Chapter: 263
I jokingly told Grandpa that I would be giving a gift to Tariki, but the reality was a bit different. The sun I wanted to create is merely a means to conquer.
According to Karia’s report, Tariki’s influence has already swallowed up the Burrow territory.
The citizens of the territory. The maids in the mansion. The criminals lurking in the alleys. The soldiers guarding the streets. A priest from some church. The knights belonging to the family.
Everyone, without exception, has fallen into darkness.
Previously, I thought I would only have to deal with a small portion of these.
The difficulty of putting someone to sleep versus getting someone to move is completely different. I judged that with the current Nakrad, moving several people at once would be the limit.
I thought that after finishing the proper preparations with brute force, I would face a dungeon disguised as the Burrow family.
But now, the story has changed.
If the magic circle activates and darkness engulfs the territory, then all those people will become my enemies.
That volume of opposition is something I can’t handle.
It’s a kind of army and disaster. If I respond carelessly, I’d probably be suffocated before even reaching the mansion.
So, I prepare the sun.
No matter what Tariki has in store, I will create a brilliant light that can erase all that darkness.
A bright light that can take the night away from those trapped in deep slumber.
[…Theoretically, it seems possible.]
Hearing my plan to create a sun, Grandpa sounded a bit dissatisfied.
Was it to be expected? What I was about to do strayed far from common sense.
[That’s quite a leap, and the risks are big. To be honest, if one of my subordinates came with something like this, I would’ve shouted that they’re insane.]
“Grandpa, have you forgotten how I’ve always operated?”
Seriously, Grandpa. You’ve watched all the crazy things I’ve done, and now you’re worried about the risks?
[That may be true.]
Having seen my antics up close, Grandpa seemed at a loss for words, elongating his response.
“Anyway, you’re saying it’s still possible, right?”
[Haah. Yes, if everything goes as you say.]
“That’s good enough for me!”
Receiving Grandpa’s affirmation, I told Alsetin to wait and stepped out of the academy street.
Finding the person I wanted to meet was incredibly easy.
Possessing immense divinity, she is a beacon in her very existence.
“Young Lady.”
Phoebe. The false saint who will later become the true saint.
The more I train with her, the more I realize how exceptional she is at handling sacred magic.
One of the game-breaking characters in Soul Academy.
As she offered her prayers in front of the statue at the church early in the morning, she met my gaze and smiled.
A smile filled with assurance, relief, and happiness.
I returned her smile and spoke.
“I need your help.”
“Hey, false saint. I’m going to give you a special chance to help this pitiful you. What will you do?”
“What should I do?”
Even though I blurted out my request before greeting, Phoebe nodded without hesitation.
There was a strange kind of insanity in her demeanor, similar to the kind seen in Karl.
Feeling bewildered, I asked if she wasn’t going to hear out my request, and Phoebe tilted her head and replied.
“There’s no need to listen. It’s a request from you, Young Lady.”
‘…What if I ask for something strange?’
“Hmm~ Anything? So should I ask you to crawl on your knees and bark like a dog?”
“Is that necessary?”
Phoebe’s expression robbed of all mirth made it impossible to tell if she was being serious or joking.
So I couldn’t bring myself to answer. Even if it was just a joke, it felt like she would actually follow through.
“I was joking, Young Lady.”
The short, heavy silence evaporated as Phoebe burst into laughter.
…Oh. Right? It was a joke?
“I asked what you wanted because I thought you would only have one request for me, Young Lady.”
Ah, that makes sense.
Phoebe was the one who first confirmed the anomalies in the Burrow family. If I came to ask her for something just days later, it must naturally involve the Burrow family.
So right now, was I the one getting played by Phoebe?
This kind and gentle saintess is teasing me. It seems she considers us quite close.
Realizing that put me in a genuinely good mood, even if the fact I was being teased annoyed me.
I had to get back at her.
“Young Lady?! Does it hurt?! Is it painful?!”
Pulling both her cheeks as a fitting punishment, I took the blushing Phoebe outside the church. It wasn’t an appropriate place for secretive talks.
*
On the day I noticed the anomalies in the Burrow family.
Phoebe explained everything she had seen to Lucy. She even mentioned that she could report the Burrow family to the church if necessary.
However, Lucy rejected her proposal.
She had no intention of using the church’s power and didn’t plan to inform anyone of this matter. She asked the pitiful saintess to keep quiet for a while.
