"Eh, Kitezh got done in!?" What reached Patty's ears upon returning to"God's Garden"after picking up Ryugu at the werewolf village was a report of Kitezh's defeat, who was much higher ranked than him.
Eh, you've gotta be kidding!? Patty's shocked face seemed to say.
"It is the way it is," Yomi, seated across from him, said with a deadpan expression, "He was killed by the Savior, apparently."
"Uwaa…"
They were sitting at a large elliptical table before the throne, which had a total of eight seats.
It was the same number as the demons—as the"Eight Sacrifices"that Elysium had created.
Five of the eight seats, counting in Patty's and Yomi's, were currently occupied.
"Eh, but wasn't Kitezh like, super strong!? I mean, he was ranked 'second'!" Patty raised his voice even though Elysium was on the throne, still unable to believe that Kitezh was defeated.
Then Ryugu, who appeared to have completely recovered, shrugged her shoulders and said, "This simply means that the Savior is much stronger than us, isn't it?"
"Much stronger… But Kitezh had"Secundus", you know? No matter how strong the Savior is, isn't it strange?"
"Secundus"was an extremely formidable superpower which allowed Kitezh to completely nullify attacks from an opponent who had attacked him once.
As such, the only way to get past it was to kill him with the first blow.
However, it was absolutely impossible to kill Kitezh with the first blow.
But.
"There is nothing strange with it."
"Huh?"
Ryugu shook her head and said, "The saintesses became impervious to damage halfway through the battle. They said the Savior took over the damage in their stead. Though it seems to be their first time experiencing such a phenomenon."
"…In other words, the Savior 'reinforced' them?" asked Patty with a look of doubt.
"Yes," Ryugu nodded, before shrugging her shoulders again, "Actually, 'made them grow' may be a better way to put it. At exponential rate at that. Good grief, it truly makes me envious."
"Grow…" Patty muttered as if to chew the words.
Then from the throne suddenly came, "Indeed."
It was their creator—Elysium. "That man's growth rate defies logic. Hence, it is only natural that Kitezh who was complacent about his own strength ended up being defeated by him. Furthermore, his growth extends to the saintesses. The stronger he is the stronger the saintesses become. Now, have you understood as to why I gave you a different type of power from skill and why I went out of the way to send you on 'reconnaissance mission'?"
"N-no, we haven't…" Patty stuttered.
"It is so your growth can keep up with theirs. And by extension, allow you to keep the saintesses, who are growing along with that man, in check."
"To keep the saintesses in check…" Patty muttered.
"That's correct. You only need to worry about fighting the saintesses. As for the Savior, you need not bother.
"However,"Elysium curled the corners of his mouth into a smile and said, "I will not stop you if you want to fight that man. Because, that desire will be nourishment for you."
『...』
'If you can defeat him, then you're allowed to do so', was what Elysium implied.
However, the other party was a powerful person who could kill even the second-ranked Kitezh.
It wouldn't be an easy feat to achieve.
The demons all stayed silent upon hearing Elysium's words, but—at that time,
"—S-stop, let go of me!?"
『!』
A familiar woman's voice echoed in the surroundings, prompting Patty and the other demons to turn toward the direction where the voice came from in wonder.
"So noisy. Can't you pipe down a bit? You'd be killed if you don't shut up, you know?"
There stood one of the "Eight Sacrifices" like Patty and the others, Aetia and—
"Haa? Who'd kill me in such a dismal plac—eek!?"
A human woman restrained with Magic Art.
She was—
"Welcome to my "God's Garden", 'Sword' Saintess. I know it is such a dismal place, but please, make yourself at home."
"N-no, it's actually a very nice dwelling place…"
—Saintess Elma.
One of the seven saintesses kept by the Savior.