[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 468

The Saint of the Holy Kingdom, a being who proclaims the future through her stigmata.

The Saint, Nadia Ten Lilibell, paced restlessly around the room.

Just moments ago, she had received a revelation of the future through a dream.

“No… no.”

Her complexion had turned deathly pale in the face of a situation that had already become too late.

It couldn’t be helped.

What she had seen in her revelation was the collapse of the heavens.

And an image of an Archangel, corrupted by an unresistable monster, driving a spear into Leon’s heart.

Her revelations, whether she liked them or not, always came to pass.

The moment she received the revelation, she had hurriedly tried to contact Cascadia, but she was told that Leon had already left. Moreover, intervention had become impossible.

The delivery of the revelation had come far too late.

Having never in her life received such an ominous revelation, she trembled uncontrollably, unable to hide her anxiety.

“Saintess. Please calm yourself.”

The High Priest Diablo, who had approached her side, tried to calm her, but she could not even hear his words as she desperately searched for a method that did not exist.

“I understand how you feel, but there is nothing we can do right now. All we can do is prepare.”

“That…”

Diablo’s expression was not good either.

Leon’s death and the collapse of an Archangel were, no matter how one looked at it, never a trivial situation.

In the end, Nadia fell to her knees on the spot, clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, lowered her head, and began to recite a prayer.

Even though she knew there was nothing she could do, and that this prayer held no meaning, it was all she could do.

Knowing how accurate the Saint’s revelations were, he too was filled with confusion.

It was then.

As she knelt in prayer, her body trembled violently.

At the same time, the area where her stigmata were located began to emit light.

A revelation!

Diablo widened his eyes and waited for her.

And then.

Soon after, Nadia, who had stopped praying, released her kneeling posture and collapsed to the ground as she muttered.

“Fate… has changed? How?”

“What do you mean, Saintess?”

“The revelation… the revelation has changed. As if… the rules that were set have been altered…”

She did not know that the fate of emptiness newly inscribed in the Book of Genesis due to Isna’s anxiety had changed even the future determined by revelation.

And.

That change was becoming the seed of a massive storm that had begun as a butterfly effect.

* * *

When something occurs that falls into a category beyond comprehension, one usually loses the ability to speak.

“Kya-ha-ha!”

Perhaps because she was wearing the clothing given to her by those Archangel bastards, Elpiria’s clothes did not tear like before.

They simply grew in size to match her body.

However, because the clothing was somewhat unique, looking at her current appearance, it seemed as though she was wearing a single oversized boxy T-shirt that reached down to her thighs.

“……”

Of course, that wasn’t important.

The moment Elpiria made a gesture, the corruption that had been suppressing Michael was purified and vanished in an instant.

Michael silently looked down at his own hand.

And then.

He quietly murmured.

“Ah… O God.”

Saying that, he slowly stood up.

Just moments ago, like Gabriel, his crystal had been corrupted and he had lost most of his power—

Now, he rose once more, exuding immense power, dignified and imposing.

Clank… clank…

Then he approached Elpiria.

Luna and I reflexively stepped forward to block him as if to protect Elpiria, but Michael paid us no mind as he approached, and soon met Elpiria’s gaze.

“Kya-hat!”

Elpiria, who had been sitting on the floor, saw Michael and began waving her arms around while laughing brightly.

Clang!!!

At that moment, Michael set down his spear, knelt on one knee, and bowed his head before her.

“O God. Your servant, Michael, stands before you. My life is yours, and I shall fulfill my duty according to your command. Please protect the world with your sacred light and grant me the strength to carry out my duty.”

As Michael showed extreme reverence toward Elpiria as if in prayer, Luna and I maintained our silence with slight frowns on our faces.

Just earlier, he had intended to awaken her as an Archangel and sacrifice her, yet his shamelessness surpassed that of any other being.

Well, for that bastard, the most important thing was the preservation of the world, and everything else was secondary.

That’s why I couldn’t view him favorably.

It was then.

“Kya-ha-ha!”

Elpiria slowly stood up and toddled over toward Michael.

Then, she lightly tapped his helmet a few times and smiled sweetly.

Though it seemed like simple contact, the power flowing from within her body wrapped Michael in light regardless of her will.

“My light.”

This time, I felt it clearly.

The power within Elpiria’s body did not follow her will.

It moved freely based on her emotions.

