Chapter 236
“I’m sorry, but it’s neither.”
“Excuse me?”
“Let’s discuss the matter of handing over the chimera researcher later. And I didn’t come here sent by the Pontifical Palace; I came on my own. All nations are in the same situation right now, so they can’t afford to help other countries.”
“All nations are like this? Is that true?!”
“Yes. Dungeon Bursts have occurred in the capitals of all countries, but only the Winchester Kingdom and Hispenril Duchy have resolved theirs. Duke Hispenril went to the Theocracy for support.”
Tesillid also chimed in.
“Marquise Lekandro should have arrived in Pan-El by now.”
Come to think of it, both Tesillid and I sent others to the Theocracy instead of going ourselves.
It was something unimaginable for ordinary believers who are obedient to the Church.
Winard also pointed that out.
“…You’re not going to the Theocracy first?”
“I came to the boss that is more compatible with me. Cavalensha can only be subjugated by an Aura Master who uses a sword. I just recently reached the master level.”
More importantly, I’m the only one who knows how to defeat him.
“D-did you hear that? A Master.”
“Then the Holy Saint is at the 9th Divine Power Tier and has also become an Aura Master…?”
While the magic army soldiers whispered, Winard spoke again.
He still seemed unconvinced.
“Still, you are the Holy Saint of the Theocracy, aren’t you? There’s no way the Church would allow you to not prioritize Pan-El…”
“I appreciate your concern, but.”
I gently cut Winard off and continued, smiling.
“I take responsibility for my unilateral actions.”
I felt the magic army soldiers’ attention on me intensify.
I think it’s best to make this clear now.
“Currently, the capitals of both nations are in danger. And I can confidently say that no one can replace my role in the Cavalensha subjugation battle. Even in this situation, is it right to pick sides and set priorities?”
“…”
“Before obeying the Church, I serve my God. And my God has never taught me to be so narrow-minded.” [‘Voice-Spirit that Constructs the World’ is proud of the devout follower they raised.]
Silence hung in the air for a moment. The Republic’s magic army soldiers widened their eyes in surprise.
I gave them time to fully process my words.
And then, a moment later.
“Cough! As expected of the Saintess, such philanthropy…!”
“Even Saint Lucretia 200 years ago didn’t let borders hinder her good deeds…”
“She’s on a different level compared to those petty Pontifical Palace bastards…!” [
[
[
…Mages are strongly secular, so I didn’t expect much, but I did manage to proselytize.
‘Ah, if I had worn the Incantation Cult Master costume, the effect would have been even better.’
It was then, as I felt a slight regret. [
This wasn’t the time to relax.
I estimated the remaining forces of the magic army with my eyes. Frankly, it was a dismal number.
“Sir Winard.”
“Yes, Your Holiness.”
There was no need to poke at a sore spot by asking if this was all. I brought up other necessary matters.
“In 5 minutes, we will begin the Cavalensha subjugation battle. You can remain on standby until I request fire support. Please handle any bombs that occasionally leak out.”
The strategy was similar to when we caught Nazril.
I would step forward, turn the boss into a punching bag, and then everyone would unleash their attacks.
“Bombs, you say?”
“Yes. The boss uses bombs. A lot of them, too.”
Cavalensha isn’t called the ‘Explosive Singer King’ for nothing.
After hearing Winard’s affirmative reply, I turned to look at the seemingly well-preserved 200-year-old man.
“Moriphis, same goes for you.”
“Me too? To be relegated to mere mop-up duty, when I’m an 8th Circle Great Mage…”
“Even so, you’re useless at the start. Only an Aura Master can climb those stairs.”
“Ugh. It seems the role of an Aura Master is truly important here. Anyway, I’ll do as I’m told.”
My knight order colleagues, who had been listening to the conversation nearby, found things to do on their own.
“Whoa, so only the Aura Master needs to do well? Then let’s rest, Ash.”
“Yes, Hyung Iphail. Being an Aura Expert is really convenient and good.”
“Right. Isn’t this why we didn’t become Masters? But Tesillid, what are you doing? You should come over here too.”
It was when the two, joking self-deprecatingly, gestured towards Tesillid.
“Count me out.”
Whoosh.
Aura Blades unfolded behind Tesillid’s back. Everyone nearby dropped their jaws.
“Gasp?!”
“Oh, he’s an Aura Master!”
“Even the Master of the Holy Sword has reached the master level!”
As the magic army soldiers marveled, Iphail and Ash each uttered a word with dazed expressions.
“Insane.”
“Unbelievable. Even Hyung Tesillid…”
Leaving his colleagues behind, Tesillid stood in front of me. Having sheathed his Aura Blades, he looked as if he had something important to say.
“Ail.”
“Yes, Tesi.”
