Behemoth – 6

A pillar made of light struck down. Kwaang! A loud boom echoed.

‘……?’

And that was all.

There was no intensely blinding light, no power strong enough to blow away the mansion’s ceiling, and no clouds scattering across the sky.

It was just a pillar of light, about the size of a wooden stake, striking down from a moderate height with the exact same effect as seen in the game, and then it was over.

Although the statue Nyx had carved was shattered, the surrounding area wasn’t devastated. In fact, only a single statue was broken, meaning the power was far below what was expected.

‘If this is the case, there are two possibilities.’

The first possibility was that the blessing the Popes had bestowed was involved, but it was a one-time effect.

It made perfect sense if one assumed that the blessing had temporarily and significantly increased my divine power, but its duration was short, causing it to disappear quickly.

‘It’s not a perfectly fitting guess, but…….’

I still didn’t know exactly what effect the blessing bestowed by the Popes had.

For one, it was a concept that had never appeared in the game, and I hadn’t received a proper explanation about the blessing either.

Furthermore, didn’t this strange power also work during the boss battle against the God-forsaken creature? That was before I received the blessing from the Popes.

‘Still, it’s worth testing.’

I added another item to my mental to-do list: Go to the Holy Nation and receive a blessing from the Popes once more.

The method being a deep kiss was a bit… awkward, but I had nothing to lose. Honestly, I didn’t dislike it. It was just my conscience pricking me a little.

‘The second is…….’

The second possibility was that this strange power only activated against actual enemies.

It was simple. The statue Nyx carved from wood didn’t react because it wasn’t a real enemy, while Behemoth reacted because it was. This was also a sufficiently plausible option.

Unlike the first, verification was easy. I just had to find any random enemy, then use my special ability in front of them.

If it didn’t activate against regular enemies, I could go find a demon. And if it didn’t even activate against demons, then that would be something to worry about.

“You can come, Nyx.”

I gripped the Wingless Nightmare in one hand again and called Nyx. Now, just one more verification and it would be done.

“Kihhihit. I understand.”

Nyx, who had been peeking out from behind the tree with only her face and chest visible, came trotting over with her usual gloomy and strange laugh.

As she ran, her chest bounced tremendously. It was to the point where I wondered if her clothes might come off.

Her top was short, almost like a crop top, with a deeply plunging neckline, and her hot pants had strangely large holes. Both were precarious outfits.

Nyx stopped right beside me. Her chest continued to jiggle several more times even after her legs stopped.

“Just one more thing to try, and then we’re done.”

I pulled out the Divine Catalyst from my waist. It was the same catalyst I had used in the Behemoth boss battle.

I brought the catalyst to the part just above the Wingless Nightmare’s crossguard. I pushed it straight upwards. With the sensation of faith draining away, the sun imbued the blade.

I was fine, but Nyx seemed dazzled, turning her head slightly and covering her eyes with her hand. I hid Nyx behind my back. Nyx, who had let out a gloomy laugh with a “Kihhihit,” hugged my waist tightly.

It was a back hug with an unusually large amount of strength in her arms.

‘I guess I understand why.’

Noticing the heavy sensation near my waist, I immediately understood. Because of her chest, she couldn’t properly hug me without putting a lot of strength into it. Even now, her arms were trembling.

At that terrifying truth, I needlessly cleared my throat and brought the Divine Catalyst back to the Wingless Nightmare. Then, I began the enchantment just as before.

Instead, this time it was a lunar eclipse, not a solar eclipse. That way, I could easily confirm that the enchantment had been overwritten.

The brilliant sun transformed into a clear full moon. The golden radiance completely vanished, and a soft moonlight emanated from the blade, casting faint shadows.

Perhaps because it was moonlight instead of sunlight, Nyx didn’t seem very dazzled this time, subtly peeking her head out from under my left armpit.

I once again brought the Divine Catalyst to the Wingless Nightmare. As I had done before, I placed it above the crossguard and pushed it towards the tip of the blade, but what imbued the sword was still moonlight.