In other words, Elpiria was not some kind of Supreme God.

“Thick-skinned bastard. Get lost. You damn kidnapper.”

As I lifted Elpiria into my arms and forcibly pulled her away from him, she tightly wrapped her arms around my neck and bounced her legs, clearly delighted.

Whatever the case, it seemed the corruption that had been gnawing at the Archangel had disappeared.

Then it was time to do what needed to be done.

“Elpiria. Want to go over there with Dad for a bit?”

As I spoke while meeting her eyes in my arms, she didn’t understand a word but burrowed deeper into my embrace.

At the same time, Luna dashed toward Michael like lightning and began beating the fallen Michael mercilessly.

I didn’t show that scene to Elpiria.

* * *

The purification of the corruption proceeded smoothly.

Freed from the factor that had been weakening their power, the Archangels, now restored to their senses, wandered through the Heavenly Palace without needing to be told, burning away and purifying all remaining corruption.

Leaving behind Elpiria, who sat in one corner munching on fruits that looked valuable at a glance, I faced Gabriel.

“Amazing. To fill the chronic void of our Archangels in an instant.”

He said as he looked down at his hand.

“It is temporary, but it is certain. Just like in the past, when the Supreme God was present and our power did not run dry.”

To put it simply, it was sustainability.

The power of the Archangels hadn’t changed much from before, but their sustainability had greatly weakened after the Supreme God fell silent.

Not only that, with the disappearance of the Supreme God, the means to replenish the source of the current Archangels’ power had vanished, resulting in a strange structure where they had been drawing upon the power of the Heavenly Palace itself—something that had now been temporarily corrected.

Like a dried-up waterway suddenly filled with a rushing stream.

“However, in Lady Elpiria’s case, she is not intentionally manifesting that power. The power of the Supreme God within her only manifests intermittently. In the end, it is nothing more than a temporary measure.”

“Lady Elpiria,” huh.

Someone might think you’re a loyal subject.

“So what’s the conclusion?”

“Simply by existing, Lady Elpiria perfects us Archangels, and the world’s system, which had been neglected since the Supreme God fell silent, begins to function.”

In other words, her value had become overwhelmingly important.

“So?”

“It means that Lady Elpiria’s safety has become our top priority to protect.”

The silence of the Supreme God was fatal to the Archangels.

Of course, they believed that the Supreme God’s existence had not disappeared entirely.

After all, the Saint Nadia’s revelations still showed that power remained.

However, separate from that, for the Archangels who had been gradually losing ground in their battle against the Outer Gods, Elpiria’s existence—and the power she unconsciously emitted—was of immense help.

“We’ll leave it at this for now. But if you try anything funny again, or approach Elpiria and say anything strange, it won’t end well.”

Although Luna had beaten Michael and Gabriel until her anger subsided because of the kidnapping incident, there was another reason we stopped here.

To fight to the end against the Archangels, who acted as a breakwater against the direct threat of the Outer Gods, would be akin to devouring our own flesh.

“Michael said he would deliver a revelation to the Holy Kingdom in the Lazarus Continent, designate Lady Elpiria as a saint, and ensure her protection—”

“Tell him to stop spouting bullshit. Who do they think they are, putting shackles on her?”

“The Archangel council has already leaned toward opposing that.”

Without a word, I looked at the blue sphere in my hand.

The one Michael had entrusted to me.

Something no different from the core of the heavens.

I could feel Gabriel’s gaze.

“What. Why. You already gave it to me.”

“That is… because maintaining it is necessary to protect the core. But now that everything has been resolved, is there really a need for you to keep it?”

“I’ve got a use for it.”

At my answer, he nodded.

“For now, let us return it to its original place. I do not know exactly what you intend, but whatever it is, it will only be possible when that core is fully activated in its rightful position.”

“You’re not going to suddenly change your mind…?”

“There is no reason to. In the past, we would have stopped you. Our power had its limits. But thanks to Lady Elpiria, the energy of the heavens will not run dry as long as she exists.”

That meant there was no longer any need for the Archangels to conserve their power.

In the end, the blue sphere returned to its original place.

Having found its rightful position, the blue sphere resonated with the heavenly energy, now moving more actively than before, and emitted an immense power and light.

Truly divine.

As long as Elpiria’s existence remained intact, this power would continue to circulate and be maintained.

In a sense, from the perspective of the Archangels, she had become the one existence they had to prioritize above all else.

