25 CHAPTER 24: WHO IS IT THAT WE MUST PROTECT? (3)

"A-a blasphemy." Apparently, David hasn't fainted yet. Nor has Sarah, Eleonor, and Ian. All the rest is sleeping though.

"Emilia, you can stop now." That reminds me. "Telestal, we still haven't handled the problem of my aura. We better do it while we still have some time."

"We will. But for now, it is better to focus on the problem we are facing."

"Arr…" The king says something that makes everyone still conscious.

"My king, did you say something?" It seems he was affected by Emilia's aura as well. So, she feels aggressive to everyone then. That's good to know.

"Arrest them." This time, he manages to whisper it but with enough voice for us to hear as well. Now, I am sure of it, this guy won't have any use to us.

"Sigh…let's go. I heard the noise of an explosion earlier. There is a chance that the collapse was caused by someone, which means that there is indeed a spy."

I walk out first, and while I go to the door, I notice that the guy who came to announce the collapse is feigning his faint. He doesn't look like a guy who has really fainted.

Just to be sure, I pretext to stumble and fall on him and when I do, he reacts.

"Ack!!" Well, I did fall with my elbow aiming straight for his ribs.

"Hey, what are you doing?!"

By the time Telestal reaches me, I have already unsheathed my sword and pierced the guy's head.

"No!!" Emilia and Sarah scream so loudly my ears could have almost burst. But as the guy turns to smoke, their scream gradually stops though.

"Yup, it was too good to be true, I guess." I stand back up and Telestal is right behind me, standing with a weird smile produced by the mix of anger and joy.

"You really know how to give goosebumps to people, you know."

"You should just learn to trust me." Though, even I was not too sure of this one.

"Yeah, I will."

"Sir hero, wait." The woman who is able to use that odd power now calls me. I am not sure of it yet but it seems she is using the power of the god of law and balance, and it doesn't seem to be magic.

"What is it? We don't have that much time to waste."

"Could it be that you are a real chosen? Were you able to speak with our god?"

"Huh…I don't know what you mean but I never spoke with whoever that is."

A real chosen? Does it mean all of us heroes who are here are just decorations or something?

When we leave the room, Emilia follows me and Telestal together with the two knights who brought him.

"You guys are ready to become renegades? You do know that following us now will make you rebels, right?"

"Sarah told me that you were bullied a lot when you were on earth. If you were that strong, why did you never stop them?" That question again…

"Because it was a pain in the ass. If I did, they would have gone to bully somebody else and that person would have started to hate me because I didn't accept being the one at the bottom. Plus, it is not like they were hurting me anyway."

"She was right then. You are somebody who bears his pains alone."

"Yeah, my path is mine alone. I can never truly reach the top if I accept the help of others."

We get out of the castle and there are people already waiting at the gates of the castle.

"I just hope that the top you seek won't leave with regrets when you look back." Emilia says one last thing as we advance but I don't care about answering to that. I can't answer it now anyway. It is not time yet. I can't answer it when I haven't reached that place yet.

***

"What are we going to do now?!"

"Valkyrie of war, please help us!"

"Master Telestal! I was with you during the last war!! Please, let me in!"

There are so many people at the gate when it was almost empty when we entered. Where was that underground passage for them to flood us like this?

"What are we going to do? Soon, panic will take over." Emilia looks at Telestal with such worry it makes me feel like I am intruding.

"The first thing is to calm down the people. You can do that part. The second is to evaluate the damage to the tunnel, I will do that. The third should be to think of a way to retard if not stop the advance of the demons."

They both look at me after that.

"I am not sure of what you want me to do but okay."

"You can see what is available with the head priest. She will surely help you."

He points his finger behind me and when I turn around, she is here with Sarah as well.

"Of course." You couldn't just stay there and leave me alone, right?

"I will see you guys later then."

Telestal moves first and jumps above the gates before disappearing behind the people who try to follow him.

"Good luck, guys." Then Emilia also moves, going to the gates of the castle. The knights that were waiting outside immediately follow her and they stand before the gates.

She then starts a speech but let's not focus on it.

"They say you can help me. What can you do?" I cut to the chase directly as I wouldn't want this woman to bring some unnecessary comments.

"You guys will surely receive punishment for this. This king is worse than a child."

"I have seen that."

"And yet, you act like you own the place…I didn't know heroes were so carefree."

"I don't think he is carefree. He is just an idiot." Sarah then speaks with an easy voice and looks at me with a smile. Whatever pleases you…

"Anyway, what can you do to help me?"

"The sigil used to teleport you heroes here. Although it has dispatched most of its power, there is still enough remaining to generate an explosion that could sweep the castle entirely."

"An explosion?!!" Sarah blurts it out so loudly I am sure the people beyond the gates heard it as well. She then covers her mouth as if it will block the sound she just made. Sigh…That's why I said you aren't needed here. "I am sorry."

"…Anyway, why an explosion?" I must admit that the option she is proposing is quite harsh.

"It is the surest way to dispose of the demons. And it is what God has told me through divination."

"God, huh…" This god of yours doesn't seem to like his people very much. "The power you wield is a divine one, right?" His diary didn't say anything about it but I can guess.

"Yes, does it mean you can see it?"

"It is more about feeling it, but yes, basically."

"Wait, really? You can see her power? Then, what about mine?" Sarah places her face right before mine, ignoring even the head priest that is watching us. You are the one who is too carefree.

"I still can't see magic." I wonder why as well.

"Eh…Too bad."

"Right. Head priest-"

"Juliana."

"Head priest Juliana, is there nothing that looks like purification in your knowledge."

"No, sadly, I have never heard of a headpriest using such a thing. But I think-"

"Didn't Alfred receive a purification skill?" I flick Sarah's forehead hard enough for it to redden. "Ouch!! What are you doing?!!"

"Don't interrupt an adult who is speaking."

"Oh, sorry, sorry." You are lucky I don't have any gauntlets on, I would have broken that skull of yours.

"But I was about to say the same thing. One of your comrades has received the skill of purification. We should check if it can be of help."

"Okay, let's do that. But before, I would like to ask you something."

"What is it?" What this woman said earlier really bothers me. If he was right, then her answer will confirm it.

"Who is it that we must protect?"

"What do you mean?"

"Yeah, your question is a bit stupid, Will. We must obviously-"

"Shut up for a bit."

"Don't tell me to shut up!" Sarah jumps on me and grabs the collar of my armor, creating a road for the head priest to escape inside. This girl is going to have me killed if I don't pay attention.

"Why are you so excited? You are not usually like this." What is going on with her?

"What? You don't like it?" She looks at me as if I am forced to say no.

"Frankly speaking, yes, I don't. It is worse than back on earth. You and I have no relationship together, what is it that interests you so much about me? Weren't you more friends with all those inside?" I think it is time to cut my ties with her before she starts becoming a hindrance. My path cannot bear someone like her next to me.

"What if I want to be in a relationship with you then?" She blushes all of sudden. Being a relationship with me? Wait…oh, okay. I get it now.

"No, it would be stupid and a waste of time." I don't have that long to live because of my magic cancer and I don't want to end up like him, chasing after the dead because of a love that can't be forgotten. Though I would be lying if I say that you aren't a beauty.

At my answer, Sarah's face darkens completely and she enters the castle without saying anything else. I didn't know you had feelings for me. I guess it explains a lot. I also hope it will help you stop your behavior from now on. There is no need for you to stay behind and grieve me when I am gone.

"I will need to change this armor." The gauntlets are busted due to the ice after all.