Fake Holy Power and the Delinquent Crown Prince

2 Circles. I could feel two rings quietly pulsing in my heart. Oh, shit! This was wild. It felt totally different from having just one.

'Heavy as fuck?' There was this weight in my chest. Nah, it wasn't actual weight, more like a sensation. My mana reserves had grown too. Yeah, that made sense. Oh. Overflowing with mana.

'At this level…' I could spam Thorn Arrows and Blade Sword ten times each, no problem. So this is how much mana capacity increases per circle? 'Fucking awesome?' Not bad. No, it was insanely ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠good.

Paasssh-!

[Guh… heuk… ugh.]

Over there, the barbarian dude. Some nameless thing was crumbling away. Yeah, kid, that's what you get for acting tough.

"Here's a little extra before you go. Tsk."

No more mana? Damn, that sucked. If I was gonna steal it, I should've taken more. Kicking myself for not doing it.

"Sucks is sucks…"

Vrrr-!

The vibrator in my hand. Nah, my precious wooden sword… not even a sword anymore. 'Staff?' Yeah, let's call it a staff from now on. The staff let out a howl. It kept vibrating like it was thrilled. This thing knew how to read people.

'You like it too, huh? That's why you're shaking.'

Making the wood tremble—what's the point? Whatever, I'd scored something good. Yeah, a mage needs a staff, right?

'What to name it.'

Didn't really need a name, but something to call it would be nice. I nodded. Whatever, I'd think of that later.

"Cough!"

"Oh, right."

I looked at Iris, who was coughing up a storm in front of me. Oh yeah. She was here.

"Lady Iris! You okay?"

"Guh… heuk."

"That barbarian was somehow taken care of. Let's head back—"

Aria froze mid-sentence. Iris's abdomen was soaked in blood.

"Hah… haah."

"Oh, fuck, this is bad."

This was really bad. Even a non-doctor could tell. I frantically tore open her clothes, ignoring her weak attempts to push me away. There it was—a wound on her pale stomach, blood gushing out.

"…This… Lady Iris, you okay?"

"…Haah… haah."

"You were walking around like this?"

I'd figured she was hiding her abs because she caught me checking her out or something.

"What the hell? How'd you even move in this state?"

It wasn't just any wound. I'd thought the slow bleed meant she could tough it out, but no way. A normal person would've been dead already.

"Lady Iris! Stay with me!"

"…Haa… ha."

The life was fading from Iris's eyes. Oh shit, what do I do? What the hell could I do? Stop the bleeding first. But how?

Riiip-!

Tore more cloth for bandages. That's when…

"…Stop…"

Iris grabbed my hand.

"…Lady Iris?"

"…Too late."

"Too late my ass. What do you mean too late?"

I let out a frustrated breath at her words. Too late? Should I carry her? With this pathetic body? No way I could piggyback and run.

I gritted my teeth. What now? No spells came to mind. All I had were attacks, you idiot fuck.

"Hoo…"

In that moment, Iris's breathing grew even fainter.

"Goddammit, snap out of it!"

"…Mage."

"Huh?"

"…Maybe I was the fool. I just realized."

"What? Death flag much? Shut your mouth. That's not gonna fly."

The classic pre-death realization bullshit. Seen it a million times.

"…I needed someone to blame…"

"Oh shit, I said shut up! You'd live if you just zipped it."

"Sorry… Not the time to answer your feelings…"

"Feelings? What feelings? What the fuck are you on about? Snap out of it!"

She was really dying. Babbling nonsense sealed it.

"If… if there's a miracle… Ah… Mother… Why Mother…?"

"What do you see? It's just the sky up there!!"

Thud.

Iris's pale hand fell limp. My eyes widened.

"Holy shit."

"L-Lady Iris…"

Aria reacted weakly from where she lay dazed.

I turned to her. "Can't you do something?"

"P-Pardon?"

"You're the saintess, right?"

"…!"

Aria's body went rigid at my words.

"How… How did you…?"

"Panic later. You're a saintess—can't you do anything? Person's dying here!"

"…Ah… uh… uh…"

Aria looked like she'd short-circuited. Irritation boiled up. Slap-!

"Eek!"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

I slapped her cheek—controlled the force, but still. Apologies later. I grabbed her face.

Iris's blood smeared her cheek from my hands. "Can you do something? Answer straight. She dies if we do nothing. You gonna let her? Can't you heal? You're the saintess."

"…Uh… ah… that's…"

Aria's eyes trembled as she spoke. "I… I can't use holy power right now…"

"Can't use it?"

"Yes… It's sealed, so I can't access my power. I'm sorry…"

She was on the verge of tears. Looked genuine.

I furrowed my brow. "I… I can't do anything… Really. I'm so sorry… Truly sorry…"

Tears streamed down. Aria burst into sobs.

"Ah, quit crying. Not the time."

"Hic…"

"No time. She's about to flatline. We gotta do something."

