"Hello there… my cute children…"
Arcadia and the others were naturally stunned at the sudden
appearance of Phinis, and they immediately went alert.
However, Phinis was immortal and she had control of the Sacred
Treasures, hence they mustn't carelessly make a move against her.
Arcadia told everyone with her eyes to stay their hand.
Elma also noticed that there was something strange about Phinis
even though this was their first meeting, so she swallowed her saliva
as quietly as she could so as not to provoke her.
"…We're glad to see you're in good health, Phinis-sama."
In the meantime, Magmell began speaking to Phinis on everyone's
behalf.
Being the best mannered among everyone in the room, she'd judged
that she'd be able to avoid making a poor remark and provoking
Phinis.
"May I ask what brings you here today…?"
As Magmell asked cautiously, Phinis slowly took a look at the faces
of everyone in the room, until she finally stopped at Elma. Her lips
then curled up into a smile, "You there, you are the 'Sword' Saintess,
aren't you…?"
"Eh, ah, yes… That is indeed correct…" Elma naturally didn't dare to
talk back against Phinis, and she replied obediently.
At that moment.
――Fwoosh.
"Eek!?"
""""!?""""
Phinis moved in front of Elma in an instant. She then looked into her
fear-stricken face and said, "—Say, do you… happen to be
acquainted with the 'Shield' Saint…?"
"N-no, I-I don—"
"Before, the demi-humans said… they couldn't find you, the 'Sword'
Saintess, no matter how hard they tried… Isn't that strange…? Not
to mention, I can clearly sense Olgou's power from you… You
haven't become my child's woman, so why do you have her
power…?"
"T-that is because I have gone to meet with the Five Goddesses and
received their powers directly from them…"
"So, you weren't hiding somewhere…? Why couldn't the demihumans find you, then…? Wasn't it because the 'Shield' Saint had
been concealing your presence…?"
After a short pause, "Hey, you…" Phinis opened her eyes wide open
and said, "—hadn't you been accompanied by someone recently…?"
"I-I don't know who you may be talking about…"
Seeing Elma so scared that she started to tear up, Arcadia couldn't
stop herself from speaking up, "Phinis-sama. It seems that she really
doesn't know anything. Can you please be lenient with her?"
"I see… That's a shame…"
Listening to Arcadia's words, Phinis quickly moved away from Elma.
"Haah… haah…" At that moment, Elma's knees gave out and she
fell on her rear. Her face was deathly pale even as she was trying to
adjust her breathing.
It appeared that she was terribly shocked.
Her complexion looked so sickly that no trace of her usual assured
self could be seen.
"…Can I ask you something?"
"Ask away…"
In the meantime, Tirna asked Phinis.
"Why're you looking for the 'Shield' Saint?"
"""!?"""
Her courage to keep the same tone as usual even in this situation
was commendable, but that caused Arcadia and the others to feel
like their life-spans had been cut short.
However, Phinis didn't seem to be minding it in particular, and she
said with a smile, "Of course, it's for that child's sake… I have to
collect the seven Sacred Treasures as soon as possible…"
"…? But isn't the 'Shield' Sacred Treasure currently in your
possession?"
"Yes, you're right… But that's no good… I have to give him the
Sacred Treasures that's been with the saints, or else it'd be
meaningless… So, I can't hand you the 'Sword' Sacred Treasure for
now… Sorry…" After giving a smile to Elma, who was still sitting
powerlessly on the ground, Phinis sank back into the floor. "That was
an enjoyable conversation… See you again… my cute children…"
"""""..."""""
And so, right in front of Arcadia and the others, Phinis quietly
disappeared.
◇ ◇
Meanwhile.
"..."
As I was flying in the sky at the speed that the two in my arms could
endure, a sudden unspeakable uneasiness appeared in my chest.
I had Shiva-san used her Clairvoyance just in case, but for some
unknown reason, she couldn't see Estona and its surrounding areas
as they were covered in black haze, causing my uneasiness to grow
stronger.
"Please… be safe you all…"
While muttering that prayer, I increased our flying speed and tore
through the sky towards Estona like an arrow.
Only some time later that I learned Phinis-sama had suddenly
appeared at the inn where the rest of the girls were staying.