61 – 61. Fortissimo (1)
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The rebels who attacked Hwangdo and the monsters summoned from the Chaos Realm consecutively swept through Hwangdo. As a result, Hwangdo turned into a scene resembling a battlefield.
However, the situation that had been deteriorating began to show signs of improvement.
Rudmila single-handedly defeated the monsters that had suddenly appeared.
Subsequently, with the Imperial Knights at the core, the Imperial Army launched a counterattack, suppressing the rebels. There were still large and small skirmishes in the city, but they gradually decreased.
“The fire is spreading! There must be many citizens who haven’t been able to evacuate…!”
Finally, they succeeded in turning the tide.
However, they couldn’t afford to be complacent.
The thick smoke covered the sky.
On the ground, a fierce blaze ravaged many streets.
Having escaped the Imperial Palace with the help of the Royal Knights, Elizaveta looked at the city turned into a sea of flames and swallowed hard. Surely, many people must have been engulfed by the fire.
“Hyi-eek…!”
“Oh, it’s all a sea of flames!”
The Louin who had been following the princess let out a cry upon witnessing the tragedy.
The intense heat flew through the wind.
Startled, the Louin hurriedly hid behind Elizaveta.
“You… Can’t you ask the gods to make it rain?”
“It’s, it’s impossible! Unless all the Louin gather, it’s difficult for us alone!”
To extinguish the sea of fire resembling hell, an enormous amount of magic was needed.
Currently, there were only five Louin, including Loue.
It was simply impossible with just five of them.
Upon the pessimistic response of the small fairies, Elizaveta bit her lip. Feeling utterly helpless as she couldn’t do anything while the citizens trapped in the sea of fire were dying in agony.
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“Damn goddess! Where are you eavesdropping from with such a wicked voice! Answer before I throw these cute fairies into the fire!”
Amidst remorse and self-reproach,
Elizaveta recalled the deity who had used her body without permission.
The goddess of the Louin.
The annoying woman who had revealed her innermost thoughts to Edanant.
Staring at the trembling Louin, she shouted with a determination to do something. And in response to her coercive plea, a voice rang in her mind.
– What are you doing…! How dare you threaten a goddess on human grounds?!
Finally, Broian, who had just achieved independence, responded to Elizaveta in a horrified voice.
To throw the small and fragile fairies into the sea of fire, Broian responded to Elizaveta with a pale voice.
Elizaveta shouted, “We need a downpour to extinguish the sea of fire quickly! Can you do it?”
– It is possible, but….
“Then please! You used my body last time. Consider this as a payment for that!”
– Fine, fine!
Brojan declared surrender by sticking out his tongue at the threatening ultimatum. Then, with a cough, Ballman’s voice entered Elizabeth’s body.
His blue irises turned violet.
The Luinongs reacted with a start.
“Gods?!”
“The divine presence has arrived…!”
The merciful Creator had descended.
Instinctively sensing the arrival of the goddess, the Luinongs danced around joyfully. Brojan, in response, raised his arms with a gentle smile toward the adorable children.
Clang-!
A brilliant light shone.
It was akin to the radiance of the crystal that illuminated the fairy realm.
Like a lighthouse illuminating the dark night sea, the light spread out.
Gradually soaring into the sky, Brojan’s radiance, like a miracle, summoned strong dark clouds. The soaring clouds of dark smoke soon covered the sky.
“Princess Consort!”
“Suddenly, Her Highness Elizabeth is wielding divine power…!”
The knights surrounding them, displaying confusion, looked at Elizabeth’s devout figure emitting a radiant white light.
There was no doubt about the divine protection.
Could it be that the Third Princess was a wielder of divine protection?
No.
Such a thing had never been heard before.
Sensing an ominous sign, the knights hurried to intercept Elizabeth. However, their steps forward were halted by raindrops starting to fall rapidly.
“R-Rain is coming!”
“Ha-ha! Rain suddenly started pouring! It’s the grace of the earth goddess!”
The storm clouds forming in the sky began to pour rain.
It was not a mere shower.
The torrential downpour swiftly extinguished the flames engulfing the streets of the city.
In the midst of a situation shrouded in flames and smoke, hope emerged. The citizens, awaiting death, raised their hands high, shedding tears as the heavy rain began to pour.
‘Damn idle goddesses and their whims!’
