Chapter 77
* * *
Rifiris felt an intensely unpleasant presence and jumped out of bed.
"This is... what? Something has come to the town...? Could it be... the Demon King...?"
The presence of an overwhelmingly vast magical power. It was natural to feel alarmed, but that wasn't all. Something beyond magic was needlessly agitating Rifiris's heart.
The Hero title was reacting to the presence of the Demon King. That's what it felt like.
In her solitary room illuminated by moonlight, Rifiris hugged her own body. Her trembling—was it from fear, or from some other impulse?
"...The Demon King has come for revenge. As I thought, that angel didn't manage to defeat the Demon King..."
Rifiris had heard that the five angels she summoned went to subjugate the Demon King.
And she'd heard that they had eliminated a being with an evil presence in Grimoire. But it wasn't clear whether that being was truly the Demon King.
That angel was powerful, but couldn't follow detailed instructions, and communication was poor. Sometimes, it even acted on its own.
In short, no one could control the angels.
The biggest reason was that it exceeded Rifiris's capabilities. If it had been an angel summoned within her capacity, at least it wouldn't act so selfishly.
"...Because the angels half-heartedly attacked the Demon King, the Demon King came for revenge. The Holy Capital will be destroyed... I'll be killed too..."
That angel was certainly powerful. But sensing the Demon King's presence, Rifiris understood. Even that angel couldn't defeat the Demon King. The power gap was too great.
"I have to run... I don't want to die..."
Suppressing the childish urge to cry and scream like a five-year-old, Rifiris stood up. Knowing it was pointless, she still grabbed the slender sword in the room.
She looked around to see if there was anything else she needed. This was a detached room within the Church Facility meant to isolate Rifiris. Though luxuriously furnished, it was essentially a prison, and held nothing useful in this situation.
"Everything here is useless... Anyway, I need to escape quickly... But where to...?"
As she hesitated, she felt a chilling wind inside the room, enough to give her goosebumps. Immediately after, her body stopped moving properly.
"W-What? Mmm—ah, I moved..."
Most likely, the Demon King had used magic to restrict human movement.
The Demon King's presence was at the city walls, quite far from here, yet the magic still reached this place. The power was so absurd that Rifiris let out a dry laugh.
"No way, no way, no way. There's no way we can beat something like that."
The reason Rifiris could move might have been due to her own ability or the protective barrier of the Church Facility. The details were unclear, but it seemed the ordinary citizens were still immobilized.
"...I feel bad leaving the townspeople behind... but I'm probably the one in the most danger... I really have to run! Somewhere!"
Rifiris quickly put on a warm coat and shoes, then dashed out of the room.
She didn't know where would be safe. She just needed to get as far away from the Demon King as possible.
Just as she started running with that thought, Rifiris encountered Emma. It seemed Emma had also escaped the Demon King's restraint.
"Emma!"
"Rifiris! Are you okay!?"
"I'm fine! And you're safe too, Emma!"
Seeing Emma's face, Rifiris nearly burst into tears from relief. Though they were practically the same age, Emma was far more reliable.
"I'm fine. The Demon King is using magic to control people, but unlike before, its restraining power is weak. It's probably due to the Church's barrier or the magic's range. Even I could forcibly break free."
"I see. Hey, what should I do? There's no way I can fight that Demon King!"
"I understand. And I can't let you die, Rifiris. We're escaping."
"Yeah. But where to?"
"...For now, let's hide and get out of town."
"Got it. ...Whoa?"
Emma picked up Rifiris and began to run. She must have judged that it would be faster that way. They headed beyond the Church Facility grounds, but...
"Stop, Emma."
Priest Garim stood in their path.
"Priest Garim... I'm taking this child and fleeing. I can't afford to lose her."
"We can't afford to lose Lady Rifiris. That much is true. However, right now, we need Lady Rifiris's power. Take her to the chapel."
"...Are you planning to summon another angel with that secret art?"
It was a bit surprising for Rifiris, but Emma was against summoning angels by sacrificing human lives. She believed that was a realm humans must not trespass into.
Rifiris also didn't want to summon angels that way anymore, as she no longer wanted anyone to die.
However, there was someone in the church who used magic to put people into a hypnotic state. It was said to be called the Saint's Charm. Rifiris had been under that magic's influence and, in a dreamy state, had summoned angels at the cost of many lives.
If that magic were used again, Rifiris would likely summon angels without even the will to resist.
"You understand too, don't you, Emma? The Demon King has come to this town. Without a surprise attack, even five angels can't defeat it. In that case... we must summon an angel who can stand against it."
"...However."
"If we don't defeat the Demon King, more people will die. This isn't just about this town. Tens or even hundreds of thousands of people around the world will die. We must end it here."
"That's..."
Emma hesitated. Rifiris also understood the sentiment that they had to defeat the Demon King, even if it meant some sacrifices.
The Demon King's power was overwhelming. If it could be defeated, it should be.
But still.
"...Emma."
She didn't want to sacrifice anyone anymore.
Just as Rifiris was about to say that, a powerful will surged into her.
'Slay the Demon King.'
She didn't know whose voice it was. It might have been God. She didn't have the Divine Revelation skill, but perhaps because of her Hero title, she could hear God's voice.
An intense urge to defeat the Demon King welled up inside her.
"...Emma. I'll do it."
"Rifiris...?"
"Put me down, Emma. I have to fight. I must kill the Demon King. Even if it costs lives."
As Rifiris squirmed, Emma set her down.
Rifiris ran up to the priest.
"Priest. Let's go."
The priest smiled gently.
"Thank you for your cooperation."
"Yeah. ...Emma, see you later. Go to the Saint or something."
Emma wore a pained expression and probably ran off toward Saint Emeralda.