120
Chapter 120
I will save you, no matter what.
Aria's expression clouded with doubt upon hearing those words. She looked as if she couldn't believe me.
Well, come to think of it, it wasn't that strange.
I had already failed to cure her once.
Twisted Divine Power.
An iron fortress forged with the addition of the Emperor's Authority.
It thoroughly blocked external interference, completely shutting out any intervention from Divine Power.
Given who was responsible, they had put an immense amount of effort into ensuring it wouldn't go out of control or be stolen by the enemy.
However, there is always a loophole.
If the opponent was using abnormal powers to block intervention, then shouldn't I be able to intervene using equally abnormal powers?
The Divine Power I had expended from that previous strike hadn't been restored yet, but I had other means.
I looked once more at the bisected Holy Sword Fragment.
'It's not like I can just attach this back to the Holy Sword anyway.'
The Holy Sword had already been completely repaired.
Since it was nothing short of a Holy Sword Fragment, its value was certainly beyond comparison to any ordinary treasure.
But setting that aside, the truth was that its use was a bit ambiguous.
That was why I had been thinking.
About how to use it most efficiently.
Since I had brought in plenty of Dwarves, the first idea that came to mind was creating the ultimate shield or armor to pair with the greatest sword.
But using it for that would be a waste.
This wasn't a game; it was reality. If you died, that was the end. So I couldn't deny the importance of armor or a shield to protect the body....
'It's not like I die when I get stabbed anyway, right?'
Thanks to my abnormal physique, that importance had faded significantly. With a recovery rate that could regenerate even a torn-out heart, my defense surpassed that of average armor.
In this situation, I couldn't find any reason to equip defensive gear, no matter how much I thought about it.
That was why I came up with the idea of enhancing my body. Rather than making redundant armor, it would be better to just strengthen my physical form itself.
To use the Holy Sword Fragment like an Elixir.
In my mind, there was no more efficient choice than that.
Not only would it increase my strength, but if things went well, I might even be able to cure Aria right in front of me.
Of course, this went without saying, but the Holy Sword Fragment wasn't an Elixir.
It was definitely overflowing with Divine Power and likely contained something like a divine blessing. If utilized properly, it would possess enough power to heal Aria.
But it wasn't exactly meant to be ingested.
It was the same logic as eating a rose thorn wouldn't make your fists sharp and fierce.
But... if it were me, it might just be possible.
This damn Status Window still showed no signs of being fixed. I couldn't check it in detail, though.
I had absorbed all the traits of the World Tree.
And among those traits, it was definitely bound to be there.
The ability to absorb nutrients.
A power that draws in energy to make itself even more formidable.
I bring my hand to the Holy Sword Fragment resting on the already spent magic circle. A sensation transmits through my fingertips.
I can feel the energy flowing into me.
...It's faster than I expected.
I thought it would take at least a few hours. Maybe it's because the Holy Sword's power is so compatible with me.
[The Rank of ■■ absorbs the Curse.]
It's absorbing so fast that it even seems to be sucking in the Curse. Well, since a Curse can't affect me anyway, that shouldn't be a problem.
After finishing the lengthy process, I take a deep breath.
Circulating the energy as a test, I could feel my Divine Power had increased significantly.
My Divine Power was already absurdly high, as if it were bugged, so I was certain I wouldn't notice the difference even if it increased.
As expected of a Holy Sword, I suppose.
Not only my Divine Power, but my physical body itself felt further upgraded. I couldn't be more satisfied with the results.
...With this, the preparations were complete.
I approached her once more as she lay there collapsed.
Aria's face was painted with even more bewilderment than before. Given her condition, it was impossible for her to say anything to me.
But I could roughly guess what she was thinking.
A Holy Sword said to be forged by a god.
An item imbued with a severe Curse on top of that.
Seeing me handle such a thing like this, it would be stranger if she wasn't surprised.
I playfully asked her if she finally realized my earlier words weren't empty boasts as I closed the distance between us.
This was where the real deal began.
The moment my hand touched her, an intense sense of rejection washed over me.
The Authority of Dominance and twisted Divine Power overflowed, threatening to rush over me at any second.
Aria stared at me with worried eyes.
But there was absolutely no need to worry.
Everything flowing toward me lost its power. No matter how immense the strength, it couldn't affect my mind in the slightest.
If anything, this was actually something to welcome.
