"W-what should we do now?"

"W-why are you asking me that?"

"Aren't you the one who brought us here?"

"Euuuuh..."

In front of them, Ferloche wore a bright smile.

Frey observed them with a blank expression.

And the Hero, Ruby, was lying down, and despite her battered state, she cast a cold gaze at them.

The intimidating atmosphere emanating from them instantly overwhelmed the two who came here with so much confidence.

"We need to run. If it was just the Saintess, maybe we could win, but with Frey, who defeated the Emperor and the Hero, we won't stand a chance."

"Damn... this was not part of the plan..."

"I’m going to create a diversion, so use your ability. With that, we can escape immediately... Huh?”

They couldn't even think of fighting and were slowly taking a step back, but suddenly they felt something touch their backs and turned back.

"..."

And soon, the two faces went completely blank.

- Hizzzz...

"Fuck."

"Ugh..."

Unbeknownst to them, their rear was now blocked by a solid divine power.

“We can’t break through this. They’ll attack us first before we can break through.”

"I-I know that too."

Because they knew divine power better than anyone else, they were able to vaguely grasp their current predicament.

From the moment they arrived at this place, they were already trapped here.

"...We have no choice but to fight."

Thus, they had only one option left.

It was the horrifying choice of engaging in combat with the monsters before them.

"Right now, they are off guard. Frey is not tense at all, and the Hero is defenseless. If we attack with all our might now, the odds are–"

"I-I know that too. So, just stop yapping."

The girl interjected and quietly raised her hands, and the Paladin Commander, momentarily wearing an aggravated expression, also silently raised his swords.

They had no time for infighting.

Internally, they were enemies, targeting each other's political lives and sometimes even their literal lives. But from an external perspective, weren't they clearly on the same side?

"Will we target Frey first, or will we target Ruby first?"

"Let's go for Ruby. She's been seriously injured, and she seems to be the easiest target."

Moreover, despite their appearances, both of them were not only members of the Church but also global powerhouses.

Their combat prowess was on par with the Imperial Knight Commander, and on top of that, the Paladin Commander had also received some unknown power from the strange eye.

Meanwhile, the girl was the younger sister of the Cardinal, and also one of the twelve executives of the Church. She was granted a special ability through a ritual directly held by the eye.

Their strength was at a level where they could repel even a group filled with knight commander level.

"...Is she really the easiest? Her gaze seems odd."

"Whatever happens, happens."

However, unfortunately, the opponents were formidable.

Both of them might not be aware of it, but what they were facing was the strongest fighter in single combat, the Star Hero, and the most powerful being in the world, the Demon King.

- Rumble...!

- Buzz!!

Yet, the two, who vaguely estimated their strength, decided to attack Ruby with all their might.

The Paladin Commander’s all-out attack and the girl's spinning arrow filled with divine power intertwined, gradually increasing in strength.

- Crack...

Eventually, the energy began to pile up like a mountain.

In the expressions of the two who were watching this scene, tension began to show.

It was the best ultimate move they could make. Even if they couldn't defeat them, at least it would create an opening.

"What's this?"

- Whoosh...!

However, Ruby, who had been staring at the scene intently, made an uninterested expression, snapped her fingers, and shattered their hope into pieces.

"W-where did it go?"

"How should I know?"

It was because, with just a snap of her finger, the attack that could crush a mountain disappeared into thin air.

"F-Fuck, we're fucking screwed now!"

"Right now, you–"

"Shut up, you damn brat! It's all because of you!"

"What?"

The Paladin Commander, who eventually fell into panic at the bizarre scene, began swearing at the girl, losing his composure.

"I shouldn't have trusted a kid who's barely out of diapers! The Cardinal and this bitch too, all of them, nothing but mouthy kids...!"

"W-what are you saying now...!"

"Hmm."

Seeing their bickering, Ruby lightly glanced behind her to check Frey’s reaction.

And, Frey was still looking ahead with a blank expression.