– Quiet. Don’t expect my help a second time. I can’t stand women with such bad attitudes like you.
In response to Elizabeth’s voice, Brojan furrowed his brow and replied.
Hmph,
What a waste of divine power.
To waste such immense power for the sake of humans following the earth goddess.
Nevertheless, Brojan, though grumbling softly, smiled as he watched the joyful Luinongs. He was willing to spare no effort for these adorable children.
* * *
The rain began to fall.
Accompanied by fierce thunder, heavy raindrops poured, quenching the flames.
Damn it…!
Of all times, why does a downpour have to come now?
The raging sea of flames had the potential to engulf the imperial palace.
The priests and knight-priests who had barely escaped from the city of flames looked at the storm clouds with futile eyes. Their efforts had been partly in vain due to the sudden downpour.
“It’s no ordinary storm. Clearly… someone has artificially caused this.”
An elderly man, with half of his face melting in the rough flames, looked down at his hands, now refreshed by the cold raindrops.
Who on earth could have caused such a downpour?
It was impossible with ordinary divine protection. It was unimaginable for a miracle of such vast scale, a widespread rain in a brief moment, to be performed by a deity belonging neither to the gods of creation nor to the deities of calamity.
“Let’s turn back now.”
“Yes, Commander.”
The Valterian Empire never gave up on revenge. They would undoubtedly send a pursuit force.
Everyone would perish at this rate.
They needed to quickly join forces with Ariel’s subordinates.
The priests and knight-priests who had attacked the city were all part of the Commander’s forces. The vampires, who worshiped the calamitous deity of the First Blood, were replenishing their strength by consuming blood.
Surely the vampires would have regained some strength by now.
If they received help from the vampires skilled in dark magic, they could safely escape from the Valterian Empire.
‘Countless subordinates valiantly perished on the battlefield! And the Commander is here, contemplating how to survive…!’
What was there to feel regretful about?
How was Ariel faring?
What happened to the other priests isolated in the city of flames?
Contemplating the tragic situation, the Commander, feeling despondent, set off with the priests to return to their hideout.
“Where do you think you’re going, making such a mess?”
A woman with flowing white hair like snow, stopping the group trying to leave the battlefield, appeared just before they were about to use teleportation magic. She had appeared as if she had been waiting, with her forehead glowing.
A pure white robe.
Brightly shining glassy eyes.
And a platinum rosary adorning a pure white neck.
Without a doubt.
It was unmistakably the First Saint of the Glory Kingdom.
The calamity priests who faced the saint in the worst of situations took a step back, swallowing their screams.
“Saint Jéblinne…!”
“Ha, to think these vermin came all the way to the capital to capture the saint. The expenses for the saint’s missions are high.”
Tap, tap.
As Jéblinne adjusted her disheveled clothes, she spoke.
Dust was all over her.
It was all due to the rush from the Hohenberg Marquisate to the capital.
“I refrained from running as much as possible due to the lack of dignity, but because of you, everything is in chaos. How embarrassing would it be if it were known that an elegant yet pitiful saint ran with all her might?”
Jéblinne sighed and continued her complaints.
Truly a relaxed demeanor.
The calamity priests drew sharp daggers, preparing their attack.
But before the ambush could even be attempted, it failed. A sudden bolt of lightning struck from the sky.
───!!
───────!!!
As the lightning struck, the priests designated for the staff all fell to their knees. There was no room for resistance. Not even the wails of the calamity priests could escape.
Not even the last hope, the protection of the calamity gods, was activated.
Having neutralized the remnants of the calamity gods who had escaped the capital, Jéblinne clenched her rosary, raising her holy symbol. It was to wish the deceased victims of the vermin in front of her a peaceful rest.
“You were the ones behind the attack on the Glory Kingdom, right? His Majesty and the council must be eager to prosecute you… Hm, I can’t just send the ones we captured in the Empire to the Glory Kingdom as is.”
Jéblinne expressed great regret.
With pursed lips, she continued to ponder.
Finally, the white dragon’s saint made a decision and flicked her finger.
Snap.
As a cheerful sound rang out, a huge bolt of lightning struck down. The calamity priests felt their bodies burning in agony, their eyes rolling back.
But they did not die.
She used just enough power to ensure they wouldn’t die.
Like inflicting torture, Jéblinne continuously struck the calamity priests with lightning.