Couldn't just watch someone die. 'A way. Any way?' None. What could there be in this shitty medieval hellhole? No bandages, no herbs—at least not for me.

'Then.'

Let the lady die? That's what should've happened. 'But with a saintess here?' Useless bitch. Saintess who can't heal? Teeth grinding. And she ignored my wooden sword mk1? Rage bubbling, but not the time.

'A way.' Find one from nothing. Then my eyes landed on Aria. Behind her, the closed-eyed angel. The woman with three pairs of folded wings.

"…"

I stared. Piercing through the translucent angel. Focus sharpened weirdly. Made no sense in this situation.

'What?'

Couldn't stop staring. Aria couldn't see her? No clue. Before asking, all my attention was there.

Then. Vrrr-.

'…Something.'

I saw it. Inside the angel's transparent body. Rippling. Mana? No. Different from mana. Movement and flow were off. Totally separate energy. Holy power? Is that how it flows?

'Flow direction. Vibration frequency. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Texture.'

Mindlessly watching, I moved my mana instinctively. Like mimicking it.

Vreeee-!

Circles spun on command. Engine revved for mana flow. I adjusted speed.

Vreeee…. Not too fast. Slow it, add vibration. Vrrr-!!!

My vibrator reacted again. That's when.

Shoooo-!!

"Wha… what!?"

Energy formed in my hand. Pink glow. Warm, gentle something.

"H-Holy power? How is holy power…!?"

"Not holy power."

"Huh…?"

"Just mimicked it with mana."

I knew. Fundamentally different from the angel's holy power.

"Mimi… mimicked? How do you mimic holy power with mana?"

"Dunno. Saw it, so I did."

"What does that…!?"

"Not the time. Tell me how to heal with this. Can you?"

"…!"

No time. Could this copy heal? She answered.

"…Can't use Heal."

"…So it won't work?"

"No. Heal requires faith… Do you truly believe in the Goddess?"

"Hell no."

"…"

Firm. I don't believe in gods. Even if they exist.

"Then no way?"

"…Probably…"

Me believe? To use it? Anything else? 'Ah.'

A thought flashed.

"Then you use it."

"Huh?"

"Try with this. If you can't without holy power, this might work."

"No…! Can't use someone else's energy…!"

"No time. Hurry!"

"Eek!"

Dragged Aria to Iris. "N-No!!"

Ignoring her panic, shoved my fake holy power into her. How? No time to think. Mana follows will.

'So just take it.'

Absorb or pass it? Poured it in with that thought.

Then.

"Wha…?"

Aria's eyes widened blankly. Energy flowing into her.

"Working? Feels like it?"

"H-How is this…?"

"Fuck! Do something quick! Don't just gawk!"

"Ah, y-yes!"

Aria extended both hands to unconscious Iris. Hovering palms. Light burst from the gap.

Hwaaaaa-!!!!

Pink energy spread everywhere. Aria's hair shifted too—from brown to pink.

'Pink? What the.'

She was a pinkie? Dye job sucks. How? Dumb thought crossed my mind. Even now. Point was, it was working.

"We pray to the merciful Goddess… The frail lamb in peril…"

Aria murmured. Iris's abdominal wound was closing. Problem was.

'Oh shit, I'm gonna die?'

My mana was draining faster. Shitty efficiency.

'If this keeps up.'

I'd die first? Around then.

"Ugh…!!!"

Aria screamed. Staggered.

"What?"

"…Limit… hit the limit."

"What?"

"…Not absorbing properly. Not real holy power."

"Pray harder! You're the saintess! Lack of sincerity!"

"I-I did my best! Not sincere?!!"

Aria yelled indignantly. But I was at my limit too. Mana depletion symptoms returning. Her hair reverting to brown.

'Iris?'

Checked her. Wound better, less pale despite blood loss.

'Still.'

No escape from this snowy field. What now? Can't carry her.

'All three of us die?'

Freeze in this cold? Dizzy thought as.

Neeeigh-!!!

'Huh?'

Sound from behind. -Over there! That's them!

People's voices. -Iris!!!

August charging full speed on horseback.

"Ah-."

Strength drained. "…For real."

If you're coming, hurry the fuck up. Mana depletion. Dizziness hit. Collapsed.

"Wha…? M-Mage!"

Aria's panicked voice, but I was out. Soft. Borrowed Aria's chest. Squishy. What cup? At least a D or something. Fucking great blackout.

Familiar ceiling… Ah, maybe I can drop that line now. I opened my eyes staring ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at it. Should've been normal. Ceiling was there. Kinda.

"…What the hell."

Something extra. Ceiling half-blocked. Someone hovering over me. Translucent angel. The one above Aria. Pink hair, three pairs of wings.

Staring at me with pink eyes matching her hair. What? Sleep paralysis? Body wouldn't move. Demon? Virgin ghost crushing me? Yeah, sounds right.

Oh. So.

"You a virgin by any chance?"

[…?]

The angel's face twisted.