Chapter 69
Episode 22: Adaptation and Attack
Selen had grown accustomed to her prosthetic hand, and it no longer interfered with her daily life.
「With this much recovery, I can return to support activities.」
「About that… Since the Demon Generals are starting to appear, I think we should head straight for the capital. While we’ll destroy the kingdom’s military outposts along the way, providing support afterward would just reveal our location.」
Selen, initially speaking about resuming support activities, paused to consider my concern that the Demon Generals might come after us. After some thought, she replied:
「You’re right. Attacking the outposts would definitely reveal our location, and supporting others afterward would guarantee a fight with the Demon Generals… You’re right, Celestia. We should head straight for the capital.」
「Thank you. Starting today, we’ll move toward the next town.」
After our discussion, we reported our plan to Mom, who also agreed.
「Providing support would leave an opening, which could be exploited. I think you’ve made the right choice. Should I continue providing information gathered by the 【Shadow】 as usual?」
\
「Yes, thank you as always!♪」
After finishing the report, we prepared to leave for the next town. Before returning to Sparon, I shared a familiar hug with Mom.
「Mom, I’m heading out. Love you!」
「Take care, love you too!」
At that moment, I never imagined it would be our last hug.
➖➖ Estigma’s Perspective ➖➖
Estigma had seized a man by the head, his grip unrelenting.
「Now, let me peer into your subconscious.」
「Ugh… Stop…」
Delving into the man’s mind, Estigma extracted the information he desired. The man, who had been captured by Estigma after being tracked down by the royal organization 【Darkness】, was a member of 【Shadow】.
「I see. Carmen is in Cherimo. You’re no longer of use.」
With those words, Estigma crushed the man’s head.
「We leave for Cherimo immediately. If the Saintess isn’t there, we’ll abduct Carmen. Understood?」
「As you command.」
Upon reaching Cherimo, they carefully monitored for traces of 【Shadow】. After locating a potential site, Estigma received the report and approached.
「Five presences. I don’t sense the Saintess among them. No problem if she’s not here. You all stay put—I’ll handle this myself.」
Estigma stormed the building. Brad, who was by Carmen’s side, moved to defend her but was already decapitated. Roy and Gai attempted to flee with Carmen, but Estigma crushed their heads as well. Yuri tried to resist but was impaled in the abdomen, collapsing on the spot.
Grabbing Carmen by the arm, Estigma sneered.
「The Saintess’s weakness. You’ll serve as bait to lure her out. Hahaha!」
「I won’t be a weakness. By luring her, you’re sealing your fate at Celestia’s hands.」
「The Saintess? Against all three Demon Generals? She doesn’t stand a chance.」
Estigma laughed triumphantly as he abducted Carmen and returned to the capital.
➖➖ Celestia’s Perspective ➖➖
When I returned to our base, I was devastated…
The mangled bodies of Brad, Roy, and Gai lay before me.
「Celestia-sama…」
Turning toward the voice, I saw Yuri, barely clinging to life. I immediately healed him with recovery magic, and he informed me that a Demon General had appeared and taken Mom away.
Mom… Please be safe…
–
Episode 23: Parting with Mom…
As I reeled from Yuri’s revelation that Mom had been abducted, Selen spoke to calm me down.
「Celestia, you need to calm down first. There’s only one reason they would take your mother—to lure you in and create a favorable situation to fight you three-on-one.」
「No matter what the situation, I’ll save Mom. I’m heading to the capital immediately!」
「No! Stop and think carefully for a moment. If you rush in now, both you and your mother will be lost.」
I was desperate to rush out, but Selen blocked me, trying her hardest to keep me calm. Yet, I couldn’t calm down at all. Unsure of Mom’s safety, I tried reaching out to her via telepathy—and the connection went through!
「Mom!」
「Celestia! I’ve been captured by the Demon General Estigma… Their goal is to lure you here for an advantageous fight. Listen to me carefully. I want you to prioritize defeating the Demon Generals over saving me.」
「I can’t do that! Nothing is more important to me than you, Mom…」
Though she urged me to focus on defeating the Demon Generals, I refused. Mom then apologized, admitting that she had dragged me into her personal vendetta because she lacked the power to avenge herself. But to me, none of that mattered. Since my reincarnation into this world, Mom had showered me with unconditional love. She was my everything, and I was willing to lay down my life to save her.
「Even if it’s a trap, I’ll come to save you. I’ll defeat the Demon Generals and rescue you—wait for me.」
Ending the telepathy, I prepared to head to the capital. Just then, Selen stepped in front of me.
