Draped in a beautiful dress adorned with delicate lace, Emily was meant to bask in the accolades of her achievements on that day, standing on a well-prepared stage.
The reason why her Healing Magic and Purification Magic had suddenly become inaccessible remained a mystery to her. Yet, she continued to pray every day up until now, convincing herself that the Holy Sword in Elliott’s hand would prove her worth.
—Once today’s Spectator Subjugation is over… the Undead Beasts will be gone, and then, although it will be troublesome and difficult, all I have to do is strive to be a noblewoman.
The world of nobility, where one could indulge in luxury yet was bound by etiquette and traditions, felt stifling. It was disheartening not to receive praise as easily as she had on the battlefield. However, if the Undead Beasts were truly to vanish, then that was simply how it had to be. Emily thought this way.
When she stood beside Elliott in the VIP Seating at the venue for the Spectator Subjugation, her heart soared at the thunderous cheers from the nobles and the common folk alike. She felt her heart race at the sight of Elliott defeating the last Undead Beast with the Holy Sword. She was the companion of that glorious hero.
But such a thrilling moment was abruptly interrupted by an unimaginable presence that appeared with a deafening roar.
—W-What is this…?
Just moments ago, the crowd had been roaring with excitement, but now they fell silent. The King in the VIP Seating, the nobles filling the tier below, and even the wealthy patrons at the edge of her vision were all rendered speechless, staring in shock at the unknown entity before them. Their minds struggled to catch up with the unfolding situation.
“…Is this part of the subjugation entertainment?”
Someone finally managed to voice their thoughts from a distance. The silence felt interminable, but in reality, it was hard to tell how long it lasted.
—So, this is some kind of…
Perhaps it was a performance for the Spectator Subjugation, a grand spectacle. Before she could fully form that thought, something resembling a multitude of tentacles suddenly descended toward the VIP Seating where Emily and the others were.
“Eek… W-What is this? No!”
The wall at the edge of the VIP Seating, which was supposed to be protected by a Barrier, was shattered. Emily, in a panic, collapsed to the ground.
She could see a Mage rushing over in a flurry, hastily re-establishing the Barrier through the dust and debris.
“Your Majesty…!!”
The Prime Minister’s voice, filled with urgency, reached her ears. The King stood closer to the side that had been destroyed, and as Emily managed to turn her head, she caught sight of the King crouched down, cradling his injured side.
“All the Clergy are engaged in the subjugation… and there’s no one here at the moment…”
A flustered voice from a court attendant behind the Prime Minister stumbled over the words.
“D-Don’t worry, it’s just a scratch.”
“But Your Majesty, if you bear any scars…!”
The weak voices of the King and the Prime Minister trembled with concern.
“Y-Yes, that’s right, the Holy Maiden…! The Holy Maiden is here! Saint Emily, please heal His Majesty…!”
The Prime Minister raised his voice, pleadingly looking towards Emily.
“W-What…?”
Called upon, Emily instinctively lifted her gaze, but as she grasped the situation, a chilling wave of dread washed over her.
—No, please… I can’t use Healing Magic right now…
She averted her eyes, bowing her head, but she could feel the weight of countless gazes upon her. After a heavy silence, she heard someone whispering from afar, their voice laced with suspicion.
“…What’s wrong with the Holy Maiden…?”
“I don’t know, I heard she’s usually the first to act in situations like this.”
“…It seems His Majesty has been injured… Why isn’t she moving…?”
A shiver of dread coursed through her. The terrifying realization that she was utterly powerless began to close in on Emily.
—Is it because I thought about such things…?
Her knees and shoulders trembled slightly. She recalled a time when she had imagined, on the way back from subjugating a stray Undead Beast, how she would heal the King if he were ever injured, purifying his wounds, and how everyone would praise and thank her for it.
That foolish fantasy from back then now tormented her.
“Saint Emily is not particularly skilled in Healing Magic, you know.”
A calm male voice suddenly resonated through the chaos.
“Until now, she has relied on the Clergy for healing. Isn’t that right?”
“…W-What? Why are you saying this now?!”
The words slipped out before she could stop herself, and she realized it might have been a grave mistake as she saw the astonished expressions on the faces of the King, the Prime Minister, and the nobles.
As her gaze darted around in panic, she caught sight of Count Agreas standing calmly behind the King, a serene smile on his face despite the dire situation. Behind him, Marianne stood with an expression so cold it felt almost chilling.
Count Agreas stepped forward, giving instructions to a Mage nearby.
“It seems that the Undead Beast made an unexpected move, causing one of the Barriers to break. We’ve reinforced the Barrier, so please rest assured. …Your Majesty, I sincerely apologize. It appears that due to unforeseen circumstances, a fragment grazed you. Thankfully, the injury seems to be minor.”
Count Agreas spoke nonchalantly, as if it were nothing serious, while the Prime Minister cast a stern look in his direction.
“Count Agreas… Was that also part of the plan…?”
“Yes, of course. Please don’t worry; we have Holy Knights present as well.”
Count Agreas smiled gently, then turned his gaze toward the Arena.
Beyond the Barrier, an unfathomable giant creature writhed, and at the forefront stood Elliott, wielding the Holy Sword.
—That’s right… Elliott is here. My worth isn’t defined by magic.
With a shaky resolve, Emily stood up unsteadily, her eyes fixed on him as if seeking salvation.