[Raul's POV]
I walked back to my hideout in the inner part of the mine after my fight with Elena. I managed to incapacitate her until the exam ends, but...
I looked at my left hand, hanging limp from the effects of using the Reject Impact spell.
Yes... My left hand is now completely paralyzed until the exam is over. However, the risk was worth it considering I managed to eliminate Elena from tomorrow's decisive battle.
But it will be quite difficult for me to fight directly with only one hand. I hope that seeing the tunnel collapse will make them hesitate to enter the other tunnels, giving me time to prepare for the next wave of attacks.
I think I saw about ten people with Elena in the tunnel. That means there are about 40 more I have to defeat.
However, I have already devised a strategy to fight them, assuming they will pass through the remaining three tunnels. I believe each tunnel will be led by Brian, Geralt, and Valeria.
The groups led by Brian and Geralt should be relatively easy to deal with first, while Valeria, although not as strong a leader as Elena, can still think logically.
Before they reach my hideout, I need to reduce their numbers by at least half.
As I arrived at my hideout, I saw Ariel had woken up.
Her eyes, as beautiful as a rare gemstone, her smooth white hair like snow in winter, and her melancholic expression made her appear like a classic painting worth billions of dollars at auction.
It would be a lie if I said I wasn't at all captivated by Ariel's beauty right now.
Noticing my presence, Ariel turned to me.
"Raul? What happened to your face?" Ariel asked, staring at my right cheek. "I also heard a loud rumble earlier."
Well... It seems Elena's punch left a mark on my right cheek. No wonder it hurt so much. Ariel must have woken up from the sound of the tunnel collapsing earlier.
I ignored her question and sat against a stone wall to rest my body for a moment. I needed to prepare for the final battle here.
Closing my eyes, I began to reflect on my life since entering Raul de Garcia's body.
I don't know whether the Death Flag attached to this body has disappeared or merely changed from what it should have been. But as someone who created this world, I want to dedicate my current life to preventing the misfortunes that would result from the scenario we created.
I remembered a cutscene in the game where Ariel walks through a village that looks like a bloodbath, the aftermath of demons slaughtering the villagers.
Children crying for their lost parents, parents in despair over their lost children, and lovers going mad from the loss of their partners.
It will all become reality if I don't do something.
But I'm not perfect—I'm only one person. There are limits to what one person can do. It's impossible to be everywhere, preventing every disaster in the world. I have to make this world stronger to at least reduce the damage from the great catastrophe to come.
As I was reflecting, a warm sensation appeared on my right cheek, where Elena had just hit me.
Opening my eyes, I saw Ariel sitting in front of me, her hand glowing with the sign of a healing spell.
Our faces were close. From her expression, I could tell she was nervous. Her hand on my cheek felt warm and soft, making me not want to interrupt her.
"Why are you healing my wound, Ariel?"
Ariel's body flinched, startled that I suddenly spoke. Our eyes met before she quickly looked away, her cheeks turning a rosy red.
"I'm a Priestess. Healing others is my habit," she said softly.
I noticed Ariel's ears twitch, a unique habit of hers whenever she tells a lie.
"You're lying, Ariel."
Though Ariel is kind and gentle, she wouldn't heal someone who had harmed her friends. That's why I want to know why she's doing this.
"There's no way you would heal someone who's trying to hurt your friends."
At my words, Ariel's body trembled again, surprised I could guess her true feelings.
"I-I don't know, just stop talking while I heal you..." Ariel said, sounding irritated. It seems she doesn't want to tell me her reasons.
This is why, even though Ariel is naive and innocent, she's always loved by many because of her kindness. People like her keep humanity's hope alive.
Not those who act tough, rejecting naivety, with overwhelming power to crush anyone. They don't inspire anyone—their lives are lived only for themselves, and they'll fade away when their strength is gone.
As I thought about this, the warmth on my cheek suddenly disappeared. Ariel had removed her hand, finished with the healing.
After treating my cheek, she glanced at my limp left hand. There were a few blue spots on it.
"You won't be able to heal that unless you're a Saint."
Hearing my words, Ariel stopped her hand before touching my left arm.
"Huh? Why?" Ariel asked, confused.
"This isn't a wound caused by physical trauma but damage to the mana circuit," I explained about what had happened to my left hand. "You can only heal it if you have powerful Divine Magic or an abundant supply of Mana."
That's why this spell wouldn't work on Brian, whose Blessing gives him unlimited mana.
"I see..." Ariel murmured, as if deep in thought.
Her pink eyes then looked at my face, as if she wanted to ask something.
"Why didn't you tie me up or knock me unconscious? Couldn't I escape while you're not here?" Ariel asked, curious.
"You've always gotten lost in complicated places. I'd easily track you down if you tried to escape." Ariel, after all, is the kind of woman who can't navigate well. "You'd probably just wander around here until I found you again shortly after."
Hearing one of her weaknesses exposed, Ariel pouted and turned away from me.
"You still remember when we got lost back during our first year," Ariel said, her voice different from before. "I thought you didn't recall any of our memories from when we were still close a year ago."
Hearing this, I was at a loss for words. That was completely out of character for Raul. The real Raul wouldn't remember that; his mind was consumed with hatred for Brian.
Speaking of Brian, I think I've figured out a way to eliminate his group later without having to fight him directly.