Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Side Story 2, Arhil - If You Hadn't Come in Time
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!! Warning !!
This side story depicts the scenario where Cheriu Village is turned into ruins by the wraiths.
In other words, it's the case where Judah failed to arrive at the village earlier than planned, and following the game's normal story progression, Arhil becomes the apostle of Asmodeus, the subordinate of the Sovereign.
Asmodeus: A demon symbolizing lust among the seven deadly sins. There are tales that he was once the leader of the cherubim in the heavens. His form is depicted in bizarre ways and is also featured among Solomon's 72 demons. It's said that if you encounter Asmodeus and politely show respect without fear, he will reward you with the ring he wears or other treasures and teach you knowledge or occult arts.
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"Holy King..."
With an exhausted voice, she clasped her hands together and murmured. The sealed room had only a single magic lamp embedded in the ceiling for light. That glow was enough.
In fact, this situation sharpened her focus even more.
A warm, solid green light flowed between her palms, bringing peace of mind. The light deepened or faded with her concentration. This light symbolized the protective barrier enveloping the meeting hall.
While staying long-term in Cheriu Village due to the relentless rain, wraiths had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Their abrupt arrival startled the sleeping villagers into terror, and they had fled in panic to the meeting hall where she, the priestess, was staying. Awakened by the sinister aura, she roused her companions and dealt with the wraiths pursuing the people. Then she had urgently deployed the barrier.
The holy protective barrier around the meeting hall allowed people to pass through while blocking the wraiths. But that seemed to draw their attention instead, as an enormous horde gathered. It was far too many for her and her companions to handle.
She had no choice but to desperately maintain the barrier. It was the only thing she could do to protect the villagers. After two days, amid the growing murmurs and anxiety of the people, she could no longer concentrate and retreated to the attic on the second floor.
Fueled solely by the thought that she must protect them without rest or sleep, she upheld the barrier. Lien brought her something to drink. He suggested staying here meant they would all die, so they should abandon the villagers and flee.
Hearing that, she felt a pang of disappointment toward Lien.
Of course, she understood why he would say such a thing. As a living human, death was terrifying. And as the leader of their team, he didn't want to die in vain. It was probably the best option he could think of.
But she was the priestess of Yophiel, the third Holy King, who loved peace and safeguarded lives.
Though her faith in the Holy King's will wasn't unwavering, her conscience wouldn't yet allow her to abandon the villagers and flee for her own survival. So she persuaded her companions. Just a little longer. She didn't know how much time had passed since then.
Without sleeping or resting, she prayed ceaselessly, drawing forth divine power to maintain the barrier. Fortunately, her desperation seemed to lend strength, as the green light gathered in her hands didn't weaken. But at some point, whispers from the wraiths began echoing in her ears like hallucinations.
-What do you even gain by going this far? Is it really worth all this suffering?
-Release it. Then we'll let you live. We're not interested in you, with your divine power. We just need those villagers. Hand them over, and you can live. You can see the light of this world, smell the flowers, and keep on living.
-Ah, are you worried about your companions? Fine, out of kindness, we'll spare up to three. How's that? Not a bad deal, right?
The wraiths tried to coax her.
-You damned wench! How long do you think you can hold out?!
-Stay right there. When I break this barrier and get in, I'll make you wish for death!
They cursed and threatened her.
-Aren't you tired yet? You've done more than enough. No one can blame you. It's a noble sacrifice.
-Now, close your eyes and count to three. Just rest easy. You're exhausted, aren't you? How about a quick nap? You'll wake up and get back to it. What could happen in just a moment?
They tempted her.
-Ah, how tragic. Do you really think the Holy Kings will answer your desperate prayers?
-It's been days since we arrived. But sadly, your prayers haven't reached those lofty ones. Of course not! If they answered you, they would've answered our prayers when we died, too.
-Your faith is pointless. Even if they granted you holy power, it's not infinite. Come on, give up.
-The gods remain neutral. The Holy Kings share their power in exchange for faith, but they don't intervene directly. No matter how much you pray or endure, no miracle will come.
They tried to shatter her convictions.
But she held firm, unyielding. She wouldn't be foolish enough to fall for mere wraith whispers. She knew Yophiel wouldn't aid her. She knew the gods had to stay neutral.
The only reason she endured was hope for a miracle.
She held on and on. For the villagers trembling in fear below.
There had been talk of reinforcements coming from nearby Kaora Castle. But ten days had passed, and no one came. Even with the pouring rain, it was only a two-day journey. Despair crept in at their absence.
Some hunters recklessly volunteered to go to the castle themselves and left the meeting hall. She couldn't help them while maintaining the barrier, even knowing they were going. Many wraiths pursued the escapees. Thanks to that, the pressure on the barrier eased slightly, and the whispers in her ear grew quieter, giving her a moment to breathe.
