Chapter: 438
A message appeared, and before long, the surrounding fog thickened even more.
I saw the gray mixing with the previously white smoke and hurriedly raised my divine power, inscribing magic onto my shield.
The Divine Realm that unfolded based on my shield dispelled the surrounding fog, forming a safe zone.
The Perverted Apostle and Phoebe, who were beside me, weren’t just standing around either.
The Perverted Apostle handed out accessories imbued with the Goddess’s Blessing to friends, while Phoebe reinforced the area by layering her divine power over mine.
“Young Lady. This is…”
“That annoying trashy Evil God seems to be up to something.”
“…I knew it.”
Phoebe, who had been at the forefront battling the Followers of the Evil God and had even attempted to confront the Evil God of Darkness with me not long ago, fully understood the seriousness of the situation.
Even just the authority of the Void Evil God alone was sufficiently threatening, and with the master of the Evil God, Agra, involved, how could one not feel a sense of crisis?
“I’m sorry.”
…Huh? Sorry? For what? I tilted my head in confusion at Phoebe’s words, only to burst into laughter at what she said next.
“Since the Young Lady entrusted me with the others.”
Thinking my laughter was reprimand, Phoebe lowered her voice even more.
“Rather than repay that trust, I’m endangering them.”
Watching her in silence, I stood on my tiptoes and jabbed my finger into Phoebe’s nose.
Startled, she covered her nose with both hands and recoiled.
“Did you think I wouldn’t know that the Sloppy Saintess would do something foolish?”
“…Ah.”
“Did your faith all turn to flesh? This is how you become a lewd saintess.”
“Ugh. Lewd saintess?!”
Seeing Phoebe’s flushed face made me snicker as I pointed at the spot where my divine power resided.
“Trust me. I’m on a whole different level than a shoddy person like you.”
Phoebe blinked a few times before finally seeming relieved and giving a faint smile.
“…Yes. I’ll trust you.”
Confirming her reassurance, I turned my gaze toward my friends.
Even if they didn’t know about the Evil God, they would surely feel the danger, so I planned to reassure them.
However, the Perverted Apostle was already there before me.
Aside from when he was facing me, one could not doubt his reliability as a Saint of the Goddess, and he radiated confidence that nothing would happen to my friends.
Seeing him, I felt relieved and tried to scan the landscape beyond the fog.
Yet, all I saw was nothing. Before I knew it, the fog had turned completely black, blocking the view.
I almost clicked my tongue unconsciously but forcibly suppressed it.
I mustn’t show any signs of agitation. If I crumble, my friends will feel unease and worry as well. In this situation, where any threat could strike, I needed to remain a steadfast presence.
‘…Grandpa.’
Calling out to the only person I could show weakness to, Grandpa responded in a playful voice.
[What's the matter? Didn't you just wish Agra would come to help? ]
‘That was about a different dungeon! Not here!’
The reason I wasn’t afraid of Agra’s intervention lately was that I was certain the variables he would create wouldn’t threaten me.
Having perfect recollection of what Agra could do in various dungeons, I would gladly welcome his involvement.
But this was different.
The variables arising here were ones I knew nothing about.
In fact, it was the first time I encountered Agra intervening in a domain created by another Evil God’s authority.
[Isn’t that what you wished for as well?]
‘Th-that’s true! But right now, I’m not alone! That was when I was by myself!’
Yeah. It was true that I wished for something new.
I screamed for something I hadn’t seen simply because the forest’s scenery was too dull.
However, that was only when I could handle the danger alone.
Not when my friends were beside me!
I could care less if I get hurt due to my mistakes! I could take that risk anytime!
But if something went wrong due to my mistakes and my friends got hurt, then I’d—
<…Lucy.>
Suddenly, Grandpa’s voice turned serious, suppressing my unease.
[Calm down a bit. What good does it do if you panic more than your friends? ]
‘…Ah.’
[Settle your mind and have faith in yourself. You’re too wretched to face such hardships.]
“Pfft!”
His using “wretched” in that old-fashioned voice made me burst into laughter, and I quickly wiped my face to ignore the puzzled looks of others.
[Oh ho. Hurry and answer me, Lucy. You—]
‘I get it! I get it already! So don’t call me wretched in that impressive middle-aged voice! It’ll make me look like a crazy lady if I laugh in this situation!’
Right. Grandpa’s words were true. Considering how much time I spent at Soul Academy, there was no way this variable would make things dangerous for me.
