〈 Episode 294 〉 The Prophecy Points to Death (6)

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Sara failed to persuade Kyle.

Kyle’s attitude was stubborn, as if he would not accept any arguments on this matter. No matter what Sara said, Kyle didn’t listen.

There was no point in getting angry, shedding tears, or pleading with him while clutching his arm.

If Raniel came, she would also have to go.

That was all Kyle would say. As if it were his duty. Sara couldn’t understand that stubborn attitude at all.

「Then why did you kick him out?」

Because Raniel’s goal was too high.

Because she didn’t want to risk her life anymore.

Wasn’t it because she wanted to avoid dangerous situations that she expelled Raniel from the party? But why now was he trying to crawl back into danger?

「Because I have to.」

Kyle only replied like that.

Kyle didn’t say anything more. At some point, Sara felt the wall between herself and Kyle more strongly than ever.

···After years of travel, Sara had exhausted her patience and determination. She no longer considered the gods to be perfect and didn’t want to fulfill her duties as a saint.

If pushing doesn’t work, she gives up.

She doesn’t spend effort on things that can’t be done.

Having lived that way once, it was much more comfortable than before.

A life mixed with resignation and giving up tasted sweeter than those driven by perseverance and obsession. Sara had lived in that sweetness. But at this very moment, she couldn’t bear to feel that way.

“You’re going to die.”

If she continued this way, she would lose everything.

“Kyle, you’ll die too. In the North, you’ll charge into Death’s Blade, and at that time, Death’s Blade held the sword with its left hand.”

She would lose Kyle.

“Death’s Blade wielding the sword with its left hand. Don’t you know what that means better than anyone? You can’t endure it. You’ll die. Definitely die. This time it’s different.”

Sara couldn’t even bear to imagine that fact.

“It’s different from the time Kyle could endure. Kyle can’t swing his sword like before, and you can’t act stupid like you did then either.”

So, do what you can.

Sara kneeled and begged her old comrade.

“I’ve… no, I have done many wrongs to you. I know that. You were always right, and I was always wrong.”

Proud as she was, Sara didn’t care about that at this moment. She humbled herself and bowed her head before her old comrade whom she had disliked.

“I’m sorry. I apologize. I was wrong. So please, just once, grant me this request.”

···As always happens with those in high positions, especially representing the Deloheim Church, Sara had never bowed her head to anyone. She was like a representative of the gods.

So, this was the first time.

It was the first time she had knelt and bowed her head to someone. During this first act of submission, Sara didn’t feel humiliation.

“I’m begging you, Raniel.”

If bowing her head would solve the issue, she could do it repeatedly.

But Sara knew.

“Please, please…”

That this wouldn’t work on Raniel.

Raniel, who always lived uprightly, wouldn’t accept such a request, and Sara knew it. Despite knowing that, she still came to Raniel.

“······.”

Silence enveloped them.

Raniel didn’t provide any answer. Sara couldn’t tell whether that meant rejection or something else.

Sara slowly lifted her head.

Her light pink hair danced along with her movements. Between the swaying strands, she saw Raniel.

Her transformed and changed old comrade.

Sara’s green eyes met Raniel’s blue ones. And then, Sara suddenly realized. The way Raniel looked at her was different from before.

2.

After Chloe’s name began to be known, she had many opportunities to meet with renowned knights. They were those who had witnessed Chloe’s ceremony up close and remembered Galahal’s glory.

Before them, Chloe did her best to prove her potential. Some applauded, while others felt relieved that the dark age would not soon arrive.

This fact brought Chloe both joy and pressure.

It felt like the burden on her shoulders was growing. One day, while going through such mundane life and studies, another guest came to visit Chloe.

pat pat.

With a stiff expression, Chloe slapped her cheeks a couple of times and opened the door. Thus, she faced a guest as a candidate to succeed Galahal as a hero.

“…Belnoa?”

Chloe’s eyes widened at the figure standing at the door. The guest was her childhood friend, Belnoa. They hadn’t seen much of each other for the past few months.

“Do you have time?”

“Uh, uh-huh.”

While Chloe was flustered, Belnoa entered the room and took a seat. Sitting down and glancing at Chloe, Belnoa awkwardly opened her mouth.

“Uh, Chloe.”

In the awkward atmosphere, Belnoa spoke.

