Overlimit Skill Holder - Book 6: Chapter 27

On The Day Of The Decisive Battle

Two hours before dawn.

We were in the meadows.

「From this point onwards, we will be entering the effective range of the goddess temple. We will most likely be captured the moment we step in.」

I informed everyone.

「I will go over the operation. The Pope seems to be located in a room in the cathedral. The enemy might have a line of defense set up, but they shouldn’t have had enough time for it to be perfect. The two shadow dragons will carry out a surprise attack. And, Lady Eva–」

「I know. No one else must enter the room until you accomplish your mission.」the young lady said.

「Thank you.」

I was hesitant to ask the young lady to take on the role of a “shield”.

However, considering her ability, she would perform better in that role.

She can boost the power of her knights with the “Magic Eye of Inspire”, and she can also cause confusion amongst the enemy line. With her ability, the young lady can make the enemies attack indiscriminately regardless of friend or foe.

「Zerry-san, you are in-charge of disturbing the enemy line.」

「Easy.」

Zerry, who has low fighting power, will run around the cathedral and cause confusion.

That would reduce the force that would come to the Pope’s room.

「I am itching to put my skills into use~~ Whatever shall I do?」Zerry-san said.

「…P-Please be moderate, okay?」

「What are you saying, Bocchan? The more active I am, the better it is for you, right?」

「W-Well…」

Zerry-san is harassing me quite a bit today. I suppose it’s a sacrifice I have to make to win today’s battle.

「During that time, Silver Balance will confront the goddess.」

Dante-san, Mimino-san, and Asha.

I don’t know where Non-san is right now, but the foundation of all my adventures has always been with Silver Balance.

「The confrontation with the goddess is a matter of chance, right?」Dante-san asked.

「Yes… At worst, I think the Pope’s life will be forfeit.」I said.

There are only a few ways to confront the goddess.

Going to the goddess temple is one of them, but we cannot take any action on the goddess from there.

According to the sage, the Pope is like a “divine vessel” that the goddess uses to influence the world.

We can meet the goddess through the Pope.

If the Pope’s consciousness still remains, we can persuade her to summon the goddess.

If she isn’t conscious, we would need to take hard measures — the dragons said they would do something about it.

『We still don’t know how the Vision Ogre will choose to move, but if he’s hostile, we’ll do something about it.』

『Umu.』

The two shadow dragons said.

If the Vision Ogre is not hostile, then there is no problem. The dragons can easily deal with the temple knights who protect the Pope.

However, how will the Vision Ogre act?

This is also another matter we have to leave to chance.

(Honestly, there are too many uncertainties, but I’ve done everything I can do now. The more time passes, the more the odds increase in the goddess’ favor.)

As the construction of the goddess temple progresses, the goddess will be further strengthened and our enemies will increase.

「Let’s go.」

We got on top of the shadow dragons.

Everyone was already accustomed to riding on dragons. Dante-san muttered, “This is the last time, this is the last time…”, while Mimino-san smiled as if she had reached enlightenment.

We flew across the dark sky on the shadow dragons.

After a while, I noticed that the atmosphere changed.

「Everyone! We have entered an area affected by the Goddess Temple!」

Everyone’s face stiffened in response.

「Ah… this feels heavy. Something is echoing in my head.」

「Dante-san, are you okay?」

「Yeah, I didn’t think it would be this bad. Going to the center of this would be more troublesome…」

「–Young lady!」

I called out to the shadow dragon flying next to me. I asked the young lady to activate her Magic Eye. As soon as she did, everyone’s facial expressions relaxed.

「Asha, how are you feeling?」I asked.

「I-It’s improved a lot.」

It had no effect on me, so I don’t know what it was like.

Since it had no effect on the shadow dragons as well, it is probably a magic that does not affect irregularities like the mediators and me.

And the goddess does not overlook existences that are “unaffected”.

The goddess must have sensed that we are approaching.

「It felt like a warm and comfortable breeze, and… someone gently whispering in your head.」Dante-san said.

「As expected, the goddess isn’t a good being, after all. She corrupts the mind with sorcery and treats us like livestock.」

The shadow dragon then said.

『The lake has come into view.』

Far away, I saw a small water surface over the mountains.

As we approached, the eastern sky behind us gradually turned white.

It was the best time. Because dawn is the only period where people are still sleeping and there is visibility instead of complete darkness.

『We’ll speed up. Hold on firmly.』

Mimino-san turned pale in response to the shadow dragon’s words.

The next moment, a speed that even I am experiencing for the first time hit my body.

My ears could only hear the sonic boom that reverberated through the sky.

The lake, which only seemed like a small surface of water a moment ago, expanded quickly, and the cathedral towering on the shore of the lake became clearly visible.

『Muu. This is unexpected.』

「What is it!?」

I raised my voice to counter the deafening sonic boom.

『The Pope girl is standing there.』

The dragons have the power to sense the existence of the goddess, and existences who are strongly influenced by the goddess.

『Standing right next to the lake.』

Near the lake?

Is she outside?

