When I was working as a civil servant, I was found out to be a muscle-brained knight by the princess knight and got sent to the front lines - Episode 168

Episode 168

Everything was dark—utterly dark. Nothing could be seen, nothing could be heard, nothing could be felt. Yet, something precious was slipping away. An instinctive fear, a primal fear of losing one’s existence. Jez recognized this feeling. This was the third time he had experienced it.

The first time had ended before he could understand what was happening. The second time, he survived thanks to the protection of his parents in this world. But that came at the cost of the destruction of the Izmirnaia Autonomous Zone, where he lost everything. Without meeting Gerald Norman afterward, Jez was certain he would have died.

“Third time’s the charm, or is it ‘bad things come in threes’?” Jez thought to himself. He had confidence in his strong bad luck, but how would it play out this time?

Still, it seemed he had successfully protected the dear friend he had wanted to safeguard. From far away, in the pitch-black void, he heard someone calling his name. Satisfied, Jez decided to rest for a while.

・　・　・

“Jez!? Hey, Jez!!”

In the park on the hill overlooking the port city of Capricia, the sun had finally set, and night had come. The port town was bathed in the glow of streetlights and ship lanterns, casting an enchanting atmosphere. A lively summer night in the air.

But amidst the peaceful park, Seraphina clutched Jez Norman’s limp body in her arms, desperately crying out. Blood continued to flow from the wound on his back, showing no signs of stopping. Jez’s face was pale, and his breathing grew shallower by the moment. Despite casting healing magic with all her might, nothing was helping.

Linnea and the Solennis priests lent their power to assist Seraphina, pouring all their energy into healing him, yet still to no effect. It was incomprehensible that such a group, with so much skill, could not heal him.

Why won’t the bleeding stop!?

As panic began to take over, Seraphina’s eyes fell upon the dagger that had slashed Jez. She gasped. The blade radiated a sinister magical energy—this dagger was cursed.

How could such a thing be here? Though she had never seen it in person before, it was undoubtedly a forbidden weapon, one classified as taboo by the church. That such an object, which should have been securely sealed by the church, had been brought here said everything about the situation.

Of course, it made sense now. These attackers had been trying to kill her—a candidate saint, someone who could wield the highest level of healing magic. They wouldn’t have come unprepared. Clearly, they had premeditated a way to negate her magic, leading to this attack. The wound inflicted by that cursed dagger likely carried an effect that neutralized or impeded healing magic.

Realizing this, Seraphina glared furiously at the dagger, her face twisted in rage. But she forced herself to calm down, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. After a few moments of stillness, she spoke with firm resolve.

“…Alright. Jez, I will save you. I promise.”

Having made up her mind, Seraphina took out a rosary from around her neck. It was a rosary she always wore. The moment the Solennis bishops saw it, their eyes widened, and they tried to stop her.

“You don’t need to say anything, everyone. I understand everything, and I’m choosing to use this.”

An overwhelming aura radiated from Seraphina, a stark contrast to her usual carefree demeanor. She had already steeled herself for what was to come.

The aura she exuded marked her as someone chosen by the heavens, someone who had made great efforts and embraced her role with firm resolve—a person with the qualities of a ruler.

Seraphina Lorentzi, granddaughter of the current Pope Ignatius II of the Divina Church, and head of the Lorentzi family, one of the Original Five who founded the Divina Papal State. She had taken over as head of her family at a young age after her father, the previous head of the Lorentzi family and a cardinal, was assassinated. Because of the political instability in the Holy Kingdom and the delicate health of her grandfather, she had been sent to the Tashman Kingdom for her safety.

Now, clutching the rosary that had always been with her, Seraphina closed her eyes and began to chant, her voice melodic like a song.

“O guardian of the light that resides beyond the heavens, answer my call. O lost flame of hope, fountain of life, revolve the wheel of time and gather unto me.”

As Seraphina spoke the incantation, a magic circle spread out around her and Jez.

“Tear through the veil of the dark night, reweave the wounded soul, and let the radiant melody sound. O one who carries the breath of the gods, bring peace to this world.”

The magic circle glowed faintly, and as Seraphina’s magic power grew, a divine sanctuary unfolded around them.

“I am resurrection, I am life, and I shall release this eternal power. O those who receive the angelic melody, grant me that sacred song.”

In a burst of brilliant light, angelic wings appeared on Seraphina’s back, and a crown of light shone above her head.

“O sacred light, cleanse the impurities, and restore this world to its pure form. I am resurrection, I am life, and with this power, I shall heal all.”

And then, with the rosary imbued with all her power in hand, Seraphina gently embraced Jez.

“Conceptual Armament: I Am the Resurrection and the Life – Resurrectio.”

A warm light enveloped Jez, and the rosary shattered.