episode_0238

“Well… roughly so.”

While Estur was recuperating in Grovel, Merzel learned from Estur that the current world was very different from what she remembered. Realizing that angels were regretting and repenting their mistakes and ignorance, unlike the world she remembered, Merzel sighed with a heavy heart as she looked at the Grovel cemeteries visible through the window.

“Haaah… So the world is only changing now… If it had changed earlier back then… Grovel wouldn’t exist… Why…”

“They say it took a really long time to sort things out. But isn’t it changing now? Angels have reflected enough that they won’t carry out such massacres out of personal hatred for demons anymore…”

“…. Then perhaps… I have a question… Could you tell me…?”

“Hmm?”

As Estur encouraged Merzel, who had been lamenting that it had changed too late, Merzel asked if she could ask Estur one question. Estur tilted her head, waiting for her question. But Merzel couldn’t bring herself to speak easily. She doubted if she was truly qualified to ask such a question. However, Merzel, having heard hope from Estur, bravely asked Estur.

“Have angels and demons ever fought together, combining their strength…? That… instances where angels who committed atrocities like me fought alongside demons against an enemy… Ah… no. For me to think I could be part of such an instance, after having killed demons…”

“When angels and demons fought together, combining their strength… Hmm… I’ve heard that it happened, but I’ve never seen it with my own eyes…”

“…? So it did happen, but you don’t know the details…”

“Who knows, Merzel. You might end up fighting alongside a demon…”

“… Me, who participated in the demon hunt…? Haaah… Didn’t you just hear my lament? I’m not worthy of that, Estur… What demon would forgive me for committing such atrocities…?”

When Estur suggested the possibility that she might fight alongside a demon, Merzel was convinced that all demons in this dimension were dead, and even if any remained, she had participated in the demon hunt, so such a thing could never happen. But now… Merzel, who had even received forgiveness from Cecilia, stood proudly alongside the demon Cecilia, facing Remie, contrary to her conviction that day.

Angels and Devils

“It’s good that Aria has awakened her own divine power… but don’t you think our situation hasn’t improved at all, Merzel?”

“That’s true… But if I fight alongside you like this, I fear no enemy.”

“Wow… This is truly astounding…!! Angels and demons fighting shoulder to shoulder like this…!! It’s truly amazing…!!”

Rapien greatly admired Merzel, an angel, and Cecilia, a demon, confronting Remie shoulder to shoulder before her. That these two species, who had been rivals throughout history, were now relying on each other and fighting against an enemy… Not only Rapien but also other resistance fighters were astonished to the point of being dumbfounded, feeling a strange sensation as they watched them. At that moment, Remie took a deep breath and spoke to the two.

“This is truly unbelievable… Angels and demons joining forces to confront a Saintess like this… In the past, among the believers, there were those who paid homage or respected angels to the extent of deep reverence… Look, Angel!! Do you not see those who are beginning to be disappointed by seeing you with a demon now?!”

Remie, who knew there were believers who respected angels, spread her arms and shouted for Merzel to see the disappointed believers at the sight of her standing shoulder to shoulder with Cecilia. At that moment, indeed, other believers’ expressions of disappointment at Merzel being with the demon Cecilia began to be heard.

“What… an angel with a demon… It’s utterly blasphemous…”

“To be with such a filthy race…!!! She must be a fallen angel…!! That woman must be killed!!!”

“Uwaaah…!! Merzel-nim!! Cecilia-nim!! The other believers are enraged by you two right now…?!”

As Remie said, other believers expressed disappointment at Merzel being with Cecilia, then became enraged and showed murderous intent, causing Rapien to be greatly shocked by their furious expressions. But Merzel seemed to let their disappointment pass through one ear, continuing to gaze at Remie with an indifferent expression before speaking to Cecilia.

“Cecilia. By the way, that Saintess… she doesn’t seem to have completely transformed into the Divine Ring’s Radiance. Her divine power is a bit weaker compared to what I felt from the other side earlier.”

