The Divine Emperor’s Kingdom of Delamis. It is the main temple of the Rinne Church, which worships the Reincarnated Goddess, and a holy land where heroes are summoned, beings who alone can defeat the Demon King threatening the world. Even in this era, the way of the kingdom of Delamis remains unchanged.
“Maou, how are you feeling?”
Cecilia Delamirus, the current shrine maiden of Delamis, called out to a young man who was training in the palace courtyard. The sturdy young man wielding a sword stopped, wiped away his sweat, and turned a smile towards Cecilia.
“Ah, Shrine Maiden. I’m managing somehow. It’s all thanks to you for summoning me in such a strong state. And you’re even taking care of my food, clothing, and shelter…”
“What are you saying? It’s all due to your rare talent and the effort you’ve put in. I’ve only provided a little assistance.”
“It’s far beyond just a little assistance. Truly, it is.”
The two of them continued to humble each other, unwilling to back down. Maou, the black-haired young man and the current hero summoned by Cecilia, raised both hands in surrender, bringing a temporary end to their endless exchange. It seemed as though this exchange might continue all day, so he chose to relent.
“Still, your growth rate is astonishing, Maou. It seems there are no longer any foes at the ‘Guardian’s Training Ground’ even without a party… You had quite a sturdy build even before training began, but did you do anything before you transferred to this world?”
“Hahaha. No, nothing. If anything, perhaps farming strengthened my legs and body. And it’s the opposite of sturdy. Even with this appearance, I was quite sickly. Since coming to this world, I’ve strangely felt much better.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful! It’s all due to the Reincarnated Goddess Elearis’s will! The merciful Elearis must have dispelled your illness before your transfer! Yes, it must be, it’s definitely so! Yes, viva, Elearis! Let there be light in this world! AHAHAHAHA!”
“Y-yes. We must be grateful…”
While Maou wore a wry smile, Cecilia’s sudden burst of excitement showed no signs of ending. Even though she is pure, she is the shrine maiden of Delamis in this era. Her faith and passion towards the Reincarnated Goddess surpassed even fervent believers, emitting overwhelming cheers. Maou, at this moment, was a little afraid of her.
“Shrine Maiden, Shrine Maiden~!”
“Huh…!”
At that moment, a female priest in charge of temple affairs hurried into the courtyard.
“…What is it?”
The moment she heard her voice, Cecilia suppressed her high-spirited mood and returned to her usual pure shrine maiden appearance. It seemed that she only showed this side of herself to those she felt comfortable with. Maou was a little scared by her sudden change.
“Um… it seems there are some guests? for the Shrine Maiden and the Hero…”
“Guests? Hmm, there shouldn’t have been any visitors scheduled for this time.”
“It seems they came without any prior notice. They are a young man and woman who look like adventurers, named Kelvin and Melfina.”
“Kelvin, and Melfina… As expected, I don’t know them.”
Cecilia found the sudden visitors suspicious. Moreover, she was suspicious of the way the priestess who brought the news was acting. Normally, she wouldn’t bring word of someone visiting the palace without notification, especially someone whose identity was unknown. The fact that they had gone to the trouble of contacting her meant—
“Is there any other news?”
“Well, this is something that’s hard to believe… The woman claims to be an angel and said she has something to inform us as Elearis’s messenger. We couldn’t determine its authenticity, so we came to ask you, Shrine Maiden…”
—!
Cecilia’s eyes widened slightly.
“An angel? By angel, you mean the being that’s the counterpart to the Evil God? Come to think of it, I haven’t seen one yet.”
“She also said she was a messenger of God, so it’s likely true. Shrine Maiden, what shall we do?”
“…If they are impersonating an angel, it is a grave crime. Angels are sacred beings in Delamis. Understood. I will personally go and judge them. The Cathedral is empty at this hour. Please escort them there.”
“Understood. Then, several knights from the Holy Knights—”
“—No, that’s not necessary. I have Maou here.”
“B-but…”
“It’s alright. Now, go.”
“Y-yes!”
Overwhelmed by the shrine maiden’s quiet intensity, the female priest hurried away even faster than she had arrived. Once her figure had completely disappeared, Maou asked Cecilia with a troubled expression.
“Um… I’m glad you trust me, but is it really okay? With only me as your escort?”
“…It should be fine. It’s likely that what Melfina, that person, is saying is true.”
“Huh? You know?”
“If I concentrate, I can sense it a little. This feeling… it’s similar to what Elearis manifested during her oracle. I think it’s worth meeting them. Well then, Maou, let’s head to the Cathedral. First impressions are important, and being late is strictly forbidden. Today might be a fateful day!”
***
Some time after Cecilia and Maou arrived at Delamis Cathedral. The sound of knocking echoed from the great doors of the Cathedral.
“Please, come in.”
“We’re coming in.”
Opening the doors, two people entered, a young man and woman, just as the priestess had described. The man was dressed in light armor, primarily black, with a longsword at his waist. Even his hair was uniformly black. The woman, on the other hand, wore brighter clothing. However, she possessed an immense beauty, making her appearance as an adventurer seem quite mismatched.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Cecilia Delamirus, the Shrine Maiden of Delamis. I am deeply grateful that you agreed to see us despite our sudden visit. Forgive my late introduction, my name is Melfina. Though I am dressed like this, I am an angel.”
The two of them knelt on the floor and bowed deeply.
“Please, both of you, raise your heads. I am Cecilia Delamirus, serving as the shrine maiden. Behind me stands the current hero, Saeki Maou. Given my position, I will have him serve as my guard. Is that acceptable?”
“It’s only natural to take precautions.”
“Thank you.”
While Cecilia and Melfina were speaking, Maou’s gaze briefly met the black-haired man’s. For some reason, he felt as though he was being sized up.
“I have already heard the story from my subordinates. However, I cannot believe your words alone. Do you have any way to prove that you are an angel?”
“…Yes, I do. Excuse me, but could we have some privacy?”
“It’s already been arranged, so please rest assured.”
Cecilia and Melfina proceeded with the conversation smoothly, as if they had already discussed what to do next. Maou, who had been told nothing, watched the unfolding events with curiosity.
As Melfina slowly stood up, Maou could feel magic power gathering above her head and on her back. It wasn’t just a sensation of the flow of magic power; he could visually confirm her blue halo and blue angel wings. Her appearance was truly that of an angel.
Maou, seeing an angel for the first time, was naturally excited. Cecilia, going beyond excitement, raised one hand and let out a cry of joy as she took flight.
