Thump, thump, thump—!!
In Tokyo, Japan, inside a dim room with the characteristics of European nobility, a figure sat on a throne, his face obscured by the shadows. Standing beside the throne was a beautiful woman who was in no way inferior to Erica. She had a fairy-like figure, a capable long silver ponytail, and a shawl with blue and black stripes draped over her shoulders.
Liliana Kranjcar, belonging to the Italian magic association 'Bronze Black Cross,' possessed combat abilities on par with Erica. Although she had the ability of spiritual vision, the probability of her successfully receiving divine revelation was low. She held the alias 'Sword Fairy'.
Below the throne, a pair of sisters, one older and one younger, were trembling. The older one wore a white-and-green shrine maiden outfit, different from the traditional white-and-red one, and was a Yamato Nadeshiko with long brown hair. The younger one was a cute little girl with short brown hair, dressed in casual clothes.
"Sis... Sister..."
"It's okay, Hikari. Sister will definitely protect you."
The little girl trembled as she hugged her sister tightly, her voice wavering significantly. Her sister hugged her back with a face full of tenderness, stroking her cute head to comfort her.
The older sister was named Mariyama Yuri, a high-ranking shrine maiden among the spiritualist groups guarding the Kanto region, belonging to the rare rank of 'Princess Shrine Maiden.' She possessed the vital ability to obtain divine revelations from the Netherworld to see through the nature and origins of heretic gods.
The younger sister was named Mariyama Hikari, a trainee Princess Shrine Maiden with a pure and innocent personality who got along well with Ena. On the other hand, she had a bit of a precocious streak and was often scolded by her sister for making inappropriate remarks.
"Why... why would Your Honor do this...?" Mariyama Yuri forced herself to remain calm, but her voice still trembled as she looked at the figure sitting on the throne.
Originally, she and her sister were living their daily lives at home, but unexpectedly, Liliana had 'invited' them here without any explanation.
At that moment, the figure on the throne stood up, finally revealing his face. He was an elderly, wise gentleman of the intellectual type, and also one of the oldest God Slayers in the world.
However, his eyes were a ghostly green, his ears were slightly pointed, and his facial contours resembled those of a wolf.
Yes, he was like a wolf king hunting in the wilderness, with a fierce light radiating from his eyes.
"Marquis Voban..." Mariyama Hikari said, looking at the old man in great fear.
After seeing clearly who it was, Mariyama Yuri also tightly held her sister in her arms, while Liliana could only watch them with a helpless expression.
Voban's eyes fixed on the Mariya sisters below, an excited light flashing in his eyes as he spoke:
"The enemies I seek—Athena, who has reclaimed her true body, and Hades, King of the Underworld—have both gone missing. Therefore, I want you to perform that ritual."
"That ritual? Could it be the summoning of a heretic god!!" Mariyama Yuri's pupils shrank instantly as she cried out in surprise.
The summoning ritual for a heretic god required holy relics related to the god and hundreds of shrine maidens and witches to perform together. Mariyama Yuri and Liliana had both participated in a ritual held by Voban before, which was when they first met.
However, the Bronze Black Cross that Liliana now belonged to was subservient to Marquis Voban, so she had no choice but to obey his orders.
Mariyama Yuri had also been traumatized by God Slayers at that time, as that ritual had been extremely cruel.
Of the shrine maidens and witches who participated, only Mariyama Yuri and Liliana, who had strong spiritual vision and cursed power, survived; everyone else died because of that ritual.
Because of this, Mariyama Yuri knew the dangers of the ritual, so she was certain that Mariyama Hikari could not possibly survive it.
"Exactly. It's too boring. I thought I could defeat Hades and Athena together, but I didn't expect both to suddenly go missing. So, to pass the time, I want you to summon a new heretic god." Voban stood up, his ghostly green eyes flashing with light.
"Please don't do anything to Hikari!! I'll do the ritual alone!! I beg of you!!" Mariyama Yuri knelt down and pleaded with Voban.
"Sister!!" Mariyama Hikari shouted loudly, looking at her sister with concern.
Voban walked down slowly, his expression unchanged and the corners of his mouth curling up. "The more spiritual power there is, the stronger the summoned heretic god will be. Especially for Princess Shrine Maiden with powerful spiritual power like yours, I cannot possibly let you go."
As he spoke, Voban drew closer to the Mariya sisters, and the two sisters grew increasingly desperate.
"I can feel the aura of vengeful spirits on you from this far away, and yet you want to harm sisters with such pure souls. You deserve ten thousand deaths."
At that moment, a voice that did not belong to anyone present drifted in.
Everyone looked toward the source of the voice. Hades, wearing his lifeless gray six-winged underworld armor, and Erica, in her combat attire, stood in front of the Mariya sisters, blocking them.
Thump, thump, thump—!!
A sound like a heartbeat rang out. It was Mariyama Yuri; her eyes emitted an emerald light, a sign that her spiritual abilities had been activated.
Mariyama Yuri looked at Hades and murmured:
"Son of Kronos, King of the Titans, and Rhea, the Queen of Gods. The ruler of all life in the universe who punishes those who did evil in life by casting them into the Avici Hell after death, as a warning to humanity. While those with pure souls are chosen to enter Elysium. The King of the Netherworld, Hades, King of the Underworld."
Upon hearing Mariyama Yuri's words, Voban instantly became interested and said:
"Oh~! So you are Hades, the God of the Netherworld? Your appearance doesn't match the terrifying look a god of the Netherworld should have at all; instead, you look more like a god of beauty."
Hades ignored Voban and instead instructed Erica beside him:
"Erica, I'll leave your childhood friend to you. I will send you and the sisters behind us to Elysium in the Underworld."
"Understood, my master," Erica said with a little devilish smile.
Swish—!!
In an instant, Erica, holding Reinhart, flashed in front of Liliana. Liliana also unhesitatingly pulled out a long silver saber, Il Maestro, and pointed it at Erica.
"Long time no see, Lili," Erica greeted Liliana with a smile.
"I have nothing to say to you, Erica Blandelli!!" As soon as Liliana finished speaking, she attacked Erica with Il Maestro in hand.
The two women, childhood friends and frenemies, immediately became entangled in a battle of flashing blades, while Voban and Hades stared at each other with eyes full of hostility and battle intent.
The atmosphere was thick with the scent of gunpowder and impending war.
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