“Then that’s serious… If she completely transforms into the Divine Ring’s Radiance, it could get even more troublesome, couldn’t it? She got a bit stronger after Camilla’s descent and gave Rapien a hard time…”

“Hey, you two…!! Not just Remie, but other believers are starting to approach us now?!”

As Cecilia and Merzel focused only on Remie, Rapien shouted in a greatly flustered voice, seeing the angry believers approaching from all sides. Only then did Merzel seem to notice them, looking around before asking Cecilia.

“Cecilia. You can handle them, right? No… you were going to do that from the start, weren’t you?”

“Hahaha!! Typical Merzel. Living together in Grovel, you can even read my mind now! Honestly… I didn’t like how those guys were disappointed in you, it was a bit embarrassing and annoying!! Devil Sanctuary…!!”

“…?! Th-this is…!!”

Cecilia laughed loudly at Merzel already understanding her thoughts, then began gathering magic in her hand. She then immediately pressed her hand to the ground, spreading the gathered magic into the earth. The magic began forming walls like a barrier, swiftly transforming into a hemisphere that enclosed Cecilia, Merzel, Rapien, and Remie. The interior then began to transform into the inside of an ancient-looking black cathedral. Remie, though bewildered by the unfamiliar cathedral, calmly analyzed the situation.

“Hmm… An unfamiliar cathedral. It’s not a cathedral of the Crentid World… That shadow-like magic that just swallowed me, you two… and the ground where the four of us stood… Is this your world, demon?”

“Half right. It’s my barrier, which looks like this inside. Now, no one from outside can interfere here. In other words, no one can help us.”

“…. Do you think you three can defeat me now… No… you certainly possess the skill to do so, so I won’t underestimate you. Especially you, demon. I am surprised by your power. To be able to create a barrier like this…”

“Oh my. Is this a little bit of acknowledgment? You’re not entirely closed-minded, so I’m somewhat pleased.”

“I am His sword and shield. As one who claims to be His sword and shield, it is only natural to analyze the situation calmly… In that sense, I will never show arrogance towards you. And… to you who have pushed us this far… I pay my respects, separate from my loyalty to Him.”

As Remie regripped her sword and paid her respects, genuinely judging them to be formidable opponents, Cecilia and Merzel felt Remie’s sincerity and began to gather their energy in their hands. Rapien, too, felt Remie’s sincerity throughout her body and spoke to the two.

“Cecilia-nim, Merzel-nim. Actually, I have… a sort of ultimate weapon to use when things get really dangerous.”

“Huh? What’s that all of a sudden, Rapien? Wasn’t your current form the ultimate weapon?”

“No… I have one more. But to bring it out, it takes a bit… a lot of energy, you could say? Hehehe… So… it’s shameless of me during a fight, but could you buy me some time…?”

“Then please continue resting behind us, Rapien. Cecilia and I will buy time… or rather, we might defeat Remie before then.”

“Ahahahaha… I hope so… Then, thank you kindly…”

As Merzel told Rapien to gather her strength while they dealt with Remie, Rapien put her hands together and began to concentrate her energy. Cecilia, who was now fighting Remie alongside Merzel, smiled faintly and said to Merzel.

“But hearing what that Saintess said, it truly is surprising. You, an angel, and I, a demon, fighting shoulder to shoulder like this… Don’t you think it would have been good if we had gotten along this well a long time ago, Merzel?”

“Not just now, but always, Cecilia. If we could have fought trusting each other like this, couldn’t we have changed…?”

“We can change starting now. I’ll hold her, Merzel. You finish her off.”

“Understood, Cecilia. Then… let’s begin.”

Cecilia and Merzel shared the wish that, long ago, during the Angel-Demon War, if the two races had gotten along well enough to fight shoulder to shoulder like them, it would have been good. They then agreed and rushed towards Remie. Remie, seeing the two rushing towards her, gathered divine power in her sword and spoke.

“Hoooo… An angel and a demon… It’s still truly astonishing that my opponents have become these two… Come. I will face you with respect.”

“Good…!! No regrets, okay?! Demon Bind!!!”

