Saint Anna Margrethe 

In this world, God created humans and Elementals, beings made to bring color to it.
Over time, humans learned to offer their lives to the Elementals, allowing them to inhabit their bodies and thus creating Sibyls, the voices of nature.
In an effort to make their world a better place, the Sibyls harnessed nature’s power to advance civilization, enriching people’s lives.
However, as the world grew prosperous, human hearts became stained by darkness and corruption.
They began to fight each other in an attempt to take the prosperity of others for themselves.
Caught in the ravages of war, the Sibyls despaired at humanity’s selfish actions and vanished from this world.

This happened before I, Anna Margrethe, the chosen Saint, was born. And it was the cause of the invasion of Idea, the Demiurge.
To counter the invasion, humanity needed hope as a substitute for the Sibyls.
The existence befitting of that role is a Saint.
I inherited the power from the first Saint and became the second one.
At first, I was just happy to be able to live a luxurious life, praying to a God of salvation who might not be even there, and not even trying to listen to the peoples' voices.
But as the battle with God approached, I had to fulfill my role.
To become hope and strength for humanity. That was my mission as a Saint.
I must fulfill that mission. That is the price for the freedom I have earned as a Saint.
Therefore, I swear to all humanity.
I will confront Idea the Demiurge, and I will seize victory by human hands.
Even if I have to cross swords with God… I must choose to do so.

In this world, there were once four Sibyls who controlled fire, water, wind, and earth.
Their powers nurtured nature, brought blessings to humans, and developed civilization.

However, the world gradually became distorted as those who excessively worshiped the Sibyls and those who sought to control them began to appear.
The distortion became the source of conflict, and the world was engulfed in chaos.

Caught in the midst of humanity’s strife, the Sibyls suffered countless tragedies amidst the ravages of war. Their despair grew so profound they began to fervently wish for the world’s destruction.
In this world, profound despair is synonymous with death.
And due to the war, the four Sibyls disappeared.

With the Sibyls who controlled nature gone, uncontrollable disasters began to spread.

A few years after the Sibyls disappeared from the world, its collapse was suddenly accelerated.

“I am Idea, the Demiurge. I am the God of this world, and I will bring an end to these foolish humans. This world has no need for ugly things. I will destroy you and create a new world.”

A young girl who claimed to be God has invaded the city of Agidis from the frigid land further north, accompanied by strange monsters known as beasts of darkness.
The monsters alone were fearful, but in front of Idea, who wielded the powers of the four Sibyls thought lost to the world, humans were trampled on helplessly.

“Human life is such a fragile thing that can end so suddenly.”

With a mere wave of her hand, Idea could instantly end the lives of countless people.
Even when she heard the screams of humans, she neither expressed joy nor sorrow, and her expression did not move an inch.
To Idea, this invasion was merely a way to erase from this world the failure she herself created.
And due to her selfish intentions, the city of Agidis, which had developed thanks to the power of the Fire Sibyl, was destroyed in a single night.

The power of Idea, who called herself the Demiurge, was so overwhelming that humans could do nothing but flee.
The few survivors fled for their lives to the war-ravaged land of Luthra.
Realizing that this was not the time to fight each other, the people of Agidis, Luthra, and Tioquia united and formed the Romnis Alliance.

However, a mere gathering of people could not defeat Idea, who possessed the powers of all the Sibyls.
They concluded they needed supernatural power equal to or surpassing that of the former Sibyls.
But the Elementals had disappeared from the world, and people did not know how to invoke them again.
Still, they craved a source of hope, and created a Saint as “a being with unique powers”.

The first chosen Saint was a noble girl from Luthra.
Of course, she did not have any particularly strong powers, and apart from her beautiful looks, she was an ordinary girl.
But despite that, the aim was to elevate her as “a Saint with special powers”, making her a symbol of hope for the people and boosting their morale.
As a result, people began to worship the Saint as a way to escape despair, giving birth to a faith that could be called vanity.

However, this did not last long.
The girl designated as the Saint fought bravely against Idea on the front lines, but she lost her life in the midst of that battle.
It was only natural, as she was just an ordinary girl with no special powers.

However, it was not all bad for humans.
It was said that Idea fell into slumber immediately after killing the first Saint, in order to recharge her powers.
Humans were given a grace period to resist their impending doom.

