Chapter 101………………………………………
It was a strange thing to hear.
“…How can I just leave someone this sick behind?”
The man spoke as if it were nothing, even while biting his lips through the fever and the pounding headache.
“I’m fine. I’ll recover if I rest for a moment. So please, go ahead first.”
Terence’s face and neck were soaked in cold sweat.
Perhaps due to the high fever, his eyes were slightly unfocused, and the grip of his hand holding mine felt weak.
Even I, who couldn’t sense magic, could tell clearly: if left like this, he would die.
“You’re lying. You’re not fine at all.”
I muttered, voice trembling.
“I am not lying.”
“Stop putting on airs.”
“I’m not putting on airs.”
“Just be quiet. Talking only wears you out. Please, stay silent for a while.”
When I pleaded, he closed his mouth.
‘What should I do? What can I do?’
I racked my brain desperately. I had to save Terence no matter what.
‘Should I rush out of the mine and find a doctor?’
No. A normal doctor couldn’t help him.
‘Then… should I try believing in the goddess from now on?’
In my current state, I felt I could sincerely believe in any god or demon to save him.
“Oh, great and merciful goddess…”
I clasped my hands, intending to pray. Or rather, to recite a prayer.
But I couldn’t remember a single prayer.
Even if I tried to pray from the heart, I knew better than anyone that I did not believe in gods.
It had been two years since I was possessed here, yet I hadn’t learned a single prayer.
If a god appeared and demanded I grovel at their feet, I could have done it easily enough.
But true faith cannot suddenly spring from the heart.
Before fighting the Divine Beast, I had judged that the three of us might die and had prepared myself accordingly.
But seeing Terence actually dying before my eyes brought a fear beyond anything I had imagined.
I was terrified—terrified that he would leave me so helplessly, that he might die because I brought him into this mine.
In the end, it was all my fault. If I hadn’t greedily wanted the magic stone mine that was supposed to return to Liena, Terence…
“Idel.”
It was then. He called me calmly.
“Don’t think such thoughts. This is not your fault.”
How had he seen through what I was thinking?
“And… truly, you need not worry. Am I the type to die in a place like this?”
He tried to smile, tugging at the corners of his mouth, though it barely succeeded.
“I’ve endured this kind of pain many times. With a little rest, I’ll be fine.”
My chest tightened. Even in this state, he was trying to comfort me.
His attempt to reassure me was so pitiful it made my blood boil with anger. Who was worrying for whom here?
“You just told me to value my body, right?”
“Idel?”
“I’m returning that advice to you. The one who must value their body is you, not me.”
It was truly strange. I was angry, yet paradoxically, my eyes welled up.
“I will never leave you behind. I’ll take you out of here, mark my words.”
I turned my gaze to the Divine Beast. Right now, it was the only thing I could hope might help.
“Isn’t there really some way?”
“There isn’t.”
“Don’t give me such a lazy answer—think harder!”
“Even if I think, no solution will come.”
“You’re the messenger of a god, overflowing with divine power, right? If I lack it, use your divine power through me!”
“No, even that would be impossible.”
The Divine Beast looked troubled, but I had no time to worry about that.
“My power is fundamentally different from human divine power. It’s suitable for destruction, not healing or stabilization.”
“Then give me your power! I can convert it into my divine power and use it!”
“Ridiculous nonsense…”
The Divine Beast’s eyes widened.
“Wait… maybe it’s not entirely nonsense?”
“You can give me power?!”
“If it were anyone else, no. But you are the one who subdued me and performed the master-servant ritual.”
Just moments ago, when I placed my hand on the meteorite and shouted that it should become mine, that had been the ritual.
“We are connected, so it should be possible to transfer my power to you. But…”
“But what?”
“As I said before, my power and human divine power are very different in nature. Its origin is from a god, yes, but…”
“Is that a big problem?”
“I’ve never given my power to a human before, so I don’t know exactly what will happen. My power might cause problems in your body.”
“Problems?”
