Chapter 163. Struggle (2) (1/2)
Dwarves, Vampires, Orcs, Goblins, Fairies, Dragons, Humans, Elemental Spirits…
The number of races that had once coexisted under the Empire’s reign in Paradise had suddenly experienced a sharp decline following the appearance of the Parasites.
Some races were driven extinct, others succumbed, and a few even voluntarily surrendered.
Eventually, only a few races remained and resisted the Parasite Queen in her conquest of Paradise.
But the result was a pitiful streak of losses.
The Parasites had multiplied their colonies to their limits and swept across all of Paradise.
A tearful and desperate fight continued day after day, but no matter how much they struggled, the future did not change.
The Parasite Queen devouring the Chief Deity that overlooked the star meant that she had done the same with the Seven Virtues under the Chief Deity’s banner. Naturally, there was no way for mortals who no longer had any god’s support to fight against an immortal.
But at that time, a great change happened that reversed the hopeless situation.
The unworshipped Seven Deadly Sins took the initiative to make a contract with humans.
And by summoning humans from Earth, they were able to quickly recover their forces.
Additionally, the appearance of the Fallen Angels, which were an alien race like the Parasites, successfully assembled the remaining races.
They united under a single cause, and through complementing each others’ weaknesses and accepting alien knowledge, they created a formidable firepower.
These two changes created tectonic waves that even the Parasite Queen could not ignore, and finally, they were able to put a stop to the once unstoppable charge of the Parasites.
But the Parasite Queen did not remain still either. When the situation was on the brink of getting overturned, the Parasite Queen made a decision.
The card the Parasite Queen played was spitting the Seven Virtues back out. To be more precise, she chose the seven most unique species amongst her subordinates and granted them divinity.
“In other words, she gave birth to seven new powers that could resist the attacks from the human race and the Federation.”
Kazuki, who explained the birth of the Seven Armies, let out a small cough. Seol Jihu could be seen with a stunned expression as he had suddenly received information beyond his wildest imaginations.
”Then those seven species became the new gods?”
“It’s hard to say that they’re complete gods since they’ve only been granted divinity. The amount they’re able to digest depends on the ability of the species.”
“Still, if it’s a god’s power… I feel like they would be extremely strong.”
”Obviously!”
Kazuki snorted.
“Among the Seven Armies… maybe just three?”
He tilted his head.
“No, if four armies were to attack, then the human race will need to worry about its destruction.”
Seol Jihu stopped breathing. He finally understood why everyone had shown such a reaction earlier.
“I have a bad feeling.”
It was Cinzia’s voice. The two men stopped talking and focused back on the meeting.
“This is unlike how the Parasites usually act….”
Cinzia rarely trailed off when talking. Her usual laid-back attitude had disappeared as if it was washed off, and a serious expression had settled on her face.
As this was Seol Jihu’s first time seeing the head of the South’s war hawk organization make such an expression, he began to feel the gravity of the situation.
”You’re right.”
Teresa agreed with a grave expression.
The Parasites were moving a massive amount of troops in such a conspicuous manner that it would have been strange for them not to notice. Thanks to that, they were given some time to prepare, but even then, a feeling of uneasiness did not go away.
After all, the Parasites had always behaved beyond human logic.
There was definitely a hidden intention behind this sudden change.
It wasn’t that the Princess Knight who had fought the Parasites for tens of years did not know this fact.
”But…”
Teresa continued with a helpless face.
“In the end, there’s only one thing we have to do.”
The meeting ended with a heavy atmosphere.
After the meeting ended, Teresa asked Seol Jihu to stay behind for a bit. As he also had some business with her, he willingly accepted.
Seol Jihu, who was guided to the reception room, was able to hear a number of matters that he couldn’t hear because of his late arrival.
These were things from the time of the gathering, to the decision of Sicilia controlling the castle gate, to whether he knew anyone that would lend them a helping hand.
She pleaded with him to bring anyone, whether it was an individual or a group, and told him that she would not forget to heavily reward them after the war was over.
Seol Jihu felt a lump in his throat seeing her so desperately plead with her hands clasped together as if she was grasping at straws.
When he told her that Seo Yuhui would lead a support team from the main Temple of Luxuria, Teresa’s fatigued eyes lit up with a shine.
”Really?”
”She’s not someone who would lie.”
”That’s great! We were worried because we didn’t have enough priests…”
Having one of her burdens lifted, Teresa brushed her chest and let out a sigh of relief.
The sight of her drooping shoulders made her look extremely tired.
In his heart, he wanted to suggest her to get some rest, even if it was just a short while.
But seeing her approach with shaky footsteps as if she was going to collapse at any moment, Seol Jihu remained silent.
Teresa, who had stopped in front of his nose, gently grabbed the side of his arms and lowered her head. Bump. As her forehead touched his chest, her cherry-like lips gently parted.
”Haaahhhh…”
A long sigh escaped her mouth as if she was letting out all of her worries.
