The night before heading to the Burrow territory, those of us, including myself, who had decided to join in defeating the Evil God were all gathered at the Arteia family estate.
The reason was simple.
We intended to launch an assault on the Burrow territory at the break of dawn.
No one knew how long it would take to defeat Tariki.
If everything went according to plan, I estimated it would take less than half a day, but fighting against an Evil God always meant accounting for variables.
If the fight dragged on, we might not know how the situation would unfold by nightfall.
So, we planned to commence our operation the moment the sun rose, ensuring we could finish everything before it had to retreat to the sky.
Given this plan, it would be wise for me to get some sleep in preparation for the next day, yet I found myself staring out the window at the moon as it rose high in the night sky.
<Are you feeling anxious?> ‘...Yes.’
The tension in my heart made it impossible to lie down on the bed.
<It’s been a while since I’ve seen you like this, not since the academy entrance exam.> ‘Is that so?’ <Indeed. You’ve always been a person of poise and confidence.>
Now that I thought about it, that was true.
I had rarely been this nervous before.
The crises that had come my way before either seemed manageable from the start or were so sudden that I didn’t have time to fret about them.
‘Um, Grandfather.’ <What is it?> ‘What were you like in times like this?’
I wondered what my grandfather had felt.
Considering his usual personality, I didn’t think he would be that nervous.
<Me? I was incredibly tense.> ‘...You, Grandfather?’ <Yes. There were countless nights I couldn’t sleep, praying to the Deity instead.>
He let out a hearty laugh, recalling the many mistakes he’d made due to lack of sleep.
It was hard to imagine him, usually so composed, being in such a state of tension.
<That’s normal, my dear. If you’re in a situation where your life is at stake, wouldn’t it be strange not to be nervous?> ‘That... makes sense.’ <So don’t worry. You’ve done everything you can. Now, ponder how to crush Tariki’s face and what kind of insult you’ll throw.> ‘Why is the insult the primary condition?’
<Wasn’t that what you were planning to do?>
...Of course, I was going to insult him.
If Tariki got mad and started throwing curses at me, he’d likely get all riled up and spout all kinds of nonsense.
However, I found it concerning that he thought it was a given that I would insult him!
That would make me seem like a real... you know what!
<Well, enough of that.> ‘What do you mean?’ <If you’re really at a loss, why not train instead?> ‘You said to rest before a big event!’ <Isn’t this more practical than tossing and turning in bed all night?>
That’s... true. I thought I wouldn’t be able to sleep just staring out the window like this, so I lay down in bed.
As soon as I closed my eyes, the familiar yet now tiresome training ground appeared before me, with my grandfather in armor looking at me with a reassuring smile.
The Next Morning.
In the time when the moon and stars still lingered with faint clouds, Feiby had finished her preparations and was praying devoutly to the Deity.
The prayer was long and complex, but the essence of it was simple.
“O great Deity, please watch over those who strive to fulfill your will. Protect them, and grant them aid.”
The lengthy prayer was interrupted when someone knocked at the door.
“Saintess.”
At the sound of Johan’s voice from outside the door, Feiby was startled and quickly stood up. She hurried to check her appearance in the mirror before opening the door.
“Good morning.”
Even though it was still early in the morning, Johan looked immaculate.
He was presentable enough to attend a worship service right away.
“Of course. Bishop Johan, did you sleep well last night?” “I should say I did, but unfortunately, I couldn’t get much rest. Every time I think about tomorrow, my heart races.”
Despite being of an age where one would typically be composed, Johan spoke with a shy smile, which made Feiby’s eyes widen slightly.
The Johan she knew was strict not only with himself but also with others.
Especially with her.
Whenever Johan looked at Feiby, he always maintained a stern expression, with lips that only uttered reprimands.
Thus, Feiby felt uneasy around him.
She knew he was a good person at heart and someone who genuinely sought to approach the Deity more seriously than anyone else.
However, Johan was different now.
The relaxed smile on his face resembled that of a boy dreaming of adventure.
The kind of boy Feiby had seen in her childhood.
“Saintess?” “...Yes? Oh.”
It’s okay. Feiby.
It’s okay.
This was something she had already accepted in her heart.
Seeing Feiby struggling to compose herself, Johan raised an eyebrow slightly.
“I apologize. I guess I’m a bit sleep-deprived as well.”
Didn’t seem to like my slip-up. Feiby prepared to make excuses and await a reprimand, but Johan merely sighed lightly without saying anything further.
“I came to see the Saintess because of Lady Alrn. It seems we’re almost ready to act, yet she appears to still be resting in her room.” “I understand. I will go see her.” “Yes. Thank you.”
After Johan left, Feiby took a deep breath.
Stepping outside, she hesitated for a moment.
She didn’t know where Lucy’s room was, but that wasn’t a problem.
Her divinity, a warmth like the sun, was something one couldn’t easily forget once they stood by it.
As she reached the door of a room, a voice suddenly echoed from within.
“Come in, you pathetic Saintess.”
It seemed she sensed my presence. Thinking that Lucy was indeed Lady Alrn, Feiby opened the door, only to freeze in place.
The window was wide open, and the curtains danced in the chill of the changing season.
And there was Lucy, her long, red hair swaying as she prayed with her small hands reverently gathered at her heart.
Her lips moved slowly, and her eyes were tightly shut.
The faint, warm divinity flowing from her made one forget even the chill of early winter.
Lucy was praying.
Ah.
What a beautiful sight it was.
Enchanted by the scene, Feiby instinctively wanted to join her hands in prayer, but she quickly regained her senses.
She realized she had interrupted Lucy’s prayer.
...How rude of me, Feiby!
To disturb the prayer of Lady Alrn!
Should I close the door again even now?
But then again, she did say to come in.
If I left, that would be even more rude.