“…Are you going to the battlefield again?”

“I don’t have plans yet… not for now. I’ll focus on classes for a while. But I will probably show my face once every few months, whether on the battlefield or in front of the knights.”

“Is that so?”

Belnoa let out a short sigh.

“Then let’s go together.”

“…Huh?”

“Let’s go together. Whether it’s the battlefield or anywhere else. If you have someone to meet, don’t go alone, come with me.”

Chloe blinked.

Belnoa, seemingly embarrassed, turned her gaze away, scratching the back of her head while continuing.

“…I am also the apprentice of the Master of the Black Tower after all. I can fit into most places. And I can be of help on the battlefield too.”

While promoting herself, Belnoa felt a sense of inexplicable embarrassment. Glancing at Chloe, she murmured.

“If you don’t want me to, just say it.”

“…Uh, no, it’s not that I don’t want you.”

Chloe hurriedly waved her hands, shaking her head.

“I was just a bit flustered…”

How should she react?

What expression should she make? As she pondered, Chloe began to mumble her lips. After a moment, she realized that such worries were completely unnecessary.

‘…There is no need to act this way in front of Belnoa.’

She wasn’t sitting as a hero.

She was just meeting a comfortable friend… did she really need to think and act about it all? Thinking it through, it wasn’t necessary.

“Um, uh…”

Chloe hesitated.

“Okay.”

She nodded and smiled.

“Okay, that sounds good.”

The smile Chloe wore was the very same one Belnoa always knew. The same one from the humble days at Cardi’s shop.

“Actually, it was a bit tough.”

Chloe murmured.

“It came out of nowhere, and everyone has such great expectations of me… I felt like I had to show something more. I ended up putting extra strain on my shoulders…”

As she spoke, the tension in Chloe’s shoulders eased. Her voice became more natural.

“But now, it feels good.”

It feels good.

While looking at Chloe murmuring that, Belnoa looked down, a bit taken aback. As Chloe asked why she was acting like that, Belnoa whispered in a small voice.

“…The Master was right.”

Nothing has changed.

It felt like she was just acting.

Now that realization settled in, Belnoa felt a blush rise to her cheeks.

“Phew…”

Realizing her own misunderstandings and misconceptions, Belnoa brushed away her tears and let out a sigh. After exhaling, Belnoa looked up.

“Chloe.”

As her eyes met Chloe’s, Belnoa smiled.

“You said it.”

“Yeah, uh? What?”

“You said it would be nice if it happened.”

Belnoa raised a finger and poked Chloe’s forehead, whose expression was blank.

“I’ll follow you even if you say not to. I’m going to chase after you. So don’t think about pushing me away.”

With a playful laugh, Belnoa said.

“I won’t lose in clinginess.”

3.

Understanding the situation wasn’t difficult.

The ringing magical device, the pouring messages.

Just reading a few lines of text that appeared on the letter was enough for Raniel to grasp the situation. The long-awaited prophet had foretold that death would appear in the North.

And that prophet was now right before his eyes.

Raniel stared ahead without speaking. There, Sara was bowing her head before him. That proud Sara, on her knees, was bowing her head in front of him.

“······.”

It was unthinkable, Raniel thought.

The Sara Raniel knew was excessively light-hearted. He had never imagined that Sara would kneel and plead for something.

It was something he had never even considered.

Now that such a thing was occurring, Raniel felt perplexed. He furrowed his brow at this unprecedented side of Sara.

‘…Is she telling me not to go North?’

If I go, Kyle will go there too?

It was not something he could easily accept. Raniel thought that Kyle wouldn’t do that. He was the type to fear facing a strong opponent like Death’s Blade.

‘But…’

Given Sara’s demeanor, it seemed Kyle really was planning to do just that. Putting off deciphering that intention for later, Raniel shot a glance at Sara. Just as Sara lifted her head to meet his gaze.

Their eyes locked.

In that moment, Sara blinked in surprise.

“…Raniel?”

“What.”

“Aren’t you sending me away?”

“I’m thinking about it.”

Sara’s expression was filled with further confusion.

“…Aren’t you going to drag me by my hair and throw me out?”

“What do you think I see you as?”

Raniel couldn’t hide his incredulous expression.

“You, the proud saint, are kneeling and begging. I have to at least hear what you have to say.”

Raniel pointed to the chair in front of him.

