"To think the day would come when I must rely on human strength... Have I truly fallen to such a state?"
"..."
A muttered whisper, so faint it was almost lost to the air, drifted forward.
Though it sounded laden with a sigh, the tone suggested acceptance of the proposal. But still... this deity genuinely required human assistance?
Even as she secretly rejoiced at the other's amenability, Erica couldn't help but share the sentiment of that lament.
A Heretic God—a calamity capable of overturning the world, wielding power to move mountains and drain seas—actually wanted to borrow human strength? It was undeniably strange.
Of course, Erica wasn't foolish enough to voice agreement with the remark.
The deity didn't mind her hearing the mutterings; this wasn't a plea for a response or words specifically meant for her ears.
It was simply a case of being deemed unworthy of consideration, a solitary sigh uttered without a second thought.
Such was the nature of gods.
"Very well. At this moment, there is indeed a matter where human aid would make things easier."
Unlike the previous muttering, the deity's voice regained its initial knightly solemnity. "Knight, take me before the lord you serve. I have a matter requiring human cooperation."
"As you command." Hearing the order, Erica let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, only for her nerves to instantly tighten again.
It seemed this deity harbored no immediate intent to wreak havoc here. That was excellent.
Her mission was to request the god to relocate the battlefield away from this human city to an unpopulated suburb or wilderness, thus minimizing casualties.
As for persuading the deity not to fight? That was utterly impossible.
One could maneuver around a god's whims to some extent by catering to their preferences, but outright prevention was out of the question.
However... the current situation was far from ideal.
While the deity appeared to have no intention of fighting or destroying things here personally, its mere presence would inevitably be detected by shrine maidens with powerful spiritual sight.
And Campiones were never without such attendants.
Guided by their maidens, the Godslayer would surely rush to confront the deity, plunging them into mortal combat.
When that time came, it wouldn't be a matter of persuading just two individuals. A battle-hungry deity and a Demon King in the heat of excitement would heed no one's counsel.
But that was a worry for later. The most crucial task at hand was to stabilize this deity's... mood...
Acknowledging the command, Erica finally allowed her gaze to properly fall upon the god before her.
Though the voice had hinted at a youthful maiden, she hadn't anticipated such breathtaking beauty.
The girl's frame was more petite than Erica had imagined.
Standing under five feet tall, she wore a lovely, frilly dress that, paired with the cape draped over her left shoulder and her innate bearing, exuded an air of dignified grace, elegant yet spirited.
Silver-white hair cascaded in loose waves, the tips tinged with a faint lavender hue, seeming to shimmer with a light of its own even in the dimly lit alley.
Her features were exquisitely beautiful, her sharp gaze holding a touch of aloofness.
The charm she radiated was so potent that Erica, herself often praised for her looks, couldn't help but feel a stir of admiration.
This allure didn't stem from divine authority or a curse; it was a purely visual, objective appreciation of aesthetics.
Beautiful yet authoritative, possessing the delicate features of a noble lady combined with the unassailable, knightly dignity—all these elements fused together, leaving Erica momentarily stunned.
Melusine understood the feeling.
She, too, had been taken aback by this appearance initially.
Unlike the other character cards she'd drawn, Melusine was the first bearing a label like 'Most Beautiful.'
Even accustomed to lovely girls, one glance at this beauty was enough to astonish.
Fortunately, Erica possessed strong self-control. After a brief moment of awe, she swiftly adjusted her mindset, managing a smile that didn't look too awkward.
"Allow me to lead the way, Your Excellency."
"Address me as Lancelot. Since I intend to rely on your strength henceforth, excessive formality is unnecessary," Melusine stated.
Truthfully, she possessed a form of future sight, but it was rather unreliable.
No, 'unreliable' wasn't quite right; it was more that images would only flash before her eyes at specific, unpredictable moments.
Why mention this now? Because at this very moment, a vision flashed before her eyes: herself appearing on Sardinia and slaying two... rather familiar gods.
But how far in the future that scene was remained a complete unknown.
"...So it's... Lord Lancelot..." Erica's composure nearly cracked.
Wasn't Lancelot supposed to be a tall, valiant male knight?!
What part of this maiden before her had anything to do with Lancelot?!
Was she unwilling to reveal her true name?
That didn't make sense. Heretic Gods were very particular about their epithets and disdained lying about such things.
If that wasn't the case, then why...?
Besides! This was clearly a goddess. Wasn't there some mistake in proclaiming the name of a Steel God?
"What is it? Stuttering doesn't suit the composure you showed earlier, knight." Melusine's expression remained unchanged.
"Is hearing that name so surprising?"
"..."
How to respond? Should she say, 'I thought Lancelot was supposed to be male'? Don't be ridiculous. That would be tantamount to questioning the deity's self-proclaimed identity.
"...Not at all. It is merely that I never imagined a knight of such legendary renown would appear before me. As a fellow knight, I find it somewhat difficult to restrain my emotions."
Erica wasn't lying.
"I see. I can understand your excitement." Hearing this, Melusine offered a slight smile.
"Though I may differ from the knight in your perception, rest assured. Like that knight, so long as I am not facing an enemy that must be vanquished, I am not an overly unreasonable being."
Was 'somewhat different' really the appropriate degree...
Erica didn't dare say it aloud, but over these few exchanges, she had indeed confirmed that this deity, unlike most Heretic Gods, still retained its rationality.
Moreover, judging by the deity's implication, 'Lancelot' wasn't its true form, but rather seemed like an... object of admiration? It didn't seem exactly that either... but the deity's esteem for Lancelot was evident.
Thus, she offered flattery: "Such magnanimity is no different from that of the knight Lancelot. You must surely be an excellent and noble knight yourself."
Not particularly comfortable with awkward praise, Melusine steered the conversation back on track. "No need for such accolades. More importantly, please lead the way..."
A brief pause prompted Erica's understanding. "Lord Lancelot, I am Erica Blandelli, a knight of the [Copper Black Cross]."
"Then, please lead on, Knight Erica."
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.