Chapter 460: For the Savior
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 460: For the Savior
From the moment I first came here, from my time on Earth, from when I was a child, I have always wanted many things. Even though I lived a life of plenty with nothing to lack, I constantly desired more. If I had something, I kept it. If I couldn't have something, I took it by force.
It wasn't just material things. The affection of others, their philosophies, their emotions, their dreams… I can proudly say I obtained even those things that couldn't be held in my hand or seen with my eyes.
Naturally, I met all sorts of people. I encountered many who had no greed at all, but there was a certain kind of look that appeared from time to time.
Eyes stained with avarice. They were the ones who wanted to steal what I had, who wanted to stand where I stood. Theirs were the eyes of those who coveted my philosophy, my ideology, my religion, my power, my money, my clothes, my dreams—everything I possessed.
And that was the look in the eyes of everyone gathered here now.
“The day of revolution has dawned. We have been through so much. There were meaningless wars. We fought for meaningless ideals, shed meaningless blood, and meaningless lives were extinguished before they could even blossom. Now, with our own hands, we have captured the leader who watched all of this from behind her castle walls and smiled. We can finally judge her for her sins.”
“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
As the voice continued to echo, Maria bit her lip. She knew they were just rationalizing their actions.
It’s flowing in, without a doubt.
The emotion they were sending—greed—was steadily pouring into her body.
That demon wasn't the only one trying to take what was hers. It was laughable that she hadn't realized it until now. Every single person here wanted what she had.
Some wanted her position. Some wanted her power. Some wanted her wealth. Some wanted the additional benefits they could gain once this was all over. The emotion of greed was etched clearly on every one of their faces.
Thieves.
They were all here to steal. They were jackals, hiding behind the guise of revolution, preparing to snatch away everything she possessed.
Maria was slowly dragged toward the front of the platform.
Her neck was slowly placed upon the guillotine. Her arms were bound so she couldn't resist, and above her head, a massive blade was ready to fall.
“Your last words…”
“Last words?”
“Anything will do.”
“Don’t make me laugh. You filthy dogs and pigs…”
They were nothing but dogs and pigs, who she thought would have been perfectly content with the scraps she left behind. All humans are greedy. She had created a society that encouraged greed, but her mistake was forgetting that they, too, were human.
“Don’t make me laugh! Don’t make me laugh, you damn dogs and pigs!”
“…”
“You two-faced hypocrites, hiding your true intentions behind the facade of revolution! Did you think I wouldn’t know what you’re thinking?! You, who followed me for your own selfish desires and enjoyed a life of luxury—do you really think you’re standing here with pure intentions?”
“Kill her!”
“Shut that filthy mouth!”
“You’re all just thinking about what you’ll get when I’m dead, aren’t you? The wealth I’ve amassed, my power, the social system I built, the works of art I own—did you think it would all fall into your laps? I will never let you take it. You trash. Never! I’ll never lose it! Not to you! Not to that son of a bitch! And not to that demon! What I have is mine and mine alone. This country, this alliance! Everything here is mine!”
“…”
Responding to her venomous, blood-curdling scream was the golden saint, Jane.
“Not everyone lives with the same thoughts as you.”
“Don’t make me laugh. I can feel that filthy emotion from you too, you bitch. I don’t know what you want out of this, but you’ve definitely changed.”
“Yes. I have changed. For the better, I believe. I would appreciate it if you did not speak of my feelings for him with that filthy mouth of yours. Are those your final words?”
“I’ll never lose it. Not to anyone… It’s all mine.”
“It seems that is all you have to say. Please carry out the sentence.”
“Never… Never…”
She could see the executioner, axe in hand, preparing to cut the rope and drop the blade. It wasn't just him. Faces twisted with madness were watching her die. The faces of horned demons, ready to steal everything she had, were watching her.
Her blonde hair had turned white before she knew it.
It felt like a scene from a story.
But there was no time for sentiment. Her body wasn't reacting out of fear of death. It wasn't dying that she was afraid of. The thought of having everything taken from her was far more terrifying. The thought of her possessions going to them after she died was terrifying. The thought of being left with nothing was far, far more terrifying.
“I won’t… lose it! Never! I won’t lose it! Not to scum like you, you fucking pigs and worms! Never!!!”
Crack!
She felt the guillotine fall. But contrary to her expectation of a cold sensation slicing through her neck, she felt the restraints binding her shatter with absurd ease.
The demons who had been sneering at her suddenly shrank to the size of ants. She couldn't understand what was happening. The only thing that was certain was that she had escaped the situation.
