Chapter 92 : Saint

Chapter 92: Saint

The Sacred Relic spoke politely.

[Bless System C113 Alpha. Codename <Ea> awaiting orders.]

But the Holy Knights before me showed no reaction.

It seemed the voice was audible only to me.

“Ea?”

[Yes. Ea. Awaiting instructions.]

The Sacred Relic answered.

“Ooh! He communes with the Holy Spirit!”

“O heavens, the ever-present Thirteen Gods above us, that name is....”

The reactions of the Holy Knights and apprentice Priests were fervent.

They marveled, suddenly reciting prayers....

‘This is troublesome.’

I had no idea whether God truly existed, or if this was indeed a divine relic. But at the very least, it was clear that what they believed and what this ‘thing’ actually was differed greatly.

Because...

[Awaiting instructions.]

Just like with the Annihilation Angel before, this thing was far too deferential toward me.

A Holy Spirit, they said? Shouldn’t it be looking down on humans, pitying them, or treating them as insignificant?

So why was it being so submissive toward me?

It left me at a loss.

I wanted to probe it directly, but there were too many eyes watching....

So for now, I tried speaking formally.

“O Holy Spirit. Can you hear my voice?”

Honestly, I expected it to work. Back then, even when I spoke to the Annihilation Angel in the language of the Age of Magic, it understood me. But then...

[Error. Unable to locate the signal of the Akashic Records. Cannot use thought-image translation function. Unable to identify user’s language.]

This thing... didn’t understand me.

And then,

Silence—

A pounding stillness. Even without turning around, I knew. Everyone’s eyes were fixed squarely on my back.

They must have thought I was conversing with the Holy Spirit.

That burning anticipation pricked sharply against my spine.

Hmm....

I also wanted to show them something magnificent.

Something so shocking it would make the Holy Knights collapse and the apprentice Priests faint.

‘But we need to understand each other first...!’

At that moment, a thought struck me.

‘Wait?’

I... could understand its words, couldn’t I?

Even though it was a language I was hearing for the first time, I understood it perfectly. Then...?

Ahem.

I cleared my throat.

“What if I speak like this? Do you understand me now?”

I spoke.

Not in the language of the Age of Magic... but in the very tongue the Sacred Relic was using. In other words—presumably the Divine Speech!

[Yes. I hear you.]

...It really worked.

Just like when I had first arrived in the Age of Magic and could naturally speak the language of this world, it flowed just as seamlessly this time.

Someone gasped in awe.

“My goodness...!”

Those who had been holding their breath all at once let it out, breaking into a frenzy.

“Glossolalia! The gift of tongues...!”

“To witness it with my own eyes...!”

“What a beautiful tongue... Could that be the Divine Speech itself?”

Sheneril stood at the very center, puffing herself up and saying, “See? Wasn’t I right, Saint? I brought him here!”

Hmm, good for her.

Well... let them keep on worshiping. That kid liked it, so I supposed it was fine.

Anyway, I was only doing what I had to do.

Since no one else could understand the divine language I was using, I decided to speak a little more freely.

“What is the Zero Code?”

I asked the Sacred Relic called <Ea> the same question I hadn’t been able to get an answer to from the Annihilation Angel.

This time, maybe I would get one.

[Zero Code is... Error. Unable to locate signal of the Akashic Records. Cannot retrieve the information.]

“No, what even is this Akashic Record you keep mentioning since earlier...?”

[Akashic Records are... Error. Unable to locate signal of the Akashic Records. Cannot....]

“Forget it. That Zero Code—does it have something to do with my bloodline? That flame rising inside my eyes.”

[Error. Signal of the Akashic Records....]

“Forget it, damn it.”

Didn’t seem like it was going to work.

These so-called god-related beings always treated me with exaggerated politeness, but when it came to the very reason for that—「Zero Code」—not a single answer came out, which was frustrating.

I cut off this <Ea> fellow mid-sentence and asked something else.

The most important practical question in this situation.

“Then what do you know? What can you do?”

At that, the answers flowed out smoothly.