In a state of panic, just when Feiby didn’t know what to do, Lucy opened her eyes, and the divinity surrounding her scattered with the breeze.
“What are you doing, pathetic Saintess?” “...I-I’m sorry!”
No matter how she thought about it, Feiby felt that she saw me as a figure to be respected or revered rather than a friend. To be causing such a fuss over merely interrupting a prayer was absurd.
<In this situation, her reaction is quite normal. You interrupted morning prayer, and that too, a prayer from the Deity’s apostle.> ‘Is that so?’
While my grandfather explained that Feiby’s reaction wasn’t strange, I still found it hard to understand her feelings.
After all, isn’t prayer just talking to a pathetic Deity?
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Isn’t it okay to be a bit casual about it?
Look.
[Daily Quest Completed!] [Divinity has increased slightly!] [Grace has increased slightly!]
Even if I were to be a bit casual, the pathetic Deity is satisfied enough to give rewards.
Are the church members overthinking the pathetic Deity? Sure, he’s a perverted little man, but he’s not that picky.
<...I think you’re taking the Deity too lightly.>
As I let my grandfather’s incredulous voice wash over me, I calmed Feiby, sent her off first, and then took out my armor from the inventory to put it on.
When I first wore this armor, I had no idea what to do, but now my hands moved faster than my thoughts.
Well, it has been a long time since I wore this armor.
As I completed my preparations and headed to the reception room, everyone had already gathered except for me.
“Welcome, Lady.”
The sword I had gifted earlier bowed its head from the display case.
“I apologize for my earlier rudeness, Lady Alrn.” Even after being told not to, Feiby expressed her apologies once more.
“You have arrived.” Johan bowed his head while holding the scriptures close to his chest.
“All preparations have been completed,” Alsaith stated with a firm expression.
“I must be crazy. To abandon the forest because of desire.” The Ice Fox, sitting on the sofa, covered its face with both hands, cursing its foolishness.
It had been acting like this since yesterday.
If it had succumbed to its desires, it should at least stick to that. I couldn’t understand why it was causing such a fuss over both.
It was truly irritating.
I approached and removed the hands covering its face.
Our gazes met.
“Hey. Trash Fox♡ Since when have you been normal?♡ You’ve always been a disgusting pervert♡” “...” “If you want to crawl on the floor with a collar on, you better listen to your master?♡”
If you want punishment, do your job properly♡ You trash!
As I whispered that, I saw life returning to the Ice Fox’s eyes.
It seems that hearing insults was what revives it. It truly is a perverted little thing.
...Could it be that it’s acting this way on purpose to hear me insult it?
If it were someone else, it wouldn’t make sense, but given it’s the Ice Fox, it’s a reasonable suspicion.
Ugh. This is really unpleasant.
After glaring at the Ice Fox with disdain, I lifted my head to find everyone’s eyes fixed on me.
...It was so irritating that everyone, except for the spatial magician, remained unfazed. At this rate, I might seem like this is how I usually am.
And by the way. Why is the sword looking at me as if it envies me?!
Ah! Seriously! Can’t you just return to normal for a moment?!
Where did the knight who aspired to be a proper knight go? The past you was so much more composed!
After wiping my face, I turned my gaze to the spatial magician, who coughed awkwardly and spoke.
“The preparations for teleportation are complete. We can leave at any time if you wish.”
Looking outside, I noticed the sky transitioning from purple to crimson. The sun was rising.
After confirming that, I glanced around, and everyone seemed to nod as if they already knew what I was about to say.
Everyone is ready, right?
Understood.
‘Let’s go right away.’ “Let’s go immediately, teleportation servant.”
“...Ahem. Yes. Understood.”
As the spatial magician struck the ground with his staff, blue flames rose from the floor.
Confirming that, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
It’s okay. My plan is perfect enough for Grandfather to deem it so. Now all that’s left is to execute the plan and laugh at Tariki, who thought he could win.
“Wha?!”
Just then, a voice filled with shock erupted from the spatial magician.
“The magic is being disrupted!”
...Tariki. That guy has caught on.
“Damn it! It’s impossible to cancel! I’ll try my best to stabilize the coordinates, but don’t expect much!”
How long had it been since the spatial magician’s irresponsible shout echoed?
The surroundings began to change.
From the neat reception room of the Arteia family to an empty blue sky.
Ha! This is insane! Are we going to give our guests a skydiving experience?!
Feeling my body accelerate under gravity, I looked down.
At least, I had successfully arrived in the Burrow territory.
Everyone who had been in the reception room had successfully teleported to one location.
Given this, I’d say the spatial magician did his job well despite Tariki’s interference.
Now, it was time for the rest of us to work.
‘Ice Fox!’ “Ice Fox!”
“I got it! I’ll handle it!”
Leaving it to the Ice Fox, who handled various mystical techniques, I felt an ominous energy swirling below and steadied my shield.
A black magical cannonball shot towards us, aiming to engulf us.
Wow. Not only skydiving, but also fireworks. They really prepared thoroughly for our arrival?!
“Lady! I’ll take care of that!” ‘It’s fine!’ “Just wait! You trash dog!”
In the past...
When I first faced Nakrad...
I wouldn’t have even thought about stopping that.
But not now.
I am different from the me back then.
What? It’s only been half a year?
No.
In this rotten world, half a year is a period that should be referred to as half a year.
As I concentrated the divinity onto the tip of my shield, it spread out, forming a shield massive enough to block the cannonball.
In an instant, the cannonball struck the shield made of divinity.
The force was so immense that my body tried to rise against gravity, but that was all.
In the presence of darkness, even a speck of gold was invisible.
Hey, Tariki.
If what you prepared was only this level of nonsense...
I might be a bit disappointed.
You pathetic, gloomy, trashy little thing.