And so they tried to create a second Saint.
The existence of a Saint had already become humanity’s hope, and her absence would be a major setback for them.
They chose a girl named Anna Margrethe with the claim that “she had inherited her power from the first Saint”.
Anna was still a child and did not have any special powers, just like the first Saint. She was chosen simply because of her beauty.
Nevertheless, with Anna taking the throne as a Saint, the declining morale of the people recovered as planned.
The Saint had become such a great presence to her people.

Next, people focused on strengthening their military power to face off against Idea.
In addition to strengthening their soldiers, they began mass-producing weapons such as firearms and cannons.
Furthermore, they discovered that the weapons once used by the Sibyls retained a small remnant of Elemental power.
Although they had not retained their original form for use as weapons, humans used their fragments to successfully create a small amount of new equipment that would be potentially effective against Idea.

Several years passed, and the second Saint Anna turned 15 years old.
Idea appeared in this world again, leading an army of monsters to slowly advance to the holy city of Valvala, where Anna lived.

–The holy city of Valvala.
Located further south than the citadel of Anchieta, it has become the last place of hope for those who have lost their homes due to the hands of Idea, the Demiurge.
In the cathedral of Valvala, Saint Anna was praying in front of her people.

“Real God… Please save us…”

Her appearance was so mystical that it healed the wounded hearts of those present.
Some people even burst into tears, and Anna’s presence was a true salvation for them.
When the prayer ceremony was over, Anna smiled at the crowd and retreated to her room.
Once the people were no longer looking at her, Anna let out a deep breath.
Her gentle smile changed to a weary expression.

“This concludes today’s prayer.”
“Thank you, Saintly Maiden.”

Anna thought that her daily duties had finally ended and she was finally free, but then her servant appeared and she visibly frowned, looking distinctly displeased.

“Yes, yes, thank you, thank you. I wonder what the point of such a ritual is?”
“You shouldn’t speak so lightly.”
“But isn’t that true? We pray to God to save us, but isn’t that very God trying to destroy us? It’s ridiculous. Frankly, I doubt this Demiurge Idea even exists.”
“Really?”

Ignoring the attendant tilting his head in confusion, Anna looked out the window.

“I heard that Idea controls the power of nature just like the Sibyls who once existed. But look at this clear blue sky. At these peaceful streets. It’s nothing but peace itself.”
“That may be true now, but who knows when this place might become a battlefield… As the Saintly Maiden, you should be a little more aware of your role-“
“Yes, yes, I know. As a Saint, I am humanity’s hope. For everyone’s sake, I will continue to pray to the God of Salvation.”

It has been several years since Anna became a Saint.
The servant sighed deeply at the fact that she was still not aware of her role.

Anna’s days held little beyond praying to God and meeting with pilgrims who came to visit.
Once these so-called duties were done, she was not even allowed to leave her room in the cathedral, and spent her time there.
To say she felt no resentment at being confined and deprived of freedom would be a lie, yet the life of a Saint felt like nothing short of heaven.
She could eat delicious food every day, and she could get anything she wanted immediately if she asked.
Even though she was chosen to fight against Idea, the conflict seemed so far away that it seemed like a dream.
Given she had lived this way for so many years, it was perhaps inevitable that Anna had grown somewhat spoiled.

“Hey, I’m thirsty. Can you bring me some tea? Also, I’m a little hungry. Bring me something to eat too.”

Anna was relaxing in her room, and as she spoke, the maid immediately dashed out.
Watching the maid leave, Anna sighed softly and gazed out the window.

“A higher up said they were going to send me to the front line, but I wonder if it’s true… I heard the previous Saint lost her life on the battlefield. So I might die too… I don’t want that to happen…!”

Even if the fight against God didn’t feel real, the thought of actually going to the battlefield filled her with fear.
It was only natural, since she was going to a place where she might die.
Is there no way to avoid going to the battlefield?
Anna continued to worry about that until her maid returned.

Many pilgrims came seeking help from the Saint.
Though Anna could only speak for a limited time each day, the line never ceased.

“The battle against Idea will soon be over. As long as you all live, the future will open up.”
“The Elementals that once guided us will surely return… Until then, let us pray.”
“It’ll be fine. I’m sure we can even defeat God.”

These phrases were almost like platitudes, and Anna’s own feelings were not at all conveyed in them.
But even so, the people were grateful to the Saint for her words, and tears flowed from their eyes.
She would probably continue to spend her days like this for the rest of her lives.
One day, as she was vaguely thinking about these things, a large number of wounded soldiers were brought into the cathedral, and Anna’s heart leapt.

