Chapter 97: Townsperson A Settles the Score (Part 2)

“Nooooo! Marcus! Why?! Marcus!”

Even as I watched Amy wail—even though I’d just shot and killed a person I actually knew—I couldn’t find it in me to feel a shred of sympathy.

How did it even come to this? That was the only question swirling in my head.

Ah, I guess I really am a cold-hearted bastard. Then again, it’s a bit late for that realization after everything I’ve done.

I leveled Saiga once more, aiming for my next shot at Amy.

“As if I’d let you!”

The Crown Prince let out a roar and closed the distance between us in a single, desperate lunging stride.

Before he could reach me, however, Ana drew the Sword of the Sky Knight and stepped into his path. Sword clashed against sword, the sharp ring of metal echoing through the throne room.

“Anastasia! Get out of my way! It’s him! If only this man weren't here!”

The Crown Prince unleashed a follow-up strike in an attempt to cut through her. His movements were far more refined than anything I’d seen during our classes. He was almost certainly buffing himself with the [Hero] skill. If I had been the one on the receiving end of that, I probably would have been killed instantly.

But Ana parried his blade with effortless grace. Unable to keep up with the sheer fluidity of her movements, the Crown Prince lost his balance and stumbled.

“Your Highness,” Ana said, her voice sounding almost like a lecture. “It is time you woke up from this dream.”

“What?!”

With a casual flick, Ana knocked the Crown Prince's sword aside and buried a sharp middle kick into his gut.

“Gah... hah...”

His body doubled over. Groaning in agony, the Crown Prince collapsed to his knees.

The gap in their levels was so massive that it wasn't even a contest. Having obtained the Divine Protection of the Sky Knight and the Divine Protection of the Ice Saint, and having been tempered by our high-speed power-leveling in the Wind Mountain Labyrinth, Ana’s current stats for both Stamina and Mana were S-rank.

Even with the [Hero] buff active, the Crown Prince didn't stand a ghost of a chance.

“Holy Ice Awakening.”

The Crown Prince’s head was briefly encased in ice before it shattered.

“Wh—? I... what am I? A-Amy? Huh? What’s happening?”

As the Crown Prince sat there, dazed by the sudden collapse of Amy’s brainwashing, Ana pressed the advantage.

“Holy World of Ice Binding.”

Ice surged forth from her magic, completely encasing the Crown Prince's body.

“Wh-What is this?! Anastasia! Damn it! Unngh... O Mana! Source of all creation! Become an armor of flames and protect me! Flame Armor!”

The Crown Prince wreathed himself in a shroud of fire. Based on elemental affinities, the ice should have melted instantly—yet the frost Ana had created didn't show the slightest sign of thawing.

“Why?! Why won't it melt?! Fire is supposed to melt ice!”

“Your Highness, that is holy ice. It cannot be melted by conventional means. You will remain there as our prisoner.”

“Damn it! Damn you! Anastasiaaa!”

The Crown Prince glared at her with eyes full of pure loathing and screamed at the top of his lungs. He didn't get far, however; the ice crept up to seal his mouth, cutting off any further vitriol.

Having confirmed he was secured, Ana seemed to lose all interest in him. She turned her back on the muffled grunts of the Prince and faced Amy.

I leveled Saiga, intending to finish her off for good this time. But then Amy spoke, her voice dropping into a theatrical, sickeningly sweet tone.

“Lady Anastasia! Please, open your eyes! This isn't what you really wanted!”

I recognize those lines.

It was the same dialogue the Heroine used against the fallen Villainess during the final boss battle of the game. I saw the strategy now. In the original timeline, the power of the Saint of Benevolence would have triggered here, purifying a portion of the Despair of the Magic Sword and weakening the Villainess's power.

But the Ana standing here wasn't being possessed by some Magic Sword.

And even if she were, the two people who were supposed to protect Amy and defeat the weakened Villainess—the Crown Prince and Marcus—were already out of commission.

“The Saint!”

The soldiers, who had been standing by in a daze, finally snapped out of it and rushed toward us. I raised Saiga to intercept them, but Ana stopped me with a small gesture before casting a spell.

“Holy Ice Awakening.”

A moment later, the soldiers' heads were "cooled" by the holy ice, dispelling their brainwashing in an instant.

“Huh? What? Wait, where am I?”

The soldiers skidded to a halt, looking around in total confusion. They looked like they couldn't even process why they were armed or what they were doing there.

Seeing her control crumble, Amy finally lost her composure.

“Hi—! Hiiiieee! Why?! Why is a Villainess like you even here?! What is going on?! Someone! Help me! Save me!”

“Holy Ice Barrier.”

Ana cast another spell I didn't recognize, and a massive dome of ice materialized, sealing off the throne room and trapping us inside. It was likely another Ice Saint ability, similar to the one holding the Prince.

I pointed Saiga at Amy again, but Ana looked at me and gave a small shake of her head.

Personally, I thought even talking to her was a dangerous risk and wanted to shoot her dead on the spot, but Ana clearly had something in mind. I lowered the gun and gave a small nod. Ana nodded back, then addressed Amy.

“You.”

“Hiii! Someone! Help! Save me!”

Amy shrieked and tried to bolt, desperately pounding on the frozen walls of the dome. Naturally, the ice didn't even chip.

Give me a break. Marcus and the Prince had literally put their lives on the line to protect her, even if it was under brainwashing—and this was how she acted the moment things went south?

“Ice Binding.”

Ana’s magic surged, and ice snapped around Amy, pinning her in place. Forcing the girl to face her, Ana spoke in a voice devoid of any warmth or emotion.

“Listen well. I am of the mind that if a person reflects on their actions and atones for their sins, they deserve to be forgiven.”