Chapter 8: Bringing Saulah to Repentance(2)
For indeed I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the believers of Deus. But by the grace of the Lord Luke I am what I am, and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of the Lord Luke which was with me.
—
Calandra
Saulla Draconis… The final boss of Part 1 of [Deus Ex Machina]. The worst monster on the continent, created by the gods of “Chaos.” It is a monster among monsters that simultaneously faced all of the world’s strongest players in the first part. As an agent of the evil gods of “Chaos” who want to rule this continent, she is a formidable foe. Although the protagonist… Of course, that is her three years later when the evil gods of “Chaos” have “completed” her, and she is not that strong now… Just seeing her radiating momentum when we meet like this…
“Deus? … Deus! I see. Do you guys serve a god too!”
Her anger flared at the mere mention of Deus’s name.
“Ugh! What, what is this?”
“All hands, form an escort! She’s beyond standard strength—protect the Young Master first!”
The knights and soldiers of Persleyno moved frantically to protect me.
The aura emanating from the formation they created formed a spherical barrier.
“Glory to Persleyno!”
“For Persleyno!”
Through rigorous training, the knights and soldiers of the North can imbue not only their swords but also their shields with aura. The barrier formed by their combined effort boasts unimaginable defensive strength, capable of withstanding even the Forces of Chaos emerging from the North.
But…
…It won’t work.
They are elite knights and soldiers of the North, but they’re no match for her.
Even if she hasn’t been fully tempered by the evil gods, she’s a proxy created by the collaboration of multiple divine beings.
She’s not someone ordinary humans can handle.
Boom!
“Argh!”
With a single wave of Saulla’s hand, the barrier tore apart like paper.
The knights and soldiers who had been with me since childhood were flung back, bloodied.
“Ugh… Young Master…”
“You must escape, Young Master! Use it now!”
Before departing for the Academy, my mother gave me an artifact, Zana’s Life.
A rare artifact imbued with magic that teleports the user, just once, to the place they consider home, no matter where they are.
It’s essentially an extra life.
However, this artifact can only teleport the user alone.
No one else can come along.
So, the knights and soldiers struggling to protect me can’t escape with me.
And with Saulla harboring such hostility, they’ll all die by her hand.
“Young Master, did you write another book today?”
“Haha, don’t worry, Young Master. These guys are all Northern warriors, so wounds like these heal quickly.”
“Young Master! Today’s meal is beef stew!”
“Hey, you fool! Do you think the Young Master would eat rations with us?”
“Young Master, I’m uneducated and don’t know much about books. But I know one thing: that fantasy book you wrote? It didn’t seem ordinary. In the future, your books might shake the entire continent.”
Hans. Dave. Daryl. Baro. Bai. Bolt. Adei. Shawn. All of them.
I can’t let them die like this.
God Slayer, Paola Drakania.
I’m scared, but…
I won’t run away.
I walked through the fallen knights toward Saulla Drakania.
“Young Master?”
“No, Young Master! You must escape!”
“Huh? Young Master?”
I had no talent for swordsmanship or magic.
But years after arriving in this world, when I turned fifteen, I gained a “Gift.”
Not a combat-oriented Gift, and it always activated unpredictably, never as I intended.
But right now, it’s the only thing I can rely on.
It’s been so unreliable until now.
Just this once…
Please work properly this time!
Reaching Saulla Drakania, I suppressed my fear, looked at her, and poured my will into activating my Gift.
Please!
Boom!
A massive bolt of lightning struck from the sky above her.
Startled by the unprecedented destructive power, I instinctively shut my eyes.
I tried to stay strong, but what is this!
Crackle.
The chaotic battlefield fell silent… as if time itself had stopped.
I cautiously opened my eyes and looked around. Everything was frozen: swords suspended in midair, knights and soldiers locked in place, debris from the battle—sand and wood fragments—hanging motionless.
Time really stopped.
Did my Gift do this?
If everyone’s time is frozen, should I take the knights and soldiers and escape?
“…Human. Did you do this?”
A chilling voice came from behind me.
Saulla Drakania!
What? Time didn’t stop?
Why is she fine!
My Gift is seriously messed up!
With a stiff neck, I slowly turned to face Saulla.
“How did you do it? You stopped time. You… are you actually a deity, not a human?”
No, I’m just a regular human.
“A power forbidden to mortals… No, even deities couldn’t perform a miracle like this. What are you?”
What am I supposed to say? It does seem like my Gift did this, but… it’s so unpredictable.
“Even now, my body’s time is stopped, but my mind, eyes, nose, and mouth aren’t. Are you trying to make me despair? Answer me!”
I see!
Saulla’s body is frozen!
That’s why she isn’t attacking me!
…Wait a second.
If that’s the case!
“Move aside. I need to try something.”
I pushed Hans, who had frozen while trying to shield me, to the side and faced Saulla directly.
“Saulla Drakania.”
!!!
“…You know me?”
“Yes, Saulla. Poor soul who lost the happy fate you were meant to have due to the whims of the evil gods of ‘Chaos.’”
“…Oh, how. You. You’re a deity. … I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you, you disgusting deity!”
I expected it, but this is a fierce backlash.
It’s a reaction fitting for someone who lived in misery because of deities.
“Calm down. She can’t harm me now. Let’s calm down.”
“Saulla. Why did you try to harm me and my warriors?”
“Because they were the ones who served the deity! All the deities on this continent must be destroyed. Those who manipulate the lives of mortals as they please and move them according to their own will. They have no reason to exist!”
“You say that the deities who move mortals according to their own will should disappear, but why do you follow the intentions of the gods of ‘Chaos’? They took your life and pushed you into the abyss of despair?”
“I know. Those bastards who took what I should have had, and I will kill them… But at this point, their support is useful for slaying gods. … And when I no longer need their help, I’ll tear them apart too.”
“Saulla, Saulla. Do I look like someone who would manipulate the lives of mortals like them?”
“…What? What are you talking about all of a sudden? I can tell just by looking at those who were about to sacrifice their lives for you. You manipulated their lives. You are sacrificing them for your own.”
“If I really am such a being…”
I placed my forehead against Saulla’s.
“Then I will personally give you my head.”
“What?”
“But if not… then I wish you would live the life of an ordinary dragon, Saulla, not a life for the evil gods.”
Feeling the warmth of Saulla, hoping that this matter would resolve as it did last year…
“…This is ridiculous. Seriously? You… Ah, no, you are for this world… Then, until now, what have I been…?”
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