The Seven Laws
In the beginning, there was one being. One day, he created seven laws: wisdom, temperance, courage, justice, love, hope, and faith. And that was the moment this world was born. However, all things cast shadows. Thus, immediately after the world was created, seven shadows were added: pride, greed, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth. These seven.
The former gathered to spread the Genesis Sect across the world, while the latter formed the Sect of Samsara. No wonder the Genesis Sect was such a mess. After all, it was essentially seven religions forced into one. The Sect of Samsara, likewise composed of seven factions, was no better, though the details remained veiled. Unless you were one of them, there was no way to know.
“So there was a fledgling from the Genesis Sect after all? You sniffed us out even without being summoned. Quite the keen nose.”
The woman called Reaper spun her scythe and flashed a captivating smile. Leon stood motionless, sword extended, staring down the apostles of the Evil God. Reaper continued in a lilting tone.
“I don’t understand why everyone insists on calling us the Sect of Samsara. We have a perfectly respectable name. And yet we still call you lot the Genesis Sect, don’t we?”
“Shut up.”
“Your tone’s gotten rough. Did the Sect of Samsara kill your parents? Sorry, but we’re not a hive mind. Projecting someone else’s deeds onto me is rather inconvenient.”
“I said shut up!”
Veins bulged on Leon’s neck. He was furious. I stepped behind him and whispered.
“Please calm down.”
“……”
The muscular man, Walker, also tried to rein Reaper in.
“Reaper. We didn’t come here to play.”
“Haa. Fine. What now?”
“You have the advantage against that tree mage. I’ll take the two brats.”
“Understood.”
Reaper and Walker split up, facing Flora and me and Leon respectively. As I measured the distance and prepared my magic, Walker thrust his fists forward and spoke.
“I thought things would go smoothly with the master away, but I didn’t expect the tree to be standing guard.”
“No intention of backing down quietly? You seem to need the Star Silver. Lady Flora could simply hand it over.”
“We can’t let impurity taint the sanctuary. Hmm. How about this? If you all die quietly, we’ll leave without a fuss. I promise.”
Honestly, this was why the Sect of Samsara was shunned. Their way of thinking was so alien that conversation was impossible. They believed this world was fake and that a new order had to be established through sacrifice. It would have been stranger if we could actually talk.
“From your tone, you’re from the Pride faction.”
“You can even tell that apart? How interesti—”
A red line embroidered the air. Four streaks struck Walker. A small explosion erupted, and Walker charged through the flames. Black energy now coated both his fists. Holy power. Witnessing the manifestation of a miracle, I prepared another spell. The devouring flames opened their maw toward Walker, with Leon following close behind.
Walker swung his right fist at the flames and his left at Leon. Holy power was the power of miracles. The gap between those who could manifest it and those who could not was as vast as the difference between a knight who had undergone the first awakening of Refinement magic and one who had not. In some ways, it was even greater. A paladin who could not manifest holy power was essentially powerless. Therefore, Leon stepping in to block Walker was an extremely reckless move. Yet—
Shring. Leon angled his sword and deflected Walker’s fist. At that near-divine swordsmanship, Walker burst into laughter.
“You’re a genius!”
Walker scattered the flames consuming his right arm with holy power and pulled both fists back.
“Regret meeting me already, genius!”
Then he launched forward. There was no philosophy. No aesthetics. Only fists brimming with raw, brutal power. Even so, Leon gritted his teeth. He deflected every punch with near-perfect form, but the difference in their levels was overwhelming. Between Leon, who had to maintain extreme concentration, and Walker, who simply swung his fists with glee, it was obvious who was being pushed back. As Leon retreated step by step, I hurled flames from behind him. A three-headed blaze flew at Walker, biting into his head, shoulder, and neck. Holy power burst forth and scattered the flames, but it also created an opening in Walker’s assault.
In the brief lull, a tremendous crash echoed from the side. On the shoulder of a massive tree giant stood Flora, with Reaper blocking her path. Every time Reaper swung her scythe, another leg of the tree giant was severed. It was far too physical for a high-ranking mage. Walker had said Reaper had the advantage, but I disagreed. Perhaps Flora had a reason she couldn’t use her full magic.
“Having fun, I see.”
Walker glanced sideways, whistled, and reset his stance.
“Time to wrap this up, yeah?”
The moment he finished speaking, black holy power wrapped around his fists like gauntlets. Crack. The ground shattered beneath his feet. At the same time, Walker’s body blurred and vanished.
BOOM! A sound erupted that didn’t seem like it could come from fists. Leon tumbled across the ground, both arms broken, still clutching his sword.
“There are plenty of geniuses, but only one survives in the end.”
Walker approached Leon leisurely, raising his fist to finish him. I stepped forward and drew my dagger.
“Illuminate, Blue Night.”
Blue magic rippled over the dagger. At its mystical appearance, Walker paused and muttered.
“A magic swordsman?”
*
Leon barely clung to his fading consciousness and assessed the situation.
“Illuminate, Blue Night.”
“A magic swordsman?”
When Leon fell, Ruina drew her sword. Why? To fight? That couldn’t be. He already knew her close-combat skills were negligible. Therefore, there was only one reason she had drawn her blade: to buy even a moment’s time against Walker. To protect Leon, who had failed his role.
“No. For a seasoned magic swordsman, her Refinement stage seems rather low. What’s going on?”
“My fighting style suits daggers better. Care to confirm?”
Ruina held the lantern in her left hand and the dagger in her right, smiling lightly. The gesture was so natural that even Leon almost believed it was true. Walker hesitated briefly, then clenched his fists. If Walker had been more cautious, he might have backed off, but unfortunately, he was arrogant. He preferred to test any trick with his own body.
