Yuma finally got to enjoy a deep rest.
A very sweet rest indeed!
And the same went for the rest of the party.
A whopping 2 weeks of free time!
Bell was lying on the ground under the shade of a giant tree along the walking path.
“Hehehe….”
For the first time in ages, she simply gazed at the blue sky without a care in the world. Someone approached Bell from the side.
Rustle…
The black-haired, golden-eyed magic girl, Cloney, sat down next to Bell.
“You’re really taking it easy.”
Bell looked up at Cloney, who was peering down at her, and grinned broadly.
“Cloney, you should lie down too! After all, this sweet freedom will end soon enough.”
Cloney forced a smile and lay down beside Bell. A gentle autumn breeze started to blow.
Flash-!
Light flickered in the air. Someone had suddenly appeared: Seiavern, the elf demigod. Her silver hair danced in the wind.
“Bell, training starts exactly 3 days from now.”
Her tone was very friendly, but the content of her words left no room for denial.
Bell’s face turned pensive, in stark contrast to the smile she wore when looking at Cloney.
“…Okay, Master.”
She had gained a second master after Yuma, and if she had to pick who was scarier, it was definitely this second one.
“While the God of War has undoubtedly taught you well, you still lack experience fighting stronger opponents than yourself.”
In other words, it meant that she was saying she’d gladly take on opponents stronger than Bell. Just as Seiavern declared the end of their free period, someone else appeared behind her: Kiryev from the Join Tribe. Unlike Seiavern, Kiryev didn’t directly approach Cloney and stood awkwardly.
Seiavern’s head whipped around.
“You should announce it too. To Cloney. When your classes will start.”
Kiryev’s beak opened.
Cough, cough!
He cleared his throat at Seiavern’s sudden request.
“Well… I thought Cloney was doing pretty well on her own. Ahem.”
Seiavern showed no signs of backing down.
“If she was managing fine on her own, there’s no way you both would have reached that level as humans. Even if she can handle it, you need to lend a hand.”
Everything she said was right on the money. Kiryev eventually caved under Seiavern’s insistence.
“Fine, I’ll start my lectures in 3 days as well.”
Seiavern and Kiryev declared the start of their classes, then vanished in a flash of light, just like when they had appeared.
After the storm passed, Cloney and Bell stared blankly at the azure sky.
Wow, Bell stared blankly at the blue sky.
The silence was broken by Cloney.
“Do you know what Hestia sis is doing?”
“Uh-huh, they say more people are flocking to the God of War’s religion. Not just from the continent. Apparently, dozens are coming from other continents… Well, Yuma has saved people from other continents more than once. Anyway, she’ll be busy managing all those arrivals.”
At that, Cloney slowly raised her body.
“I think we should go check it out.”
“I’m worried if we go on an outing, we might end up working like slaves…”
That was a plausible hypothesis.
“Hmmm, if it looks too crowded from a distance, we can just run away, right?”
Bell’s pink eyes sparkled at Cloney’s practical alternative.
“Cloney, you’re really smart.”
With that, the two hopped onto a portal heading to the God of War’s temple.
Pop!
A view of the God of War’s temple unfolded before Cloney and Bell.
It was the Temple of the God of War included in Wilbeserk, which Yuma received along with the title of Duke.
“…Wow.”
Bell involuntarily exclaimed, seeing rows of people lining up. It was a literal sea of people. Just calling it a crowd wasn’t enough since there were a few non-human beings mixed in.
Bell looked at Cloney beside her.
“Should we go back?”
Cloney sighed.
“Let’s just sneak around a bit.”
“Y-yeah.”
Cloney and Bell began to move stealthily while observing the long line of people heading towards the temple.
As they watched the countless people entering from afar, one man stood out in old-fashioned attire adorned with golden accessories.
“I have come to personally meet God of War Yuma.”
“I must somehow discuss the future of the Silmaria Continent with him.”
Hestia, the Cat-Folk Swordswoman and high priestess of the God of War, tilted her head slightly as the sudden man approached her.
“Which nation are you from?”
“The Valletro Empire.”
“Uh… I haven’t heard of that.”
“Yeah, you probably haven’t. Lord Yuma has never been to the Valletro Empire. I want to believe in Lord Yuma. That’s why I’m here to meet him. I, Prince Curcio of the Valletro Empire, have come all this way.”
Hestia sighed.
“Hey.”
The very short statement that came from her caused Curcio to tilt his head.