As she teetered on the brink of collapse, the door opened, and a little girl entered. The angel-like child who wiped her sweat with a towel and brought her water and food. She took the towel, wiped the sweat from her body, and steeled her resolve.
She couldn't give up, not with a child like this to protect. She couldn't break.
All she could do was endure as long as possible, waiting for aid from the castle.
But could the hunters even reach the castle, evading all those wraiths outside?
Anxiety gnawed at her, but she forced herself to think hopefully.
'Just a little longer.'
At most two days, three at the latest. By then, at least one of the hunters who slipped out in various directions would reach Kaora Castle and call for help.
This was the magicians' kingdom of Calypso, so skilled mages capable of handling wraiths would surely come. Priests, adventurers, and mercenaries would band together to save the village.
With that belief, she endured.
Silently, steadfastly, propping up her faltering body through sheer will. She endured with faith. Yophiel was watching. Yophiel would help.
....
....
....
But even after a long time, no one came to the village. The rain poured on, and the wraiths continued eroding her mind. Finally, the limit arrived.
'No! I can't hold it any longer...!'
She'd thought she'd reached her limit many times before, but this was truly it. She couldn't endure anymore. Sensing the barrier weakening, the wraiths attacked it. All her steadfast resistance crumbled in an instant. The green light leaking from her hands flickered out.
'No, no!'
She screamed silently. The moment the light vanished from her hands, she tried to summon it again, but not even a handful of sand's worth of divine power remained in her body.
It was over.
The light wouldn't gather, and the wraiths poured into the building unchecked. The sensory link from the barrier was gone. She could hear the wraiths' mocking laughter. Their cackling as they entered felt like a lie.
-There you are. Wait just a sec. I'll be right there.
One wraith poked its head from the ceiling, spoke, and vanished. Clasping her hands, she stared vacantly at the empty ceiling. Screams echoed from beyond the closed door.
"Yophiel... what should I do? O God, why must this be..."
Clank.
At that moment, the latch on the closed door turned, and a girl entered. The angel-like child. The sweet girl who had brought her water and food and wiped her sweat in this cramped room while she prayed.
'She hasn't been attacked by the wraiths yet!'
Determined to protect at least this child, she rose to approach her. But then the girl's neck twisted unnaturally to the side. Startled, she froze in place. The girl curled her lips into a smile. It wasn't the child. Her instincts told her so.
"I said I'd be right here, didn't I?"
The girl lunged at her. But even possessed by a wraith, it was still a child's body.
'First, I need to exorcise the wraith from this child!'
Without divine power, the best option now was to knock her out. She lowered her stance to meet the girl's eyes and extended her right hand. Her open palm engulfed the child's small face.
"I'm sorry."
Reflexively, she apologized and put strength into her body. Though her physical strength was weaker than her companions', she had trained in holy martial arts and was competent in close combat. The girl's body, face gripped, slid backward and flipped. The possessing wraith yelped in surprise, "Huh?" Then the girl's head slammed into the floor.
Thud! Her body went limp. Swiftly, the priestess rushed to the door, locked it, and dragged the attic furniture to barricade it. Footsteps echoed from beyond. Thud, thud—not just one or two. Like an army marching, the sounds turned her face pale.
-Kekeke, it's so pitiful watching you do all this pointless stuff. Ah, does the Holy King see you wrapped in this crisis?
The wraith that had fled the girl's body floated around the room as it spoke. Clank, clank—the door handle turned. Locked, it wouldn't open. A brief silence followed, then the locked handle turned on its own. Her eyes widened at the sight. The wraith cackled.
The barricade kept the door shut, but soon thuds shook it as something rammed against it, pushing the furniture aside. She dragged the girl back and assumed a holy martial arts stance.
'My body feels so heavy.'
No wonder. Over ten days in this tiny attic, kneeling in prayer, barely eating or sleeping. Her condition was at its worst, naturally. Her eyes narrowed. She didn't know how many were possessed, but she could take down a few at least. But then—bang—the door burst open. Seeing who stood there, despair filled her eyes.
'Holy King, why...'
Won't you help? Is this another trial?
"Arhil."
"Arhil."
At the door stood her companions, white pupils gleaming, smiling. Behind them, the villagers chanted her name. Arhil—her name echoed noisily through the meeting hall.
========== Afterword ==========
1) Reader: Alright! The author's seal is broken now!
[System: Seal release failed!]
[Wrong ego is liberated.]
Reader: Huh? Wait. This isn't what we wanted!
2) This must be shocking for those who wanted sweet content. Heh heh heh.
You feel betrayed, right? Who'd have thought this author would write something like this!
(Not that you like the twist, probably.)
Honestly, I'm hesitating to write what comes next.
This is my first time trying something like this for real. Should I keep the bad end scene short, like one chapter? Or just gloss over it briefly? What do you all think?