Volume 3 Chapter 51 God Will Not Save You, But Your Arrogance Will Not Be Forgiven
*We're returning to Ryuuji's perspective.
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Minori and Suzu are with Ferron, and the squad members are confronting Adiliana.
Setting my younger sisters aside, this is the first time Captain Joseph and his group are fighting a Dark Mage.
I already told them that Adiliana specializes in illusions, so I just have to believe they can handle her.
"Oh my, Ryuuji. Taking your eyes off me even though I'm right here? You must be feeling pretty sure of yourself."
While I was worried about the others, Emerada quickly saw right through me.
Even then, she isn't attacking.
That must mean she's the one who's completely at ease here.
"Yeah, I've got plenty of room to breathe on this side, so I was thinking about who I should help once I'm done here."
"Hmph, you sure know how to talk, huh!"
Emerada unleashed something.
But with a little "ting" sound, it bounced right off the physical barrier created by the 〈Magic Stone of Great Absolute〉.
It seems that whatever she fired was that golden needle.
It must have just been a test, but having her attack deflected made Emerada scowl and show her disgust.
The battle's already started, so naturally the 〈Great Magic Stone of Diamond〉 is already active.
"Honestly, that annoying magic stone. As if the 〈Magic Stone of Diamond〉 alone wasn't enough, now my tentacles won't work either, all thanks to that. I regret making you an enchanter now, Ryuuji."
"That's too bad for you. But for me, it led to getting together with my wife, so I'm grateful for it."
"I won't accept that Ryuuji is Lene's husband!"
The moment the conversation turned to Lene, Emerada blatantly bared her fangs.
I get told that a lot myself, but this guy's sister complex is pretty extreme too.
But why is she so fixated on Lene?
From what Lene told me, Emerada was also an outcast in the village, and the sisters were each other's only support.
In that case, why did she leave the village?
"...You seem like you want to ask something?"
"Why did you abandon Lene and leave the elf village?"
When I asked her that, since Emerada had been waiting for my words, she narrowed her eyes and glared at me like she wanted to kill me.
Wow, scary.
"...Back then, I was an idiot. I really believed that if I kept devoting my faith to the God of Light, salvation would eventually come."
Emerada began her monologue, but then she paused and let out a breath.
"I devoted my faith and tried to be called a Saint. I misunderstood and thought that would raise my little sister Lene's status too. But you know, even if they call you a Saint, God won't save you."
"...So that's why you're fixated on Lene now, to atone for your sins?"
So even if you're called a Saint, God won't save you, huh.
But is it really faith if you're just serving a god so you can become a Saint for your sister's sake?
And besides──
"But isn't Abnella, the one you're worshipping now, also a god?"
Even if it's an Evil God to us, it should still be a god to them.
So are you saying it won't bring salvation to heretics?
I thought about that and asked her, but Emerada nodded, then for some reason shook her head.
"Yes, oh God. But God Abnella does not bring salvation. What she brings is destruction. It's just──"
"...Just?"
Hearing my words, Emerada spread both of her arms with a satisfied look on her face.
It looked to me like a gesture a ruler from somewhere would make, and I'm saw it that way.
"I will use that power to bring 'equality.' I'll level out every single authority figure and abolish all classes. I'll create that kind of world."
"........."
Faced with such an arrogant way of speaking, all I could do was return silence.
...A world of equality, huh.
The reason she came up with this idea of creating that kind of world by using destruction probably goes back to the fact that her lover Abel was executed under false charges.
But still──
"It's true the world isn't equal. Maybe God doesn't always save everyone. That's exactly why I lost my parents, and you saved me along with my little sisters."
"...Yes, that's why──"
"But,"
Cutting off whatever Emerada was about to say, I jumped in with a firm tone.
I don't know if these words will reach her heart, but I have to say this much.
"Someone who only thinks about using a God's power won't ever receive any kind of salvatio from that God. And after all that, you were 'relying on the power of the God of Light, but since she didn't save you, now you're turning to the power of an Evil God'? If you fail next time, what will you rely on then? Huh?"
"Wha...!?"
Emerada was lost for words at my barrage of questions.
Her face grew stiff and turned red right before my eyes, but she couldn't argue back.
She just opened and closed her mouth.
Ugh, it's infuriating.
The teacher who once saved us wasn't supposed to be this kind of person!
"I don't think asking for salvation is just leaving everything to someone else. ...But you see, the God of Light was so fed up with your arrogance that He didn't offer you salvation!"
It's fine to seek salvation and offer your faith.
But wanting salvation and then using God for that purpose──how arrogant can you be?
At my final remark, Emerada's shoulders trembled.
Maybe she was recalling how she'd been up until now, feeling like I'd hit the nail on the head.
But then, just when I thought she'd taken a big breath all of a sudden, Emerada let out a huge sigh.
"...What's so wrong about that? We were oppressed, so isn't it only natural to want to survive, even if it means using some kind of power?"
Emerada went back to that relaxed smile she had before and calmly said that.
So she's just brazenly standing her ground, huh.
"...Looks like a harsh punishment is in order."
I declared this, pulled Abel's sword from its sheath, and got into a stance with both hands.
Since 〈Magic stone of Fyrel〉 doesn't work against a Dark Mage, I'm not fighting barehanded this time.
Besides, there's another reason I'm fighting with this sword.
And that reason is──it's a new 〈Refined Magic Stone〉 I prepared for this occasion.
It won't show its power unless I use this sword.
"Oh my, giving punishment to a student is the 'teacher's' job. So... I'll teach you some discipline."
We each carried our weapons and stepped forward onto the path toward each other.
The stage where we could solve this by talking was long over.
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