No. Leon desperately tried to rise, but his body wouldn’t move. Walker took a step. Leon writhed like a worm and recalled the distant past. People screamed atop burning firewood. It had been the same then. He had only been able to watch, powerless. He had wanted to change. He had wanted to become like that person. Like the previous paladin, someone who could save others. To eradicate evil. To establish justice upon this land. Under that creed, Leon had swung his sword.
Leon bit down hard on his lip. What was this? What kind of justice was this? Powerless justice was nothing but meaningless drivel. Leon bit his bleeding lip harder and wished with greater intensity than ever before.
I beg you. I need nothing else. Please, grant me the strength to protect what is precious. Right now.
「―――.」
In that instant, light connected within Leon’s mind.
“Tsk.”
Walker clicked his tongue mid-step. Leon staggered to his feet, his arms restoring themselves as if time had reversed, and raised his sword. White light shone from the newly established justice, and in response, Walker raised his fists while Ruina swung her lantern.
And then—
BOOM. A massive tremor swallowed every sound. Leon stopped mid-swing and turned his head. Walker and Ruina did the same. Their gazes shifted to the vacant lot beside them, where an inn had once stood. A colossal tree giant lay fallen. Reaper stood atop it, beaming.
“Walker! What are you doing? You can’t even handle two brats?”
*
I approached the fallen tree giant. Catching Flora as she tumbled from its shoulder, I asked calmly.
“Lady Flora? Are you all right?”
“Haa… haa…”
Flora gasped as though her breath might cease at any moment. It was a sight I had seen before. I asked, just in case.
“Lady Flora. Have you already reached the end of your lifespan?”
“…My master’s prophecy is terrifyingly precise. The prediction that I would die in the spring of my twenty-ninth year wasn’t based on living an ordinary life. It was made after I became a high-ranking mage and struggled desperately to survive—still dying at twenty-nine in spring.”
In other words, the period of “spring at twenty-nine” had encompassed searching for the Holy Grail, discovering the Star Silver, and ultimately becoming a fifth-rank mage. Flora continued.
“Even after extending my life through various means, I could feel the end approaching. I haven’t been able to use anything beyond minor magic for quite some time.”
“Then—”
“Yes. Having unleashed magic far beyond minor spells, I’ve already had a significant portion of my lifespan shaved away. It wouldn’t be strange if I died right now.”
At Flora’s gesture, a new tree giant rose from the ground. With the roar of the giant blocking Reaper and Walker at our backs, I placed her pipe in her mouth. Hiss. After lighting it, Flora took a long drag and exhaled smoke.
“It turned out just as you said. I’ve certainly avoided my master’s prophecy of dying next spring.”
“That’s good.”
“Your talent for sincerely congratulating someone in a moment like this is remarkable. I feel refreshed, having twisted a fate I was sick of.”
Flora laughed heartily. I whispered to her.
“As you said, if I transferred a few years of my lifespan through a trade, your life would be extended, but I made a promise to my master. I absolutely cannot trade lifespan. I’m sorry.”
“I wouldn’t accept it anyway. What would I do with a little more time?”
Flora stared blankly at the pipe smoke for a moment before meeting my eyes. She murmured softly.
“You crazy woman.”
“I’m perfectly normal.”
“Having watched you for this short time, I can guarantee it. One day, you will become the greatest mage in history.”
“I’ve already become the greatest Arcana Chess player in history.”
“Your goal is to collect every magic, isn’t it?”
“I will obtain every magic that has ever existed and every magic that will ever exist.”
“Among them will be magic that revives the dead. Am I right?”
“Of course.”
At my affirmation, Flora closed her eyes. Then she finished.
“When you obtain resurrection magic, revive me. After that, grant me eternal life. If you promise that, I will give you my unique magic, Growth.”
“Wait. I can’t just accept it. There’s a prior promise.”
“A prior promise?”
“I promised to revive my master after I have a child. Before that, I could revive you first.”
“Ha, haha. Kugh. Cough.”
Whatever she found so amusing, Flora wheezed with laughter before catching her breath and moving her lips.
“That’s oddly reassuring amid the uncertainty. It’s a deal, Ruina.”
“Just as I hoped.”
The Scales weighed the price. What I offered was a promise. What Flora offered was her unique magic, Growth. The value was equal. The trade was complete.
“You crazy woman.”
“I am perfectly normal.”
“Take my Star Silver. You use a pipe too, so you could make something with it.”
“I can’t. It’s my master’s keepsake. I won’t trade it for anything else.”
“…Then make a lantern at least. Is that also off-limits because it’s a keepsake?”
“Strictly speaking it is, but this is fine. All right. I’ll make a lantern and other things from the Star Silver. Satisfied?”
“Yes.”
Seemingly content with my answer, Flora spoke weakly and slowly closed her eyes. I removed the pipe from her mouth, laid it gently beside her, and extended my hand toward Walker and Reaper. Countless wooden soldiers crawled forth from the ground.
“Reaper! I don’t know what happened, but that mad mage did something! What now?”
Walker, who had been pounding on the tree giant’s leg, cried out in alarm. Reaper, still slicing at the giant’s leg, looked between Leon holding the sword of justice and me commanding the wooden soldiers, then frowned.
“We’re retreating. The variables have grown too large.”
“Got it!”
The moment Reaper gave the order, Walker kicked off the ground and fled at full speed, Reaper following close behind. I watched them until they completely disappeared before dispelling my magic.
“Lady Ruina! Are you okay?”
Chris’s voice called from afar. She must have hidden well until now. I summoned one wooden soldier to lift Flora.
“Lady Chris.”
“Hm?”
“Could you help with the cleanup?”