Chapter 81

As I and Terence cut down the endless monsters, we hurried towards the place where the "core" was located at the deepest part.

When we reached a slightly open area in the darkness, Terence suddenly stopped and looked around.

"…Wait, Rin."

"Is something wrong, Terence?"

"It's a bit strange. There should have been a powerful 'barrier' here to prevent intruders from going deeper, making it impossible to enter easily."

Looking around, we saw countless large grooves in the ground.

It was probably the place where the powerful barrier he mentioned had been set up.

"Did the Pope remove it herself to advance further?"

"No, if that were the case, she would have set it up again… It seems something happened here after all."

"…I can see a light ahead."

As we paid attention to our surroundings and moved deeper, we suddenly found ourselves in an open area where the presence of monsters disappeared.

Then, we saw a large crystalline structure glowing blue in the distance.

"Is that… the core of the labyrinth…?"

I had never seen it with my own eyes before, but I knew it was the core.

This was the existence that formed the core of the labyrinth, the Labyrinth Core.

"Indeed, this core is still alive."

As we approached, it was towering over us.

It was much larger than I had heard.

The huge crystalline structure was glowing blue, and there was nothing around it, the area was completely silent.

"…Is no one here…?"

"Wait, something's off over there."

Feeling something about to appear, we kept our distance.

Suddenly, a fierce flame burst out of the darkness, and a woman leaped out of the fire.

"…Could it be…"

"…Your Holiness…?"

The person who leaped out of the blue stone, enveloped in flames, was Pope Astira.

We were shocked by the scene, but she landed on the ground, stood up calmly, and smiled at us.

"Well, well… Terence. And Linnheburg too. It seems we have good luck. I didn't expect you two to be waiting for me here after I managed to get out without being consumed by the flames."

The woman, speaking calmly while enveloped in flames, was indeed the Pope.

But what was that appearance?

Her body was surrounded by flames that illuminated the surroundings, and parts of her were burned and charred.

Even her powerful magic-resistant holy silver robe was blackened and partially melted.

How could she have sustained such damage…?

"Terence… I'm glad you came… It's really good that you two are here."

Seeing the Pope's calm smile, I was speechless.

The flames that enveloped her must have been created by tremendous magical power.

And yet, they were still burning her skin.

There was no way she wasn't in pain.

Why could she smile so calmly?

…Indeed, something was wrong with her.

Her unchanged expression made my spine freeze, and cold sweat trickled down my cheek.

"…Mother."

The Pope was looking at the prince, enveloped in flames, and smiling.

I could no longer think of it as a human expression.

Beside me, Terence spoke to her.

"…Mother."

Terence called the Pope that.

I couldn't understand why he would call that existence by that name.

But for the first time, I understood how he felt when he had to say he had to destroy his own mother.

"…What is that appearance…? What happened here?"

"Thieves, Terence… Thieves have infiltrated our country."

"Thieves…?"

"Yes. They infiltrated during today's celebration, led by that young girl. They are very troublesome, Terence. They pushed me to this extent. But you don't need to worry anymore. I've locked them away."

"…Locked away?"

"There might be a way out, but it won't be immediate. By the time they get out, if they can obtain 'flesh and blood' from the people and regain their original power, they won't be a match for such a man—"

I didn't understand her words, but my heart was beating painfully fast, and a strong warning was ringing in my mind.

—Locked away, what…?

And obtaining flesh and blood from the people, what…?

I had an idea, but my reason rejected it, and a chill ran through my body.

"…It's cold…"

The chill running down my spine grew stronger.

The ominous atmosphere intensified, and my skin prickled.

…Something is coming.

Something terrible and unknown is approaching.

The moment I sensed it, the space around us distorted.

Then—

『──────────────────────』

From the distortion, a massive something enveloped in blinding flames appeared.

At the same time, the cave walls burned, and the air became scorching hot.

"…That is…!"

I gasped in shock.

Standing there, enveloped in searing flames that scorched the surrounding rocks, was a massive monster resembling a giant skeleton.

Just looking at it was overwhelming and suffocating.

A huge skeleton with a shattered jaw, wearing a charred holy silver robe, burned in the darkness.

I had never encountered such a monster before.

But I had seen its image in paintings many times.

Yes.

There was no mistaking it.

