I Became a Childhood Friend With the Villainous Saintess - Chapter 189



189 – The Altar of Consciousness (2)

[Ellis]

My body wouldn’t move.

Is my time now up?

If death is like this, it’s a little scary.

No. Fortunately, it seemed I wasn’t dead yet.

I couldn’t move a single fingertip or a single lip – but not all sensation was gone.

A hand sweeping the bangs from the middle of the forehead.

I could tell right away, it was Karzan.

A hand that tickles with almost no strength.

I felt like he was looking at me like a delicate piece of work of art.

Only then was I able to relax.

My body is being moved somewhere, and I don’t know where this is.

But I can feel safe if he’s by my side.

“Your Majesty must also step outside the altar while the ceremony is in progress.”

“Are you telling me to leave Ellis with you?”

“You don’t have to go far. What I would like to ask of you, Your Majesty, is to prevent anyone from opening that stone gate.”

The hand that was caressing my cheek stopped for a moment.

One of the voices was so familiar, and the other one seemed familiar.

A tone that seems calm, yet somewhat uncomfortable.

It was clearly said that he was the saint of order.

‘I don’t like that guy.’

It was frustrating not being able to move my body.

I want to say something, but I can’t.

I sensed uneasiness in Karzan’s voice.

Why are you going back to the old days? I told you not to act like a sharp cat.

You become a much more attractive person when you are relaxed.

“I’m not sure. I think they brought the Knights of Order as well.”

“They are the last card. If the Paladins come out, no one will be able to use the sword on this altar, so Your Majesty will not be able to show off my skills. Oh, you kept this a secret?”

“I’m not really surprised. Where can there be secrets among the believers of Order? It’s my fault for not being able to properly uncover them.”

Karzan held my hand tightly.

I couldn’t hold it together because my body didn’t have enough strength, but I definitely felt the warmth.

“Anyway, since it’s something that needs to be done, I’ll take care of it. Then… … I’ll make sure to see you in better shape when we meet again, Ellis.”

After Karzan left, I had to stay still for quite some time.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t that difficult of an experience.

If I had to pick one thing, it would be that the floor I was lying on felt hard?

It was very windy, but it wasn’t that cold thanks to the thick blanket that covered us.

So maybe I was too relaxed.

The ceremony began with the saint’s words.

“Well then, I guess I should start too.”

A voice that I could hear for a moment seemed to be reciting a prayer.

As the blanket was removed, strange things began to happen to my body.

It felt like blood was boiling from the tips of my toes.

It felt like something was flowing inside my body, along with an unbearable heat.

It starts from the feet, moves to the thighs, and then to the waist. It gradually rises, warming the head, and then moves back to the toes.

It wasn’t so bad at first.

It might be a bit of a strange expression, but maybe you could call it a pleasant pain?

A burning hot feeling.

Although it was clearly a sensation that should be called pain, it was clearly different from discomfort.

It was as if all the bad things inside my body were burned away in an instant.

I was sweating a lot.

When the sweet breath escaped me without me knowing, I suddenly realized.

The illness that was tormenting me is disappearing.

Maybe. Just maybe. My body might really get better.

My illness, which countless doctors and the most high-ranking figures in the pantheon were unable to cure, may really be cured.

Then… …is it okay for me to express my feelings to that person?

‘Huh? Who was that person? What was he trying to express?’

I couldn’t remember.

No. It wasn’t a problem of not being able to remember it well or forgetting it for a moment.

It was as if I had never had any such memory from the beginning, and I couldn’t even figure it out.

It was as if a part of my mind had completely disappeared.

‘No. Let’s think about it calmly from the beginning.’

Where did you first meet him? A place full of the scent of flowers.

Okay, so far so good.

So where is it? I don’t quite remember.

Then let me think of a place I can go. I am my grandfather’s daughter.

What did your grandfather do? I don’t know. I can’t even remember his face.

What have I been doing all this time? So I… … .

‘What was I thinking?’

My mind was bleached white.

What I knew. The things I had cherished for so long were disappearing from my heart one by one.