“Sacred Blow…!!”

“…!! This is… ”

Cecilia gathered magic in both hands, then pressed them to the ground, causing black hands to burst forth from the earth and seize Remie’s legs. Remie realized that Cecilia’s ability, which was holding her legs, was identical to the ability Zeke had briefly shown when he used it on Aria earlier. She then immediately blocked Merzel’s divine-power-infused glaive with her own divine-power-infused sword and spoke.

“I see… So you taught him magic, demon. But… how on earth did you teach a human magic? Humans are beings who cannot use magic, the power of demons… So how?”

“Magic is a power manifested through a complete and firm will, so I’m also a bit surprised that Zeke can use it… It seems Zeke’s will is extraordinary compared to others!!! And he even learned how to use magic directly through my memories, that’s why he uses magic like that…!!”

“…? Will? What does that mean? Wasn’t magic just the power of demons?”

“What…? You don’t mean… you use divine power but don’t properly understand divine power and magic…?”

As Remie assumed magic was merely the power of demons, Cecilia was flustered, bewildered that she didn’t properly understand divine power and magic, the two powers based on will. Remie flinched for a moment, then immediately struck Merzel, who was pushing her sword with her glaive, with her shield, sending her bouncing backward.

“Ugh…!!”

“Me-Merzel!!”

“I don’t have a combat style that uses various abilities based on divine power like other Saintesses. I trained my body to its limits… so I’ve never used divine power for anything other than strengthening my sword or shield like this… But what did you mean just now, demon? That I don’t properly understand divine power and magic?”

“…. As expected, you don’t know… Divine power is magic…”

“…!! Ugh… Wa-wait… My… my head suddenly… Ugh…!!!”

When Remie expressed bewilderment at Cecilia’s statement that she didn’t properly understand divine power and magic, Cecilia intended to explain divine power and magic to Remie. She didn’t dislike Remie because she had paid them respect, so she wanted to tell her. But when Remie suddenly complained of a headache and writhed in pain, Cecilia and Merzel, who had fallen to the ground, were bewildered by the sight.

“Wha… what…?! That Saintess… no, why is Remie suddenly like that…?!”

“…!! That reaction… It’s that reaction, Cecilia…!! The same reaction the brainwashed believers experienced at first… Could it be that not all of the Children of Light worshipped Camilla from the beginning…!!”

“Ugh… D-do not doubt… Do not doubt… Ugh…!!”

Merzel, recalling that Remie’s condition resembled that of the brainwashed people they had seen before, was bewildered by the possibility that perhaps not all of the Children of Light had worshipped Camilla from the beginning, just like other believers. At that moment, Remie began to pant and gather divine power in her sword and shield, and Cecilia and Merzel began to suspect that this might not be Remie acting of her own free will.

“Th-then what should we do…?! Shouldn’t we subdue her and defeat Camilla as Viola said…?!”

“Subduing all the believers who rushed at us in a group wasn’t easy… and even though she’s alone, that Saintess Remie is not an opponent to be underestimated either… so it might be a bit difficult…”

“But… if we leave her like that, something serious could happen…!! Remember when Remie paid us respect earlier? Remie might have been someone with that kind of mindset…? If so… it might be right to save her…”

“…. If you wish to save that Saintess… I will gladly help you alongside you to make it happen…!!”

Cecilia and Merzel, having judged that Remie had not willingly worshipped Camilla from the start, reaffirmed their resolve to save Remie from the divine power. At that moment, Remie cut off all of Cecilia’s magic arms binding her legs with her sword, then raised her head, looked at the two, and spoke.

“I was briefly caught in a strange thought… I don’t remember what it was.”

“…!! It seems it’s just as we expected… Camilla’s divine power definitely interfered with Remie’s emotions or mind just now…!!”

“Stop your foolish talk, demon. I am His sword and shield, following Him of my own free will. There is no reason to doubt Him!!!”

