After Lucy left the room, Fabi, who remained, made everyone kneel and began the sermon.
There were no people who truly enjoyed this kind of scolding.
Especially those with a certain degree of status.
However, no one in the room dared to show dissatisfaction with Fabi.
Since she had never acted in a way that went against her position as the Saintess, others couldn't bring themselves to speak out against her.
"...I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong," Arthur muttered.
"Me neither, Your Highness."
"One encouraged a fight, and the other didn’t intervene."
It was a reasonable statement, so Arthur kept quiet, but Frey didn’t.
She, who only wanted to rush to Lucy as quickly as possible, pouted her lips.
"Then what about Lucy? She didn’t do anything either."
"Lady Lucy couldn’t. She’s bearing a curse. Unlike the third prince, who watched with a smile, she asked for my help."
"But."
"Kent Young Lady?"
"Tch."
After Frey grumbled and stepped back, Fabi turned her head again toward Joy and Nevera.
"Did you two reflect?"
"Yes."
"Yes."
"I hope today’s events have been a lesson for you. Arguments yield nothing. It is only through cooperation that we can reach higher places."
As Joy and Nevera nodded, Fabi smiled and told them to hold each other’s hands.
They hesitated, but under the pressure of the Saintess’s smile, they reluctantly held hands.
"Now, let’s compliment each other."
"...What?"
"Compliment each other? Someone you just met today?"
"I mean compliment each other’s teachers. To recognize and respect one another."
Nevera’s lips trembled at Fabi’s words.
Compliment Erginus? The one who made the great god suffer for many years?
Joy felt the same way.
The irresponsible person who fought alongside Lucy to save the world yet left no trace of their effort?
Why should they praise the God of Magic, who has done so little compared to their status?
"If you don’t want to, I can continue this sermon for half the day."
"I’ll do it!"
"I will!"
Both Frey and Nevera, knowing that Fabi could lecture them for an entire day if she wished, quickly raised their voices in response.
However, neither of them could open their mouths easily. They just didn’t want to acknowledge the other.
Seeing this, Fabi sighed, stroking her cheek, and calmly watched Nevera.
"Let’s start with you, Nevera."
"Me? Why me?"
"Because you’re the eldest."
"Well... yes. I suppose so."
Between the two, it was indeed Nevera who should extend the first gesture of tolerance.
She had more social status, more years spent immersed in magic, and a greater age overall.
If they were going to praise her, there would be no end to it.
Erginus, the great mage, being the greatest in history, I couldn’t deny that either.
It’s just that I didn’t want to admit it out loud. Trembling my lips, I exhaled.
"Saintess, may I ask you something? If you were asked who is greater between the Apostle of the God and the God Himself, what would you answer?"
Nevera, assuming Fabi would say the God of Magic was greater, tried to escape the situation by making Lucy feel her own position and showing it to her.
"There’s no need to think about it."
"Yes, of course, the God of Magic."
"The Apostle of the God is greater."
"...Pardon?"
But Fabi smiled and gave an answer Nevera hadn’t expected.
"I believe in the God of Magic deeply, with all my heart. I trust that He strives to be good and to help others. However, as you’ve seen, the Apostle of the God is also equally noble, virtuous, and honorable. He is the one who saved me."
Nevera, overwhelmed by the depth in Fabi’s eyes, hurriedly shook her head.
"This is unfortunate."
"Ahaha. Sorry."
"If you change your mind, please let me know at any time."
"Later! I have something to do right now!"
Nevera, holding back a laugh at the mocking look in Joy’s eyes, tried to suppress her anger as best as she could.
"...Erginus’ theory on multi-dimensional magic circles is still in use today. His theories are so great that they are considered unmatchable. How could I not praise someone who created such a theory hundreds of years ago?"
Joy was surprised at the proper compliment, much more so than she expected.
She had thought Nevera would try to mock her in some way.
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"Joy. Your turn."
"Ah, yes."
At Fabi’s words, Joy took a deep breath and erased her previous words of attack, instead speaking what she had hidden deep inside her.
"There’s no need to talk about how many people the God of Magic saved during the mythical age. He didn’t keep his knowledge to himself but shared it with the world, leading to the advancement of magic. The existence of Erginus would not even be possible without the God of Magic."
