The Princess of the Fallen Kingdom (5)

Originally, slipping a hand into the crack of the egg would cause Isabella's recollections to pour forth, revealing the core of the Princess of the Fallen Kingdom storyline.

So the mere fact that I had seen Isabella's past was not particularly surprising.

The problem was the content of those recollections.

The original Princess of the Fallen Kingdom story had never been like this.

Betrayed by a black mage, the capital of the kingdom reduced to rubble, and the princess becoming a lich—that much was the same.

But the past that should have ended the moment she became a lich had continued further because of the First Saintess's existence.

"Quiet for a second. My head's about to explode from how complicated this is."

The [Cracked Treasure of the Fallen Kingdom] was a truly critical item.

It was still only a theory, but as far as I knew it was the sole item capable of raising the firepower of my bombardment.

Yet after seeing Isabella's story, hesitation had taken root in my choice.

Did I really have to take the [Cracked Treasure of the Fallen Kingdom]? Even after witnessing that?

"Wow. One wrong choice and I'm going to end up a complete piece of human garbage."

What little conscience I still had was shouting its case at full volume. Reason, on the other hand, was screaming that I had to obtain the [Cracked Treasure of the Fallen Kingdom] even if it meant becoming human garbage.

"…I'll go for now."

I still had to stop Isabella either way. If I didn't, she would become a monster beyond even a lich.

Carrying that hesitation with me, I pressed forward.

And then—

"So you came after all."

I had arrived at the final stretch of the Princess of the Fallen Kingdom quest.

"…You're not surprised?"

The malevolent aura that had already swallowed nearly half of Isabella's body—and was still slowly devouring the rest—spoke in a low voice.

Even though it had only consumed half of her, the aura's size far exceeded anything I had imagined. It had to be at least ten meters tall.

Even so, I answered the aura's question without a shred of fear.

"I already knew."

"…Right. I figured as much. It felt like you knew every single one of my attacks."

"You're not surprised either?"

"Because none of it means anything anymore."

The aura—Isabella—spoke.

"You predicted even this situation would happen, didn't you?"

When I answered with silence, Isabella let out a short, dry laugh.

"Yeah. This really is the end. You know you can kill me as I am right now, don't you?"

"I know."

Yes, I knew. Right now Isabella was transforming into something that was no longer a lich. Which meant that, in this exact moment, she was not a lich.

She was not an immortal being.

So only in this moment could I kill Isabella.

I had deliberately avoided driving her into a corner and had dragged the fight out as long as possible precisely to create this situation.

"Just kill me with that ridiculous beam of yours and take the [Miracle] embedded in my heart. That's why you came all the way here, isn't it?"

All that remained was to harvest the results.

And yet I was still hesitating—hesitating to finish the quest.

And in that moment, I saw it.

I ignored the Bombardment Fairy's words. I wasn't in the mood. Scratching my head hard, I let out a long sigh.

"…I can't do it after all."

"…What? After cornering me this far, what kind of nonsense are you spouting?!"

"Do you know what your face looks like right now?"

"That—why???"

"It's twisted up like a child who's about to burst into tears."

As if desperately pleading with whoever looked at her that she was the most pitiful person in the world.

The moment she heard me, the malevolent aura began to thrash, resonating with Isabella's emotions.

And Isabella screamed as if she were roaring.

"So what, you're pitying me too? Don't make me laugh!! Who the hell asked you to pity me?!"

"Then don't make a face like that! You can't even pretend you're fine, so what are you yelling about?!"

I thought I finally understood why the First Saintess had never subjugated Isabella.

I thought I finally understood why the First Saintess had visited her periodically.

It wasn't guilt. It wasn't an act born of pity.

She simply hadn't been able to leave someone making that kind of face alone.

So she had suppressed reason and chosen the path her heart demanded.

And I was the same.

I decided to abandon reason and logic and simply act as my heart wished.

"After seeing your past, it was pretty clear your stubbornness is rotten to the core. Talking nicely and patiently wasn't going to get through to you."

With those words I lifted the Holy Relic and aimed the muzzle at the malevolent aura that was swallowing Isabella.

"I'll stop you with force first. We can talk after that."

Light gathered at the muzzle. At the same time, darkness surged toward me.

But the light refused to let the darkness approach.

The beam that shot straight ahead—nothing more, nothing less—pierced through the darkness. Yet the darkness was still vast.

Even so, I felt not the slightest fear. The thought of losing never once crossed my mind.

I simply could not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠believe that my bombardment would be overpowered by something like this.

"Here I go!!"

I shouted and pulled the trigger.

It was the first time since becoming Maria that I had fired a bombardment purely for someone else's sake.

The Saintess advanced.

Even as the malevolent aura transformed into razor-sharp blades and poured down upon her, she did not flinch for an instant and pressed forward.

The slightest cut from that condensed aura would allow the poison-like miasma to begin devouring her body.

Without a proper recovery skill, it would be no different from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠being poisoned mid-battle.

