136 – The saint falls.
I left the fortress and continued riding on horseback.
Although they were heavily armored and armed, the sturdy horses of the North ran without hesitation.
Behind me, there were knights riding horses, also wearing armor, following behind.
They are knights who are directly subordinate to Her Highness Aine.
It was given to me by His Highness Aine, who caught me trying to leave the fortress in a hurry.
There was no reason to decline.
The place we are going from now on is Saji.
This is a place where you could die if you do something wrong.
When going to a place like that, it is reassuring to have people who are outstanding enough to serve as His Highness Aine’s subordinates.
Because I promised that I would definitely come back alive.
So, please wait.
I felt the waves of magic clashing again.
I turned my head back and looked at the knights.
They also nodded as if they had sensed my intention.
I grabbed the reins and increased the horse’s speed.
Warriors of illusion (Einherjar) who cut down elf warriors who have lost their senses.
They were created based on Cheyney’s memories of using magic and magic, and they slaughtered elf warriors with life-like movements.
But Velia could tell.
They are certainly strong, but they fall short of the original.
In the end, it is just an imitation.
However, even if they are imitations, they are created from the element of Cheyney’s memory and have a power close to the original.
They are strong enough to fight against the devil.
No matter how much the mercenary elf warriors are considered masters of battle, it is difficult to deal with them.
We are in a situation where we are fighting them with a large number of people, but we are being pushed back as is.
“Give up, Velia.”
“Give up…? Give up…?”
Velia raised her eyes and shouted at Cheyney’s words.
“Give up…I can’t give up…I love the World Tree…”
“After killing that World Tree with your own hands, what are you planning to do with the new World Tree?”
“I…I…I nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!”
Belia screamed like crazy at Cheyney’s words.
“Velia…You really…”
Chaney looked at Velia and narrowed her eyes.
Sometimes he screams like crazy, then suddenly becomes cool, sometimes gets angry…
No matter how you look at it, it is not mental.
It would be easy to just think of him as crazy… But it’s also strange to look at it that way.
“Get out of the way…Please get out of the way…For the World Tree…For me.”
“Velia, please stop. This is your final warning.”
Chaney’s last words were spoken as his former colleague and friend.
From Noble mtl dot com
I wish it would stop with this.
But Velia didn’t do that.
Seeing her draw her magic power from her body, Cheyney strengthened her resolve.
Velia’s condition is definitely not serious.
There must be some external factor to her.
But we have come too far to persuade with words or to stop it.
In that case, we have no choice but to stop her by using her power.
As a friend and colleague.
Even if it means breaking with her in return.
Arianrod Fortress Dungeon.
After the harsh interrogation, Alan was lying on the floor, exhausted.
He was just waiting for execution.
He didn’t even have the energy to go back to bed and cover himself with a blanket.
No, it would be correct to say that he doesn’t even have the will.
From the outside, it looked like he might be dead.
But his eyes were open.
He is breathing and his heart is beating.
But his eyes were full of despair, and his heart, which had been burning hot in his youth, also turned cold.
He was like a dead corpse.
In Alan’s faint consciousness, something spoke to him.
「It’s miserable and ridiculous.」
“……”
Although he suddenly spoke to his conscious mind, Alan made no reply.
Because that was something he said to himself over and over again.
「Have you been coveting something that doesn’t fit your budget and fallen all the way to the bottom?」
That is correct.
In the first place, the flower called Riel Ignis was not something she could afford.
If she was a flower in the flower garden on the hill, she was just a weed at the bottom of the cliff.
“It’s funny how a man who could have everything loses everything in just a few years.”
I don’t know if he could have had everything.
However, I agree that he was not like that until a few years ago.
He thought of Ferris, whom he had met in the royal capital not long ago.
During her academy days, the girl who was like her friend showed hostility towards her.
And, as she found out during her interrogation, she says it was Arya who accused her of re-entering her kingdom.
It’s a bit strange that she leaked the accuser’s name to herself, but she’s probably going to die anyway, so it doesn’t matter.
