-That's blasphemy.
-...Really?
-I find it hard to believe any God would accept that magnanimously. That girl Lunia clearly constructed her own magic, but Frondier is different. What he wields is undoubtedly a God's weapon. Since the wielder isn't a God, the power is somewhat diminished, but that's not the point.
And that was something the Gods could not forgive.
Not a single God.
Even if they did forgive it, that wouldn't mean it wasn't blasphemy.
-Well, Elodie, if you're worried about Lunia to the same extent as Frondier, it's not that serious. Compared to Frondier, that's child's play. Even if she receives divine punishment, nothing too terrible will happen. At worst, she might get a slight fever. Dike seems like the type to deliver even divine punishment fairly. No need to worry.
-...Now I have a different worry.
Lunia might get off lightly, but Frondier wouldn't.
To Elodie's eyes, Lunia's actions seemed more dangerous, but from the Gods' perspective, it was completely different.
-Then why isn't Frondier being punished by the Gods right now? Are the conditions for descent too strict?
-There are many reasons. Of course, that's a very big one. But if they really wanted to descend, they could find a way. Didn't something similar happen in Yeranhes? Hela attempted to descend using a fragment of Helheim. Frondier somehow stopped it, but if the Gods set their minds to it, they could repeat that as many times as they want. Frondier can't keep stopping them forever.
A source of mana to serve as a foundation and prayers. Hela had already proven that it didn't even have to be humans.
A sanctuary would be a good medium, and if they really wanted to deliver divine punishment, they could descend even in that way. They wouldn't be complete, but still.
Rudra said,
-In my opinion, the biggest reason is that Frondier is currently fighting devils.
-...Ah.
-Divine punishment leaves a significant trace. It's even clear which God delivered the punishment. Everyone would know that someone received divine punishment. Not an accident, not a monster attack, not a fight with humans, but something done by a God.
Normally, it wouldn't be a bad thing for the Gods if divine punishment left a trace.
Knowing it was the Gods' doing, people would fear them and refrain from doing anything that might offend them.
However, in Frondier's case, leaving a trace of divine punishment would be very bad for the Gods.
-Right now, Frondier is the strongest force for the people of the Empire, fighting against devils. Everyone knows him now. So, what would happen if Frondier were to be punished by the Gods right now?
-...People would start to doubt the will of the Gods?
-Exactly. To punish a hero who is fighting devils, the timing would be terrible.
In other words, once the fight against the devils was over, Frondier would once again be threatened by the Gods.
Elodie recalled Frondier's past actions.
Since the war began, she had learned much more about Frondier through conversations with others than before.
The golem incident Edwin had told her about, Aster's mention of Baldur, Hela of Helheim, Hypnos, the God of Pielott.
Indeed, until the war with the devils, Frondier had been tormented by quite a few Gods.
Would that start again once the war with the devils ended?
Elodie's eyes gradually darkened, and she said to Rudra,
-Rudra, if I want to stop the Gods from harming Frondier...
-I'll help.
Rudra readily agreed.
This made Elodie suspicious, and she asked again,
-Really?
-Yes. On my name. If that's what you want, I'll protect Frondier and deliver divine punishment myself to any God who tries to harm him. Even if it means all the Gods except me become my enemies.
Rudra said, putting his name on the line.
It was the most difficult declaration for a God to make carelessly. Therefore, before such a declaration, a God would not lie.
-Thank you, Rudra.
-No need for thanks.
* * *
Lunia entered the house where she had set up the rune.
There was no need to open the door, as the bodies of devils drawn by the rune's power had completely destroyed the entrance.
"Hello?"
Lunia looked at the devil restrained and floating above the rune.
"Hehe, you were so arrogant when you kidnapped me, how do you feel now?"
"You damn human! Release this!"
The devil struggled as soon as it saw Lunia's face.
"Can't move a muscle, can you? But don't be too shocked. Everyone's like that when they're caught in that rune. No one can escape it, you know."
Lunia seemed to be in a very good mood.
She was happy that her revenge on the enemy who kidnapped her had succeeded, and above all, she liked the frustrated expression on the devil's face, who must have been laughing at her.
Of course, the devil wasn't laughing or anything; it was just doing its job. But since it was a life-or-death mission, it didn't have the luxury of looking down on anyone. Even if Lunia wasn't prepared, she wasn't an easy opponent.
Click.
Unaware of the devil's thoughts, Lunia held out the scales towards it.
"Now, it's time to confess your sins."
The scales, with one side completely touching the floor from the beginning, were tilted.
Holding them up, Lunia said,
"You have to tell me everything."
The devil, seeing the scales before it, laughed fearlessly.
"Even if I don't know what that is, do you think I'll answer? That kind of threat doesn't work on devils!"
Hearing those words, Lunia suddenly remembered.
Devils placed a low priority on their own lives. Therefore, threats involving their lives wouldn't work.
She nodded and said,
"It's okay. This isn't that kind of threat."
"...What?"
"First, I want to make sure, your target is Frondier, not Aster, right?"
Of course, the devil wouldn't answer.
Instead,
Creak.
The scales Lunia held out moved with a sound.
The scale that had been touching the floor rose ever so slightly.
"Right. Good boy. Now, next question."
"...What? Wait! What is that!"
The devil shouted in confusion. Lunia tilted her head as she looked at it.
"What? You said threats involving your life wouldn't work, right?"
The tilted scales Lunia held...
They were definitely made with reference to a God's item, and although they were twisted...
Being twisted didn't mean they were more malicious.
Lunia didn't like that kind of thing in the first place.
"Don't worry. You won't die. You won't even feel any pain. You'll just be there. Really."
"...Ugh, uwaaaaah! Release this! Let me go! You cowardly human! There's no way such an unreasonable magic exists! Using such a despicable magic on me, uwaaaaah!!"
The devil started to throw a tantrum.
Seeing this, Lunia stuck her tongue out inwardly.
'It fell for it. It's not that convenient of a magic.'
But since it fell for it, things would be easier.
Lunia had the same thought as the devil.
There was no way such an unreasonable magic could exist.
Hiding that thought completely, Lunia spoke again.
"Now, next question."
Read ahead by supporting me on Ko-fi. Tiers starting at 10$ per month and you can access upto 40 advance chapters! Choose your tier by clicking the 'Support me' button! Join our discord server for latest release updates and novel discussions. Rate and review this novel on NU to help people find this novel. Bonus chapters on reaching milestones. Happy reading!