The slight trembling of her small shoulders entered his eyes.
Teresa was also human. She must have been unable to sleep for several days, coming up with countermeasures.
It was only natural for her to feel wary.
”Cheer…”
Seol Jihu hesitated while saying ‘Cheer up’ in an attempt to console her.
What was it like for Teresa to have to live in such a world ever since she was young…? Having that thought brush past his mind, he didn’t have the courage to speak anymore.
Because he felt that his words would only sound distant as if he was watching a fire across the river.
So as he was lowering his raised hand.
”My head… pet my head.”
As per her silent whisper, he placed his hand on top of Teresa’s head.
When he slowly brushed his hand through her rose-gold hair, she let out a happy moan.
”My back too.”
The sight of her rubbing her cheeks against him looked like a child whining for attention, causing Seol Jihu to laugh and pat her back as well.
But he knew this was only temporary comfort.
'How can I…?'
What would make Teresa feel better?
”Ah.”
Seol Jihu suddenly remembered what he had come to her for.
”Princess.”
”Haah…”
”Princess?”
”Feels shoo nice… Yes?”
Teresa who had been making a blissful expression was startled and tilted her head up.
“Didn’t you lose all of your equipment back when you were held captive in the research lab?”
”Ah— yes. I did.”
Ssp.
Teresa wiped the drool off her mouth with the back of her hands, looking regretful.
It was because her valuable equipment that could raise her ability stats were buried when the research lab was bombed.
Of course, considering her identity, she could just take as much as she needed from the armory, but it was hard to find equipment as good as the ones she used before even as a princess of a kingdom.
”I thought as much. So…”
Seol Jihu smiled as he held out a sophisticated silver sword in his left hand and a Heater Shield engraved with geometric patterns in his right hand.
Both pieces of equipment let out a radiance, making them look extraordinary even at a first glance.
Teresa made a dazed expression.
”It’s a sword and a shield from the Empire. They’re a couple hundred years old though.”
”…Huh? The Empire?”
”The tomb in the Forest of Denial. You remember it, right?”
Teresa gasped after hearing his explanation.
”You’re giving me these precious things?”
”Yes.”
Seol Jihu nodded. He emphasized that he wasn’t letting her borrow them but was entirely giving them to her.
When he handed them over to her without hesitation, Teresa was bewildered as she accepted them.
”I was originally going to use them for diplomacy… but considering the situation…”
”Diplomacy?”
”Yes. Ian gave me a task. He told me to engage in diplomacy with you using these two items.”
”Ahah.”
Teresa’s eyes shined like a carnivore that had found an opportunity to strike.
“Okay then. There’s no reason not to engage in diplomacy. As a representative of Paradise and a representative of Earth…”
And she said.
”Let’s get married.”
”….”
”Why? Diplomacy is basically creating a relationship through economy, culture, and politics. I don’t know if you’re aware, but political marriage is a diplomatic tactic in Paradise.”
Seol Jihu bitterly smiled, but he didn’t feel bad.
Teresa, who had looked like she would break with a single touch, regained her vitality and finally looked lively.
She was all cheered up.
Seeing Seol Jihu grin, Teresa became embarrassed and asked him.
”Is it really okay for me to have these?”
“Having you use them is for the best.”
“I feel sorry to receive these for free. They’re from the Empire, not to mention that they’re items only given to a Saintess… Do you have anything you desire by any chance? Something that you really wanted to have, for instance.”
Nothing came to his mind even after hearing that. He hadn’t given them to her with the intention of receiving anything in return in the first place.
'No.'
After thinking carefully, the dream that he had on Huge Stone Rocky Mountain suddenly flashed past his mind.
While everything else was blurry, the scene where Teresa’s decapitated body was lying in a pool of blood was still clear.
His mood suddenly turned sour, and he felt shivers run down his spine.
He now had something he wanted. Seol Jihu honestly spoke out his thoughts.
”Don’t die. Promise me.”
”?”
”I hope I can see you again after the war.”
”What…. T-The reason you’re giving me all this is because you don’t want me to die?”
Teresa was shocked, but Seol Jihu nodded with a serious face.
”If this equipment can help you in any way, then there is nothing else I want.”
”…Oh my…”
Teresa tightly hugged the sword and shield.
'She likes them that much?'
Seol Jihu who had been giving a satisfied smile was suddenly startled. He felt a burning hot gaze fix onto his face.
”What in the world…?”
Dilated eyes and a flushed complexion.
Her face was looking like she had lost herself in ecstasy.
The problem here was that Teresa’s two eyes weren’t staring at the equipment but were instead, staring intently at Seol Jihu himself.
…Looking carefully, were those hearts that he could see in her eyes? No. Her entire body was spouting out pink hearts.
As the flurry of pink hearts made his sight chaotic, Seol Jihu shook his head.
And when he looked forward again, he could see Teresa slowly approaching with a dazed look on her face.
”Princess?”