NOVEL NEXT Chapter 175
Saint (聖女)
A holy woman, a divine messenger.
Seen as the embodiment of sacred miracles.
Only one exists in the Empire, but as a penitent to oppose the evil of Pandemonium, her burden will be much heavier than that of ordinary humans.
…
“Psyche…?”
“Aria. I believe I can trust you with this.”
– Shaa~
Just like that day in the sanctum of Divine Grand Park, a sacred orb began to float around Psyche, illuminating Pandemonium.
She finally understood and felt it.
Her connections with Kroon and Lev Denec—
It was all for the purpose of entrusting her power to this child.
“Aria, your qualities as a saint are far superior to mine.”
Psyche, gazing at Aria with a somewhat serious look—
– Shaa~
Through her clasped hands, she began to transfer all her sacred power to Aria.
“…!”
At that moment, Aria’s eyes widened.
“It may be a heavy burden, but I’m sure that with my watchful eye, you can certainly purify Lev, the student.”
“I can purify him…?”
“Yes. It may be dangerous…”
Of course, it would be far more difficult than the act of lowering Lev’s Erosion Level she had performed before.
– Wooo~!
He is currently the Demon King, a crystallization of despair that embodies the world’s evil.
“Aria has a fine scent.”
“Stay quiet and still.”
But because of that, it was something only she could do.
Only Aria could understand and embrace Lev Denec, who had changed like that.
Remembering Lev’s face, Aria’s resolve strengthened.
“Whether to extend a hand of salvation to him… it’s Aria’s choice.”
“My choice is… to save Mr. Lev.”
“Very well… I’m sorry, Aria. I cannot help any more than this.”
– Shaa~!
As the remaining sacred power wrapped around Psyche started to head toward Aria,
an aura more sacred than anything began to gather around her.
– Shaa~!
The enormous gates of Valhalla and the sanctuary of the heavens appeared in her field of view, and the trumpets of angels could be heard.
On the barren lands of the netherworld, a new saint descended, succeeding Psyche.
…
– Stagger.
“Psyche!”
At that very moment, Psyche collapsed to the ground.
Having lost all her sacred power, she was merely a frail human woman.
Though the power of a saint is noble and revered, it is merely borrowing the power of the divine for a time.
It was the law of humanity to be born barehanded and to return barehanded.
“I… I’m alright. Aria. Hurry… go to him… fulfill what you desire.”
“Psyche, thank you. I will definitely…!”
As Aria moved toward Lev, filled with determination from Psyche’s words, Edwin approached.
“Aria, hand over all your sacred power to me…! It was Lev’s request! I have to end this with my own hands…”
When he asked her to enchant his sacred sword with her holy power,
“No. It’s fine.”
Aria firmly refused.
“…Aria?”
“Edwin, please leave this place with the others.”
“W-Why…?”
“There’s no time. Please.”
“But Aria, you…!”
Just as Edwin was about to question the severity of the situation,
– Rumble!!!
The earthquakes from the Demon King’s Castle began to intensify.
– Crack. Crack crack.
Dust and debris started to fall from the ceiling.
According to Lev’s plans, the heart of Pandemonium was showing signs of collapse.
– Whoooosh!
Simultaneously, the shadow of Lev, now a true Demon King, which had absorbed all the dark magic, began to rampage.
A greater aura of erosion started to consume the area.
“I’ll talk to Mr. Lev.”
At those bewildering words, Yeriel and Edwin’s expressions turned serious, as if they were struck by shock.
However, in contrast, Aria murmured softly and calmly…
“Don’t worry. I will definitely return with Mr. Lev.”
Her voice was like that of a lion of peace, soothing everyone…
*
In the face of Aria’s determination, Edwin took Psyche and Yeriel outside.
– Boom!!
A thunderous roar that was even louder than before.
The Demon King’s Castle began to collapse at a faster pace.
But could it be that a miracle was about to happen?
– …
As Aria approached Lev, no harmful force could reach her.
Like a noble being surrounded by a protective barrier, she gracefully approached Lev, who lay before her.
“…What do you intend to do…?”
“…”
Noticing Aria’s transformation, Yellody guardedly barred her way like a cat with its claws out.
“Don’t come any closer!”
“…”
Yellody had been waiting for this moment when Lev would take down the Demon King.
Though her methods were aggressive, they set the conditions for inheriting the title of Demon King.
Soon, he would rampage… and the new Demon King, herself, would be born.
“This is mine! It’s mine!”
– Zwoosh!
