Chapter 6. Friendship and Relationships (8)

The lecture ended, and we all went into the storage vault together.

It wasn't much different from what I'd seen the last time I was here. If I had to nitpick, a few things had changed, but that was probably because some materials had been used up and new ones had been brought in.

The things kept in the deepest part were naturally too precious to use freely, so the experiments were conducted with materials a grade or two lower.

And, honestly, the field trip was more helpful for this side anyway. What were Hunters supposed to do with objects that were just sitting in storage because no one had any idea how to use them?

And, partway through, we said we needed to use the restroom and stepped out into the hallway.

Naturally, we planned to walk right past the restroom.

"Yikes."

While walking, we ran into guards patrolling the hallway. Since they were guarding an important facility, they obviously weren't alone—they moved in pairs, guns in hand.

Ria let out that little sound at the sight, but I faced them squarely and gave a light nod.

These were people who already knew that Hunters were in the building, and that I was, of all things, a 'Saintess Candidate.' On top of that, Ria beside me was already fairly well-known as the daughter of a Hero.

What kind of trouble could two people like us possibly cause in here?

It was also lucky that we ran into them just before passing the restroom. It would have looked like we really were about to go in.

The two guards gave us a light nod and walked past.

Just in case, the two of us went into the restroom first.

"......Ria."

"Got it."

At my words, Ria nodded.

This was something we'd already discussed.

Outside the restroom, there was a CCTV camera monitoring the hallway in real time. If we went into the restroom and then bolted out in a different direction, the guards would have no choice but to move, no matter who we were.

So, in that situation, there weren't many options available to us.

The government had, as if it were only natural, ignored my Prophecy, and according to Ria's assessment, this building's security deployment was actually much heavier than its plain appearance suggested—

I took out the small Sacred Object I'd brought along.

It was a small piece of chocolate.

"......And they say you're not a Saintess?"

"......Could you not say that and just eat it?"

Naturally, it was chocolate I had consecrated. An edible Sacred Object, so to speak.

Ria shook her head in disbelief, then suddenly bit down on my fingers.

"!?"

Ignoring me—I was too startled to even scream—Ria pulled her mouth back from my fingers. Even after she let go, the soft, slightly moist sensation lingered on my fingers. Damn it, of all things, it was chocolate I'd poured Holy Power into, so even a sweet scent lingered at my fingertips.

"Eek!?"

But before I could shake that thought off, something suddenly slid under the backs of my knees.

"W-wait, Ria!? This position right now is—"

"Hm? Why?"

Ria, who had lifted me up as boldly as if carrying a princess, tilted her head as if she genuinely didn't understand.

"Oh, no, I mean, couldn't you just carry me on your back? Why this position, specifically."

It was a thought that kept resurfacing whenever something seemed to emphasize it, but Ria had a good figure. I was in good shape too, but Ria's development was a step further.

Naturally, in this position, well.

We were kind of pressed together.

Of course, Ria's face showed she wasn't bothered in the slightest, which left me feeling somewhat annoyed.

"Didn't you say we need to run fast? This way is much easier. And, well, if something pops out, you're easy to swing around, right?"

"Who are you planning to use as a blunt weapon......?"

At my words, Ria giggled and headed straight for the restroom door.

"Doesn't it get a little weird if two girls scream like that in a restroom? People are definitely going to get the wrong idea about our relationship."

"What are you—"

"So let's just get this over with before that happens."

Ria said.

"If there's a thief who snuck into the research institute, people's attention will go there instead, won't it? Right?"

Am I the only one conscious of this?

No, thinking that just makes me feel more wronged—

But my thoughts didn't go any further. Ria pulled me tight against her and kicked off the ground with all her strength.

I learned for the first time that flying at this speed was terrifying beyond belief, no matter how empty of furniture the building was.

By the time I came to my senses, I was unconsciously clinging to Ria's neck with all my might. Naturally, as my body pressed against Ria's even more, I became even more aware of the places I was already conscious of. No matter how much of a bra she wore inside, with that absolute size, there was no way to avoid feeling the shape and texture entirely.

When I opened my tightly shut eyes, Ria was looking at me with a beaming smile. Her face was incredibly close.

Well, still.

Ria's face was a little flushed too, probably from sprinting all the way here.

Still, when Ria set me down, she didn't toss me or anything. She'd snatched me up so abruptly when lifting me, but when putting me down, she did it gently, so I didn't feel like complaining.

"So."

But the somewhat playful mood vanished the moment Ria set me down.

"Can you tell what's going on?"

......Am I really the only one bothered by this?

I turned my head and looked around.

We were standing right in front of the door to the deepest storage vault in the research institute.