“Hmm?”
Hestia’s voice had turned cold.
“Just leave while I’m still saying it nicely.”
“What nonsense…!”
“How ridiculous…!”
Curcio furrowed his brows.
“Is it a god just because you suddenly want to meet?”
At Hestia’s words, Ermel, who appeared beside her, shook her head.
“You can meet them.”
In an instant, Curcio’s face lit up.
“That’s right! There’s no way we can’t meet!”
Curcio was now treating Hestia as if she didn’t exist. Ermel raised her right hand politely, pointing to a certain direction.
“Over there, aren’t they inside the temple?”
Curcio’s face hardened again as he followed Ermel’s gesture with his eyes.
“You can’t be talking about some giant statue inside the temple, right?”
Curcio’s words caused the saintly smile on Ermel’s face to vanish.
“A statue? That’s definitely a manifestation of Duke Yuma.”
At Ermel’s words, Curcio trembled with his black hair shaking.
“Th-they’re messing with me!”
A voice filled with rage. Just as Curcio was about to say another word…
WHACK!
“Ahhh!”
Something hit him hard on the back of his head.
“When I tell you nicely that it’s not okay, you should take a hint and back off! Where do you think you’re pushing, huh?!”
Bell, who had been watching the confrontation closely, barged in.
Of course, she didn’t use any aura. She just delivered a perfectly measured smack. But that was only Bell’s thinking.
Curcio knelt on the ground, holding his head with both hands.
To others, it seemed like he just got hit hard on the head, but Curcio felt like the world was spinning ten times over.
Swoosh! Thud!
The knights lined up beside Curcio flinched and moved their hands to their waists, where their swords were. Bell let out a smirk.
“You’re not actually going to draw that, are you?”
A faint killing intent flowed from Bell, subtly tightening around the throats of the knights of the Valletro Empire. It was a warning.
“Drawing it would be insane; this isn’t even your Valletro land. It’s a temple in a foreign country.”
Only then did Curcio come to his senses and slowly rise.
“I-I’ll be leaving.”
Curcio said, sweating profusely.
Bell placed a hand on Curcio’s shoulder.
“Yeah, don’t come back.”
Curcio literally swallowed his fear. Terror had completely suppressed his anger. So he gestured silently to his subordinates to follow him.
It swallowed me whole. Fear perfectly suppressed anger. So, I waved my hands at my subordinates without a word.
“We’re going back. To the Empire.”
Bell and Cloney approached Hestia.
“Are you okay?”
Hestia shrugged at Bell’s question.
“Well… this isn’t the first or second time! People come to see Yuma after all.”
Ermel nodded in agreement.
“That’s right. Last time, a princess from a kingdom on the Yeigel continent came to see Lord Yuma.”
Cloney responded ambiguously.
“…You sent her back well, huh?”
Ermel smiled brightly.
“She was quite pretty. I sent her back without hesitation.”
Bell blurted out without realizing it.
“Pretty? Then you have to send her back… can’t let her get too close.”
Bell and Cloney, who had tried to only watch from the shadows, had to reveal themselves due to an unexpected guest. Since they were out, they decided to do some work.
It was just a matter of tidying up people standing outside the designated route.
Fortunately, Curcio was an unusual case; most of the temple pilgrims listened well.
Time passed quickly.
A whole year and a half flew by.
The Empire was peaceful. No one invaded. No one dared to consider invading the Astes Empire in the name of the God of War.
It wasn’t just the Empire that settled into peace. The entire continent of the Intermediate World was in a relative state of peace as well. Of course, in places where it’s inevitable for each country to plunder others to survive, that was bound to happen. Yuma and his subordinates didn’t bother with those things. It was just a struggle for survival.
*
Piggero.
A cult created by the Evil God, Malphas, the “God of Terrible Construction.”
The Holy Maiden of Piggero, Yulicia, stood at the Seat of Prophecy, her hands clasped together.
The prophecy echoed in Yulicia’s mind.
[This month, there are only three offerings.]
With her silver hair neatly tied back, Yulicia bowed deeply, looking apologetic.
[Are you ignoring me too?]
Malphas’s ominously dreadful voice rang in her ears.
“No, my God.”
Yulicia bowed her head so low it almost touched the platform.
[Don’t forget that I am watching all of you.]
Yulicia bowed again before stepping outside.
Creeeek…
Yulicia’s eyes, gazing up at the sky, were calm and settled.
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