Thinking about it now is pointless.
I’m going to die soon anyway.
「hahahahaha!! “You are truly a clown full of despair!!”
Ah, but when I think about it now.
If he had lived up to his means… He would have become an ordinary knight like his father by now.
I might have gotten married and lived a normal, happy life.
「Do you really think so?」
Yes.
It’s not like she didn’t have someone who loved me.
Although she kept refusing because she had Riel in mind at the time.
Children like Liliana and Refia said they liked me.
Although he was defeated by a strong person named Iris.
Still, she is talented enough to advance to the semifinals of the Kingdom Tournament…
「Puuu!!
A mocking laugh spread through Alan’s consciousness.
She seems to laugh at the situation, even though Alan has already given up on everything, and yet she somehow manages to hold on to her heart with just one small mental victory.
The voice said.
「That too was all an illusion.」
「That’s all just something I gave you.」
What does that mean?
Alan couldn’t understand.
「The reason why you were loved by many girls」
「The reason you showed amazing abilities and did well at the academy.」
「They are saying that I just set it all up behind my back.」
Alan’s cold heart began to pound.
At least it felt like the branch Alan was holding on to was breaking.
She tried to make excuses to herself, but she said the voice was a lie.
「What do you think is the reason you are noticeably weaker now?」
「Ferris Valtreia, what do you think is the reason why Aria Owen is staying away from you?」
「It’s all because I took away that power, and isn’t this proof that the love you received was fake?」
No. No.
She was Alan who resisted so much, but her heart, which she managed to hold on to through her mental victory, rotted to black.
「Realize that even the glory you enjoyed in the past is all an illusion. Alan Ludwig.”
「You are just a clown who was raised to become the food for my resurrection.」
The situation barely moved.
The Einherjar were strong, but the elf warriors were overwhelmed by their sheer numbers.
She didn’t mind disappearing, and Cheyney could only fight back Velia’s magic.
But it was also gradually becoming difficult.
More than anything, there were too many elf warriors.
Some people escaped from Einherjar’s attack and tried to target the Magic Tower’s magician, who had consumed all of his magical power and was preparing for the rear.
“Thunder Fall!!”
It was fortunate that there were some high-ranking wizards like Elise who had a certain amount of magic power to spare.
However, since they also gave up most of their magical power to Chaney, they do not have much magical power left.
The more time passed, the more disadvantaged Cheney was.
“aaah!!”
Below, one of the magic tower’s wizards eventually fell to the evil spirit of an elf warrior.
Chaney’s concentration was broken by the scream.
“Ugh…!”
Chainy, the magic tower lord, is a being created by the witch Chainy’s slight attachment to the magic tower.
That is why he values the disciples of the Magic Tower more than anything else.
It was inevitable that she would be agitated by the screams of her students.
“Master of the Magic Tower! It’s okay! I’m still alive!”
Elise, who realized the situation, rushed to save her injured person and called out to Chaney.
She came to assist with her magical powers, but doing this only serves as a hindrance.
But the number of elf warriors is too many.
The number of einherjars is not infinite.
It would be nice if there was something more.
But the situation continued to take a turn for the worse.
In the end, the false hero among the Einherjar, the illusion of Sion, disappeared first.
And the attacks by the elf warriors began to intensify.
“Ugh…!”
During the confrontation between Velia and Cheyney, a single scream rang out between the two.
From none other than Cheyney’s mouth.
The magic arrow that could hit her spiritual body hit Cheyney.
Could it have been shot by one of the elf warriors?
And Velia did not miss that opportunity.
“Get out! CHAINYYY!!”
Velia’s powerful magic power rushes towards Cheyney…
Quaaa!!
Caused a large explosion.
Elise sighed as she watched that scene from above.
This is because Elise also saw a mass of her magical power arrive before Chainy, the head of the Magic Tower, could prepare.
Of course, that wasn’t enough to wipe out Cheini, the owner of the magic tower, but she might have suffered a huge blow.