Unlike the past, when they had intended to awaken her as an Archangel and sacrifice her.

And that change had shifted so drastically it was almost shameless.

While Gabriel opened the gate leading out of the heavens, the Archangels gathered around Elpiria carrying various things.

The first was Uriel, the Archangel of Wisdom.

“Lady Elpiria.”

With astonishing discipline, he knelt on one knee, bowed his head, and presented a basket.

“These are a kind of fruits that once grew in Eden.”

There was no way Elpiria would understand that.

She simply blinked at the colorful fruits, her curiosity piqued.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Soon, curiosity got the better of her, and she reached out with her small hand, grabbed one, and tried to put it into her mouth like any child would.

But.

The moment Elpiria took a bite of the fruit—

Her expression turned strange, and her eyes welled up.

“Waaaah!!!”

Then she threw the fruit from her hand and burst into loud tears.

“L-Lady Elpiria?!”

As Uriel panicked, another Archangel with three pairs of wings descended swiftly, grabbed Uriel by the back of the neck, and threw him aside.

“Fool. Do not assume something is truth just because it suits your taste.”

At the absurd sight, I looked to Luna, silently asking for an explanation.

“Good for the body. Bad taste.”

Unable to suppress my curiosity, I took a bite of the fruit.

The moment I bit into it, an incredible vitality and power flowed into my body—enough to make most spiritual herbs seem trivial.

But.

More than that, it had a taste that would strongly divide preferences.

Like a child disliking bitter coffee.

Elpiria had simply been honest to her emotions.

After that, Kamael appeared and poured out a heap of children’s toys from what looked like a subspace.

“I offer this tribute.”

At Kamael’s actions, Elpiria, who had been crying, pouted and reached out for the toys.

But then, perhaps recalling the taste of the fruit from earlier, she pouted again, put the toy down, and ran back into Luna’s arms, crying loudly.

“Uh… uh?”

It wasn’t often one saw an Archangel so flustered.

“The gate is ready. We can now leave… Kamael. What are you doing?”

Soon, Gabriel returned and asked, and Kamael awkwardly averted his gaze, trying to hide his embarrassment.

“Ah. It’s nothing.”

“…Leon Cascadia.”

Suspiciously eyeing him, Gabriel called out to me.

“What.”

“Once the heavens stabilize, we will open the gate again. Whatever it is you desire, we will help you achieve it then.”

With those words, Gabriel extended one hand and traced through the air.

Then, the tightly sealed gate opened.

That—was that the same method he used to sneak into Cascadia?

He moved in and out as naturally as flowing water.

Truly unmatched in that regard.

Though things had deviated slightly from the original plan, in the end, it was best to postpone using the heavenly crystal.

The heavens were still in chaos due to the Outer Gods’ offensive.

Thus, just as Luna and I were about to step into the gate back to Cascadia, carrying the sobbing Elpiria on my back—

Whoosh—BANG!!!!

A pure white light shot in from afar, struck the ground, and from within it emerged an Archangel clad in armor.

The angel at the right hand of God. Michael.

He silently looked at us and approached with a clanking sound.

Then, before the still-sobbing Elpiria, he knelt on one knee and bowed his head.

“Lady Elpiria. One of the two cores that sustained Lazarus was attacked, but thanks to your grace, we were able to prevent disaster. We give thanks for that single brilliant light.”

Elpiria, who could not understand a word Michael said, merely hiccupped from crying.

Soon, as if she had forced herself to stop crying, she flailed her hands and wiped her tears.

Then, she jumped down from my back, picked up a cute little necklace from the toys Kamael had brought, and placed it around his neck—despite him wearing full plate armor.

At that sight, Kamael quietly looked away.

Seeing him trying to suppress his laughter created a strong sense of cognitive dissonance.

On the outside, an Archangel clad in armor that looked like it could crush the world.

Yet around his neck hung a dainty child’s necklace.

It was surprising enough that the necklace even fit around his neck in the first place.

Afterward, seemingly satisfied, Elpiria trotted back and leapt into my arms.

I lifted her, feeling a complicated mix of emotions.

“Elpiria. Don’t go near that guy.”

At my words, Elpiria tilted her head, looked at me, then buried her face in my chest as if it didn’t matter.

Though she looked like a grown girl, Elpiria was still a child who couldn’t even properly stand yet.

