The god named Armadi was like the embodiment of goodness, as if the word itself had come to life.
If she claimed something was true, everyone would believe it to be fact.
If she urged them to believe something, they’d trust it without a second thought.
If she said something needed to be done, everyone would follow her command.
An absolute trust emanated from her very existence.
No matter what happened, believing in her alone felt like everything would turn out well, revealing why she was a Lord Jushin and why the world adored her faith.
If I had seen her for the first time, I would have dutifully admired her and shielded her from harm.
However, this was not my first encounter with Armadi.
To be precise, Lucy Allen had seen Armadi’s appearance before.
From her long, flowing red hair down to her waist.
To her narrowed eyes that exuded calmness and wisdom.
To her soft smile that matched her gentle demeanor.
To the serene and warm voice that carried her name, Lucy.
Each of these memories was vividly etched in my mind, leaving me unable to smile.
This damn girl.
There are lines that can and cannot be crossed.
No matter how much she wanted my attention, this goddess shouldn’t act like this!
“Grandpa! Was this pervy bastard always such a trashy character?!”
This was an act of insulting the dead and provoking the living!
Is it even possible for a goddess to commit the kind of offenses Agra would?!
I couldn’t stand the disgust!
I yelled out my genuine anger, but received no response from Grandpa.
Huh? Grandpa? Where’d he go?
Is he not responding because it’s awkward?
In that moment of confusion about the absence of a familiar voice, Agra spoke up.
“You’re surprisingly relaxed. One would think the matter is settled.”
While I felt a killing intent from behind, I clenched my teeth and moved.
I wanted to let loose a stream of profanities, but now was not the time for that.
I could always grab that perverted bastard’s collar later.
In fact, I really wanted to do it right now, but it had to wait a bit. There’s a hierarchy to priorities.
Unlike that perverted bastard, I wasn’t foolish enough to confuse public and private matters.
Taking a deep breath and looking around, I felt the situation had changed.
While Armadi, imitating Lucy’s mother, was furious, Agra’s presence had notably diminished with her descent to the ground.
Moreover, those who had been hidden within the divine realm, aside from us, had also risen from the weight of the Evil God’s power. The armies were ready to clash once more.
“You’re so needy♡ Did you sulk all because I ignored you for a bit?♡ Hehe You really are a stirring interest~♡”
I threw some provocations to draw Agra’s attention, but his gaze didn’t turn toward me.
He was entirely focused on Armadi standing behind me.
“You didn’t just prepare this little trick, did you? You do realize the end is near, right? Blocking me with mere human armies is impossible.”
As Agra raised his hand with a grin, several corpses revealed themselves from beneath the ground.
They were people of different races and cultures, but those long-dead sprang to life, grabbing weapons as if it was the most natural thing.
Agra’s army. The death sentence that emerged when his desperate patterns weren’t interrupted.
“Of course. Agra, just as I know you, you know me, don’t you?”
At that moment, Armadi unexpectedly moved closer to me, and as she brought forth her mace, an indescribable energy surged, and a bright light emanated from it.
“It’s been a while, loser. Did you enjoy the land we gifted you?”
A knight clad in pure white armor, Garad, taunted while nodding his sword.
“I’m sure it was enjoyable. It fits well with someone dark and sinister.”
From his shadow, Erginius appeared, shrugging before retrieving a wooden staff.
“Let’s end this tiresome connection, Agra.”
The hero who once saved the world pointed his sword at Agra, revealing his intent to kill.
“It’s my first time seeing you in reality, Lucy.”
And the grandpa standing beside me pressed down on my hair affectionately with a warm smile.
“How does it feel? I trust you find me reliable when seen in person?”
“Hmm. I’m not sure, but it does carry a stench. Looks like hiding your age is a tough job, huh?”
“…Strange. That guy should’ve lifted the curse by now, yet why doesn’t his tone change?”
Ah, right. I did that unconsciously, slipping back into my old way of speaking.
As I averted my gaze, realizing my mistake, Grandpa stepped forward with a smile.
“I’ll demand an explanation later.”
“I’d prefer if you just forgot about it.”
“Before we proceed, Lucy. The Lord Jushin does not intend to mock you. So don’t show anger towards him.”
“…Huh?”
Leaving behind incomprehensible words, Grandpa dashed into action.
*
“Are you now relying on the past heroes?”
In response to Agra’s mocking voice, Armadi nodded.
“I know I can’t face you alone.”