At that time, Phoebe couldn’t understand Lucy’s request.
The apostle of the evil god was trying to swallow a ducal family. If not dealt with quickly, it could lead to major disaster.
According to the original plan, she should have reported it to the church as soon as she noticed the signs to nip it in the bud.
Having been a symbol of the Lord’s church for a long time, Phoebe was well aware of the importance of such protocols.
Yet, despite that, she followed Lucy’s words without question.
As the apostle of Armadi, she was someone who heard the voice of the god up close. There must be a profound reason behind any request she makes.
Phoebe kept silent, without a hint of doubt.
She quietly awaited the day when the will of the god would descend upon the surface.
Days later, one morning.
Lucy, who should have been sweating it out in the training ground, came to find Phoebe at the church.
That alone was enough for Phoebe to understand the situation. The apostle of the god needed her to fight against the evil god.
Her expectation wasn’t off. Lucy wished for Phoebe’s strength to dispel the disaster looming over the Burrow territory.
She had been chosen by the apostle, by Lucy.
It was something she should have felt glorious about, and had it been the usual Phoebe, she might have shed tears of joy.
But she couldn’t.
“Let me tell you in advance, this is a trap set by filthy trash trying to drag me in. Being as cautious as that garbage is, they’ll have many things prepared, and it will be extremely dangerous. So think again. This is a matter of life and death.”
Lucy’s words seemed so absurd to Phoebe.
“…Huh? Young Lady.”
“What is it, pitiful saint?”
“A trap, you say?”
“Yes. The pathetic weak evil god can’t take revenge on the noble family directly, so they’re probably trying to torment me.”
“And yet you’re still planning to go there?”
“Excuse me. Do you have a headache? Why do you keep repeating things like a goldfish?”
“Why?”
Why?
Knowing that place is a trap.
Understanding it’s dangerous.
Realizing that if she goes there, she would surely suffer and might even die.
Why is she so insistent on going there herself?
There are plenty of other good options.
She can rely on the nation’s power or the church’s power.
No matter how she thinks about it, there’s no reason for the Young Lady to put herself in danger.
As the chosen apostle of Armadi, there’s no reason for her to stake her life on this.
So why?
“I’m not going to let some weak and petty self-proclaimed god bury me in a corner with help!”
“That’s not a simple matter! You, Young Lady!…”
Phoebe was about to yell at Lucy for not accepting her answer, but then suddenly realized something.
If.
If she were to pull in other forces as she said.
If she involved the nation. If she involved the church.
Phoebe already knew the answer.
She had heard it in her voice, read it in texts, seen it in pictures, and felt it with her own two eyes.
The Burrow family would vanish.
One of its members reaching out to the evil god would be enough to erase them from history.
The Duke of Burrow would lose everything due to the foolish acts committed during his folly.
Unlike Phoebe, he wouldn’t even get the chance to repent.
He’d fall into hell.
But what if they resolve the Burrow family issue without pulling in any outside forces?
What if they quietly put everything to rest?
As Phoebe reached that conclusion, she stopped speaking and chuckled.
Not the soft smile befitting a saint.
But laughter born out of sheer incredulity.
So, the Young Lady is so incredibly willing to throw away her own life for another’s, is she?
No one would recognize such achievements.
Not even the Duke of Burrow himself could be certain of expressing gratitude.
And without even a slight hesitation, she’s prepared to lay down her life?
Ah. Is that so? I see.
This must be why Armadi chose you as an apostle.
In contrast, here I am, calculating the value of my own life.
Thinking that the life of an apostle of a god is worth more than that of someone else.
Having been saved by your nobility.
I guess I’ll have to pray for atonement all night later.
How much laughter was there?
It was time for even Lucy to begin worryingly observing Phoebe when she finally opened her eyes.
“Young Lady.”
“…Pitiful saint? You’re not going crazy, right?”
“I’ll do it.”
“Huh?”
“No matter what dangers await, I’ll do it.”
To add her inadequate strength to the will of the noble apostle.
“So please, let me know what to do.”
When Phoebe said something similar at the church not long ago, Lucy had scolded her for that kind of attitude. But this time, it was different.
She raised an eyebrow slightly and just gave the hint of a smile.
“Got it. Pitiful saint. I’ll let you know what we need to do.”
“Yes. I’ll do my utmost for anything.”
“We’re heading straight to the Artea family to sell our dignity to the holy perverts there.”
“…What?”
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