Chapter 128: |
Celia was embracing the divine beast and talking about how to use divine power. Regarding the issue of using divine power, the divine priest clicked his tongue as if there was little advice he could give.
― Why do you want to have healing powers so much? In any case, there are lots of people all around you. Humans endowed with divine power are also abundant, hence, it is acceptable to be treated by such people.
“No, but… It’s better for me to be helpful than not be able to do anything. It’s not like I can spew lightning like you.”
―Hmmm.
The Divine Beast looked at Celia as if pondering for a moment.
― You have a lot of divine power within you. The emperor will not be an issue as long as you use your power wisely. The question is how to put it to use… I’ve never seen the Goddess of Destruction restore or cure anything; she only grants her strength.
‘Because she is the goddess of chaos.’
It was also rare to see the goddess of destruction healing or curing someone. Celia listened intently, and then she cocked her head to the side as though something wasn’t quite right.
“Now she is revered as the goddess of harmony. It was long before you were born from an egg. But how do you know?”
“Hoo. Now that you know the Goddess of Harmony?”
― Even now, not really. The Goddess of Harmony has to be much stricter, so she seldom exerts herself. Why don’t you rather pay attention to your healing power and train it with divine power?
“Training?”
The Divine Beast swung his thick front paws and said.
― You can exert great power by concentrating your divine power on your fists or feet and swinging them. It’s similar to how a swordsman uses mana.
“You mean to learn martial arts or swords?”
It seemed possible, but she wondered whether Leonis or the others would allow Celia to fight. Celia thought it would be better for her to learn divine magic.
― Well. Leonis wouldn’t let you be attacked. The same goes for the other guys. It is a waste of time practising in martial arts.
Nonetheless, Celia, who had previously been under rigorous protection, has been under even tighter guard since the Divine Beast hatched.
It was made even more difficult by the presence of followers of the Church of Heaven in the Duchy of Cardian.
The two high priests also hurriedly brought the relics of the hero when the divine beast ordered them.
“Even if I can’t do much to help in the battle, I wish I could at least treat the injured.”
― Hmm. Do you not think it is important that you are now playing the role of the Duchess? Will Leonis also find this to be of great assistance?
It was a short battle, but if it had escalated into a protracted war, it would have been essential to have strong support from the back
“That’s what I usually do.”
― That’s the most important thing. Leonis can battle with peace of mind since you support the duchy.
Leonis said that she had fought well without him in the past, but she didn’t deny it. Leonis’ workload must have lessened even a little.
They defeated Michael’s army and won, but Celia and the others had yet to return to Asylus.
Leonis, who suspected something was wrong, decided it would be safer to stay there a bit longer.
Celia also decided to respect Leonis’ judgement.
So, only Leonis entered the capital, Lagann, with the nobles of the capital, and only the divine beast used his wings to find Celia.
‘I feel something strange.’
The mansion used as a residence in this city was the fortress of the lord who ruled the city. He was also one of Leonis’ vassals and one of those whom Leonis trusted.
In order to ensure an impregnable defence, the castle had both double and triple barriers. There were also two tiers of walls, which were guarded by soldiers.
‘Did they say there were times when monsters showed up unexpectedly in strange places?’
Leonis purposefully sent Celia here for this reason. It was a location with a magical barrier akin to the duchy in Asylus.
Creak!
When it heard the strange weeping sound, the divine beast that was in Celia’s arms quickly turned its head to look at it. Celia was taken aback when he escaped her grasp and spread its wings, which caused her to gasp in surprise.
Puck! Puck Puck!
It sounded like an apple being thrown against a concrete wall or like a leather bag being torn open. As soon as the door swung open, all of Celia’s escort knights rushed in.
“Madam! Stay away!”
Celia sprang out of bed and raced after the knights who were escorting her. Celia was being pursued by Popo, the divine beast, who circled her from above.
She was running through a hallway, and she could see the shimmering of the magic shield that surrounded the castle through the window of that hallway. Numerous bird-shaped monsters were bumping their bodies on the surface.
