A Decision Must Be Made (3)
Iraniel's wound was grave. Most of the organs in her abdomen had been destroyed.
Even for a superhuman, survival would be near impossible from such an injury, but she was forcefully clinging to life using sheer power.
Still, at this rate, death was only a matter of time. She was burning through all her remaining energy just to sustain her life force.
"Q-quickly, tend to the Grand Chieftain!"
The elders frantically poured nature's energy into Iraniel's abdomen.
Nature's energy certainly had healing properties. However, it only aided regeneration—it wasn't some miracle that could instantly close wounds.
If all elder-level figures joined in, the effect might be considerable, but there was another issue.
Zzzzzzzzzzzz…
"Ugh! The resistance is too strong!"
The problem was the lingering energy of Lahamod in Iraniel's wound, hindering her recovery.
The darkness was behaving as if it were alive, rampaging inside her, gnawing away at her life force.
She had to forcibly hold her destroyed organs together, while also suppressing that dark energy.
The elders, dripping in sweat, tried endlessly to erase the energy Lahamod had left behind.
But the dark energy was simply too strong. If Iraniel hadn't been suppressing it herself, it would have long since devoured and destroyed her body.
"Grand Chieftain!"
Erenes reached out with trembling hands, tears streaming down her face. She, too, possessed strong power and wanted to help.
But when she saw the collapsed Iraniel, an overwhelming bitterness rose alongside her desire to help.
"Why did you do this?!"
Her voice cracked with sobs.
The more she loved Iraniel, the more unbearable it was to watch her die from such wounds.
Why had she made that choice?
"If the Grand Chieftain dies… then we're all going to die too!"
Erenes knew the enemy's true aim. They had counted on the fact that Iraniel would sacrifice herself to protect everyone, and used that against her.
Iraniel surely understood the enemy's intent, but she couldn't bring herself to abandon others.
In the end, she collapsed, and the tides of battle turned to despair.
The elves would now lose the war, and all would perish.
If that happened, then what had Iraniel's sacrifice even been for?
"Even if we all had to die… you should've stopped him. Even at the cost of us… you had to stop him…"
"Erenes…"
"You should've lived. You should've defeated him… and survived, even if it was alone!"
Her voice trembled with grief and rage.
Why did Iraniel, who did what was right, have to be the one dying?
At that moment, Iraniel reached out weakly and caressed Erenes' cheek. Her touch was gentle, warm.
"Well… I'm not sure either… I didn't mean for this to happen… but I couldn't just stand by and watch… It's… an elf's nature, you see…"
Erenes bit her lip hard.
She hated that "elf's nature."
That beautiful idealism that brought no progress and left them stuck in place.
That noble instinct that made the strongest of elves so powerless.
Humans were different.
They could sacrifice the few for the greater good. That's why they ruled the continent now.
'…I will never live like an elf.'
She made a vow.
Even if she had to sacrifice her own life, she would live for the greater cause.
That was the resolve she etched into her heart as she watched Iraniel dying before her.
To ensure that such meaningless choices would never be repeated again.
"Please don't die… please…"
Erenes wept uncontrollably as she poured all her energy into Iraniel's body. With the strength of the elders added, the darkness settled slightly.
But the energy Lahamod left behind was still overwhelmingly powerful. Lahamod had given his all to ensure Iraniel's death.
Had Ghislain not shown up to help, Iraniel would have died on the spot.
Lionel rushed over and shouted.
"I can use holy power. Let me help!"
He fully understood how serious the situation was. If Iraniel died, no one here would survive.
Such was the overwhelming power of Lahamod. His very presence brought dread and turned the tide of battle.
Fwaaaaaash!
Lionel unleashed holy power with all his might. It was a desperate effort to save Iraniel.
Even so, the darkness didn't disappear easily. The raging energy merely hesitated for a moment.
Lionel quickly turned his head, searching for Deneb.
Right now, even one more hand could help. Even the weakest holy power had to be used.
"What are you doing?! Don't just stand there—help us! Even your feeble holy power is needed right now!"
"Y-yes!"
Deneb had been too hesitant to join in, knowing how weak her holy power was. Ironically, being scolded this way actually gave her peace of mind.
Of course, standing nearby, Yulian trembled with suppressed rage, wanting to strike Lionel down.
Flash!
Deneb also poured out her holy power with all her might. Naturally, it didn't help much.
She couldn't even properly treat the surrounding wounds, let alone banish the darkness.
But her heart was more sincere than anyone's.
She wanted to save Iraniel. She could no longer bear to watch this great elf die.
'Oh goddess, please, give me strength…'
Deneb focused solely on Iraniel's wound and the writhing darkness within, unaware of how much holy power she was expending.
Before long, the sounds of the world faded, time itself seemed to stop—but even that, she didn't notice.
In this world, only the darkness and Deneb remained.
As she confronted the darkness, Deneb suddenly felt something strange.
'…It's suffering.'
The darkness, touched by holy power, seemed to scream in agony. It desperately tried to flee from the holy light.
Everyone knew that the Salvation Church's energy was in conflict with holy power. The stronger the holy light, the weaker their influence.
But that was only the result—no one ever explained the reason or the process. There were certainly no mentions of emotion.
But Deneb could feel it clearly now.
That darkness was afraid.
"…Ah…"
Now she understood.
That thing did not belong in this world.
That thing was not allowed in this world.
That thing grew stronger by feeding on fear.
So, if one could face it without fear—
'Then it is nothing.'
At that moment—
FWWAAAAAAAAAAAAASH!
An immense light exploded from Deneb's body.
It was no mere holy power. It was as if every belief, hope, prayer, and act of kindness Deneb had upheld throughout her life had fused into a radiant burst.
