CH 34

The ward that began to unfold at 5:00 p.m. surrounded the entire royal capital, which had a population of several hundreds of thousands.

The hemispherical ward was translucent and emitted a faint glow.

Stardust from the collision with the miasma was raining down on the city.

“Do not step out of your houses.”

Such an edict had been issued throughout the capital, and even the crowded main streets were empty tonight.

“I can’t see the moon anymore. Is everything all right?”

The lady of a certain house said.

“Don’t worry. The saints will protect us. We just have to stay put.”

The man who was her husband looked out the window and said to himself.

The people were looking out the windows at the sky with anxious eyes.

Beyond the wards, there were scattered clusters of black spikes. Just looking at them sent chills down his spine. His instincts told him to fear the presence of the miasma.

The man shuddered and slowly closed the window.

A pale light was leaking from the wards.

()

At the same time, in the main church, Wanda and Archbishop Zekyutos were discussing in the next room of the chapel.

The time was eleven p.m.

It’s been six hours since the ward had been put up.

The saints were on the third lap of the magic circle movement.

“How are the saints doing?”

Zekyutos asked with a hint of concern for the girls.

“We’ve been able to keep the ward intact with the help of Ashley, Holly, and Hirune’s magic. Zekyutos-sama…… I think we should assume the worst.”

Wanda had a tired expression on her face.

“Maintaining the barrier would normally require more than fifteen people. Even though there’s a shortage of saints, putting more burden on those girls is…”

“I understand. They are the treasure of this world and the future. We can’t afford to lose them. If the ward is broken, I want you to take the saints and all the apprentices to Igzvani, where the Great Saint Sansara of the east is. We will fight the miasma until dawn.”

Zekyutos said resolutely.

“The capital will suffer catastrophic damage. But if the saints are alive, the miasma can be purified and people will live. Mephistopheles Church will be a shield for the people.”

Miasma is a nasty parasite that grows on people, objects, and animals.

Once it grows, it multiplies unceasingly.

“……”

“Get the white horse carriage ready. Wanda, take care of the girls.

“Yes, sir.”

Wanda bowed, and Zekyutos nodded, shaking his massive frame as he left the room.

He was originally an expert in demon and miasma hunting, but now he was a combat priest. His loud voice echoed from the hallway as he gathered his people. He went to prepare to fight the miasma with his sacred tools.

Wanda hurried back to the chapel.

In the chapel, a thousand candles were lit and scripture was being recited incessantly.

In the center of the magic circle, a thirteen-year-old saint was praying. Around her, eleven other saints closed their eyes in a circle. Hirune’s head was wobbling, but somehow she seemed to be doing her best to stay awake.

Wanda looked at the center again and exhaled.

‘…… I think we’d better change.”

It hadn’t been five minutes since the girl at the center had started praying. She had just become a saint, and the burden was too much for her.

“Take your turn. Everyone, move quietly to the next circle.”

At Wanda’s voice, the saints solemnly moved.

The warding magic circle puts a burden on the saint in the center.

And when changing, the effect weakens.

By now, the soldiers guarding the capital at the edge of the wards would be fighting the oozing miasma.

“What’s wrong? Take turns.”

“……”

The girl in the center doesn’t move.

“Is something wrong? I need you to Calm down and take a deep breath.”

As Wanda called out in concern, the girl collapsed in the circle. Her face completely pale.

Wanda, who immediately determined that she had magic deficiency, chanted a scripture.

“O Goddess Sophia and spirits of the wind–“

Stardust fluttered and glittered.

The holy magic of levitation made the girl float. She went limp. Wanda used her magic to move the fallen saint from the center to herself.

Her power as a saint had weakened, but even the current Wanda could levitate a child. 

Wanda held the saint carried by the stardust in both hands.

The girl’s forehead was covered in sweat.

“Wanda …… sama …… sorry ………… no  magic power  ……….”

“It’s okay, it’s okay.  You did your best. Where’s the maid that came with her? Take her to the nebula room!”

