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Chapter 38 - 38
Avalanche
It came crashing down.
The white wave unleashed by the snow mountain devoured everything in its path, swelling larger and larger with unstoppable force.
It was too fast. At this rate, not a single person would escape—it would swallow everyone whole.
If we were caught in an avalanche of that scale, it was clear that everyone would die—except me.
I had to stop it. Even just for a moment. I had to buy time.
A way to hold back that overwhelming force of nature, if only briefly—did I have such a method?
No, not me. I didn't have it.
My eyes quickly scanned my surroundings. Guards and companions scattered in all directions. Thankfully, they had listened to my desperate warning and were running.
Then I saw the back of Dakia's head as she ran with all her might.
Found it. A way to stop the avalanche, even for just a moment.
I launched myself forward and shouted after her.
"Lady Dakia!"
She turned her head mid-run upon hearing my voice.
"Yes?"
"Stop right there, now!"
"What?!"
Though clearly flustered, she obediently froze in place just as I asked. I grabbed her shoulders and shouted:
"You trust me, don't you?"
"What? Why are you suddenly asking that?! Of course I trust you! B-but behind us—!"
KWA-BOOM!
The massive wave of snow was closing in fast. I had no time to explain.
"Lady Dakia!"
"Y-Yes?!"
I pointed to the avalanche and shouted:
"You've been waiting for a chance to shine with your magic, right?! This is your moment!"
Her golden eyes trembled violently.
"W-What?! I have been waiting for that, but no matter what magic I use, I can't stop that thing!"
I looked into her eyes, dead serious.
"Gather all the magic you can and hit it with everything you've got. That's the only way we're all going to survive—including you."
"But if I do that, I'll collapse from exhaustion! And I can't even move while I'm gathering my power!"
"I'll protect you."
I gripped her shoulders just a bit tighter to instill confidence.
"No matter what, I'll keep you safe."
Her trembling eyes finally steadied. Dakia bit her lip and shouted with determination:
"Fine! I'll do it, so you better keep that promise! I'm trusting you, Priest Marnak—with everything!"
I released her shoulders and gave a calm smile.
"Let it rip."
"Okay!"
She stepped forward. As the ancient incantation flowed from her lips, her mana roared. Her silver hair whipped violently in the storm of power.
More and more gathered. The rampaging mana started to escape her control. But she didn't stop—in fact, she chanted even faster. Control didn't matter.
Her target was so massive, there was no chance of missing.
Finally, the spell she had prepared was complete. Dakia raised her hand and roared:
"DIIIIIIIIIE!!!"
Yelling "die" at an avalanche that wasn't even alive—who knew if it made sense. But regardless, the finished spell activated.
KWA-BOOOOOOOM!
A violent wave of fire erupted against the flow. A mage's will stood in defiance of an unstoppable force of nature. It wasn't by choice, but it was still an unshakable will for others' sake.
The flames blocked the snow.
But it wasn't enough. The snow began swallowing the fire.
"JUST DIE ALREADY!!!"
From pushing past her limits, Dakia's blood vessels burst. Blood streamed down her face like tears. She refused to stop drawing on her power.
"Aaaaaaah!!!"
Desperate flames flared again.
The avalanche recoiled. Just half a step. No, not even half.
"Kill."
At that moment, my mother declared that Dakia had just raised half a finger toward divinity.
Three and a half fingers.
She had taken a step toward the divinity of the Ten Thousand.
Her body staggered—it was her limit. I rushed forward to catch her as she collapsed. In my arms, she whispered weakly:
"I'm seriously... gonna die..."
"You've done enough."
"... Really?"
She had done it splendidly. Thanks to her, the others would have had time to escape the direct path of the avalanche.
"Absolutely."
KWA-BOOM!
The snow that swallowed fire surged toward us again. Now it was my turn to act. But first, one condition had to be met.
"Lady Dakia? Can you hear me?"
No answer. She had lost consciousness from pushing herself too far.
Well, at least I won't have to knock her out myself.
KWA-BOOM!
The avalanche was almost upon us now.
"Mother! Summon it!"
"Kill!"
The air distorted, and a massive figure slammed into existence. The Giant of Decay roared.
—GRAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
"No time for screaming! Protect us, now!"
—GRAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
Realizing the urgency, the giant dropped flat and shielded us with its massive body. Within the darkness it created, I activated the Gate of Decay.
I pushed my divine energy to its absolute limit. Cradling Dakia, I braced myself for the impact.
I would block it with my body.
A stupidly reckless method—but the best I had right now.
KWA-ANG!
The collision swept over us.
THUD.
The Giant of Decay burst out of the snow with a guttural roar.
—GRAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
Holding Dakia, I walked the path the giant had carved through the snow.
"If there's anyone around, you'll scare them. And pull out the rocks stuck in your side while you're at it."
The giant casually pulled out the jagged stones embedded in its body. The wounds began healing rapidly.
Now what?
Thanks to the giant, we had barely made it out. But the aftermath was the real problem. The entire area had been buried under blindingly white snow. Any familiar landmarks I'd memorized were now useless.
"Ughhh..."
Hearing her groan, I motioned to the giant. Understanding me, it tore the air again and began heading back the way it came.
Soon, she regained consciousness. Her eyelids fluttered open, and her golden eyes—like melted gold—reflected my face.
"Priest Marnak...?"
"Yes. It's me."
"... I'm still alive, right?"
"I did get completely lost, but at least I'm alive. Can you move your body?"
With a groan, Dakea answered in a dispirited voice.
"No... I can't move at all."
"You'll start feeling better little by little."
It was clearly due to mana exhaustion. A seasoned mage would still be able to move despite mana depletion, but Dakea, who had always refrained from using magic, seemed to be experiencing it for the first time.
"But, um..."
"Yes? Please speak freely."
"I saw everything."
"What?"
Could it be...?
Dakea looked straight at my face and said clearly,
"I saw Priest Marnak summon a giant with an ominous form."
A chill ran down my spine. Because of the rushing avalanche, I had hurried the summoning too much. I should've confirmed whether Dakea had really lost consciousness.
'Kill!!!'
Mother, who had never liked her to begin with, shouted that this was the perfect chance to kill her while she was immobilized.
Should I really kill her? Take advantage of her current state, when she couldn't even resist?
As I stood there, unsure and hesitant, Dakea gave a slight smile.
"As I thought, Priest Marnak isn't really a priest of the Goddess of Preservation."
One word bothered me.
"As you thought...?"
Dakea slowly nodded.
"Yes, just as I suspected."
"May I ask why you suspected?"
"I've seen other priests of the Goddess of Preservation. They were very different from you. For one, they didn't fly around swinging swords full of power like you do."
"That's the result of personal training."
"That's not all."
She stared intently at the breast pocket on my chest.
"That hand you carry. You talk to it often, don't you? You speak to it quietly where no one can hear, but if someone like me watches carefully from the shadows, they'll notice everything."
"It's just my usual prayers."
Dakea narrowed her eyes at my blatant excuse and glared at me.
"Sure, the previous things were just suspicion, but I saw it! I saw you shout 'Mother!' and then a giant exuding ominous energy appeared from nowhere!"
"You must've hallucinated due to mana exhaustion."
"No. I saw it clearly. Completely clearly."
I looked at Dakea and responded,
"Please stop insisting. It would be very inconvenient if you keep pushing this."
I was still deciding. Should I really kill her?
"Priest Marnak is clearly a follower of an evil go—"
I covered her mouth. To keep myself from killing her.
I had made my decision.
"Lady Dakea. Allow me to give you a piece of advice. White lies are sometimes necessary for harmonious human relationships. And silence, like gold, can save lives. You should've pretended not to see anything—at least until your body recovered. No, forever."
I removed my hand from her mouth. Looking into her eyes, I asked,
"You didn't see anything. Nothing at all. I believe, as someone who understands honor, you'll honor the request of the person who saved your life from that avalanche..."
"I don't care! Even if you are a follower of an evil god, I don't care! That's what I was trying to say!"
"What?"
Dakea poured out her words like a waterfall.
"You're a good person, Priest Marnak! Sure, sometimes you're a bit harsh, but deep down you're a good person! I didn't bring this up without thinking. I brought it up now because it's the only time you'd listen to me calmly—when I can't resist!"
Before I could say anything, she continued.
"I've always believed that power depends on how it's used. And I don't believe in any god. I was born a mage, and I've suffered enough meaningless scorn and hatred to know. So I can understand your position, at least a little."
