〈 Chapter 295 〉 The Prophecy Points to Death (7)
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Sara looks at the mage in front of her.
The ashen-haired mage.
The wise one, Raniel van Trias.
Her appearance has changed a lot, but Sara is certain that the essence of the human known as Raniel will never change. It’s only natural.
That mage truly never changes.
No matter what she sees or experiences, Raniel will always remain the same. Always upright. Isn’t that why she had been cast aside, unable to endure such uprightness?
‘So…’
Sara thought she’d naturally refuse.
She expected to be yelled at for being crazy and told to get lost immediately. She believed that Raniel would react that way, and Sara knows it’s a reasonable and correct response.
The Saint is the agent of God.
The Hero is an apostle sent by God.
The church’s doctrine includes a statement that they must bring salvation to the world as representatives of God. That is the duty and responsibility of the Hero and the Saint. Even if they try to turn their backs on that responsibility, it doesn’t disappear.
Raniel lives by the correct doctrine.
Sara firmly believed that her old companion would do so again this time.
“I won’t force you. Do whatever you want, whether you run away or not.”
Therefore.
“What’s the point of forcing someone who’s scared to die? It’s exhausting. After all these years of shouting, what more can I expect from someone who doesn’t listen?”
At this moment, Sara doubts her own ears.
The girl in front of her is definitely Raniel.
But Raniel is saying something she wouldn’t say. Sara discovers an unfamiliar side in someone she thought she knew well. There’s no time to feel surprised.
“What? Does it seem strange?”
Raniel tilts her chin.
“Did you think I’d tell you to get lost and grab Kyle by the collar, forcing him to hold a sword?”
Sara nods silently.
Because Raniel has done just that before.
“Lift the sword.”
“Hold it, you brat.”
“Hold it. If you say you give up here, what does that make me? Knowing that I’ve sacrificed everything just to save you…”
After meeting the Demon Lord, Raniel and Kyle fought fiercely. Sara had never dared to step in during their countless battles.
“…Yes, I thought you would do that.”
So, Sara had steeled herself.
If merely bowing her head didn’t work, she was prepared to follow Raniel around for days.
‘But, this easily…’
She never imagined that she would so easily agree. While Sara is flustered, Raniel sighs deeply and opens her mouth.
“Up until recently, that might have been true.”
“…What?”
“Just saying.”
Raniel irritably tousles her own hair. She has somewhat found answers to the doubts she has been harboring for years. The decisive answer came from Galahal’s death.
Battling against calamity at the cost of one’s life.
And the ultimate fate met was beautiful, but in Raniel’s eyes, it didn’t seem entirely beautiful. Living as she had shouted, achieving her ideals, and dying—Galahal’s end filled Raniel with doubt.
That end is undeniably beautiful and noble.
She can live that way too.
Raniel truly thought so.
‘…If such a death can achieve something and leave something behind, then I could accept it.’
However, she never thought of forcing such a life onto others. Galahal had proven that it’s a rough and arduous path to walk.
“Don’t force me,” Raniel muttered.
“In a way, that’s a last will. One should honor the last will of the deceased, right?”
Even if she doesn’t want to, she will try it once.
She has already failed once. If she has failed, she should look for another way. In fact, Raniel doesn’t even know how to treat Kyle anymore.
She doesn’t think Kyle is right, not at all.
What that bastard did to her is unforgivable. Who walks this path because of whom, and he dares to try to withdraw from it? She cannot tolerate that. Because of it, Raniel feels a deep sense of betrayal towards Kyle.
This has been the case for years.
Now, she’s even tired of being angry.
She even questions the meaning of all this behavior. Maybe she’s looking for a substitute for Kyle, or perhaps she feels like she might not be entirely right either.
She’s just tired now.
Tired enough to leave Kyle’s side.
“I just don’t want to care anymore.”
Raniel muttered helplessly.
That is, in a way, her true feelings. Having worn it for so long, it has become like her second skin, and her voice escaped through the cracks of the mask.
“I’ve been nagging for years and that brat doesn’t listen. What’s the point of forcing him? Just figure it out yourself. Don’t you remember what I said back then?”
Raniel chuckled.
“Live well without me. I told you that, didn’t I?”
Raniel stood up.
“Come or go, do as you please. I plan to answer assuming that brat isn’t here from the start.”
So, you do your part too.
As Raniel muttered this while trying to pass by Sara, Sara reached out and grabbed Raniel’s wrist.
“…What is it?”
“Anyway, you’re saying you will go.”
Sara sighed.
“If you leave, Kyle will go too. I don’t know why, but it will definitely happen.”
Letting out a sigh, she turned to Raniel.
“Raniel.”
“What.”
“Are you sure?”
“Sure about what?”
“That you can find an answer, and that you will run away without getting involved in a fight that leads to death.”
Raniel blinked her eyes and then answered.
“Yeah.”
The answer is short. As always.
“Ah, seriously…!”
Sara ruffled her hair.
Irritably exhaling, she looked at Raniel with wide eyes.
“Just tell me what to do. I’ll do as you say.”
“Suddenly? Are you crazy?”
“Yes, I’m crazy. Both you and Kyle have completely lost it, so why would I be any different?”
Sara stood up.
Pointing a finger at Raniel, she shot back.
“Just tell me what to do. Just like before. It seems there’s no answer, but you see something, don’t you? Right?”
“I have a slightly broader perspective than you.”
“Wow, how rude.”
Sara let out a hollow laugh, seemingly tired now.
That laughter doesn’t last long. Suddenly stopping, Sara narrowed her eyes and spoke.
“I’ll do as you say, but promise me one thing.”
She said.
“Don’t let Kyle die.”
