The world has ended. 

  

The once blue sky has turned black. 

  

By a single demon who had been lurking beneath the surface of the Empire, a great power, accumulating strength and power for hundreds of years. 

  

This was a fact so clear that even three-year-old snot-nosed kids roaming the slums could understand it. 

  

But the politicians never utter such clear facts. 

  

Is it because they don't know? No, they too know that the world has ended. They probably know it more specifically than others. 

  

Yet they don't speak of it. Because the moment they do, it would be admitting that everything has truly ended. 

  

The politicians hide the situation. They hide it to show hope. Because they haven't acknowledged it, people can believe that there must be something. 

  

That there must be something to turn this situation around. They can believe that. 

  

Because they can believe that. 

  

"... There are so many." 

  

That's why there are people who risk their lives on the battlefield where death is certain. 

  

It was something someone had to do. 

  

There had to be people willing to risk their lives to buy time against the demon army advancing moment by moment to trample the lines of fleeing refugees. 

  

Someone had to sacrifice for them, so I decided to do it. 

  

"Damn it." 

  

I stretch out my hand and unleash holy power. 

  

The Pantheon, which records and serves numerous gods in this world. 

  

It recreates miracles based on faith in the gods recorded there. 

  

Crack! 

  

The power received in exchange for faith is the lightning of 'Jupiter', one of the many celestial gods recorded in the Pantheon. 

  

The brightly shining holy power transforms into the power of lightning and takes the form of a spear. 

  

And it flies towards the demon army gathered before my eyes. 

  

Crackle!! 

  

The power of one of the highest-ranking celestial gods burns the demons at the forefront. 

  

The tip of the lightning spear that pierced through the demons splits and spreads to the demons lined up behind. 

  

"Haa..." 

  

Nearly 20 demons were silenced by that single strike. 

  

If this had been an ordinary battle of many against one, it would have been a great achievement, but unfortunately, what I'm facing is an army. 

  

"Are you satisfied?" 

  

A demon who appears to be an officer asks with a slight smirk. 

  

He's mocking me. 

  

For the fact that despite risking my life to fight like this, this is all I could accomplish. 

  

"You did well, for a human." 

  

"..." 

  

"So die satisfied that you fought this much." 

  

"Haha..." 

  

It's quite amusing to see him acting like an honorable knight when he came to trample refugees. 

  

"Why are you still acting like a knight when you became a Fiend out of fear of death?" 

  

A being that was originally human. 

  

But a traitor to humanity who sold their soul to demons, tempted by an immortal body. He might have been a knight before becoming a Fiend, but it's too good a title for someone who has betrayed humanity. 

  

"I see." 

  

"Guk...!" 

  

Crack! 

  

I'm pierced by the demon officer's attack that came in the blink of an eye. 

  

"I understand. Blame is all a loser can utter." 

  

I'm frustrated. I couldn't be more frustrated. 

  

He was a nameless person. Not even a high-ranking officer with widespread infamy, just one of many knights. 

  

And I lost to such a person. 

  

"Continue the advance. I can't be bothered to play along with such pathetic tricks." 

  

The demon who pierced my heart leads the army with a sneer. 

  

He doesn't even bother to confirm my death, deliberately turning away from where I am. 

  

"Damn it..." 

  

I wasn't a hero. 

  

I couldn't create miracles. 

  

It was something someone had to do. But I couldn't even accomplish that. 

  

Despite pouring everything I had, I could barely hold back the feet of the advancing army for not even 10 minutes. 

  

I failed to buy time. 

  

It's not just me. Everyone around who took up arms with a similar mindset met the same end. 

  

I was just one of many swept away by the enemy's army. 

  

"You look terrible, ■■■." 

  

It was then, as I waited for death in the place where the army had passed. 

  

A woman with pure white wings descended from the sky. 

  

Sky-blue hair and pure white wings. 

  

A person wearing an equally white mask and clothing. 

  

"Holy Maiden." 

  

One of the two apostles of God loved by all gods among the many gods worshipped in the Pantheon. 

  

Commonly known as the Holy Maiden of the Sky. 

  

She personally descended before me. 

  

"Why is my attendant dying in a place like this? Wasn't today supposed to be a day for paperwork?" 

  

"Indeed it was." 

  

I was a priest directly under the Holy Maiden and an inquisitor, but I wasn't particularly someone who tried to live righteously. 

  

If anything, I was more suited for back alleys. 

  

Why did someone like me risk my life in this situation? Did I suddenly want to protect someone? 

  

No... 

  

That's not me. I couldn't do that. If that were the case, I had countless opportunities before. But I'm someone who has repeatedly run away each time. 

  

Yet, the reason I tried to buy time to protect the refugees,  

  

The reason I wanted to burn this one life... 

