Enri Emmot ran through the forest with her lungs burning, her heartbeat pounding like a drum about to burst. She clutched the tiny hand of her younger sister, Nemu, and forced her legs to keep moving.
The village of Carne had been attacked without warning.
Men calling themselves knights of the Empire.
Armored killers who cut down villagers as casually as one brushes aside weeds.
Her father had died buying them a chance to flee.
"Kyah!"
Nemu stumbled, catching her small foot on a tree root. She collapsed to her knees with a whimper.
"Nemu—!"
Enri spun back and scooped her sister protectively into her arms. But it was too late.
The knights had already reached them.
Two men stepped into view, swords slick with the blood of their neighbors. Their expressions held no pity—only boredom. They had done this dozens of times that day already. What were two more bodies added to the pile?
Enri hugged Nemu tightly.
This is it, she thought, her breath caught in her throat. Father… I'm sorry…
One knight raised his sword.
But the blade never fell.
"…What?"
The men's movements froze—not from mercy, but from shock.
Enri blinked and turned.
Behind her, something impossible had appeared.
A vertical pool of darkness, like a mirror made of midnight.
A swirling, silent breach in the world itself.
A gate.
The knights stumbled backward, swords trembling.
"What… is that…?"
A moment later, something stepped out.
A woman.
A woman so breathtakingly beautiful that all three humans forgot to breathe.
It was not a beauty born of weakness or fragility, but the kind one found in sacred paintings—something divine, pure, perfect. She wore an immaculate white dress split high along her thigh, revealing a glimpse of shining pale skin. Her black hair spilled behind her like silk, framing a face sculpted by the gods themselves.
Her presence alone halted the world.
"What… an angel…?"
Enri whispered the words without thinking, her fear swept away by awe.
But then—she saw them.
Two black wings at the woman's hips.
Two long horns sweeping from her head.
"…A monster," one knight choked out, voice cracking with terror.
The woman—Momonga, in Albedo's form—stepped forward, golden eyes narrowing.
Grasp Heart.
She raised a hand and closed her fingers.
One knight buckled, gasped once, and collapsed dead at her feet.
His heart had simply ceased to exist.
Momonga exhaled softly, flexing her fingers.
"So it works. Good."
The remaining knight trembled violently. Fear twisted his features, but not enough to overcome stupidity.
He ran.
Or tried to.
Momonga lifted a single finger.
Lightning gathered at its tip.
Dragon Lightning.
A lance of blue thunder tore through the knight's back, severing armor, flesh, and hope alike. He fell with a strangled cry, smoking and twitching.
Momonga watched the corpse fall and murmured thoughtfully:
"…Weak. Fifth-tier magic was enough."
Wind carried the scent of scorched metal and cooked flesh to her.
So this is the average combat strength of this world. Acceptable.
She glanced behind her.
Enri and Nemu stared with wide eyes—terrified, yet entranced.
Momonga softened her expression and approached them with slow, elegant steps, the hem of her dress whispering over the forest floor.
"Are you unharmed?"
The gentle, melodic voice melted Enri on the spot.
Her cheeks burned with heat.
"H-Hi—I—yes! I mean— I'm fine! Thank you!"
Momonga knelt so their eyes met. At this distance, she was impossible to look at directly. Too beautiful. Too perfect.
"I'm glad. And you, little one?"
Nemu peeked over Enri's shoulder, trembling.
"…A-Are you… an angel?"
Momonga froze.
She had almost answered with a man's voice. Almost slipped into her old manner of speaking. But she swallowed the instinct. Tabula Smaragdina had given this body meaning, purpose, and elegance. He refused to shame that creation.
She smiled softly—without meaning to. Her face simply did that now.
"I'm afraid not," she said gently. "But I do not intend to harm you."
Enri's eyes shimmered.
To her, this woman was an angel. A divine savior.
So when she spoke next, her voice shook with desperation:
"Please…! Our village—Carne—please help us! They're killing everyone! Please save our home…!"
Momonga exhaled.
She thought of Touch Me's words.
If someone is in trouble, you help them.
"…Very well."
Enri gasped. Tears welled in her eyes.
Momonga stood, her black wings folding gracefully behind her.
"Take my hand. I will protect you."
And for the first time in this new world, someone looked at Momonga—at Albedo—
with pure, unfiltered hope.