The Light to Oppose the Approaching Darkness (2)
Audrey had stayed up all night in prayer before heading toward the Academy. This time she skipped the carriage entirely and used teleportation magic instead. She no longer had the luxury of time for a slow, meandering journey.
The fate given to me is to find the Saintess who will succeed me, raise her, and ensure she never breaks. And the Apostles… according to legend, they appear only when the world stands on the brink of destruction. Saints who will prevent the end. Not one, but at least two or more. Just what kind of catastrophe is coming that even young students must become Apostles?
Audrey kept turning the questions over in her mind. Who could possibly bear the title of Apostle? And how crushing must the weight of responsibility on their shoulders be? Those poor, pitiful children…
Baden. It’s been a long time since I last wrote you a letter. I heard you visited the Academy recently? And that you sparred with a student believed to be Raphael’s disciple. You seemed quite interested in the boy as well.
I now have an obligation to raise Raphael’s disciple myself. To be precise, I received a revelation. And yesterday… I met Raphael. Yes. The real, living Raphael. I spent an entire day playing with her. After twenty years, I even received a friendship ring. I was truly, deeply happy.
Even though Raphael eventually vanished into light, she told me she would always be by our side. Baden, I need your help. According to the revelation I received yesterday, a threat far greater than the Demon King is coming to this world. We are too old and too weary to stop it ourselves. The time has come for us to pass our power and our duty on to the next generation.
So please go to the Academy and nurture the future heroes. I will find the Saintess and train her as the next one. Take care of everything until then.
— Your dearest friend, Audrey
Meanwhile, after the Saintess had left, Eiron and Sein approached the statue.
“...Pure divine power...”
“It feels like a mother’s warm embrace...”
“It’s so comforting. I feel as if I could forget everything and simply fall asleep… forever…”
“Sein! Snap out of it!”
Sein had unconsciously drawn closer to the statue, hand reaching out to touch it.
“...What exactly is this statue?”
“I have no idea either…”
“Huu… Statue-nim. Can you hear my voice?”
— .........
“Statue-nim. We are curious about both you and Ian.”
“Could you please explain things to us?”
— ........
“We know that you are capable of speech, Statue-nim.”
— ........
“Then we will introduce ourselves first.”
“We are Apostles. We bear the duty of protecting this world against the darkness that approaches.”
“Through the Goddess’s power of regression, we have tried countless times to save the world. Yet all ninety-nine previous timelines were stolen by the Demon King and the Fiend.”
“But this timeline is different. It is different because you exist, Statue-nim.”
The angel statue. The sole variable of this round, and the being that creates variables. Learning about this existence was their highest priority.
— ......
“In every previous round you were absent, yet in this one you are here.”
“Because of your presence, the once pathetically weak Ian is steadily growing into a true hero capable of slaying the Demon King. The Saintess who should have fallen and become a witch has not fallen.”
Ian—the hero fated to kill both the Demon King and the Fiend despite his frailty. The Saintess who became the Witch of the Fallen Kingdom and servant of the Fiend. But this time everything was different. Ian had grown stronger than ever before, and the Saintess had not become a witch. This round would be the critical turning point.
— .....!!
“Furthermore, the collapse of the Empire never occurred. That is thanks to you periodically healing the citizens.”
“Therefore, please grant us the strength to move forward…”
“So that peace may descend upon this world… we beg you.”
Please… help us…
— ...........
— ...............
— ...................
“We implore you. This is especially my final chance. The side effects of regression have left my mind no longer whole.”
“If I can achieve our goal by offering my insignificant life, then I will gladly do so.”
If my life can bring peace to this world, then I will offer it.
Sein drew a dagger from within her robes and drove it toward her own heart. A completely unforeseen act that even Eiron could not have predicted. The instant the blade was about to pierce her heart—
— Enough.
The dagger stopped mid-air.
“As expected… you possess an ego.”
— Huu… Did you truly have to resort to such an extreme measure?
“I apologize for the extreme choice.”
Eiron and Sein knelt before the statue as they spoke.
“However, if it is for the sake of saving the world, we will not hesitate to make any sacrifice.”
— Even if the price is your own lives?
A faint smile seemed to color the air.
“If our meager lives can purchase peace for the world, we will offer them gladly!”
— …You two are fanatics beyond even the definition of the word.
“If it can save the world, we would not refuse even fanaticism.”
— Very well… Since I have tested you, you may now ask me what you wish to know.
— I will answer everything within the scope I am permitted to reveal.
“.....!!”
“Does the similar aura we sense between you and Ian have a particular reason?”
