Chapter 270: Righteous Light
Chapter 270: Righteous Light
Righteous Light lifted her head.
The chapel was as dark as the night sky. In its center stood her own statue, towering and resolute.
It was the silhouette of a lion, cast in deep shadow.
That image felt like an omen of her own future, and Righteous Light unconsciously grit her teeth.
Perhaps even for a god, thoughts do not always follow logic, and the heart does not always follow one's will.
No matter how much she steeled her resolve, anxiety was like a deadly poison—a single drop was enough to spread through her entire being.
What if… she failed to resist the Fall from Grace? If she ceased to be herself, how would that be any different from death?
In this moment, Righteous Light finally understood why humans believed in gods and offered up prayers.
The anxiety of an invisible future. The terror of a reality beyond one's own capabilities. And the single thread of hope that one simply cannot let go of.
It was only natural to want to lean on someone.
If she had been told to simply fight until she died, she wouldn't feel this miserable.
But the thought that she might lose her mind at any moment and destroy everything she wished to protect with her own hands was steadily gnawing away at her psyche.
Her ears and tail drooped dejectedly. Just as the light of life was fading from Righteous Light’s eyes—
K-boom!
The back wall was blown away with a thunderous explosion.
“???”
Righteous Light leaped to her feet in shock. At the same time, light began to flood into the chapel.
However, she didn't notice the lion statue regaining its original color, nor did she register the restored connection to her main body.
That was because an even more shocking scene was unfolding through the shattered wall.
The barrier was crumbling like sludge. Shards of holy power were shattering and fluttering through the air like snow.
And amidst it all stood a man, smiling weakly.
“I came to get you since you were taking so long.”
“Hic!”
Righteous Light had no idea what had happened.
She didn't know why Yandel was dripping blood from his nose and mouth, nor why he, a mage, was leaking her own holy power from his body.
She knew nothing.
But there was one thing she knew for certain.
The possibility she had long since abandoned had become a reality right before her eyes.
Yes. Like a miracle.
Righteous Light muttered as if possessed.
“Purr-grrr…”
She let out a cry whose meaning only she could understand.
*
“Purr-grrr…”
Not only was she staring blankly at me while hiccuping, but now Righteous Light was suddenly making animal noises.
Was she really that surprised?
No, more importantly, there was something urgent to attend to.
“Excuse me…”
“Grrr?! W-what is it?!”
I held out my arms toward Righteous Light, who answered in a strangely creaky voice.
“……?”
Though she tilted her head in confusion, she crept closer and pulled me into an embrace.
I felt a soft sensation against my body. It was Helena’s familiar divine power pouches. Though the ears flickering right in front of my nose were new.
Since they were made of light, I thought they might just be illusions, but they really felt like lion ears.
The fur was soft, and there was a faint, musky scent of a beast…
Ah, now isn't the time for this.
“Ahem. Lady Righteous Light?”
“Sniff?”
“Why the sudden hug…?”
“Didn’t you want me to hold you?”
“I meant I wanted a Heal.”
“…….”
“…….”
In the awkward atmosphere, Righteous Light pulled away. Avoiding my gaze, she placed her hand on my chest.
Whoosh!
A bright light bloomed from her delicate hands and was absorbed into my body. The pain, which had felt like I’d swallowed shards of glass, subsided rapidly.
“Phew. I feel like I can breathe again.”
I made a lighthearted remark with a much more comfortable smile, but for some reason, the frown on Righteous Light’s face didn't fade.
“…Your condition is much more serious than it looks. Would you understand if I said there’s a giant hole right in the middle of you that can’t be seen?”
“Well, I pushed myself a bit. But I’m okay for now, right?”
“No. You forcibly tore off the divine blessing I gave you, didn't you? This isn't a normal wound; if you're not careful, you'll be in real trouble. Don't try to fight anymore.”
“Really…?”
“I mean it. A divine blessing is originally bestowed somewhere between the soul and the body. If you rip it away so violently, damage to both sides is inevitable.”
Righteous Light explained that while she had mostly treated the physical body just now, a part of my soul was still in tatters.
Am I screwed?
