One should not do things that exceed their capabilities.
Witches who wield the power of the Destined Crown are already the final bosses of this world. They could easily take their time, growing in strength before engaging in battle.
The Hero’s constant effort to block the shockwaves over such a wide area was no different from facing the two Witches head-on and taking a beating.
If she made even a single mistake, the Hero—who lacked any survival traits—would die.
Sophie could not accept that.
As for Silvervein City being wiped out by the aftershocks, or the NPCs dying because of them...
Does a vampire remember how many slices of bread they have eaten?
If a bag of bread falls to the ground, one simply waits for a new batch to come out of the oven.
After the destruction, a new city would naturally be rebuilt upon the ruins, and Sophie would provide some assistance when that time came.
Preserving a useful life to completely resolve the curse of the seven Witches and bring peace to the world—that was the ultimate goal.
The only result of the Hero staying behind would be her exhaustion from constantly unleashing wide-range combat techniques and spells.
Ultimately, she would perish along with the things she wanted to protect.
And the Witches would simply continue their struggle.
It was a meaningless sacrifice.
Faced with Sophie’s suggestion, Kaila shook her head in silence.
“Witches... must be slain.”
Sophie was dumbfounded.
After everything she had just said, was the girl not listening at all?
Servant A’s voice rang out at just the right moment.
“It’s no use. 【The Hero shall protect the weak】, 【The Hero shall not ignore atrocities】, 【The Hero shall lead by example】, 【The Hero shall drive out evil】...”
“Just as 【A maid shall serve her master】, we must act according to our identities. Therefore, even if the Hero wanted to agree with you, her identity would not allow her to flee the battlefield.”
Servant A seemed to have recovered slightly. She pushed herself up to stand, resting her hand on the hilt of her sword.
This red-haired woman’s swordsmanship was excellent; Sophie had already witnessed it.
But the moment Servant A placed her hand on the sword, her hand instinctively threw the entire blade, scabbard and all, away from her.
Servant A let out a self-deprecating laugh.
“【A servant shall not carry weapons】. If I forcibly try to use one, my body will automatically discard the weapon like that. If I want to use something, it can only be a broom.”
“This is the curse of the Destined Sanctuary: Destinos. Everyone is born with an inescapable, predestined identity, and these identities are also the way we obtain power.”
“So, even if the Hero wanted to go with you, she wouldn't be able to move her legs.”
Sophie fell silent.
She had long suspected something like this.
But was it really a curse?
And this description... sounded like Little Shi’s trauma?
Was it because she had told her back then that a machine should operate like a machine?
“Not only can she not run, but she must even raise her sword and charge in when those two monsters are both exhausted and wounded. That is what it means to be a Hero.”
Hearing Servant A’s words, Kaila’s shoulders trembled slightly.
“However... there is a way to take the Hero with you.”
Servant A’s tone shifted, her playful gaze moving from Kaila to Sophie’s face.
“A Hero cannot turn a blind eye to Witches, but similarly, a Hero absolutely cannot abandon a ‘weakling in desperate straits, pleading for help.’”
“As it happens, the people in Silvervein City haven't noticed the impending disaster yet, so naturally, no one will call out to the Hero for help.”
“But Miss Sophie, you don't want the Hero to die here, do you?”
The corner of Sophie’s eye twitched slightly.
“So.”
“Ask her for help. Cry out to her about your pain, show her your fragility. As long as you put on that irresistible, pitiful act and clearly and strongly convey the distress signal of ‘Take me away from here, or I’ll die’...”
“Then, between the two conflicting Heroic Laws of ‘Slaying Witches’ and ‘Saving the Supplicant,’ her priorities will waver. At that point, she will have no choice but to give up the fight and obediently take you away from this godforsaken place.”
“With your speed, you likely won't outrun the range of the shockwaves anyway, so it wouldn't even be a lie.”
“After all, 【The Hero cannot turn a deaf ear to a cry for help】.”
Servant A proposed a method of escape by exploiting the identity curse mechanism without any hesitation.
Sophie’s eyes lit up.
Indeed.
The Hero could not refuse a plea for help.
As long as she was the first to ask for help before anyone else’s cries rang out, she could stall her actions.
Furthermore, since she was still losing health after drinking the blood and would have died long ago if not for the direct Holy Light, she had to stay with Kaila to survive. It wasn't a lie.
This way, the Hero could live.
“Don't...”
As long as the destination she chose was far enough, even with the Hero’s speed, there were plenty of places they could reach in three days.
“Please... don't do this...”
Not only that, but after understanding the curse on the Hero, some of the requests she originally wanted to make of Kaila could be rephrased in a way that was easier for her to accept.
“Sophie, I beg you, please don't do this.”
Why?
Sophie looked up blankly, her gaze meeting Kaila’s.
Rate on N.U.
