Soon, before everyone's eyes, Helant used holy light to purify all the demi-humans and freed the imprisoned citizens of the Holy Kingdom.
Just like before, he once again produced a crate of "God's Blood" and distributed it.
Then he spread his wings of light and flew toward the horizon once more.
This time, however, his takeoff was noticeably slower.
"Oh, it seems our Sir Helant is beginning to tire. Bahaha~ Three cities remain. Who knows if he can hold out?" Bastello bared eight sharp fangs in a deliberately exaggerated grin.
As he spoke, his hands never stopped moving. He enlarged the third screen along the route so everyone could see it clearly.
Under the crowd's gaze, half an hour passed, then an hour.
The sun high above gradually dimmed and turned yellow, tilting noticeably.
Finally, an hour and a half after Helant had set off again, he reappeared.
By now, the wings of light behind him were clearly dimmer, and weariness showed on his once-radiant face.
He seemed to grit his teeth, squeezing out the last remnants of mana to cast a spell that wiped out the demi-humans.
Afterward, he forced a smile, handed out the potions, and hurried away once again.
Everyone could read it in his eyes: "Time waits for no one. I must save the rest."
"Tsk, as expected of the Human Emissary of the Holy Domain God Lord. Rescuing three cities in one breath. Admirable." Bastello pressed a hand to his chest, his eyes filled with what seemed like heartfelt admiration as he sighed.
The emotion was so genuine that it seemed to come from the depths of his soul.
"That tone makes it sound as if you and Helant are on the same side," Remedios said with narrowed eyes, thinking bitterly.
Beside her, the Holy Queen's chest rose and fell as her beautiful eyes blazed with anger. "You hypocritical cur, and you still speak in that insinuating tone!"
Zesshi Zetsumei, Clementine, Quaiesse, and even the secretly observing Platinum Dragon Lord all shared the Holy Queen's opinion.
"That demon is a pretentious, sarcastic mongrel."
"Your Highness, judging by your eyes, it seems you have misunderstood me." After enlarging the fourth screen, Bastello spoke as if he had been wronged.
To be misunderstood by a future mistress... should I explain? Lord Demiurge never taught me how to deal with this.
Since Calca had responded, Bastello wisely continued, "So, Lord Helant has set out for the fourth city. With his mana nearly exhausted, I wonder when he will arrive."
He glanced at the slanting sun and joked, "Once the sun sets, I will begin killing."
Zesshi glanced sideways at Quaiesse.
"The griffons have already reached the fifth and fourth cities," Quaiesse said after a moment of sensing with his eyes closed.
Compared to Helant flying along the border, Quaiesse's griffons had scattered from the beginning, heading directly toward each city.
Although they were slower than Helant, their numbers and routes allowed them to reach the cities first.
"Over such a distance, I can only use reverse summoning once."
"Once is enough."
Zesshi nodded and continued watching Helant.
Everyone stared at the sky, waiting and waiting.
The sun gradually lost its brilliance, casting a dull yellow light over the ground.
To the onlookers, the distant peaks now seemed only two or three handbreadths away from the sun.
Calca clasped her hands devoutly before her chest and prayed, "Great Holy Domain God Lord, please keep Helant safe."
Helant, you have already done enough. Do not push yourself any further...
"Helant has appeared!"
Following Remedios's cry, Calca looked at the screen. Her heart twisted, her small face turned pale, and tears slid down her cheeks.
The once otherworldly and spirited Helant was gone, replaced by a pale and haggard face.
Calca knew that expression. It was the look of mana overdraft.
In the image, Helant used everything he had to wipe out the demi-humans.
Then, barely able to stand, he handed out the potions.
Instead of setting off again, he moved to a high place within the city, slipped out of sight, and slumped down, gasping for breath.
He had reached his limit. He was exhausted.
The sight brought a lump to every throat in Diborne City.
They had watched this radiant divine envoy grow gaunt while saving them and saving the people of the Holy Kingdom.
Helant turned his head and secretly glanced toward the city.
All across the city, people were weeping with relief after their ordeal. The potions had given them new life, and Helant's magic had freed them.
Seeing this, Helant's lips curved into a smile, and his eyes shone with the joy of knowing that it had all been worth it.
He slowly stood up, gazed at the reddening setting sun, murmured something, then spread his wings of light and headed toward the final city.
Watching him leave, the people of Diborne City could bear it no longer, and most of them burst into tears.
When Helant had secretly looked back, that genuine delight had been as real as windblown sand stinging their eyes.
"Sigh..."
Quaiesse's nose stung and his eyes reddened as he lowered his head in silence.
Sir Helant is so pure, so kind, able to love people so deeply. As expected of someone chosen by the gods.
Zesshi Zetsumei's red lips trembled as she looked at Helant with both admiration and recognition.
That single smile had struck her soul, engraving his face deeply in her mind.
Calca's beautiful eyes brimmed with hot tears as she sobbed, "Fool, I told you not to overexert yourself. Come back!"
A fear now spread through her heart. She was terrified that she might never see Helant again.
Memories began to flood her mind uncontrollably.
Although only two days had passed, Calca felt they held more meaning than the previous twenty years of her life.
Recalling Helant's murmured words before he left, Calca clasped her hands before her chest again and prayed devoutly.
"Great Holy Domain God Lord, please protect Helant."
What he had murmured was, "Holy Domain God Lord above, it was all worth it.. so even if I die..."
And everyone else likewise clasped their hands before their chests and prayed from the bottom of their hearts.
"Great Holy Domain God Lord, please protect Lord Helant."
Invisible strands of platinum-white light began to sprout throughout Diborne City.
In the sky, Bastello gazed into the distance with pious fervor and marveled inwardly.
Magnificent Lord Helant, your acting is superb.
____
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