Life is a series of choices.
This one sentence is a famous proverb, and it’s the first thing that popped into Rania’s mind.
“An unidentified spell has manifested; during the process of rescuing Hero Chloe, a significant part of the special forces was lost. Those who stayed until the end have disappeared, and as a result, Lord Belnoa, also entangled in the spell, is currently presumed missing…”
Tephran’s voice echoed hollowly.
The loud ringing of the crystal ball, the communication magic tool in her ear, and the messages from major points all over, spewed forth information with a cacophony.
“Braver Kelharlem is missing.”
“A barrier has appeared in Artiya, presumed to be the same type that appeared four years ago in the Royal Capital…”
“Inside the barrier, an enormous amount of mana is…”
A blaring warning sound.
“The 6th Legion has been shattered.”
“The Wyvern unit, led by Dragon Hunter Asterio, launched a surprise attack on the base…”
“Hero Chloe is gravely injured.”
“Special forces have been decimated; commander Belnoa is missing.”
“A bizarre entity composed of filth has intervened; currently…”
Information flooded in.
A barrage of information filled her vision.
“…”
Rania closed her eyes.
With the warning sound ringing in her ears, she brushed away the information floating in her mind. Stepping back from the chaos, Rania began to assess the situation.
Kelharlem trapped in Artiya.
The barrier of the Braver surrounding Artiya.
Mana raging within Artiya.
Was there anyone capable of resolving this issue? In her opinion, there was no suitable candidate. To dispel the barrier of the Braver, not only was a high level of magical knowledge required, but prior information about the “Shadow” was also necessary.
Not to mention, after dispelling the barrier, there was a possibility of having to confront the first Braver within Artiya.
To summarize the situation, it was this.
Someone capable of battling a foe at the level of a Great Mage, possessing prior knowledge regarding the Shadow, and able to wrap up operations swiftly. Such a person was unlikely to exist even twice over.
‘…I have to go.’
It was a task she had to undertake.
However, for now, this was still a variable she could control. Thus, Rania thought that if she responded quickly, she could resolve the matter with minimal damage.
She thought so, but…
Another variable had arisen.
‘Belnoa’s disappearance.’
The one involved in that variable was also the first Braver. Given the circumstances, it also seemed to require Rania’s intervention.
“Ha…”
Rania clenched her teeth with a crunch. Her hand, which had brushed her face, fell limply to her side. A hollow laugh escaped Rania’s lips.
“This is insane, really.”
Two options.
Choosing one meant discarding the other. A maddening situation that forced a choice at a crossroads. Truly, this was the sort of thing that damn Shadow would do.
It felt like the laughter of the Braver echoed in her ears.
With the irritating auditory hallucination piercing her eardrums, Rania hung her head. She was in a situation where something had to be chosen. A situation where something had to be discarded.
The Shadow was forcing her to make a choice.
Who to save.
And, who to let perish.
—
Chloe felt a flicker of light in her hazy consciousness. The loud voices ringing in her ears as well.
“…Supply! Prioritize mana supply; we need to remedy symptoms of mana exhaustion first…”
Warm light and the smell of medicine.
Even in her dazed state, Chloe realized she was receiving treatment. As her consciousness gradually returned, her entire body ached. Her head felt foggy, and the wounds she bore throbbed painfully.
“…Cough, cough!”
With a dry cough, Chloe spat out a handful of dark crimson blood. After clearing her throat, she slowly sat up.
“Hero, please don’t get up!”
“My condition is…”
The priests around her shouted in protest, but their voices could not reach Chloe’s ears.
“I have to… go.”
Thud, blood dripped from her nose and mouth, staining Chloe’s clothes. Blinking her bloodshot eyes multiple times, she rose to her feet.
“I have to… go.”
Staggering, Chloe got off the bed.
Yet the moment she tried to take a step forward, her legs gave way, and she collapsed to the ground. The priests managed to catch her as she fell, shouting in her ear.
