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Chapter 140
Raising Hell
SPLAAASH────!
Calix shot out of the water and into the air in the blink of an eye.
In the process, he even wrapped my practically naked body tightly in his cloak to keep me covered.
After safely making it out of the water, I marveled at the superhuman physical abilities of a Grand Swordmaster before finally coughing out the breath I had been holding.
“Cough, khk, cough-cough.”
I flopped down onto the solid platform of internal energy supporting my feet and hacked repeatedly, trying to expel the water that had gotten into my lungs.
Calix kept circling around me anxiously, not knowing what to do. I was just about to reassure him that I was really fine and tell him not to worry when—
Clang─!
A short ring of steel sounded from above my head.
“⋯?!”
I looked up in surprise.
Four Imperial Knights were holding their swords to Calix’s neck.
“You vile criminal! As if becoming the pawn of destruction and throwing the world into chaos weren’t enough, you even escaped prison to avoid your scheduled execution.”
“If you have even the slightest bit of conscience or shame left, do not resist.”
“Discard all your weapons and surrender peacefully!”
“Pay the price for the crimes you have committed!”
Calix offered no excuses or explanations in response to their words.
“⋯⋯.”
He simply remained silent.
Just as I was about to step in front of him protectively and explain the entire situation to the knights on his behalf—
The knights suddenly scattered in panic, apparently afraid that their actions might be interpreted as pointing their swords at the Saintess.
And behind them, a prince with dark blond hair appeared.
For some reason, his bright red eyes were staring at me rather than Calix.
“⋯?!”
A terrible premonition washed over me.
I hurriedly tried to get to my feet and somehow stop him from saying whatever he was about to say.
But he was faster than I was.
Step.
The bastard knelt reverently before me and moved his mouth without permission.
“O otherworldly noble who descended upon this world by borrowing the body of Saintess Lindjia.”
⋯Ah.
“Benevolent one who, despite saving the world once and escaping from that body, learned that the destruction of this world had not yet ended, and thus remained here in a new body to continue your sacred journey.”
I couldn’t utter a single word.
I simply froze.
Meanwhile, the knights who had scattered to avoid me regrouped behind my back, separating Calix and me.
Judging by the brief sound of a sword cutting through the air—
Swish.
They had apparently pointed their blades at Calix’s neck once again.
At the same time, Marev not only remained kneeling before me but lowered his head deeply.
“As the Prince of the Nepherto Empire, I offer my infinite gratitude for your efforts in dispelling the shadow of destruction hanging over the continent of Artifexa with your radiant light.”
“⋯⋯.”
Even my fingertips were trembling.
I was furious.
I resented him for exposing my secret like this.
At the very least, I had wanted to tell Calix myself.
I didn’t want him to learn the truth from someone else’s mouth like this.
I had wanted to tell him with a sincere apology…
I wanted to make sure he was hurt just a little less.
Having that opportunity stolen from me so completely was devastating.
Tears welled up in my eyes.
I could feel the warm liquid trickling down my face, which still hadn’t completely dried.
And I could feel his gaze boring into the back of my head, refusing to leave.
His vivid violet eyes, trembling as though he couldn’t believe what he had just heard, flashed through my mind.
“Borrowing your body⋯? What exactly does that mean⋯⋯?”
His voice trembled with shock, desperately demanding an explanation from me.
But⋯⋯
“⋯⋯.”
I couldn’t bring myself to turn around.
In a situation like this, in this state, there was no way I could face him.
The only thing I could do was glare at the bastard kneeling before me with bloodshot eyes.
Despite his reverent posture, he wore an extremely triumphant expression.
He seemed quite pleased with the havoc he had so skillfully caused.
Even while basking in his victory and wearing a sinister smile across his face, he continued speaking in a remarkably polite and solemn tone.
“The temple is currently in great turmoil, with both the Pope and the Saintess absent. Before the people begin to panic as well, filling that vacant position is more urgent than anything else.”
“⋯⋯.”
“The six hidden dungeons you mentioned previously have all been conquered as of today. Therefore, I earnestly ask that you return to the temple and take your place as the Saintess, the spiritual pillar of all the people of the continent.”
I stared silently at Marev before roughly wiping my damp face with the back of my hand.
⋯⋯Right. This isn’t the time for me to be wallowing in this.
I still had things left to do.
There were still things I could do for him.
I’ll show you that you’re not the only one who can raise hell⋯⋯!
I steeled my resolve, tightened the cloak Calix had wrapped around me, and rose from where I had been sitting.
Straightening my back and neck, I spoke in a dignified voice despite my slightly hoarse throat.
