Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Vlad Ducal Territory
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If there's one thing the Lord has taught me,
it's that we are, in truth, nothing at all.
On a night when stars fill the sky. Gazing at the countless stars pouring down, I remind myself once more that each and every one of them is a sun in its own right.
From a distant place, even the sun would look no different from a star. It would be just one among the countless stars in this vast universe.
Before I met the Lord, my knowledge was shallower and smaller than that of a frog in a well, but only after beholding Him did I truly understand how vast the world is.
Just because I can't reach out and touch a place doesn't mean it ceases to exist. Bringing even one of those many suns here would make it far larger than this crust we cling to and live upon.
On this tiny patch of land,
we humans—who can't survive in the sea, can't linger in the air, and can't dwell underground—simply eke out our existence on this narrow surface, on this continent smaller than the smallest star.
When you think about it that way, what meaning does our lives hold?
Once enough time passes for a star to burn out at the end of its life, no trace of our ever having been here will remain anywhere—it will vanish as if we never existed from the start.
Perhaps even this continent and our little world might shatter and scatter to pieces. Who knows. Humans don't live for such distant futures anyway.
"So, we must help one another."
And love one another,
seek a better future together, and live on.
No matter what the future holds, people must live in this moment.
"And love, as well."
As a human myself, I can't turn this world into paradise.
Only the Lord can do that.
But I can keep it from becoming hell.
I can ease the suffering of those in pain. I can gift time to those who won't live to see old age. The Lord granted me such power because He deems it meaningful.
"How much longer can I stay?"
I gently stroked Roca's hair as she slept, smoothing it out, lost in thought. The night deepened, and the moon rose. And today, we'd walked all day long.
Yet sleep wouldn't come. Drowsiness couldn't touch me. Naturally, this wasn't a good thing. At least, not for me.
My soul growing ever more fulfilled is a good thing,
but my frail body can't withstand the change. The transformation is now irreversible; I can only delay it. The backlash from using so many miracles is finally starting to hit now.
"The Night the Milky Way Blooms."
I hadn't wanted to use it, sensing this would happen,
but I had no choice. If I hadn't, I would have been the only one to survive.
"As expected, I couldn't endure it."
The moment I used that miracle, cracks formed in the vessel of my flesh.
The cracked vessel grew even more fragile. Miracles I once handled with ease now accelerate the wear on my body. Little by little, ever so slightly, I draw closer to ascension.
There's no pain. It's a good thing, after all.
Far from hurting, a sense of enlightenment and exaltation sometimes surges within me.
That's why the Lord doesn't restore my body.
He wishes for me to ascend to His side.
Even so, it would be utter nonsense to fear ascension and withhold salvation from those I can save.
That day will come regardless of what I do. As long as I don't use the Night the Milky Way Blooms again, employing other miracles won't drastically hasten it.
"I wish I could stay long enough to see you grow into a fine young woman."
I could watch from the lofty heavens after ascending, but I wouldn't be able to comfort you like this.
I don't know how much time I have left, but I pray it's still plenty. Lord, I beseech You—let me finish what I must do before I depart.
*****
"Vampires were a bat-like race shunned by both humans and demons. Sometimes they betrayed humans, sometimes demons, earning the distrust of both."
The next morning.
We set off toward the Vlad Ducal Territory, now not far off. Of course, after a simple breakfast of bread and butter from the cabin, along with goat milk cheese.
Vampires survive by siding with whichever is stronger—humans when humans dominate, demons when demons do. But we shouldn't dismiss them as mere cowards.
If they were only cowardly, they would have gone extinct or settled with one side long ago, unable to survive so many ages. The fact that they still walk this tightrope means they possess real skill and standing.
"So, Saint, I doubt you'd do this, but it's best not to provoke them with your words. Especially you, my disciple—you need to watch your mouth."
"Who's your disciple?"
Roca pouted, but she didn't deny it outright.
The master-disciple pair formed overnight didn't seem on great terms yet, but I had no doubt time and the Lord would sort it out.
"Halt there. Traveling merchant? Or adventurer?"
A bit further along, we spotted a soldiers' outpost. Even the Vlad Ducal House couldn't wall every border of their territory, so they typically posted troops at key paths connecting to the outside.
