Yuma’s eyes caught something unusual.
A member of Malphas’s side, and a Holy Maiden, coming to kill the very god she serves, Malphas?
It was utterly incomprehensible by common sense.
“What do you mean?”
The young man slowly got up and bowed deeply to Yuma before raising his head again.
“First, let me introduce myself. I am Garoon, the younger brother of Elfin, the second Holy Maiden of the Piggero Church, created by the god, Malphas.”
Yuma fixed her gaze on the young man, signaling him to continue. He did just that.
“The pendant that was used by the Astes Empire to gather information on our Piggero Church belongs to my sister.”
Yuma recalled that day.
The day a nun possessed by a god approached her.
And the day Bell killed the black beings summoned by that guy.
‘So that nun was the second Holy Maiden.’
And finally, she could learn the name of the evil god that had been possessing that nun.
“Malphas, is that the name of the god who created the church called Piggero?”
The young man nodded.
“Yes, it is Malphas.”
Questions began to swirl in Yuma’s mind about the parts that were undoubtedly suspicious.
“Why is the Holy Maiden of the Piggero Church trying to kill her own god, Malphas?”
“The current Holy Maiden, Yulicia, regards the first Holy Maiden, Maien, as a benefactor. When I saw them a few years ago… they looked almost like sisters.”
The young man continued.
“My sister, like the first Holy Maiden, was killed by Malphas. Yulicia only recently found that out clearly.”
Yuma was quite surprised. Hearing the reason was almost more shocking than the revelation itself. Still, there was a high possibility it was a trap.
“For now, let’s assume everything you said is true.”
Objectively, it was hard to rationally understand that a Holy Maiden would decide to kill the god she serves.
“How can she kill him?”
At Yuma’s words, Garoon let out a light sigh before speaking again.
“Possession.”
“Possession?”
“She said she would somehow persuade Malphas into her own body, using whatever words necessary.”
Calling forth a god into one’s body.
“And then?”
“Whether she gets Malphas out completely or kills him while keeping him possessed within her body, she said she would maintain the possession while leaving the method of killing to the God of War.”
It was hard to describe the Holy Maiden’s attitude of asking them to find a way as arrogant.
“Somehow, we have to manage to achieve divine possession. For Yulicia, the Holy Maiden of Piggero, maintaining that state must be her utmost priority.”
Tap-tap—
Duke Yuma drummed his fingers on the desk.
“What’s your name?”
“It’s Garoon.”
The probability that Garoon, the younger brother of the previous Holy Maiden, and the current Holy Maiden Yulicia, were lying under Malphas’s command couldn’t be entirely dismissed. However, upon deeper consideration, from Malphas’s perspective, there was no reason to encounter him, the God of War Yuma. It would only dramatically increase the chances of dying.
‘The probability of it being a trap is low. If it is a trap, it’s a very foolish one.’
Yuma continued his thoughts.
This was not a matter that could be resolved with a brief consideration.
Tap-tap—
The conclusion was reached.
“Garoon, tell the Holy Maiden. I’ll find the methods we discussed. Decide on a date for the divine possession and the meeting place for that day.”
[The Eight Evil Gods].
Now, only five remained. He couldn’t let the opportunity to kill one of them slip away.
“…Understood.”
Yuma gazed out the window. The sun was darkening.
“It’s getting late, so set out tomorrow morning.”
At Yuma’s words, Princess Brigitte quickly added,
“Assign a place to stay.”
“Thank you.”
Creak—
Garoon bowed his head and exited.
Brigitte fixed her gaze on Yuma.
“Are you okay?”
“There’s no reason not to be.”
“We’re killing a god, you know.”
“Haven’t we done that a few times?”
Brigitte was at a loss for words and sighed at Yuma’s response.
“Yeah, that’s true… It’s become so normal to kill a god. I just can’t adapt to it yet.”
Brigitte leaned her body against Yuma’s shoulder. Warmth flowed between them.
Yuma caressed Brigitte’s face. It was only natural for her to be tired.
It had been a peaceful one and a half years, after all. Events like this happening suddenly were bound to bring about fatigue.
“If the Holy Maiden Yulicia successfully achieves divine possession of that god named Malphas, can we actually kill that god?”
“We need to figure that out now.”
Brigitte still couldn’t comprehend Yuma’s words.
In contrast, Yuma was calculating what needed to be done.
‘Is there a magical method that’s possible?’
He needed to check with Kiryev, a mage from the Join Tribe who had become one of the apostles, whether there were magical solutions that could be used alongside divine power. And he also had to ask the outer realm goddess, [Goddess of Earth and Eternity], Leah, about it. A method to slay a god would likely be better understood by another god.