The solar eclipse did not activate.

That meant, in other words, that my faith had run out.

‘It doesn’t seem like my stats were inflated.’

Judging by the recent results, it was clear that my faith or divine power stats hadn’t suddenly surged without my knowledge.

If my divine power had increased that much, my faith should also have risen at an incredible rate. With the last possibility also disproven, the cause of such a phenomenon remained a complete mystery.

All that happened was that a bunch of new things to investigate cropped up, and I didn’t really gain anything.

“It’s fine, Nyx. You can come out now. The verification is over.”

Nyx, who had nodded from under my armpit, released her arms from around my waist. Jjuuuk, she then stretched, exposing her armpits. It felt just like watching a small animal.

Although she was actually quite short.

I also strapped the Wingless Nightmare to my waist. The blade, which had been emitting a soft moonlight, disappeared into its scabbard. Nyx looked up at me with a gloomy smile.

“What should I do now? Should I just keep waiting here?”

Her slender finger pointed at the large wooden house. It was where Nyx was staying.

At first, I was horrified to hear that she lived in a makeshift hut, but when I actually went there, I was even more surprised because it was nowhere near the level of a makeshift hut.

Without exaggeration, it was a house so well-built that most people would gladly live there for their entire lives if asked. It had everything a house should have.

According to Nyx, the Battle Sisters helped a lot.

‘It seems the reason they helped was because of me, but…….’

Although I didn’t know who they were, they seemed to have a connection with me, so I naturally treated them with respect. It was similar to the case with the Knights of the Pitch-Black Holy Night.

For reference, Nyx won’t be designated as a heretic just for using black magic. Although it’s called black magic, it has no connection to demons whatsoever.

The reason it’s called black magic is simply because it consumes the user’s life force along with mana. If only pure mana is used, it’s magic, but if life force is also consumed, it’s black magic.

“Probably? If I happen to leave here, I’ll let you know. Then you, Nyx, can take our kids and return to the castle. I think I’ll have to stop by somewhere else.”

Nyx nodded with a gloomy smile. I gently stroked her head.

As I watched Nyx grinning widely, a Battle Sister approached from a distance. I took my hand off her head. Nyx’s expression immediately became sullen.

“I greet Honored Guest-nim.”

As soon as the Battle Sister approached me, she bowed 90 degrees at the waist. Chullung, her chest swayed heavily downwards, unable to resist its own weight.

“What brings you here? Did Inquisitor-nim or Inquisitor-nim ask for something?”

Dori-dori, the Battle Sister shook her head.

“A knight in silver armor, sent from the Imperial Palace, was looking for Honored Guest-nim, so I came to inform Honored Guest-nim.”

“Oh, really?”

Their arrival was much later than expected.

It had already been three days since the letter was sent, yet the person only just arrived. Considering Kaikilia’s personality, it could be seen that she had delayed quite a bit.

And it was quite surprising that Kaikilia didn’t come herself but sent a knight under her command. Considering the interest she had shown in me, it wouldn’t have been strange at all if she had come in person.

Especially since a demon even appeared in this incident.

“Can you behave while I’m gone, Nyx?”

I stroked Nyx, who nodded with an eerie smile at my question, a few times and then headed towards the city. The Battle Sister quietly followed behind me.

As I continued walking towards the city, a sudden question came to mind, and I turned around.

“You said a knight came from the Imperial Palace earlier, who was it?”

I had a rough idea of the knight’s identity. It was a question asked for confirmation.

“They asked me not to tell Honored Guest-nim who they are. They said to only convey the fact that they wore silver armor and to leave knowing their identity as a pleasure for when you meet. However, if Honored Guest-nim wishes, I can certainly tell you. Would you like me to?”

To leave their identity as a pleasure for after meeting.

It was an unexpected request, but precisely because of that, it was easier to guess who it was.

Among the Knight Commanders of the Silver Dawn Knights, the only ones who would make such a playful request were Rije or Claudia. But there was no way Claudia would come here leaving Rije behind, so only one person remained.