Yet the Saintess advanced without hesitation.

The bombardment that stretched out in a straight line continued to hammer against the wall of malevolent aura.

Shot after shot was fired, determined to pierce through everything that stood in its path.

And yet the bombardment carefully avoided one single place.

Even the slightest error in the bombardment could have swept away the very existence she was trying to save.

Even so, there was no hesitation in the bombardment. It was possible only because of the absolute faith that not a single error would exist.

Little by little the condensed malevolent aura began to tremble. Under the relentless assault of the bombardment, it was gradually being pushed back.

And then—

"I reached her."

Hand met hand.

At the same moment, the malevolent aura completely collapsed.

Only after watching the malevolent aura vanish completely was I able to lower the Holy Relic.

With the aura gone, cracks began to spread through the surrounding space. It looked like we would be able to escape before long.

So… did I somehow manage to resolve one problem?

Thinking that, I turned my head toward the princess who had caused me no end of trouble. She was sitting on the ground, head bowed deeply.

Looking at her, I let out a heavy sigh and spoke.

"So? Do you feel like talking now?"

"…Did she leave any last words for me?"

I didn't bother asking who "she" was. I already knew without asking.

Should I tell the truth, or should I lie? The deliberation did not last long.

"There might be some, but I don't know them."

"…Yeah. Of course."

"But she definitely cared about you until the very end. The reason the Empire designated this place a forbidden zone was because the First Saintess strongly insisted on it. It was probably to guarantee your safety even a little."

Even the First Saintess would have found it difficult to protect Isabella any further than that. It could easily have looked as if she were defending a lich.

Of course this was only my speculation; the truth might be different. Still, from the First Saintess I had seen in Isabella's past, she seemed like exactly the kind of person who would do that.

"…Really. She always knew how to make a person feel small."

Even as she muttered those words, Isabella never lifted her head.

I watched her for a moment, then let out a light sigh. Once we escaped from here, I would first have to persuade the holy knights.

…How am I supposed to persuade them?

This lich is a good lich! There's no way that would work. Do I have to use the Goddess's voice as an excuse again? I really shouldn't overuse that excuse.

Still, no better method came to mind, so I was just about to resign myself to the Goddess excuse when—

"What's been with you this whole time?"

After reading everything the Bombardment Fairy said, I gave a small nod.

Then I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spoke.

"There are last words. This isn't a lie. I swear on the Goddess's honor that I will speak only the truth."

A flinch. Slight, but Isabella's body definitely trembled.

To that Isabella, I delivered the single sentence the First Saintess had spoken in the fleeting instant just before her death—the instant the Holy Shroud's lingering will had briefly reawakened.

"She said she's sorry she couldn't keep her promise."

I didn't know whether she would believe it. But I felt I had to say it.

After relaying the Bombardment Fairy's words, I tilted my head upward. The space was already cracked enough that a single bombardment would shatter it completely—should I just fire instead of waiting?

The moment that thought crossed my mind, Isabella's voice reached me.

"…It's fine."

What is she talking about all of a sudden? The instant the question formed, an ominous premonition flashed through my brain.

I whipped my head toward Isabella and saw her thrusting her hand into her own chest.

…Huh?

"Wait—what are you doing? I don't know what it is, but stop."

"Sorry. I've been alone for too long. Maybe that's why… I'm so tired. Still, thank you. For delivering the words she left behind. I'm glad I held onto that tiny hope and waited until the end."

She pulled something from her chest. A jewel of an ominous color. The treasure of the Kleinrapis Kingdom that had been anchoring Isabella's life—the [Miracle].

Numerous blood vessels were connected to the [Miracle], as if the thing itself were her heart.

Why is she…? My brain couldn't keep up with the situation. And the moment my thoughts finally landed somewhere, my expression hardened. I sprinted toward Isabella to stop her.

"Stop!"

But it was already too late.

"I'll rest a little. …Just a little."

The blood vessels connecting Isabella to the [Miracle] severed. It was possible only because she was neither fully human nor fully lich.

She collapsed far too emptily. I hurriedly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tried to support her, but it was already too late. Cracks began to spread across Isabella's body.

She was dying. Quickly.

Isabella asked me weakly,

"…What's your name?"

I clenched my teeth and answered.

"Maria."

Hearing my words, Isabella smiled. It was the first smile I had ever seen from her.

"…This time I asked. …Maria. I hope the day comes when I can meet you again."

And with that, Isabella vanished. The [Miracle] fell emptily to the floor.

"…Don't make promises you can't keep."

I spoke the words weakly and picked up the [Miracle].

At the same time the space collapsed. And before me the holy knights were gathered in a cluster.

Every one of them was waiting for me to speak.

"…It's over."

When I somehow managed a smile and said those words, the holy knights erupted into cheers. With those cheers as my backdrop, I simply stood there blankly.

And so one story came to an end.

Leaving behind a bitter aftertaste.