Chapter: 655
After Lucy left the room, Phoebe, who had everyone else on their knees, began her sermon.
Usually, no one finds this type of nagging enjoyable.
Especially if you’re a person of considerable status.
However, not a single person present dared to express dissatisfaction with Phoebe.
Having never acted out of line for her position as a Saintess, everyone felt they couldn’t say a word against her.
“…I don’t think I did anything wrong.”
“Same here. Prince.”
“One encouraged a fight, and the other didn’t intervene, did he?”
It was a valid point, so Arthur fell silent, but not Frey.
All she could think about was rushing to Lucy, her lips pouting in frustration.
“So, what about Lucy? She didn’t do anything either.”
“The Young Lady couldn’t. She’s harboring a curse, you see. Unlike the third prince who was just smiling and watching, she sought help from me.”
“But…”
“Lady Kent?”
“Cheh.”
After Frey’s grumbling retreat, Phoebe turned her attention back to Joy and Nebera.
“Have you two reflected on your actions?”
“Yeeess.”
“Yup.”
“I hope today serves as a lesson for you. Arguments lead to nothing. Only by working together can we rise to greater heights.”
As Joy and Nebera nodded, Phoebe smiled and told them to hold each other’s hands.
Both of them looked reluctant, but the pressure from the Saintess’s smile was so strong they ended up grabbing each other’s hands.
“Now, let’s give each other compliments.”
“…Huh?”
“You want us to compliment each other? This is the first time we’re meeting!”
“I mean, compliment each other’s mentors, so you can acknowledge and respect one another.”
Phoebe’s words made Nebera’s lips tremble.
Compliment Erginius? The guy who caused us endless pain throughout history?
Joy wasn’t much different.
While she battled alongside Lucy to save the world, that irresponsible figure left no trace behind.
Why should she praise a god of magic who does so little for his stature?
“If you don’t want to, I could always continue the sermon for another half a day.”
“I’ll do it!”
“I will!”
Knowing that Phoebe could nag them non-stop for a whole day if she wanted, both of them hastily raised their voices.
Yet neither could easily open their lips. They simply refused to acknowledge each other.
Seeing this, Phoebe sighed and gazed quietly at Nebera.
“I’ll start with you first, Nebera.”
“Me? Why me?”
“Because you’re the elder.”
“Yeah, I guess that makes sense.”
Among the two, it was indeed Nebera who had to show some leniency first.
Social status, years dedicated to magic, and actual age—it was all in her favor.
When it came to praising Erginius, she could go on and on.
I can’t deny that the Great Mage Erginius is the greatest in history, but I just don’t want to say it aloud. I let out a trembling breath.
“Saintess, may I ask you something? If you were to choose between the Apostle of the God and the God himself, whom would you say is greater?”
Nebera thought for sure Phoebe would say the God was greater. So, while siding with Lucy, she tried to make Phoebe feel her own situation.
“This question requires no thought.”
“Yes, obviously the God.”
“The Apostle of the God is greater.”
“Eh?”
However, Phoebe beamed with a smile and gave an answer Nebera never expected.
“I believe in the God from the deepest part of my heart. I believe in His goodness and efforts to be good. But as you can see, the Apostle of the God is no different. They too possess nobility and virtue equal to that of the God they serve. They rescued me.”
“Oh. Uh, right?”
“Having endured numerous trials in a human body while possessing such unwavering sincerity akin to a god is more than enough reason to respect them. Yet I have another reason. It’s because the Apostle saved me.”
Nebera, overwhelmed by Phoebe’s eyes full of devotion to the Apostle, shook her head in haste.
“How unfortunate.”
“Ahaha, I’m sorry.”
“Should you change your mind, feel free to speak anytime.”
“I—I’ll do it later! I have things to do right now!”
Seeing the smirk in Joy’s eyes, Nebera felt tears of frustration welling up, trying to suppress her anger.
“Wha—what? The multi-dimensional theory proposed by Erginius is still relevant today. It’s considered a fundamental doctrine!”
Joy was surprised by the praise that came out better than she expected.
She thought for sure it would have some snarky twist to it.
“Joy, it’s your turn now.”
“Uh, okay.”
At Phoebe’s words, Joy took a deep breath, wiping all the attacking words from her mind, pulling out the compliments she had kept buried deep.
“I don’t think I need to mention how many people the God of Magic saved during the Mythical Age. He distributed his knowledge equally to all without monopolizing it, thereby fostering the development of magic. Without the God of Magic, Erginius wouldn’t even exist.”
