Before the night of destruction approached...
I was wandering the market, preparing for the final quest.
"Young man, do you need anything from our store?"
A man's voice suddenly called out to me.
"Yes?"
Turning my head, a suspicious person beckoned from a dark tent. With the tent's interior shadowy and the person wearing a hood, their identity was hard to discern.
"Given the way the world's going, adventurers like you usually buy something from me. Not interested?"
The somewhat familiar yet strange structure of the tent, and the shelves lined with bizarre and mystical items caught my eye.
A shop of the dark merchant that could also be seen in the game.
This mystical-themed shop, managed by a mysterious man, sold various artifacts. In the actual game, you had to buy them with real money.
In other words, a cash item shop.
"I'll take a look around, I guess..."
The concept of microtransactions doesn't exist in this world. But does it really exist here after all? And why is it revealing itself now? Perhaps it's sticking true to its 'mystical' theme.
Actually seeing it was quite an experience, but I couldn't think of any items from that shop that I currently needed.
However...
"What items do you have?"
The game didn't encompass all the possible magic and items, so I approached the shop with a sense of hope. After all, Elenora had also granted me magic and items not implemented in the game, so I was open to the shopkeeper's offer.
"Hmm... We're meeting for the first time, so what exactly are you looking for?"
While I had seen him in the game, in person, he had an air of mystery that made me wary.
"How much do things usually cost here?"
"Prices start from one gold coin."
Surprisingly cheap...
While in the game's setting, one gold coin was worth a fortune, it usually couldn't be used to buy anything in the real world, making it invaluable by my standards.
Hiding my surprise, I conveyed my situation.
Above all, what I needed was...
"I'm cursed with the power of an ancient god. Do you have anything to counteract that?"
I had no expectations, as none of the cash items I knew of could solve my problem.
"Oh... Such an unfortunate soul. Maybe this can help."
The shopkeeper began rummaging around.
Is there really something?
My heart swelled with hope as I waited for him to produce something...
"How about this?"
What he presented was a rather plain-looking semi-transparent gemstone.
"What's this?"
At least within my game knowledge, this wasn't an item I recognized.
"It's called the Seal Stone of Radiance. It can store any form of magic or even a soul."
The item seemed perfect for my needs, so without hesitation, I voiced my intention to buy it.
"I'll purchase it right now. How much?"
Given that my curse was truly the power of an ancient god, this Seal Stone could potentially free me from it.
However, as I reached out, the shopkeeper stopped me and gave a warning.
"But using it requires a price..."
A price...
Given that it's an artifact, it's hard to predict what might be demanded, dampening my hopes.
"And that price is...?"
"You have to offer your life force to use it."
What use would that be?!
The whole reason I wanted to lift the curse was to live.
But if it required my life force...
It felt like pouring water into a leaking bucket.
"How much life force are we talking about?"
Holding onto a sliver of hope, the answer I received was disheartening.
"I'd recommend using it as a last-ditch effort against a powerful spirit, right before losing your life."
In other words, use it in a mutual destruction scenario with the enemy... In other words, it was a useless item for me.
"Well, since it's an item I rarely sell, I'll let it go for the minimum price of one gold coin. If you're from a wealthy family, would you like to make a deal?"
To be honest, I wasn't even sure if I would ever have the occasion to use it.
However...
"I'll buy it. Here's one gold coin."
Having already received so much from Eleonora, the concept of capital had long lost its significance to me.
"Good choice! You never know what might happen, so it's always good to have something like this on hand!"
Just as the shopkeeper said, I couldn't predict what the future held, so it was wise to have some precautions.
"Just channel your power into it to use it!"
Given its size, it was convenient to carry around, which might be beneficial.
However, not long after the purchase, I felt regret, wondering why I had impulsively bought it. But who could have known that I'd have a day to use it?
It seemed inevitable that I would die soon, and I was certain that my future was immutable no matter how much I resisted.
"Wait a moment?!"
I tried to snatch the sealing stone in a panic, but it was too late.
Whooosh!
The Seal Stone of Radiance began to glow brightly...
"Ugh... Ahhhh?!!"
The curse that had tormented me was being sucked into it, and Luslia, who had possessed Miru, screamed in agony.
The sealing stone, which originally emitted a pure white light, began to darken as it consumed the darkness.
"You... how dare you!!"
Gasp!
Luslia, changing her strategy, tightened her grip on my throat. She seemed to be trying to choke me to cut off my power supply...
"Ughh!!"
I had to resist... I had to hold on no matter what.
While maintaining the power flowing into the sealing stone, I overexerted every healing spell I knew.
"Die! Die!! DIE--!!!"
My power quickly drained, but I managed to withstand Luslia's strength for a brief moment.
"Kyaaaa!!"
Soon, her strength weakened. Whether the sealing stone had drained her, she soon released me and only screamed in agony.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!!
My heart raced wildly, its instinct sensing danger, amplifying my anxiety.
I knew exactly why I felt this way.
It was my life force being sucked into the stone along with the curse.
Feeling like I had been drugged, sleepiness overcame me, and my eyelids grew heavy.
"Ugh... ugh!!"
But I bit my tongue hard, resisting the drowsiness, and kept the seal stone activated.
"Ahhh... Ahhhhh--!!"
Soon, Luslia writhed on the ground in pain. The ancient god's soul within Miru was gradually sucked into the stone.
"Ahh-- Ah- Ah!"
She seemed to struggle to breathe, looking at me with rage, but we were almost there.
"Cough... Ah..."
Soon, Luslia lost consciousness, all her strength gone, collapsing on the ground.
No, now I should refer to her as Miru again...
Having sucked in everything, the sealing stone turned completely dark and stopped.