I’d have to properly teach her not to go near him later.

With Michael, Gabriel, and Kamael—

And even Uriel, who had returned at some point, and Raguel, who had been hiding while reading the room—all kneeling in unison and bowing their heads behind us, we stepped into the gate leading to Cascadia.

The Archangels did not move until we disappeared.

Unless something came up again, I probably wouldn’t see them anytime soon.

And just as we crossed through space—

Thud!!

As if charging forward, someone leapt into my arms.

“You’re safe! Do you know how worried I was—Gyaaah?!”

Unexpectedly, the first to rush to me was Merkavalt.

However, before she could finish speaking, Lispa grabbed her by the hair and yanked her away, then began inspecting me from head to toe.

“You don’t seem injured… and mentally you seem fine too. That’s a relief.”

She muttered calmly, though her expression was complicated.

“What happened, Leon?”

Then Isna asked me with a tired expression.

“That monster attacked the heavens. I managed to drive it off before it was too late, but… things just turned out that way.”

At my words, her eyes widened.

“Th-then what about the Archangels?”

“They won’t do anything to Elpiria for now. As for everything else, they said they’ll help later once the heavens stabilize.”

At that explanation, Lispa frowned deeply and said as if she couldn’t believe it,

“Those psychos wouldn’t accept things that easily. Leon, you shouldn’t trust those guys—”

“It’s fine. We’ve got Elpiria.”

Lispa looked bewildered, as if she still couldn’t grasp the situation.

“We’ll talk in detail later. I’m tired right now.”

“Ah! Right. Even if you’re not injured, fighting Michael must have taken a huge toll…”

To begin with, returning unharmed after fighting an Archangel—especially a top-tier one—was no ordinary feat.

Suppressing my fatigue, I said nothing more and headed to the bedroom, collapsing onto the bed as if possessed.

And then, as if it had been waiting, sleep rushed over me.

Even though my body normally had no issues without sleep.

And even though my insomnia hadn’t been completely cured.

It was an astonishingly natural sleep.

So deep that I couldn’t even dream.

Chirp… chirp…

A small sound.

I didn’t know how long I had slept.

But it was clear that it must have been a time that wouldn’t be possible unless more than a day had passed.

Slowly getting up and looking out the window, I saw the peaceful sight of the Cascadia estate.

And then—

“Lady Elpiria. This time, it is a snack that is popular among humans.”

Kneeling before Elpiria, who was running around the garden in the appearance of a four-year-old, was Uriel, holding out a basket of snacks.

What happened while I was asleep?

“You son of a bitch. What the hell are you doing here!!”

Boom!!!

Of course, the archangel-hater currently staying in Cascadia had no intention of letting that slide.

Watching Uriel get crumpled like a crushed can and sent flying in an instant, Elpiria burst into laughter.

And then—

“Y-you… son of a biii—!”

She mimicked the curse Lispa had just used for the first time.

A child who couldn’t even properly stand yet was already babbling like that?

I knew she wasn’t an ordinary child, but Elpiria’s growth speed was far beyond my common sense.

“Huh?”

The moment Lispa saw that, she froze—

Only for Luna’s sharp kick to send her flying in the same direction as Uriel.

“You get out too. Elpiria. That’s a bad word. Don’t copy it.”

I slowly got up, jumped out the window, and walked toward where Lispa had been sent flying.

“Ugh… that brute…”

Groaning as she got up, Lispa saw me and smiled brightly.

“Lispa Elde.”

“What is it, my love?”

“If I see you swear in front of Elpiria one more time and she copies it again, I’m really kicking you out.”

At my words, she gasped and covered her mouth with both hands.

“I-I’ll watch my language.”

Unlikely.

Then I turned my gaze to Uriel, who was lying off to one side.

“Uriel. What are you here for?”

At my question, Uriel calmly stood up and answered,

“I came to offer tribute to Lady Elpiria.”

“Aren’t Archangels supposed to be busy?”

“Originally, Archangels have time to pray to the Supreme God.”

At that explanation, I looked at Lispa.

“That used to be a thing. After the Supreme God fell silent, well… it became pretty much meaningless.”

“But if Lady Elpiria exists, that prayer time is not without meaning.”

His answer was so confident that I was the one left speechless.

“That prayer is offering snacks as tribute?”

“That is correct.”

…He’s so confident about it that I’ve got nothing to say.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]