“What’s wrong? What happened!?”
“…The water capital of Tioquia has fallen… Idea’s monsters are pouring into Luthra’s territory…!”
“What a terrible thing…! Please treat these people quickly!”

Anna heard the words of the injured soldiers as if they were something unreal.
Everyday life was the same as always. The place was the same as always.
And yet, the scene unfolding before Anna’s eyes was more tragic than anything she had ever seen before.

(What is this… Could it be even worse on the battlefield…? I’ve never seen anything like this before…!)

Unable to accept the scene before her eyes, Anna froze in place.

“Saintly Maiden…!”

Eventually, one soldier tried to approach Anna, but stumbled midway and collapsed onto the floor.
Blood splashed from the impact, staining Anna’s pure white dress with red.

“Please, please save us…!”
“…!?”

The fallen soldier desperately reached out his hands to cling to Anna.
But the sight was terrifying to Anna, who had lived a peaceful and calm life without conflict.
Even so, she did not scream, perhaps because she was aware of her role as a Saint.
However, feeling something rise up from her stomach, Anna instinctively covered her mouth.

“You do not seem to be feeling well, Saintly Maiden. Please return to your room and rest.”
“…Yes, I’m sorry, I will do so.”

With the help of her servant who noticed her condition, Anna went down to her room.
Seeing the gravely wounded soldiers, Anna felt the battle with God for the first time, and as soon as she reached her room, she threw up.

After witnessing the wounded soldiers, Anna’s daily life changed drastically.
The war she had thought distant and unreal was now a tangible reality, steadily encroaching upon her life.
The number of soldiers brought to the cathedral increased day by day, and more lives were lost.
Since receiving the news that the water capital of Tioquia had fallen, Anna had witnessed this scene repeatedly, powerless to do anything.

“I’m only a Saint in name… What do they expect from me…?”

Anna hardly understood anything about the war, and she didn’t have the skills to treat wounded soldiers.
Although she often just stood there, people still wanted her as a Saint.
One day, Anna was asked to look after a soldier on the brink of death.

“…You did well. Rest well.”
“Ah… To be looked after by the Saintly Maiden… I’m so happy…”

Mustered his last strength, the soldier extended his hand to Anna, who took it.
He took his last breath with a gentle smile, as if he was completely relieved.

“Dad… Mom… Uuh… Hic…”
“That must have been so hard… You must have been so lonely…”

She has often comforted children who were crying after their parents died, hoping to ease their sadness even a little.

“I wonder if there’s something only I, the Saint, can do… I can ease people’s sadness and anxiety, even just a little…”

As Anna continued to come into contact with the various sorrows of the injured people, she gradually began to think this way.
She knew that it was impossible to remove everyone’s sadness.
But maybe she can do something within her reach, within the scope of what she can see.
If the Saint kept smiling, perhaps people would no longer be consumed by sadness and anxiety.

“To ease people’s sadness and protect their smiles. That is what I can do as the Saint.”

Having finally accepted the battle with God as a reality, Anna began to develop a sense of self-awareness and of her mission as the Saint.

Some time has passed since the fall of the water capital of Tioquia.
Anna heard that the citadel of Anchieta, the last line of defense, has been breached.

“No way… then it’s only a matter of time before Idea attacks Valvala…”

Anna clenched her fist, feeling powerless at the prospect of Valvala becoming a battlefield.
Due to Idea’s invasion, it was the only place left where people could live, and the city was overflowing with injured people who had fled from all over.
The fall of Valvala would mean humanity’s defeat.
With no way to back out any further, people’s anxiety would surely grow.

But even so, Anna never let her smile fade.
She believed that her role was to ease people’s sadness and anxiety, and to provide them with even a little bit of strength.
It’ll be fine, I’m sure we can even defeat God.
Her words of comfort remained much the same as before.
However, now that Anna was aware of her role as the Saint, her words began to heal people.
And so they began to worship her even more strongly.

“You have become truly magnificent, Saintly Maiden…”
“No, not yet. I can’t let my guard down until I can become humanity’s strength and defeat God.”

For the servants who knew Anna up until now, her current self was a long-awaited image.
She was no longer the selfish girl she used to be.

“Idea… We will never give in. We will defeat you and seize tomorrow in our hands!”

Anna felt anger toward the God who had relentlessly inflicted death and suffering on humans.
At the same time, she was worried about whether they could really defeat Idea’s overwhelming power.

“…We must not lose heart.”

She muttered to herself, shaking off her worries.
At the very least, Anna, the Saint, could not afford such doubts.
She had decided to always keep a smile on her face and continue to be the hope of humanity.

