{0}
...... I, Monica Esperanto, entered the Tenketsu Palace <Sophia> at the age of seven.
I was one of the contenders to be a Priestess that protects the world — an apprentice-Priestess.
Just like the rest of the apprentices, I was really happy when I was chosen to be an apprentice-Priestess. I thought I could finally contribute something. Though it may be a little too exaggerated for me to be saying that...... but one day, I may really become an essential person on this floating continent.
However, most of the apprentice-Priestesses who entered the Tenketsu Palace <Sophia> with that dream in mind had left the place willingly within a year.
Training that was akin to torture, mixed together with our tears and blood.
Glamorous and mysterious. Many apprentice-Priestesses were hit hard by reality, which was way different from the image of the Priestesses they had in their minds.
— As for me, I ended up failing horribly on the final test.
For someone who could not become a Priestess, how should I go about with my life next?
The people close to me recommended that I take up roles to develop the other apprentice-Priestesses. However, I hoped to be just like that dual-sword wielding young man - since I couldn't become a Priestess, I might as well walk on the path to protect them.
A cadet guard since the age of fifteen.
However, I'd be hit with constant failure...... for the next three years. Things like a mock team battle, or even when I was carrying out the actual missions - my body would not move due to nervousness whenever I was at critical juncture.
That was a psychological scar in me.
Because, I would always recall the final test of a Priestess — the scene in which I failed.
The eight years as an apprentice-Priestess; the eight years that I went through, supported by my tears and my pain - everything disappeared in an instant. I couldn't move whenever I thought of that.
An utterly useless cadet guard. Since I was labelled like that, over time, there were no longer any squads that were willing to welcome my participation.
For about a year after that, I was always alone—
"H-Hey! Are you alone right now? Have you teamed up with anyone else?"
Because of that, I was really happy when there was someone who invited me to participate in the mock team battle.
That was the very first time that I was victorious in a team training exercise. Since that day, it was like everything changed. With those thoughts in mind, I participated in this mission.
The enigmatic Floating Archipelagos <Lagoon>; the mysterious research facility; the bred Yuugenshu.
However, the enemy is just a small-sized Yuugenshu.
Even though the danger still exists, I am still able to fight against it with the arts of shinryoku that I had learned before. As a part of the team, I am able to contribute as well.
...... That's what I have always thought.
............ However.
{1}
"...... What's going on...... This monster......"
Due to the shock from the scene before her, Monica was murmuring in a daze.
*Gya...... Chiiii......!*
The density of the mist surrounding the Yuugenshu had increased explosively all of a sudden.
The body of mist was expanding. One could see changes to the legs of the looming Yuugenshu amid the mist. There were originally thick shells on its legs, but the top layer of the shell was blasted apart, and the leg slowly became thicker.
The legs had already exceeded four to five meters in length, even though it was just barely one meter high at the start. Its diameter used to be as thick as that of a human wrist, but now it had grown to exceed the width of her own body. Not just that, it was tightly encased with a layer of newly grown shell.
— Battle mode? No, that's wrong. Could it be that it has grown that much within this short period of time?
*Zu...... Zuzuuu...........*
The ceiling, which was reinforced by metal, was beginning to melt after coming into contact with the mist of the Yuugenshu.
It was originally just the size of a human child, but now it had grown into a giant Yuugenshu that reached the top end of the floor.
*Pra*— even the screen before it was crushed and shattered by the Yuugenshu.
The body expanded horizontally like a crab. The whole body was covered with a layer of spotted shell. Six legs that were as sharp as spears extended out from that body. It was over five meters in height, and one would have to lift their head up high to be able to see the whole Yuugenshu.
"...... This is?"
She said those words unknowingly through her lips.
That had way exceeded the definition of growth.
— A mutation?
That was way different from any of the living organisms that were on the floating continent. More importantly, even though she had encountered Yuugenshu during her stint as an apprentice-Priestess, she had never seen variants that had gone through such strange changes.
