Realizing the betrayal, Lasha laughed for a while before starting to rampage like a beast.
Every time she stretched out her hand, something broke, someone’s life was in danger, buildings collapsed, and screams echoed endlessly.
“Is this all you’ve got!? Did you think you could kill me with just this? Weaklings!”
The first thing to stop Lasha’s unstoppable advance was Benedict’s greatsword.
Even in front of fists filled with the power of destruction, his blade not only didn’t crack, but instead echoed with laughter as it pushed Lasha back.
“To suppress power with such dense aura! You’re insane!”
“I can’t do what others do and slice through powers. This is the strategy I chose instead.”
Frey, Lucy’s friend, demonstrated the extraordinary conduct of slicing through the power itself to Benedict, but that was only achievable by those like her or the Sword Saints.
Compared to them, Benedict’s sword skills were somewhat lacking; he could keep up to a certain level, but he could never completely slice through the power.
In a battlefield where a single mistake could cost a life, relying on uncertainty was akin to suicidal behavior. Thus, Benedict created his own method.
A strategy only possible because of Benedict’s innate physique and vast aura. Simply put, it was to overpower through strength.
“Hahaha! You’re so unhuman!”
“And you don’t look very human yourself!”
Every clash between them twisted the land. Some of the foundations weakened by previous quakes burst up and sank.
The unstable buildings collapsed.
The continuous bang deafened the ears of the people, and winds started by their clash turned into a storm, pushing everyone back.
“Even now, what will you look like when you’ve mastered your power?”
“I can’t understand what you mean by mastery, but you won’t get to see it! You’ll die before that!”
Among those standing here, there were no weaklings.
The knights of Allen and the warriors brought by Karia were all elite forces against the Evil God.
However, even if they were respected for their strength wherever they went, in this place, it was meaningless.
Strength is relative; Benedict and Lasha were strong, while others appeared weak in comparison.
Just as they predicted.
“Report to the employer! Moving to C! Go!”
The knights and the destroyers who had infiltrated followed Karia’s shout without hesitation.
“Do you lack faith? To be cast aside so easily!”
“I’m leaving because I trust you! You’ll never understand that feeling as someone who’s lived alone for a lifetime!”
The knights believed in Benedict’s strength. They trusted he wouldn’t be defeated by Lasha no matter what happened.
Thus, suppressing their worries, they moved to do their jobs.
Benedict also believed in the knights and Karia. He knew they would act according to the plan and seize victory.
So he could face this uninteresting lunatic with his life on the line, armed and ready.
“Hahaha! That’s why you’re getting weaker! Benedict Allen!”
“That’s why I can keep moving forward! Lasha!”
Mira informed the rampaging Benedict.
It’s because people can move towards the future together.
That meaningless honor can protect them.
That goodwill calls forth more goodwill.
And when someone resolves to protect something, how strong they become.
“Then prove it! Show me you’re still stronger than me! Prove you’re strong! Right now!”
*
Hearing the blasts from behind, Karia chuckled to herself.
This used to be a pretty nice city, but now it looks like I’ll have to build it from scratch again. I wonder how many years that’ll take.
I need to invest in the person I got involved with this time and start filling in the foundational infrastructure of the city.
“It’s the first time since the head of the house was young. Moving without leaving that person behind.”
While Karia thought about the future without much worry, Possell spoke up.
Though his gaze was forward, all his other senses were following his master.
For a man who regards one person as his master rather than his family, that master is both a source of trust and concern.
He wouldn’t want to see the man he acknowledged crumble twice.
Not even once.
Noticing him, Karia giggled and jumped onto Possell’s shoulder.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m tired~ besides, I’m nothing to you, right?”
“In another sense, you are heavy.”
“Shut up and just run, muscle pig. This is a fitting treatment for a disloyal servant who doubts his master.”
“You noticed after all.”
“Men are so dull. If you’re worried, just say a word.”