With the citadel of Anchieta breached, it was only a matter of time before Idea attacked the holy city of Valvala, where Anna resided.
So Anna decided to give a speech to dispel the people’s fears and once again rouse the soldiers.
When the gathered people saw Anna emerging from the cathedral, they lowered their voices and quietly waited for her sacred words.
Anna bowed once, then slowly began to speak.

“I am the Saint Anna Margrethe. I have striven to become a symbol of hope for the people and to support you all until this day. That will surely not change in the future. Idea will soon appear in the holy city of Valvala, accompanied by her horde of monsters.”

Anna frowned as she saw the people’s expressions darken at the mention of God’s name.

“I understand all your anxiety all too well. Our enemies are a God and monsters that are not human. My heart trembles just thinking about how many lives have been lost so unjustly to them.”

Anna’s sad expression suddenly changed, and now she smiled, to give people hope.

“But we must not give up hope. We still have the means to resist. The enemy is certainly strong and has overwhelming power, and we may be helpless before them.”

Seeing Anna’s hopeful figure, the people gradually raised their heads.

“But if we join hands and cooperate, we can create a power that even God cannot defeat. It pains me that the beautiful city of Valvala must become a battlefield, but this is our last stronghold. We must defeat God and restore peace to this world!”

As she finished speaking, the crowd erupted in thunderous cheers.
Both the townspeople who had been filled with anxiety and the soldiers about to head into battle seemed to brighten slightly.
If they didn’t give up, they would have been able to escape this fate of destruction brought by God.
Looking at the people, Anna felt certain of this.

Idea finally appeared to Valvala.
She looked like a young girl, and floated in the air looking down on the people.
An army of monsters swarmed at her feet, creating a nightmarish scene.

“That’s… Idea the Demiurge…!”

When Anna glared at the hated God, the people saw Idea’s expression shift for the first time.

“Is it because there is one with a strong soul that you humans still resist, refusing to give up hope? Fine, give that soul to me. Then I will stop feeding on the souls of this city – no, of any other human being!”
“What…!?”

The people were left in stunned disbelief by Idea’s unexpected request.
Just sacrificing the life of the Saint would save the lives of countless people who were still surviving.

“If we sacrifice the Saintly Maiden… We…”
“But she has supported us up until now… We can’t…”

The soldiers began to voice their confusion one by one.
Some were saying they would accept Idea’s demands, and others were saying they couldn’t lose Anna.
Realizing this couldn’t continue, Anna addressed the soldiers.

“Everyone. If my sole life can save the world, then I have no hesitation in sacrificing myself.”

So, would she become a sacrifice?
Voices murmured this, but Anna shook her head.

“Even if I am gone, Idea will continue to exist in this world, and we do not know when she will try to destroy humanity again. Remember. The sorrow that God has brought us. The lives that have been mercilessly lost. The only way we can smile and face tomorrow is to defeat God!”

Anna’s words solidified the wavering resolve of the soldiers.
They were not going to offer up Anna, but to defeat Idea.
Hearing the people’s answer, Idea opened her mouth with a bored look on her face.

“Humans are foolish after all. My actions will not change.”

Idea waved her hand, and her monstrous army charged at the Saint.
The soldiers countered, colliding head-on with the onslaught.
The people were being driven away by the overwhelmingly powerful army of monsters.
That was the scenario Idea had envisioned, but her expectations were about to be shattered.
The people who fought to protect this world and their loved ones were slowly but surely beginning to push back the demonic forces.
The hope of humanity and their desire to resist despair, led by Anna, awakened the supernatural powers of their “souls”. The last fragile spirits attached to human bodies.

“Just the presence of someone with strong hope can make souls grow this powerful.”

Faced with this unexpected resistance, Idea’s lips curled into a smile once more.

“But humans are destined to be ruined… No, I will bring ruin to them.”
“No, you won’t!”

Anna raised her voice as loud as she could to refute Idea, who was floating in the air.

“I’m sure we can overcome this fate of destruction…! Hope will never be crushed as long as we don’t give up!”

Anna desperately spoke to the people.
Idea sensed their strength surge further, as if propelled by her words.

“Very well. That strong soul holds together the fragments that were given to you… I’ll take it back.”
“Idea, Demiurge… I will not yield to you!”

Idea looked down at the people with a triumphant smile, while Anna glared at God with her hands clasped together as if in prayer.
Who will exist in the end: humans or God?
The time to decide the fate of the world was approaching.