“You need to stabilize!”
“Your condition is serious!”
“First, control the bleeding…”
Chloe felt their voices echo from a great distance. They insisted she needed to be treated, take it easy, but she had no time for that. Anxiously, Chloe murmured to herself.
“I have to go.”
Chloe recalled memories from just before she lost consciousness.
“Horon.”
A massive circuit piercing the sky.
Knights collapsing and vomiting blood within the circuit’s grasp.
“Take care of Chloe, Horon.”
Horon, carrying her and running, and the vanishing back of Belnoa whom she saw while being carried. As the massive circuit fell from the sky, Belnoa turned back.
Though she was too far to hear, just by looking at the distant Belnoa, she understood what he must have wanted to say. Moments later, as the circuit burst beneath the ground, a flash of light erupted from the collision of the forces unleashed by Belnoa.
A blinding flash that felt like it might blind her.
Amidst the crashing waves of shock, Chloe lost consciousness.
Opening her eyes, here she was now.
She must have been moved to a nearby base after losing consciousness. Biting her lip tightly, Chloe felt her bloodshot eyes tremble.
‘Why, why…’
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t rise.
Staring at her legs that wouldn’t respond, Chloe parted her trembling lips and managed to utter.
“I need to go, why…”
The priests who had gathered to heal her were at a loss for what to do. Suddenly, the firmly shut door of the treatment room swung open. The priest who had been shouting nervously to prevent anyone from entering fell silent upon seeing the figure at the door.
“Gasp…”
As the priest swallowed hard, footsteps echoed, approaching Chloe. The footsteps halted right in front of her.
“Chloe.”
At the sound of her name, Chloe, who had been looking down, slowly lifted her head. The first thing she saw was the platinum armor, a symbol of a hero. Following that, ashen hair and piercing blue eyes met her gaze.
Hero Rania van Trias.
The moment Chloe laid eyes on her standing before her, her eyes trembled fiercely. Sitting on the floor, Chloe spoke in a quivering voice.
“Belnoa, Belnoa is…”
“I know.”
Rania replied curtly.
“I came knowing everything, so there’s no need to explain.”
*
Rania waited by Chloe’s side until Chloe finally managed to get up. Once some time had passed and Chloe regained her senses, Rania finally began to speak.
“I’ve heard the story. Everything, including that Belnoa was drawn into the spell and is missing.”
With her head hung low, Chloe stared at her clenched fist and spoke with a trembling voice.
“…We were in a winning position, but suddenly filth erupted from all directions. It had been a trap from the start.”
“That much is likely.”
That’s the way that bastard operates.
Rania sighed deeply. Chloe slowly turned her gaze towards Rania. Although it had been a long time since they had met, she hadn’t changed a bit since three years ago.
She sat there exactly as she had in her memories.
Always helping her.
Realizing that Rania had come here despite nothing being resolved, Chloe felt a slight sense of disgust toward herself.
“…Senpai.”
Though she felt it.
“Belnoa got caught in the spell while trying to save me. He was swallowed by the spell alone.”
Chloe opened her mouth nonetheless.
There was no other choice. As a hero, feeling powerless now, Rania was the only one she could turn to.
So, Chloe pleaded earnestly.
“Please.”
“Please,” she said, extending her hand toward Rania. Grabbing Rania’s wrist, Chloe opened her trembling lips.
“Can you save Belnoa…”
“Chloe.”
Rania interrupted Chloe’s words.
Her voice was icy. Chloe slowly lifted her head to look at Rania. The chill in her blue eyes felt overwhelmingly intense.
“Calm down and listen.”
“Y-Yes…?”
“At the same time Belnoa went missing, a massive barrier appeared in Artiya. Just like the Shadow’s ploy you encountered four years ago in the Royal Capital.”
Rania stated matter-of-factly.
“Inside the barrier, mana is in a state of rampage, concentrated mana is allowing the Shadow to plot ‘something.’ While I don’t know the specifics… it’s clear we need to deal with it quickly.”
