I am so immersed in my thoughts that I forget that I am even feeling a headache in a world that has slowed down.

A rock falling towards the child.

Gigantes falling towards me.

malicious situation.

It can’t be that the timing was too exquisite and contrived.

It was as if fate was laughing at me that I couldn’t twist it.

[Erosion degree 17%]

An either/or situation.

It’s impossible with magic. can’t make it on time [Space Barrier] must be used.

[Erosion degree 17%]

But what if that happens?

I lose the means to stop Gigantes. Everything I planned would fail.

[Erosion degree 17%]

This is a worse mistake than Oz’s.

You suffer even though you know it.

never, never This is stupid.

If I get hit, more people will lose their lives as a result.

[Erosion degree 36%]

But is it okay to leave such a child alone? the child is not at fault

After all, I’m responsible for pushing Gigantes into making him use range attacks.

[Erosion degree 16%]

Saving a child in the first place is a soft idea. I am different from Oz.

Unlike him, he can live harshly.

It should be. Didn’t I get my hands dirty by killing the assassins who came to me to do that?

[Erosion degree 38%]

But is it really the same to kill the assassin who came to kill me and let a helpless child die?

[Erosion degree 16%]

different. It will definitely be different. Things can’t be the same.

But the situation is different from then, and it is the same for me.

In the original game, I survived even if I was beaten, but there is no guarantee that I will be able to survive like that.

It is a world where you don’t know when and where a small flap of a butterfly’s wings will turn into a typhoon. You don’t know when or where I’ll make a mistake and the scheduled situation will change.

[Erosion degree 38%]

Do you have to throw away all unnecessary things in order to achieve your goals?

[Erosion degree 15%]

To live in this rough and unreasonable world, of course you have to.

[Erosion degree 38%]

Then what was my purpose?

[Erosion degree 15%]

To survive a predestined death, to save a world from destruction.

[Erosion degree 40%]

… … And to challenge divinity and go to meet Arietta.

[Erosion degree 15%]

If so, you don’t have to sacrifice yourself to save a child.

[Erosion degree 40%]

But wouldn’t Arrieta be sad? Is it okay if a person who wants to challenge divinity can’t save a child?

[Erosion degree 15%]

In the first place, the god of this damn world is not omnipotent.

[Erosion degree 40%]

yes, if so If it’s something you can give up for the sake of a purpose.

[Erosion degree 40%]

Why am I reaching out in the direction of the child?

[Erosion degree 15%]

“I do not know… … .”

[Space Barrier Lv. 2]

Even though I understand it with my head, even though I constantly make excuses.

[Erosion degree 15%]

After all, I guess I can’t be as tough as Oz. I spread the [Space Barrier] towards the child.

“still… … !”

I don’t want to give up just yet. Hi, if this is the right choice for you.

[The Ruler of Mana Lv. 3]

Now is the time to prove it. I entrust my entire destiny to this momentary luck.

“Come out… … .”

come out

[0/100 until SSR grade magic is confirmed]

come out!!!

[Curse of the Icecap]

I pour out SSR grade magic towards Gigantes falling toward me.

A storm of snow and ice engulfed Gigantes’ gigantic body intact.

but… … .

“Gwoaaa!!!!”

Gigantes also risked everything. It began tearing through snow and ice storms with its mighty arms.

As a result, his body was tattered to the point of not being healthy, but there was still something left of him.

The overwhelming mass of that gigantic body remained.

“Damn it… … .”

And the monster with that mass soon fell towards me.

* * *

Arrieta was in the middle of a confrontation with one of the clutches of [Myungwang] who started a sudden invasion.

“I see, the saintess is different.”

[Demi Rich]

Pied Dawn

The oldest of the Cistuses created by [Myungwang], and the one who proved his loyalty to himself and became his hand.

Being a half-reflection being, he was one of the [Myeongwang]’s cards that could stand against Arietta.

It is difficult to contain Arrieta in the sanctuary with the existing grip.

However, even though Paid is half dead, half alive.

At least he wouldn’t die instantly from Arrieta’s attack.

“But that’s why you got into this situation.”

And the reason why [Myeongwang] sent him to Arietta was because he seemed to be the most compatible.

“… … The Pied Piper.”

Pide did not attack Arrieta directly. Instead, he began blowing his flute and spreading his curse throughout the papal court.

The extensive curse using sound made Arrieta think of the name of the main character in the fairy tale. This is the story of a missing person who fell and disappeared with his child because he was not rewarded for his good deeds.

And the person who went missing like that eventually became the clutch of [Myungwang].

“ruler… … . Choose saintess. Will you defeat me while ignoring my curse?”

If that happens, the curse will spread throughout the Holy See.

And that curse will slaughter countless people.

“Or I’ll block you here until the power of my curse runs out.”

However, this method also had problems. She is second only to Lucia Domine in this sanctuary.

Having such an Arrieta tied to one place would cause huge losses in terms of troops and increase the number of innocent victims.

“As a human being, when the moment of choice comes, you can only see what is in front of your eyes. You should see the results. It is an illusion after all that everyone will be fine if we solve the problems we face in front of us.”

Faide smiled dryly, as if he was like that in the past and like Arietta now.

What matters is the result. Even if he acted out of goodwill, goodwill has no meaning as he was betrayed in the end.

“Moreover, since no sacrifices are permitted, how can we last until sunrise?”

efficiency was different.

It didn’t matter that Pyde just sprayed curses indiscriminately, but Arrieta had to purify all the curses that Pyed was scattering.

“I may not be able to hold on, but… … .”

“Well?”

“The knights who protect me will be able to do it.”

I believed so.

Arrieta opened her mouth, feeling the pain in her chest.