But that thought was unfounded.
In the explosive smoke, a ray of light flew through the smoke.
“What…”
And then, pouring out her own magic, a lump of her magic flew away, catching Velia off guard.
“aaa!!”
It pierced right through.
“…hahahaha.”
The explosion smoke cleared, and Cheney stood there with a tired expression.
But there was joy and a little sadness in that expression.
“Even if it’s an illusion… You’re still you.”
Cheyney’s eyes were looking at Ein Herjar, who was beginning to disappear as Velia enveloped herself in the mass of her magic that she had unleashed.
Einherjar basically acts autonomously, but its behavioral patterns often follow the caster’s memories.
Is that what led to this situation?
“…Thank you so much.”
Einherjar wearing a disappearing wolf head helmet.
Underneath that helmet, it seemed as if he was smiling.
“Kk…Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk…!”
On the other hand, Velia falls to the ground after receiving unexpected damage.
Chaney’s blow caused great damage to her spiritual body.
Even so, Velia’s spirit body was already on the verge of extinction.
But Velia did not give up.
Because there was still an elf army left in Velia.
So, defeat them and defeat the World Tree…
“…Ahahahaha.”
At that time, what caught Velia’s ears was Cheyney’s laughter.
Even though there were still Velia numbers left, she smiled.
“Really, I told you to just hide quietly.”
And then, the sound of horses’ hooves pounding the ground was heard.
Belia crashed to the ground and Cheney was floating in the air.
The elf warriors who lost their senses and the magic tower wizard who was struggling to stop them.
Everyone turned their gaze to the source of the sound.
“Protect the wizards!!”
“Attack!!”
Knights on horseback stormed into the place.
Velia’s expression suddenly sank.
“…It seems like it’s really over. Velia.”
“aaa!!”
Velia’s scream, not knowing whether she was angry or crying, rang out at the scene.
Even though Velia had fallen, the elf warriors were still attacking the surrounding area without losing their senses.
A crazy situation where they move around while still unconscious, even though they tried to faint because they thought they were being controlled.
In the end, because the wizards of the Magic Tower could be dangerous, I had no choice but to kill them all.
Because there were incredibly strong white illusion warriors together, when the knights joined them, all the elf warriors died.
Thanks to this, although there were no victims among the wizards, many were able to survive.
From Noble mtl dot com
“Mr. Cheney!!”
“You mean…I told you to hide quietly…”
Mr. Cheney looked at me with a puzzled expression.
But he immediately relaxed his expression and smiled.
“Well, thank you anyway. Thanks to you, we were able to clearly settle the matter.”
“hahahaha…I’m really tired.”
Well, they had a hard time because the number of elf warriors was enormous.
Because I had to wear heavy armor and deal with dozens of people.
Honestly, I feel like I’m going to collapse from exhaustion right now.
“…Then, let’s get to the end quickly.”
Mr. Chaney said that and turned his attention to one place.
There, a woman presumed to be Saint Velia was lying on the floor with a translucent appearance.
“Huh…Huh…”
He is making a faint sighing sound.
Of course, it only sounds like that because it is a spirit body, but it is not really breathing.
Nevertheless, I knew that she was holding on somehow.
“No…No…World Tree…”
“…Velia.”
Mr. Cheney has a confused expression.
That’s right. Although others may not know, Mr. Chaney was a colleague and friend of Saint Belia.
“Cheney…”
“Yes.”
“World Tree…?”
At Saint Belia’s words, Mr. Cheney shook his head.
“…You killed him.”
“It’s not a dream after all.”
“It’s surprising that I thought it was just a dream until now.”
At Mr. Cheney’s words, Saint Belia shook her head.
“No, I was just denying reality, saying it was just a dream… I was conscious.”
“…Why on earth did you do that? You loved and worshiped the world tree, Yggdrasil, more than anyone else.”
Mr. Cheney continued to speak with a pained expression.
“Why on earth? I don’t want you to think that you did that just out of jealousy.”
