by Camilla, was greatly bewildered by the sight. Aria, grinning broadly, said to Camilla: “Goddess Camilla-nim. Thank you very much… I gained the realization that if you were here, the time I could spend with Zeke-nim would be less… no, that I could be separated from him.” “W-What…? What are you talking about, my child…? I am your Light…” “My only light is Zeke. Get out of my way and disappear, you thorn-in-my-side-like goddess…!!!” “Aaaargh!!!” “……” Aria, having gained the realization through Camilla’s whispers that she could be separated from me, began to literally beat Camilla with her staff, and Camilla began to cry out in pain from Aria’s assault. And watching this, I… somehow felt empty, as if all my worries until now had been for nothing. What was that? What was I even doing until now?

[Zeke was just Zeke, apparently.]