Chapter 157: To Drag A Saint Down To Hell (03)

-This chapter is writt using Angelica's POV-

A dimly lit, dark place.

Ev seeing a few meters ahead was difficult.

The earthquake from before caused us to separate, and the ceiling above us collapsed, effectively creating two groups separated by a wall.

Anna: "Give me a second, I'll destroy the rocks-"

Elizabeth: "Don't! According to the map, we are under the walls and the river. You could make things worse."

Since she was about to hit Gabriella, Anna had decided to move away and "help" Agatha and Lana.

Due to that, the three of them got stuck on the other side of the wall.

Anna: "Can't you use your magic to make a barrier and get out of there?"

Elizabeth: "I've be trying to cast, but all my barriers are down. I don't know what is happing."

Cassandra: "Oh... like what happed with the puppy back th."

Anna: "This is bad... should we call Miw back?"

While we could still communicate, it was necessary for Anna to shout for us to hear her, and vice versa.

Elizabeth: "Hm... I'd rather not interrupt his date... I still have the special role so... Let's do it like this. You should be able to leave the mine in about one hour with those two, right? After that, I'll change the exit to somewhere safe so that we can exit too."

While it would be preferable to have him solve this situation, Elizabeth was just as capable, ev more so considering she currtly had the [Special Role] that gives her almost the same rights he has.

However, she's quite prideful.

She has a mix of respect for Miw and a sse of professionalism that paired with her pride makes it hard for her to ask for help.

Appartly, ev wh facing death, she chose to fight rather than back down and fail at the task she was giv.

So, in a situation like this one, her answer was obvious.

Elizabeth: "I don't want to change the design of this place since it might cause more slides, thankfully, there is a good space we could use not far from here. Let's head there and wait until the others are out."

Ev though she couldn't use her Gift, she remained completely unfazed.

Elizabeth: "Angelica, can you use your magic to light our way?"

Angelica: "Yes..."

I don't know many spells. I never had a chance to learn anything while I was alive.

At most, I picked up a simple one that was oft used by monks and priests wh I was being hunted.

But if all that was needed was to evoke a simple light ball, th ev I could do it.

Elizabeth: "Cassandra, you can use your magic to provide cover from the backline, no? Th, I'll help Angelica with the frontline. As for you... stay behind me."

She quickly decided on our positions.

While Cassandra is plty capable as a frontline fighter too, this formation allowed her to keep an eye on Gabriella.

And ev though Elizabeth and Cassandra have a... complex relationship... they seem to both trust and respect each other. Or at least their strgth and loyalty to Miw and the Kingdom at large.

The chances of betrayal, or one hurting the other were xistt.

With Gabriella at bay, Elizabeth was able to make use of the status she increased last time, so ev though she didn't have her magic and didn't know how to fight properly, she still managed to facilitate things for me and Cassandra.

Thanks to her, we were able to move fast.

Evtually, we ded up reaching crossroads.

Miw had put a lot of effort into making this a labyrinth, but that ded up causing a problem for us.

We lacked someone with scouting abilities, and Cassandra's magic, while powerful, was quite loud.

As I headed ahead in the direction Elizabeth pointed me to, a monster jumped at her from our blindspot.

He managed to bite her arm before I could react.

It only took one hit from her to kill it, but it was too late, the damage had already be done.

Her left arm had a deep wound, and blood was spilling everywhere.

Angelica: "Sorry, it was my fault..."

I was too focused on what was right in front of me to notice its presce.

Worse yet, I couldn't ev heal her...

Elizabeth: "...Worry not, it was my mistake. I chose a bad time to confirm our path."

The wound looked so serious, and yet, she didn't scream or shriek. It took her only a momt to regain composure.

Cassandra: "...You two, move behind. I'll handle the front."

Gabriella: "What are you saying? It's better if they-"

Cassandra: "Shut it."

She didn't allow Gabriella to finish, but it was clear what she was about to say.

It was the first time I had se Cassandra angry.

They th came back to her, ev though she didn't need them as she still possessed two others by her side.

