I obtained quite a bit of important information through Ba Hala Igra.
The god of this world was dead.
The Demon King was trying to become a Demon God.
And there was no way to stop it.
**[You are exerting influence on this world.]**
**[Restrictions are reduced.]**
I secured influence by killing Ba Hala Igra.
“The god… is dead? Does that even make sense?”
Artina denied the information Ba Hala Igra had provided.
It was a natural reaction. After all, Ba Hala was a member of the demonkind who served the Demon King, and he was an expert at shaking human mentalities. It was possible he was telling lies instead of the truth.
**[Using Golden Dragon Eye.]**
**[Sealed Sacred Relic: Goddess’s Cloud]**
– A Sacred Relic bestowed by the Goddess to the Saintess who followed her.
– It has the effect of absorbing and purifying demonic power and strengthening divine power.
– Currently, it cannot function properly due to the death of the Goddess.
The god who created this world was dead. The information on the Sacred Relic seen through the Golden Dragon Eye clearly stated so.
“It’s a lie, right? Isn’t it?”
Artina, wearing a complicated expression, turned her gaze toward me. I could see what kind of answer she wanted to hear. That it wasn’t true. That the god was still alive. That this world could still be saved.
She wanted to hear those words, but they weren’t words I could give her.
“What have I been running toward… is this the end? To helplessly watch the world perish?”
“Jorge.”
Ropenheim, who had arrived just in time, approached. Perhaps because he had just finished clearing out all the demonkind on the walls, his face looked a bit weary. He looked at the tearful Artina and then turned his gaze toward me. I briefly explained what had happened here.
“The god is dead?”
“Yes.”
“So that is why I cannot feel anything from the Sacred Relic.”
“I think that’s why the demonkind destroyed the temples first. To kill the Goddess who had lost her power.”
“…Then is this the end for this world?”
Ropenheim’s voice trembled slightly. Even as he spoke the words, I could feel his desire to deny them. Hero King Ropenheim Odenberg, who was born in this world and had once saved it.
“It’s probably not the end.”
If it were going to end like this, I wouldn’t have been brought to this world in the first place. Above all, no message had appeared stating that the Awakening Quest had failed.
‘To prevent the disaster that will strike this world.’
That meant the fact that the Demon King’s subordinates had occupied the capital was not the true disaster. The real disaster was likely stopping the Demon King from killing the Goddess and absorbing her power to become a Demon God.
*Vwoom!*
The mana in my body reacted to something. The Golden Dragon Eye created golden lines. The lines that started from my eyes spread out like flowing water and wrapped around the Goddess’s Cloud held in Artina’s hand.
‘Is that the way to defeat the Demon King?’
I walked slowly until I stood before Artina. I placed my hand on the Goddess’s Cloud in her grasp. It was a shield shaped like a cloud.
*Shuaaaa!*
The golden lines flowed into the Goddess’s Cloud. The mana in my body transformed into divine power and dyed the Goddess’s Cloud. The cloudy, dull color of the relic was stained golden. A brilliant white light erupted, and something appeared.
It was a formless light. That light spoke to me.
【 You who possess the qualifications of a demigod, please grant my request. 】
Just hearing the voice caused the being’s existence to be etched into my mind. The one who created this world. The Goddess whom Artina and Ropenheim believed in. I looked at the existence that exuded an intense divinity and opened my mouth.
“What is the request?”
【 Please save this world on my behalf. 】
“Can’t you do it yourself?”
【 It is impossible. I have already lost too much power. 】
“What do I need to do?”
【 I will give you the last of my remaining power. Use that power to establish a new divinity and draw forth the power of light. 】
This was something I had to do for Ropenheim’s Awakening.
“I understand.”
【 Once you receive the power, you will have a rough idea of what to do. Please… protect this world that I have created. 】
As soon as she finished speaking, a pure white light flowed into my head. An indescribable energy took root in my mind. Along with a warm energy, something of a different caliber was engraved.
‘…Ah.’
Just as the god had said, I could see the path I had to take. I looked down at Artina, who was in front of me.
“You want to save this world, don’t you?”
“…Yes.”
“Then come with me. I’ll give you the power to save the world.”
I slowly held out my hand. Artina took it. Along with our joined hands, messages appeared.
**[Appointing Artina as God’s Apostle using the granted divinity.]**
**[Granting Grace of the Sword.]**
**[Saint of the Sword Artina (SS) has been appointed as a Guardian.]**
***
Artina walked and arrived at the palace balcony. The balcony turned slowly. From here, one could see the entire view of the capital. The sight of the capital entered Artina’s eyes.
The remaining demonkind, fallen knights, and warlocks were making their final stands, burning the capital. Her comrades in white cloaks were resisting, but even that wasn’t easy. The enemies were demonkind who fed on human fear and dread. Their nourishment was growing rapidly in the capital. At this rate, they could never win.
‘…Divine power.’
Artina raised the Goddess’s Cloud she held in her left hand. Divine power flowed out faintly. Unlike what the demonkind who claimed the god was dead had said, she could feel the god’s existence through the warm divine power.