Receiving praise in return for her own, Nebera felt her lips curve into a smile as she responded back.
The atmosphere between the two, who just moments ago seemed ready to tear each other apart, began to transform warmly.
Their mutual compliments were slowly turning into respect.
Seeing everything progress as she hoped, Phoebe beamed with a glowing smile.
The power of words is indeed amazing. At this rate, you two might perfectly reconcile.
“…Wait! The dimensional theory that Erginius proposed isn’t that simple!”
“I know, but the significance of Erginius in that theory is that he originated the first thought.”
“The reason the dimensional theory was later revised, I learned as well. However, from what I learned from Erginius…”
Reconciliation?
“You have a flower garden for a brain. Do you really think such nonsense is valid?”
“Don’t you think you’re the one who’s lacking understanding?”
…
“Now I understand why Erginius lamented the magic world. If someone like you could be chosen as the Apostle of the God, how can there be any progress?”
“It seems Erginius has overestimated you. I never expected you to have such poor judgment. I’m disappointed.”
While Phoebe watched the two bicker, she tried to mediate, but her words went unheard as the argument escalated over magic.
At some point, she fell silent, backing away with a smile as she gathered divine power.
“Wait. Saintess!?”
“Prince, please don’t stop me. I have an obligation to mediate between those two.”
“This isn’t mediation—it’s suppression!”
“They’re rather the same thing.”
“Not even close!”
As Arthur desperately shouted to stop her, Frey sparkled with excitement, watching the magical duel between the two mages unfold.
It looked like they might fight properly soon. I wonder who’s going to win?
*
Lightning adorns the sky as darkness engulfs it.
The flames that lit up the evening froze and exploded into sharp shards to attack the enemy, but boiling flames evaporated the ice.
Riding on the steam, lightning strikes again, but darkness ravenously consumes the current preparing to touch its master.
As I watched this fairy tale-like scene, I reached for the snacks Karia offered me.
No popcorn is a bummer. This is tasty too, but nothing beats the classic popcorn for watching.
– Wowww!
– It’s fireworks!
– Gorgeous!
– Want to go play over there?
– Shall we dance?! Let’s dance!
“If you don’t want to get grilled, just stay still, bugs.”
Suppressing the overly excited fairies with a single phrase, I stretched and leaned back. I felt plush cushions behind me along with the chirping sound.
“Y-Young Lady. This is…”
“Didn’t you say you’d do something? You weren’t lying, were you?”
“Of course not! But…”
“Then stay put. You said working for me is fulfilling, right?”
“Y-Yes. It is truly an honor.”
“Being a piece of furniture is an honor, huh? You’ve got some unique tastes, Saintess.”
“Wh-what do you mean!?”
Phoebe thought it was her fault that she couldn’t mediate, but it wasn’t necessarily her fault.
What could she do? Mages are inherently like that.
“Lucy Alrn, shouldn’t you be mindful of your surroundings?”
“If you’re jealous, just say you’re jealous, Prince Pervert.”
“When did I…?!”
“You’ve been staring at the pathetic Saintess with those creepy eyes for ages. Do you really think I wouldn’t notice?”
“I didn’t! Never did that!”
“Really? Prince, you’re a bit of a wuss, aren’t you?”
Just as I threw that out there, Arthur froze for a moment, and Frey chimed in.
“Prince, are you a wuss?”
“Seems like he is. Poor swordsman. That’s a sad situation.”
“Oh really? But what does ‘wuss’ mean?”
“A ‘wuss’ is…”
“You’re throwing shade at royal lineage, huh?”
“What? I’m the idol of the pathetic god! How can the utterly trash prince of the kingdom do anything about me?”
Flipping off my middle finger, Arthur made a horrified face before he suddenly turned pale and sat back down.
What’s going on? I glanced at Phoebe and Benedict, but they both just tilted their heads in confusion.
“Hmmm. Did you get scared trying to attack me, Prince Pervert? You don’t have to feel embarrassed. It won’t even show.”
“You really…!”
Arthur’s fury made me chuckle as my gaze returned skyward.
It looks like Nebera isn’t even watching, yet things are getting intense.
How much has Erginius been making that girl suffer?
Our adorable dope should be the only one I’m controlling! I need to file a complaint later!
“What’s going on?”
Oh! As I thought that, Erginius appeared.
“It’s just a pathetic spat, isn’t it?”
“They’re fighting over who’s greater, Erginius or the God of Magic.”
As soon as I finished speaking, Karia added some extra detail.
Erginius simply stared blankly at the sky before letting out a chuckle.
“Really? That’s what they’re arguing about?”
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