Flying in as is, we will arrive at the cathedral in less than a minute.

Thoughts swirled in my head—but the answer was fixed.

「Let’s go straight to the lake!!」

There is no other way but to change the plan.

But the plan will not be canceled.

This is our first and last opportunity.

「Everyone, the Pope is outside! Our location has changed, but the strategy will continue as we planned!!」

As the shadow dragons’ speed slowed down in order to land, my voice reached everyone.

Everyone nodded firmly in response.

『We’re going to descend!』

As the dragons started diving from the sky, I felt a sudden chill in my stomach.

Faint lights illuminated the lake.

A number of ships were anchored to the pier.

A large grassland spread from the cathedral to the pier, and a small figure stood in the center of it.

The Pope.

(Why is she there? The goddess should have noticed our approach–)

Suddenly–

『Let’s crush it!』

『YOHHH!』

The shadow dragons’ shifted to horizontal flight from a nosedive, causing a strong gravity shift on our bodies.

GAAAAAAHHHHH!!

The shadow dragons exhaled black breath from their mouths while flying over the lake.

They destroy the anchored ships one after another.

A number of water pillars rose from the lake.

(Wow… this is the power of dragons.)

When the boats on the lake were wiped out, a number of lights began to illuminate the cathedral.

The shadow dragons flew around and landed on the grassland where the Pope was.

(…Everything about this feels wrong.)

There is no doubt that it is the Pope who is standing there.

The knights who saw us from the window of the cathedral shouted, “Why is Her Holiness in that place?!”

(But we have no other choice but to proceed with the plan!)

When the shadow dragons landed, all of us jumped down.

「I shall entrust the Pope to you!」

「Take care, Lady Eva!」

The young lady, Captain Maxim, and her four knights started running towards the cathedral.

The knights from the cathedral rushed towards us.

(It’s too open here… It would be impossible for the young lady to hold them back.)

Is that why the goddess is here?

(But if something happens to the Pope during that time, it would be a drawback for the goddess. So why is the Pope really here?)

As I was perplexed by that question,

「Go, Reiji. There is no use trying to divine the answer right now.」

Dante-san gently pushed my back.

…It’s exactly as Dante-san says.

After coming this far, there is no choice but to move forward.

「——Your Holiness.」

We started walking towards the Pope.

The Pope did not wear the clothes she usually dons.

She wore an indoor western-style hemp clothes of thin-make.

Only the Mithril scepter in her hand signified her as Her Holiness.

(…Barefoot?)

The appearance of Her Holiness barefoot in the grasslands seemed painful to look at.

She was looking down without any expression.

And she was wearing her usual veil.

「We have to talk to you.」I said.

With the utmost caution, we stood about 10 meters from her.

Dante-san held up his greatshield right next to me.

Mimino-san and Asha stood about 3 meters behind me.

I heard the sound of swords clashing. The young lady and the knights have begun fighting.

「It’s regarding the goddess who has possessed you. This world does not belong to the goddess alone. No one should be forced to believe in the goddess. Your Holiness should be wise enough to——」

At that moment, the Pope raised her head.

「Ah……」

Nothing was reflected in her eyes. It was empty.

Her lips were dry, and I could see she was in poor health without even using World Ruler.

What is that blood mark on her cheek?

『————How unfortunate, dragon.』

I heard a voice.

The voice seemed to echo directly in my head, not from the body of the Pope.

The moment I instinctively realized that it was the goddess, countless black figures appeared in front of the shadow dragons.

『So you sided with the goddess, huh, Vision Ogre?』

『Impudent.』

The black shadows were sorcery-based creatures controlled by the Vision Ogre.

Each one was terrifyingly strong.

They gathered together and attacked the shadow dragons.

「Shadow dragon!!」I exclaimed.

『Reiji, you concentrate on the goddess.』

As the shadow dragons moved, the ground underneath rumbled.

Their battle with the black shadows intensified quickly.

But the Vision Ogre chose to fight the dragons.

We were unhindered.

「Goddess… No, you are just something who is posing around as a god. This world is not your toy!!」

I know many people who are desperately trying to live in this world.

Not just the commoners but the adventurers alike.

Kimidori Gorn-san, Knock-san, the underground people.

Janja of the Elder Hobbits.

Dante-san. Non-san. Mimino-san. Zerry-san.

Though now dead… Raikira-san too

And Asha, and Lady Eva, and also my sister Lark.

Don’t trample on those people’s efforts.

『————』

But the goddess didn’t say anything.

But her vessel, the Pope, smiled.

I did not feel anything.

There was no sign, no premonition, no sensation.

It just happened.

★ Lake Brunstalk Cathedral Front Garden ★

Eva was watching them.

She was watching them, but didn’t know what just happened.

Reiji just said something in a loud voice.

A moment later, the Pope collapsed on the spot like a doll cut from its strings.

「…Reiji?」

Reiji, including Dante, Asha, and Mimino, disappeared.

「Reijiiiiiii!!」

Those four disappeared as if they were never there in the first place.