  

"I guess I couldn't become like you, Holy Maiden." 

  

It was because I admired someone living such a life. 

  

Because I wanted to be able to stand proudly before that person. 

  

"Is the evacuation complete?" 

  

"Yes, ■■■. Thanks to you, thousands of people have saved their lives." 

  

"Are you just saying that?" 

  

"I'm sincere." 

  

I don't know if those words are truly sincere, or if they're just final comfort she's giving to a dying me. 

  

Because her pure white mask doesn't reveal any emotions. 

  

This is the kind of world it is. 

  

It's not strange that even the 'Holy Maiden', who should be a source of hope for people, doesn't want to show a despairing expression to the masses. 

  

But it's a bit cruel that it's the same even in front of me as I'm dying. 

  

"I guess it's about time now." 

  

My vision is blurry. 

  

The voices I hear are muffled. 

  

"Aren't you going to ask if I can heal you?" 

  

"I've been by your side as your attendant for the past 3 years, Holy Maiden. I know that you can't heal me." 

  

"...I suppose you're right." 

  

I was truly a nobody. But the Holy Maiden took me in, made me a priest, and appointed me as her attendant. 

  

"Please tell Claire that I'm sorry." 

  

"You two always seemed to hate each other, and now you say this?" 

  

"How could I face that guy with any dignity?" 

  

If I'm the Holy Maiden's left arm, her right arm is the strongest paladin of the order and her guard knight, 'Claire Ryan'. 

  

And I am her enemy. 

  

Because when her brother was dying, I ran away from that place. 

  

I wanted to live. 

  

So I ran away from something I couldn't handle. And thus, Claire's only family she could rely on died. 

  

But Claire didn't blame me. She just disliked me. 

  

So I acted in a way that she could hate me comfortably. That was all I could do. 

  

"■■■, if you had a chance to turn back time, could you have acted differently then?" 

  

"Even if I had acted differently, we would have ended up in the same relationship." 

  

"Is that so?" 

  

"Yes, because Burke, that bastard, was more of a bastard than I thought." 

  

Claire's brother, Burke, was a bastard. Unfortunately, he was someone who had to be that way. 

  

Claire lived because he died. That's what I think. 

  

And if one of them had to live, I think it should be Claire, not Burke. 

  

Of course, even compared to me. 

  

If someone has to live, it should be that guy who's hailed as a hero, not a mediocre person like me. 

  

So I die here. 

  

If by my death here, those called heroes could buy even a little time, that's enough. 

  

"I'm tired now." 

  

Now all I can see is white and sky blue. 

  

Both are the Holy Maiden's colors. 

  

The sky that originally represented those colors is no longer blue. 

  

Covered by the wings of that demon that appeared like a nightmare, now only a black sky without a single star remains. 

  

"■■■ worked day and night with insomnia, so it's natural to be tired." 

  

"It was a world where day and night couldn't be distinguished. But it seems I'll be able to sleep soundly today." 

  

"That's good." 

  

It's a silly joke. 

  

I know how much comfort such jokes can bring to the heart, and so does the Holy Maiden. That's why I imagined a tomorrow that will never come again. 

  

Having tea time together, the Holy Maiden preparing strange snacks, and me grumbling but eating them all. 

  

The Holy Maiden who prepared the snacks wouldn't even taste them herself, just mocking us. 

  

If I got angry at that, Claire would glare at me with a look that said I was being disrespectful. 

  

I imagined such a silly tomorrow. 

  

While imagining tomorrow like that, my vision went dark. 

  

"You did well, ■■■." 

  

"Yes... Holy Maiden." 

  

I barely manage to answer, fighting the drowsiness that's pouring over me at the Holy Maiden's emotionless words. 

  

I force my eyes open. 

  

No matter how hard I try, it's so dark that I can't see the Holy Maiden's figure clearly. 

  

So I don't know if she's really emotionless, but probably not. 

  

"Although it's like this today, you'll be able to do better 'tomorrow', right?" 

  

"Of course. I'll do better." 

  

That's how I've always been. 

  

I've always tried not to repeat the same mistakes. 

  

I'll do better tomorrow. 

  

I'll do even better the day after tomorrow. 

  

That's how I've endured until now. That's how I rose to the position of high priest. 

  

So... 

  

"I'll believe you." 

  

In my final moment. 

  

I was able to answer like that. 

  

"Yes... Definitely..." 

  

1illustration 

  

And when I opened my eyes again. 

  

I felt the warm sunlight that I shouldn't have been able to feel anymore. 

  

*     *      * 

  

"Mmm." 

  

A light that stings my eyes. 

  

But it doesn't feel entirely unpleasant, rather it feels natural somehow. 

  

"..." 