“A mon… monster…”
“A monster…”
She saw the executioner looking up at her with shocked eyes. His face was one of utter disbelief. She raised her arm and slammed it down on him. With a sickening crunch, she felt a strange sensation in her hand.
“I will never lose it! Never!!! Not to anyone! I won’t let you take it!!”
A god.
The one who helped her just now must have been the God of Greed.
“Prepare for battle!”
“Everyone, get ready! Kill… kill that insane monster!”
“Re-form the lines! Assume combat positions immediately! Mages, mages!”
The chirping of ants kept piercing her ears. She couldn't understand who they were calling a monster. She, Maria, was a chosen one. She was smarter than anyone, stronger than anyone, and chosen to stand above all others.
That was why she had obtained what others could not. This was all hers.
Spells flew and struck her body, but she felt not even a tickle.
“I… I am the chosen one! I will have everything! Everything!”
KRRRRRRUNCH!!!
“Aaaaaaaargh!”
“Get back!!”
With every swing of her arm, dozens of insects were sent flying. With every stomp of her foot, those who coveted what was hers were swept away.
“Trash! You’re all trash! You are all sentenced to death. All who coveted what is mine are sentenced to death!”
“Mon… ster…”
“You’re the monsters! I am the chosen one. Chosen by a god. Both on Earth and here…”
A massive wave of divine power began to emanate. She could see the bodies of the dying insects beginning to heal. It was the golden saint, the one who had led the revolutionary army to steal what was hers.
“No. You are simply a greedy monster.”
“Mon… ster…”
“Fire! Fire!”
“Monster!”
Maria slowly began to look around. Many were aiming firearms at her. Some insects were chanting spells, while others were pouring divine power into the dying trash. The emotion in their eyes was no longer greed, but terror. The many who had tried to take what was hers were all stricken with fear.
“I am not a monster.”
“See for yourself.”
Her own reflection began to appear in Jane’s small pupils. Normally, she would never have been able to see it. But the body gifted to her by a god made it possible to see her own form reflected in Jane’s tiny eyes.
A grotesque monster with hundreds, thousands of eyes, and massive arms and legs. A creature drooling incessantly from a massive mouth. It didn't take long for her to realize that this was her current self.
“Attack!”
“Kill it!”
“I… I… I’m not a monster! I’m not! You’re the monsters! You dogs and pigs, you are the monsters! You who try to take what’s mine, you’re the monsters! You are! Die! Die!”
CRUNCH!!
“Aaaaaaaargh!”
“I was chosen! Unlike you bastards who can’t control your emotions… I was chosen!”
The horned demons collapsed into bloody pulps. Perhaps she was a monster, just as Jane said. But thinking about it a little more, she couldn't help but realize their words lacked persuasion. There was no way she was a monster. The chosen one, a monster? Impossible. This was power. Power given to her by someone to protect what was hers.
The horned demons burst or died like insects. Screams echoed from all directions. Various bullets and weapons embedded themselves in her body, but she paid them no mind. As she continued to sweep away the humans around her, she caught sight of Jane. Befitting her title as the golden saint, she was pouring out a brilliant light, encouraging the others around her.
It was a beautiful sight. That divine power, that light, that appearance, that character—she suddenly wanted to have it all. And not just that. Everyone here belonged to her. They were the dogs and pigs she had fed and raised.
Mine.
Maria picked up the bloodied messes around her and began to devour them. She felt her body grow slightly larger. It felt as if the power they possessed had become her nourishment.
What would it feel like to eat that, that brilliant light? Surely, she too would become as beautiful as her. She would be able to radiate light in such a magnificent way.
“Mine…”
She had just taken a step forward, about to reach out her hand. That was when she saw the saint, who had been radiating brilliant light, now floating in the sky, offering a prayer.
Maria unconsciously lifted her head. It was a purely reflexive action, but before she could even see him with her eyes, a voice pierced her ears.
“This wasn’t in the script… but… not bad.”
What she saw was a demon radiating a brilliant light. It was the same demon she had seen once before in a dream. But he was slightly different. Unlike his previous appearance, which had been ordinary, and unlike the monstrous form with horns and a tail, this time he was wreathed in flames that looked divine.
His massive horns were made of white fire.
Flames continuously erupted from his long tail and body.
His wings, formed of immense flames, were beautiful. They looked as if they could incinerate all that was profane, as if they would burn to death any who dared to defy him, erasing them from this world. Staring blankly at the grotesque being who was watching her with amused eyes, arms crossed,
Maria muttered without realizing it.
“A god…”
“Puhahahaha. Bullshit.”