[– Infinity’s Enemies –]
The briefing session was held at the Grand Hall, an iconic building of the royal palace. It is the building that appears in the newspapers like a meal during major national events, and it is also the first building you see when you look at the palace from outside the walls.
Only the organizers of the event and the mages selected to plan the retrieval of the vessel were allowed to gather in the Great Hall. Though it was a large-scale event, entry for outsiders was strictly prohibited. Considering the sensitive nature of the information being shared, this was only natural.
It’s quite a sight to see dozens of wizards standing side by side in their gray capes, all of them (except for me) the best and brightest from academies and magical research institutes across the country.
Once everyone was in their designated positions, the herald’s voice rang out.
“Glory and light of Faynance, Her Majesty Queen Sharon Riqueene Faynance arrives!”
At the perfect moment, commanding everyone’s attention, Queen Sharon stepped into view. She possessed platinum-blond hair and gray eyes, the sovereign of this nation.
Her hair color matched that of the second prince, Yugo, but from what I recall seeing in the game a few times, her personality was closer to that of the first prince, Kalt. That made me wonder, could the Queen’s husband, Duke Ashan, who never appeared directly in the game, have a personality similar to the tsundere Yugo?
Shortly after, following the Queen, Crown Prince Kalt and Second Prince Yugo made their entrance, both dressed in white formal uniforms, likely for the occasion. Even from a distance, their appearance was undeniably impressive.
The royal duo of Faynance did an excellent job.
Except for their eldest’s personality.
Even while entertaining such trivial thoughts, I couldn’t shake my anxiety. The moment when the death flag would trigger was approaching.
I had run countless simulations in my head yesterday, but there was no way to be certain if they would work perfectly.
Still, I was determined to stop it no matter what it took.
That resolve and my lingering unease cycled through my mind repeatedly.
As I struggled to calm my nerves, the Queen’s brief opening address began. Her speech was a long-winded way of expressing gratitude and reassurance that young talents had gathered for this plan.
Barely listening, I simply waited for the next part of the ceremony.
“Next, we shall proceed with the appointment of a Special-Class Mage.”
At the herald’s announcement, Queen Sharon formally declared in her clear voice:
“Lumins Hardelf. For your outstanding service in responding to an unprecedented crisis, the invasion of the capital by the nation’s greatest adversary, the Magical Spirit, you are hereby granted the title of Special-Class Mage in the name of Sharon Riqueene Faynance.”
Without a sound, Lumins stood up. Everyone gazed at him with expressions of admiration. Though, as usual, he himself remained indifferent.
As he stepped forward and knelt before the Queen, she holding a long staff lightly tapped both of his shoulders, as if sweeping over them.
Symbolically, the second-class mage cape that Lumins had been wearing was removed, and the Queen personally pinned a medal onto his chest.
“Welcome the first Special-Class Mage of the Kingdom of Faynance in 17 years with a round of applause!”
At the herald’s proclamation, applause erupted throughout the hall.
Amid the ovation, Lumins, still expressionless, walked back down the carpeted path to his seat.
Velkina whispered, “Congratulations!” in a small voice, to which he responded with a simple “Thanks” before sitting down.
Maintaining his calm demeanor, Lumins suddenly turned to me and murmured softly.
“……Senephin, aren’t you going to congratulate me?”
“N-no way! Congratulations, Lumins!”
Satisfied with that response, Lumins smiled brightly for the first time and turned his gaze forward.
Ugh, Lumins looks so handsome it hurts my heart.
Yeah, for my dear Lumins, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do.
I’ve even engraved in my memory this incredible sight of him as a Special-Class Mage, something I never got to see in the game.
Pressing my trembling hands firmly against my lap to steady them, I strengthened my resolve.
The ceremony continued, leading into the full explanation of the “Retrieval the Vessel of Gods” plan.
“Currently, although the exact cause remains unknown, certain ‘Divine Blessings’ are undergoing contamination.”
From the very start, the Queen got straight to the point.
Murmurs spread instantly throughout the hall.
I swallowed dryly, recalling the same explanation from the game.
On the continent of Arlandast, there exist artifacts said to be directly bestowed by the gods or blessed by them. These are what Queen Sharon referred to collectively as ‘Divine Blessings.’
Around the time game begins, some of these Divine Blessings which had been stored in the Kingdom of Faynance began showing signs of corruption. This led to the initiation of the “Retrieval the Vessel of Gods” plan, gathering mages for the task.
Of course, that wasn’t the real objective, there was something far more important that would be revealed later. But before that…
“……It is regrettable that such a dreadful incident has occurred, but what matters now is our response. You, the greatest magical talents of this nation, shall be tested to determine if you possess the ability to cleanse the contamination from the ‘Divine Blessings.'”
After a brief but concise explanation, a long, flat table was promptly placed at the front of the platform. Upon it, objects that looked as if they had been corroded by dark red rust were carefully laid out. Though their surfaces were damaged beyond recognition, they appeared to be a horn, a water jug, a lamp… A total of about ten seemingly unrelated items.
I clenched my skirt tightly.
“Let us place our hopes in your potential. May Alfaynance’s blessing be with you.”
With those parting words, the king and the two princes exited. The organizing committee members bustled about, while a high-ranking official from the Magic Association stepped forward to continue the explanation.
