Yurina Awakens the Sacred Relic
Yurina gazed at the dying crown prince and realized her love for him. That desperate emotion activated the relic. An untouchable, sublime light utterly erased Balruk from this world, and peace finally descended upon the land.
But the current Yurina hadn't built up that level of story with the crown prince. Of course, that was my fault. By twisting the original plot, I'd forced a confrontation with Balruk far earlier than his scheduled appearance much later on.
Even so, I still believed there was hope.
"Think about the people you need to protect. The ones you love."
Yurina was the kind-hearted female protagonist. As a saintess, she loved and cherished everyone on the continent. Having seen a future where the world would perish, I felt a small doubt. How could love for just one person outweigh love for all the others?
She had her beloved comrades, her family, countless people she loved—yet why did only the crown prince fulfill the condition to wield the relic?
"Ah, aah. Is that what you meant?"
Yurina asked in a disappointed, wistful tone, but I had no time to scrutinize her expression.
"Yurina, to defeat Balruk, you have to use the sacred relic."
"The sacred relic?"
Her eyes widened at the mention of using it. In the original story, no one but the founding saintess Ariel had ever wielded a sacred relic. Crises on the continent had been that rare. So the relic was merely a symbol of the saintess, and no one knew how to wield its power.
No one knew that the trigger was the power of love born from the desire to protect someone.
No one except me.
"Sorry, no time for details. Just think of the people you love. That'll let you wield the relic!"
"Ah!"
"Ugh!"
Regaining his senses, Balruk launched another attack. It wasn't as powerful as before, but it was still annoying. Unless killed with a relic, he'd revive endlessly—so if Yurina didn't use hers, the continent might truly perish.
"Yurina, please!"
"Ah, Lady Abigail!"
I charged at Balruk, glaring, leaving Yurina—who was calling my name—behind.
* * *
Yurina's mouth fell open slightly as she watched Abigail spout nonsense and dash off.
"Ah…!"
She stared blankly at her companions battling the terrifying monster. It felt utterly different from any monster she'd seen before. Unconsciously, her hand clutched the necklace at her throat.
It felt like just yesterday she'd first worn this sacred relic. After completing her pilgrimage to the holy sites and returning south, she'd made one last visit to Florence territory. She knew entering the temple as a saintess meant she'd never return.
From her room in the mansion, she could see the garden blooming with pink lysianthus. She etched the swaying flowers in the breeze into her memory.
On the road to the temple, the territory's people had lined up to see her off. Strangely, those scenes lingered more than the temple ceremony itself.
The people you need to protect. The ones you love.
Her beloved territory folk, the people she had to protect, and…
Yurina, to defeat Balruk, you have to use the sacred relic.
Watching Abigail fight desperately, Yurina removed the necklace and gripped it in her hand. The demon-shaped monster was relentlessly cornering her. Even though Abigail's aura felt stronger than before.
Still, she couldn't imagine Abigail winning. That was why her heart had been pounding so anxiously.
Lady Abigail…!
She recalled the young Abigail who'd saved her. When she thought it was all over, that beautiful girl had rushed in and rescued her. Her black hair had shimmered transparently under the moonlight.
But now, Abigail's hair was soaked in blood.
This time, I'll…!
A white light burst from the necklace in Yurina's hand.
I'll protect Lady Abigail!
The sacred relic, awakening after a millennium, radiated brilliant light.
* * *
It's done.
I let out a long sigh as Balruk vanished, engulfed in holy light.
"Hoo."
Tension easing, I slowly lowered my sword.
"Grraaah…."
I closed my eyes briefly at Balruk's fading cry, then opened them. If this were a game, it'd be a clean "Quest Clear!" notification. A horrific light for Balruk, but for my wounded self and companions, it was a blessing.
I could see my battered body healing rapidly.
"Ah…!"
"Yurina!"
I rushed to Yurina as she collapsed like a puppet with cut strings, utterly spent. Her slender frame heaved with labored breaths.
"Yurina, you okay?"
"Lady Abigail…."
Yurina barely opened her eyes, met mine, and smiled brightly.
"You did it. You saved the world, Yurina."
Overwhelmed with emotion, my words made her beautiful pink eyes widen.
"I… saved the…."
Her lips trembled, then she shook her head slightly.
"No. We did it, Lady Abigail."
She beamed at me.