There was a massive, thick door like something out of a sci-fi movie or drama, and beside it was a keypad for opening it.

No people in sight. There were no guards standing separately in front of the door. Well, it was nearly impossible to get here without running into anyone on the way.

Maybe the research institute staff were already watching the CCTV and coming to find us.

And even in this situation, Ria wore a serious expression. Even though it wouldn't have been strange for her to think I was mistaken or lying.

Honestly, even I wasn't completely certain.

The story had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠changed, and on top of that, that Mana Mass had even looked at me that day. It was entirely possible that they had noticed my existence and changed their plans.

It was a situation where I could have thought, at this point, that I'd been mistaken.

But Ria was looking at me with a serious expression.

And, somehow, seeing that made me feel like I could have a little more confidence in my actions.

Light descended on my face. Not the usual overly bright light that seemed to tease, but a soft light, as if caressing.

Ria's eyes widened slightly at the sight of that light.

......So that's how it is.

Normally I would have swatted that light away, but, well, fine.

Right now, I have something to do.

At least from this moment on, the government would never doubt my 'Prophecy' again.

No, seriously, they call themselves a Theocracy and then just oppose it now—I don't understand what they're doing.

Judging by the sound of shoes echoing from far down the hallway, people seemed to be rushing this way.

"The way to confirm it is simple."

Right.

I don't know exactly what those self-proclaimed worshippers of 'God's power' are up to, but at least I know what kind of power they use.

I closed my eyes and knelt on the floor.

And I brought my hands together.

If there was an enemy invisible to the eye, or hiding, and if that enemy used Mana as a weapon.

Then obviously there was only one method, wasn't there?

Just purify this entire place, all of it.

......I know.

It's a bit crude.

It doesn't need to be too strong. I just need to fill this place with light.

This time, I didn't want to collapse either. I had no desire to exhaust all my strength and collapse in a place like this, becoming a burden to Ria.

Haven't I already been enough of a burden up to now?

The more danger I'm in, the harder Ria's promise to protect me becomes to keep, and that would soon become a situation that puts Ria in danger.

I will definitely fall into danger someday.

If not, there would be no reason to send me here at the point when I came to know that hint.

So this time, I prepared properly. From the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠very beginning, so that I wouldn't collapse midway and become a burden.

I sensed someone shouting.

It probably wasn't just from seeing my light. They must have seen something astonishing.

I slowly opened my eyes.

"......So this was the method, huh? I thought there was no way no matter how hard I watched the hallway, just like you said."

Ria was looking up at the ceiling as she said that.

I followed her gaze to the ceiling.

There, a person in black clothes was hanging from the ceiling.

I could see eyes through the mask. Eyes staring at me, wide with shock.

And there wasn't just one such person—there were five of them.

Aha.

So that's what it was.

Invisibility. It certainly wasn't a common-sense kind of Magic in this world either.

The timing was excellent. A little later and the men would have gotten inside the vault.

As if only now realizing their bodies had been revealed, the unidentified people immediately jumped down from the ceiling.

One of them drew a knife from his waist and tried to bring it down on me—

"Where do you think you're going?"

Wham!

Before the knife could even get near my body, a fist slammed into the man's face. Ria leaped up with all her strength and delivered a beautiful uppercut to the man's face.

The man spun several times in the air and then slammed headfirst into the floor with a "Squawk!"

Well, he doesn't seem dead, at least. Judging by the fact that he couldn't get up, he might have been hurt pretty badly, but that's fine. We can just heal him and interrogate him.

As I got up from my spot, Ria dashed over to me and wrapped one arm around my waist.

Then she drew the slightly short sword she wore at her hip and deflected a blade beautifully.

That spinning motion was just like dancing—honestly, it was a little cool.

And then,

Ah, the scent of chocolate brushed past my nose.

Ria kicked the staggering man—whose sword she'd deflected—in the solar plexus with her heel, then looked at the remaining three.

One of the three ran toward the keypad. The other two faced Ria—pulling guns, not knives, from their waists.

......This part, at least, was probably a little different from the original. In the original, they wouldn't have been able to bring weapons in. They'd have to pass through security.

Ria had to carry a sword everywhere, so the security gate had beeped, just briefly, when she passed through the security door. If they'd planned to slip in during that moment, bringing weapons would have been easy.

And I reached out toward those two.

Holy Power in itself is harmless to people. Though it can completely nullify Magic.

But even so, it could do an excellent job of obscuring vision. Considering the power of Holy Power, it was honestly a bit of a waste, but well, wasn't it a power I had in abundance?

Bang, bang. Two gunshots rang out, but the bullets cleanly missed Ria.

Ria let go of my waist and charged at the men, landing a high kick to one man's head and slamming the pommel of her sword into the other's head, sending both of them crashing to the floor.