The country’s existence was being erased from the world.

I shed tears over a subject I didn’t even know I had lost.

An unknown sense of loss screamed fiercely within my chest.

“Ah, eugh… … ugh. Sob.”

“Oh, you’re not fully conscious yet. Please stay asleep for a little longer.”

Snap. The sound of fingers snapping.

Soon, I became unable to even realize what I was crying about.

An uninvited guest came to my empty home.

A world I see for the first time. A language I hear for the first time. A heart and memories I don’t know.

Only then did I realize – what I had lost today was everything to me.

I squeezed out my last bit of soul and came up with just one name.

‘Save me, Karzan. Don’t kill me.’

* * *

The unconscious crown prince was roughly laid down in a corner.

I took away his weapon just in case, but I didn’t tie him up or anything.

Because restraining the Sword Master wasn’t something that could be done by roughly wrapping a rope around him.

Even if we brought a special restraint device, it was useless because there was no one to keep watch.

I sighed after checking the crown prince’s breathing one last time.

Fortunately, the hidden one seemed to be resting soundly.

‘I think I had an accident. I’m going to get in trouble with Sirien.’

When I came to my senses, I realized it was a bit excessive.

When I laid him down, I noticed that the Crown Prince looked just like a corpse.

It doesn’t seem like it’ll be life-threatening… … But shouldn’t I have kicked him at the end?

Seeing the back of his head swelling up, I began to feel a little regretful.

The divinity of Hybras has no talent for healing. I wonder if he can fix that.

“Ellie… … I, must… … ”

“Tsk. Seeing you even snoring in your sleep, I guess I don’t have to worry.”

Yeah, it’s over.

The Crown Prince had made an irreversible choice, and Sirien and I could not stop once we had taken action.

When I put my hand on the firmly closed stone gate and pushed it open, the heavy stone was easily pushed aside.

Was it called immutable fate?

A fixed fate that can never be changed.

The ceremony is currently in progress.

I was really curious to see what would happen if I opened this door.

Waiting in the open space were the Knights of Order.

“You guys are funny. The crown prince was beaten to the point of death outside, and those knights just watched from inside?”

“You cannot pass in front of here.”

“Really? It looks to me like I can get through.”

As expected, Achilles is nowhere to be seen.

This means that the ceremony is still in progress.

The number of the Knights Templar appears to be twenty… and four at first glance.

If you include the guys hiding behind the pillars, it would be better to estimate up to thirty.

Considering the intention of hiding, he’s probably carrying something like a bow or crossbow.

We must be careful not to give blind spots.

The flow of divinity flowing through the altar changed.

It feels like the chains that were somewhat loose are being tightened.

The Knights of Order drew their swords.

“I hope you make a wise decision. This place is like a sanctuary to Temes.”

“Oh my, is that so? I didn’t know that.”

Each of the Pantheon’s religious orders has its own unique battles.

Faith is the massive firepower of fanatic suicide bombers.

Compassion is a close combat of the infinitely regenerating immortal legions.

And order had ‘laws’ that forcibly limited its power.

“By the laws of Temes, no use of any power other than divine is permitted here.”

As I approached the knights, the pitch-black color scattered from my sword and disappeared.

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Since they are not free from the law, they will not be able to strengthen their bodies with magic.

But here, the divinity of Temes was abundant.

“According to the law of Temes, no believer can use the ‘power’.”

As expected, the law of s*x does not have any restrictions.

Spelling methods that require advanced calculations don’t suit me well.

In reality, all I had left was a strong body and a sword.

“Just two? Don’t you have more? It would be better to squeeze out something.”

“Do not be proud. For the last time, I will tell you that this is Temes’ sanctuary. The Swordmaster’s name is no threat to us. If you lay down your weapons and surrender, I promise to treat you with gentlemanly respect.”

When I say let’s see, you’re so arrogant?

It was so ridiculous that I couldn’t help but laugh.

“No. You don’t have to be gentlemanly. I won’t be.”

“Kill him. He is an enemy who has been given a kill warrant.”