Nevera responded with another compliment, feeling her lips soften.
The atmosphere, which had been on the brink of them attacking each other, now softened.
Their mutual compliments gradually turned into respect.
Seeing things go as planned, Fabi smiled broadly.
Truly, words have great power. If things continue like this, these two will be able to reconcile perfectly.
"...Wait? The theory of dimensions that Erginus created isn’t like that."
"I know. But what matters is that Erginus was the one who first conceived of the idea."
"I also learned why the theory was later revised. But according to what Erginus taught me..."
Reconciliation?
"Are you really this naive? Do you think such a ridiculous theory would be accepted?"
"Don’t you think it’s you who doesn’t understand?"
...
"I see why Erginus lamented about magic. With people like you being chosen as the apostles of the gods, how can there be any progress?"
"It seems Erginus has overestimated you. I’m disappointed that he would not see people more clearly."
As the argument between the two intensified, Fabi tried to mediate but her words fell on deaf ears.
At some point, Fabi closed her mouth, but with a smile, she stepped back and gathered divine energy.
"Saintess!?"
"Prince of the Third, please don’t stop me. I have the duty to mediate between these two."
"This isn’t mediation! This is suppression!"
"It’s basically the same thing."
"It’s not the same at all!"
Arthur desperately shouted to stop Fabi, but Frey, with shining eyes, was enjoying the magical debate between the two magicians.
It looked like they were about to have a real fight soon. I wonder which one will win?
Lightning lit up the sky, only to be swallowed by the darkness.
The flames that had been lighting up the evening froze and exploded into sharp crystals, attacking the enemy, but the intense heat from the flames evaporated the ice.
Lightning shot through the steam again, but the darkness devoured the current trying to reach its master.
It was a scene out of a fairy tale, and as I reached for the snack Karia offered, I sighed.
Too bad there’s no popcorn. This is tasty, but nothing beats popcorn when you're watching something.
Wow!
A fireworks show!
Amazing!
Wanna go play over there?
Shall we dance?! Let’s dance!
I silenced the excited fairies with one word, stretched my arms, and leaned back. I felt a soft cushion against my back.
"Y-Young Lady, this is..."
"What were you going to do? Don’t tell me you lied?"
"No! That’s not it! It’s just..."
"Then stay quiet, useless saint. Didn’t you say working for me was rewarding?"
"Y-Yes. It truly is an honor."
"Being furniture is an honor? You have some unique tastes, Saintess."
"Y-What?! Tastes?! I-I mean, I..."
Fabi, having failed to mediate, mentioned it was her fault, but it really wasn’t her mistake.
Magicians have always been this way, after all.
"Lucy Allen, don’t you think you should be aware of how others see you?"
"If you’re jealous, just admit it, perverted prince."
"When did I—!"
"You’ve been looking at the useless saint with creepy eyes from the start. Do you think I don’t know?"
"I didn’t! Never did!"
"Really? Are you telling me you’re a eunuch, Prince?"
At the sudden words, Arthur froze, and Frey quickly intervened.
"Prince, are you a eunuch?"
"It seems so. Poor swordman. What a shame."
"I see. But what’s a eunuch?"
"Eunuch means..."
"You talk a lot of trash about the royal family!"
"Ugh. I’m the idol of the useless god, you know? There’s nothing a pathetic prince like you can do about it."
As I raised my middle finger and spoke, Arthur scowled and was about to charge, but at some point, his face turned pale, and he sat back down.
Not understanding what was going on, I looked back and forth between Fabi and Benedict, but they both just tilted their heads.
"Hmph. Were you going to jump me and get turned on, perverted prince? Don’t worry, it won’t show anyway."
"You really...!"
I snickered at Arthur’s anger and turned my gaze back to the sky.
It doesn’t look like Nevera is paying attention, but this is intense.
How much has Erginus been grinding Joy?
Our cute idiot should only be grinded by me! I’ll have to protest later!
"What’s going on?"
Oh, just as I thought, Erginus appeared.
"It’s a stupid fight. What else?"
"They’re fighting over who is greater, Erginus or the God of Magic."
As soon as I finished speaking, Karia added more explanation.
Erginus stared blankly at the sky and chuckled.
"Fighting over something so ridiculous."
Exactly.