"Alright, Frey! It's time for a real battle now!"

Hearing a cheerful voice from behind, the two then quietly turned their gaze.

"Do it as I taught you!"

Ferloche shouted with a bright voice.

"Come on!"

Staring at her blankly, Frey and Ruby suddenly disappeared.

"...Ah."

Shortly after, when Frey and Ruby appeared next to them with their eyes glowing, the Paladin Commander and the girl turned pale and let out a distressed cry.

- Booommm!!

A thunderous noise echoed, accompanied by a cloud of dust rising, covering the entire forest.

No, it covered what used to be a forest.

.

.

.

.

.

"H-help us, Hero! S-save us!!"

"Gyaaaackkk!!!"

The screams of the Paladin Commander and the girl filled the air.

"This is way too bland for my taste."

Unfazed by their pleas, Ruby, whose eyes glowed in ruby color, waved her fingers.

- Crack, crack.

"Saves... d-damn it. The hero is supposed to be skilled with swordsmanship…”

Following her gesture, The Paladin Commander's grotesquely twisted body was thrown around, and he spewed foam from his mouth.

"Gyaaack!? Keheuk!! Keheuk..."

Meanwhile, next to him, the girl writhed after continuously receiving punches from Frey.

"Let's see if what worked on Ruby works on you too."

"W-what are you talking about... Keuk..."

Suppressing her, Frey delivered another punch, then quietly shifted his gaze sideways.

"How insignificant. You're just a stepping stone for me... No, I won't forgive you in the name of justice."

Then, while Ruby was playing with the Paladin Commander the way she did with Frey, Ruby suddenly recalled her own limitations and began to mimic the righteous Hero she was pretending to be.

She’s indeed powerful.

Frey thought quietly to himself.

If her awakening had been completed, let alone Ferloche and me, even the entire population of the Empire wouldn't have been able to defeat her, right?

Surprisingly, she had always used only her fingers, except for the few times she had used her sword.

She simply wrapped her fingers with a sword aura and cut through everything, be it magic or mana.

What if she used her fists instead of her fingers?

He couldn't imagine what would happen if she used her arms, legs, or even her whole body as a weapon.

No, I’ve actually seen it before, haven’t I?

Frey shook his head slightly and murmured to himself.

At that time, it was truly overwhelming.

Although she consistently wore an indifferent expression and used only her fingers in the previous cycles, she had used magic and her body against some strong opponents.

At that time, her mythical combat prowess was so overwhelming that it was thought that anyone other than the First Warrior would never be able to defeat her.

"...W-what is it?"

Frey unknowingly sighed as he continued to gaze at Ruby. When Ruby noticed the gaze, turned her head, and asked, Frey flashed a grin.

"It’s just because you're too beautiful."

"Wha..."

Ruby suddenly scowled.

"Although I certainly can't hurt you now, I dislike the way you are right now, Frey. I just want to break you... Ugh."

After firing off such sarcastic remarks, Ruby suddenly stopped speaking and clutched her chest.

- Thump, thump, thump...

"Damn it."

Blushing suddenly, she averted her gaze.

If the straightforward method doesn't work, I just have to use tricks.

Seeing her clutching her chest, Frey lifted the corners of his mouth and muttered to himself.

I'm not going to wait for the awakening of the Armament forever.

Ever since changing his perspective, Frey had started to resolve cases proactively rather than rely on the system.

It was a nice sight, a clear change from the way he was swayed by the system just a few months ago.

"Sa-save me... hel– heuk...!"

"Ah, first, let's infuse stellar mana into your heart. I forgot about that. My bad."

It would be a good sight.

"I'll make your heart throb from now on."

"Y-you crazy..."

"...Wait a moment."

Just as Frey was about to infuse his stellar mana into the girl’s heart, Frey suddenly frowned.

"But, why are you not using your Ability?"

"H-how do you know about my ability?"

"Ferloche told me."

"Ah..."