Cassandra: "If you cross my way, or theirs, I'll tear through all of your dirty holes with swords of your size. I'll show you more evilness and mercilessness than any Devil. I'll make you wish your fate had be sealed by one instead. Was that clear ough for you, blind one? Just try something funny behind my back, and we'll see who ds up laughing."

She touched Gabriella's lips with her fingers, and brought them down, forcibly taking away her smile, and showing hers instead.

The Accursed Black Sword... She was more ominous than I could have ever imagined.

Still, wh she passed by my side, I felt a light tap on my shoulder.

Cassandra: "Do you not want to give her a few words too? It seems to me like you have more to say than I do."

Angelica: "...I don't know how to rationalize my feelings as well as you do... I just feel hurt and... angry..."

Cassandra: "Hah. Isn't that a good thing? I'm happy to see you being honest."

...I hadn't noticed myself.

But her words were so confidt... I felt like no matter how bad my feelings were, she would accept them.

It made me comfortable in saying how I truly felt, without ev considering anything else.

She is so annoying. Incredibly hateful... however, I couldn't help but admire her.

Angelica: "I... wanted to be like you. I vy you..."

Cassandra: "Huh. That just means you have good taste~"

She's a degerate. A woman capable of extreme evil, but also... extreme kindness.

All that she did was to protect us, and ev though I felt like this toward her, she didn't mind at all.

She really belongs by Miw's side...

As for Gabriella, after her exchange with Cassandra, she stayed quiet the whole time.

We evtually made our way to the surface using Elizabeth's plan and Cassandra's formation.

Once there, Gabriella rushed to her house.

Seeing as she wasn't a anymore, Elizabeth, Cassandra, and I headed to the home we shared with Mia inside the Kingdom and waited for Miw.

Elizabeth made sure to heal her arm and change uniforms before he arrived.

Miw: "Sadly, I do not have too much time due to my needy wives, but... do you think there's hope?"

His plan was quite simple.

Not for a momt did he give Gabriella's words any merit, so he constructed a scario to prove her wrong beyond reasonable doubt.

He wanted to show that ev a demon like Elizabeth could show kindness and act in good faith, while someone hailed as a hero could be full of sin and act in an evil manner.

Thus,. Elizabeth and Cassandra's unique traits and dynamics were used to provoke and challge Gabriella's ideas.

The earthquake was caused by Anna and Elizabeth, using their powers and the [Special Role] to guarantee that we would d up separated the way we did.

My only job was to be fridly, helpful, and honest. As long as I didn't show any of the bad traits associated with a monster, ev after being provoked, Gabriella was bound to be constantly exposed to the faults in her thoughts.

Agatha was also in the know, as well as...

Lana: "I hope you keep your word."

Miw: "Sure, they said you did your job well, so I'll get you plty of fish."

Lana: "Hmph! It better be good."

Miw: "Right, only the best for my kitt~"

He employed Lana as a failsafe. She didn't actually go with Anna and Agatha back to the surface, instead, she hid inside Gabriella's shadow.

Their abilities are a counter to each other as her light, if not well utilized, would only strgth her shadows.

Or at least that's what he told her.

Of course, her presce wasn't so necessary. To start with, Elizabeth had not lost her powers.

We just used the fact that this had occurred once and that the Kingdom is a mysterious place, to come up with a not-so-unlikely scario that made her vulnerable.

He wanted to see if Lana was going to side with Gabriella in such a situation, but her actions showed she could be trusted a little.

Thus, this was the Kingdom's first official shadow operation.

Cassandra: "I don't think you should keep your hopes high."

Elizabeth: "Hm... I think it was a worthy attempt, so it might have an effect...."

Miw: "I see... and what about my angel?"

Whether a success or not... it was too early to say but...

Angelica: "I want to believe that this place, your Kingdom, and my home... can turn ev the worst into good... so... I hope."

Those were my true feelings.

And these were the only people to have ever allowed me to express them.

The first ones I could talk with.

And so, although we had deceived her... I was very happy and hopeful.