"If it weren't for you, I never could've used the relic."
"Ah."
I grinned sheepishly and pulled her fragile body into a tight embrace.
"Yeah, we saved the world."
"Hee hee."
In the original, the crown prince would've shared a passionate kiss here. But with me in the male lead's spot, the story twisted again. Come to think of it, the crown prince hadn't even shown his face.
Having stolen all the achievements he was supposed to claim, guilt washed over me.
But I have to survive first.
Sorry, crown prince—if he'd defeated Balruk, all my hard work might've gone to waste. Rationalizing it that way, I carefully helped Yurina stand.
"Can you walk?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
Just then, Illein—who'd been keeping Balruk's minions from reaching Yurina—approached to support her.
"I'll take care of her."
"Ah, sure."
I awkwardly handed her over, my face stiff. This was another check that should've gone to the crown prince originally. Illein subtly glaring at me felt weird.
"Anyway, now…."
Shwaaak!
"Ugh, what the—?"
"What is it?"
Where Balruk had vanished, from the rift's crevice, pure white smoke billowed up. Then fine white powder scattered into the sky. My face hardened at the sight.
The next page had finally begun.
* * *
Finally….
Ren blinked at the scene before him. The landscape he'd watched endlessly for so long had finally changed. After striving so hard to alter it, at last.
Overwhelmed, Ren smiled unwittingly.
That moment, his eyes met Abigail's. It felt like that time at the ducal estate when he'd thought their gazes had locked. But back then, he hadn't dared approach her. Not now.
With the darkness gone and sunlight shining, Ren no longer hid with invisibility magic. Abigail, eyes meeting his, waved excitedly, her face beaming with unbridled victory joy.
Ren stepped toward her.
[Ren!]
"……!"
But a voice piercing his mind made him freeze.
[Ren Magicus!]
"Master?"
Ren whispered softly, rooted in place, at Benjamin's voice. Telepathy—speaking directly into another's mind without a magic communicator—was advanced magic. It drained massive mana, plus the caster's mental and physical energy. Reserved for emergencies.
This was the first time Ren had ever received telepathy from Benjamin. He focused his mind intently.
[Master, what is it?]
[Kuh, I've been had.]
[Had?]
[Can't explain long. Hurry back to the Magic Tower….]
[Master!]
The telepathy cut off.
Shwaaak!
Ren gaped blankly at the white smoke surging skyward.
* * *
Balruk was the final boss monster in the original story. The Hell Gatekeeper—that was his epithet. Even after death, he was a huge pain, triggering the second event upon his defeat.
The north's freezing cold that would usher in an ice age. It was supposed to happen around late fall as winter approached, but I'd accelerated the timeline.
Still, I'd already prepared fully for the ice age event. Though to perfect it, I probably needed to meet Benjamin.
Magic communicators didn't work well in the north, so meeting in person was best. Recalling Ren, whose eyes I'd just met, I turned.
"…Ren?"
"Ah."
Ren, pale-faced and frozen, met my gaze. He seemed shocked by the sudden development too. Well, only I, knowing the original, could stay calm now.
I patted his shoulder.
"It's fine. No big deal."
"…Lady Abigail."
The harsh cold following Balruk's death would plague the north. But it was a trial that would eventually pass. Hold out till next year, and the chill would lift, bringing continental peace.
Of course, the original protagonists had scrambled to save northerners dying in the extreme cold.
But for me, with preparations done, it wasn't a huge worry.
"By the way, I need to see Benjamin too…."
"My master…."
"Hm?"
"Master's in danger!"
"What?"
I stared at Ren in shock. Flustered, he stammered out how Benjamin had telepathed him. Hearing it, my expression hardened.
"I'll come to the Magic Tower with you."
"Pardon? You too, Lady Abigail?"
"Yeah, I had business there anyway."
I glanced at Ren, whose face had gone blue with worry for Benjamin. Thanks to becoming the ducal house's mage, he'd joined the monster crisis without clashing with his master.
Originally, Ren was fated to kill Benjamin. We'd avoided the original route so far, but visiting the Magic Tower might trigger something unexpected.
I need to watch closely so nothing happens.
Of course, I firmly believed Ren wouldn’t kill Benjamin, but there was no telling what the mastermind’s side might do. Steeling my resolve, I watched Ren prepare the long-distance warp.