Moreover, the members with me now were much better than when I used to play the game.
Worrying something might go wrong in this situation?
That would only prick my pride, rotting in Soul Academy!
With a long sigh, shaking off the complex thoughts, I said the first thing I should before continuing.
‘Thank you, Grandpa.’
<…Well, I’m just an old man who can only say such things.>
‘That’s true. If you don’t say anything like this, you’d just be a noisy weapon.’
[Lucy? Calling me a noisy weapon seems very rude.]
‘Whatever.’
[Let’s move past that.]
‘Whatever!’
I halted my noisy rebuttal and tightened my grip on the mace before continuing.
‘Have you seen anything like this before, Grandpa?’
[Indeed. Back in our day, when all the Evil Gods had their powers.]
Grandpa’s voice slightly lowered as if recalling the times when all the Evil Gods were running rampant on the earth, unlike now when they were sealed and couldn’t show their true power.
‘…Can you give me some advice?’
[Agra intervening in a place where other Evil Gods’ powers reside means that power will be amplified. There won’t be entirely different variables.]
‘So, you mean it’s limited to the authority of the Void Evil God?’
[Yes. At least, from what I experienced.]
If it’s limited to the authority that the Void Evil God may wield, then things wouldn’t be difficult.
I’ve been through countless dungeons made based on the time when the Void Evil God completely resurrected. I know what would happen and how to react.
Alright. With the situation sorted, it doesn’t feel so bad. I know exactly what I have to do.
Gathering my divine power all over my body, I gazed at the black fog.
I can’t see through it, but that’s fine.
What I want to see isn’t the scenery of the world but the gaps that appear through the fog.
Aesthetic sense isn’t very meaningful in this situation.
My senses that scream that everything around me isn’t beautiful are something I can’t properly handle.
However, it’s not about detecting weaknesses. This skill shows the opponent’s most troubled spots, and even now, it revealed the spots the owner of the fog was uneasy about.
“Shoddies.”
As I shouted with divine power lacing my voice, my friends turned their gazes toward me.
I met each of their eyes and grinned.
“If you fall behind, I’ll leave you behind, so keep up.”
Then my friends nodded as they gripped their weapons, and the Perverted Apostle approached me to inform me of the odd spots he had noticed.
Surely, the Perverted Apostle must have an aesthetic sense, right?
This guy is probably more skilled at using it than I am, so he must be pointing things out through that.
Considering that the spots indicated by my Weakness Detection and what the Perverted Apostle told me are similar, I’m sure of it.
If a situation arises where even Weakness Detection doesn’t work, I’ll have to ask this guy for help.
“Let’s go.”
As I moved into the area where the fog lingered, my divine power parted the mist.
What was revealed was the dark scenery of a forest.
The landscape, dark as though the moon had not even risen, made it difficult to distinguish what was directly ahead.
Even just glancing at it, it seemed like many things were hidden in the forest, and after a moment of thought, I chose not to just enter.
After all, this world isn’t a game, so why should I follow the opponent’s rules?
Right?
“I’ll blast everything up to the front.”
“Why do you say that, Young Lady?”
“Blow it all away. Can you do it?”
As I pulled out a jewel filled with magic from my inventory and handed it to Joy, she nodded confidently with a grin.
“If I have something like this, I can do it all day long.”
Taking the jewel, Joy conjured several magic circles around her.
It looked complicated, something I wouldn’t dare try to interpret with my knowledge.
However, one thing was certain.
The power contained within those magic circles was incredibly strong.
After combining the magic circles she created to form one that could easily be three times her height, she placed the jewel inside.
As the magic power from the jewel was sucked into the magic circles, they began to glow.
“Be cautious of the aftereffects, everyone.”
In a nutshell, Joy’s magic was artillery.
A bombardment that would shatter everything that stood in front of it based on overwhelming power.
Seeing the strength contained within, I was confident that if that bombardment hit the forest, it would create a massive hole.
However, my confidence, and my admiration, didn’t last long.
The fog wrapping around us clumped together, blocking Joy’s bombardment.
The diminished force of Joy’s attack failed to pierce the forest, destroying only the entrance while disappearing.
“…Huh?”
Ignoring Joy’s bewildered voice, I raised an eyebrow at the dispersing mass of black fog.
Oh, so you want me to adhere to the rules?
Fine. I get it.
Agra, I’ll play along as you wish. But it won’t change the outcome.
You’re just a shoddy who has lost to me countless times.
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