– Swooosh!!
Feeling instinctively threatened, Yellody shot dark magic at Aria.
A straight red beam…
– Clang! Clang!
Of course, against a true saint, it couldn’t inflict any harm.
Then her lips parted.
“Move aside.”
“…!”
Faced with Aria’s cold gaze, Yellody had no choice but to grit her teeth and take a step back.
– Shaa~!
The bright golden light shrouding Aria was blindingly intense.
Just a little exposure to that aura would likely be quite painful.
“Stay away from the junior!!!”
As Aria advanced step by step toward Lev,
“Get away, I said!!”
Yellody found herself retreating further.
“Mr. Lev, it’s alright.”
“…”
With Aria’s words,
– Kuwagwang!!!!
– !!
– Fwoooosh!!!
As everything in the Demon King’s castle collapsed, the three of them began to plunge into a deep abyss.
…
…
…
-…
-…
-…
I have no memory.
I’m falling.
It’s warm.
It’s dark.
Brief sentences are spitting themselves out in my mind.
It feels familiar.
I feel cozy.
“Aria.”
“Don’t speak.”
“Eh?”
“…Just stay as you are.”
It smells nice.
And like the scent of freshly picked flowers, that fragrance tickles my nose.
“!”
When I regained consciousness, I found the protagonist of Reincarnated Hero, Aria Bluebell, embracing me.
“Aria…?”
Her body was the embodiment of sacred power itself.
The continuously radiating holy energy suppressed my dark magic.
It was a rather painful experience, but,
I couldn’t show any sign of it.
Because Aria would surely be much… more in pain.
– Swoosh!
Time felt slowed as we fell slowly, merging our bodies.
The black veil obscuring my vision lifted, and at last, I could see clearly ahead.
“…!!!!!!”
“You’re awake…”
Aria’s mouth was filled with blood.
The dark magic erupting from my own body had pierced her, leaving sharp thorns embedded throughout her form.
When I couldn’t say a word at this gruesome sight…
Her mouth opened again with difficulty.
“Looks like we’ve both poked each other… just a little, haven’t we?”
With a hint of a smile, it was undoubtedly a joke.
“Ah, Aria? Why…?”
“Mr. Lev enjoyed these kinds of jokes…”
“Stop. Don’t say any more…”
The situation was evident.
Aria was sacrificing her body, everything,
to purify me.
– Zwoooom!
I tried to lower my magic power to control the situation.
Now that my senses had returned, I could do it to some extent.
– Sluuurk, sluurk.
But even as the thorns piercing her began to lose their form one by one…
“Why on earth…”
Aria seemed to have no strength left, bleeding her pure, clean blood without restraint.
“Barely, barely for me…!”
“I’m your watcher… So I promised, I’d stay by your side forever.”
Aria’s hand, which she tried to smile with, felt cold as ice.
“…”
I held that hand close to my heart.
The last flickering ember of her life trembled… and transmitted painfully through the beat of my heart.
What was certain was, if she exhausted all her sacred power like this, she would die.
That simple fact… crippled my thoughts.
“It was… enjoyable… I didn’t have any happy memories… except when I was little…”
“…Stop.”
“Since I met you, Mr. Lev… every day has been… blissful…”
“Stop, I made a mistake.”
I held her fiercely in my arms.
She was remarkably fragile, as if she would shatter at any moment.
I remembered now.
I had asked Aria to kill me…
It was pathetic.
Watching the person I love slowly dying is the worst…
To force such feelings upon her, I must be the worst character in Reincarnated Academy history.
“Aria…?”
“…”
Aria’s gaze drifted into the void.
Her eyes were duller than before.
“Can you… hear me…?”
I regret it.
Creating a scenario where I would lose Aria in exchange for destroying Pandemonium.
The scales I had tipped were all too deadly.
“Thank you… Yeriel, Edwin, Selena, Lily… everyone.”
“…Aria. Look at me… can’t you see me…?”
Aria’s senses had already faded away.
“But you know… I did call Mr. Lev by a different name…?”
“……”
“Mr. Lev is a special person to me…”
“…”
“I feel embarrassed, but I’m really glad I fell in love with you…”
Her words fell silent there.
Blood… too much blood flowed out, interrupting her.
“….”
So think.
A way to save Aria, even if it means sacrificing something of mine…
“…!”
I firmly grasped her hand and made one last request.
“Aria, if you trust me… please, grant my last wish.”
“…”
“I beg you.”
I simply hoped my feelings would reach her.