Chapter 68
Rifiris, worried, rushes over to one of the collapsed individuals.
"Are you okay?"
She calls out, but there is no response. She wonders if it might be better not to move them carelessly, but at the same time, a bad feeling creeps over her.
Rifiris places her hand near the mouth of the believer. The woman does not seem to be breathing.
"Huh? W-Why? Priest, please call someone who can use healing magic right away! She's not breathing! The others might be...!"
Rifiris can use both Holy Magic and Light Magic, but she specializes in offensive spells and cannot use healing magic. The Saint, on the other hand, seems to specialize in healing magic, and right now, Rifiris desperately wishes for that power.
Rifiris checks the condition of the other believers. It seems none of them are breathing. Worse, their hearts aren't beating either.
In other words, they are dead.
Rifiris panics, but the priest merely wears a calm smile. The choir members also show no signs of alarm.
From their reactions, Rifiris realizes something.
(...Sacrificing the believers was part of the plan? Wait, does that mean I'm the one who caused their deaths...?)
Rifiris has never killed a person in this world. She has killed Monsters before, so she isn't completely unfamiliar with taking life, but murder is entirely different from killing a Monster.
"I didn't mean for this to happen...!"
Her body rapidly grows cold. She trembles, feeling as though she can barely stand.
"...Saint. Please don't worry. They all agreed to this."
"Agreed to this...?"
"Their souls have returned to the noble God. That is the ultimate happiness for them. There is no need to grieve."
"...Returned to God...? But even so, in the end..."
No matter how nicely it's phrased, the fact that they died doesn't change.
Rifiris knows from personal experience that reincarnation exists. However, she also understands that her case is special, and for most people, death is likely the end.
Once you die, it's over.
You can no longer feel joy or happiness—nothing at all.
(I can't believe returning to God is happiness.)
With the sensibilities she developed growing up in Japan, she cannot accept what the priest is saying.
However, what has happened cannot be undone.
The dead do not come back to life.
Perhaps with extraordinary power like that of the Demon King, things might be different, but even for Rifiris, who is both the Blessed Child and a Hero, it is impossible.
"...Priest. That boy... he can return to normal, right?"
The boy who transformed into an armored angel. Surely, that child is still alive...
Rifiris held onto that hope. A true child, who knows nothing of the world, must not be sacrificed for the sake of God or anything else.
However, the priest shakes his head.
"That child... Ars's soul has been sublimated into an angel. He will never return to human form."
"You're lying... right?"
If an adult, with their own reasoning, chose death, Rifiris could somewhat accept it.
But guiding a young child, who hasn't even grown up, toward death is unacceptable.
(...But, does that mean he hasn't died?)
"P-Priest. Does that child's will... still remain...?"
"No. There is likely nothing left. Only remnants of his soul are there."
"I see..."
In other words, that boy has died as well.
Unable to stand any longer, Rifiris collapses to the ground with a thud.
"Rifiris. I must say again, there is no need to grieve. To defeat the evil Demon King, they willingly offered their lives. With this secret art, we will surely be able to vanquish the Demon King. ...Now, to prevent further victims of the Demon King, let us summon four more angels."
"...W-What are you saying? Four more angels... using the same method...?"
"Yes. That is correct. They are all willing to offer their lives to defeat the Demon King."
"...No way."
"Rifiris?"
Rifiris stands up and, with trembling legs, tries to flee from the scene.
However, as if someone used magic, her body soon becomes unable to move.
"Rifiris. You are still young and may not understand yet. But one day, you will realize. What we are doing is right."
The priest's gentle embrace feels nothing but horrifying to Rifiris.
(No, why do I have to kill people? This is wrong! Everyone is wrong! This is absolutely wrong!)
Rifiris cannot escape.
If she continues to refuse Angel Summoning, will they eventually give up?
That seems unlikely.
Until Rifiris performs Angel Summoning, they will likely continue to persuade her in some way.
In the worst case, they might even use some kind of magic to turn her into an obedient puppet.
People who are utterly convinced of their righteousness can commit terrifying and horrifying acts without hesitation.
(Emma... someone... help me...! Take me away from here...!)