“My, it has been a while since I last saw you. It’s quite unusual for you to suddenly appear.”
As they proceeded, they found a step leading up to a magnificent throne, upon which sat a slightly overweight middle-aged man. He was dressed in splendid red and white attire and wore a crown. He had the appearance of a typical king from an RPG. Despite the deity standing before him, he addressed Fuuko condescendingly from his throne.
“Duke, you still show no reverence towards me, your god.”
“Not at all. I hold nothing but gratitude and respect for the god who has protected this country for so many years.”
“Hmph, well, it matters not.”
The Duke seemed to harbor no fondness for Fuuko. While he maintained a certain degree of politeness due to her divine status, Kent sensed a palpable tension in their exchange.
“Ah, yes, speaking of which, our last expedition was a failure, but the military has submitted a plan for the next invasion. Of course, as fellow haters of the Kingdom, I would appreciate your cooperation as well, God.”
“Indeed. If it were in the past, our interests would align, and I would have readily agreed. However, I refuse!”
“What? Your failure in the last campaign was a significant lapse on your part as a god. I’ve given you a chance to redeem yourself. You should be grateful.”
The Duke revealed his plan to invade the Kingdom again and requested Fuuko’s cooperation. However, he was taken aback by her unexpected response.
“I’ve changed my mind. I will no longer be involved in the invasion of the Kingdom. I’ve lost all interest!”
“Hey, Saintess, can you say something to this god?”
“I will absolutely obey God’s will. Therefore, I will not interject in matters decided by God.”
“Hmph, all of you, you mock me. Well, we shall discuss that another time. Now, what is the purpose of your visit today?”
The Duke urged the Saintess to persuade Fuuko, but she, as one who followed the deity, refused to interfere with their decisions. Judging persuasion to be difficult at this stage, the Duke decided to change the subject.
“First, let me say this. There will be no next meeting to discuss this.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s simple. I will have you step down from the position of Duke.”
“Huh? A god shouldn’t be interfering in matters like this!”
The Duke wore an expression of shock at Fuuko’s sudden declaration.
“The situation has changed. And my Master, Kent, will be the new ruler!”
“What?”
Kent was surprised by Fuuko’s words.
“You would entrust the country to a nobody? God, have you lost your mind?”
“Say whatever you wish. I will only do what my Master desires. For now, being a god is irrelevant. I am a fairy who will simply carry out his will.”
“Saintess, won’t you say something? Your role is to be a bridge between humans and the gods.”
“I have no right to interfere with the actions of God, who is acting of His own will. Furthermore, I will obey God’s will, whatever it may be.”
The Duke admonished the Saintess, urging her to correct Fuuko’s thinking. However, she upheld her duty as Saintess and immediately rejected his plea.
“Grrr, if that’s the case, then I have no choice but to make you disappear from this world to resolve this. Everyone, behead these individuals! If the bothersome god and saintess are eliminated, no one will oppose us!”
As the Duke spoke, soldiers with swords drawn surrounded Kent and his companions.
“You! Do you know what happens when you defy me, your god? This is an act of rebellion against a divine being!”
“Fuh, if I don’t, I’ll be dragged down from here. Besides, even with a god present, there are only four of them. These are the elites of the Duchy. It will soon be clear who has the advantage.”
Fuuko showed no sign of distress even as swords were pointed at her. The Duke, on the other hand, was confident that their side held the overwhelming advantage.
“Everyone, attack!”
“You’re serious, aren’t you? You’ll regret turning your blades against us.”
At the Duke’s signal, the soldiers lunged at Kent and his companions. Fuuko, having always been prepared for battle, immediately moved to intercept, taking a defensive posture around Kent.
“Die, Saintess!”
“You may call me old, but I can still fight! Hah!”
“Ugh!”
A soldier lunged at the Saintess with his sword, but she swiftly dodged it and delivered a spinning kick directly to the back of his head. Despite her heavy Saintess robes, her footwork was light and agile.
“See, your front is wide open!”
“Guh!”
The Saintess followed up with a knee strike to the soldier’s abdomen, sending him flying backward, incapacitated.
“The Saintess of the Duchy is amazing. Do Saintesses require martial arts skills too?”
“Of course not! She was originally a gladiator. I scouted her talent and brought her in as a Saintess. She could probably hold her own against even active soldiers.”
“R-really?”
Seeing the Saintess fight with a dancer’s grace, Kent was reminded of Catherine. However, Fuuko explained that the Saintess had originally participated in fist-fighting spectacles, and that Fuuko had recognized her talent and made her a Saintess. Kent was surprised by her unexpected background.
“Let’s target that weak-looking man first. He’s being protected by a little girl, so he should be easy to defeat.”
Since Kent was positioned as if being protected by Fuuko and Hanako, the soldiers perceived this as a weakness. They focused their attack on Kent.
“Hmph, not a single finger will touch my Master.”
“““Ugh!”””
“What is this child? She’s impossibly strong.”
As soldiers charged at Kent, Hanako stepped in front of him, catching a descending sword with her bare hands. She then swung the sword, still gripping the blade, sending the soldier flying. Several other soldiers were caught in the blast.
“Your friend, the God, is incredible. To possess such strength with that tiny body! I would love to spar with her.”
Perhaps due to her past as a gladiator, the Saintess’s eyes sparkled as she said this to Fuuko, watching the scene unfold.
“You can ask her directly later. Though, she might be stronger than me, and you might get pummeled.”
“A being stronger than… God…?”
The Saintess wore an astonished expression upon hearing Fuuko’s words. Even as they conversed, her hands and feet were moving, felling soldiers with each motion.
“Regret defying God! Hah!”
“““Whoa!”””
Fuuko used wind magic to blow away the soldiers. However, both she and Hanako seemed to be holding back considerably, only causing their attackers pain rather than delivering fatal blows. Kent, watching from nearby, also noticed this.
