In the frozen, chilly ground where everyone stood still, Athena’s appearance was like a sun rising in the darkness.
As she emerged, the faces of those who had been holding Iris with despair were filled with bright hope.
“Oh… oh… it’s Lady Athena…”
“It’s the Hero! The Hero has appeared!”
“Ugh… I’m alive… I’m alive…”
In an instant, the pallor on people’s faces brightened. They all released Iris’s hands and began to cheer at Athena.
Looking at them, Athena chuckled softly and spoke to Iris.
“You don’t look too happy, Iris.”
“……Again.”
Iris clenched her teeth tightly.
Just like before. Even in a tragedy where everyone was dying, Athena had not appeared.
…Why isn’t she saving anyone?
Why does she do nothing with all that power?
If only she had helped… many could have been saved.
Though there were countless words she wanted to express, Iris swallowed them all and posed a short question.
“…Where have you been until now?”
With suppressed emotions, Iris’s words made Athena shrug her shoulders.
“It’s a bit hurtful, Iris. I did manage to catch the enemy leader, you know.”
As she said this, Athena pulled something from her cloak and dropped it on the ground.
When Iris looked down, she saw a pitch-black helmet exuding an ominous aura.
It wasn’t hard to figure out who it belonged to.
The one who led the demons and monsters to invade this place. Commander of the First Legion, Dark Knight Tyrus.
The surrounding people stared blankly at the helmet on the ground before they started to cheer one by one with excitement.
“Ah… it’s the Dark Knight! The Hero has defeated the Dark Knight!”
“We’ve won..! We’ve really won!”
“Hooray! Long live the Hero!”
When it had come out, everyone inside the tent looked at Athena with yearning.
While everyone was filling their hearts with joy and relief, Iris’s expression was still filled with doubt unlike the others.
“Did you really come to save us?”
“You can decide that for yourself.”
With a shallow smile, Athena gazed at the sky.
Above, a dragon was raining down spells, scattering overwhelming fear.
“I didn’t expect it to chase us this far. I guess it really got angry.”
At Athena’s words, Iris’s body trembled.
With shaking eyes, Iris looked at Athena and asked.
“Did you… bring the dragon here?”
In response to Iris’s trembling voice, Athena took out a single horn glowing with blue light from her cloak to show her.
“I thought it looked pretty, so I brought it. What do you think? Isn’t it flashy?”
“U…how could you…”
Iris felt her heart constrict at Athena’s casual words.
Her breathing quickened, her body shivered, and tears began to well up in her eyes.
“You… because of you, people…”
But Iris’s words couldn’t continue.
The blue dragon, searching for something in the sky, spotted Athena and roared furiously.
Then, as if responding to the dragon’s emotions, numerous magic circles began to appear in the sky.
Descending calamity.
Powerful spells that could each be called major magic flew all towards Athena.
“Save… save the people!”
As huge spells zoomed in, people screamed in terror.
Some were lost and wandering helplessly. A few keen ones instinctively crouched down and hid behind Athena.
Athena, quietly watching the rushing magic, reached out her hand, and many golden magic circles formed in front of her, overlapping and hardening like a sturdy shield.
As the two magics collided, a gigantic explosive sound shook the ground, and Athena’s magic circles began to shatter one by one.
But fortunately, before all the magic circles broke, Athena swung her sword, cutting the fierce magic in front of her in half, sending it flying aside.
As Athena casually shook off her wrist, the blue dragon that had been flying in the sky landed before her.
Roooaaar…
The dragon growled threateningly at Athena.
Before the overwhelming aura of the dragon, the people began to sink one by one into fear and soon looked at Athena with desperate faces.
Seeing them, Athena flashed a smirk.
“Everyone, don’t worry. I’ll be your help.”
Watching the glimmers of hope slowly blooming on their faces, Athena continued speaking.
“You all wish for your loved ones to be safe, right?”
They immediately answered her.
“Y-yes..! My family is all here.”
“My father is sick… he can’t escape…”
“I must protect my son…!”
People shared their plights.
Athena nodded once and replied to them.
“I understand. The desire to protect those precious to you.”
Maybe it was the relief of being alive.
Or maybe it was really the tears of joy at Athena’s appearance.
The folks looked at Athena as if they were seeing a goddess.
“Those who have loved ones here, would you come forward for a moment?”
With a sweet smile, Athena asked.
Though they didn’t comprehend the meaning, those who were moved began to step forward one by one.
Almost all of them approached Athena. She walked towards one of them.
The middle-aged woman, who had previously shouted at Iris. Athena spoke to her.
“Who do you want to protect?”
“My… my husband is injured and can hardly move!”
“Would you do anything for him?”
“Yes..! I truly love him. Please, save us.”
At the woman’s earnest voice, Athena patted her shoulder as if to reassure her.
“Okay. I’ll help you.”
“Thank you… thank you, Hero!”
The middle-aged woman bowed repeatedly, expressing her gratitude.
Athena extended her hand momentarily, gathering a powerful aura until a sword radiating a golden light materialized.
She then turned back and firmly placed the sword in the woman’s hands.
With a bright smile, Athena spoke to the woman.
“This sword holds my mana. It will be enough to cut through the dragon’s scales.”
“…What?”
The middle-aged woman stared blankly at Athena, as if she didn’t understand.
“Go, protect your precious person.”
With a gentle push, the woman began to stagger forward while holding the sword.
Right in front of the ferocious dragon exuding an intimidating aura.
Roooaaar…
The woman, still dazed about what was happening, looked at Athena with trembling eyes.
“A… Athena…?”
Her words halted there.
Crack!
With a grotesque sound of bones breaking, the middle-aged woman was crushed under the dragon’s front paw.
The horrific scene left everyone in shock.
Silence fell over the surroundings for a moment.
But soon, the people’s screams began to fill the air.
“AAAAGH!!”
“What… The Hero just pushed her…!!”
Among the confused crowd, a middle-aged man rushed toward Athena.
“W-what have you done! You… you killed my wife…!”
“Oh, you must be her husband?”
Looking at the man who grabbed his collar and shouted, Athena replied indifferently.
Then, she shoved the man away from her and called out loudly to everyone around.
“The woman who just died bravely fought for her husband! Inspired by her bravery, this man will uphold the name Athena Caladbolg and protect everyone to the end.”
With a shallow smile on her face, Athena continued speaking.
“I will give those who wish to protect their dear ones a chance to fight. Even if they fail, I will take responsibility to uphold their wishes, so feel free to take the swords.”
People who had stepped forward with desperate hearts started to retreat in fear one by one.
Watching them, Athena wore a satisfied expression.
“Why the hesitation? Don’t you want to protect your loved ones?”
Witnessing Athena smiling calmly even in such a horrific situation, people began to scream.
“She’s… she’s definitely crazy…”
“You’re not a Hero at all!”
“You… you monster!!”
The situation had flipped in an instant.
Athena, seemingly unable to understand their venomous words, raised an eyebrow.
“Aren’t you supposed to be grateful? You’d die at the dragon’s hands anyway. I’m offering you my power. Or… ”
Athena’s eyes glowed fiercely.
“Do you expect me to help you without reservation?”
People fell silent under Athena’s menacing aura.
Seeing them, Athena sighed briefly.
“Honestly, selfish people who only yearn for others’ sacrifices—”
Snap!
With a sharp sound, Athena’s words were cut off.
Everyone’s faces turned to shock at the incomprehensible scene.
Athena’s head tilted sideways.
In front of her stood the weeping white-clad saintess.
It was none other than Iris, who had never committed an act of violence, who had struck her cheek with all her might.
“…You’re truly the worst.”
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