How should she fight against an unknown opponent?
"Monica, evade!"
"Eh?"
Everything was already too late when she came to her senses.
The Yuugenshu had already approached her silently, and it had swung its leg, which was as thick as a log. When she lifted her head to see what was above her, the sharp spear-like leg was already crashing down on her swiftly—
It was too late for her to escape.
Upon understanding that fact, the world around her slowed down, just like a tiny frame in the movies. She could feel the time around her flowing slowly, as though there was some sort of slow-motion effect going on.
...... The moment just before death.
Everything, including herself as well as the movements of the Yuugenshu, were in the world of slow motion. Even so, nothing has changed. The leg of the Yuugenshu was still cleaving down towards her like a giant axe.
*Don—*
Eh?
Someone knocked into her from her sides, and pushed her body out of the attack of the Yuugenshu.
...... I'm saved?
Just as that thought came to her mind, Monica was immediately overwhelmed by a sense of regret, that almost made her cry.
The Yuugenshu delivered the wicked blow.
And what happened before her was—
"...... You idiot."
She had activated the arts of the Priestesses using their language.
The praying arts that will bring the world blessings and miracles. Something which is not easily used by anyone. Something that can only be manipulated freely only after years of training in Tenketsu Palace <Sophia>.
However, there's a girl here who has worked hard at the her training, harder than anyone else—
"You've said a bunch of stuff to me, and with that righteous tone too."
The line of sight of the Yuugenshu did not land on the ground or the walls, but at a place directly above it.
With a cluster of faintly glowing dots of white light, the girl leaped into the space close to the ceiling.
"Oh blessed metals...... the Third Stone...... Descend, the crystals of white silver!"
Pure white.
A color that is paler, more uncertain, and more easily stained than any other color out there.
But at the same time, it's a color that is unrivaled in terms of elegance and beauty.
....... That's right, I am not a Priestess.
....... However.
"Under the guidance of the advent...... the twenty-second power of the second process shall form the world."
The pale white particles of light shone around the whole body of the girl. The rays of light traveled through her arms, and blessed the crossed rods <Rosario> in her hand.
In that instant, the pale white light clustered themselves together, and began to crystallize.
The light of Shinryoku formed a brilliantly shining crystal at the tip of the rod, turning it into what seemed like a lance with a silver-white blade.
{2}
"Ahh...... ugh...... feels like my head is about to burst."
Sheltis sat cross-legged on the floor, and moaned as he pressed his hand against his head.
"It's because you pushed yourself too hard, you idiot."
Next to him was Monica, who was sitting with a straight posture in seiza.
"Well, such things are commonplace, so just ignore him. He's stupid to the point that he can't be cured anymore."
"...... Ughhh, it's so painful, I no longer have the strength to retort to that."
They had finally managed stop his bleeding with the use of anti-hemorrhagic agent and disinfectants, together with a compresser on the wounds using bandages. However, it's not like his wounds were treated just like that. He would still need to receive real treatment when he returned to the Tenketsu Palace <Sophia>.
"Darn, what exactly is Leon doing at a time like this?"
"Speaking of which, I haven't seen Captain Leon either. It's the same as when we were on the floor of the hidden passage—"
"Speak of the devil."
There were sounds of running that echoed in the passageway. The hurried footsteps stopped right before the door, which then opened immediately after that.
"Sorry for the wait, Sheltis! Where's the enemy, the so called 'Slumbering Child'?"
"Sheltis, where's the enemy!"
"Where—?"
It was Leon, who was carrying a great sword on his shoulder. Behind him, was Eyriey and Yuto, who were both looking around the room.
"......"
"......"
With the three people before them, Sheltis and Monica could only look at each other.
""Sorry, I'm really too tired. Allow me to take a snooze first.""
After saying the exact same thing in sync, the both of them collapsed onto the ground straight away.
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