I should have asked it too. The way to smack a god is probably better known by another god.
Duke Yuma was too much of a rookie to know those parts.
*
The next morning.
I sent Garoon, the younger brother of the Second Holy Maiden Elfin of Piggero, back to the temple. Just in case there were hidden minions of Malphas in the temple or, at the very least, fanatical followers, I ordered him to have escorts along the way back.
Yuma moved towards the training grounds.
There was one woman sprawled on the floor and a girl perched on the stairs.
“…Cloney, my body hurts.”
Bell’s moan made Cloney burst into a grin.
“Seiavern’s training is quite intense, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it’s really severe… Yuma was an angel…”
As Bell closed her eyes, the merciless figure of Seiavern unleashing her blade in a gentle manner flashed through her mind even in her dreams. It was just before lunchtime. They were resting after finishing training.
Their masters, Kiryev and Seiavern, had gone ahead for a meal.
Thud—
Footsteps echoed from the front of the training ground.
Bell and Cloney’s gazes immediately turned toward the sound. The moment Bell stepped into the training ground, she recognized that it was Yuma. For the past year and a half, every time Seiavern’s training intensity had lessened even a little, it was due to Yuma’s appearance.
She figured it out just from the distant footfalls and the intervals of movement.
“Yuma… I never thought I’d say this to you. You could have come a bit earlier…”
“Seems like you’re still able to make jokes after all.”
Still lying on the floor, Bell shot up her pink eyes wide with irritation at Yuma’s words.
“Not at all! I can’t! At all!”
The blue-haired swordswoman was strongly asserting that this wasn’t a ruse.
“Hestia is.”
Just two months ago, it seemed Hestia had been right in this chaotic training. Now, her presence was nowhere to be found.
“She whined that it was hard!”
That makes sense.
The privilege to whine about hardship was something that only Hestia had. Yuma hadn’t commanded Hestia to learn everything from the elven swordswoman Seiavern.
As Bell saw Yuma firmly believe her words, she blinked her pink eyes and opened her mouth again.
Her body that had shot up fell slowly back to the floor.
“…Saying I whined is a lie. I trained hard in the morning and headed towards the temple.”
“Is that so?”
As expected, even if he was acting as the High Priest, he still clearly retained his ego as a swordsman.
“But what brings you here?”
Bell suddenly added to Cloney’s words.
“Come on, you didn’t come here for any specific reason, did you? You just dropped by.”
Yuma didn’t find Bell’s words strange. In fact, these days, there were many instances when he visited the training grounds for no real reason. After all, it was Brigitte who handled the affairs of the Astes Empire. The role of converting the God of War Yuma fell to High Priest Hestia and Holy Maiden Ermel.
All Yuma had done was to practice swordsmanship following Balmung’s guidance.
Certainly, not even Seiavern or Bell could teach swordsmanship tailored to Yuma’s talent.
– “The only one who can teach Yuma-sama is me, you know? I’m the only one capable of tailored education.”
Balmung began to teach the dullard Yuma slowly over the course of a year and a half.
How to hold the sword, how to swing it, how to merge sword energy and divine power. He learned it all step by step.
– “It’s still hard to put it into practice, but with a little more training, you’ll be able to showcase swordsmanship fitting for a true warrior.”
At that time, Yuma couldn’t help but feel an ironic emotion.
It wasn’t a sound worthy of the God of War.
Yuma shook off his thoughts and brought up the main reason he came to the training grounds.
“I came to see Kiryev, but it seems he went to eat first.”
“Oh, so you’re here to see your master.”
Cloney responded lightly, while Bell continued to mutter, sprawled out on the floor.
“…You should just say you came to see him when it’s like this.”
“First, get up. Sister.”
Cloney grabbed Bell by the shoulder and lifted her up.
At that moment, someone approached from behind. It was the Elf half-god warrior Seiavern and Join Tribe grand mage Kiryev.
“O God of War, have you come to spar?”
The blind Seiavern asked Yuma, still with his eyes closed.
“I told you.”
Yuma replied as he usually did.
“My control over my power is impossible.”
He laid down the law.
– I wouldn’t want to kill my disciple’s master with my own hands.
Just like a year and a half ago, when Seiavern had requested a duel.
“But I wish to give it a try someday.”
Seiavern believed those words wholeheartedly. After all, it was only natural that he had witnessed the scene of God of War Yuma slaying the Duke, the God of Steel and War, right before his eyes.
“This time, the one with business is not you but Kiryev.”
“Eh?”
Sweat trickled down Kiryev’s head. There was always something about the God of War standing before him that made him feel tense.
“We have to kill an Evil God together.”
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