Lionel, startled, forgot his healing and stepped back. The elf elders nearby did the same.
Even Lahamod, who had been charging in to finish Iraniel off, halted in his tracks.
And moments later—
"W-what, what, what?"
Erenes widened her eyes and let out a stunned cry. The elders and everyone nearby were equally shocked.
A soft glow was rising from Iraniel's body.
The abdomen, once soaked in blood, showed no trace of injury.
The torn skin had reformed smoothly like new flesh, and the blood that had burst forth had vanished as if time had reversed.
Iraniel exhaled a quiet breath, then slowly raised her upper body as if waking from a long slumber.
Seeing her, Deneb let out a soft, relieved smile.
"Thank goodness…"
Thud.
Moments later, she collapsed where she stood and lost consciousness as if all strength had left her.
Iraniel looked down at the fallen Deneb for a moment.
'This girl…'
It was unbelievable.
No matter how exceptional a priestess, healing her wound would be nearly impossible. That was how immense the energy Lahamod had left inside her was.
Even if the Pope had come, they wouldn't have been able to heal it so easily.
And yet, someone who seemed like a mere low-ranking priestess had done it. Even for Iraniel, who had lived for countless years, it was difficult to understand.
'Could it be…'
There had long been something all races wished for—
To end the war against the Demon Realm.
And just as long-standing as that hope was an ancient prophecy—one which told that a representative of the goddesses would one day appear, lead all beings of the world, and eradicate the Demon Realm.
It was a story known far and wide, but ultimately, it was just a story. Iraniel never believed that prophecy to be true.
But for some reason, now, that story resurfaced in her mind.
All because of a miracle, shown for just a brief moment, by one weak human priest.
'Perhaps…'
Lost in thought, Iraniel turned her head again.
Ahead of her stood Lahamod, his expression hard. It was not the time to be thinking about anything else just yet.
"Take care of this girl."
Entrusting Deneb to one of the nearby elves, Iraniel stepped forward toward Lahamod. Behind her, ten elders followed.
With a solemn gaze, Lahamod spoke.
"A ridiculous miracle has occurred."
"That is what the goddess's grace is, is it not?"
"They are but beings of the past, now faded from this world."
"Your god is no different, is he?"
"…Still, you do not seem in proper condition. You cannot defeat me in your state."
What Lahamod said was true. Iraniel's wounds had healed, but much of her energy had already been consumed.
If they fought now, he would surely win in the end.
Iraniel gave a calm smile.
"Well, that is only if it were a one-on-one duel, no?"
"…..."
Lahamod turned his gaze to the elders standing behind her.
They, too, were exhausted. If he fought them, he could kill at least half. No—if he went all out, he could probably kill them all.
But the problem was what came after. If he spent his strength on the elders, Iraniel would kill him.
'…I cannot allow that.'
Even after sacrificing four high-ranking priests, they had failed to kill Iraniel. That was a devastating loss.
In such a situation, he, a core figure of the Church's power, could not be allowed to become a martyr as well. Martyrdom was only worthwhile if it clearly benefited the Church.
'Is this the end, then?'
He had come so close to success. Just a little more, and he could have done it.
But an unexpected miracle had occurred. All because of one lowly human he hadn't even bothered to notice.
Lahamod's body slowly lifted into the air. In a dry voice, he spoke.
"No matter how I calculate it, the cost-benefit doesn't add up. I shall, for now, pay respects to the goddess's blessing."
"...…."
Iraniel said nothing. No taunt, no rebuttal, not a single word.
She simply stared at Lahamod with calm, unwavering eyes.
Lahamod gazed at Iraniel for a moment longer before turning away.
"Enforcer. We withdraw. Send in the orcs."
Boom!
Munareff, whose fist had been blocked by Ghislain's staff, wore a bitter expression.
The opponent before him looked half-dead. Just a bit more pressure, and he could have finished him. But in the end, the order to retreat had been given.
Ghislain, eyes sunken, bleeding from nose and mouth, smiled.
"I win."
"…Y-you bastard."
"I'll give you a chance to run, just this once. Hurry and get going. Cough!"
Anyone could see that the loser was Ghislain, coughing up blood and clearly dying. And yet, he continued to provoke the enemy.
Boom!
Furious, Munareff launched a powerful punch. He figured he'd land one last hit before leaving.
But two elf elders suddenly appeared and blocked his strike.
From behind the elders, Ghislain spoke boldly.
"Pathetic weakling. I'll let you off just this once, but next time we meet, prepare to die. Cough! Ugh, why am I bleeding this much…"
"Grrr…"
Munareff ground his teeth in frustration. That bastard was impossibly irritating.
Last time, too, he had just stalled for time and ran off. He had a real talent for making people mad.
"Just wait. Next time, I will take your head."
With those words, Munareff followed after Lahamod.
At the same time, the orc army began to advance.
ROAAAAR!
More than half the orcs were already dead. The Salvation Church's priests were gone, and the dark mages too.
Yet the remaining orcs once again charged wildly at the elves. They had no other choice.
Iraniel, watching them, quietly spoke.
"Let's go. We shall ensure they never again set foot in this forest."
Iraniel advanced toward the orc horde. Eight elders and all the elves followed behind her.
BOOM!
Iraniel struck the orcs with ferocity. The elders swept through the orc ranks, one by one.
The already weakened orcs began to collapse helplessly.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Iraniel unleashed her power without holding back. With each flick of her fingers, light exploded all around, the ground twisted, and the orcs were shattered to pieces.
She knew.
That far away, Lahamod was watching her.
So Iraniel maintained her dignified stance, continuing to crush the orcs—
So that no one would notice…
That she had become weak.
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