1.
Nahan.
No, Ian Red thought.
His first divine authority was the ability to determine the life or death of an item’s owner by touching it.
Since priests who possessed more than one divine authority typically acquired abilities related to their first one, the best excuse for the current situation was:
“My second divine authority is the ability to communicate with lost souls.”
The first divine authority manifested through the lingering energy of spirits, while the second was an extension that allowed him to perceive the soul itself.
“As expected, multiple divine authorities seem to be interconnected.”
“Did you already know that, Lord Tehelan?”
“It’s a well-known hypothesis, is it not?”
“…”
Everyone nodded as if they understood his reasoning, and Vulcan wasted no time rushing up to him.
“Communicating with lost souls!! Are you saying that the Founder has lost their way to the Goddess?!!”
“Souls with unfinished duties often linger in the present world.”
“Is that so?! …By the way, can you tell me what exactly the present world means?”
“The present world refers to the world we currently live in.”
“Ohhh, I see! Thank you for the kind explanation!! It has been so long since someone answered my questions that I feel like shedding tears!!”
And it wasn’t just words—Vulcan actually shed a thick tear.
Watching him, Tehelan sighed and nudged Hestia.
“…Hestia.”
“Yes, Lord.”
Creak.
Perhaps the recovery of his legs was only temporary, as Hestia rolled her wheelchair closer to Vulcan’s side and whispered into his ear.
“Sir Rohan and the warriors of the family wish to learn from you.”
“Oh!! Right now?!!”
“Yes. Right now.”
“How admirable and commendable!! Lord Tehlan! May I take my leave?!!”
“It’s ‘Tehelan,’ not ‘Tehlan,’ brother.”
“Anyway!!”
When Tehelan nodded, Vulcan grinned from ear to ear and ran outside.
“Let’s have some fun!!!”
Crash!!
Through the window.
Now, the only ones left were Tehelan, Hestia, Asha, and Nahan.
Finally, the office fell silent once more, and a soundproof barrier was cast again.
“Apologies. If he meets the Founder, he will most certainly use a duel as an excuse to run wild.”
“It’s fine.”
The Founder has a similar personality, so honestly, I was a bit worried too.
Regardless—
‘Since they are preparing to meet the Founder, they know not only about communication but also that an incarnation body can be descended into.’
Of course, it was impossible to avoid suspicion entirely, but since it was said to be a divine authority of the Goddess, they couldn’t easily doubt it either.
‘They are the ones who need to protect the barrier, so I’m not the one in a disadvantaged position here.’
However, since I was the cause of all this, I would help without expecting anything in return.
As Nahan waited for Tehelan’s next words, the latter, deep in thought, finally turned to Hestia.
“May I ask this of you?”
Tehelan knew.
That among their family members, the wisest was not himself, but Hestia.
“Yes, Lord Tehelan.”
Hestia, aware of this fact as well, accepted immediately and rolled her wheelchair toward Nahan.
Red hair and red eyes.
A distinct mark of the annihilated Red family.
For a moment, Hestia was overwhelmed, but she soon opened her mouth.
“First, I would like to express my gratitude.”
No less than three times.
This man had saved her life.
Once, she had even nearly killed him due to a hasty suspicion. She should have not only expressed gratitude but also apologized.
“Since the situation is urgent, I will properly express my thanks after we handle the barrier first.”
Not only was her gratitude belated, but she had even driven a sword into his stomach—
And yet, here she was, asking him to resolve the issue within the family.
‘…He will surely resent me.’
For some reason, the thought of being resented by this man filled Hestia with sadness.
But that sentiment didn’t last long.
The reason being—
“Don’t worry about it. I truly don’t mind.”
Nahan was still smiling at her with a gentle expression.
Not only that—
“I should ask the Founder if they can reveal the location of the heirloom. If not, I’ll inquire about alternative methods. That should suffice, correct?”
“Ah… Yes, yes!”
“I’ll do my best within my capabilities.”
He had already understood her intent precisely and even brought up the topic first, likely to spare her any embarrassment.
The esteemed lady of the Gardner family.
The strategist of the legion.
Hestia had always been the one to speak first and act first.
To her, Nahan’s consideration felt immensely knowledgeable and profoundly kind.
‘…I heard that even priests get married these days.’
For the first time in her life, Hestia found her thoughts drifting away mid-contemplation.
Regardless, the issue of the barrier was urgent right now. Nahan quietly knelt down, clasping his hands together.
“To Lady Aria, the radiant master of light, a stray lamb offers his prayer.”
A solemn act of devotion, praying to the one true Goddess, Aria.
“With the additional divine authority bestowed upon me, grant me the means to prepare for the impending catastrophe. Bestow mercy upon the countless lives that may perish in vain.”
A man as warm and gentle as smoldering embers, perfectly suited for such a sacred act.
Tremble.
His clasped hands quivered slightly, and the late afternoon sunlight cast a glow over his upturned face.
Floating specks of dust shimmering in the light.
A soft, murmured prayer,
The noble demeanor of one praying earnestly.
“Ah…”
Asha, who had unconsciously parted her lips, knelt as well. Tehelan followed her lead, and Hestia, still in her wheelchair, clasped her hands together.
At that moment—
The clouds parted, and the sunlight grew stronger. Those who had closed their eyes slowly opened them again.
Their gaze fell upon Ian Red, the ever-faithful free priest, who trembled as he inwardly thought:
‘I am an idiot. I am Balak, a brainless brute who only knows how to charge forward. I am a Gardner…’
A mental preparation for immersion.