That was the figure always depicted in the 'saintly images' seen everywhere in the country of Misra.

"…'Saint Misra'"

We could only look up at the massive skeleton enveloped in flames.

Faced with the overwhelming magical power, I couldn't even move a finger.

That was 'Saint Misra'.

The object of faith in the Holy Misra Kingdom, said to have brought many 'teachings' to the Misra believers through the Pope hundreds of years ago.

As I looked at it, I recalled the Pope's words.

—If it obtains flesh and blood from the people, it will gain power.

…Who?

Even if I didn't want to understand, I did.

It must be… this existence before my eyes.

And I realized it was a meticulously prepared plan.

Probably for hundreds of years.

From the beginning of this country.

It had been manipulating the country from behind through the Pope.

Gathering its believers in the city of Misra to gain power from them.

Originally, the city was built to gather people, the country was created, and the 'faith' of the people of Misra was formed for that purpose.

"Yes, that's right, Linnheburg. This is 'Saint Misra'. The master and savior of our country."

At the same time, I realized.

I had no choice but to understand.

This was not something we humans could handle.

Just facing it made me realize.

Just looking at it sent a chill through my body, and I froze like a stone.

The difference in existence between it and humans was too great.

Just standing here, I felt my chest being crushed by fear, and I had an overwhelming urge to run away.

"…So, it wasn't just a dream after all."

"Speaking of which—Terence, I believe you've met before, haven't you? Yes, of course. 'Saint Misra' is not a fairy tale. And the 'Day of Resurrection' in the teachings of the Misra faith—this is it. Terence, Linnheburg. Come, let's all receive 'salvation and blessing' together."

The Pope beckoned us with her hand.

—I understand.

Approaching there is dangerous.

Staying here is dangerous.

We need to escape from here as soon as possible.

I understood that in my head.

But my body wouldn't listen.

If we don't run, we need to take up our swords and resist.

But—my strength can't possibly match it.

Once I started thinking that, my legs wouldn't move.

Despair had already taken over my body, regardless of my will.

"…Mother. May I have a moment?"

Beside me, frozen with fear, Terence spoke to the Pope calmly.

—Again, 'Mother'.

He called her that without any emotion, fear, affection, or confusion.

"What is it, Terence?"

"I have something important to discuss. If possible, I would like to speak with you alone."

"Is that so… Yes, you can come alone. Come here."

She smiled, spreading her hands without caring about her burned skin.

Standing in front of the massive skeleton, she smiled calmly.

Indeed, this woman—something was decisively wrong with her.

She, like the skeleton, was not human.

—Don't go.

I wanted to warn Terence, but I couldn't make a sound.

Terence whispered to me.

"…Rin. It seems my struggle has come to an end. I thought I could do a bit more… I was a bit too optimistic."

"Terence…?"

"…I want you to escape from here somehow… I'm sorry for asking you to do this, but… do you understand what that existence is?"

I nodded in response to his words.

"I'm truly grateful for everything you've done. I want you to escape and, if possible, inform the higher-ups about what happened here. I know it's a lot to ask, but you're the only one I can rely on now. I'll buy some time—please, I'm counting on you."

With that, the prince walked straight towards the Pope.

"Terence. What are you doing… You shouldn't keep Saint Misra waiting."

"…Mother. I'm coming, don't worry."

Terence walked slowly.

I understood what he was trying to do.

But my body wouldn't move.

"Hmm… Terence. Honestly, I think it's a waste to end things here. You have very good blood. But, there's no choice. I won't let it go to waste."

"…Wait—!"

I strained my voice.

At the same time, I saw him pull out a red dagger from inside his coat and grip it.

That is—the red dagger the prince now held was the 'Red Blade of Fate'.

A treasure that could surely take the life of its target, but at the cost of the user's life.

Such a weapon was in Prince Terence's hand.

"Yes, Mother. I don't intend to waste this life either."

If he used that, he would—.

"…Wait, that—!"

I strained my voice.

But it was too late.

Instead, I heard his cold voice.

"—Mother, you wanted my body, didn't you?"

Saying that, Terence gripped the red dagger and ran towards the Pope, who had spread her hands.

—I was mistaken.

He had said he wanted me to "help him kill Pope Astira" and that he would take the blame.

But that wasn't just about taking the blame for the act.

