Did her real objective lie elsewhere?
Right as I pondered the question…I felt powerful mana coming from deeper in the ruins.
“Actually, it looks like we’ll achieve our goal here soon.”
I unconsciously scratched my head. If there was anyone who could be giving off such powerful mana up ahead…
“…So you undid the seal, then.”
… realistically, it had to be the Arch Elf.
“Did you think we were the only ones who snuck in here? Everyone else went on ahead to get the job done. We figured they’d handle it somehow, so we were just here buying time.”
Based on her statement, the Church of the Malevolent Lord must have been planning on reviving the Arch Elf from the beginning.
Clearly, Hortensia and her group were here instead of the boss guarding the Sanctuary because they had already defeated it.
Thus…
“Ah right, I get it. You came with at least two squads. While your group here defeated the boss, the other squad moved to focus on your original goal of reviving the Arch Elf. Then you encountered us while you were taking a short break following the boss battle. Sound about right?”
Hortensia didn’t deny anything.
I couldn’t hold back my sigh.
“Well, this sucks. Why the heck did you have to undo the seal on that insane necromancer asshole anyway? Ugh, I already feel the headache coming on.”
I sighed. Then I looked around and saw that the Diamond Cross Knights had gathered in one area, save for Hortensia. No longer fighting against them, Yukine, Ludie, Claris, Yuika, and Nanami had now come right over to the knights, and the two groups appeared to be discussing something.
They must have said something to provoke Yukine and the others. They all looked with shock in the direction where the Arch Elf had been sealed away.
After exchanging another word or two, the Diamond Cross Knights actually turned their back on Yukine and the others and fled in the Arch Elf’s direction. They were probably trying to meet up with their comrades who had been focused on the unsealing.
When Yukine took a step forward to pursue them, I shouted at her.
“Yukine, I don’t think we should chase them! No, actually, you definitely shouldn’t!!”
She stopped. Charging on ahead would be real bad news. If she did end up encountering the Arch Elf farther in, she would clearly be bested.
To pull off a win in our current state, we would need to rely on a slightly unique combat strategy.
After calling out to stop Yukine, I turned back to Hortensia.
I’d had a bad feeling about this from the start. After all, none of the people here right now were supposed to be a part of this event. Normally, the fight against the Arch Elf up ahead is supposed to happen later on. We were now in a situation where fighting him was our only option.
“I doubt we’ll see each other again,” Hortensia said, going to follow the other Diamond Cross Knights deeper in, but I snapped my stole like a spring and jumped out in front of Hortensia, blocking her path ahead.
“Okay, hold up a sec. If you go back there, you’re definitely gonna wind up dead,” I said, gesturing to Yukine and the others to not come over to my position yet. There was something I wanted to talk to Hortensia about alone.
“…Assuming you’re telling the truth, why would you tell your enemy that?” she asked, looking at me with suspicion.
“Feel free to presume I know absolutely everything. That’s why I stopped you. I know all about you too, by the way.”
“Do you, now?”
“That’s right. So let me ask you something: Do you really not care what happens to anyone else so long as you manage to achieve what you’re after?”
Like what she had done just now, for example.
A sad expression came to her face. And then…
“I’m bound to go to hell, aren’t I?” she said with a hint of self-deprecation.
As someone who knew Hortensia’s position and goals and how the Church was organized, I could tell her words signaled she didn’t want to get regular people involved.
So…
“Nah. You’re not going to hell.”
This was my reply.
“…And why’s that?”
“I’m gonna save you.”
She scowled and stared hard at me. I stared back at her without looking away, and she let out a small sigh.
“Don’t just say whatever comes to mind…as if you know anything about me.”
I mean, if I was in her shoes, I probably would’ve punched myself in the face, too. I would’ve used that scythe of hers to decapitate whatever guy was spouting this crap. Except, seeing she still wasn’t attacking me after everything I said, I couldn’t help but think about how she really was the Hortensia I knew so well.
“I wasn’t just bullshitting, okay? I’m serious. I’m always serious. I’ve managed to defeat every opponent that’s come my way, and as of right now, everyone’s been able to lead a normal life, too.”
“You’re making less and less sense.”
“Look, you don’t have to know what any of that means, okay?”
She looked like she was going say something, but I spoke over her, throwing out words as if to drown her out completely.
“You best be prepared, ’cause I’m gonna make sure you end up happy, got it?”
This was my declaration to her. At the same time, it was also a warning to myself that there was no turning back from here.
“…What’s with you? You’re pushy, you won’t listen to anything I say, and you don’t have a shred of tact. Keep it up, and everyone’s going to detest you.”
Well, sure, that may be true and all, but I was in the Ceremonial Committee.
“Unfortunately, everyone on campus already hates me. Not that I really care if I’m liked or not.”