The target of his acting was—
– […? What in the world is this nonsense…….]
Balak Gardner.
Nahan, barely opening his eyes, secretly transmitted his thoughts toward Balak Gardner.
‘Did you hear that? We need a way to activate the barrier without the Celestial Barrier.’
– [There is a way, but why should I tell you?]
‘If you tell me, I’ll arrange a duel with Asha soon.’
– [Asha?]
‘That girl from earlier. The one with light blue hair.’
– [I ACCEPT!!!]
This is the end of the negotiation.
Then now,
Negotiation complete.
Now then—
【Alert – <Acting> has begun!】
【Stage 1 – <Analysis> complete.】
【Understanding of character <Balak Gardner (SS+)> has increased exponentially!】
【Stage 2 – <Immersion> complete.】
【You will now perfectly replicate the persona of <Balak Gardner (SS+)> without any deviation.】
It was time to put his special skill to use.
2.
A few minutes later—
After finishing his introduction, Nahan began to deliver his thoughts as if they were Balak’s own.
Balak declared that his incarnation body could only be Hestia.
The reason being that Nahan was essentially his master. Instead of Balak incarnating into Nahan, it was more accurate to say that Balak was the incarnation of Nahan.
Regardless, since distance was not a major issue, summoning was easy. Moreover, their affinity was good, allowing him to manifest about 50% of his original power.
“Do you understand!! The original recharge cycle of the barrier is once per week!! Therefore, I shall descend through this child once a week!!!”
That should be enough.
“Yes! O, Founder!!”
Tehelan, who had been reserved before, responded with a tone befitting a true Gardner.
Then, Nahan spoke about the most critical issue.
The Celestial Barrier.
The probability was high that people assumed it had been stolen by <Black Wolf>. And there was an even higher likelihood that an attempt to reclaim it would happen soon.
“And do not worry!! The Celestial Barrier will return soon!! Engrave this in your memory!! The moment you take the initiative to search for it, it will disappear forever!!”
With that, he blocked any attempt at retrieval before it could begin.
“Yes!! O, Founder!!!”
Once again, Tehelan answered with a thunderous voice.
‘That should do it, right?’
If no time restriction had been set, they would undoubtedly keep summoning him over and over again. So, Nahan had lied, saying that he could only maintain his presence for five minutes at the cost of several years of his lifespan.
‘Time to slip away.’
And with that, Nahan spoke his final words.
“Gardner’s shield is the greatest in the world!!!”
“It never breaks, no matter the force it faces!!”
“Excellent!! Rest now!!”
And with that, it was over.
“Kuh-huk, kuh-hup!”
Nahan, having perfectly embodied Balak and accomplished everything he wanted, suddenly staggered as if the connection had been severed, collapsing onto the spot.
“Ah! Priest!”
“A-Are you all right!!”
Hestia and Tehelan simultaneously reached out their hands, but before either could catch him, Asha had already hoisted him up onto her back.
“I’ll take him to the infirmary.”
Asha acted before even waiting for a response.
Her expression, as she dashed forward at an almost imperceptible speed, was dark with worry.
Because she knew.
Ian Red was not just kind to her alone.
– I can probably manage about five minutes, at the cost of a few years of my lifespan.
– Ah… I-If that’s the case, then it’s fine.
– No, it’s not. If sacrificing a few years of my life can prevent a war, then it would be an honor.
Even now, he had stopped a war by sacrificing an unknown number of years from his own life.
‘Why?’
So light, so fragile—
And yet, why did he try to save even those stronger than himself?
Tight.
Asha clenched her lips together, swallowing her sigh.
‘I don’t know.’
She wanted to stay by the priest’s side.
But was she even allowed to?
She was living misfortune itself.
If she remained by his side, then surely, the priest would also become unfortunate.
So this time, not for the sake of her own heart like before.
But for the sake of the priest—
Wouldn’t it be right to hold herself back?
“…Could the priest really endure having misfortune like me by his side?”
Every step she took was filled with doubt and hesitation.
Meanwhile, behind her, carried on her back, Nahan was struggling to process what was happening at such overwhelming speed.
‘I’m getting motion sickness. I really feel like throwing up.’
He wanted to tell her to put him down immediately,
But at this speed, he doubted she would even hear him.
So, what choice did he have?
“I’ll endure it….”
He decided to think of it as punishment for stealing the Celestial Barrier—
And bear it.
Unfortunately—
“…!!”
The bodies of S-rank warriors far exceeded Nahan’s expectations.
Asha, having heard his barely muttered words, slowly felt her eyes redden.
“…As I thought, you are the sole salvation in my fleeting life.”
So, if it’s for you, I will do anything without hesitation.
My next goal is now clear—
To ensure that your life is not wasted in vain.
…Yes.
For example, eliminating the Black Wolf Mercenary Corps.
The very ones responsible for cutting away several years of your lifespan.
“…That wouldn’t be a problem, would it?”
“Uuugh… Ughh….”
Immediately after Nahan groaned in discomfort—
For the first time in a long while, Asha’s lips curled into a gentle smile.
“Thank you for granting me permission.”
3.
【Warning.】
【Hero – <Asha Mirabelle (SSS)>’s hostility towards <Black Wolf (EX)> has exceeded the critical limit.】
【The difficulty of Bad Ending 7 – <The Fanatics’ Revolt> has increased exponentially.】