“As per Her Majesty’s decree, I will now continue the explanation. Everyone gathered here must use all their abilities to restore the ‘Divine Blessings’ before you. Since the cause of contamination is the same, it does not matter which artifact you choose. . Please divide into groups and take responsibility for one each.”
With those words, the organizing committee led the bewildered magicians—who were still struggling to grasp the situation—toward the contaminated ‘Divine Blessings’ sites.
Velkina moved first, followed by Lumins, who stood from his seat. At the same time, I firmly grabbed Lumin’s arm.
“Senephin?”
Lumins looked down at me with a puzzled expression.
I spoke with desperate urgency.
“Please, Lumins. Don’t touch the contaminated ‘Divine Blessings.'”
“…Huh?”
“It’s dangerous.”
Even as I spoke, the other mages who had arrived first were already handling the artifacts, turning them over in their hands or attempting simple purification spells.
I knew how absurd my warning must have sounded. Everyone else was touching them just fine, with no visible harm. Why would Lumins believe me?
But I knew the truth.
It was like an allergy or a hypersensitivity, so to speak.
There was a certain resonance effect with the corruption within the Divine Blessings, and some people had a particular constitution that made them extremely susceptible to it.
And Lumins was one of them.
I knew this because I had seen it in the game.
This was the first death flag.
No matter how skilled Lumins was as a mage, this was one death he could never escape from.
“…Ve, Velkina will be fine! Velkina can probably restore the ‘Divine Blessings’… At least until then, please don’t touch it.”
It would be fine once Velkina purified the ‘Divine Blessings’ first. But if Lumins touched the tainted ‘Divine Blessings’ he would resonate with the corruption, making it impossible for him to recover and he would die.
“……”
Lumins, who had been quietly listening to my desperate plea, finally opened his mouth after a moment.
“Alright. If it’s Senephin’s request, that much isn’t too difficult.”
“Yes…!”
Velkina, who had already stepped forward, gave us a puzzled look and gestured for us to come over. I sighed in relief, knowing I had just prevented Lumins death flag, and walked toward her.
“This thing looks pretty creepy up close. It doesn’t seem like anyone else has managed to restore it either. Will we be able to?”
Velkina spoke innocently. I nodded firmly and spoke with conviction.
“Velkina, you should try first!”
“Shall I? Hmm~.”
Thinking that there should be no more issues, I watched the scene unfold with ease.
Velkina picked up the horn, its surface marred by dark red corrosion, and held it in her hands.
…Huh?
“Hmm, a purification spell for this… Will the one I learned recently work?”
Holding the horn flute with both hands, she began chanting a purification spell. A cleansing aura spread around us, and for a moment, light flickered before vanishing.
But the flute remained the same, still marked with ominous black-red stains.
“…Huh? Why…?”
“Hehehe, I guess it’s too much for a rookie mage like me.”
Velkina smiled as she spoke, but I felt nothing but despair.
This shouldn’t be happening.
In the game, as soon as Velkina touched the tainted ‘Divine Blessings’ light burst out in all directions, and the horn flute automatically returned to its sacred form.
But now… It wasn’t purified?
This process was the first crucial step toward saving the world. How could this…?
“It seems your companion is insufficient for the task. Special-Class Mage Lumins Hardelf, will you give it a try?”
The operations committee member, who had been observing from behind, spoke calmly.
Before Lumins could even respond, I grabbed both of his wrists tightly, preventing him from moving.
“W-Wait a moment!”
I frantically searched for a solution. Should I tell them that someone sensitive to this corruption could die from it?
But how would I make them believe me? Everyone else was fine right now. Even if I said something, would the official trust me? There probably weren’t any precedents for this in the past.
I bit my lip and struggled with my muddled thoughts. I didn’t want to see Lumins die. I had to save him, no matter what.
Then, an idea struck me.
That’s it, I’ll fake it. I would touch the corrupted ‘Divine Blessings’ first, then pretend to have a seizure. If they saw me collapse, they’d realize it was dangerous to touch!
“I’ll go first!”
I shouted with urgency, and the operations committee member gave me a look as if I were a strange person before finally giving a brief nod.
“Do as you wish.”
“Senephin, it’s okay. I can do it.”
“No, Lumins! You can’t, absolutely not… Please, I’m begging you.”
With my voice trembling as if I were about to cry, Lumins let out a short sigh.
“…. Alright. You can let go now, Senephin. I won’t touch the ‘Divine Blessings.'”
“Thank you!”
After releasing Lumins wrists, I turned toward the corrupted ‘Divine Blessings.’
It’s fine. I can act. I’ve been acting this whole time, pretending to be Senephin Cromwell, someone completely different from myself.
This is nothing…!
Taking a deep breath, I reached out for the ‘Divine Blessings.’ As soon as I touched it, I would pretend to have a seizure and—
…Huh?
The moment my fingers made contact with the blackened horn flute, an indescribable pressure enveloped my body.
At the same time, an eerie sensation overtook me, like my blood was reversing its flow, or perhaps violently surging out of control.
“…Ah, ugh…”
No… way.
Before I could even let out a proper sound, my body collapsed onto the floor, my consciousness fading.
Was Senephin Cromwell also hypersensitive to corruption?
I could hear my name being shouted frantically, feel someone grabbing and shaking me, but the sensations seemed so distant.
At least I had proven the danger with my own body.
At least Lumins would now understand the risk.
But if I never got to see him again…
That thought was cut off as I was swallowed by complete darkness.
