The earth split open in that instant. Buildings around them began to collapse, and a deep crack had just reached Elise's position.
"Everyone, get back!"
Already prepared, Elise immediately tossed the two nuns beside her to safety, then jumped into the effort to rescue the refugees—even if she was the only one doing it.
"Run!"
John, witnessing the scene, quickly gave the retreat order.
You've got to be kidding. They triggered the plan prematurely? We haven't even evacuated yet!
Could the Integrated Enterprise Foundation really be planning to bury us too?!
Unfortunately, Lady Luck wasn't with them this time. Several members of their group were caught in the quake.
"Hey! We need to get out of here too! The Foundation bastards must've expected us to fail. That last plan—Plan C—wasn't just for the Saintess. It was aimed at us too!"
"What?! Those guys seriously want to take us out too? Don't they know we might retaliate when we get back?!"
John didn't respond. He simply gave the younger man a look full of pity.
Retaliate? You think a major corporate syndicate fears your petty revenge?
John knew—regardless of whether they made it out alive, retaliation was out of the question. Trying would be suicide. Worse, they could even bring danger upon their own families.
Forget it. He's young. I'll set him straight when we get out of here—if we get out alive.
Right now, the most important thing was escaping this collapsing land. You can't do anything if you're dead.
BOOM—
In the blink of an eye, the fissure was almost beneath their feet. If they didn't move now, they'd be buried for sure.
"You there! Come this way!"
A crisp voice cut through the chaos. John looked up and saw the Saintess heading toward them. Around her, countless others—including some of John's own companions—had already been carried to safety.
"She really is… a saintess…" John murmured in awe.
She'd already rescued so many people… and to think he had once planned to disgrace her.
"Look out!"
Just as John was entranced by her divine presence, a sharp warning pierced the air.
His foot had missed the edge—he slipped!
The sensation of falling overwhelmed him, a cold rush of terror washing over his body.
Did I… not make it in time?
But at least that idiot was a step ahead—he probably made it out.
Guess it's just me then… But at the very least—
I must fulfill my duty as a journalist to the end!
Clenching his jaw, John pulled out his camera and hurled it upward as hard as he could.
"The photos are all in there! Catch it!"
But unfortunately, the camera only struck a rock and bounced back down.
I failed…
John slowly closed his eyes, ready to accept death—or perhaps simply mourning that he hadn't fulfilled his final role as a true journalist.
"Take my hand!"
That familiar voice rang out once more. John's hand moved reflexively, his eyes fluttering open.
What's happening...?
"Give me your hand! I'll pull you up! Everything's going to be okay."
The voice came again, firm and gentle.
And there she was—the Saintess, her eyes filled with unwavering warmth, reaching her delicate white hand toward him.
Perhaps because it was high noon, the sun was blazing.
And Elise stood right in front of it—blocking its rays.
In that moment, it looked as though the Saintess herself… was glowing with divine light.
John reached out, as if grasping the light before him—and in the Saintess' healing smile, he was pulled back up to solid ground.
"I'm so glad you're okay. Here's your camera. Something this important should be delivered in person."
Elise's voice faded into the background for John. He was still caught in the memory of that moment.
Not until the disaster had fully passed, and his teammates gathered around him, did he finally come back to his senses.
"John, thank goodness you're alright!"
"All thanks to Lady Saintess!"
"We actually planned to do that kind of thing to her before... What a sin."
His companions voiced their thoughts one after another, but they soon noticed John wasn't paying them any attention. Curiosity piqued.
"Hey, don't tell me... you fell in love with the Saintess just because she saved you? That's a bit much!"
"What are you looking at by yourself? Let us see too!"
Everyone crowded around John—only to see what had captured his attention:
A single photograph.
"I threw the camera upward when I was falling," John explained, his voice tinged with an emotion none of them had heard from him before.
"Unfortunately, it didn't make it. It hit a rock and fell back down. But the Saintess brought up both me and the camera."
"And then... this photo showed up. Maybe it was the impact that pressed the shutter."
On the left side of the photo was John, his eyes dazed, reaching out his left hand.
On the right, the Saintess reached out her right hand, light pouring from behind her like a flame of hope. It pierced the darkness—and lit up John's eyes.
Silence fell over the group. Their thoughts were united.
The Creation of Adam.
The composition of this accidental photo mirrored that iconic masterpiece. And more than that—it wasn't staged.
It was taken entirely by chance. And yet... it evoked something deep within.
"Is she really a divine being...?"
John asked again. No one answered.
But maybe... he already had the answer in his heart.
Because his eyes were already glowing with light.
After a long pause, John looked once more toward the Saintess in the crowd.
She hadn't abandoned a single person. With only her strength, she had saved everyone.
There was no despair on her figure—no pain. She was radiance incarnate, shining light into the hearts of those around her.
"Looks like I really do need to visit the church…"
...
Back to Elise's side.
She was receiving thanks from the refugees and doing her best to soothe their wounded hearts.
A scene that should've been filled with despair had been transformed by the radiant Saintess.
As expected of me!
Elise could clearly feel the rising tide of faith flowing from the people around her. Her objectives were being met—beautifully.
Still... this is a surprise. I didn't think the Integrated Enterprise Foundation would really go that far.
Looks like I'll need to start seriously planning how to deal with them.
"Huh?!"
Elise glanced in John's direction—and froze.
Faith power was flowing from over there too.
If it were just basic gratitude from being saved, a little faith would be expected—not even enough to surprise her.
But John's faith… it was intense. Far beyond normal!
Elise had only encountered this kind of overwhelming faith once before—
A fanatic.
Looks like I've gained an unexpectedly valuable follower this time.
Saintess Elise couldn't help but smile even more brightly.