  

The moment I realized it was sunlight coming through the gap in the curtains, I felt a coldness that was the opposite of that warmth. 

  

"What?" 

  

When I opened my eyes, I saw a bright scenery. 

  

I'm at a loss for words at the distortion of perception that makes me doubt even myself. 

  

"What is this..." 

  

Am I dreaming? 

  

Or was everything until now a dream? 

  

I raise my hands and look down at both of them. 

  

Both hands were there. Even though I clearly remember losing one arm in the fight, now I have both arms attached. 

  

My body condition is unusually good too. 

  

Only then did I check my surroundings. Seeing that only the necessary items are furnished, it feels like an inn. 

  

"Ah?" 

  

On the table next to the bed are items that appear to be my possessions. 

  

Among them, the first thing I see is the sword my master passed down to me. 

  

It's the sword that was stolen from me when I was heading to the city, not knowing any better. 

  

The situation becomes clearer. 

  

"A dream? Was it all just a dream?" 

  

The time when I had just left my master and teacher's side and stepped into the world. 

  

A time 10 years apart from the reality I remembered. 

  

"A dream..." 

  

Why? 

  

If so, I should just dismiss it as a nightmare. That painfully difficult time never existed. 

  

Then why do I feel so empty? 

  

"No." 

  

Why do I want to think that it wasn't all a dream? 

  

Even if it wasn't a dream, why can't I be happy that everything has returned to a moment when all was normal? 

  

"...It can't be." 

  

I opened my hand. 

  

If it wasn't a dream, if all of that was the life I actually lived. 

  

There's a way to prove it. It should be possible. 

  

If physical training and skill refinement are powers that accumulate in the body and mind, then holy power is a power that accumulates in the soul. 

  

Even if my body has returned to the past, my soul remains the same. 

  

I became a priest 5 years from now, if everything until now was a dream, it would be an impossible miracle for me now. 

  

Then this should be proof. 

  

I steady my breath and concentrate. Although it's holy power that I've become able to handle as if it were a part of my body, this is the first time I've felt so nervous about it. 

  

Slowly, with certainty, yet carefully. I borrow the power of Baldr, the god of light recorded in the Pantheon, in exchange for faith. 

  

"Ha..." 

  

Then, a small light naturally rises above my outstretched hand. 

  

If everything I experienced was just a dream, this proof of faith that I couldn't have used was there. 

  

"Haha..." 

  

Everything became clear. 

  

It wasn't all a dream. This moment now isn't a dream either. 

  

I've returned to the past, 10 years ago. 

  

-Although it's like this today, you'll be able to do better 'tomorrow', right? 

  

A 'tomorrow' that shouldn't have come. And now I've gained a 'tomorrow' called 10 years ago. 

  

"I see." 

  

I found the reason for my emptiness. 

  

I've gained an opportunity. 

  

And I've lost many things. 

  

I've gained the chance to redo the moments of wrong choices in the past. 

  

All the relationships I was able to build after wallowing in the mud have crumbled. 

  

My heavy body has become light, and the arm that had flown off has returned. 

  

The sense of achievement from the few successes I built up after repeated failures has disappeared. 

  

"Holy Maiden, I just..." 

  

I didn't wish for this kind of opportunity. 

  

It was certainly a painful and difficult time. Even objectively, it couldn't be called an excellent life. 

  

But... 

  

"I liked it. That miserable and insignificant life." 

  

I was finding happiness in such an insignificant life. 

  

Because even in that misery, there was a ray of light. 

  

But what is this? 

  

I was satisfied. 

  

Even with such a death. 

  

I prided myself on having enjoyed and been happy in the moments I spent with you. 

  

"Holy Maiden, you're too much." 

  

But in the end, she said it. That 'tomorrow' I could do better. 

  

And I answered that I would. 

  

Then shouldn't I do better? Shouldn't I create the best possible outcome, not missing this opportunity? 

  

"Thanks to you, everything I've achieved has crumbled." 

  

The world has ended. 

  

But now it was only my world that had. 

  

Because I don't intend to allow anything beyond that. 

  

I remember that horrific scene. 

  

I alone will remember and keep that horrific scene inside me. 

  

Now, I've decided what I need to do from 'tomorrow'. 

  

"I will kill that demon in your stead, Holy Maiden." 

  

That demon had been preparing from beneath the surface of the Empire. Probably for decades, even centuries. 

  

Facing that demon who only started to move after finishing such preparations, victory was impossible from the start. 

  

So I'll shake things up. 

  

When he rises from beneath the surface, judging that he can win, I'll make him realize belatedly that it's not the case. 

  

In the way I can, slowly tightening the noose. 

  

In the way of an inquisitor. 

  

I'll hunt Belial, the King of Darkness, the demon hiding and operating in secret within the Empire.