"Harold and I are already in a love approved by our families. Please, bless our future together!"
Erina's proclamation, delivered with a bright and cheery voice, briefly shattered the tranquility that enveloped the vast temple. Currently, Erina is elated, and even her way of speaking is so uplifted and friendly, but she might harbor a dubious meaning within. It didn’t seem like she was genuinely smiling due to happiness; instead, it seemed more like a sarcastic smile, intended to mock and provoke others. Despite the other person showing such an unpleasant face, confidently speaking in this way would undoubtedly appear confrontational to anyone who saw.
"What...?"
Upon hearing these words, Eleona frowned deeply, and the atmosphere seemingly darkened, as if a shadow had crept across her eyes. Despite the hot summer weather, the surrounding air grew heavy and silent, like a silent snowstorm engulfing the area. The atmosphere was not good. If Erina didn't somehow stop Eleona, it seemed like a drastic change would happen in the world. It might be an exaggerated statement, but at that moment, the aura emanating from Eleona was one of chilling hatred.
"Goddess?! I will explain everything, so please hear me out—"
Contrary to the outward appearance of being on the verge of shouting in utmost anger, the response came in a calm voice.
"Hmm... So, you are that adventurer Erina, I’ve heard quite a bit about you from Harold."
The heavy atmosphere vanished in an instant; although there was something somewhat pretentious about it, she was somehow smiling.
"Goddess?"
"Yes, yes... You want me to bless your relationship with Harold?"
Erina was dumbfounded by the unexpected response. Seeing Eleona like this, Erina showed a momentary sign of panic but quickly concealed it.
"Harold is my knight, and in a church without a single follower, he is my only follower and..."
Walking leisurely in a circle around us, leisurely stepping...
"Our order absolutely forbids romance."
———!!
At that moment, a blinding light and a gradually swelling, ominous rumble. A loud and violent sound seemed to be on the verge of erupting, but in a split second, all sound was blocked, and nothing could be heard, with a pure white view merging, feeling like being in a space of nothingness.
"Wha?!!"
However, such appreciation was short-lived. Once reality returned and senses regained, the last scene in memory was not what appeared before the eyes. The sight before them was unbelievable. The once-aged temple was in a moment transformed into a desolate plain. A cliff, so deep its bottom was unfathomable, had formed, and it was utterly unimaginable what had happened.
"Hmm, you're not as sluggish in action as you appear."
And then, turning to the carefree voice that sounded in one ear, Eleona was standing there, brushing ash off her hand and admiringly expressing.
"That was dangerous, wasn’t it? If I hadn’t grabbed Harold and dodged, he would have been obliterated too. Isn’t that a bit too reckless for someone you deemed your only follower?"
"It’s fine. My power will not harm Harold in any way. Did you think I hadn’t thought of that?"
Only then, with a start, did I faintly realize what had happened. My heart rate began to skyrocket, and imagining what would have happened if Erina hadn’t dodged, sending shivers down my spine and causing my body to shudder.
The wasteland spread out before me... What was once a dense forest had met its end with a single attack from Eleona...
Lady Eleona? You said you wouldn't harm me, but... looking at the cliff formed by the aftermath... even without direct damage, it looks like I might fall off the cliff and plummet...
And with this level of power, there’s a high probability it affected areas out of our sight; if it impacted a village or country where people gather, it would truly be an irreversible situation.
As soon as such thoughts formed, as if to erase the concern I feared, Eleona swung her arm through the empty air...
"I will restore the environment I’ve ruined, but I must hope that I didn’t miscontrol my power and affect any populated areas."
Just like nothing happened... as if time rewound a few seconds, the desolate scene I’d seen vanished, and once again, the temple and the forest visible through the window entered my view. "Anyway, coming back to the point, asking me to bless your marriage with Harold?"
Eleona, whose earlier fake laughter had completely vanished, leaving only a cold and ruthlessly cruel face, creates a magic sphere at her fingertips that brings about anxiety just by looking at it.
"Never... Harold is mine, and as long as my eyes are still open, I won't hand him over to anyone!"
She bares her fierce teeth and growls, reminiscent of a truly enraged beast.
"I also cannot yield Harold to you." Erina, revealing her unwavering antagonism, draws her beloved sword.
"Seeing that you wield a weapon, you dare to oppose a god, do you think you can defeat me?"
With an exceedingly scornful gaze, she scans Erina and flashes a malicious smile.