“You could also be put in danger.”
“That cannot happen.”
It was Terence who spoke, gasping to complete the sentence.
“Idel, do you really believe the words of the beast we were just fighting?”
“How dare you doubt me!”
Terence ignored the Divine Beast’s protests and looked only at me.
“You don’t need to take that risk for me.”
“But this happened because of me!”
“No. What meaning is there if you too are harmed?”
His focus on me rather than himself allowed me to make a decision.
“Divine Beast, give me your power.”
“Idel!”
“This is my decision. Even Terence has no right to intervene.”
Terence glared at the Divine Beast, but it had already floated in the air.
“Very well. If this is the master’s choice.”
The Divine Beast’s small body emitted a faint light.
“Because I used most of my power in battle, I cannot give much.”
“That’s fine.”
“Extend your arm.”
Terence shouted urgently.
“Vineta! Take Idel and leave this place immediately!”
Vineta hesitated.
“That’s an order! You haven’t forgotten who your master is, have you?”
I shouted back just as forcefully.
“Ignore it! Vineta, you want to save Terence too, don’t you?”
Her hesitation was brief. She came to my side and held Terence still.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
“Vineta, you!”
“I will accept any punishment later.”
Terence struggled against her hold, but his condition made it impossible.
“Thank you. And when Terence retires, come to me. I’m rich now.”
I encouraged Vineta, then extended my arm toward the Divine Beast.
“It’ll be hard. All I can say is endure it.”
The Divine Beast placed its paw on my hand. A strange energy flowed into my body.
It soon felt like a massive stone pressing against my lungs. My breathing became labored.
“Idel!”
Hearing Terence’s scream-like call was the last thing I recognized before my consciousness was swept away.
Breathing was difficult. My head spun. Nausea surged. My body felt alternately cold and hot.
I could make no sense of anything and just wanted to surrender to the flow.
Half-conscious, I spoke to the goddess to steady my fragmented mind.
‘Miela, remember I said last time that I found you interesting?’
I had no faith, but in another sense, I believed in Miela.
The goddess was surely watching me with interest even now.
‘Then save me. If I die, your fun disappears.’
The Divine Beast must have grown even stronger than described in the novel due to Miela’s whims.
And I defeated that Divine Beast and claimed it as my own.
‘I’ll make you more fun from now on! If you want, I’ll even defeat evil gods for you!’
Whether I could survive just by appealing to Miela was uncertain, but I desperately sought the goddess, as devout as any believer.
“You are so arrogant. That’s amusing.”
I felt a hand reach out and lift me, accompanied by laughter.
“Idel!”
“Master!”
Opening my eyes, I saw a person and an animal.
“…What happened?”
Vineta explained my question.
“You were unconscious for about ten minutes.”
I lay beside Terence and quickly checked him.
“Terence?”
“He was conscious just a moment ago… but now…”
His eyes were heavily closed. I urged the Divine Beast.
“Did it… work?”
“Seems so. My power is rising within you.”
Indeed, I could feel the swirling energy inside me. I held Terence’s hand—hot.
Clutching his hand with both of mine, I prayed for his safe recovery.
A faint light began to glow from my hands and flowed into Terence.
After some time, Vineta’s unusually excited voice announced:
“His Highness’s complexion has improved slightly.”
I leaned closer to listen to his heartbeat. It sounded steadier than before.
“Thank goodness… truly, thank goodness…”
Relief sapped the remaining strength from my body. I had barely held on, teetering on collapse.
I slumped toward Terence. Consciousness began to fade.
I couldn’t collapse yet. I had to watch over him until he was fully okay.
I struggled to stay awake, when a whisper reached my ear:
“It’s alright. You may rest.”
A deeply comforting, low, and sweet voice. I slipped pleasantly into unconsciousness.
There was a woman. She was extremely beautiful, but her face carried sorrow.
She looked at me carefully and asked:
“We’re friends, right?”
I answered gladly:
“Of course, Liena.”