What he meant by "I will take the blame" was—

"If that's what you want, I'll give it to you. But—"

He had come to this day, ready to stake his life from the beginning.

Terence rushed towards the Pope's chest with a speed I couldn't follow.

It was clear.

This was his final, life-staking blow.

—I should have realized sooner.

I should have stopped him.

But my body wouldn't move.

Why am I so weak?

As I saw his figure, only regret filled my mind.

"—You can't control my life as you wish."

And the prince's red blade reached the Pope's chest—

—or so it seemed.

But in that instant, something covered Terence's body, and he disappeared.

"…What…?"

When I realized, the giant hand of Saint Misra had grabbed Terence.

I hadn't seen the movement at all.

"Hmm… Good boy, Terence. Saint Misra is pleased. To jump into my arms so energetically… You'll make a good nutrient. It was really worth raising you to this point."

Terence had lost consciousness from the impact of being crushed by Saint Misra's hand.

The Pope looked at him with a delighted smile.

"—No way—"

I couldn't help but reject the reality.

How could that massive body move so fast?

—Impossible.

Everything exceeded my imagination.

I couldn't find anything in my knowledge to compare it to.

This was probably a monster far beyond the known scales of "Disaster" or "Catastrophe".

A monster that humanity had never faced before.

It had been manipulating a country from behind for hundreds of years.

—How can I face such a thing alone?

Even escaping was hopeless.

I had completely wasted the opportunity Terence had given me.

But even if I had tried my hardest, I probably couldn't have escaped from it.

Seeing what just happened, I had no choice but to realize that.

There was nothing I could do.

"—Come, Linnheburg. You too, come here."

Then, the other hand of the skeleton reached out to me.

As if understanding that I was in despair and couldn't move, it slowly approached.

The giant hand grabbed my immobile body and lifted me up.

—I thought I had become a bit stronger.

But I was still weak.

I had tried to work hard.

But I couldn't do anything when it mattered.

I felt tears of regret welling up in my eyes, and I was angry at myself for just crying here.

But I couldn't do anything.

Then—

The skeleton lifted Terence and me in front of its face.

Its broken jaw opened wide, and its face tilted up.

We were slowly carried above it.

"Hmm, this is exciting. You two have great potential. How much benefit you will bring to 'Saint Misra'… I'm really looking forward to it. Then, to your future—blessings be upon you."

And I accepted my fate—closed my eyes.

I gave up on everything, waiting for the moment I would be thrown into the monster's mouth.

But that moment didn't come.

Curious, I opened my eyes—

In the corner of my vision, I saw a ball of flame appear.

Inside the fireball, a familiar figure stood, holding a 'black sword'—

"—Finally, I made it… I thought I was going to die."

A familiar voice spoke.

"—You are—"

Instantly, the Pope and the skeleton—the monster—stepped back.

—What happened?

—What just appeared?

My confused mind couldn't grasp it.

After a moment, when I regained my composure, I saw—

"—Rin? What are you doing here? Weren't you in the middle of a ball or something?"

"—Mr. Noll?"

Mr. Noll was there.

He stood in front of Saint Misra and the Pope, enveloped in the same kind of flames as Saint Misra.

At that moment, the skeleton's hand released us, and Terence and I were thrown into the air as the skeleton's arm disappeared.

—No.

The monster's hand is about to crush Mr. Noll.

Even Mr. Noll can't handle this monster—

"—Parii"

A deafening sound.

The shockwave shook the area, and the skeleton's hand, which was supposed to be brought down, shattered into pieces, and Terence and I were floating in the air.

In an instant, I didn't understand what had happened.

I carried Terence in the air and landed away from Saint Misra, but my feet wobbled, and I put my hand on the ground.

Was I trembling with fear again?

…No, it was different.

—The ground is shaking from that single blow.

Looking around, I saw a massive crack running from Mr. Noll to the wall, and the ground in the area was shattered.

"—Hey, Noll! Don't leave us behind!"

Then, another figure appeared, enveloped in flames.

"—Phew… I'm glad I made it… I thought I'd be alone there again…? …Who are those two…?"

She landed on the ground, extinguished the flames covering her body with a wind spell, and noticed us.

Terence, who had woken up in my arms, and I were confused.

Because—

"—Mother…?"

She looked too much like a person we knew.