I slowly opened my mouth.
"What are you trying to say?"
Her golden eyes met mine. There was unmistakable conviction in her shining gaze.
"Nothing changes! Even if you're a follower of an evil god, nothing changes! I'll treat you the same tomorrow as I did yesterday. And of course, I'll keep your secret."
'Kill!!!'
Mother appeared again in the form of a young girl with a dark glow. She leapt and pounded Dakea's face with her tiny fists.
'Kill! Kill! Kill!'
She shouted for me to silence that vile tongue and end her now, but there's no one in the world who'd die from such cottony punches.
"Eek! Priest Marnak! Please stop her! And who is this child, anyway?!"
'Kill (殺)!'
I quickly let go of the hand supporting Dakea and scooped Mother up in one hand as she flailed and yelled.
"Mother. Please calm down for a moment."
'Kill!'
Mother pointed at Dakea while glaring at me. The meaning was clear—she thought Dakea was just saying whatever it took to survive, and that she'd spill everything once we reached the city.
"She seems sincere to me."
'Kill!'
"I know people can't be trusted, but Mother, I'm a person too. Can't you trust me?"
'Kill?!'
Mother was briefly taken aback, then shook her head vigorously.
"I understand how you feel. You're just worried for me, right? But just as you trust me, I'd like to try trusting someone too. From what I've seen on this journey, she knows what honor is. And since she's a mage, I'll have her swear an oath."
'Kill...'
Sighing deeply as if she couldn't win, Mother pointed her two fingers at her eyes, then pointed at Dakea in a threatening gesture.
Confused, Dakea turned to me and asked,
"W-What does that mean?"
"She's saying she'll keep both eyes on you, so be careful."
Dakea, flustered, moved her mouth silently before cautiously asking,
"Can I ask one thing?"
"Yes."
"Is she really your mother? She looks... incredibly young."
"..."
I had Dakea swear in the ancient tongue that she would take the information I was about to reveal to the grave. Now that I confirmed she couldn't disclose anything I designated as a secret by any means, I told her a rough version of the truth about myself and my mother.
After spending some time in shock, Dakea asked playfully,
"But what if I lied during the 'oath'? Why do you trust me so easily?"
"I understand the ancient tongue."
"What?! Really?! Are you a mage too, like me?"
"No. I just understand the ancient tongue."
"That's incredible! Truly! You're not even a mage but you understand that language?!"
Dakea looked just as shocked as when she'd learned that my mother was a sealed goddess. Probably because she was a mage.
I tucked Mother, who had reverted to her original form, back into my chest pocket and picked Dakea up again.
"We can't stay here forever. Let's move."
"Alright. But which way? We need to find Carmen and Sagitta."
"I can feel a holy presence a little far off. I plan to head that way first."
With their physical capabilities, Carmen and Sagitta would've made it through the avalanche just fine.
Dakea's voice lifted with excitement.
"So we're heading toward where the evil god's followers are targeting the holy relic? I'm starting to regain some strength—I'll help too!"
"I'll recover the relic myself. Once you're able to move again, please stay hidden nearby."
"I said I'll help! Are you really saying you don't need the help of a mage who even blocked part of that avalanche?"
Well, no need to be picky about methods when retrieving a relic.
"... If it's really necessary, I'll ask."
I began walking slowly toward the direction of the holy presence.
"This is... a piece of gold."
Scattered along the ground were golden fragments—traces of a battle. It seemed Aurelius had clashed with the evil god's followers here.
And with the divine energy still emanating from nearby, the battle must still be ongoing.
"So Aurelius is no pushover after all."
"What will you do?"
I smiled and answered,
"What else? It's time to pay them back for what they did to me. Mother!"
'Kill!'
Space twisted as the Giant of Decay emerged.
—GrrraaaaAAAAAH!!!
How refreshing to use divine power without hiding it. I looked up at the giant and said,
"Go ahead and attack the evil god's followers. If it seems too much, retreat without hesitation and ambush them again. Harass them—hit and run. Do you understand?"
The giant pounded its chest and nodded vigorously. It was a reliable sight.
"I'll leave it to you."
—GRAAAAAAAA!!!
The Giant of Decay roared and thundered off toward the enemy.
It was time to return the favor to the ones who caused the avalanche—and snatch the holy relic while I was at it.
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