As Remie, firmly believing in her altered faith, began rushing towards them, Merzel once again began gathering divine power in her glaive, and Cecilia pressed her hand to the ground again, releasing magic to create hands of magic from the earth to grab Remie’s legs. However, Remie leaped from her spot, pointed her shield forward, and shouted.

“Do you think I’d fall for the same trick twice, demon…!!”

“….!! She’s even dodging now…!? In that case…!!”

“You’re too slow gathering your power, demon!!!”

As Cecilia immediately gathered magic in her hands to use her ability, Remie began to fall straight towards Cecilia. Cecilia then realized that Remie’s leap into the air wasn’t just to avoid her arms, but to attack her from above, and she was greatly flustered. And at that moment, Merzel blocked Remie’s shield with her divine-power-infused glaive, sending Remie recoiling. Remie immediately landed, took a deep breath, and said.

“As expected, she’s not an easy opponent… I keep being surprised. Then now, I’ll have to show even more… my true power…!!”

“…!! No way… Cecilia!!! Prepare yourselves!!!”

“Haaahhh….!!!”

As Remie began gathering divine power, saying she would now show her true power, Merzel grasped Remie’s intention and, sensing that the fight would intensify further, warned Cecilia. And at that moment, a sphere of light began to orbit around Remie’s body, which was radiating light from all over. Remie, looking at Cecilia and Merzel with her two brightly shining forsythia-colored eyes, took another breath and said.

“It is now time for judgment… you heretics.”

Mid-Chapter Chat 4

Hello. This is Photon, the author.

The true final battle has finally begun, so I decided to post this mid-chapter chat for the first time in a long while.

Since it’s been a while since we’ve chatted about various topics, Hmm… I’ve chosen topics that might even be mentioned again later.

Then, let’s begin.

1. Camilla’s Divine Power Camilla is the 2nd Divine Being, Kaju, and can control the divine power that most people manifest through their will. Camilla’s divine power will be properly revealed later, but to summarize what has been shown so far… A long time ago, Camilla implanted divine power into the creatures of Krentid World, planning for her divine power to grow stronger as it was passed down through generations to their descendants. This is the result of that plan. Camilla’s divine power generally has the ability to manipulate emotions. Camilla used this ability to forcibly change people’s emotions into worship, which caused this disaster, but… It was no match for the awakened Aria…

2. Has Aria truly become complete then? Having received Zeke’s love, no one can stop her now. No one…

3. So who is Andres? He is a mage who previously fought Aria in Ruam and was defeated. Then, Aria gave him a remaining fragment of Magnod’s Tear, which she had carved to make a brooch for Zeke. As a result, he became a Dragon Rider…

4. How can Zeke use the abilities of others? He recreates them through magic power, but the potency is not perfectly the same. Moreover, because they are recreated through magic power, the stamina consumption is equally high.

5. Since when did Zeke start loving Aria? Probably since the Levarud facility… He’ll tell you himself later, I guess (?).

6. Why are Viola’s divine power and armor blue? Originally, I intended to make them purple to be a complementary color to Camilla’s divine power, which is yellow. However, I changed it to blue to match “tears of blood” (tears shed due to sadness), and blue is also a complementary color to orange, which is somewhat similar to yellow, so it became blue.

7. Then, was the original final battle location, the Temple of Pioneering, in the Tania region? That’s right. The original plan was to start in Tania, pass through the Magrion, Kriton, and Herlos regions, and then return to the Tania region for the final battle. In other words… it turned out the final battle location was close to the protagonist’s hometown…

8. Is it really ending like this…? Yes. The novel *Black Saintess* is scheduled to end soon. It’s more unusual that the side story, *Black Saintess*, has exceeded 200 chapters…

9. Will you be making a sequel? Uh… I’ll announce that later. There is something planned, but… uh… hmm… (runs away)

10. Why don’t you take hiatuses often? I’m also a bit curious about that (?) (It’s truly strange that even the author himself doesn’t know why he rarely takes hiatuses)

Yes… and at the time of posting this chat, the popularity has reached 500… Oh, thank you all so much lolol I will continue to work hard until the very end lolol Thank you!!