— I have chosen Ian as my disciple. That is why our energies feel alike.
Ian… is the statue’s disciple? Is that why he is so strong? Then just what is the statue’s true identity? Who possesses such overwhelming power?
“…This may be rude, but who exactly are you, Statue-nim?”
A soft laugh echoed from the statue.
— …I am more famously known as the Nameless One. I was the supporter of the previous hero party.
— A supporter stronger than the hero himself.
“Stronger than the hero…?”
— Indeed. I manifested in the world and, as that supporter, fought alongside the hero party to defeat the Demon King.
— Does that answer your question?
“One more… Just one more question, please!”
— Speak.
“Ian must overcome not only the Demon King but the Fiend as well. Will he truly be able to do it? I am deeply worried. I fear a future where he loses his will and submits…”
— I do not know the Ian you regressed with. But this much I can say with certainty: the Ian of this timeline possesses an indomitable will!
“Indomitable will…?”
— Yes. An indomitable will. A heart that will never break, capable of achieving whatever it desires! No matter what that desire may be!
— Therefore, you need not worry about Ian. I am teaching him personally.
“Could it be that the woman in the white dress is you, Statue-nim?”
— …Yes. How did you know that?
“I have taken a great interest in Ian, so…”
— Ahem… I see…
— You are called Eiron, correct?
“Yes! That is correct!”
— You are a high elf. Why are you here?
“In truth, I rejected the World Tree’s protection and came to this Academy simply to see Ian!”
— So you are the same as Sein.
“…Yes.”
— …Both of you truly love Ian with all your hearts.
— Then I suppose I need not worry too greatly about him.
— High elf who abandoned the World Tree’s protection to come to the Hero Academy.
“Yes, Statue-nim!”
— Do you know how Cecilia is doing?
“She… lost someone precious to her and has gone into seclusion.”
— Someone precious…? Who was it?
“…The very person before us. The one known as the Nameless One.”
— .......
— How foolish… How utterly foolish…
The statue’s voice trembled as though it had heard something unimaginable.
— …Ian should have a green ring.
— Take that ring from him and deliver it to Cecilia.
“But I am currently being pursued by the World Tree. How should I give it to her?”
— …You will inherit the title of Divine Archer in the future.
— It seems that day is not far off.
“...!”
— When the time comes, you will meet naturally. Give it to her then.
— And you are called Sein?
“Yes, that is correct.”
— You were born with the destiny of a Saintess. You called yourself an Apostle, but from what I see, you are a Saintess.
“...! I have regressed ninety-nine times as an Apostle. How could I possibly become a Saintess?”
— All things unfold according to the Goddess’s will.
“What does that…”
— You will naturally come to realize your true fate.
Dawn had passed, and sunlight was beginning to fill the sky.
— …The time I am permitted is nearly at an end.
— Gather before me and pray.
— I shall bestow my blessing upon your futures.
“Yes. We understand.”
Sein and Eiron prayed with all their hearts—for the strength to oppose the coming darkness, for hearts that would never break, and finally for peace to visit this world.
Raphael listened to their prayers and granted her blessing.
I bless your future paths.
To Sein I grant the protection of wisdom.
To Eiron I grant the protection of agility.
Through my blessing, you shall overcome the trials that approach.
I will watch from here as you conquer those trials.
May you achieve all that you desire.
A brilliant surge of divine power erupted from the statue before it fell silent once more. Then a change came over Sein and Eiron. Their irises and hair had been dyed pure white.
“What is this…”
“Our hair and eye color turned white…”
Sein examined the changes in her own body.
“Eiron, my body is overflowing with divine power… and my head no longer hurts… The memories from previous regressions always tormented me, but now I feel nothing!”
“That’s wonderful, Sein!”
“Yes… Hic… Huaaang… Thank you… Thank you so much for granting us this blessing…”
Statue-nim… truly, thank you. Ian and the rest of us will protect this world. Please watch over us.
Sein and Eiron offered one last sincere prayer toward the statue, then returned to the dormitory.
The Scales of Causality are balancing…
The balance between good and evil has achieved perfect equilibrium.
Singularity detected — The birth of the Saintess is imminent.
Singularity detected — The succession of the Divine Archer is slowly beginning.
Singularity detected — The final Hero has awakened.
The Fiend #$% is attempting to intervene in the Scales of Causality.
...Intervention failed. The Scales of Causality imposes a penalty upon the Fiend #$%.
The Fiend #$% can no longer interfere with the growth of the singularities.
As a result of the penalty, causality tilts in the Goddess’s favor.
The Goddess has obtained the justification of causality.