I did it...
The ancient god was sealed, and the curse was gone.
"Harold?!"
Collapsed, Eleonora called my name and approached.
My heart yearned to run into her embrace...
However...
Thud!
"Harold!!!"
It seemed all my remaining life force had been drained...
"Oh no..."
Tears streamed down Eleonora's face as she tightly embraced me.
"You can't, Harold... My knight... I absolutely hate this..."
She sobbed uncontrollably, pleading desperately.
"Please, grant him life..."
She tried casting some form of magic on me, but there was no sign of improvement.
"What did you do?! Why did you do this...!"
She wanted to hear something, anything from me, but I didn't have the strength to speak...
"My God..."
"Harold...?"
In the distance, I could faintly hear a familiar voice filled with shock.
It must be Erina and Mir.
"Ugh... Where am I... Wait... Brother?!"
Miru regained consciousness and noticed me on the brink of death.
"Harold, what happened?! What did you do?!!"
"You...! You're not dying, are you?! Isn't this such a senseless end?!"
"Brother?! Brother!!"
Each of them shed tears, mourning my fading life. "Ah.. Ah..."
A voice I could barely muster.
" "?!! " "
Everyone suddenly stopped talking and strained their ears to catch my faint voice.
Can they understand... that this might be my last words...
"Everyone... I'm sorry..."
I manage to whisper a few words to the sorrowful women looking at my dying form.
"I'm truly... sorry..."
As I finish speaking, my vision starts to fade, and I can't keep my heavy eyelids open any longer.
"Harold?! Harold!! Wake up...!!"
I hear Erina's desperate voice.
"Snap out of it! You can't die here!!"
"Brother, I'm sorry... If only I hadn't met you in the first place!!"
I hear the voices of Miru and someone who sounds like her.
And then...
"Please... open your eyes..."
The blurred image of a tearful Eleonora appears in my dimming sight.
"I'm so sorry... I promised a hundred times to protect you, but I ended up hurting you..."
'I'm okay.'
I wanted to say, but I didn't even have the strength to open my mouth.
My vision rapidly darkens.
In this potentially last scene of mine...
Everyone was crying... The war-like situation ended almost instantly after Luslia was sealed.
In the face of the divine power wielded by the gods and their followers, even the most tainted heretics couldn't resist for long.
With the death of one man after Luslia, the sound of clashing iron ceased.
In the midst of everyone's grief, there was a particularly noticeable scene...
"No, please..."
"Don't go..."
"Brother...?"
Four women mourn the death of one man.
"My knight..."
All of them were shedding tears for one person.
"Wait... is it real?"
The Goddess of Dawn hurried to the scene, but nothing changed.
She gritted her teeth in anger and sorrow.
"I'm truly... sorry..."
Everyone's gaze was directed there as the goddess's voice echoed quietly.
"How should I live without you..."
She whispered desperately, trying to suppress her sorrow.
"I don't want to let you go..."
As everyone was mourning,
"There's a way to save him."
A confident female voice resonated.
"You are..."
The voice belonged to the Goddess of Fate.
"But there's a condition, as I just mentioned."
"Tell me quickly! Save him right now!"
Eleonora, in stark contrast to her calm appearance, yelled urgently.
"Calm down, listen to the condition first-"
"Do I look calm to you?! I've already made my choice, so speak!!"
At her words, Morione slightly frowned but reluctantly explained the way to save him.
"Right now, his body has lost its life force, it's at zero. Normally, it can't be refilled."
"But he can be revived, however..."
She snapped her fingers and dropped a bombshell on Eleonora.
"The oath engraved within him needs to be broken and covered with my oath."
"What?!"
Eleonora was momentarily shocked but soon bit her lip, seemingly understanding something.
"You know, each god's oath carries a different function, right?"
"The Goddess of Dawn grants intelligence, Tempus grants speed... you bestow talent, and I grant life force."
At her words, everyone realized her proposed solution.
"You understand what I'm saying? Break the oath that connects you and Harold right now, and overlay it with my oath. Then he can be saved."
At her words, Eleonora clenched her teeth and closed her eyes, but there was no real choice to ponder. The sound of breaking glass echoed.
A faint light, like dust, emanated from around him and dispersed, signaling that something internal had vanished.
"Alright, then..."
Ignoring the silent Eleonora, Morione placed her hand near his chest.
"In the name of Morione, I grant permission, from now on, you are my follower... a loyal servant who will face challenges for me."
As she spoke, his chest began to glow and a new light enveloped his body.
"Good, with that, the contract is complete. He is now my follower."
Recently, I've been feeling tired.
No matter how deeply I sleep, I'm always drowsy.
I opened the temple door. A familiar sight greeted me, and a woman welcomed me.
"Welcome! I've been waiting for you."
The goddess I served, Morione.
"Good morning, Goddess."
As always, I greeted her, and she welcomed me warmly.
"Yes, it's a bright morning!"
As usual, we exchanged pleasantries. Then, I shared my recent concerns.
"Goddess, I've been feeling strange lately. I feel as if I've forgotten something, and it's quite unsettling."
Despite my serious tone, Morione brushed it off casually.
"What could you have forgotten? Do you even have something to forget? Have you had anything significant while serving as my follower?"
I desperately tried to recall, but my mind drew a blank.
"No... nothing."
In response, she firmly reminded me of who I was.
"Lately, I've noticed this behavior from you. Let me make it clear: you have always been my follower. If you ever remember anything, shake off those thoughts. They're useless to you."
I nodded at her words, deeply engraving her advice in my heart.
"Yes, I understand."
But why?
I am her knight, and I should trust her words more than anyone else's...
Yet, every time, why do I instinctively resist and feel this nagging unease?