—The Last Sanctuary, Cradle—
Iris shook her head sadly at my words.
“…So that means you’ll stand with Melfina? How unfortunate. Elearis held you in high regard. As expected, you are Melfina’s Apostle. Though we both wish for peace, are we destined to walk different paths… However, Kelvin’s life will not be in vain. His noble soul will be reincarnated, and this time he will surely realize Elearis’s magnificence.”
“You! I can’t believe you’d say something like that on the street, trying to pick up women. You sound like a sleazy pick-up artist! I will not permit this as your wife!”
Damn it, neither goddess is listening. Iris is even trying to reincarnate people without their consent, isn’t that some kind of brainwashing? I thought I was pretty used to Colette’s antics, but fanatics are still scary. There isn’t a shred of doubt in her eyes. It’s a philosophy I, as an ordinary citizen, can never understand. I should just move things along.
“As I said, no more questions. Either way, you have to kill me to reincarnate me, right? Then, even if the purpose is different, the process is the same. Now, take your weapon, Proxy!”
“Fufu, you still intend to fight knowing I am a demigod? Very well. Let’s see how much faith you can show to Melfina, who has manifested in her incomplete form as a golem.”
The moment Iris gave a faint smile, a pale blue magic power erupted from the altar behind her. Simultaneously, the altar began to move with a rumbling sound. No, it was transforming? Keyboards and metal pipes emerged from within.
“Is this… a Pipe Organ?”
“Yes, exactly. This is a Cathedral, so it would be strange not to have an organ, wouldn’t it? Well, it is a bit larger than usual.”
Larger is an understatement. I might have seen them in pictures or on TV, but this was the first time I’d ever seen such a massive instrument up close. It was on a completely different scale than the grand piano Sera bought as a hobby. It was majestic enough to cover the entire wall of this sanctuary, the metal pipes soaring high enough to pierce the sky, and the keyboards stacked in layers. It was clearly not designed for humans to play.
“This altar is meant to link me and Elearis more strongly. Originally, I would send magic power to the Cradle through this, but it can be used in other ways too.”
As Iris raised her hand slightly, the Pipe Organ behind her began to play on its own. With each sonorous note that shook the soul, pale blue magic power streamed from the tips of the metal pipes. I understood that the magic power was coming from there, and at the same time, that magic power gathered on Iris’s back and above her head.
“—Is that a sign of respect for me, or something else?”
“No. It has nothing to do with you; it is a testament to my faith.”
Iris’s current appearance was angelic, remarkably similar to when Melfina had manifested her Halo and wings. The holy magic power formed wings and other radiant features, a mystical luminescence undeniably present. Melfina seemed somewhat displeased, as if her thunder had been stolen.
“God, I borrow your blade.”
Iris’s transformation, however, was not yet complete. As Iris clasped her hands together in prayer, two items descended from the heavens. Elearis’s beloved spear, the Holy Lance Eclipse, and the divine artifact, the Black Book. The spear pulsed with incomparable magic power compared to when I last saw it, and for some reason, the Black Book’s cover had turned white. If anything, it was now the White Book. Both seemed to be drawn to Iris, and as she lowered her praying hands, she held these divine relics in her grasp.
“This is surprising. I thought Melfina would attack while you were distracted, Kelvin.”
“You still don’t understand. A wife honors her husband. As a goddess who embodies the ideal of being a good wife and wise mother, I could never do something so cruel. Though I will utterly defeat you in the end.”
As if to counter Iris, Mel manifested her Halo and wings, which she usually kept hidden. She held the Holy Lance Luminary in her hand, transitioning into a full combat form, clearly serious. Well, I’d play along.
“Great Wind Demon God Scythe.”
I augmented Black Staff Disaster with the Great Scythe. I also applied Support Magic to myself and Mel. The usual preparations were complete. A demigod, huh? Heh.
“Is your prayer to God finished? If not, I can wait.”
“That’s not something you should say to a goddess. I’ll return the compliment.”
“Hey, aren’t we done here? It’s bad manners to keep your guests waiting any longer.”
“Indeed. Then—”
The reverberations of the organ faded, and silence fell upon the sanctuary. As we faced each other, weapons at the ready, a smile naturally spread across my face. Mostly from my own lips.
“Let’s have a fun and exciting battle!”
“You’re stealing my character!”
“False god, abdicate your throne!”
With our respective declarations, the long-awaited battle commenced. First, we aim for that. It’s obviously asking to be targeted.
“That organ is practically telling me to aim for it!”
I gathered the raging wind into the blade and sent an absolute-severing slash towards the Pipe Organ behind Iris. If that’s the tool connecting Iris and Elearis, it would be problematic if it were destroyed, right? This is just an opening attack, a test of her abilities, but I’m not holding back. With something that large, it’s a 100% hit, and it can’t be moved. Incidentally, Iris is also in its path. So, what will you do?
“Survivor’s Divine Realm.”
Flapping her blue wings, Iris dodged my blade and soared into the sky. By my estimation, she was incredibly fast. The spell she chanted during that time was, I recall, a Shrine Maiden’s Secret Art that Colette had used before.
“Mel!”
“No need to ask!”
I pursued with my flight, and Melfina followed with her wings, chasing Iris. Immediately after, the blade of the Great Wind Demon God Scythe struck the Pipe Organ. It wasn’t obstructed at all, and the wind cleanly bisected the Pipe Organ, slicing it right down the middle.
—Or so I thought. By the time I realized it, the Pipe Organ was standing there as if nothing had happened, completely unharmed. It didn’t feel like it had been repaired; it felt like time had been rewound to negate the attack itself. That memory flashed back to my sparring match with Silvia.
* “Colette’s fatal blow negation. So it can be applied to inanimate objects too.”
* “However, its effect is only once. A second or third attack could destroy it—that’s what I’d say, but that organ seems to have multiple layers of secret arts applied. That technique shouldn’t be stackable… but there’s no point in thinking about it now. She must have spent a long time preparing during her tenure as an Apostle.”
* “Then, shall we target Iris first? It almost feels like she’s deliberately inviting me to do so.”
* “The fact that she demonstrated her secret art right in front of us could be a bluff.”
* “Well, since I was invited, I’ll play along for now!”
Putting the Pipe Organ aside for the moment, I chased Iris into the refreshing, blue-sky expanse. The only illumination came from the beautiful, yet not blinding, sun, with no place to hide. Iris was already upon me. I readied my Great Scythe, and Mel prepared her Sacred Spear.
“Serene Divine Realm.”
Just before I swung my weapon, Iris’s form vanished.
*”Serene Divine Realm—a stealth barrier that completely erases one’s presence. Please be cautious.”*
Shrine Maiden’s Secret Arts are truly troublesome when you’re on the opposing side.
In the activity report, I’ve posted information about the bonus items for the August 25th release.
Please take a look.