“Before that, put away your swords and stand down.”
Without turning around, I gave the order.
The knights standing behind me with their blades pointed at Calix began to panic.
“Pardon⋯?!”
“Stand down, Saintess?”
“But this man is a high treasonous criminal who deserves immediate execution on the spot⋯⋯.”
【Rebirth】
With a forceful declaration, I silenced the knights who had been talking over me.
Heavy golden spheres descended and filled the entire area.
Amid the spectacle of healing light seeping into every cut and wound, Calix no longer swallowed back painful groans.
I was grateful for the peaceful silence I had wished for all this time.
Then I fixed my gaze on Marev, who had risen behind me.
I sneered at the way his brow had twisted, but outwardly continued speaking in the gentle tone befitting a Saintess.
“My ‘Rebirth’ functions as a healing power for ordinary people. But to those who have been corrupted by a curse, it becomes a poison that takes their lives while inflicting unimaginable pain.”
Marev and the knights and mages accompanying him, as well as the Western Wilderness Knights led by Pelion, all turned their gazes toward my back.
They stared at Calix, who remained completely unharmed in the midst of ‘Rebirth,’ each wearing a bewildered expression.
“Uh⋯⋯.”
“Th-then that means⋯⋯.”
“Could it be⋯⋯?”
Unable to bring themselves to say the words aloud, they hesitated.
So I said it for them in a firm, unwavering voice.
“Therefore, Calix Nepherto is not a corrupted being. He is merely one of the greatest victims caught up in the vortex of a fate called destruction.”
“A victim⋯⋯?”
I kindly answered the questions voiced by several of them.
“A host and scapegoat chosen by the ‘Curse of Destruction’ that seeks to manifest in this world in order to erase the world abandoned by its god. That is what Calix Nepherto is.”
“I-I can’t believe this⋯⋯!”
“How could something like that⋯⋯?”
The people were shocked.
At the same time, they glanced anxiously over my shoulder.
Even if Calix himself had not become corrupted, they were clearly frightened by the possibility that the Curse of Destruction residing within him might emerge again at any moment.
I put even that fear to rest.
“But even that wicked Curse of Destruction ultimately failed to break his steadfast will and good nature. In the end, it left him and disappeared.”
“⋯⋯!”
Marev’s face twisted horribly.
It seemed he had only just realized that everything had gone irreversibly wrong.
But everyone except him merely stared at Calix behind me with expressions filled with awe, guilt, and respect.
I took a deep breath before adding firmly,
“Therefore, Calix Nepherto is innocent and without guilt.”
Then I slowly turned around.
Careful not to meet Calix’s eyes, I spoke coldly to the knights who were still pointing their swords at him.
“I guarantee his innocence. Therefore, Imperial Knights, withdraw the blades you have pointed at him immediately.”
“But⋯⋯.”
One of the knights trailed off before stealing a glance at Marev.
Just as I thought.
They were doing this not out of loyalty to the Imperial Family, but because of Marev’s orders.
I faced the Imperial Knight directly and spoke each word clearly.
“If you accuse an innocent man of a crime, the temple will abandon its long-standing coexistence with the Imperial Family and regard the Empire as an enemy equal to destruction and the curse itself. If necessary, we will not hesitate to wage war with our full strength. I sincerely hope you make the right decision.”
Naturally, I wasn’t really speaking to the knight.
I was speaking to the bastard behind him.
Grittt.
Marev ground his teeth so hard it sounded as though they might crumble.
Then he spat out through clenched teeth,
“Put your swords away!”
I waited until all four Imperial Knights had sheathed their swords and stepped back.
Only then did I turn around again.
My eyes met Marev’s.
His eyes were narrowed like a snake’s, apparently because he was thoroughly enraged.
And what exactly are you going to do about it?
I scoffed before speaking.
“So, aren’t you leaving?”
“⋯⋯Huh?”
“I believe you said something was extremely urgent earlier. Or did I hear you incorrectly?”
I deliberately provoked him.
Marev let out a furious, hollow laugh.
“Hah!”
But only for a moment.
His expression soon changed into one that seemed to say, Fine. Let’s see what you can do.
Then he roughly grabbed my wrist.
He turned toward the mage standing awkwardly nearby and shouted,
“We’re returning to the Imperial Palace immediately! Tear the return magic scroll! Right now!”
Riiip.
The scroll tore apart, and the blue magic stored within it flooded my vision.
When the light disappeared, the familiar scenery of the Imperial Palace spread out before us.
“⋯⋯.”
Very slowly, I turned slightly to look behind me.
Calix was nowhere to be seen.
And just like that—
I ran away from him.
