Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Failure-6
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"Why... are you doing this?"
Her holy spell touched my body. A brilliant light enveloped me, but nothing happened.
I didn't know everything about the Hero's power, but Elenor wasn't affected by ordinary magic.
If the Hero's power granted resistance to magic and holy spells alike, it was possible her incantation had failed.
I shoved the soldiers aside and grabbed the Saintess by the collar. Even as she clutched my hand and gasped for air, she never stopped staring into my eyes.
"You can go back. Again..."
"You're truly insane."
I could no longer hold back. I hurled her roughly to the ground.
"Kyaaah!"
She let out a pained scream, her body trembling. After a dry heave, blood trickled from her mouth.
"Isn't it too late to say you're sorry? For something so trivial? Why on earth?"
Just let me die like this, and no one would be in danger.
If I'd been even a little more consumed by rage, if I'd set out to scour this world for revenge, who knows what might have happened.
She hadn't just stopped my suicide—she'd put everyone at risk.
Even herself.
"I won't... say I'm sorry. I won't tell you not to seek revenge. Do whatever you want..."
The Saintess wiped the blood from her mouth with effort.
"Please just live. Somehow, just live..."
Only then did I sense something was off. I'd been mistaken.
The holy spell had succeeded. Like a bomb primed but not detonated, the Saintess's holy power was already inside me.
"Be happy."
With her words, the spell activated.
My vision went white.
/////
"That's why holy power is such an absurd force."
"How so?"
The Mage smiled brightly. Back then, I think I found that smile cute.
"Imagine you're farming. You've got the best soil, superior seeds, you meticulously hunt pests and pull weeds—and yet your neighbor harvests even more."
"Why?"
"Because he wanted it more."
The idea that emotions factor into ability still baffles me even now.
"It's unreasonable, right? But among those clad in priestly robes, that's just common sense."
"Fascinating."
"Once your adventure's over, why not join them? The Goddess-worshippers are all hypocrites... but someone like you? At least she wouldn't grieve."
"I'll take that to heart."
That's what she told me.
Holy spells are influenced by emotion.
The same prayer can become a curse or a blessing depending on the priest's feelings, with effects varying wildly from the heavens to the earth.
So how immense must her emotions have been?
The Hero, the Mage, the Saintess, the Archer—memories from the imperial palace, family, friends. All the warmest, coolest, coziest moments with everyone I'd met wrapped around me like a blanket.
--------
The forest battle raged on. Elenor charged ahead to take down the leader.
"Watch out—magic beasts..."
"Be careful."
Nerwen's short arrow pierced the eye of the orc behind me.
"Thank you!"
I was being protected. Her tone was cold and cynical, but she was shielding me all the same.
I swung my sword at the orc in front of me, but back then I was still weak and clumsy. The blade halted, unable to pierce its hide.
"Yah!"
Celia clapped her hands together and infused it with power—my sword sliced through the monster like butter.
"Don't die in one hit!"
"I'll dodge somehow! Don't worry!"
The Saintess slammed her staff into the ground and chanted. Several orcs suddenly thrashed their heads into the dirt in confusion.
"Not bad for a group without their Hero. Well done."
The prepared Mage finished her incantation, and the earth shook as pillars of fire erupted. The smell of roasting meat made me relax instinctively.
"Good work."
Soon after, Elenor returned. The stains on her white armor hinted at the battle's ferocity.
"Leader's down. And you..."
She looked at me with a fleeting expression of pity, then bowed her head.
"I sincerely apologize for breaking our promise. We were supposed to keep you safe."
"I-It's fine. This much is..."
"As promised, I'll stake my life to protect you."
With those brief words, Elenor dashed off to mop up the stragglers.
Their combat was superhuman, plain and simple. The thrill of knowing I could one day stand among them sent shivers down my spine.
-----
"Wheeee!!!"
Child-me laughed with innocent joy, riding a roller coaster that plunged in an instant.
Mom watched in shock, worried I'd fall.
"Having fun?"
"Yeah! So much fun!"
The sheer motion was delightful. The world blurring by was pure bliss. The wind brushing my cheeks was thrilling.
Off the ride, I bounced along, gripping Mom and Dad's hands with both of mine.
"Want that one?"
I eyed the cotton candy machine, and Dad knelt to meet my gaze.
"Yes!"
"Dear, no snacks already. Dinner's soon..."
"Nah, she's played hard—must be starving by now."
"I can still eat dinner! I'm super hungry, so that won't fill me up!"
Mom sighed and nodded. Leaving her on the bench, I raced Dad to the stand like it was a competition.
It was sweet. I'd devoured kids' science books and knew it was just sugar, air, and flavoring—but it tasted amazing anyway.
It was worth it.
-----
Every happy moment of my life, beautifully edited, flashed through my mind.
Comforting, warm love filled my heart.
"Why..."
Now I understood, just a little, why she'd endangered herself and everyone else with actions no one wanted.