— I’ll give you the power to save the world.
The moment she held Cheon Yongje’s hand, she felt an indescribable sense of exaltation, and divine power flowed into her body and settled. She might not be able to kill the Demon King with this power yet, but she could wipe out these demons who had invaded the capital and tried to steal her home.
“O God.”
As Artina quietly murmured to the existence, a pure white light flowed out through the Goddess’s Cloud. She slowly raised the Goddess’s Cloud.
“Grant me strength.”
The pure white light spread gently, covering the entire capital. It was as if the god was reaching out to protect the city. Simultaneously, the energy of the demonkind rapidly diminished.
“It’s divine power! Artina did it!”
“Now is the time!”
“Finish them all!”
A pure white light appeared on the swords of her comrades in white cloaks. They charged toward the demonkind with swords imbued with divine power.
*Slash!*
*Slash!*
The powerful demons were cut down in an instant.
There were those watching this entire scene. As the darkness that had settled in the capital lifted, the white light began to take its place bit by bit. The speed gradually increased. The light, once it turned white, quickly devoured the black light and dyed the entire capital pure white.
By the time morning dawned, not a single trace of demonic power could be felt in the capital. It was the first victory achieved against the demonkind.
“We won!”
“We’ve reclaimed the capital!”
“Waaaaah! This is it!”
The cheers and cries of those celebrating the victory shook the capital. Their joy became faith, and that faith strengthened the divinity.
*Vwoooooom!*
Artina could feel her divine power gradually becoming stronger.
‘With this, it’s possible.’
The god had not abandoned this world, and the people had not abandoned the god. As their faith grew firmer, she would be able to handle even more divine power. If that happened, she would eventually be able to catch the Demon King at the end of this.
“Artina.”
She turned her gaze to look at the man who had given her this power. Cheon Yongje. When she first met him, he was just a suspicious person, and when they met again, she thought he was a warlock. But he was the savior who would save this world and the representative who delivered the god’s will.
Artina knelt and bowed her head.
“Thank you for giving me hope.”
“There’s no need to be so formal.”
“It is only natural for a knight to show courtesy to her lord.”
“Sigh… Won’t you try to stop her?”
Cheon Yongje looked at Ropenheim beside him, but Ropenheim just laughed lightly and turned his head away.
“Whew, whatever. It’s still not enough to catch the Demon King.”
“What should I do?”
“You’ll have to become King.”
Normally, she would have said it was nonsense. Such a position didn’t suit her, nor did she want it. However, if it was something she absolutely had to do to save this world, she was prepared to do everything without hesitation.
“I understand.”
“The Third Prince is dead anyway. Since you can handle divine power, you have the justification. No one will oppose you.”
“Yes.”
“There isn’t as much time as you think. Complete the war preparations within one week.”
“There is so much lacking. To properly equip ourselves with food and equipment, it will take at least half a year.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
*Snap!*
As Cheon Yongje lightly snapped his fingers, high-quality armor, swords, spears, and bows poured out in piles. Furthermore, boxes filled with potions were lined up on one side, and well-prepared meat appeared in heaps on the other.
“You just focus on gathering people and making them yours. I’ll support you with the rest.”
***
After killing the Demon King’s kin, the restrictions were lifted more than I expected. Although summoning Guardians was impossible, I could summon things from my warehouse, so I used that as a base to stabilize the capital quickly.
“She’s doing a better job than I thought.”
“There’s a reason she survived until now.”
Artina became the new King and immediately formed a Demon King subjugation force. Tens of thousands of soldiers and dozens of knights gathered in front of the walls. Artina, standing at the very front, raised the Goddess’s Cloud and unleashed her divine power. A massive barrier spread over the capital.
“Do not worry about the capital. The demonkind will never be able to invade again. We will focus only on killing the Demon King for our next generation and for the future.”
“Waaaaaaaah!”
With a powerful shout, the Demon King subjugation force marched out of the walls. Starting with them, we would reclaim cities occupied by the demonkind to increase our strength and restore the ruined temples to grow the divine power.
In fact, even if we went to catch the Demon King right now, we had a good enough chance of winning, but…
‘That would be a bit of a waste.’
Currently, a growth buff with a multiplier of hundreds of times was active on Artina. Growth as a King. Growth as a God’s Apostle. As all these things combined, her growth could be accelerated even further. If I made Artina an SSS Rank by exerting extreme efficiency before catching the Demon King, I could secure at least two SSS Ranks.
‘It’s worth a try.’
No, it was definitely possible. Since the food, equipment, and potions being produced in the Dragon Lair were being generated almost infinitely. The problem was finding the Demon King’s kin, but this could be done quickly using the power of the Sacred Relic.
**[Using Eye of Bluecat.]**
**[Searching for the Demon King’s kin.]**
Five lines appeared in my sight. I etched into my mind where they were and what they looked like. Thinking of the one closest to us, I sent a telepathy to Artina.
【 The first target is at the Lotte Grand Temple. 】