Chapter 9

---

A tsunami that seemed to swallow the prairie engulfed the holy maiden.

The flow of water that swept everything away did not even give the holy maiden a chance to surface.

"...So it was just talk after all."

I couldn't help but sigh.

--- I, Guiltya Harkley, hate the holy maidens.

I might even say I hate them more than the demons.

Especially the former Grand Holy Maiden, Rose Snow. She is the most hated being in this world to me.

I can vividly recall her.

The eerie workings of that woman in a mask—

---

The war between the human and demon races has lasted for several centuries.

On the battlefield, someone is injured and someone dies every day.

Soldiers fight in fear, knowing that it could be their turn at any moment.

"Please, Holy Maiden, guide us with the power of the gods..."

"Si. May the Lord guide you."

The ones who support the harsh battlefield are the 'Holy Maidens.'

Unlike the mages who extract mana energy from the distorted ley lines underground and materialize images through magical circuits, only the holy maidens can heal diseases and injuries with their divine power. Thanks to these holy maidens, the wounded can quickly return to the front lines and face the demon attacks.

"H-Holy Maiden, please help..."

"Non. Combat inability confirmed. I judge that our prayers are unnecessary."

"Huh?"

But the holy maidens were cruel.

They only treated those who were necessary on the battlefield.

If they judged that a wounded person would be a burden, they would interrupt the treatment.

They would even mercilessly abandon those who could be saved with immediate treatment.

Cruel, cold, and heartless women.

I have been in their care before, but my impression of them was the worst.

Especially the Grand Holy Maiden, Rose Snow.

With her outstanding abilities, she saved thousands of comrades and abandoned just as many.

Among them were people I knew.

In the end, she was just following the church's orders, choosing who to heal.

(What kind of holy maiden...! She's just a puppet!)

I've heard that the holy maidens are children discovered and raised by the temples for their talents.

But no one knows their origins, and since they always wear masks, no one has ever seen their faces. The only exception is the Grand Holy Maiden, but that is probably a strategy by the church to give hope to the human race.

Ah, right.

What I dislike the most is not the holy maidens but the church.

I am so angry at the church for using women to create these holy maidens!

That's why I can't stand the one who used to represent the church—.

---

I open my eyes, recalling these pointless things.

The holy maiden is still being swept away by the tsunami.

"Lord Guiltya cannot even touch me with a finger."

...You had quite the big mouth for someone with this level of power.

To begin with, the holy maidens are not even mages. It was unreasonable to expect them to defeat me.

I should have realized this before the fight... What was I expecting?

"It was foolish of me to waste my time on someone like you. Farewell, Holy Maiden."

I used magic quite seriously, but I had no intention of hurting her.

The holy maidens always have a defensive barrier called a 'defensive field.'

So, I expected my magic to be blocked to some extent, and once the barrier broke, I planned to forcibly teleport her and make her admit defeat.

Still, it's disappointing that she had this level of power despite challenging me to a 'duel.' It's time to end this. First, I need to sense the holy maiden's magic... Just as I thought that—

"Earth Rise!"

"What—?"

The earth of the prairie rose, and pillars of earth emerged from the tsunami.

Standing at the top of one of them, the holy maiden adjusted her balance and straightened her dress.

"Phew. It was a good decision to study the magic theory of my favorite... I didn't expect to nearly drown in a prairie."

"You—"

The holy maiden looked at me and smiled.

Not a single drop of water was on her clothes.

"Good afternoon, Lord Guiltya. You don't think this is the end, do you?"

"...Shut up!"

She showed an incredible composure, as if she hadn't been submerged in water just a moment ago.

Could she have been pretending to be defeated?

...It's possible. That wicked woman probably has a few tricks to make her opponents let their guard down.

Still, it's strange.

The divine magic used by the holy maidens is a higher form of magic.

It involves casting spells through rituals, capable of healing the human body and purifying evil, drawing mana energy from the movement of the stars.

However, I've heard that they can only use the spells they have inscribed in rituals.

In exchange for high power, they have low versatility, which is why only the chosen ones can use them.

--- But she used magic. In her holy maiden's body. What kind of mechanism is this!?

"Who are you?"

The words slipped out of my mouth.

The former Grand Holy Maiden elegantly brushed her hair and smiled.

"I am Rose Snow. I am your fan."

"---I see."

I understood everything. I got it.

This is the attitude of a wicked woman.

"You don't intend to answer seriously, do you?"

Then I will respond with all my might.

"O Messenger of Flame and Wind, guided by the stars, appear!"

As I chanted in the divine language, a magic circle unfolded, and particles of light danced in the air.

One, two, the air heated up with each count, and the ground melted with a sizzle. Rose's eyes widened in shock at the scorching magic.

"Wait, please. Is it already at this stage!?"

"What are you talking about?"

What is she saying?

"No, because that's a technology from two years later... Could you have already developed it by this time!?"

"I don't know what you're talking about... But the fact that you're surprised suggests you have some knowledge of magic."

Yes, until now, I was using the conventional second-generation magic.

But what I'm about to use is the next-generation magic, two steps ahead of that.

In other words, fourth-generation magic.

Conventional magic required the use of ley lines flowing through the earth.

However, the farther you were from the ley lines, the weaker the magic became.

So, I decided to take inspiration from divine magic.

I looked to the sky.

Just as ley lines flow through the earth, there are lines called 'heavenly veins' in the sky.

By extracting energy from these life lines of heaven and earth and fusing it with my magic power, I can use magic with about ten times the efficiency of conventional methods.

"You said it, Rose Snow. I can't be touched by you."

I fell for a cheap provocation.

A little fun is worth it.

I don't intend to kill her, but I won't forgive that boast.

"I'll touch you now."

The holy maiden's lips twitched.

I was certain of victory.

"Turn to ashes. Roar of the Flame Dragon King!"

A dazzling beam of flame engulfed Rose this time.