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All creation seemed to dim.
Like a boiling aurora, the holy spear in Rosen's hand blazed with a light that could overturn day and night.
In that single instant of unleashed power, the mountain beast's enormous body was swallowed whole, and the beam tore so far into the distance that it split the sky itself.
The clouds were cleaved clean apart.
If someone had been looking down from orbit, they would have seen a strip of the planet's atmosphere suddenly clear and transparent, as though scissors had snipped the heavens in two.
As for the monster—its mountain-sized frame now had a gaping hole through the center.
That one strike crushed every last spark of its life. What remained of its body broke apart in the high-altitude winds and crumbled to nothing.
Moments later, it was gone.
The sun shone brilliantly again, and the girls couldn't tell if it was just in their heads, but the whole place suddenly felt warmer.
They stood there, stunned.
That thing—huge as a mountain, impossible to even imagine defeating—had been burned away in a single blow.
But Rosen's expression wasn't one of triumph.
That attack had only used a fraction of his divine power. By his own estimate, the force he'd just displayed was enough to completely vaporize a major city.
Maybe even more.
And yet he shook his head, unsatisfied.
To him, the ability to wipe out a country would've been "acceptable." This level was still somewhere in between—not enough, not yet.
What he needed now was more followers, stronger ones.
He was still a long way from being the one true God.
"Still have to keep pushing… no shortcuts," Rosen muttered to himself. Then he waved at the girls.
"Come on. Time to head back."
The livestream window blinked to black.
Even after it ended, the chat was still buzzing, shaken by what they had just witnessed.
They didn't know if Rosen had gone all-out or not, but one thing was clear—they'd just seen the tip of an iceberg that went terrifyingly deep.
Hell's Blizzard: "That strike… even my sister couldn't pull that off."
Old Mage: "Not just that—he looked like he still had power to spare."
Saeko: "…"
Bad Woman: "No wonder he didn't need our help. Rosen could handle that monster on his own."
I Don't Wanna Eat Monsters: "Kinda feel like everything I said earlier was pointless… can I delete it?"
Shut-in Angel: "Delete? Why bother? If you end up pregnant, we'll help you raise the kid together!"
I Don't Wanna Eat Monsters: "???"
Shut-in Angel: "Kidding, kidding. But wow… Rosen's stronger than me. No—stronger than my sister! No wonder he's so calm. Those undead must look like sheep waiting for slaughter to him."
Shut-in Angel: "By the way, if holy men in your world are that strong, just how powerful would a real angel be?"
Shepherd: "If I'm guessing right, my world doesn't have angels like yours."
Shepherd: "Still, if the chance ever comes, you could apply to send some female angels over as a stationed detachment."
Shut-in Angel: "Don't tempt me. If I could, I'd definitely send a few over. But you know that's not possible."
Old Mage: "So the holy spear you gave me can hold that much power, Rosen? Shame I can't analyze it…"
Shepherd: "Then just keep it as a weapon. I've got things to do, going offline."
Shepherd: "Oh, Malusiel—remind Sensei to hurry up and prep that monster meat."
I Don't Wanna Eat Monsters: "Got it, on it!"
Malusiel polished off her pudding in a few bites and stood up.
"What's up, Malusiel?" Falin asked, frowning slightly. Ever since they'd sat down, her friend had seemed… distracted.
"…Rosen asked me to bring him some properly prepared meat," Malusiel admitted.
"Eh? Lord Rosen himself? Wait—does that mean you'll get to see him? Can I come with you? Please?" Falin's drowsy eyes suddenly lit up wide.
"Uh… not exactly. I'm not meeting him directly, just delivering the meat."
saw the disappointment in Falin's face, then an idea struck her.
"But if you've got something you really want to say to him, you can write a letter. I'll pass it along."
"Really?!" Falin's whole face brightened.
"Of course. Easy enough to do."
"Then yes! Let's go find Sensei together!"
Meanwhile, Rosen and the girls had already returned home.
The battle had drained them, but the way he had finished things left them exhilarated.
After all, what could be more thrilling than facing certain death… only for a god to appear and effortlessly destroy the unbeatable foe before their eyes?
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
"Lord Rosen, that was beyond cool!" Hana Yurikawa nearly forgot she was hungry.
"You really were incredible," Miko Yotsuya admitted, still shaken. "Honestly, I couldn't even imagine how we were supposed to beat that thing." Her eyes burned with admiration.
Yuki Suou's gaze was different—fervent, almost worshipful. She'd been wrong before. Rosen wasn't some hidden master living in seclusion.
He was the real thing.
A god.
Compared to him, mountain gods and ancient beasts were as insignificant as ants before humans.
"I really thought I was going to die there," Mai Sakurajima confessed, pouring everyone water. For Rosen, she took extra care, serving him freshly brewed tea.
"You only need to remember this," Rosen said calmly. "I'll never send you to die."
Injuries in training were fine. But death? Absolutely forbidden.
They would grow through sweat and blood—but not through graves.
"..."
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