Even with spring breezes blowing, it still felt like winter—they were bundled head to toe in thick coats. Wide-brimmed hats and beak-like masks covered their faces tightly. The weather today wasn't that cold, so it was odd.
"Probably because they're vampires."
The princess whispered from behind me.
"Vampires are weak to the sun. That's why, despite their many powerful traits, they've never once dominated the continent."
Vampires can turn lesser vampires into familiars under near-absolute obedience. The princess called it the power of domination.
When superiors and subordinates move as one, it's a tremendous advantage. Unlike fractious humans or demons, vampires can make their entire race function like the limbs of their leader.
But all those strengths pale against their fatal weakness: sunlight. All vampires burn up the instant they're exposed, and not even purebloods can overcome it. The princess explained that even Duke Vlad Schmi ra himself would die instantly under the sun.
"Then, they're out here risking it all. To do their duty."
Hearing that, their heavy clothing and covered faces suddenly made perfect sense. They had no choice, given sunlight's lethality.
"Adventurer, correct. Here's my identification."
"A priest...? What business does a priest have coming here? There are no humans left for a priest to heal in this place."
The soldier shouted firmly.
"Get lost. The gods reject us vampires. We reject the gods and their followers. A holy power wielder wandering the duke's territory benefits neither you nor us."
Were they just trying to chase us off? No, but his words carried desperation.
He truly didn't want us inside. Of course, few towns or villages welcome adventurers, but they're generally tolerated if they don't cause trouble. This was strange.
Adventurers are outsiders who spend money in villages,
and few dislike money.
"Get that spear away."
That's when Roca snatched the spear tip aimed at me and twisted it aside. But in that instant, the soldier gripping the shaft screamed and recoiled. Fierce flames erupted from his hand, and he collapsed howling in agony I couldn't comprehend.
"Aaaagh! S-Sun! The sun!"
"What happened, Hans?! Damn it, what's all this commotion!?"
"Look at his hand. Ah—no, don't take off the glove yet. Let's check in a dark room first."
"Shoot them with arrows! Kill those bastards!"
The sudden chaos left me and the princess dazed.
What kind of welcome was this on our first visit? Roca hadn't meant to do it, either.
The child looked shocked herself, eyes wide, mouth opening and closing wordlessly.
"Oh no, solar mana!"
The princess finally realized and cried out.
"That's why I keep telling you to learn to control your mana fully...!"
Roca's mana had flowed into the spear shaft—and worst of all, it carried solar properties. If she'd intentionally released it, it wouldn't have ended at a hand.
It wasn't deliberate; it was just mana naturally flowing from high concentration to low. Roca's mana outstripped the soldier's.
Normally, it would have passed without issue, but the vampire's weakness to solar mana escalated it.
"Hah, shooting arrows? Go ahead if you dare."
All the uproar hushed in an instant.
A golden wyrm had appeared in the sky above, overwhelming the earth. The princess's mana aura took draconic form, dominating everything. Those drawing bowstrings froze without thinking.
"If you think you can bear the consequences."
"Y-Your Excellency... who in the world are you?"
Someone who seemed in charge rushed out and prostrated himself.
"We failed to recognize Your Highness and were rude. Might I inquire as to your identity?"
"Guests here to meet the duke. I am Ardein von Illumia, First Princess of the Empire."
"Ardein? That name... Ah, no, Her Highness..."
The confused soldiers soon realized this was beyond their authority. One dashed inside to report.
The leader guided us courteously.
"Please wait in the guest quarters for now? We'll report as swiftly as possible."
"Could I see the one who was injured earlier, just for a moment?"
I soothed the startled Roca and made the request.
"It was this child's mistake, so as her guardian, I'd like to take responsibility if I can."
I can't know why other great ones despise demons, but my Lord does not. He regards all life in this world equally.
The undead—those brought back to move when they should be dead—are the sole exception. Aside from granting them release instead of healing, my holy power heals demons too.
Of course, healing both foe and ally at once does nothing, so I usually limit it to allies. But with non-hostile demons, I've healed them multiple times.
This time would be no different.
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