Chapter 864: The Last (97)

Their clash looked like a mythical war that would eventually decide the world's fate.

Rather than fighting for their beliefs, it looked more like a battle between opponents who had been pushed to the limit. But the sight I saw was more sublime; it gave me an indescribable feeling.

Everyone was probably thinking that way.

Some were even left breathless as they looked up at the sky.

The people cheered for the Sunset Swordsman, and priests offered prayers. The streets just kept getting more and more crowded.

-It's not just you. I can be complete too. I will take the Son of Light's soul and make it mine. I will then be reborn as neither he nor me. I know I'm not enough, but the new being will be different. With him, you'll truly be complete.

-…

-You will have no choice but to acknowledge me. In the end, you will understand that I was right all along.

When the Son of Light finally appeared, only one voice echoed across the battlefield, its owner quietly looking up at the sky.

"Hyung…"

His appearance was horrifying.

The red demon that had insulted the Honorary Cardinal's corpse and tried to take his soul was far more brutal, malevolent, and bizarre than any enemy the continent had ever faced, so much that it made me feel a previously unknown fear.

I actually felt fortunate that I wasn't there.

"Son of Light…"

"Please, God, if our voices can reach you, save the Son of Light and the Sunset Swordsman."

"Please… please… I know that we don't have the right to say these things since we couldn't protect the Son of Light, but I pray shamelessly once again for you to give them another chance."

"Please save the Son of Light. Oh, God. We can't let him be sacrificed again. He already gave up his whole life for the continent."

"Oh, Benignore…"

"Oh, Elune. Give them power. Please…"

Voices were coming from all over my vicinity. They gathered at the temple and offered the deepest and most heartfelt prayers they could, even here, at the southernmost part of the continent.

Next to me, I saw a familiar face. His hands were clasped tightly together as well.

He was mixed among the others and doing the same thing they were doing, but the way he bit his lower lip made him look more serious than anyone else here.

"Please don't let anything happen to him… Please…"

"…"

"…"

In the end, I had no choice but to speak to him. I couldn't just stand and watch him silently.

"Are you okay, Raphael?"

"…"

"Yes, Marien. I'm okay."

"You're worried after all, aren't you?"

The hero of the Holy Sword didn't answer. However, the slight nod of his head caught my eye.

How could he not be worried? More than anyone else, Raphael had followed the Son of Light, the Honorary Cardinal.

"There's no way he'd be okay," Lee Joo-hyuk, a member of the same party, replied in his stead.

"Joo-hyuk."

"The answer to that question is way too obvious, Marien. Seriously."

That was right.

The person he followed was his real older brother, the only one he could trust and the one who made him who he was today. The Honorary Cardinal of the State was someone Raphael, our party leader, held in the highest regard.

He wasn't just a saint. He was the personification of faith itself. He had even sacrificed his whole life for the continent and had probably done a lot more than that.

"He probably wants to go there right now."

"Joo-hyuk."

"He most likely wants to run to his side right now. He's just that kind of person."

'He's weird sometimes… He gets serious… and says embarrassing things.'

He even talked to me with his arms crossed and his back against the wall, which was most likely artificial and staged. I'd known from the first time I met him that Lee Joo-hyuk was such a person.

"The Son of Light is his savior, but he couldn't repay him. When the Honorary Cardinal was in pain, when his spirit broke, when he gave himself up and sacrificed his life for the world, Raphael could do nothing. That's what makes your question pointless, Marien. Can you imagine how he's feeling? How miserable and shameful he must be seeing himself as?"

"…"

"At least the Sunset Swordsman is struggling to save him, which makes the situation better for him. Raphael is…"

"Joo-hyuk. You're too…"

"I didn't say anything wrong. I'm just telling you how it is. Raphael probably thinks the fates are messing with him since he's forced to pray here. It would've been better if you hadn't asked."

"We're not here to pray. You know that. Our mission is different. Kasugano will…"

"Right. I know that an unexpected enemy will invade this place. I already heard and know that, including the fact that we're the only party that can stop them right now. Regardless, that doesn't invalidate or erase the emptiness within him. Raphael, are you really okay with being here?"

"Enough! Lee Joo-hyuk!"

At that moment, Raphael, who quietly watched the sky, replied.

"I'm okay, Marien. You don't have to yell like that."

"Lee Joo-hyuk, what are you trying to say? You know things aren't going well. Weren't we already told that nothing would change if we went there? We're a party built to respond to variables. Even Lee Jihye-"

"There is no hope for the continent if the Sunset Swordsman collapses anyway. We probably can't even begin to fathom what will happen if that demon really gets to devour the Son of Light's soul."

