Chapter 98
Elysia opened her eyes to the sounds of explosions echoing from all directions.
She didn't know why such sounds were coming from within the Order.
But one thing was clear: an unknown change was occurring right now.
*What should I do?*
Rationally, she should have immediately risen and exploited the change, but... Perhaps it was because her only hope had been brutally shattered, and she had realized that everything around her was a lie. She no longer wanted to do anything; she simply wanted to give up on everything.
I don't even know how to move forward anyway.
Just as she was thinking that remaining still, like a corpse, wasn't so bad. Past memories resurfaced in her mind.
Starting with her Mother's last words, and the Northerners' cries, which, in retrospect, now seemed utterly artificial. And even Damian's inexplicable kindness.
Perhaps because she no longer knew what she was supposed to do, the past kept replaying in her mind. It continuously produced only regret, delusion, and torment.
Regret fed on regret, swelling in size. The regret, growing steadily, eventually consumed her entirely. Just as she reached a state of powerlessness where she could do nothing at all... a thought she should never have entertained resurfaced.
*If only I had begged Damian for forgiveness.*
The moment this thought crossed her mind, she let out a self-deprecating laugh and shook her head. Even if this thought were the right choice, acknowledging it would negate her entire life... It was more ideal to brainwash herself into believing that her past actions had been the best.
*...Meaningless.*
Everything was meaningless and worthless. So, just as she was about to close her eyes and try to dream, the vibrations grew stronger and the explosions louder.
...
The sounds were distinctly alien, yet strangely familiar. As she pondered where she might have heard them before. It suddenly struck her that these sounds were similar to those Damian made when he caused *terror*. She narrowed her eyes.
*...No way.*
Thinking *no way*, but just in case, she got out of bed, carefully opened the door, and checked outside. Normally, if she did this, the Holy Knights would stop her and tell her to go back inside. Strangely, no one stopped her. No... to be precise, there were no Holy Knights to stop her.
*Why?*
No matter how urgent the situation, those guarding this place wouldn't usually abandon their posts... their absence was rather strange. As she wondered why, she heard the sound of people rushing out nearby.
Thinking that the sounds might be connected to the current situation, she cautiously stepped outside.
*In the distance, a familiar figure was heading somewhere.*
*...Damian?*
Why was Damian here? Surprise momentarily struck her, making her hesitate. But a strong intuition told her not to let him get away like this, so she unconsciously started to move.
She stretched her legs forward, but her pace gradually slowed, and as time passed, the distance only grew wider.
*Even if I were to meet him now... would it even matter?*
They had not only tried to kill each other but had also crossed a line from which there was no return. She couldn't tell if facing him and talking would be a meaningful act, so her steps gradually slowed.
It would be meaningless.
She knew, of course... that nothing would improve even if she went and talked to him. Therefore, the act itself was meaningless and worthless, a completely pointless action, so she stopped completely and stared ahead.
If I had accepted Damian's kindness back then, would a different future have unfolded?
It was merely a vague, opaque hypothetical, impossible to know now. Yet, thinking *perhaps*, she squeezed her eyes shut.
*...*
Thinking she no longer knew what was what, she stopped and sank to the floor. Endless self-reproach and loathing assailed her, churning in her mind.
In this hopeless situation, where every direction pointed to a wrong answer. It was clear as day that the outcome would be unfavorable, whatever she chose... The realization that all she could do was embrace despair simply weighed down her entire body.
So she just sat there, listening to the explosions echoing from all directions, feeling an intensely lonely emptiness wash over her. She buried her face in her hands.
* * * * *
I followed Archbishop Mikhail, planting Shadow Bombs everywhere. I wondered where that Archbishop Mikhail was rushing off to so frantically, and I quickened my pace. In the distance, a strange power was spreading in all directions.
*...Divine power.*
The moment I confirmed the immense divine power spreading, I thought there might be a holy relic of great power there... Yes, perhaps even a Holy Sword, I thought, and smiled.
*Found it.*
Though his help was completely unintended, I thought everything he did was helping me. I licked my lips, threw a few Shadow Bombs nearby, and quickly began to move forward. Reaching Archbishop Mikhail, I called Daisy and slammed an Origin Explosion into the back of his head.
*KWA-A-A-ANG!*
With a massive explosion, Daisy's intense flames began to melt the entire Passage. She seemed stronger than last time, so feeding her Elysia's remnants must have been effective. I quickly patted Daisy's back as if to say “good job” and then surveyed my surroundings.
*While the Holy Knights behind him were all knocked out*
Archbishop Mikhail seemed largely unharmed, glaring at me with a heavily scrunched-up face. Seeing this, I smiled as brightly as possible at Archbishop Mikhail and said.
Found you.
We weren't exactly on friendly terms, so there was no need for greetings. Thinking this, I decided to follow up, rapidly extending shadows in all directions, causing explosions everywhere, and saying.
Come at me.
Daisy, who had been quietly listening on my shoulder, seemed to like me saying "Come at me," and mimicked me, cheering triumphantly.
Myaak!
As I chuckled at her, Archbishop Mikhail, who was in front of me, spoke to me with a very grim expression.
...Hmph. What a lowly wretch.
The guy who always pretended to be kind and smiled now twisted his face into a grimace and glared at me. He then unleashed divine power powerfully and spoke to me.
I've been too lenient, and now you're climbing all over me, not knowing your place.
Then, he massively spread the divine power he possessed, distorting the surroundings, and spoke to me.
...I'll tear off all your skin and stuff it into your mouth.
Then he quickly approached me, reaching out his hand. I gripped my mace tightly against his attack, taking a stance to receive it. But before I collided with Archbishop Mikhail, I used my Shadow to switch places and said.
You want to fight?
If it were just Archbishop Mikhail, maybe, but fighting in the heart of the Order... and in an Order with a Paladin, no less, was insane. I couldn't fight Archbishop Mikhail, at least for now.
...You inferior bastard!
So I pushed back the divine power rushing at me with mana and quickly scanned my surroundings.
It must be around here somewhere.
I felt the immense divine power emanating from all directions and tried to find the Holy Sword. But no matter how much I looked, I couldn't find it, so I decided I had no choice but to use my Finishing Move.
Worm Bomb.
At the word "Worm," Archbishop Mikhail momentarily flinched. He must have realized that "Worm" referred to the giant worms he had seen in The North. I told him he was right, summoned the Worm Bomb, and immediately entered the Shadow.
The moment I entered the Shadow, I saw items stolen from the Paladin's Room scattered everywhere. I smiled awkwardly, watching Shiren and Ruen tidying them up. Then I returned to where I had been.
*
When I returned, what I saw was the utterly destroyed state of the Order. Fortunately, it wasn't just collapsed, but everything was shattered, making it easier to look around than before. I nodded with satisfaction and was surveying the scene when, in front of me, Archbishop Mikhail was glaring at me, bleeding.
Damian...!
He seemed to have lost all reason due to rage. Unlike before, he violently unleashed divine power and rapidly approached me. Of course, this wasn't worth dealing with either, so I openly ignored him and looked around.
*Where could it be?*
It's definitely around here. As I pondered this, a thought suddenly flashed through my mind.
*Below.*
Remembering Liana saying that mana became more abundant the further Underground you went, I thought the Holy Sword might be buried beneath. Just in case, I used an Origin Explosion on the floor and detonated it. I found a pure white box.
Seeing this, I couldn't hide my smile. Looking at Archbishop Mikhail who was frantically approaching me, I grinned widely and said.
Thanks for the treat.
At my words, Archbishop Mikhail cursed and called out to me. Hearing this, I smiled proudly, then manifested my Shadow and entered the Shadow City.