The divinity concentrated in the sword began to gradually spread out around us.
It was not the kind of divine energy one could see anywhere, but the divine energy that the pathetic Deity had personally gifted to me.
It held a sacred aura, more divine than anything possessed by the other gods.
No matter how much Tariki’s power had permeated this place, darkness would be powerless before the divinity of the Deity.
As the area of effect expanded, I could see the darkness retreating step by step.
After confirming all of this, I released my grip on the sword and sighed.
Perhaps it was because I harbored the pathetic Deity's divinity within me, but the effects of the sacred realm were certainly strong.
Thanks to that, not only was I able to lay the groundwork for a miracle, but I could also prevent Tariki from taking me by surprise.
<To think such results could come from such a jumbled prayer.>
As I gazed at the growing might of the divine energy, my grandfather chuckled softly.
...The prayer was indeed a mess. Upon reflection, it was closer to blasphemy than a prayer.
<Is it because you are the Apostle of the Deity?> ‘No, Grandfather.’ <Hmm?> ‘It’s just that the Deity likes such things.’
No deity would lend their power to someone insulting them, even if they were their apostle, right?
That lewd perverted deity simply enjoys being insulted by cute girls!
I am sure of it! Otherwise, there’s no way this sacred realm could unfold so properly!
<Enough with the nonsense.> ‘I’m being serious.’ <Look ahead. Your plan has only just begun.>
Tsk. Once again, I failed to inform my grandfather of the truth about the pathetic Deity. However, his denial won’t change reality.
Someday, he will come to realize that the pathetic Deity is an irredeemable perverted lolicon.
I’ll make him understand.
Thinking that, I steadied my shield.
Now, my task was complete. All that remained was to endure while waiting for Feiby and Johan to properly create the miracle.
<The darkness is approaching.>
The moment my grandfather warned me, all the figures rushing toward us collapsed to the ground in unison.
Wondering if the Ice Fox was responsible, I turned my head, but she shook it.
So you didn’t do it? Then what is this?
As I surveyed my surroundings in confusion, I saw the darkness of Tariki’s power seeping out from the people.
Was Tariki changing his strategy because he deemed it impossible to crush us under the crowd?
What would he do this time? What kind of trick was he going to pull to shatter me?
Just then, I heard the sound of hooves pounding from afar.
“Cavalry!”
In the distance, a cavalry unit was charging, kicking up dust.
Horses grotesquely transformed by the Evil God’s magic, armored in black, rushed toward us, scattering dark smoke.
They were no longer knights but rather a wave of darkness, a tsunami aiming to engulf the land.
<Are they going to break through at one point? > ‘If I step forward and block it...’ <Do you have the luxury to do that right now?>
...No. Right now, I was expending most of my divinity to maintain the sacred realm.
It would be tough to withstand the shock created by that cavalry charge.
<You don’t have to handle everything alone. That’s why you brought so many with you, right?>
My grandfather was right. It was better to trust those I brought rather than foolishly stepping forward and creating variables in the plan.
As I suppressed my desire to step forward and continued to observe the situation, the Ice Fox began to move.
The misty foxes she conjured started charging toward the cavalry.
They moved toward the cavalry like they did when putting the city’s inhabitants to sleep, yet strangely, the cavalry did not fall.
“...Are they unable to sleep because they’re already in the midst of a nightmare? How interesting.”
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Although the Ice Fox muttered that it was interesting, there was not a hint of a smile on her face.
Her expression was serious, something I had never seen in her before, her beastly demeanor as the master of the forest displayed itself. As she gently moved her fingers, the mist in the shape of foxes dispersed, gathering in the path of the cavalry’s charge.
Although the fog seemed too vague to obstruct the cavalry’s sight, it shattered all my common sense with ease.
BOOM! The cavalry’s charge proved it was a solid wall that could not be broken.
Is this the power of the master of the forest?
The sight was so magnificent that I forgot for a moment that the Ice Fox’s true nature was that of a pervert, but the Ice Fox’s expression was far from pleasant.
What kind of face is that? You just successfully blocked the charge!
My confusion was resolved even before the Ice Fox could answer me.
From behind me came a thunderous sound, greater than what I had heard before.
“It’s quite chaotic everywhere.”
While the Ice Fox expressed her irritation, the sounds of chaos from various places continued unabated.
Charge. Charge. And once more, charge.
If the mist is a solid wall, then they seemed determined to break it by ramming into it repeatedly, their madness growing louder as time passed.
...This is insane. Does this mean the crowd from earlier was merely a probing attack? What kind of firepower is this?
“No, it’s not just from all directions; it’s coming from above as well.” <Look above!>
Above? What’s coming from above that has both the Ice Fox and my grandfather shouting?
Instinctively, I raised my head to look at the sky and saw it.
A human figure falling from above.
In his hand was a black... no, forcibly dyed black sword.
...Duke Burrow.
Damn it. He succeeded in subjugating Duke Burrow in such a short time?!
Although the Duke was descending rapidly, the sound of him landing was surprisingly light. It was as if a feather had settled on the ground.