According to common sense, mere humans can’t oppose gods. They are beings always close yet placed in distant realms. Creatures close to gods like dragons, unlike most mortal races, who might live up to 100 years within a lifetime, have an eternity, even if it seems a long time to them, to gods it's merely a moment. Beings who have infinite life, vague even in the concept of lifespan, accumulate knowledge and nurture their power over time. Gods continue to cultivate their powers even now, at this moment, whereas mortals, who live for a brief period, have obvious limits. Humans, looking similar only in appearance, were nothing but dust compared to the gods, who dare not be surpassed, standing in a domain out of reach.
In front of these absolute beings, who should never and could never be opposed, humans have always kneeled, and very rarely has anyone dared to question their thoughts. Occasionally, those who cannot distinguish between bravery and stupidity oppose them, but what damage could a handful of dust do, being blown away by the wind?
"You, who rushes towards gods without knowing your place, I will carve into your tombstone what kind of existence I am." Eleona, aware of such facts, seemed already assured of her victory and, with a leisurely smile, was about to explode the magical mass in her hand.
"Hmm...?" The next moment, some of her composure disappeared from her expression, and once again, her view changes along with a somewhat eerie, unidentified sound catching in her ear.
"Ughh!!" Erina struck down at Eleona with all her might, and she, showing a slightly surprised expression, caught the blade with her bare hand. The moment Eleona and Erina clashed, a faint storm swept through the place for a brief moment, and cold sweat popped out due to the wind that made the skin sting.
"You are more capable than I thought, this power... is not that of an ordinary human..." In the midst of a perilous power struggle between them, Eleona, holding the blade, began to tremble and, having lost her earlier composure, she spat out an appreciative comment with utmost extravagance. "I will be with Harold..."
Erina has been voicing similar words, confronting Eleona with the single-minded intention of being with him.
There may have never been a duel between human and god in history. Even though there were situations where humans were destroyed due to arrogance, there probably was never a situation where it came to a decisive battle like this. Watching, my hands were sweaty with the tension of the moment. I also wanted to stop the two of them, but I hesitated to join in, thinking that if the whales fought, the shrimp’s back might be broken in a careless thought.
"Your power itself is not bad, you are the first human who can compare to my power." At first glance, it really seemed like a fight between a dragon and a tiger where the outcome was unpredictable, but there was a crucial fact. While both of their arms are trembling from the power struggle, if you look closely, Erina is firmly gripping her sword with both hands, but...
"However, by using both arms so recklessly, will you be able to block the next attack?"
The fact that Eleona is blocking the sword with one hand meant that her other arm was free.
"?! " Erina, who perhaps realized this fact too late, tries to cast a spell with her other hand, looking startled and trying to pull back, but...
"It’s too late to retreat now." The power struggle that seemed to be just a pushing contest was actually Eleona's strategy to pin Erina in place and ensure a decisive hit, and as time passed, Erina had to make an optimal choice and decide.
Should she drop the sword and dodge or take the magic head-on?
If she chose the former, she could avoid the magic, but it would be difficult to handle what comes next.
Once her only weapon, the sword, ends up in Eleona's grip, she would essentially be incapacitated in battle. Discarding her weapon and running would be a clear sign of defeat, something to be avoided.
However, taking the magic directly reminds her of the magic that was cast to ambush Erina earlier.
The thick forest turned into a wasteland in an instant, and an endless cliff was formed. The power was so shocking that it made me shiver just thinking about facing a similar magic at close range.
"Ugh..!"
Erina, aware of the situation, looked distressed.
"I'll finish it for sure this time."
With those words, a flash of light and a gust of wind that felt like it was cutting the skin appeared.
Once again, after Eleona cast her magic, the surrounding environment transformed into the same spectacle as before.
"Phew..."
After the magic ended and I regained my composure, the only thing in my sight was Eleona, slowly looking up at the sky and breathing. There was no sign of Erina anywhere.
"Erina?"
I called out her name with a growing sense of unease.
"Why are you calling someone who isn't here?"
The only response I got was the desolate voice of Eleona.
Could it be... no, it can't be...
The thought of a comrade who had faced countless challenges with me dying right in front of me made me deny reality.
However, no scene reassured me of her safety, and Erina truly seemed to have disappeared.
Did she really die?
I clenched my teeth in the face of this growing realization.
"Why such a face, my knight? Are you so concerned about that girl? I'm jealous."
With those words, she gave me a cold glare and began to form a golden chain in her hand.
My heart sank, and my legs gave out. I felt despair, but...
Suddenly, another sound echoed.
Once again, Erina and Eleona were locked in confrontation. Despite being engulfed in magic, Erina was alive and well, not having dropped her sword or fled.
"You're really tenacious. I must admit, you have a long life thread."
Now looking annoyed, Eleona gathered magic at her fingertips.