Even if Claudia insisted on coming here, Rije wouldn’t just stand by and let it happen.

“No, it’s fine. If they went to such lengths to say that, it wouldn’t be polite to know beforehand. I’ll go see for myself.”

“I understand.”

‘Her personality hasn’t changed at all.’

I entered the city with a mix of anticipation and unease. I wondered what kind of surprise she had prepared this time to call it “the pleasure of meeting.”

And then, I encountered an unexpected person.

Long silver hair, reaching her thighs, swayed behind her. Her eyes, also silver like her hair, looked at me with a faint eye-smile.

She wore a white tank top and silver dolphin shorts. Not only her slender thighs extending from beneath the dolphin shorts, but also her ample chest, rising without even underwear beneath the white tank top, were just as I remembered.

“……Iris?”

It was Iris.

Iris subtly curved the corners of her lips upwards towards me and waved her hand. I also waved back and approached her side.

Judging by her attire, it seemed she had taken off her armor somewhere.

“What brings you here? Where’s Rije? I thought for sure Rije would come when they said a knight in silver armor from the Imperial Palace was looking for me.”

Iris chuckled at my question.

“You’re right, Delta. Originally, Rije was supposed to come.”

“Originally?”

“She said something else came up that she had to do. So I came instead.”

“She couldn’t come for that reason? I can practically see her reaction.”

“She was dying of frustration.”

“I thought so.”

We looked at each other and laughed.

Perhaps because she had regained all her former honor and status, Iris had become considerably softer compared to when I first met her. To think we could laugh together like this.

“How’s life at the Imperial Palace? Is it bearable?”

“I wouldn’t say it’s comfortable. If we’re just talking about comfort, it was much better when I was with Aurora Youngju-nim. However, this is a matter related to honor, so I can’t be picky about such things, can I?”

“I’m glad you seem to be doing well. How’s Rije?”

“When you meet her again later, you’ll have to comfort her a lot in bed. It seems her stress isn’t properly relieved.”

“Ah.”

Hearing that, I immediately understood what Iris was trying to say.

In short, it meant she was sexually frustrated. The reason she specifically mentioned “bed” instead of other expressions was obvious.

“……Then, how are Claudia and Erica? Are they doing well too?”

“Of course, they’re doing well. So don’t worry about us. I’d rather hear about your recent situation, Delta.”

“Well, as you can see, I am too.”

I glanced back at the Battle Sisters. Even as they walked, they were sending me gazes full of awe. Iris nodded without a change in her expression.

“I thought you would be like that, Delta. You always did perform extraordinary actions.”

As her silver pupils began to grow distant, I asked back with bewilderment.

“You know it hasn’t even been a month since we parted, right? Why does it sound like you’re reminiscing about something from ten years ago?”

“Of course. Although the time we spent together wasn’t long, you’ve entered so deeply into our lives that it makes that time seem insignificant, haven’t you?”

“……Huh?”

When I asked back, having heard something unexpected, Iris also seemed to realize what she had said and began to stammer, visibly flustered.

It truly seemed to have slipped out without her realizing. Which meant there was a high probability that it was Iris’s true feelings.

“So, what brings you here? No, I can roughly guess the reason. Is it because of the demon?”

Since Iris looked so flustered, I decided to subtly gloss over it as if I hadn’t noticed. Perhaps sensing my intention, Iris quickly changed the subject.

“You hit the nail on the head, Delta. Upon hearing the news that you caught a demon, His Majesty the Emperor personally sent an imperial decree.”

Iris carefully held out a vintage-looking letter, which she had kept floating right beside her, towards me with both hands. It seemed to be a letter with special magical processing.

I also received it with both hands. The fact that Kaikilia sent an imperial decree instead of coming to see me herself made me even more afraid to check its contents.

“Checking it is your task, Delta.”

I carefully untied the string wrapped around the letter. Then, the rolled-up letter began to unfurl on its own.