**— Heart of the Evil God, Holy Grail Divine Realm —**
At the center of the Underworld, in a great cavern known as the Heart of the Evil God, lies an entrance to a sanctuary created by a Proxy. This realm, born from the Shrine Maiden’s Secret Art, the “Holy Grail Divine Realm,” is a massive barrier shaped like a temple, purifying all miasma and curses. Within its walls, evil energy is banished, replaced by Sacred Power.
Iris, the Proxy, resides in the deepest part of this temple. The room is enclosed by four imposing walls that warp the sense of distance. At its center, a temple shimmers like an illusion, its all-white purity making it seem unreal. Within it rests a tiny cradle meant for an infant. Beside it, Iris gazes at the cradle with a perpetual, serene smile.
“Ah, well. It seems the Judge has left her apostleship too. How boring,” Serge Floa grumbles, pouting as she lounges on the temple roof. This space was once a gathering place for apostles. Serge, displaying a very human sentiment, laments the dwindling numbers and the loss of friends with whom she could casually chat. Yet, Iris, unfazed by Serge’s words, replies in a tone filled with affection.
“The Judge has fulfilled her mission. And fortunately, she has survived. This is cause for joy, not sadness, is it not? All we can do is pray for her happiness and fulfill the covenant we made.”
“But, but, the opportunities for us girls to chat have drastically decreased! It was my only form of entertainment! It’s no exaggeration to say this is a grave situation.”
“If you wish to use your time beneficially, gaze upon this supreme smile. Infants are inherently precious, the hidden treasure of life. You will surely realize how trivial your worries are.”
“Oh, I wish I could, but… that child can only be seen by the Proxy, right? That might be a bit too difficult for me.”
“Oh, is that so? Then, for now, I shall have this joy all to myself. Ah, my mood is truly excellent today. How delightful.”
“Um, could you help this lost lamb here too?”
Iris then dedicates herself to observing the contents of the cradle. Without the other party’s willingness, conversation cannot be sustained. Serge fondly remembers the Assassin, with whom she could converse so easily, the Reviver, with whom she shared risque jokes only girls could, and the Judge, who would listen patiently even when in a bad mood. She gazes absently at the unchanging white landscape.
*Did the Proxy change so much… Before, she would actively initiate suggestive conversations herself—*
Serge recalls the past, the peculiar incidents that occasionally occurred when Iris governed the country as the Shrine Maiden of Delamis.
“—I haven’t done anything of the sort, then or now?”
“Ahaha, you saw through me? I tried to sound serious, but the Proxy can’t be fooled. You can read my mind so easily.”
“How long have we known each other? I can tell from the slightest atmosphere. Besides, you only have this much leisure time now. Soon, the Survivor I sent as a guide will return. This means they will bring those who would seek revenge on Elearis. And that, in turn, will be the perfect opportunity for Elearis to descend as the true Goddess. Ah, this time has finally come…!”
“The Survivor’s guidance, huh…”
Serge doesn’t underestimate the Survivor’s strength, but she believes Melfina and the others would end up here regardless of any guidance. Perhaps it was the Hero’s intuition, Serge mused.
“Well, thanks to the Judge, I have plenty of Magic Power. The rest is up to the Proxy, and I’m just as bored as usual.”
“If you are that bored, why not rummage through the Holy Key? You might luckily find a convenient way to pass the time?”
“Hmm, that would be too predictable and thus boring… Maybe I’ll just enjoy this tediousness as it is?”
“……”
“Proxy?”
Without tending to the cradle, the Proxy suddenly fell silent. Wondering what was wrong, Serge leaped from the roof, landing on the floor and turning towards her. Their eyes met.
“…Guardian, I have a final mission for you. Allow only Goddess Melfina and Grim Reaper Kelvin entry into the Cradle’s Divine Realm. And strictly prevent the entry of anyone else. — Promise me these two things. Can you do that?”
The final mission, an ultimate order given to an apostle. For Bel, it was Demon King Transformation; for Nito, guiding to the sanctuary. Though the content varied for each apostle, fulfilling it would grant the wish promised during their covenant. In other words, this was Serge’s final task as an apostle.
“You’re telling me this now? I’d do anything for the Proxy’s request. Oh, but I already boasted that I no longer needed to protect the ‘Cradle’ just the other day, so making a reappearance might be a bit embarrassing—”
“—Can you do that?”
“Yes, yes! I can! Don’t be so angry, Proxy. You’re so scary when you smile and try to intimidate me!”
“Heh, I shall handle it appropriately.”
After a moment of shared laughter, Iris slightly raised a hand, gently levitating the infant’s cradle into the air.
“So, do you think you can accomplish this mission?”
“Who knows? I was thoroughly defeated in Delamis, and they say they’ve gotten even stronger now… Realistically, considering their Skills and everything, I could probably handle about four at once, each with strength comparable to Melfina back then? Beyond that, even I would want to escape.”
“That is sufficient. The Creator and Commander will appropriately thin out the rest. At the fated hour, Elearis is expected to reunite with Melfina without interruption, by anyone, or anything. Serge Floa. My most trusted friend, I believe in you.”
“……Okay, you can count on me!”
Seeing Serge pat her chest dramatically, Iris smiled and disappeared further into the temple. Following her lead, the floating cradle also vanished.
“Serge Floa, huh…”
Whispering barely audibly, Serge muttered. As if in response, a resonant *clunk* echoed from the ground.
“Hm, is the Proxy not here?”
Beyond the mechanical voice stood a stone tablet bearing the Roman numeral III in an otherworldly script.
“You show up at the oddest times, Creator. The Proxy is on an errand right now. What is it?”
“A minor notification. Two Giant Dragons, led by the Survivor, are approaching this land. I wanted to inform you that they should arrive in about half a day. I will continue my surveillance with a Golem.”
“I see, they’re finally here. So, the Survivor was slacking off somewhere on the way, huh? That rascal~”
“They’re escaping while fending off two Dragon Kings. Given his specs, that’s a sufficiently good outcome. It’s your bad habit to judge things by Guardian standards.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ve had enough of your sermons. I’ll relay that to the Proxy for you. So hurry and go that way. Shoo, shoo!”
“Hmm, I shall do so. I will contact you again if there are any developments.”
As the voice faded, the stone tablet descended back into the ground with another *clunk*. Serge didn’t wait to see it disappear completely, lightly leaping back to her usual spot on the roof. The unchanging white landscape continued as before.