[I can perform healing of wounds, detoxification of poisonous substances, and suppression or purification of the Chimri phenomenon. Specifically, I can form a ‘Healing Field’ within a radius of 200 meters, construct a ‘Sanctuary’ within a radius of 2 kilometers, and perform communication, scanning, and energy transmission within a radius of 40 kilometers.]

“Explain in more detail. What’s the performance of the Healing Field, and what exactly is this Chimri phenomenon?”

That was how I came to learn of Ea’s abilities.

Within the Healing Field, most injuries could be fully recovered, and the Sanctuary could perfectly block the Chimri phenomenon pouring down from outside—that is, the curse.

[Currently, a Sanctuary is in partial activation due to requests from those holding Protection Designation Codes. If you request full activation, it can be strengthened up to 20 times its current capacity.]

Requests from those holding Protection Designation Codes.

That likely referred to the Priests who had triggered the barrier and died.

But then,

Twenty times the current output?

The present barrier already seemed unimaginably powerful, and to think of it multiplied by twenty....

That was strength beyond imagination.

“Then I don’t have to pay any kind of price? Last time, the Priests supposedly died from drawing out its power.”

[Error. Unable to understand the question. Three days ago, due to requests from those holding Protection Designation Codes... Error. Since the relevant time was during dormant mode, it is analyzed as a malfunction caused by a single error.]

Malfunction?

That was not a word I could take lightly.

‘So that was a malfunction?’

I glanced behind me.

The faces of the clergy, still brimming with awe. They believed God was infallible and omnipotent.

What expressions would they make if they heard the word “malfunction”?

I swallowed once and asked,

“Then... if it wasn’t a malfunction, I wouldn’t have to pay any price? It wouldn’t be dangerous?”

[Unable to understand the question. <Ea> exists to protect. It does not harm anyone.]

...So, the Priests’ deaths had been caused by forcing the Sacred Relic into a malfunction?

Yet not a single one of the clergy here had said such a thing.

‘That means they’ve completely misunderstood what the Sacred Relic really is....’

My head grew muddled.

I had crossed back and forth through the Age of Magic multiple times already, but instead of finding answers, it felt like the mysteries were only piling up higher.

I didn’t know.

For now, I’d just remember it.

“All right, fine. Then continue explaining. I roughly get what communication and scanning mean, but what is energy transmission?”

[Energy transmission is... Error. Unable to read the signal of the Akashic Records. Energy transmission is... energy transmission.]

But you know...

I’d been noticing it for a while now.

‘Doesn’t this guy sound kind of stupid?’

It felt like I was talking to a wall.

With the Annihilation Angel, the tone had been stiff, sure, but the conversation itself had flowed smoothly. With this one, if it didn’t have something called the Akashic Records, it could barely even speak?

It was frustrating enough that I felt like smacking it.

However,

‘I can’t let that show.’

At least now I’d gotten a rough idea of what this Sacred Relic could do.

The next step was to use it as efficiently as possible.

That meant it was better to treat the Relic with solemn reverence, rather than contempt. I needed to start setting the tone for that mindset control right now.

Because... it looked cool!

In war, the morale of the troops was crucial.

And right now, I held in my hand a card so overwhelming it could make the broken and battered spirits of these people soar in an instant.

In that case, gladly!

I had to show them.

The very image they wanted to see!

I was confident.

This was practically my specialty.

*         *         *

Sheneril gazed at the Saint’s broad back with delight.

Around them, the place buzzed like boiling water.

It was astonishing to her that all of this had begun with her prayer.

God had truly listened to her.

Even though she hadn’t offered the most precious sacrifice!

Sheneril resolved to pray harder from now on and to be a good child.

For every moment unfolding now already felt like a miracle.

Those who had lost hope stood back up,

and the weary were carried into ecstasy—

Bubbling, bubbling emotions.

Bubble—

Bub...ble...?

“Saint?”

Before long, the surroundings grew silent.

The Saint, who had been communing with the Holy Spirit in that beautiful Divine Speech, had suddenly fallen quiet.

That broad back stood still, saying nothing.