My anxiety was short-lived. Righteous Light gave a small smirk and patted my shoulder.
“Don't worry too much! Even if it's tough now, there's a way. I'll treat you as soon as this is over!”
“Then… that’s a relief.”
Righteous Light grinned as if telling me to trust her, then infused holy power into the medallion around my neck.
Hummm.
The medallion, which sucked up the holy power as fast as it was injected, trembled. Soon, it emitted a soft glow and projected the image of a woman into the air.
White hair so long it reached the floor. Skin so translucent it looked almost see-through. And ancient-style clothing.
As her closed eyelids fluttered open, emerald eyes were revealed.
Former Saintess Clara bowed her waist with extreme politeness.
—First, I would like to offer my sincere thanks. To be honest, I had given up on everything and was preparing for my second death… but thanks to you, that won't be necessary. You may steal a glance at my chest now if you wish.
“I can’t see anything, though?”
—Well, of course. Why would a Saintess wear clothes that show off her cleavage?
Clara lifted her head and giggled, puffing out her chest. She was quite voluminous, but as she said, there was no exposure at all.
“…By the way, this is no time to be idling around.”
—Is it because the others are fighting outside? Do not worry. The Lord has already taken measures.
“That’s right. I expanded the barrier slightly to cover the children fighting out front!”
At those words, I looked back and saw Iona staring at the barrier with a dazed expression, and the Holy Knights offering up prayers in deep emotion.
It seemed I didn't need to worry about that side for now. However.
“My other companions are fighting on a hill far from here. Their position is good, and they’ve fortified it well with Cardinal Gertrude and the other priests, so there shouldn't be any problems yet… but I can't just leave them like that.”
“It’s okay. We don’t plan on staying still either.”
Righteous Light gave a bitter smile and whispered to Clara as she headed toward the edge of the barrier.
“You know, Clara. I think I was wrong.”
—About what?
“Prioritizing rescue and fighting defensively was fine. But even after bringing everyone into the Great Temple, staying holed up to avoid unnecessary casualties until reinforcements arrived was a bad move. It almost made things even more dangerous.”
—I wonder. Even if you had gone out to fight, the result likely wouldn't have been much different. It seems those bastards came prepared.
“Maybe. But I wouldn't have been taken down so easily. Even if the ones performing the ritual were hidden and hard to find… in the end, the Fall Ritual itself has to be activated by surrounding this Solaris.”
More people would have died than now, and it would have been much harder. But she wouldn't have been defeated so helplessly.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been in a real fight, so I guess I’ve gone soft.”
—Certainly. It was a judgment unlike the Righteous Light I know. May I ask why?
“It’s nothing special. I just got greedy. It’s inevitable for people to die or get hurt in battle, but if they can live, isn't it better to save them? The experience of losing someone while thinking they’d be fine on their own—like back in your time—once is enough.”
—…I have told you many times, I have never once held a grudge against the Lord.
“Yeah. So this is just my own greed. I thought that since reinforcements were coming anyway, and I had Helena who could draw on my power indefinitely, everyone could make it out alive. I forgot just how annoying the followers of the Evil God can be.”
Righteous Light chuckled, saying that even for her, three hundred years was enough for her guard to slip.
But suddenly, her laughter cut off, and she continued with a cold, serious face.
“So, from now on, I’m going to act like myself. Will you help me, Clara?”
—I—no, we—will follow the Lord’s will. This is a faith that remains unchanged even as eras pass, so please, do as you wish.
“Thanks.”
Righteous Light gave a beaming smile and took a deep breath as she glared at the monsters pounding on the barrier.
Her chest expanded greatly. What followed was the roar of a lion.
[ROOOOOAAAAR!!]
It was a roar far too powerful to have come from a human mouth.
At this, not only I but even the monsters flinched for a moment… but before long, they began to glare back with even more ferocious bloodlust.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The creatures hammered on the barrier with deafening force. Leaving behind that sight which would make anyone’s knees tremble, Righteous Light continued in a nonchalant tone.
“Just watch from there. I’m going to go wild for a bit.”
Today was the first time I realized that Helena’s face could look so terrifying.