Puck! Puck puck!
There was a sound that sounded like something was about to explode. There was no warning from the sentry about the hordes of monsters crossing the borders of the Duchy of Cardian, so she wondered if they had moved through some kind of teleportation magic circle or gate.
‘Does Michael have a specific way of transporting a massive army?’
He was the one who sponsored the research that everyone had banned. Even if he uncovered a method that ordinary wizards do not know, it was not strange.
Celia was being led underground by the escort knights. Following the destruction of the magical shield protecting the castle, it was decided that it would be best to hide in a room that did not have any windows.
― The castle’s defences have been breached!
Celia felt the same way. As soon as the magic circle that had been erected in the basement of this castle was broken, she was able to sense an overwhelming number of monsters flooding in.
‘The people……’
She wasn’t sure if the situation was better for soldiers who could fight or for ordinary citizens who could turn their backs and flee.
Celia turned pale at the thought that the people of the Cardian family, her people, were going to die.
What was it like in the original storyline? Michael had dispatched monsters to torment Leonis and the citizens of the Duchy of Cardian on multiple occasions.
Celia focused her attention on all that was around her. She could sense things with a different energy from those that were around her. And…
‘In that direction!’
A strange presence with an eerie air could be sensed not too far from the castle. She would have thought she was just a being with an ominous aura if she had been a priestess.
She could know, though, because she was Celia.
He was both a creature of destruction and a servant of the goddess of destruction.
‘Why is that……’
If dozens or hundreds of monsters appeared and a being with a strange energy was by your side, it would only mean one thing.
Since the monsters attacking this place were close to being reborn by humans, there must have been someone who could control them.
“Po-Popo!”
When Celia called, the divine beast flew to her side. The divine beast had a face that was completely oblivious to their existence.
― That’s true, but leaving your side…
‘Am I the only one who knows?’
“I feel something outside the castle. It’s a few hundred metres out there. It looks like the wizard who controls this monster…”
– Wizard?
The escort knights appeared to be curious about what a person who controls monsters had to say as well. Celia thought that the divine beast had wings, so it would reach them soon.
“If you are, you can go soon. You’ll find it easier than anyone else.”
― That’s true, but getting out of your side……
“I will be safe.”
Even though there are those who watch over me, can I consider where I’m going to be a completely safe place? There was no one else in the castle who was in any more danger than she was. However, the Divine Beast had a face that said he was unwilling.
“Please.”
She could still hear people screaming and shouting. She didn’t remember all the workers in the castle, but she was impatient because people were being attacked.
The divine beast also made a determined expression, as if he had read the emotion from Celia’s face.
― I got it. Instead, stay still in a safe place!
“Yes!”
As soon as her word fell, the divine beast spread his wings and flew out the window. The escorting knights hurriedly took Celia to the underground shelter.
Except for one heavy metal door, it was a solid room with no leaks. It looked like a safe in the basement, except for the shelves that contained some groceries, as if it were used by nobles to hide themselves.
Celia looked around and went inside.
Soon, the soldiers outside joined forces to close the door. The knights locked the door from the inside and lined up with their swords drawn as if they were wary of the only doorway.
Thud!
The iron door rang loudly as if something heavy had hit it. Celia’s shoulders, who were protected by Miline from behind the knights, jumped up.
“It’s okay. At this stage, this door doesn’t open.”
Miline comforted Celia by putting her arm around her shoulder and whispering. Celia nodded her head slowly. However, what they saw earlier was just a trailer for what’s to come.
Thud! Thump Thump!
The heavy iron door started violently shaking, as if something huge was constantly banging its head against it. As a result, the thick iron plate could be seen to be bent little by little.
It was the same as when the monsters attacked the shield around the castle to protect it.
“Shit……”
Some of the knights seemed to be nervous, and she heard something like this. Celia thought of Leonis as the sound of the door made her heart beat faster.
If she were going to die here, she wanted to see his face for the last time.