“…I don’t know. Why on earth I did that too. Why was I so jealous of a girl so young?”
“Velia, who made you like that? Think about it carefully. Was it mental interference, magical power, everything…!”
Saint Velia was lost in thought as she heard Mr. Cheney’s words.
And after a while, Saint Velia opened her eyes wide.
“Ah…Ah…Cheney…Cheney…No…”
“Velia?”
“She…She…She…”
Saint Velia trembles and speaks of her own spiritual body.
Seeing that, Mr. Cheney also widened his eyes.
“…Velia, it’s okay.”
“Che…Cheney…Just like this.”
“I know. What you want to say.”
Saint Velia shed tears as she heard Mr. Cheney’s words.
“Ugh…I have to stop it…I have to stop it…”
“…It’s your limit. Let’s rest. I’ll do something about the rest.”
“Ugh… Ugh… World Tree…! I’m sorry…!”
Even though she is in her spiritual form, Velia is shedding tears and disappearing from her toes.
… Even though she is the culprit who has been harassing Riel and destroying those around her.
She felt a little sad.
As I was looking at her like that, I felt that her arms were hot.
She looked at her arm to see something, and saw that the bracelet Riel had given her was glowing.
And in that light.
“Daddy!!”
“Sir?!”
Sir jumped out.
……
What is it?
Was there such a function?
As I was looking at Sir without understanding what was happening, he fell into my arms.
“Ooh, daddy, you’re hard.”
“No, it’s wearing armor…”
Plate on her chest, leather on her stomach.
Well…It will be hard.
“But it’s still dad! hehehe…”
Ah, I write.
This is cute.
No, this is not the time.
As I held Sir in my arms, I felt that the surroundings were quiet.
No, something is awkward about this.
It was a sad feeling that Saint Velia had disappeared, but it seemed like everything was ruined…
“World Tree?”
…She was still alive.
Saint Velia opens her eyes wide when she sees Sir.
Sir, too, must have seen Velia disappearing and rushed to her side.
She was a little surprised, but Saint Belia already had only a little bit of her upper body left.
…And judging by her condition, she will not cause any harm to Sir.
“Sister, are you okay?”
“…Ah.”
“Do you want Syr to be petted? Even her mother said that if she does this, all her pain will go away.”
Sir placed her hand on Saint Velia’s head.
Even in her spirit form, Cyr stroked her Velia head.
… Well, since Sir is not an ordinary girl, she can only touch the spirit body …
“…You are the new World Tree.”
“Sir is Sir.”
“Yes. Thank you, Sir.”
Now, all that remains of Velia is her head.
But her expression.
“Sister, are you okay?”
“It’s okay.”
“Aren’t you scared?”
“I’m not scared. Really.”
It looked very comfortable.
Saint Velia disappeared, and only the corpses of her elven warriors remained.
Mr. Cheney sat blankly in the place where Saint Velia disappeared, lost in thought, while the knights, along with the wizards, began to dispose of the corpses of the elf warriors.
Sir was with Mr. Cheney.
I…
Actually, there is nothing to do.
Honestly, I’m really tired and want to rest, but should I also help dispose of the elf warrior’s corpse…
“Kyou.”
“…Huh?”
Right next to me, I saw a familiar red hair.
“Riel? Why are you here?”
There was Riel.
In the same way as when I left the fortress.
Did she come with you when you came towards Sirgai?
Then why didn’t she see it then?
Oh, that won’t work.
I’m tired and my head is complicated.
“Daddy!!”
“Sir, it just turned out well.”
I saw Sir running towards me.
Sir, who was running towards me, suddenly stopped tall with a surprised expression.
“Sir? Why is she suddenly… She’s your mother more than him…”
“Dad!! No!!”
“Sir?”
“That person is not my mother!!”
I couldn’t understand Sir’s words for a moment.
Is it because of my tired body and complicated mind?
However, the moment you turn your head back.
With the terrifying smile on the face of Riel, who was there.
An intense pain pierces my stomach.
“What the f*ck…”