“Just because they’re here, doesn’t mean anything will change. If it were in the past, fine, but now the end is looming right over.”
This is a different situation than back when the Age of Myth was coming to a close.
The Authority of the End is signaling the finale.
The world is nearing its end.
It’s true that they’re variables that exceed human limits, but still human they remain. At this point, they can’t threaten Agra.
“You’ll never know until you try!”
The hero charged through Agra’s army and thrust his sword toward his neck.
Agra slightly frowned but simply received the sword before grabbing the hero’s face and throwing him far away.
“Or do you want me to tear you apart again like last time and explore my power?”
He casually pulled the sword from his neck, tossed it aside, and smiled again at Armadi.
“I do hope you would. I’m curious what will happen if you, weakened by past sacrifices, lose your strength again.”
Yet, this isn’t to say that Armadi appears threatening.
The Lord Jushin, who spread blessings to the world during her prime, had disappeared after sacrificing herself to end the Age of Myth.
Although the Age of Myth has begun anew, the divine essence scattered across the land won’t return, making it impossible for the current Armadi to confront Agra, who has completely revived.
“Accept your fate and understand. No matter how many best judgments you make, the end will find you.”
Ultimately, this situation had been predetermined since Armadi first achieved victory.
Armadi won by sacrificing herself, but that was merely a delay to the end.
Knowing this, Agra willingly accepted defeat.
He recognized that when he resurrects again, Armadi wouldn’t be able to stop him.
“I won’t say you’re wrong. The nature of the world is that with a beginning, there’s an end, and we are those who follow its principles.”
“Your words don’t reflect any sign of acceptance, though?”
“However, this doesn’t seem like the time for endings.”
With a slight smile, Armadi approached the tearful Pope, looking at her with a face full of expectation.
“Agra, haven’t you ever felt a strangeness from your Apostle? This person knows I’ve weakened, yet why did they wish to give me all their powers?”
“…Wait.”
When Agra felt something amiss and attempted to move, darkness seized his arms and legs.
“It seems you still degrade at crucial moments.”
“I love being a villain. It means I can torment without guilt.”
Garad blocked Agra’s attempt to shed the encroaching darkness with his powers.
“Get out of the way!”
“Stay still. You can’t pass.”
Ruel stood guard.
“Lord Jushin! Please work a miracle!”
Somehow, the hero who regained his sword raised his voice.
“My army!”
Thus, while Agra’s army regained composure to charge at Armadi, this time Lucy and her allies pushed them back.
“Woohoo! Great Lord Jushin!”
In the time gained, Armadi approached the Pope, who was shedding tears, extending her hand silently.
“Aaaaah! You knew! You’ve led me here! I understand! I believed!”
In a hurry, the Pope rummaged through his pockets for the treasured holy object he had kept safe.
A necklace shaped like a cross.
At first glance, it looked like nothing special, but it was connected to numerous locations across this land.
The purpose of the numerous wrongdoings the Pope had committed in the church.
As Armadi gazed at the cross necklace with a bittersweet smile, she bit her lips, then knelt down and leaned her face next to the Pope’s ear.
The Pope, his face filled with anticipation, waited for her words, but.
“Did you think I would praise you?”
The words that slipped from her mouth were the opposite of the Pope’s hopes.
“I felt disgusted every moment I saw you on this earth. The more your reckless misunderstandings piled up, the more I felt chills down my spine every time I prayed to you.”
“Misunderstandings…?”
“I never rescued you.”
That wasn’t entirely true. Armadi had reached out to the wandering lamb.
“Wh-What? No way.”
“Why would I save an evil person like you?”
Wishing for the lost to find the right path, she offered her light.
“I felt your light. I heard your voice!”
“Is that some delusion?”
“Don’t deny it! I was saved by you! That’s why I abandoned the world for you!”
However, the results of that salvation were indeed horrifying. Because of the sin of reaching out to someone wrong, many in this land had to sacrifice.
“You’re not capable of bearing your own evil and trying to deflect it onto me? How pathetic.”
As Armadi gritted her teeth with deep-seated rage, the Pope crumpled, collapsing to the ground.
“…It can’t be.”
“Wander eternally in hell, loathsome one. Hell suits you well.”
Turning her back on the Pope’s lost gaze, Armadi clutched the cross tightly and moved forward.
Alongside the wild wind, her red hair flowed.
Near Armadi, who loved and treasured someone more than anyone in this world.
To perform a miracle there.
To offer words of apology with their reunion.
