Mialanze was playing with the randomly placed mithril magic conduit cords on the floor.
“Valkyrie?”
In Everis’s laboratory scattered with steampunk objects, Everis approached René, who was immersed in a fluorescent green cylinder, reporting to her. This occurred six days after René had devoured Salesaya.
Initially either unconscious or screaming, René’s memory was fuzzy. There were numerous internal wounds on the cylinder, but she managed to retain enough rationality not to shatter the container.
The consumed soul was finally beginning to integrate, and René was becoming more attentive.
“So, they’re like angelic warriors. Sent by God to fight for the people—divine tools, you could say. One of them is being dispatched to Diletta. In Diletta, it seems many priests have received prophecies.”
“…Are they strong?”
While inside the mysterious liquid, René communicated telepathically with Everis.
“It varies. In terms of sheer mystical cheat power, Princess-sama is undoubtedly several levels above. If armed with divine artifacts, it could be troublesome, but it’s the same for human warriors… Even if they’re angels, grunts are grunts. I saw plenty of them during the battle four hundred years ago.”
Gods rarely manifest on earth; instead, angels and demons often mediate between humans and deities.
Recently, just as Everis’s familiar devil appeared before René, if angels have any business, they manifest before humans to provide assistance or support.
While angels serve to receive divine miracles, according to Everis, Valkyries act more directly as heavenly spearheads, fighting for humans.
“Princess-sama thoroughly defeated the Blue Army, causing a slight resurgence in the forces of Evil Gods. This counterbalance… for the world’s equilibrium, the Great God has gained some divine points. So, it seems he dispatched a Valkyrie. I was expecting him to gather a bit more power before releasing a big blessing.”
Struggling in her tight white robe, Everis showed René several newspapers seemingly issued in Diletta.
All of them prominently featured the word “Valkyrie” in large letters on the front page.
“With humans overwhelmingly dominant, Diletta is celebrating the long-awaited blessing… Well, the likelihood of a single Valkyrie becoming a threat is low, so I don’t think we need to worry too much. As an envoy to the surface, I suppose they just sent one out for now. Just thought I’d report.”
“Understood…”
Tossing the newspaper onto the desk, Everis shrugged.
That newspaper was the final blow to the messy desk, triggering an avalanche that involved piles of documents.
＊ ＊ ＊
In a resplendent chapel built of white stone and adorned with golden embellishments, an atmosphere as solemn as a winter morning pervaded.
On the spacious stage, elevated about two levels higher than the assembled dignitaries of the Diletta Holy Kingdom, a magic circle was laid out, emitting a radiant white light.
“O’ Lord, open the gates of heaven and extend your hand to us. Let us worship your glory. Guide us with your omniscience…”
Kneeling before the altar lined with offerings was Pope Nathaniel III.
Dressed in opulent attire resembling the splendor of divine power, he bowed his bald head and recited prayers with a resonant voice.
“Your faithful servant joyfully welcomes your messenger. May we be redeemed by your grace…”
The light from the magic circle gradually intensified, even obscuring the sunlight streaming through the stained glass.
“Oh…”
“The light!”
Onlookers murmured excitedly, their spirits uplifted.
As the bluish-white divine radiance eventually filled the space completely, everyone present felt the pressure of sacred energy akin to a sudden gust.
And when the light subsided, a figure resembling a human stood within the magic circle.
“That’s… Valkyrie…”
If one had ever undergone even minimal training as a clergyman—essentially, almost everyone present—a sense of divine awe struck them to the core, adjusting their demeanor naturally.
It was a winged woman clad in armor emitting a mysterious glow.
Over a long garment resembling a monk’s attire, she wore a breastplate and skirt-like armor in a color close to milky white.
Her wings on her back were flawlessly pure white, exuding a soft yet robust impression that belied her angelic purity.
Her face was covered by a visor bearing a holy emblem, revealing only her mouth, leaving her expression concealed.
“Messenger of the Almighty. Welcome among us. …Those living on earth are threatened by darkness. Please guide us in our battle.”
Not many people, not even the top officials of the Holy Kingdom, had ever met an angel manifested on earth.
Even Nathaniel greeted it with a tense tone in his voice.
After standing still for a moment, the Valkyrie observed Nathaniel.
“Tsk…”
Then she clicked her tongue.
“You’re full of pompous words, but all I see is dust. You haven’t changed a bit since my time.”
“Huh?”
“You reek, Your Holiness. The smell of sin. You should have purified yourself before greeting me. Stop playing around with girls after work. Kids need an early bedtime!”
“What!?”
As her first words, she pointed an accusatory finger at Nathaniel.
Her youthful yet slightly hoarse voice conveyed both maternal warmth and sternness.
Taken aback by the sudden accusation of sin, Nathaniel was left speechless, and those present—many of whom were aware of Nathaniel’s habits—began to murmur restlessly, sensing trouble.
“Oh!? Look closely, isn’t that baldy over there Marco Lepert!”
The Valkyrie suddenly pointed and shouted at a middle-aged man in monk’s robes who was seated among others beneath the altar.
“You, who should have been demoted for embezzling from the squad, why are you here? Did you end up getting promoted after all?”
“Well, um, you see, this is…!”
The man, Marco, who had been suddenly called out, could only stammer in confusion.
The situation was more than just ominous. Something was clearly wrong.
Most of those present were beginning to understand this.
“Well, what a grand reception indeed. But judging by the number of people, this seems to be an intimate ceremony after all. I’ll give you credit for not treating me like a sideshow. But please spare us your pretentious offering of just fancy nuts. Are you hoarding them?”
The Valkyrie looked at the offerings on the altar before the magic circle, arranged neatly on a golden plate filled with sanctified varieties of nuts. She picked up a few small nuts and chewed them, then lifted a small golden cup filled with holy water, drank it lightly, and grimaced.
She moved the offerings aside, sat on the altar, crossed her legs rudely, and stared at the people around her.
“It’s been a few months since I’ve been in this mortal world? Let me stretch my wings a bit. Would you happen to have some good wine? A cigarette would be great too as a snack.”
Her provocative manner of speaking left everyone speechless.