“What does that mean…”
“And.”
She added.
“Inside that barrier is Kelharlem.”
Chloe, about to say something, fell silent.
Rania didn’t need to elaborate for long, as Chloe grasped the situation well enough. She knew too. Just how vast that Shadow was.
To dismantle that barrier.
To possibly engage in battle within there.
And to rescue Kelharlem.
Chloe realized that the intervention of the hero, Rania van Trias, was essential. Furthermore, she recognized what that entailed.
“W-Wait…”
Chloe had executed numerous missions on the battlefield.
She was no longer a naive child oblivious to the world. She understood that in stories like fairy tales, having a hero appear wouldn’t solve everything neatly.
“…”
Chloe went silent.
Because she realized as well.
To save one side, she had to abandon the other. Saying to the hero in front of her, “Please save Belnoa” meant…
To leave Kelharlem to die.
Chloe understood that fact. Her eyes shook violently. Her slightly parted lips quivered but she couldn’t muster the right words.
Still, she wanted to say, “Please save Belnoa.”
But she knew. The most heroic of heroes, Galahal would never utter such selfish words. She understood that being the person who followed his will, she shouldn’t say something like that.
“B-But…”
Her mind understood, yet words she shouldn’t say kept trying to escape her mouth. Ultimately, yanking her hand over her mouth, she stifled her breath, which escaped through her fingers.
Two choices. Two hearts trapped in the conflict of saving one while losing another.
The girl who had been saved by the hero, ultimately could not say any words.
—
[Wake up.]
Hazy consciousness.
A body bursting with pain.
[Wake up! Quickly.]
A voice echoing in her ears.
Belnoa slowly opened her eyes to the incessant voice calling her name. Her eyelids were heavy. Her body felt even heavier. As she blinked, she slowly lifted her head.
[You’ve finally awakened, contractor.]
The rock she had been leaning against.
Seated upon that rock, the goddess with a wry smile looked down upon Belnoa.
“…Ugh.”
Belnoa whimpered, trying to say something.
The pain felt like hot embers in her eyes. She placed her hand slowly where the pain throbbed. A deep wound was etched into her side.
An injury inflicted by Asterio in the final moments.
Pressing her palm against the bleeding wound, even in her dazed state, Belnoa managed first aid. She pulled a potion bottle from her robe, half-heartedly drank it, and splashed the remaining half on her wound before tearing her clothes to bind it.
“Ugh…”
How long had she been unconscious?
Seeing the seepage of the wound through the torn fabric, Belnoa frowned. Too much blood had drained, rendering her consciousness foggy. Despite pouring the potion, she discovered that most of the potions in her robe were shattered.
“Phew…”
Letting out a long sigh, she relaxed against the rock. Belnoa closed her eyes.
[Are you feeling unwell?]
“It’s a bit painful.”
[Your complexion is quite pale.]
Belnoa gave a bitter smile at the goddess’s voice.
“So.”
Slowly opening her closed eyes.
Before her lay a grotesquely warped forest.
“Where are we…?”
Belnoa posed the question, already having an inkling of the answer, but sought assurance from the goddess watching the situation.
[A place where starlight does not reach. A land of the forsaken.]
The goddess replied to her question.
[This is the Phantom Territory you call it.]
So it was as she presumed.
Muttering to herself, Belnoa raised her head.
Through the twisted branches, she saw the sky. It was said that if one looked up at the sky when they entered the Phantom Territory, they could determine how deep they had ventured; that method of distinction, she didn’t recall perfectly, but one thing was clear in her memory.
‘If the sky is a swirling black and a red moon appears beyond the swells, that’s the heart of the Phantom Territory.’
As Belnoa gazed up at the sky, she let out a hollow laugh.
“…The moon is blood-red.”
The red moon hung high above.
In a realm far removed from the front lines, deep within the Phantom Territory. It was precisely the core of that phantom realm where Belnoa had fallen.
