Volume 3 Chapter 3 Great Temple Attack
The voices of the priests calling out, "Are you okay, Head Priest!" and "Evacuate everyone!" echoed from all around the building.
From the ceiling, several giant insect legs crashed down with a thunderous sound, shaking the entire room so much that we could barely stand.
Through the cracked ceiling, the evening sky was visible.
In the fiery sunset, there was a huge, dizzying figure.
Famine, appearing to grow from the ceiling, floated up as if being sucked into the broken ceiling.
I thought Famine's lower body looked spider-like, but the enormous spider-shaped monster with long legs and the beautiful woman that was Famine seemed like separate beings.
Famine sat gracefully on one of the spider's leg joints, crossing her long legs.
Sir Stefan used the giant insect leg as a foothold and charged at Famine.
The shining holy sword Laevateinn left a rainbow-like trail in its path.
"Disappear, you witch who spreads misfortune...!"
The holy sword pierced Famine's body.
Famine's form began to vanish like a mirage.
"Ahaha... don't get too cocky just because you defeated the dumbest and ugliest Eiris. Eiris is the failure among the 4. I am the strongest and most beautiful. After all, I'm made just like my mother!"
Even though Famine's figure disappeared, her voice echoed from all corners of the room.
"Pudding..."
Eir-Eir peeked out from between my breasts, complaining about something.
It's okay because Eir-Eir is much cuter.
"Head Priest, evacuate with Roxas, Lydia, and Francois! The main body is outside the building!"
Sir Stefan lightly planted his feet on the floor and spoke to us in a stern voice.
From above, more insect legs than before pierced down, trying to crush us against the barrier my father had set up.
Sir Stefan slashed at the countless legs with his holy sword.
The spider legs were purified by the dazzling light, disappearing like particles.
"We need to escape; we can't move in here. Plus, using my power against such a huge opponent in this cramped space could endanger others."
The attack of the spider legs momentarily stopped.
In that gap, Sir Roxas effortlessly lifted my body.
To be precise, he lifted me, Eir-Eir, and my father Arjuna, who was cradled in my arms.
My father held Francois' hand.
"...Head Priest."
"Just call me father. You are not to blame, and the time I spent with you will remain in my memory."
"Father."
We ran toward the outside of the crumbling Great Temple, guided by father Feldur.
The priests noticed us and cast protective barriers to shield us from the debris.
From behind, spider legs repeatedly stabbed down from above, as if trying to crush ants in the ground.
"Sir Stefan...!"
"I'm fine, Lydia. I'm happy you called me like old times."
Sir Stefan was blocking the spider's legs with his sword and cutting them apart.
Breathing a little heavily, he glanced at me and smiled gently.
A large piece of rubble fell into the corridor, hiding Sir Stefan from view and separating him from us.
"Sir Roxas, it's Sir Stefan!"
"Right now, we need to get outside. Protecting you is what His Highness wants."
Sir Roxas moved straight toward the burning sunset outside, away from the crumbling temple.
Thin threads wrapped around the path created by the priests and my father's protective barrier.
'If I knew nothing and noticed nothing── I could have just taken the place of the Saint. That would have been enough. I was being careful so that no one would notice.'
I heard Famine's voice from somewhere.
The thin threads gathered and transformed into thick ones, tightening around the barrier's path.
'I'll eat everyone. If I eat everyone, they will all belong to me. Their memories, knowledge, abilities, and their forms will all be mine.'
"Tiansa too... you monster!"
I widened my eyes at my father's murmur.
Francois's mother was eaten by Famine.
If that's true, then my mother too──.
'I don't remember who I ate... but was that their name? Did I kidnap them long ago? They wouldn't tell me anything about the Saint, so maybe I ate them.'
"I won't forgive you, witch!"
My father's shout echoed through the temple.
Was it because of me, because I was born, that my mother was eaten?
My mother knew that the power of Goddess Alexandria resided in me, as I asked Mx. Margaret.
And then, Arjuna sealed my power.
That was probably to protect me.
My mother was trying to protect me.
The protective barrier was torn apart like threads, shattering like glass.
In an instant, the threads that filled the area attacked us.
I could hear Sir Roxas clicking his tongue.
A cold wind swirled around Sir Roxas.
The threads tried to bind our bodies, wilting like dying flowers.
'Don't interfere.'
"Everything has an end. Nothing lasts forever. I'll take your time too, woman. I'll make your beautiful, proud appearance wither away until the moment of death."
'I thought you were just a loudmouth, a powerless piece of dust.'
"That's a pity."
Sir Roxas's mouth twisted into a sarcastic smile.
We stepped over the threads that fell like dried-up plants, covering the floor in white, as we aimed for the temple's exit.
Behind us, the Great Temple was collapsing miserably.
When we stepped outside from the entrance of the Great Temple, people who had already evacuated were huddled together, protected by the priests within the barrier.
Many giant spiders were tangled around the Great Temple, which had once been majestic but was now crumbling and crushed.
"Sir Stefan..."
I got down from Sir Roxas's arms.
Inside the Great Temple, Sir Stefan remained.
His figure was invisible.
"I... can't do anything...? I'm always being protected, and I can't do anything. Don't I have the power of the goddess...?"
I whispered while holding Father Arjuna in my arms.
I really am useless.
Always being protected.
By my mother, and everyone.
"Your power is not for fighting."
Father Arjuna said in a small voice from my arms.
──Then what is it for?
If the power of the saint caused conflict, then a power that can't do anything is──unnecessary.
"Lydia. His Highness is the one who inherits the holy sword. We are here to protect you. As the master of the holy sword, His Highness, protecting you is our role. You have your own role."
Sir Roxas said while looking up at the sky.
In the direction he was looking, something was shining like the brightest star.
There, on the body of a giant spider high in the sky──Sir Stefan was holding the holy sword high.
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