"Oh my..."
XR2 took Demigra's words seriously, even though her tone was completely at odds with her facial expression.
"Then allow me to ask you a few questions, if you don't mind."
The heated battle that should have taken place between two enemies was nowhere in sight—just two crazy women having a conversation. Of course, the atmosphere in the area was tense enough to make anyone's stomach twist with stress, but neither of them seemed to care.
"I'll open a file, then. I'm not exactly the most organized person, but as a researcher, it's the least I can do to document my findings."
As she said this, the puppets controlled by XR2 assembled behind her, forming a chair on which she sat. Basic courtesy dictated that she should offer one to her conversation partner as well, but as soon as her puppets approached Demigra, they stopped functioning. It was just like XR2 to glitch over trivial matters like this.
Not that it really mattered. It wasn't as if her life was at stake here. It wasn't as if she had been told she was going to die. Not at all.
Noticing XR2's preoccupation, Demigra simply sat down on the ground.
"Oh, don't worry about me. I'm comfortable no matter how I sit. We can start whenever you're ready."
"Then, could you repeat your name and affiliation? I must admit, I forgot!"
XR2 raised her palm toward Demigra as if to give her the floor—though, of course, a significant distance remained between them.
"Demigra. I am part of Cell 0 of the Inquisition under the Church of the Goddess. My primary duty is simply to cleanse."
"Like this!"
Demigra didn't do anything in particular, yet all the corpses surrounding her vanished without a trace, as if they had never been there in the first place.
XR2 scratched her head at the spectacle she had just witnessed. She had no explanation for it.
This is getting complicated, she thought.
With a snap of her fingers, a notebook materialized beside her, accompanied by a quill. Both floated in the air, held by some invisible force.
"I see. Then, allow me to record everything that follows!"
The quill, as if possessed, began scratching against the paper, which had already turned to a new page by itself. As the ink stained the sheet with writing, XR2 observed Demigra, whose nonchalance was almost refreshing.
Night was beginning to fall.
"So, what are your measurements?"
Demigra wasn't fazed by XR2's question in the slightest. She calmly began to answer.
"Height: 1.91m
Weight: 87kg
Bust: 95cm
Waist: 68cm
Hips: 105cm"
You wouldn't think she has such a bust size with those rags she's wearing, XR2 mused, briefly distracted. But only for a moment.
"Totally my type—if your face weren't ruined by all that neglect."
"...?"
"My dear, as much as I value my time outside, I feel we'll soon have to part ways. My child, ask your questions, satisfy your curiosity while you can."
Demigra's expression remained solemn and calm, as if XR2's comments hadn't bothered her in the slightest.
Between them, only the sound of the quill frantically scratching against the paper could be heard.
"I see. Then, to get to the point—tell me about your ability. What are its effects? Its activation conditions? Any anecdotes related to it? Your past, your goals. Do you have family? Do they have similar traits? Are you a virgin? Do you have other abilities? Could you give me a part of your body? Does your ability affect you physically? What are your tastes, your hobbies...?"
Demigra tilted her head slightly.
"Well, that's a lot of questions!"
"To be honest, I don't truly understand what you're referring to as my ability. I haven't had much time to experiment with it. But I can at least tell you its effects!
Anything that approaches me ceases all activity—physical, biological, spiritual, and so on. It's not an ability that needs to be activated. The reason I am confined within a sealed space through a certain ritual is to protect everything around me. You may not have noticed, but there's no air around me.
As for anecdotes... I wasn't born like this. The only 'anecdote' about my ability would be... killing people? The truth is, I don't have any clear, intact memories.
Am I a virgin? I couldn't tell you. But I've never had sexual relations.
Other abilities? Yes, as a member of the Church, even though my training was slightly different from the others and I can't invoke the Sacred Name, I do have some interesting skills.
As for giving you a part of my body... I don't see the point if you can't take it yourself."
XR2 groaned at Demigra's remark.
"Yes, my ability affects my body, but I couldn't tell you to what extent.
My tastes? In what? I don't eat. Clothing? I don't really have preferences. My only hobby is seeing the world and praying to the Goddess..."
XR2 stood up. Her puppets followed, drawing their weapons and assuming combat stances.
"We got a little lost in chatter. I've learned a lot—especially the fact that you don't understand your own power. I suppose we have no choice but to experiment."
I say that, but it's not like I can just jump on her. I'm willing to take risks for the sake of research, but not like this.
Demigra rose to her feet. She closed her eyes. The sun had already set—only silence and darkness remained.
Let's see if I can outspeed her. If she can't react, will we be caught in her ability?
Then!
Somewhere on the border between the Celestial Realm and the Unknown Continent, a woman wearing a cloak with her face concealed watched the spectacle unfolding in the distance.
"I see. I've gathered some interesting data. It's a shame to lose like this. I didn't even get to test the Hero."
A notebook appeared beside her, floating alongside a quill that scratched at the paper. As she turned away, the notebook closed.
"That was fun. Demigra, the Saint Paladins, and the Hero... Next time, I hope you'll make good test subjects."
Just as she was about to step off the precipice marking the border, she paused.
"Who could have manipulated me? I don't feel like I was dancing in anyone's palm..."