"Erina?!"
I shouted her name in surprise, but I was ignored in their intense focus.
"I'll truly annihilate you this time."
Once again, Eleona tried to unleash her magic, but Erina countered,
"You can't!"
Unlike before, she wielded her sword with fluid technique, destroying every magic circle Eleona formed.
"You can counter that too? Can you withstand this?!"
Their battle became more intense, reminiscent of battles in action comics, with their arms moving so fast they were a blur.
Powerful winds formed between them, growing more violent and threatening to take me off my feet.
I struggled to hold my ground against the overwhelming power. Then a resonant sound rang out.
Caught in the powerful gust, I was thrown back and slammed into a wall, barely managing to hold my position.
"It hurts..."
As I expected, I was caught in the crossfire of their battle. I felt it was pointless for their fight to continue, fearing that one of them might die. I needed to intervene.
"Think, think..."
Desperately searching for a way to mediate, I... "...?"
An ingenious thought came to me as I stared at the piece of paper in front of me. "So, you did not receive favorable words from the goddess you serve?"
Speaking with a slightly uncomfortable tone, my self-esteem naturally took a hit.
Eventually, I couldn’t persuade Eleona and had to return, hearing only negative words, to the Bias family mansion.
As I jumped into the tense fight, my eyelids kept getting heavier due to fatigue. Initially, Erina strongly opposed, but she was barely persuaded by the words described later and obediently returned.
"Yes... as you may know, one of our order’s rules is that dating is prohibited until 7 years after becoming an adult."
Upon hearing that, she glanced over the paper I handed her and wore a suspicious expression.
What I saw after falling against the wall earlier was none other than the rules of Eleona's order. It was a non-existent rule that Erina had created to control me.
The last rule written there: Absolute prohibition of romance.
Reading this, a cunning trick came to mind.
Originally, it would have simply stated 'no dating,' but the writing was skillfully manipulated with magic to read 'no dating until 7 years after becoming an adult.'
Swiftly grabbing the paper with the rules, I inserted myself between them - the risk was so great that even thinking back, I was too reckless.
Anyway, returning to the main point, based on the age recorded in this world, I hadn’t passed 7 years since becoming an adult, so I had a somewhat legitimate excuse that I couldn’t perform the simple trial.
To justify the failure, I persuaded Erina’s mother to move on.... It was tricky, but it was the best method I could think of.
"Although I did not pass the trial today, it's only a matter of time before I can succeed, so for now, I would appreciate it if you acknowledge a temporary pass."
And based on this, if I passed the first trial, according to the laws of the order, marrying was still too early, so I could postpone the engagement with Erina and buy time. For me, it was a two birds with one stone scenario. And since I made up the rule, I had to be careful not to let Eleona hear it. I just told her that I would give up on her blessing and take Erina away, and we left the temple.
Erina protested fiercely at the time, but after leaving the temple and explaining the situation I fabricated, she reluctantly nodded.
It was a somewhat rough, yet neatly crafted plan that made me quite proud.
"Hmm...."
After hearing me, her mother rested her chin on her hand and fell into deep thought. A little time passed, and finally, she slowly lifted her previously tense head.
"I'll let it pass for now, although it’s provisional, as per your words."
Fortunately, my strategy seemed to work, and her welcome words boosted my spirits.
"Thank you, ma’am!"
Even as I bowed deeply in gratitude, she shuddered a bit but soon regained her posture and responded with a calm voice.
"There’s no need to be so thankful, and don’t use stiff expressions like 'ma’am'. My name is Mirina, just call me that."
So, her name is Mirina... I’ve been calling her by title since the game didn't disclose her name.
"Understood, Miss Mirina."
At such respectful words, she briefly widened her eyes, seeming emotionally touched.
"Something feels strange, anyway, shall we move on to the next trial?"
With that, she presented the two remaining envelopes and asked us to choose.
"Choose one."
As she finished speaking, Erina closely observed the two envelopes and eventually picked one, which was black.
"Trial, Dragon Subjugation."
Erina began reading the content written inside after tearing the envelope.
The next quest is dragon subjugation, huh...
It’s one of the quests with the highest difficulty level in the game...
I already wanted to sigh deeply.
However, even if we couldn’t win, Erina’s current ability to stand against a god suggested that it wouldn’t be "too" difficult a hurdle.
"Details..."
As I was a raising a flag, information came that made me furrow my brows again. "Recently, advice came in that a dragon, far surpassing the average size, has appeared near the Royal Road."
"The characteristics of that dragon are as previously described: a massive body, black skin with an unimaginably tough hide, and slightly damaged wings."
Oh, please....