「If you’re going, take me with you. I know I’ll only get in the way during the fight, but I can at least help your mother escape, can’t I? If you were to lose… there’d be no reason for me to live in this world. Whether you win or lose, I’ll go with you.」
「Alright. Once I’ve saved Mom, help her escape. I’ll make sure to defeat the Demon Generals.」
After exchanging words and embracing each other, we met my familiar and set off for the capital.
From the skies above the capital, the castle came into view. Descending into the courtyard, we were quickly surrounded by knights. I summoned familiars to engage them while Selen, Loha, and I advanced toward the room where I sensed Mom’s presence. Upon reaching a large door, I knew Mom was behind it. As we approached, more knights appeared, surrounding us.
「Celestia-sama, I’ll handle them. Please, go ahead. May fortune be with you.」
「I’m counting on you, Loha.」
Loha charged toward the knights, cutting down those blocking the path and clearing the way to the door. With the path open, Selen and I pushed through the door.
Inside the room, Mom and two Demon Generals awaited us.
「Celestia… You’ve come after all…」
「I’ll save you, no matter what. Wait for me!」
Seeing Mom gave me a sense of relief. I renewed my vow to defeat the Demon Generals and rescue her.
「So, you’re the Saintess? You’re awfully ordinary.」
「I defeated Demise. That’s not exactly ordinary.」
「This room is surrounded by a special barrier. Unless you defeat us, it won’t be lifted—there’s no escape.」
「Yeah. Hey, Fatima, we don’t need this woman anymore, right?」
「No, we don’t. Leave it to Calamity.」
「Alright, time to dispose of her.」
‘Slash—’
「Ah… Celest…tia…」
The Demon General called Calamity plunged her hand into Mom’s chest, tearing out her heart and crushing it before my eyes.
「Ah… Ahhh… AAAAHHHHH!」
Right before me, Mom’s life was taken. I couldn’t save the most important person in my life…
–
Episode 24: The Moment of Resolve
I screamed as Mom’s life was stolen before my eyes.
「Ah… Ahhh… AAAAHHHHH!」
My mind fractured, and I collapsed to my knees, wailing uncontrollably. Selen, desperate to bring me back to my senses, embraced me tightly and silenced my cries with a kiss before speaking to me through telepathy.
「Celestia, I know this pain is unbearable… but you must calm yourself. Fight for your mother’s final wish. The Celestia I love would never lose.」
「I… I will fulfill Mom’s wish… I will avenge her. Thank you, Selen. I love you so much.」
Selen’s words quelled the collapse of my mind. Though I couldn’t save Mom, there was still someone precious to me—Selen. No matter what, I would protect her, even if I ceased to be human in the process. Resolute, I channeled mana into my eyes and ascended into a demi-divine form. Fatima smiled, clearly amused.
「Ohoho♪ So that’s the form you used to defeat Demise. Now, entertain me!」
「…Selen, wait for me until I’ve finished this. 〚Angel Halo〛! This should keep you safe from being caught in the crossfire.」
「Celestia, promise me you’ll win and return to me!」
Fatima, enraged at being ignored, unleashed a shockwave at me. But I absorbed it entirely with 〚Gluttony〛 and closed the distance, delivering a powerful kick to her abdomen that sent her crashing into the wall. Calamity seized the opportunity to attack, but I countered with a strike to her face, sending her flying.
The two Demon Generals quickly regained their footing.
「That one hurt. No wonder Demise was defeated,」
Calamity remarked, wiping her cheek as if confirming my power. She then turned to Fatima, who clutched her abdomen with a pained expression.
「Unbelievable! This is impossible! Calamity, let’s attack her together!」
「Agreed, let’s go!」
They split up, Calamity attacking from the left and Fatima from the right. But I calmly issued instructions to my Parallel Thought Butler.
『I’ll handle Calamity with my left hand. Parallel Thought Butler, take care of Fatima with my right hand.』
『Understood.』
The simultaneous attack was ineffective against someone with dual thought circuits like me. Their relentless full-force assaults couldn’t touch me. I countered with a spinning kick, sending both Demon Generals crashing into the walls on either side.
Despite slamming into the walls, they stood once again, panting heavily but glaring at me. They launched magical projectiles my way, but I nullified them with my holy left hand, while my right, guided by Parallel Thought Butler, absorbed the attacks with 〚Gluttony〛.
At that moment—
‘Shunk!’
Estigma suddenly appeared behind me, piercing my chest with a hand blade. As he withdrew his hand, blood spattered everywhere.
「Aghh…」
Clutching my chest, I fell to my knees. Selen screamed at the sight of me.
「Celestia… Noooo!」
Estigma licked the blood from his hand, then burst into loud laughter.
「Hahaha~! Saintess, I waited for the perfect opening! Victory is ours!」
Realizing I couldn’t win as I was, I made a decision.
I looked at Selen, and with a smile, I began to speak my final words as a human.
Comment (0)