The maid who had been waiting in the corner of the chapel came running and carried the saint out of the room.

Wanda bit her lip and opened her mouth, wanting to take her place if only she could.

“With one person missing, we will continue the prayer.”

“–“

The saint, who was already in the center, nodded her head.

Wanda thought about the girls who had worked so hard to get to this point and wanted to tell them to quit and run away, but she couldn’t say that when she saw the eleven of them desperately continuing their prayers. Anyway, she’ll support them as much as she can and let them escape when they reach their limit. That’s what she told herself.

In the midst of all this – there was only one saint who was fighting sleepiness.

(It’s a tough role to play in the middle. …… I’ll bring her some food when this is over.)

Hirune thought about giving the chair that ruined people to the saint, and thought of the face of Leanne the furniture maker.

(Leanne-san also lives in this royal city. I’m sure she’s looking up at the sky and getting anxious. …… If our ward is gone, everyone’s daily life will be gone. …… Let’s try to stay awake… …)

Hirune exhaled heavily through her nose and continued to pray.

()

Time passes for the eleven saints.

The frequency of shifts got shorter and shorter with each passing hour.

Hirune was in the center for the longest time, thirty minutes, then Wanda got her replaced.

The clock struck three in the morning.

(Only an hour and a half until dawn. …… I’ve managed to stay awake, but. ……)

Hirune bit her lip in the prayer position. 

It was a strategy to get rid of drowsiness with pain.

The order came around quickly, and Holly, in front of Hirune, went into the center.

(Holly looks pretty sore too …… and so does everyone else ……)

Holly’s bangs are stuck to her forehead with sweat.

As she prayed, she opened her eyes and looked at the saints, their faces twisted in agony.

They were all on the verge of losing their magic power.

That was when it happened.

She heard the sound of someone falling behind her.

“Ashley?!”

Wanda’s voice echoed.

Perhaps startled by the voice, the chanting of the priests in the chapel ceased for a moment and then resumed immediately.

(Ashley, ……!)

Ashley, the first to start, fell.

She had a lot of magic power and was a proficient user of holy magic.

The fact that she was able to maintain the magic circle that should have been maintained by fifteen people with eleven people was largely due to the fact that she was able to adjust the magical power that was spread throughout the entire area. She was fulfilling the role of a balancer.

Then she collapsed.

The thread that had been tautly holding them was snapped.

“……!”

“I’m sorry ……, I can’t …… anymore.”

“I’m sorry ……, …….”

The saints who had run out of magic power fell down in a flurry.

(Everyone! Oh, the ward!)

The warding magic circle began to blink irregularly.

The stardust particles that had been glittering and dancing without interruption disappeared one by one.

“Cancel the warding prayer!　　Call it off!”

Wanda hurriedly took care of the fallen saints.

The only ones still conscious are Holly and Hirune.

“… sticking to… even if my magic is ……”

Holly in the center clenched her teeth as she prayed.

The stardust danced around her as if to cheer her on, but the light from the magic circle was rapidly fading.

“Holly! Stop!”

“Holly?”

Wanda shouted, and Hirune stood up.

It was obvious that she had no magic power, but Holly continued to exert her magic to somehow maintain the ward. It was a life-threatening use of holy magic.

“Holly, stop! Stop it!”

Wanda regretted her error in judgment in taking her eyes off Holly, who had a strong sense of responsibility and rushed out with a desperate look on her face.

At the same time, Hirune had also jumped out.

“Hirune! You–“

Wanda’s voice could be heard from the side, but Hirune concentrated and kneaded her magic power.

(I have to save Holly!)

“Hi…..Rune……I’m sorry……”

Holly collapsed.

Hirune quickly entered the center of the circle and used holy magic to heal Holly. Holly’s body was enveloped in joyful stardust.

She continued to channel her magic power into the ward magic circle.

(Holly worked hard to maintain the ward…… I will never erase it ……!)

A large amount of stardust erupted from Hirune’s body, making a shattering sound as it soared.