No matter the process or cause, she simply couldn't bear to see my life end in misery. She'd sacrifice anything to protect the me standing before her.
She babbled foolishly about "being happy again," but those words were her true heart.
It wasn't the Hero's resistance that blocked her holy spell.
She'd given me a blessing utterly devoid of malice—one I couldn't resist.
"You have to be happy. You have to..."
Nothing but happy memories filled my sight. I probably couldn't see her collapsed on the ground right now.
But her voice echoed from nowhere, like a god's, resounding through this tiny magical world.
I knew the spell. A holy incantation to bring happiness and calm excitement.
It wasn't anything grand. From another priest, it'd just ease breathing for a moment.
But the Saintess's emotions, her preparation, her sacrifice—they made it magnificent.
"Are you... insane? Why go this far..."
Like wrapping up my life in a bow, happy emotions and memories assaulted my mind. Vivid, beautiful moments sparkled, as if I could reach out and reclaim them.
I foolishly repeated "why," but I already knew the answer.
Truly, even if it was foolish, even if it was too late now.
She wanted me to be happy.
"Ha..."
As if forcing it on me, she poured her wish for my happiness into me.
Her will was overwhelming. How could I, who'd given up on everything, defeat Celia—who'd prepared this spell just to make me happy?
"Please live..."
Someone needed me. Begged me not to die. Said it was okay if we didn't live happily together—just please live again.
With that feeling alone, she'd wrought a near-miracle. Even if she was the person I hated most in the world.
The mere existence of someone like that... wasn't so bad.
"In the end, I can't even kill myself on my terms. This sucks..."
I felt hollow.
But I rediscovered my will to live.
Viewing my life through that sparkling filter, like a third-party observer, I realized.
It held enough value to endure any hardship, any time, to reclaim.
It was too beautiful to abandon.
My old family might be gone forever, but I could meet new people.
I might become a father, a child, or one half of a couple.
Form a new party, make comrades, adventure with friends, build another family, receive boundless love again—and return it.
It was too beautiful to give up.
Quietly, I closed my eyes.
/////
"Good work."
Pashier's body had already lost its natural motor functions. Without the Hero's power, she'd be dead by now.
"Pa-Pashier?"
On the verge of collapse, Celia clung tightly to the fallen Hero as if to protect him.
Pashier gazed at her with complex eyes.
She was inferior. Unlike herself, who'd ruined a perfect plan over a speck of gratitude, Celia's holy spell was flawless.
No—beyond flawless. She thought of Enel with utter sincerity.
"Not trying to kill him. He's not even down—he's just sleeping because he wants to. Point a blade at him rashly, and you'll wake him for sure."
"W-Wait. Don't move!"
"This much injury is fine."
Pashier lifted Celia's body using magic alone, without a single muscle. Her limbs jerked unnaturally, like a poorly handled puppet.
"Didn't know he was the Hero?"
"He came here and..."
She'd stood before his rage without even knowing he was the Hero, trying to comfort him.
Inefficient. A dangerous, meaningless act that satisfied no one but the Saintess.
Something she'd never do.
The Mage who'd failed to solve his problems, plunging him into despair—and the Saintess who'd risked her life to soothe him sincerely.
Who was superior was obvious without looking.
"You're not... mad?"
"You did well. If he'd died, something unimaginably dangerous would've happened. Or did you not even see that?"
"I was... focused on the prayer."
Pashier nodded. It wasn't a spell you could cast while distracted.
"...You drove out the ominous presence."
If he'd taken his own life, that red light would've claimed his body immediately.
But Pashier couldn't bring herself to stop it. She believed his final choice deserved respect, even if everyone else died.
She couldn't bear to watch him suffer more.
"Wait, let me... heal you..."
"No need. Save your remaining holy power for that Hero."
Like a puppet with strings on her shoulders, Celia's body floated up.
"Did I... do good?"
"Try not to talk. Makes me jealous."
"Huh?"
Pashier sighed deeply. They'd survived for now, but the future was endlessly uncertain.
No guarantee awakened Enel wouldn't kill her. She had no shame to dodge it, no hope of achieving anything alive.
She'd racked her brain for efficient choices, only for it to end in this pathetic failure—couldn't even trust her own reason anymore.
No goals, no standards—couldn't decide what was efficient.
Exhausted, Celia soon dozed off still hugging him. Pashier stared blankly at the sleeping pair.
"Worthless humans should serve and sacrifice for the valuable ones..."
Pashier muttered her usual thought aloud without realizing.
"Me, of all people. Never thought I'd end up one of the worthless ones."
Great humans and giants differ. Giants achieve the impossible—but great ones change the world, change lives.
Pashier had changed nothing. The one who'd sacrificed for the Hero party's success was the Hero himself. The one who'd staked her life to protect him, extending this world's lifespan, was the Saintess.
Feeling utterly insignificant, the Mage stood guard until the others awoke. Her eyes shifted with contained emotions as she gazed at them endlessly.