“I can’t put that burden on the head of the house, who’s already carrying too much.”
“Oh? Is that so?”
“And you know this. Karia. Ever since meeting Mira, the head of the house hasn’t lost a fight meant to protect.”
“Is that so?”
She wanted to mention how he had looked dazed in the capital last time, but that would lead to endless conversation, so she let it be.
“Come to think of it, Karia. You asked me earlier about where the head of the house and Mira first met.”
“Oh, don’t bring up those pointless memories. I don’t want to think about it.”
“What do you mean by that? It was a peaceful little village, wasn’t it?”
“I’m not talking about the scenery. I’m talking about how I was deceived.”
The two, who had been chatting lightly, soon arrived in front of the dungeon just before the resurrection of the Evil God.
“There’s still some time before we start. Hmm, should I tell some old stories?”
“Now?”
“Because it’s now. It’s better to wear defeat as victory. Especially if it’s from the guy who took my life away.”
*
The first time Karia met Mari was the day after she met Benedict.
At that time, she was living as a mutt of the kingdom and took the initiative to investigate what kind of woman had seduced the kingdom’s greatest asset, Benedict.
First, she collected information around the village and confirmed details hidden deep within, then disguised as a traveler to find Mira.
And what she found was information no different from what Karia had gathered earlier.
Mira was very simple, and thus an intriguing person. People are multifaceted beings.
It’s impossible to be good from all directions. Such beings appear only in myths.
“Aha haha. Thank you for the compliment, but that’s excessive. I’m just an ordinary girl.”
As she herself said, Mira was ordinary. Except for her looks, which were too good for the countryside, she was just that.
But her extremely normal and upright nature gave off an impression of strangeness.
At least, that’s what Karia thought.
So, she tried even harder to learn about Mira.
It was almost a certainty. There had to be something hidden in this person’s heart.
There must be some external influence making her approach Benedict Allen.
That she was pursuing some objective through preparations meticulously planned to the point of invisibility.
Yet, to Karia’s surprise, the only emotion she gained after her efforts was fondness for Mira.
Nothing else existed.
After that, Karia helped the two live happily, filled with a sense of apology for her pointless suspicion.
To ensure the romance between commoners and nobles could unfold sincerely, to earn the recognition of other nobles, and to guarantee Mira’s happiness after their engagement.
Even when she was revived with Lucy’s help, Karia had no deeper thoughts.
That was until the Pope, who was trying to desecrate the revived Mira, left a significant remark before departing.
That day.
That day.
Karia pondered her memories and discovered a sense of unease.
So, like a madman, she raced to the village where Mira once lived.
And she learned.
The thick divine essence that hung over the village.
*
“Wait… Karia. According to what you said, has the village disappeared?!”
“No? The village was just fine.”
“Then, Mira was a fake.”
“Not that either. People remembered Mira just fine. As a kind, innocent, and beautiful countryside girl.”
“…Then what is it?”
“Only Mira’s origins are unclear. A kind-hearted grandmother took in an abandoned orphan.”
Mira was probably a messenger of God or something similar.
And she may not have known it herself.
If she had known something, Karia would have sensed it.
“Once this is over, I plan to ask the employer if there’s a way to deal with that damn God.”
What the will of God is, she doesn’t care.
She doesn’t give a damn about the reasons, whether it’s for the world’s salvation or not.
It’s just disruptive.
The God who turned her first genuine affection into a long-term pawn is infuriating, especially since that first person’s daughter treats her without hesitation.
“Does the head of the house know about this?”
“No, he doesn’t. He didn’t tell me. He’d shed buckets of tears if it’s related to his daughter, so you can imagine the uproar if Mira is involved.”
Once was enough for that giant to not be able to get up.
Chewing and swallowing the heartfelt words, Karia etched into her mind the image of the colossal dungeon collapsing from above.
“Everyone, prepare for battle.”
To save the world.
I’ll warn the heavens.
“Starting the hunt for the Evil God.”