“Saint...?”

Sheneril called out once more.

But no answer came back.

Suddenly, unease seized her.

Such was the mind of one steeped in fear and despair.

When things strayed even slightly from expectation, the anxiety became unbearable.

Why was the Saint saying nothing?

Why did he not answer when called?

Why had the miracle-born hope, risen from the depths of despair, fallen silent?

Had something gone wrong?!

“Saint!!!”

The adults held back their terror, waiting in silence, but the young Sheneril could not bear her fear.

She cried out with all the strength she had, calling for her Saint.

And at last, an answer came.

“Fear not.”

A voice deep and resonant, as though flowing up from the depths of a cavern, low yet comforting, caressed every shadow within the temple.

Ah—

Sheneril let out a gasp of wonder.

There was a verse of scripture that began with those very words, “Fear not.”

Even she, only seven years old, knew that enormously famous passage.

“I will keep you.”

The Saint raised one hand.

Fwoooong—!

At the same time, the Sacred Relic burst forth with an overwhelming holy radiance. Iridescent light surged toward the heavens, engulfing the temple and flooding the entire region.

“Ah!”

Sheneril immediately understood what had just happened.

‘It’s gone quiet!’

The tinnitus that had tickled her ears vanished. The crawling itch that had crept over her skin faded away. The dazzling flickers disappeared.

The world grew silent.

The endless seeping curse had been completely annihilated.

“Aaaah....”

Others who felt it cried out in awe as well.

The aurora that had painted the world in every color no longer existed.

The barrier that embraced the night sky devoured even the dazzling moonlight of the Psychedelic Moon, leaving the world in utter stillness.

In that quiet rapture, the Saint raised his other hand.

“I will heal you.”

“...Heal you.”

This time, one by one, people softly echoed the verse.

Once again, resplendent brilliance swept forth.

“Aaaaaaah—!”

A sudden outpouring of tearful cries of awe.

Sheneril turned to look behind her.

Her tiny eyes went round with astonishment.

“They’re healing...!”

The wounded were recovering.

Fresh flesh sprouted over the Knight’s wounds where the bleeding had not stopped.

Broken bones knit back together on their own.

Even—

“They’re... it’s coming back! His hand is coming back!”

Even those who had lost hands or had legs torn away began to recover.

The radiant light filled the places where limbs had once been, shaping pristine new hands and legs without a single scar.

Sheneril felt it too.

Her body, sore and aching after days of restless tension and sleepless nights, now felt completely refreshed.

At once, she turned her gaze back to the Saint.

So did everyone else.

Bathed in dazzling brilliance, the Saint slowly lifted his head, looking up toward the heavens.

‘...Ah!’

Now, everyone knew.

The next verse.

Even the youngest of them all, Sheneril, knew it.

Together, they chanted the next words.

“I will—”

“I will...!”

“Make them—”

“Make them...!”

“Afraid.”

The Saint slowly, ever so slowly, drew his sword.

Shhhk—!

The Holy Knights,

the Knights who had already healed from their injuries and risen,

the soldiers, and even the village men—

all of them raised their weapons in unison.

In one heart, one will, one voice, they answered the Saint’s prayer.

“Let all be done according to God’s will!”

By then, the Saint stood with the Sacred Relic at his back, gazing down upon them all.

Within his dark eyes burned a blue flame. That deep, indigo fire seemed to pierce straight through their souls.

“Prepare for battle. Summon all who can fight to the temple. Heal them, and we shall judge the lawless cultists.”

“Yes, Your Holiness!”

The Saint’s authority was equal to that of the Pope.

The Holy Knights and Knights alike offered the utmost reverence as they obeyed his command.

‘Ahhh....’

And at that moment, for the very first time, Sheneril truly felt it.

‘He is here.... Right here, with us now....’

The existence of God, which she had only vaguely believed in until now.

At just seven years old, Sheneril felt it with her whole being.

In the Saint’s dark-blue shining hair, and in the blue flames of his eyes—

a dream began to sprout within her young heart. A dream that would never fade away.

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