I'll kill you after I finish this game!

They became Matilda's allies because they both wanted to kill the guy who controlled their lives.

Both of them knew quite a bit about the truth of eternal rebirth, so when Matilda invited them to join her in killing the god who had locked the fate of all living beings, the two killing gods readily agreed.

Your life has no meaning; anyone would be angry to be told that.

The bald man hated being controlled by others, had no natural affinity for gods, and even less for those who controlled the fate of all living beings, including his own.

DOOM simply didn't want to reincarnate again, because that would make all the demons he slaughtered meaningless.

Even if you kill the Dark Lord, the game will restart again; DOOM isn't a puppet.

“Ah, a half-baked thing that’s rotting but not completely rotten,” Matilda said, uttering her name for the Mercury Serpent.

"how to spell?"

DOOM, who doesn't like to talk much, just wants to get into battle as soon as possible, but he also wants to hear what Matilda has to say.

"Whatever, you guys aren't exactly the type to cooperate with others anyway."

Matilda directly opened a teleportation array to the central universe for the two of them, without arranging any specific combat instructions, leaving them free to do as they pleased on the battlefield.

Just as she said, these two tough guys aren't the type to cooperate with others.

These two are undoubtedly formidable warriors, and Matilda has her own three divine servants to manage the legion.

The Skywing race she inherited can now be deployed to the battlefield.

The same applies to Skadi, their opponent.

P.S.: Please vote and recommend! It's been cold lately, and I'm also experiencing a low-grade fever and a cold. My health hasn't been great lately, so please forgive any delays in updates...

Chapter Seventy-Three: Ling'ai's Prayer, The Witch Whose Lifespan Was Devoured by the Path of Severance

Skadi and Matilda have already begun to take action, and the territories of the two great gods are converging towards the central universe.

Matilda's legions have gradually come into contact with the parallel phase of the other dimension.

Meanwhile, at the very center of the universe, in the Suwahara City Church, which is also the core stage,...

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name (Pater Nosterquiincaelisessanctificeturnomentuum)"

"May the Lord grant them eternal rest, and may His unending light shine upon His people (Requiemaeternamdonaeis, Domineetluxperpetualuceateis)."

A solemn yet gentle voice resonated throughout the church's silence. To whom was this soon-to-be-concluded requiem dedicated?

"May the Lord hear our prayer (exaudiorationenmean)."

"All life belongs to the Lord (adteomniscarovenient)."

"Our souls should rest again, for the Lord will reward us (Concertereanimameainrequiemtuam,quiaDominusbenefecttibi)"

The voice was stained with blood. Although it wasn't a clan rule for the Crying Cry, it was filled with confusion and regret for the vanished spirits.

Following the sound, what caught the eyes of countless viewers was a white-haired girl kneeling in prayer in a church.

Himuro Reia, a girl with silver-white hair, has a peaceful expression and her eyes are closed.

Their attire changed to thin clerical robes, and their entire bodies were enveloped in a shimmering, holy white light.

However, the other person's brows furrowed from time to time, and their praying posture and serene expression seemed to be tinged with pain.

Beneath Ling'ai's slightly open clerical robes, a golden magic circle flickered and shone.

The light looked dazzling, but it gave Ling'ai a burning, scorching pain.

That was her sacred mark in operation.

The excruciating pain of the burning stigmata is proof that a transmutation circle altar has just been opened.

This means that countless people are dying somewhere in Suwahara City.

How cruel it is—though she thought so, there was nothing she could do.

There was neither the power to stop it, nor the righteous indignation to wail and cry.

Not to mention prayers or anything like that...

"There are four more..."

Ling Ai's delicate voice suddenly rang out, and then immediately melted into the church.

The girl seemed unable to bear her own weight, and her clenched fingers gradually tightened.

In the darkness with my eyes closed, the face of a blond man appeared, a smiling man.

"What exactly are you pursuing...?"

No one can answer this question.

Without needing confirmation, it was clear that Valyria Trifa was not in the church.

Now, no matter where he is or what he's doing, what will happen...

"......"

In the silent stillness, the girl is seeking help.

Where to begin? Who to ask for help? What to do? — It's not something with a clear direction, but a deeper, more fundamental, and unclear darkness.

For example, pain; whenever the altar of the transmutation circle is opened, a torrent of death will pierce through the girl's body.

For example, fear, when it descends, leads to a self-destructive end.

For example—

It was a miracle, a gift that will never fade—a memory of sunlight…

The fingers, tightly clenched, almost bled.

I never imagined I would pray to God... Although I grew up in a church, I never thought I was that devout.

Even now, the girl knows that she is not believing or praying.

However, if she doesn't do this, she will continue like this and accomplish nothing.

Before I knew it, I had even forgotten to breathe.

She slowly opened her eyes and raised her head; the shadow of the Christ statue, illuminated by candlelight, coldly looked down upon her.

His gaze held a reproachful look, which must have stemmed from self-reproach.

“Lisa…”

Whispering the nun's name, Ling'ai was longing for her.

What would she say if she saw herself like this?

Was it surprise, pity, or mockery?

Himuro Rei didn't know.

Valeria Trevor, and Lisa Brenner.

The girl knew that the lives of men and women were the complete opposite of devoutly offering their teachings to God and spreading doctrine.

Those two people were not clergy to begin with, and under their tutelage—Ling'ai was not qualified to pray to God.

"But I..."

Searching for words of repentance, I can only remain silent.

What's there to regret? And when should one even begin to regret?

She knew perfectly well that she had been manipulated to the point of being no longer human before she was even born, and that her voice could not be conveyed to God.

Yes, we knew it would turn out this way.

The girl knew she couldn't stop the plans of the so-called Golden Beast and Mercury Demon.

So, should we give up?

Shouldn't I keep my distance from everything and spend my time in solitude?

They had clearly given up on living, become part of the devil's plan, and died as a tool.

As long as I don't go looking for them...

"Scadi, Fujii..."

Himuro Reia's eyes were filled with tears and longing; yes, she simply couldn't bear to die alone.

On the rooftop of that school that should have been deserted, during that year, I had a space all to myself, if I hadn't had any contact with the two of them...

No, even if something goes wrong, if I could refuse as before...

Why didn't I do that?

The question floated into the air, then drifted away and disappeared.

She couldn't interfere with Skadi's will, but at least at that time, Fujii Ren was just an ordinary high school girl.

This was not a dramatic misunderstanding, nor was it something I had noticed from the beginning.

It was just a whim, it really happened by chance without me even realizing it, and naturally I became friends with them.

I did indeed become addicted to it, to this kind of thing, this strange feeling...

—[It's like repeating it tens of thousands of times, and it can only turn out the same way]—

"Well!!!"

Himuro Reia shook her head abruptly, as if she had broken free from that strange sense of déjà vu and dismissed it as a delusion of escapism.

No, no, that's not how it is.

The girl had no intention of blaming this inexplicable feeling.

The only one who was wrong was myself.

Having chosen solitude but unable to endure it, this is the punishment I must bear.

To Skadi and Ren Fujii, to the people around them... leaning on Kasumi Ayase, leaning on Shirou Yuza, leaning on Nanami and Tohka, it was wrong to be weak.

But if that's the case...

If that's the case, Ling'ai will have no choice but to pray.