“About the strategy, you plan to approach Cavalensha first and stop his song, right?”
“That’s right. That’s where we start.”
Tesillid said as if he had expected it.
“Ail, then I’ll go. You stay here.”
His voice was firm and resolute. When I merely stared at him without answering, he reiterated his intention.
“Approaching Cavalensha with seven Aura Blades is impossible. I’ll go alone.”
“…”
A moment later, a sarcastic voice broke the silence between Tesillid and me.
“Impossibleeee?”
“…Saint Agnes?”
“Aillet, is he ignoring you? Are you still going to be with him?”
“Ah, no, I didn’t mean it like that just now…”
Attention from all sides focused on Tesillid, who was flustered and agitated.
Watching his predicament, I couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
“Ail?”
I wasn’t particularly upset by Tesillid’s words. My momentary silence was simply because I had something to think about.
To give him my answer, I met Tesillid’s eyes.
“Tesi, I know what you’re worried about.”
“…”
“But it’s okay. In that sense, should we make a bet?”
“…A bet?” [
One minute before the subjugation battle began, I made my proposal.
“Let’s bet on who gets to the top first and shuts Cavalensha up.”
Her confident eyes, as if she knew everything, met his gaze directly.
Her eyes, shining clearly even under the Walpurgis Night, were like two fresh-green full moons.
“Deal?”
“…”
“Loser grants the winner a wish.”
Somehow, he felt she would win.
And he thought that was fine.
He felt nothing would be too much to do for her, and the thought of being able to grant her wish even made him happy, so he answered without hesitation.
“Alright.”
He and she exchanged smiles for a long time, then, as if on cue, simultaneously turned their heads straight forward.
Both their gazes were fixed on the top of the stairs. Their faces, devoid of any humor, were serious.
Because it was time.
“Alright, preparations complete! It’s a shame there aren’t many spectators, but let’s begin the performance.”
Ta-da-da-dum-!
Brass trumpets played a heavy, dark piano melody. It was the signal flare announcing the start of the boss battle.
Aillet and Tesillid, as if they had been waiting, stepped onto the first stair.
“Midnight sky where chaos rages—”
As the first verse emerged, a circular ripple spread out, fiercely engulfing the surrounding area.
“Blessing of Protection.”
Aillet murmured the activation phrase of the skill she had prepared beforehand.
Cavalensha’s sound waves collided with unseen other waves, cancelling each other out as if distorted.
However, this was merely a very basic response. Because Cavalensha’s main weapon was not his song.
“Scattering wicked stars across all lands—”
As the second verse ended, the pearls clinging to Cavalensha’s body and dress floated into the air.
They increased in size and multiplied.
“W-what is that?!”
Their numbers were impossible to count. It was then that people gasped in horror at the overwhelming quantity.
“In every place my breath touches, flames of destruction shall erupt—!”
The powerful third verse.
At that moment, countless pearls began to pour down onto the ground like volcanic eruptions.
Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwang!
Buildings and roads were blown apart by the massive pearls that flew and embedded themselves everywhere.
Those pearls were bombs.
The pearls continued to multiply infinitely. As the song continued, the city would be destroyed, and casualties would increase.
‘I need to stop Cavalensha’s song as quickly as possible.’
Ocean-colored eyes, fixed on the summit, gleamed sharply.
Chwa-ra-ra-rak.
Aura Blades unfolded on both sides of Tesillid.
Ten Aura Blades flew into the vast multitude of bombs.
Kwa-kwang! Kwa-ang! Kwang!
Since the bombs’ trajectories were simple, Tesillid’s attacks were dead on.
But there was a problem. The Aura Blades vanished upon colliding with the bombs.
Each time a bomb was dealt with, an Aura Blade was consumed like a disposable item.
There was a slight time interval required to generate new Aura Blades.
In a situation where bombs were raining down like crazy, it was bound to be fatal.
Fortunately, Tesillid was currently at a level where he could generate dozens of Aura Blades simultaneously.
He meticulously calculated the re-summoning time to ensure that the available Aura Blades never dropped below seven.
By focusing on dealing with the bombs in this manner, he was able to ascend the stairs one step at a time.
He countered the enemy’s overwhelming numerical offensive with an overwhelming ability to wield Aura Blades.
This was Tesillid’s strategy for defeating Cavalensha, which he had gained over many lifetimes.
It was a method only an Aura Master capable of wielding dozens of Aura Blades—that is, Tesillid—could use.
‘It’s actually a trick, not a legitimate strategy, but.’
But even if he asked the Bible of Truth, he couldn’t find out what the legitimate strategy was. It only spoke in incomprehensible terms. - Play it like a rhythm game. ‘What on earth does that mean?’
Privilege for the Possessor