Whatever it takes, please do it.
“I’m begging you.”
Sara bowed her head and pleaded with Raniel.
2.
Sara didn’t head straight to the battlefield. She borrowed a church near the royal capital and spent the whole day there, closing her eyes and dreaming. She spent most of the day kneeling before the statue of God.
Kneeling, she lowers her head halfway.
She fell asleep as if praying and, upon waking, Sara spoke in a locked voice.
“Take note.”
As she said that, the priests waiting by her side started to move their quills. Sara concretized the prophecy without missing a single detail—location, place, surrounding environment, and even the movements of Death’s Blade.
Sara saw all of it.
Upon waking up, she narrated what she had seen.
The compiled prophecy was exceedingly detailed. It was an unprecedented event in the history of the church, but considering Sara’s talent, it wasn’t surprising.
A child born with extraordinary talent.
There were even whispers that she would be the phenomenal Saint responsible for hundreds of years in the Deloheim Church. With all her might, she focused on a single topic. The result of such dedication was indeed astonishing.
“…”
The prophecy is updated daily.
As she reviewed it, Raniel began to devise a plan. She gathered information, specified the terrain, and sought available means.
“Senpai, I’ve found related materials.”
Beside her was Kalt.
The two stayed up all night, extracting as much information as possible from the concretized prophecy. With the specified location and time, Raniel pronounced it.
“26 days later, at the Kenel Plains to the north.”
It coincides with the place mentioned in the first prophecy from centuries ago.
Raniel did not consider it a coincidence that Death’s Blade would appear there. There is surely a clear purpose behind it. What is that purpose?
Raniel looks at the map.
While it isn’t properly marked, she knows what’s nearby the Kenel Plains.
“The Holy Site of the North.”
Ganikalt van Galatrick.
The place where the Holy Sword used by the First Hero is embedded.
Centuries ago, Ganikalt had aimed for that place.
And it was thwarted by the first Grace. Now, after hundreds of years, Ganikalt seeks to step into the north once more.
‘To retrieve the Holy Sword?’
Is that truly the objective?
It’s certain there must be some connection. As Raniel pondered, she sought out Cardi. She thought that the ancient elf might know something.
“My old companions cannot cross the Phantom Territory. You know this well, right?”
“Yeah. They say a contract was made.”
“Ganikalt formed the strongest of contracts among them. Essentially, he is not much different from the Apostle of Darkness.”
Cardi spread out the map.
Pointing to the line crossing the Kenel Plains, Cardi spoke.
“That holy site acts as a sort of boundary. It serves as proof of the contract. He shouldn’t be able to cross it. He shouldn’t be able to… but if he decides to try.”
“If he intends to reclaim his lost half, the Star might once choose to turn a blind eye. Ganikalt was favored by the Star more than anyone else.”
“…Does that make sense?”
“It makes sense, which is the problem. Hasn’t Gleria also been given a few chances in the past?”
Raniel bit her lips.
When they invaded the night city, the Gletus had said this was his last chance. Was it truly granted permission from the Star?
“I’m going to lose my mind. So, does that mean he won’t weaken or anything?”
“There won’t be any weakening.”
“…Then why not go find him sooner?”
“Ganikalt probably had no intention of doing so.”
Cardi said.
“He may have fallen, but at least he hasn’t forgotten his pride. He wouldn’t try to reclaim the sword he gave to his disciple.”
“So now…”
“The Darkness probably hopes for something. To be strong.”
The Black Dragon’s neck fell.
Skebal keeps losing.
In the meantime, the Gletus sustained a fatal wound and disappeared.
Anomalies that hadn’t occurred for hundreds of years have happened consecutively over the past few years. During such times, it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to think that the Darkness is beginning to move.
“So what do you plan to do?”
“I’ll stop it. What else can I do?”
“Can you stop it?”
“First, I’ll try everything I can.”
After a long silence, Cardi opened her mouth.
“Don’t die, Raniel.”
At those words, Raniel smiled.
“I can’t die yet. There’s still too much to do.”
3.
Relations between the North and the church have completely soured.
This was due to the Cardinal’s misdeeds, and the North was unwilling to heed the church’s words. Naturally, the priests were denied entry into the North, and eventually, the only ones who went were individuals sent by the royal family.
“I am Kalt, appointed as the leader of the Hound, here to meet the master of the North.”
A figure who ascended to the position of Sword Master.
Eryhal secretly marvels at the heights attained by the man bowing in front of him at such a young age, his gaze exceptionally sharp.
“A commendable fellow.”
Eryhal smiled contentedly.
Kalt received the warriors’ hospitality and conveyed information.
“A prophet has appeared, and a prophecy has been delivered.”
As Kalt explains the details of the prophecy, the warriors furrow their brows. In the North, the existence of God is nearly an illusion. Feeling discomfort towards anything related to the church, the warriors’ gazes turn towards Eryhal.
Should they silence that one?
They silently ask with their looks, but Eryhal merely shakes his head. After Kalt finishes speaking, Eryhal finally opens his mouth.
“I do not believe in the words of religious nuts.”
However, Eryhal adds.
“We must not forget the words of our ancestors.”
「The day the prophecy points to death will come.」
「Do not deny that day.」
The legacy passed down to those who carry the blood of Grace. Eryhal never forgets the destiny of Grace conveyed upon ascending the throne.
「Death does not forget its pride.」
「Grace must show pride before death.」
「That is the last pact I made with my master.」
Thud!
Eryhal slammed his weapon onto the ground.
The banquet hall of White Night Castle resounds loudly.
To the warriors, it is nothing short of affirmation.
The master of the North, the permission of Grace has been granted.
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