Then, as he stood before us, he surveyed his surroundings and offered a slight smile.
The voice flowing from the Duke was his yet not his.
Tariki, the Evil God of Darkness, was speaking to me through the Duke’s body.
As he spread his arms wide to speak, the Evil God’s energy that had been felt in the Burrow territory thickened even further.
There was no need for explanation as to why. The darkness spilling out from the ground outside the sacred realm gaped wide, seeking the unconscious people.
...Damn it. I need to stop this. If I don’t, the people!
“Let’s see. It’s rather unwise to make such affirmations when the conclusion hasn’t even arrived.”
Just as I was about to move urgently, the Ice Fox moved faster than me. The mist she had spread throughout the city intercepted the darkness, preventing it from consuming the citizens.
Despite enduring Tariki’s blatant fury, the Ice Fox smiled.
Yet, it was evident to anyone that she was not at ease.
It seemed she was struggling to maintain the barrier against the darkness, as sweat dripped from her forehead.
He swung his sword.
There was indeed a significant distance between the Duke and the Ice Fox.
Under normal circumstances, his sword shouldn’t have been able to exert even the slightest influence on her.
However, the sword of a seasoned warrior easily shattered common sense.
The Evil God’s power, released alongside the Duke’s sword strike, shot toward the Ice Fox as a lethal blow.
The Ice Fox did not make any move to counter it. She had lost her composure trying to halt the magic spreading through the city.
But that didn’t matter.
She wasn’t alone.
What tank would leave a caster alone?
I stepped in front of the Ice Fox and braced myself against the lethal strike.
Although I didn’t have much divinity to use right now,
It’s alright.
My battle logic, built up until now, tells me.
I can block it.
The wall speaks.
I can withstand it.
Since our opinions align, there’s no reason I shouldn’t be able to block that lethal strike.
With strength added to my grounded legs,
I gripped the handle of my shield tightly.
I bit my lip.
I would block the attack aimed at my comrade.
The Duke’s lethargy, mingled with the Evil God’s power, bore significant force.
My body was gradually pushed back.
The arm holding the shield screamed.
The light seeping into my Ankh grew dim.
But that was as far as it went.
The lethal strike infused with the Evil God’s power placed a burden on my body but could not inflict even a scratch on my Ankh.
“Is that all, huh?♡ Is Duke Burrow getting old?♡ A sword so weak it feels like a limp penis?♡ Is that why the Burrow family has no heirs?♡”
I could see the Duke’s brow furrowing at the taunt I threw beyond my massive shield.
With that, a new sword strike was aimed at me.
With my current condition, it would be difficult to block that strike, but I did not prepare for it.
As the Duke raised his sword, I could see a knife charging behind him.
“Consider it a legitimate strategy!”
Duke Burrow hastily twisted his sword to block the knife’s attack.
As the Evil God’s power clashed with the pure white aura of the knife, they pushed against each other.
Since he was caught off guard and blocking the attack in an unstable state, the situation should have been unfavorable for the Duke.
But reality was otherwise.
With the Duke, known for his formidable strength, enhanced by the Evil God’s power,
He attempted to push the knife away with his strength instead.
Had he predicted his disadvantage from the start?
The knife withdrew, not greedily pressing forward.
Seeing this, the Duke seemed unwilling to allow him any leeway, but his attempt to pursue failed.
Alsaith, standing behind the knife, obstructed the Duke’s movements with his arrows. The knife neatly widened the distance and waited for another opportunity to attack.
“Hmm. I must say, I’m glad I came here. I never expected to be protected by you.”
‘Now’s not the time for that!...’ “It’s unwise to spout such nonsense when you should be stopping that murky garbage’s magic right away, you pathetic perverted fox!”
As I kept my lips tightly pressed together, watching the situation unfold, the Ice Fox yelled nonsense from behind me.
I responded with irritation while racking my brain.
Just a moment ago, I had insulted not Tariki but the Duke.
Despite that, my provocation seemed to have hit hard.
That means there’s a high likelihood that Duke Burrow retains some self-awareness, even while being controlled by the Evil God.
...Alright. Let’s conduct an experiment.
“Impotent Duke Burrow♡ What are you looking at?♡ Isn’t it pathetic to be jealous of another man just because you can’t get it up?♡” “...” “Or have you perhaps discovered a new preference?♡ Are you trying to turn your backside into an entrance?♡ Puhaha! That sounds interesting~♡”
As the Duke responded to Alsaith’s arrow, he suddenly twisted his waist, allowing for a slight injury as he charged toward me.
Heh. It seems he still has some self-awareness left.
Even though he’s asleep due to Tariki’s influence, he isn’t deeply unconscious.
Then I know how to proceed.
If the sleepy Duke can’t wake up, I’ll simply shout in his ear to rouse him.
“Did it sting?♡ It hurt, didn’t it?♡ Hehe♡ Who would have thought Duke Burrow would be a closet homosexual~?♡”
I knew it was shameless.
There was no choice but to provoke him.
Duke Burrow, you’d better wake up quickly.
Otherwise, who knows what I might say next.