"Did you really need to say something so pessimistic?"

"As I said, I'm just stating facts."

"What's your point?"

"Ask the stupid praying guy, not me."

As I turned my gaze naturally, I saw Raphael's awkward expression.

He kept nodding his head, trying to make us believe he was okay, but his arms were visibly trembling.

He asked why I was looking at him, not even realizing blood was dripping from the lip he'd been biting down on.

Lee Joo-hyuk sighed quietly.

After an unnatural silence enveloped the place, Raphael looked at the party members and spoke.

"I…"

"…"

"I want to go."

"…"

"I might not be of any help, I might get in the way, and I might do stupid things, but I want to save him…"

"Then go."

"…"

"Go."

"But…"

"Leave this place to me."

"Lee Joo-hyuk."

A deafening sound echoed.

Boooooooooom!!!

With an explosion, angels with red wings began to appear.

"Prepare for battle!"

"…"

"Prepare for battle!"

The priests and the crowd prayed, screamed, and scattered in all directions in an instant.

To the sound of wizards and priests chanting spells, the angels came down onto the city and engulfed it in war.

"Let's move…"

"Not you, Raphael."

"…"

"I am in charge of this place."

'Why the hell is he doing this?'

"This is from Yuno Kasugano, Raphael. Here."

"No. I said I was in charge of this place."

"A named entity has appeared! Be on the alert at all times!"

An angel handling a huge red plant stood out. Before Raphael could raise his sword, the hound flew away.

That was reckless. I knew Lee Joo-hyuk was strong and that he sometimes showed more power than I imagined, but I didn't think he could jump over the wall.

The party members responded to it with all they could.

Not long after, he was hit and was thrown against the wall, but he gestured for us not to interfere. It was a grueling fight. Lee Joo-hyuk's battles were always devastating, but this one seemed even worse.

He fell down, grabbed his ankle, and got up. Hanging from his wings, he shoved a sword around his neck and was drenched in blood. As soon as he let go of it, he bit down on his neck.

"Marien, I have to move. I have to go support-"

"No, Raphael."

"What?"

"This isn't where you should fight. Go. Save the Son of Light. Hear the prayers of the people here. You are the warrior chosen by the Holy Sword; it is one of your duties to listen to their wishes. That's what our party was made for. Leave the problem here to us."

"But…"

The named entity fell to the floor with a thunderous thud.

"Uh…"

Raphael raised his sword, but the angel just fell apart.

The hound appeared behind the named entity.

"I am not weak."

"…"

"I am not weak, Raphael."

"…"

He didn't look like he was in good condition. The wounds on his body were so horrific that I couldn't even look at them properly.

But there was still rage in his eyes. His expression growled that he didn't need help and could keep fighting alone.

"But we don't have much time…"

"Go to Laios, Raphael."

"…"

"Jung Hayan should be there. If you explain the situation and head to the Sunset Swordsman with her, you'll arrive on time. She's still participating in the main event there, but by the time you get to her, she will probably already have cleared it. We don't have time. You have to go now."

"…"

"Will you all really be okay?"

"I'm not weak enough for you to worry about, Raphael. I am your rival, not the one you should be concerned about."

'R-Rival…'

Perhaps Lee Joo-hyuk was the only one who thought so. The party members each tried to ease his mind.

Eventually, when my turn came, I had no choice but to open my mouth quietly.

"Of course. I'm the Miracle Priest, Marien. A miracle will surely happen here too. Definitely."

Fighting in a large-scale battle without our party leader would be terrifying.

Perhaps everyone felt as anxious as I was, but I smiled.

'I can do it.'

I was the Miracle Priest.

'I will protect them.'

I could do it without Raphael.

"Raphael… when this is over… can we…?"

"…"

"…"

"Yes, Marien. Let's go see him together."

"Ah… yes…"

It was okay. I was the Miracle Priest.

"Thank you, everyone."

The gray warrior spread his wings and pierced through the enemies.

"I will help you clear the road."

The party wizard cast a spell for him. Lee Joo-hyuk also continued to cut off the angels' heads.

I slowly chanted a spell, drawing out the divine power within my body to the fullest. It was time to show why I had been given such a title.

'I am the Miracle Priest.'

My whole body filled up with divine power.

I emitted a brighter and holier light than usual. It was stronger and warmer than when the first miracle was performed.

The power of the gods overflowed in my body, and it felt like I could hear her voice.

'It's… it's descending. A miracle… a miracle is really happening.'

I could hear a clear voice.

[Stop with the bullshit, you guys.]

"What?"

[The Son of Light asked me to send this message, my daughter.]

"What?"

[He says to stop with the bullshit, my dear daughter.]