“…There is nothing we can do. His right arm has been affected by majinification. The reason he is alive is not because of Sophia’s healing, but because the curse mark is circulating demonic miasma throughout his body.”

After Sophia saved Ray-kun from the brink of death, Lesley and I hurriedly brought both of them to the church.

However, we only realized afterward that something was terribly wrong with his right arm.

Normally we would have noticed immediately, but we were too shaken.

We never imagined it could be the effect of majinification.

The country of Laguni, where we were staying, is one of the world’s great powers.

At its center stands the great cathedral of the Supreme Temple Sefiria, and we rushed there without hesitation.

Normally one would go to a medical clinic for treatment. But Ray-kun had no obvious external injuries.

More than anything, Sophia also believed that if it was beneath the protection of the god she worshipped, there might still be hope. That is why we chose this place.

But we quickly realized this had been a terrible mistake.

The role of a saint is to purge monsters that use demonic miasma as their medium.

Considering Ray-kun’s condition, that meant the current situation was extremely dangerous.

The one who treated him was Saint Ange.

She is a famous figure within the church and holds the second highest authority. Her assistant Elizabeth is also said to be extremely promising among the trainees.

Even as an outsider, I knew well of their reputations and of how the church operates.

They are people recognized by all as virtuous, unforgiving toward evil, and devoted to the absolute eradication of demonic forces. A group almost too pure.

Lesley seemed to realize this as well. She silently closed the door and blocked the exit with her back.

Elizabeth was desperately calling out to the unconscious Sophia.

But I did not miss the way Ange’s eyes wavered.

“…Please keep this matter confidential.”

At my words, Ange tried to evade the issue.

She suggested that another healer might be able to purify the evil influence in his right arm.

But I was not naive enough to be fooled by that.

I had spent all this time beside Sophia. A saint would not know any way to treat this condition.

“Listen—”

“Lesley, may I handle this?”

I interrupted Lesley’s words.

I know very well how to deal with situations like this.

First, you make them imagine.

“Saint Ange. I realize this is late to ask, but are you familiar with me?”

“…Eleanor, of course. We saints use the magic papers you wrote as textbooks.”

“I didn’t know that. I’m honored. However, those papers only contain magic that many people can use.”

I took a step closer to the saint.

“I have studied over a hundred kinds of magic. Now I specialize in offensive magic, but along the way I also devised some… very remarkable spells. For example, magic resembling a slow-acting deadly poison.”

“…”

“A spell with no smell, no pain, and no trace of magical power left behind. A spell where only the heart suddenly stops one day. It was far too extreme, so I never wrote about its existence in my papers… but the theory is complete.”

Ange’s face gradually turned pale.

Even Elizabeth seemed to sense the abnormal tension.

“…Are you threatening me?”

“Threatening? Of course not. I merely supplemented my paper as a magic teacher.”

Even I was surprised by how cold my voice sounded.

Ah… so this is my true nature.

I lowered my voice.

“…Ray-kun risked his life to defeat the Majin. Not for selfish reasons, but to save countless lives. I do not want him to suffer any more.”

“…I understand your feelings. I truly do. Even now I can hardly believe he defeated that Majin. But if he becomes majinified again, many people may die. As a saint, I cannot simply overlook that.”

“If that happens, I will take responsibility and kill Ray-kun myself.”

I declared it instantly, leaving no pause. The saint held her breath.

“If majinification occurs again, there will certainly be warning signs. I, Lesley, and Sophia when she wakes will never overlook them. We are not criminals. You understand that, do you not?”

I smiled gently.

My nickname is Angel. Angel Eleanor.

The reason is because I have never once become angry.

“Please… I beg you. Ray-kun is that important to me. No, to all of us.”

After those words, Ange decided to trust me.

She promised not to tell anyone. However, she asked that we report Ray-kun’s condition every few days.

We were also made to promise not to leave the country of Laguni so they could monitor us.

Naturally, we agreed.

We could not leave him at the church. We could not take him to an inn either.

So we bought a mansion that had been put up for sale.

As soon as we laid Ray-kun on a bed, he began violently clawing at his right arm, as if it hurt terribly.

He regained consciousness, but his screams were so intense that we had no choice but to chain him in the basement.

Sophia would surely wake soon.

But we had no time to wait calmly.

Lesley left to search for an underground healing mage through old connections.

Someone trustworthy, skilled, and known for keeping secrets.

Though we already knew what the result would be.

She blamed herself deeply. She believed she was the one at fault.

…No. The one truly at fault is me.

The reason I could laugh sincerely was because of Ray-kun.

And yet I was the one who took his future away.

The reason he chose to fight the Majin alone… was surely my fault.

I sat beside Ray-kun and could do nothing but watch him suffer.

When Lesley stepped outside briefly, she asked me a question.

“What would you have done if Ange and the others refused? If they insisted Ray couldn’t be kept secret?”

I turned back and smiled as I always do.

Because this expression is my declaration of resolve.

Of how I will live from now on.

“Of course… I would have killed them both.”