“All shields of light, please stop the evil deeds of the author.”

In the end, it is like this. You want to treat them as friends, but in moments like these you have to give them orders.

That was her destiny and their mission. It was an absolute prerequisite that could never be narrowed down.

Arrieta began to sing the hymn so loud that her throat reached all over the inside of the Vatican building.

She poured all of her divine power into the ＜Shields of Light＞, except for the divine power to purify Faid’s curse.

Among them, there was also a divine power to protect oneself. There was also a divine power that served as a sensory net spread to examine the world.

‘ah… … .’

Arrieta, who had poured all of that into herself, fell into darkness in the true sense of the word.

The divine power that has been able to distinguish things all along is no longer there.

In the blinding darkness, she managed to restrain herself from letting out a sigh.

I grabbed my trembling shoulders and blocked the screams that were trying to escape.

The signs of God had already left her.

But she was resolute, raised her voice and sang to the world.

The lighthouse, alone in the darkness, began to shine and point the way.

“This is so… … .”

The ＜Shields of Light＞, who received Arrieta’s magic to the maximum, fixed their weapons one by one.

Some people took out a huge rectangular shield, the scutum, and built a wall to build a perfect square around Arrieta.

Some threw away their shields and took hold of their weapons with both hands to seize the opportunity Arrieta provided.

“her… … .”

Faide spat out a dejected voice as he watched the situation that had been boiling begin to turn over all at once.

They did not look back even as their master sighed in agony as they were consumed by fraud.

Because it doesn’t matter No, they expected it to go away from the beginning.

I knew. That their owner would make that choice in the end.

That’s why he doesn’t look back, bites his lips, and only goes forward to complete the mission he has been given.

This is to get the job done as quickly as possible and to ease the pain of the owner.

Faid felt fear in front of that united will for the first time in a long time.

“then… … .”

Faid widened his eyes as he saw the ＜Shields of Light＞ advancing like white dots spreading on a black canvas.

“Whether you guys will take my life, or I will take the saintess’s life first.”

He didn’t like the bond between them.

For him, who did not even receive a fair price, it was difficult to build a relationship based on such trust.

“Where to compete… … .”

Like Arrieta, Paid was also at the point where he tried to pour all his strength into it.

Bang!

A huge explosion that covered the whole of the Vatican put their confrontation to a halt.

The echo was there from before. But this time, the intensity was different.

Everyone’s eyes turned to the direction of the explosion.

“ah… … .”

And Olivia, who was lifting the scutum beside Arietta, sighed at the sight.

Oz was falling to the ground, covered in blood.

And towards Oz, a monster in a similarly tattered state was slowly crawling closer.

Everyone could tell just by looking at the fragmentary results.

it’s lost

The [successor of the King of Sorcery] who is as strong as that monster.

A wizard who should have absolute firepower.

“what… … Ugh, what’s the matter?”

“… … .”

Olivia was silent as she did not know what to say as she watched Arrieta let out a short scream at the fraud that began to invade her body.

Right now, Arrieta can’t see anything. can’t feel anything

Even the fact that Oz suffered was not recognized.

Therefore, the scene she saw must never be told to Arrieta.

Yes, as for her… … .

“Olivia?”

“It will be fine… … I will.”

But her voice trembled with bewilderment.

Arrieta was also unable to see anything, but there was something she could feel. Even though she was blind, she had ears.

She could feel that everyone’s morale was lowered even more with the binge drinking.

If so, why?

In the current situation, there are usually two cases where everyone’s morale is low.

Or Pope Lucia Domine.

“no way… … .”

[Successor of the King of Darkness] Oz Quo Vadis was killed.

And Arrieta intuitively realized that it was Oz who had suffered.

Lucia Domine will still be inside the Vatican.

“then… … .”

she was silent

It is to avoid being caught in the direction the heart is heading now.

I want to go to Oz. I want to go to him and heal my wounds.

But it shouldn’t be like that.

She is now at the center of this battlefield.

If she escapes now, the entire camp will collapse and everyone will be in danger.

Moreover, there is no way that she can get to Oz by passing through the group of dead people alone.

Yes, that heart is selfish.

As a [Saint of Hope], even if she has such a heart, she must never show it outwardly.

“Fine… … .”

Arrieta tried to convey her opinion to the ＜Shield of Light＞ who were watching her.

Even if Oz was beaten, we must do our part.

Everyone doesn’t have to risk it for me alone.

So, the first thing to do is to defeat the opponent while maintaining the formation.

I had to say that.

Even though I had to say… … .

“Ugh… … !”

Arrieta felt the greatest pain she had ever felt.

The decision directed against her heart seemed to tear her heart apart.

“therefore… … .”

Arrieta held back her tears.

The nearby ＜Shields of Light＞ watched Arietta and bit their lips, barely remaining silent.

They also want to respect Arrieta’s will.

In the first place, they have faith in ‘Arrieta’, a human and a saint. But it shouldn’t be like that.

Even their owners are patient, but they cannot step out.

“it’s okay… … . Stay in shape.”

Is it the aftermath of Arrieta’s lies about her heart, or is it because of the emotions she’s feeling.

She finished speaking with an inexplicable pain.

At those words, the ＜Shields of Light＞ swallowed their sighs and suppressed their helmets.

I knew that Arrieta couldn’t see, but I wanted to hide her expression so that her decision would not be in vain, and that she would not increase her hesitation.

“Are you really okay?”

“Sir Olivia stop… … .”

But Olivia was different.

She shrugged off the ＜Shields of Light＞ that tried to dissuade her and strode toward Arrieta.

“Are you really going to be okay with that? Arrieta.”

And asked the truth.

The feelings she hid inside that she had been holding back all along.

to listen.