Since that energy had flowed out to keep me in check, the power blocking her healing would have weakened to some extent.
"Ciel, do you think you can analyze this?"
At my question, Ciel pondered for a moment before shaking her head.
Well, it might be understandable if it were just a Spell Formula constructed with Divine Power.
They remodeled her body.
They injected twisted Divine Power into that remodeled body.
They even infused the Authority of Dominance into it to create her current state.
It was a situation where various powers were tangled together in a complex mess.
No matter how outstanding Ciel was, finding a Reverse Calculation Formula to unravel this kind of state would be asking too much.
But... this much was within my expectations.
'If the threads are tangled so intricately that untying them one by one is impossible...'
I just have to burn it all down.
With overwhelming firepower.
That Authority and twisted Divine Power.
I envelop her with a force strong enough to erase their influence in a single blow.
That was the only way to solve the problem.
......I gritted my teeth.
My fingertips touched her back. Into that very spot, I condensed all my Divine Power, along with the life force of the World Tree.
It felt like it could explode at any second....
No, my hand was actually bursting open, unable to withstand the strain. But I didn't hesitate.
What I needed was maximum output.
Just once. Even if it was just this one time.
I had to pour in enough power to completely wipe out the forces binding her.
That was why I gathered my strength to the absolute limit....
And poured everything I had into that single moment.
Immediately after, a burst of light dyed the world.
A radiant brilliance so bright it could blind. Feathers scattered from my wings, which had spread open without me realizing.
At the same time, the ominous energy emanating from her vanished in an instant.
That malicious Authority's power—which had disrupted memories, prevented rational thought, and reduced a human to a mere doll—vanished without a trace.
However....
"......Ian."
"...I'm fine, Ciel. I'm just a little exhausted."
It wasn't enough.
I had certainly succeeded in burning away all the energy that was interfering with her healing, but...
The treatment itself wasn't completed.
It was a nature that had dwelled within her body for so long that it became ingrained.
I had neutralized the energy, but her physical body itself was halving the effectiveness of my Divine Power.
I had given it my all to the point of fading consciousness, yet it was barely enough to count as first aid.
Staggering, I leaned my weight against the Holy Sword for support, letting out a deep sigh as my body threatened to collapse at any second.
'Is this my limit....'
I had managed to save Aria's life.
I couldn't regenerate her severed limbs, but I had at least managed to stop the fatal wounds for the time being.
But... it seemed a complete cure would be difficult after all.
Even after pouring all my power into it, this was the result. It would take at least a few months to restore her severed limbs, and decades to repair her Mana Circuits.
Lack of time was one thing.
But I couldn't pour all my Divine Power into her every single day, either. I had to accept that restoring her strength was impossible.
'...I guess I have no choice but to settle for this.'
It was disappointing, to be sure.
But this was the best I could do right now.
Still, it wasn't a bad outcome.
Between the knowledge only she possessed and her martial arts, there was plenty to gain from this.
Receiving the teachings of someone called a Weapon Master was a massive gain.
...It was just deeply regrettable that I couldn't secure such a powerful asset for myself, given her exceptional abilities.
But there was nothing I could do except give up on that.
It wasn't like a way to completely cure her would suddenly appear out of nowhere. Being satisfied with this much was...
'...Wait a minute.'
Mid-thought, I froze.
Come to think of it...
Wasn't there still one left?
A method that could perfectly cure her.
*****
The metallic scent of blood pierced the nose.
A gruesome scene littered with blood and flesh.
White feathers fluttered down into that vile space, completely out of place.
Ethereal.
Seeing them maintain their pure color even as they touched the red blood, it was the only way to describe it.
At the same time, a brilliant light radiated outward.
Naturally, the eyes of everyone present turned toward the source of the light.
And the culprits who had created this gruesome scene...
In other words, the Clergy who were still torturing the Prince, came face-to-face with it.
A boy of ultimate nobility, his hands clasped together in prayer, his radiant wings spread wide.
Everyone's jaws snapped shut.
No one dared utter a single word before him.
In that heavy atmosphere, the boy slowly approached them and opened his mouth.
"There is someone in need of help. Could you please lend me your strength?"
Given the current situation.
There was only one possible reaction they could show.
The blood-soaked sinners shed tears of ecstasy and offered their prayers. Amidst them, Cardinal Dominic wore a mad smile and cried out.
"The Saint has called for us!!"