Vol 2 Chapter 5 (1/2)

Chapter 5

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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 soerated forthat but one day, Icontinent

However, most of the apprentice-Priestesses who entered the Tenketsu Palace <sophia> with that drealy within a year

Training that was akin to torture, ether with our tears and blood

Glamorous and mysterious Many apprentice-Priestesses were hit hard by reality, which ay different froe of the Priestesses they had in their minds

— As forhorribly on the final test

For soo 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-sielding young ht as alk 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 aout 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 bydisappeared in an instant I couldn't ht of that

An utterly useless cadet guard Since I was labelled like that, over ti 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 ti exercise Since that day, it was like everything changed With those thoughts in mind, I participated in this mission

The enigoon>; the enshu

However, the eneenshu

Even though the danger still exists, I aainst it with the arts of shi+nryoku 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

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” What's going on This monster”

Due to the shock fro in a daze

Gya Chiiii!

The density of the enshu had increased explosively all of a sudden

The body of s of the looinally 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 h at the start Its diameter used to be as thick as that of a hurown to exceed the width of her own body Not just that, it was tightly encased with a layer of newly grown shell

— Battle rown that much within this short period of time?

Zu Zuzuuu

The ceiling, which was reinforced byinto contact with the enshu

It was originally just the size of a huenshu 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 froht, 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 ay different fro continent More i 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 as above her, the sharp spear-like leg was already crashi+ng 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 fra slowly, as though there was so on

The moment just before death

Everything, including herself as well as the enshu, were in the world of slow enshu was still cleaving doards her like a giant axe

Don—

Eh?

Someone knocked into her froenshu

I'm saved?

Just as that thought came to her ret, that almost made her cry

The Yuugenshu delivered the wicked blow

And what happened before her was—

The younginto her, was struck hard behind his head He was bloay by the attack

” Sh el”

Blood spewed out fro flower His whole body slaes of the room He remained motionless after that

With that, the time of the world resumed its normal flow

”Shel tis Oi! Shel—”

No response

The young man collapsed onto the floor in a pool of crimson red blood

That one thing signified everything

” Ah”

H-Hey, don't make jokes like that

You'll definitely stand up i

How

Someone, anyone, tell me this is not real

The young man remained motionless

”————————!”

The shriek of the young girl sounded far from that of a huh she was shouting his name, that was not what ca to run up towards his remained immobile

For the first time ever, Monica understood what a shriek was

Though she had teared or sobbed during her training as an apprentice-Priestess, she had never cried that hard before

As such, it was the first ti the bloodcurdling scream froer which she felt due to her own foolishness

”Sheltis Sheltis!”

Despite her repeatedly squeezing that na echoes in the floor in which they were in

The youngmotionlessly on the blood-stained floor

”I've said it ever since the beginning Regardless of being a guard or a Priestess, I'm just a failure”

”Ever since failing the final test to become a Priestess, my body will beco important”

It was indeed like what I had said

Regardless of where I go to, the scar that I got back then will haunt me for life

”I think it's probably because of this scar within me that hasn't been totally healed yet”

Klang

The crossed rods <rosario> fell off froth

” Everything is my fault”

Monica no longer had the will to pick them back up She knelt down on the floor

If I wasn't around, then Sheltis wouldn't have collapsed fro me

If I wasn't around If I wasn't on this team

The Priestesses that she used to look up to

She hoped she could become the essential so continent Therefore, she held back her tears andvery well that the absolute strength of her shi+nryoku was lacking

The guard whom she used to look up to

Even though she could not become a Priestess, she still hoped she could contribute by protecting the Priestesses

Therefore, even though there was no squad that illing to accept her, she still practiced her crossed rods <rosario> by herself everyday, just like the dual-sielding young man she saw on that day

However, the results still ended up as a failure

Till the very end, she is a useless failure who could not beco that had been decided by the wounded world that she was in since the very beginning

””

The Yuugenshu raised its sharp leg yet again

— Her body could not move

It wasn't due to the usual nervousness, but rather, her e years - there was no room left for her to be concerned about her own safety

Above her head was the incoush of air

She subconsciously closed her eyes upon seeing the giant leg that was about to hit her from above—

Huh?

The inco blow, the pain that should follow, as well as the death which should dawn onto her - all of it never came

Why?

She timidly opened her eyes

The young girl could not believe what she was seeing

The originally collapsed youngof the Yuugenshu

” Sh”

”You're giving up just like that? That's not like you at all”

She finally realized what she itnessing was real, upon hearing his voice with her own ears

—Kin!

The tords severed one of the legs

”—————— Grr!”

Contrary to its huge body, the ile, and it leaped a considerable distance back in a single ju that was even more inconceivable

After locking onto the retreating Yuugenshu, he dashed forward in full speed

Plop

A trail of blood traced the path of the young man Each time he took a step forward, the motion of his body would cause blood to flow out from the wound behind his head

” Wha!”

Monica looked at the scene in a daze

That's just too reckless He should not bewhether his body can hold on despite the blood loss, what about his consciousness? Can he really maintain a clear state of mind? Shouldn't his vision be blurry?

As he ran, the youngno obstacles around him

— She was indeed right There was no way he couldsuch a serious injury on his head

”Stop, Sheltis! If you continue on like this—”

He may still be able to move for now, but if he continues to force hie to his brain no, he er his life

However, the young

He twisted his body to avoid the two legs that struck froht, and took the opportunity to chop one of the the wall to his left, he ju and ran crazily to reach the back of the Yuugenshu in an instant

But then, the young ain

Just as his shoulders were heaving up and down because of his breathing he lowered his head, at that s horizontally towards him

”Sheltis!”

He flew into the sky, just like a leaf that was fluttering in the air

And siainst the wall and then fell onto the ground—

But he did not collapse

Sheltis used his dual swords to support his body and stabilize his steps

He did not collapse He will never collapse

Why?

Why can he still stand?

And he has suffered such serious injuries because of me, so why—

”It's not your fault”

With his head still hanging low, he suddenly mumbled that out with a hoarse voice

” Eh?”

”It's natural for me to protect Monica Because, we are teammates”

”B-But—”

”Monica, didn't you say that there was a guard that you admired? You said you wished you could becoden>”

”W-Why are youthat all of the sudden”

”If that young man was still alive, he definitely wouldn't bon to an opponent like this Aren't I right!?”

— Just then