“Sit down.”

“…Huh?”

“Sit. If you’re going to talk with your head down, then talk like that.”

Sara hesitated but stepped forward toward Raniel.

In the meantime, not even thinking to brush off the dust sticking to her pure white robes. Observing the dust on her pink hair, Raniel clicked his tongue inwardly.

‘She must be desperate.’

He had never seen her like this before.

Sara was the one who easily gave up. She had never once uttered an apology. Raniel, who was exhausted by her brazen and contradictory behavior, did not regard her as a human.

But not now.

Although he still felt the same dislike, at least it was enough that he could listen to what she had to say. Thus, Raniel heard the details of the prophecy through Sara’s mouth.

“…So, you and Kyle charged into Death’s Blade amidst the debris?”

“…Yes.”

“You didn’t see us die?”

“I couldn’t see that far. At that moment, a snowstorm blew in and completely obscured my vision.”

Raniel stroked his chin and spoke up.

“I wouldn’t do that.”

“…What?”

“I wouldn’t charge straight at Death’s Blade.”

Raniel tapped his knuckles against his palm.

“I’m a mage. Even if I fight melee, I’m still primarily a mage.”

“…What does that mean?”

“You idiot, I use mana. Physical enhancement and close combat all require mana to be possible.”

But what about Ganikalt?

With a sigh, Raniel said.

“Spells don’t work. Mana goes haywire. The moment I get close to that guy, all my spells get interrupted.”

“That’s…”

“You saw it too. That’s why I tried to bring down the canyon from afar.”

Magic doesn’t work against Ganikalt.

The moment he approaches, all mana is scattered.

“Do you think I would charge at a monster like that? Do you think that makes any sense?”

“…But, the prophecy says.”

“Then something must have happened.”

Raniel muttered.

“Mana was able to work on Ganikalt. I was then able to assist Kyle. Isn’t that what your prophecy is pointing to?”

She narrowed her eyes.

“You said a snowstorm blew in.”

Sara nodded.

The final part of the prophecy always involved a snowstorm. A snowstorm that seemed to turn the entire snowy field upside down…

“Could that be ashes?”

Sara kept her mouth shut.

“Hey.”

Raniel glared at Sara.

“Are you mistaking something? I wouldn’t gamble my life on a fight with no winning chance.”

Even if it seemed overly precarious to others.

Even if it looked like simply throwing away his life.

“Because there’s a chance.”

Raniel would only wager his life when there was a chance of winning. If a chance arises, he won’t hesitate.

“There’s a possibility that I might have done that.”

“…But!”

“I know. Even then, we wouldn’t win.”

Raniel stated while pinching his chin.

“With Kyle in his current state, it won’t be enough, and no matter what I try, I can’t defeat Ganikalt. Do you think I wouldn’t know that? I know.”

He knows.

“Still, if it means driving you away, then maybe it could be done somehow.”

Whether it was bringing down the snowy mountains or flipping the entire snowy field, through whatever means… there had to be an answer if she looked for it.

“The likelihood is slim.”

“That may be so.”

“You’ll die? Why do you keep…”

“Do I look like I’m asking for your permission?”

Raniel sighed.

“If not me, then who would do it? Kelharlem? Karioth? Draka? Or is it going to be Destel?”

“…That’s.”

“Or why not ask Chloe, who just became a hero? To stop them?”

She can’t do it.

That’s impossible.

Muttering that, Raniel said.

“There is no one but me, and since I might be the only one with a chance, I have to go. If it’s not me, then everyone up there will die.”

But, Raniel glared at Sara.

“As for Kyle, I don’t care. I think this way, so I’m going, but I won’t force that idiot Kyle to join in.”

“…Huh?”

“If he’s not there, then I’ll have to find another answer.”

Raniel smiled bitterly.

“I won’t force a coward who runs away in fear to put his life on the line. I’ll tell him not to come. He’s not needed.”

So.

“Don’t push me either. Do I have to keep acting to please Kyle, that idiot? Even when I talk, it’s always some stupid nonsense, stupid nonsense!”

Sara felt a sense of dissonance from that laughter.

After a moment of hesitation, Sara opened her mouth.

“…You.”

“What.”

“Is this really you, Raniel?”

“No.”

Rania van Trias smiled.

“I’m the Apuria professor, Rania van Trias.”

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