Chapter 100

The next morning, we set out for the small island the angel had mentioned. Before leaving, we had taken a brief look around the village, where the angel was incredibly popular.

"Please accept this, Lady Angel of the Goddess Flodia!"

"Please enjoy this with Lady Flodia!"

"Oh, thank you."

Villagers would kneel before the angel and offer tributes. If we even glanced at a shop's goods, they would eagerly offer them to us. Blitz and Mimosa seemed at a loss as to how to handle the situation, looking quite perplexed. Tithia, while she would likely refuse for herself, probably found it difficult to interfere with the angel's affairs.

...I decided not to worry about it!

"If there are any good items, I'd like to buy them."

"I'd be happy to have some materials, nya~!"

I nodded in agreement with Tarte's words. Since this was a new village, area, and dungeon, there must be new items! As we walked, a sweet and pleasant aroma wafted through the air.

"What is that? Fruit?"

"Let's go check it out!"

Kent, drawn by the sweet smell, dashed over. The source was a fruit stand selling cups of cut fruit and soda. The cups contained apple, pineapple, pear, peach, and cherry, all cut into bite-sized pieces and looking very delicious.

"Welcome! This village's specialty—oh, oh, oh, oh, Lady Angel! Please enjoy this. This 'Cut Fruit Soda' increases your total mana by 1.5 times for 30 minutes after consumption!"

"Oh, thank you."

"1.5 times!?"

While the angel calmly accepted and thanked the vendor, we humans were utterly shocked. Just a 1.5 times increase in total mana would make battles much easier!

We need to buy a few and store them in the 'Bag.'

"Give me one!"

"Me too!"

"Me too!"

"I want one too, nya!"

Not just me, but Kent, Cocoa—everyone wanted the 'Cut Fruit Soda.'

"O-Oh, thank you!"

The vendor, surprised by our eagerness, sold us three each. Any more, and there wouldn't be enough stock.

"We'll be back, so please have more ready!"

"Sure, I'll be waiting."

We bought the 'Cut Fruit Soda' and set off for the island in a small boat from Eden. Incidentally, there were no particularly notable materials for sale.

...I was sure there would be something.

The place we reached by boat from Eden was the dungeon 'Flodia's Tombstone.'

"...I was on guard because it's a dungeon, but it's just an island...?"

The island was about the size of a school playground, and there were no monsters in sight. Perhaps there was a path to proceed or it might be underground. As I thought this, the angel flapped her wings and flew to the center of the island.

"Hey, Angel!?"

"Don't act on your own!"

We hurriedly chased after the angel and found a tombstone. At the center of the tombstone was a statue of the Goddess Flodia, a large figure nearly three meters tall. It looked neglected, with grass overgrowing around it.

...This state is pitiful for the Goddess Flodia.

"Oh, we've finally made it here!"

Her eyes had a slightly deranged look, but she must have been happy to fulfill the Goddess Flodia's mission. Tithia, seeing the angel, seemed relieved.

"Can we now borrow the power of the Goddess Flodia, nya?"

"We've leveled up on the way, so we can probably defeat 'Luluyie' too!"

Tarte and Kent were excited, but I had a bad feeling.

...Is it because the dungeon's name is ominous?

If this were a sacred place where Flodia rests, I might have felt more positive. The atmosphere here is heavy, and the surroundings are dark, which is another reason for my unease.

As I was thinking, Tithia stepped forward.

"This is where Lady Flodia... Angel, what do we do next?"

"It's very simple."

The angel smiled at Tithia's question and looked at me.

"Lady Flodia is sealed here. The seal can be broken by a 'Maiden' offering herself as a sacrifice. Sharon, you have been given a very honorable role."

"---!?"

Then, a quest window appeared before me.

Unique Job: 'Maiden'

Offer yourself to the Goddess Flodia and break the seal.

As a 'Maiden,' you will be revered for all eternity.

Everyone was stunned by the angel's cruel words.

Sacrifice—she was asking me to die.

"What do you mean, nya!? Sacrifice means sacrificing one's life, nya! I can't believe an angel of the Goddess Flodia would say such a thing, nya!"

Tarte demanded more details, thinking there might be a misunderstanding. The others agreed, shouting, "No way! What's the reason!?"

I was about to refuse—when the angel suddenly held a spear in her hand. It resembled a naginata, with a blade that gradated from white to blue. It was mystical but now only filled me with fear.

"Angel!? Why...!"

Tithia covered her mouth and cried out. She took a step back, sensing the angel's true nature.

...This is pretty bad, isn't it?

But the angel only chuckled at Tithia's question.

"It seems we can't communicate... Please, become the sacrifice to free Lady Flodia."

With that, the angel kicked off the ground and swung her spear. I immediately used 'Guardian of the Goddess' to deflect the spear and jump back. Kent shouted, "Taunt!" and ran forward to take her place.

—If I let my guard down, I'll be killed in an instant!

I never expected betrayal from someone I thought was an ally.

"Damn, her attacks are heavy...!"

"Kent! I'll join you in the front! 'Holy Shield'!"

"Blitz! Thanks!"

How powerful is the angel's attack? I don't think Kent and Blitz would be killed in one hit, but I don't know what kind of attack she'll use. It's too unpredictable.

A quest where failure isn't allowed is too difficult!

"Apostle of the Goddess! Mana Ratio—'High Heel'!"

As I cast support spells, the angel's spear slashed Kent's shoulder. Her attacks were light as a feather, but each one was heavier than a dragon's.

"Stop resisting and become the sacrifice quickly..."

"Do you think the Goddess will be happy with this!?"

Kent shouted back at the angel, but she looked puzzled and said, "Isn't it obvious?"

"The world needs Lady Flodia. If one life, Sharon's, can bring her forth, shouldn't we be happy?"

The angel sighed, as if we didn't understand.

"Wh-What...?"

"That's not true!!"

As Kent was stunned, Tithia's anguished cry echoed from behind. Her eyes were filled with the pain of the difference between her ideals and reality.

"I've been the 'Pope' to bring peace to this world! It's never built on someone's sacrifice. I won't recognize such a thing as peace...!"

"Tithia..."

"...Are you denying Lady Flodia? A mere 'Pope' like you?"

Anger flashed in the angel's eyes, and she swung her spear, causing the grass to sway. The heavy pressure that followed was overwhelming!

"Aaaaah!"

"Lady Tithia!!"

Tithia was sent flying backward, and Reo barely caught her. But even that wasn't enough to stop the angel's attack, and they were both blown back.

"Area Heal, Guardian of the Goddess! Angel, stop it already!"

"Why? You can become the 'Maiden.' Isn't that an honor? Say you want to become the 'Maiden'—"

"I will become the 'Maiden'!"

—!?

I gasped as a voice came from the right. We were the only ones on this island, so who could it be? We had been so focused on the battle with the angel that we hadn't noticed anyone else.

There stood Emilia and the 'Cathedral Knights,' and another young man with blond hair in a priest's robe.

...I thought they might have been wiped out in the 'Dormant Volcano,' but they were alive. The blond priest must be Owen Harbus, Rodney's son.

The angel, unfazed by Emilia's sudden appearance, tilted her head.

"You will be the 'Maiden'...?"

"Yes. The one suitable to be the 'Maiden' is not Lady Charlotte, but me!"

Whaaat!?

I was at a loss for words at Emilia's confident declaration. Kent and the others looked equally confused, and the battle came to a halt.