Iris’s unexpected actions left everyone around her in shock.
Just moments ago, people had been trembling with fear. Yet none of them could find the words to speak.
The scene before them was shocking enough to leave them speechless.
“…..”
Atena, blinking blankly, was suddenly shouted at by Iris.
“Do you think a person’s life is a joke? How could you do such a thing…!”
For the first time, Iris had struck someone and raised her voice.
The feelings she had been holding back towards Atena finally exploded.
But unfortunately, the recipient of her outburst was not the right one.
Atena’s eyes, which had been filled with mischief moments ago, were now coldly fixed on Iris.
As she touched her bruised cheek a few times, Atena slowly approached Iris.
“Iris.”
iSlam-!!!!i
The sound of flesh tearing, distinctly different from before, spread ominously around them.
Overcome by the intense shock to her face, Iris collapsed to the ground.
“Ugh…!”
Looking down at Iris, whose cheek had swollen and turned purple, Atena spoke calmly.
“Don’t you ever touch my body again. You’re only alive because it’s you.”
Atena’s words were infinitely cold. If it had been the usual Iris, she would have been too intimidated by her presence to respond at all.
But now, Iris, far from retreating, stood up, wobbling on her legs, and stared at Atena.
“….You said that if I fought bravely, I would fulfill his wishes, right?”
Iris grabbed the golden sword that Atena had been holding. To her surprise, Atena readily allowed her to take it, and it was fully in Iris’s grasp.
With the sword in hand, Iris boldly looked at Atena and spoke.
“I will fight the dragon. To protect everyone in the empire.”
Atena’s eyes widened in shock at her words.
“So even if I die in battle, you must carry on my wishes.”
It was a statement that would leave anyone shocked.
Yet, no one dared to interfere, leaving only a deep silence in the air.
And so, the chilling atmosphere lingered for a while.
Then, unexpectedly, Atena broke the silence with laughter.
Finding Iris’s serious determination amusing, Atena began to laugh heartily.
Iris frowned at Atena’s laughter, which she found unpleasant.
“….Why are you laughing?”
“Pffft… Iris. Do you really think I wouldn’t know?”
Iris looked confused, completely oblivious to what Atena was suggesting.
Atena, gazing at her with intense eyes, continued.
“You. You want to die, don’t you?”
“…….Huh?”
Iris’s heart sank at Atena’s calm words.
“Look at your face. You’re practically desperate to die right now.”
“Wh…what are you talking about?”
Iris quickly pulled back from Atena.
And as she felt something strange inside her, she touched her face with both hands. Shock washed over Iris.
The sensation at the corners of her mouth was unmistakable.
Despite wanting to deny it, she realized it was undeniable.
In this tragic situation, her mouth was smiling as if she were truly happy.
“Could you please stop saying what you want, under the guise of sacrifice?”
“No…no way…”
Iris’s breath quickened.
Trembling at her unbelievable duality, tears began to well up in her eyes.
“Iris. Remember when I said I felt sorry for you for not knowing love?”
Atena looked down at Iris, who was gasping for breath, with a teasing smile.
“I pity you, Iris, for being blissfully unaware of human malice.”
Iris’s eyes, looking at Atena, began to tremble violently.
Unfortunately, no further conversation took place.
Atena was about to speak again, but at that moment, a blue dragon roared ferociously, shaking the ground around them.
With no warning, a massive spell instantly activated. The people near Atena couldn’t escape its effects either.
“Uughh!!”
People toppled through the splitting ground.
It was as if a massive natural disaster swept across the land.
Desperate to survive, people started fleeing.
They might consider themselves lucky.
For an ordinary person, escaping from a dragon would be impossible.
But the dragon paid no mind to those fleeing and solely focused on Atena.
“Are you hoping for your remaining horn to be cut off?”
Despite the dragon’s murderous intent, Atena laughed calmly.
As if hearing her words, the dragon bared its teeth menacingly.
With the sword she had reclaimed, Atena glanced at Iris before vaulting off the ground.
“If you want to die, then die alone.”
And with that, Atena charged at the dragon, and the incredible energies of the two beings fiercely collided.
*
The Demon King has fallen.
Lily has fallen.
Ariel has fallen.
Princess Charlotte, Hailey, Catherine, and Robin were all dead.
The empire burned, and the emperor’s head rolled on the ground.
Even the precious citizens, powerless, fell victim to calamity.
Powerful knights clad in black armor and dragons known as the dominators of the skies also closed their eyes forever.
Both enemy and ally.
They have paid an enormous price.
Only after such immense sacrifice did a semblance of peace arrive.
A month passed after that.
Time moved agonizingly slow, yet all at once, it rushed by.
“Now… it should be alright…”
In a voice that felt infinitely dry, Iris murmured alone in her room.
A month had passed since then.
The world had completely changed.
Iris had poured out so much divine power that she had forgotten how many people she had healed.
Thus, humanity barely managed to survive amidst the calamity.
Although the number of survivors barely amounted to half of half.
Atena had disappeared without a trace, and the remaining survivors began to dream of a new start, working together.
With the common enemy, the demon race, gone now.
The elves released their barriers and came out from the forest, and the beastkin, much more amicable than before, began aiding the humans.
With all wars now ended.
But can this truly be called peace?
Iris glanced down at the object in her hand.
A small sword that was sharply honed. It had a hue capable of easily cutting through most things.
As Iris slowly brought the sword to her wrist and moved it sideways.
With a sharp pain, blood began to pour from her wrist.
Normally, such a wound would have been healed instantly by the goddess’s blessing.
Yet Iris’s wrist continued to bleed profusely.
“Now… it’s okay to rest, right, Yeosin-nim…?”
With parched lips and vacant eyes, Iris muttered.
The Saintess’s divine power could be said to be limitless. But over the past month, Iris had used up all of that massive divine power without a break.
Even if she collapsed from overwork or vomited blood from excessive strain, Iris persevered in healing others.
Was it because of that?
While she had saved countless lives, Iris now found she had no strength left to heal herself.
Yet, paradoxically, Iris felt an overwhelming sense of tranquility in this situation.
Atena’s words must have been true.
She truly wanted to die.
“I’m sorry, everyone…”
Recalling her comrades, Iris whispered softly.
They had sacrificed their lives for her. She felt sorry for running away so cowardly.
She had no courage to overcome this anguish and move forward.
Right now, all she wanted was to… rest.
To return to the goddess’s embrace… to just be still and do nothing.
…I’m truly sorry for being such a useless Saintess.
As her consciousness faded, Iris closed her eyes.
In the deepening darkness of her mind, a sound began to emerge.
Was it an auditory hallucination?
Focusing her dwindling consciousness, she could discern the shape of the voice.
It was a woman’s voice.
One that was weeping sorrowfully.
“Thank you…”
Iris had no idea who it was or why she was crying, but she offered her gratitude.
The woman’s sorrowful weeping sounded like she was mourning Iris’s death, providing her with great comfort.
In the bitter solitude of death, Iris felt no loneliness due to the woman’s cries.
‘I don’t know who you are… but you must be a really kind person.’
Anyone who would cry like that for another must surely be kindhearted.
That unknown woman, staying by her side in her final moments.
With a warmth and gentleness that was utterly reassuring.
Iris peacefully slipped into sleep with a faint smile.
And so Iris found the solace she had long desired.
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