The Man’s 101st Bad Ending

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“Are you truly determined to go?”

Dozens of fragmented rays of light from the stained-glass window touched the floor, shimmering with an almost mystical brilliance.

The pure white clothes reflected the light in the same way. The Pope’s voice was gentle, as always, but Adriana decided to ignore that gentleness for a moment.

She had just made a decision that was too harsh, arbitrary, and selfish for a Saint.

“I am.”

“You will retain your position as Saint, but even so, there will be criticism. Even if that’s the case… isn’t it wrong to act on personal desires?”

Some pitied her for being brought here as a child and made into a Saint. @@novelbin@@

However, this religion wasn’t a place where everything could be decided based on sympathy.

Even the Pope himself couldn’t deny that the Saint’s value lay in that aspect. He knew that Adriana had recently formed a deep relationship with Robert Taylor.

He was the Pope, after all. He had to know everything that happened within the Church.

The reason he hadn’t said anything about it, despite her being the Saint, was simply out of consideration, not as the Pope, but as an old man. But now that she was leaving, he had to hold her accountable.

“I ask again.”

The aged Pope moved, and Adriana, recalling the day she had first arrived at the Church, nodded slightly.

Back then, the current Pope, who had still been a Cardinal, had been the most frightening person to her. But now, his former sternness was gone, and he simply looked like a grandfather.

She was certain that he would eventually give in to her unreasonable demands.

“Are you truly determined to go? Going to the North in its current chaotic state is something the imperial family could consider an act of treason.”

“If God has commanded it, I must follow.”

“…Did God truly command it? Is the face you envision in your heart truly God?”

Adriana remained silent, not answering the question. But wasn’t the meaning clear?

The Pope smiled wryly, ran his hand over his wrinkled face, and sighed.

He had thought this day might come. She hadn’t been born and raised in the Church, she was too free-spirited for a Saint, and she had experienced too much. ȑ𝖆Ɲ𝙤ᛒÈş

He had thought there would be a time when she would leave, harboring intentions completely different from the Church’s doctrines.

Love.

If the Saint truly believed in and followed that romantic emotion, what should he do?

If the Saint left, the ensuing criticism would be directed solely at him.

He hadn’t stopped the Saint.

The Pope had gone senile and abandoned God’s grace. But if he didn’t stop her here, if the Robert Taylor, whom the Saint loved so dearly, was buried somewhere in the North…?

‘This is giving me a headache.’

He didn’t know what God’s will was.

He had never wanted to be burdened with such complicated problems in his old age, and just… just… perhaps even this was God’s will.

The Pope looked at Adriana, who had lowered her head, and slowly extended his hand, holding his staff.

“Adriana.”

The divine power emanating from his hand enveloped Adriana’s body.

It was the first time the Pope, who had always called her “Saint,” had called her by her name, and Adriana, startled, looked at him.

A stern glint, reminiscent of her childhood, momentarily returned to his faded green eyes. His eyes narrowed slightly, then softened as he sighed.

“I have always wished for your happiness.”

How could he feel at ease bringing a clueless child here in the name of God’s grace?

He had pondered countless times whether this was truly God’s will. But now, he had come to believe that even releasing Adriana was God’s will.

If this was truly what God desired, preventing it would be against the doctrines.

“So, I will grant you permission.”

“…Your Holiness-”

“Leave immediately. The followers who hear this news will soon flock here.”

Treason.

It was an incident that had erupted for a terrible reason. The Grand Duchess and Robert, caught in this inferno, would likely not be unscathed.

He had bestowed his power upon her, so she would be able to heal them even if they were severely injured.

If necessary, he could even unleash the divine power that had been sealed away. It would probably be possible.

Adriana looked at the Pope for a moment, then stood up and turned her back. Adriana’s secret journey to the North was decided.

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Mephisto’s body crumbled.

The disintegrating body had a simple meaning. It meant that he was gathering all his accumulated mana, even the mana that sustained his life, into that finger to unleash an attack.

He ran. As fast as he could. Gritting his teeth was a habit, but he felt a sharp pain, as if he had broken a tooth from clenching his jaw too tightly.

He had considered it.

That something like this could happen. But there wasn’t really a way to prevent it. Facing two demons meant pushing himself to the limit to even have a chance.

If he had been at full strength, he could have somehow deflected that mana. But now, it was impossible.