"E-eek......!"

The man at the keypad cried out as he frantically stabbed at the keypad with some kind of stone.

Bang!

Well, maybe it was because I'd held back my strength. If they'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠decided to infiltrate this far, those intruders wouldn't have brought an ordinary Mana Stone. If the Mana in that stone had been stronger than the Holy Power I'd poured out, it made sense that some Mana remained.

By their standards, they'd brought something very important and useful. Just a bit tricky to use. That's how Mana Stones are. They're bad for the body, and if used carelessly, they're even dangerous.

And besides, if you blow it up so crudely like that, you can't use it again, can you? Well, they probably thought they could just use something better next time—

"Gah!"

Using it without proper incantation and protective Magic results in that. I could see part of the man's hand burning away from the Mana.

That would be hard to heal. Even if we tried to restore it with Holy Power, it would just crumble white.

Beep.

At the same moment the Mana Stone burst, the keypad opened. It seemed they'd at least been able to prepare 'that Magic' in advance.

The door slowly opened, and the one remaining intruder turned his head toward the door—

"It probably won't do you any good."

I said to the man.

Because I'd made my plan from the start assuming I might fail completely. Honestly, whether I succeeded or failed, that Mana Stone was dangerous just by existing.

You can see a person's expression even through a mask. Especially the eyes, which were somewhat exposed.

Those eyes were curved in a smile, then soon widened in horror.

A 'bright light' was shining on that face.

Mana generally repels Holy Power. More precisely, when the two fully touch, they lose their power.

People often misunderstand.

They think Holy Power is a kind of 'light.'

That's incorrect common knowledge.

Holy Power was never a force that acts as 'light' in the first place. It's something that operates in a completely different way, outside the laws of physics. And yet it's a real existence that affects the physical world.

That 'light' we see isn't a wavelength—it's something psychological. The brain sees Holy Power and, not knowing how to express it, expresses it that way.

Even renowned scientists often make that mistake—thinking that Sacred Objects could be blocked with 'a coating that blocks specific wavelengths.'

Or a 'thick iron door' could be included in that.

In the first place, the light that shines on my head shines on me regardless of whether I'm indoors or outdoors. Physical barriers mean nothing.

"......What about that?"

Seeing the man slump weakly to the floor, Ria turned to look at me in disbelief.

"The Sacred Object I handed over was filled with Holy Power to its limit. If you pour additional Holy Power into it, the Holy Power inside can't stay contained anymore and leaks out."

And that 'Holy Power' had instantly annihilated the Mana in the Mana Stone that was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with it. Because I'd prepared with all my strength to make it that powerful.

"I figured the research institute might complain that the Mana Stone disappeared because of my Sacred Object."

I said with a shrug.

"If I can give a proper reason, that's enough. And Mana Stone research is still possible even without the Mana."

At least no one would be able to threaten the world with it.

They might be able to infuse new Mana into it, but that probably wouldn't be easy.

The guards came running and surrounded us.

Well, still, their attention was mostly on the intruders collapsed on the floor. It was clear that Ria and I had protected the facility, after all.

"......You've got a pretty crafty side too."

"Why, do you like me less now?"

"No, actually, I'm a bit relieved."

Relieved, my ass.

At Ria's words, I let out a baffled laugh.

*

After that, I was asked all sorts of questions.

How did you know? To that question, I answered that I had already foreseen the incident and passed it on to the government.

Couldn't they have infiltrated when the employees, not the students, came to work? To that question, I pointed out that the employees' shift changes were extremely thorough.

Above all, cracking that keypad's password would normally take quite a while. If they didn't want to lose a hand, and if they didn't want to lose a precious Mana Stone, they would have had to take their time.

To secure that 'time,' they'd chosen the moment when other Hunters were entering. When outsiders enter the research institute, the surveillance focus naturally shifts toward the outsiders.

"To put it simply, there was a hole in the surveillance."

If there had been even one person near the keypad, they wouldn't have been able to attempt it so easily.

They said there had been Magic precise enough to evade even the heat-detection sensors, but still, with CCTV installed and monitoring, there was no way someone collapsing wouldn't have been seen.

Well, I understand.

They were surrounded by such sophisticated equipment and facilities, and they probably never even imagined that such nearly perfect Magic could exist.

But that doesn't excuse what happened.

Around the time the government people's faces went pale at those words—

The interrogation-room door burst open and members of the Knight Order came pouring in.

"Sister Anna, we've come to escort you."

The people in full plate armor said.

I rose from my seat with a bitter smile.

"Ria, let's go back."

At my words, Ria also rose from her seat.

Ria was smiling like she was looking at someone truly admirable, which left me a little dumbfounded.