Chapter 10
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After losing the battle with the Dark Lich, Emma returned to the Holy Capital and sat alone with Emeralda on a pew in the chapel.
"......And that was the result of this subjugation. The Calamity Beast was strong, and I couldn't do anything......"
More than ten days had already passed since the battle with that monster. The captain had reported to the Pope and the King, and the Knight Order Members like Emma were given a few days of rest.
The Knight Order Members, whose return as warriors had been in doubt due to the monster's Mental Corruption, were gradually recovering thanks to Emeralda's Purification Magic.
Normally, Emeralda's magic should heal people instantly. And yet, the fact that it took several days meant that monster's power was overwhelming.
"......If I had been there, maybe I could have done a little more."
Emeralda muttered bitterly.
That monster possessed the power of darkness, so Emeralda's holy-attribute magic would likely have been effective.
(But......even with Emeralda-sama's power, she probably couldn't suppress that monster alone. The difference in Magical Energy is just too vast. To stand against it, we should gather the Five Saints from around the world and combine our strength......)
"......So that we won't have to trouble Emeralda-sama, I'll become stronger."
"Emma, are you planning to push your body even further? At this rate, your body won't hold out......"
"I'm fine. I still have some leeway."
"Pushing yourself until you have no leeway left isn't proper training. Emma, please take better care of yourself."
"I am taking care of myself. Thanks to that, I'm still alive and well like this."
"Geez......Emma never listens to what I say......"
Emeralda furrowed her brows and sighed. Emma gave her a gentle smile.
"It's fine. Since it's about myself, I will rest properly when I need to."
"Please really do that, okay? I don't want you to disappear."
"Yes, I understand."
"......You mustn't disappear, like Claire did."
Emeralda's expression darkened greatly. Since she had been close with Claire, she must be feeling a significant sense of loss.
"......It's also very painful for me to have lost a friend......because of my lack of power......"
"Ah, um, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to blame you, Emma! The opponent was so strong that I even received a Divine Revelation. It's no wonder we couldn't do anything immediately."
"......I understand that."
Officially, Claire was forcibly turned into an Undead by a monster and taken away. Saying 'a Holy Knight who was turned into an Undead began following monsters out of fear of death' would damage their reputation. Not only would it be an issue for the Holy Knight Order's reputation, but even Claire's family might be branded as traitors.
This was a secret known only to the Holy Knight Order Members who were there, and even Emeralda couldn't be told the truth.
"......I might be disqualified as a Saint, but I'm glad Claire is still alive. Even if she was turned into an Undead."
"......That is indeed a disqualifying statement for a Saint. You must not say it to anyone but me."
"I know. I told you because you're Emma."
"Then I'm relieved."
"......Hey, Emma, what do you think? In addition to that monster, now even Claire has become a target for subjugation......Emma, do you want Claire to stay alive, even as an Undead?"
Emma couldn't answer that question immediately.
Since that day, Emma had repeatedly asked herself the same question.
As a Holy Knight, she believed Claire should have died as a human.
However, as Claire's friend, she undeniably wished for her to survive, even as an Undead.
"......If the one turned into an Undead wasn't Claire, but someone I didn't know, I would surely subjugate them without mercy."
"That's a rare roundabout way of speaking for you, Emma. So you're saying Claire is a special case?"
"......Maybe so. I do think she should be subjugated, but......I also wish for a day when I can laugh with Claire again."
"......Yes. We are a Saint and a Holy Knight. Claire is a wicked Undead. Even so......I wish for a day when we can laugh together again."
Emeralda clasped her hands and offered a prayer.
Emma followed suit and offered her own prayer.
(......The true cause of all this is that dark monster. I will definitely be the one to defeat it......God, please grant me the strength......)