One of his arms was crippled, and all the mana he had left was just enough to finish off Mephisto.

It felt like everything was happening in slow motion. That short span of time was fragmented into dozens, hundreds of pieces, allowing him to observe even the smallest details.

The gazes directed at him, the soldiers falling beneath the crumbling walls.

There weren’t many bodies that could withstand the mana. He couldn’t read any emotions on the faces of those who crumbled the moment the wave of mana touched them.

Perhaps he was ignoring them. It was a selfish thought, but there was only one person in his mind right now.

Coincidentally, he sensed a familiar mana at the edge of the direction the mana storm was heading.

It was a presence he had become quite familiar with, having met her shortly after his latest regression. Adele. The reason he had come this far. The person he had vowed to save, no matter what.

Yes.

No matter what. He had anticipated this kind of self-destruction, but he hadn’t been able to find a way to prevent it.

What was he supposed to do in this situation? He had only thought of one thing. He had said he would make it as if nothing had happened.

There was probably… only one way. He saw Adele in the distance. And he ran towards her, throwing himself in front of her before the mana could reach her.

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Adele frowned slightly, rubbing the throbbing back of her neck. She hadn’t expected him to knock her unconscious there.

She had thought something was up, but she hadn’t imagined he would knock her out so unceremoniously.

Judging by the three powerful mana reactions outside, Robert was probably fighting the demons.

She wanted to go out and help, but Adele knew why Robert had knocked her unconscious. She would probably only be a hindrance in that fight.

The reality that she was nothing but a hindrance was ridiculous, and she couldn’t even begin to guess what Robert was thinking.

“What did I tell you?”

Adriana and Miragen were there too. It wouldn’t matter if she died. It might even be more helpful if she died…

Damn it.

Adele knew better than anyone that Robert wouldn’t think that way. If she were Robert, she would have definitely come here and tried to save her.

But she was worried, so she couldn’t stay here forever. Their adjutants were probably watching the battle.

Adele grabbed her sword and opened the door. The hallway was quiet.

The few soldiers she saw were busily preparing something, and sometimes, she saw one of the adjutants running off in a hurry.

Lothos was in command in her absence, so what orders had he given for everyone to be acting like this?

Adele pondered for a moment, then realized that it was all for one purpose and chuckled softly.

A coup.

If Robert won against the demons, they would have to march on the capital immediately.

Ironically, the moment she was branded a traitor, the lives of everyone in the North were at stake.

If they couldn’t advance from here, they would have to sit and wait for death, so Adele inwardly praised Lothos for understanding the situation and started walking.

She sincerely hoped that Robert wouldn’t be injured.

He was probably fighting for his life. But the fact that he had knocked her unconscious and gone ahead meant that he had done it because she was there.

If he had really thought she was going to die, he would have at least told her to withdraw the Northern troops. He must have done it with the intention of winning.

To be able to march immediately after winning.

Her steps, which had been continuing for a while, stopped abruptly because of the intense wave she felt from afar.

A powerful mana storm, completely different from before, aimed in this direction. She felt Robert’s mana too, but it was only for a moment.

The mana, not completely neutralized, struck the fortress, and Adele was about to draw on her own mana amidst the collapsing debris.

“Robert…?”

She instinctively knew that she couldn’t block this mana with her own power.

She would either die or be crippled even if she survived. But why was Robert there?

Robert, not saying a word even though their eyes met, stood in front of Adele, shielding her with his bloodied body, panting.

The meaning of his action was clear.

Adele’s hand, which she had instinctively raised to block the attack, was stopped in mid-air and thrown back.

Robert’s mana had already formed a barrier in front of her, and her shouts didn’t reach him.

“Robert, what are you-!”

“It’s nothing.”

🚨 Important Notice 🚨

); }

Hadn’t he lived countless lives trying to save her?

Robert met Adele’s gaze and smiled gently. It was the same sly smile he always wore, as if soothing a crying child, but the mana storm behind him was clearly breaking through the barrier.

Crack.

The mana struck his body and exploded, and even though he felt a sharp pain as his body was pierced, he continued to smile.

“It’s… nothing.”

He had decided that from the beginning.

Even if he died, saving Adele would be a small price to pay.

In his fading consciousness, amidst the completely vanished mana, Robert smiled quietly, confirming that Adele was unharmed.

This was enough.

This was… enough.

[T/N: not a repeated line but how it is in the raws]

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[Translator Notes]

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