Hearing that, the girl whispered with closed eyes in a trembling voice.

"I surrender, I surrender. Please, don't hit me anymore."

"No way. Are you waiting for the activation condition of your Ability?"

"..."

"Ferloche, what is her Ability?"

Ferloche just shrugged and casually replied.

"I don't know."

"Huh?"

"It’s a new ability that just appeared in this cycle."

"..."

Hearing that, Frey began to gaze at the girl coldly.

"W-wait, hold on. My Ability is not for combat! So..."

- Thud...!

"...Keeekk."

Eventually, he lightly struck the back of the girl's nape, causing her to lose consciousness.

- Trickle...

"Well done, Frey. Periodic recovery is essential for pain. And if you don't know what's going on, knocking out the opponent is a good strategy. If you're unsure about what the other party intends to do, just knock them out without hesitation.”

As he took out a potion from his embrace and poured it into her mouth, Ferloche applauded and approached him.

"Well... I guess it's time for me to say goodbye."

"Huh?"

As Ferloche suddenly staggered, Frey hurriedly caught her.

"I can’t hold it any longer."

As Ferloche pointed upward from within his embrace, Frey's mouth gaped open.

"Has the sky… been covered until now?"

“It is a divine power shield that is invisible from the outside but visible from the inside. I used to use it to cover us all this time.”

Ferloche's divine power shield enveloped the entire area that used to be a forest.

"It's such a large and complex technique... I can't use it for long. Using it once leaves me drained like this..."

"How did you develop something like that?"

Embracing the now pale Ferloche, Frey asked, and she whispered with a grin.

"I used to play with you outdoors sometimes, Frey."

"What?"

"I believe you roughly know what I’m talking about."

Then, Ferloche slowly sank to the ground.

"I need to rest for a while... I pushed myself too hard. I'll return to being my foolish personality for a while..."

"Come to think of it, you said you would take a break, but why did you overexert yourself?"

"What should I do when I feel so pissed off?"

"Well, feeling pissed is a serious matter."

Frey strongly agreed with those words, and Ferloche chuckled bitterly.

"How long do you plan to maintain that state?"

"..."

"Do you understand the risk? You could lose yourself."

In response to that, Frey softly replied.

"Until I managed to destroy the Church. If we calculate the time, it should be within six days."

"Keep in mind. If you continue to maintain that state after that, your soul will be shattered."

In response to Ferloche's serious tone, Frey nodded with a grin, and Ferloche, with a shy smile, whispered in his ear.

"After this is over, I'll reward you with something nice."

"...!"

Hearing those words, Frey flinched, and holding onto him, Ferloche whispered in his ear with a chilling voice.

"But remember, if you ever get corrupted... I'll really rape you."

"D-didn't you say I'm already broken?"

When Frey asked with a slightly trembling voice, Ferloche tickled his belly and whispered.

"What if I fix you with my divine power? Wouldn't that work?"

"...Haha."

After leaving those words behind, Ferloche slowly closed her eyes.

"Hmm..."

After that, a moment of silence began to settle in the clearing.

- Coordinates of the Church Headquarters

"...Hooo."

Frey, who was reading the note that Ferloche had given him just before she collapsed, soon let out a mocking laugh and walked away.

"Ruby."

"W-what is it?"

Then, Frey arrived in front of Ruby, who was playing with the Paladin Commander with a bored look on her face.

- Pop...!

"Y-you, again..."

- Smooch...!

"...Ebeb!"

While holding her, Frey took out a potion from his pocket, poured it into his mouth, and kissed Ruby.

- Smooch, smooch...

Thus, the tongues of the two began to dance between each other.

"Puha.”

"...Grind."

As Frey lifted his head from her mouth, Ruby clenched her teeth to keep her heart from pounding and tried to cool her emotions.

"I love you."

"Stop talking nonsense, Frey."

As Frey quietly spoke while staring at her, Ruby immediately spat out curses.

"So, let's leave."

"What?"

Upon hearing Frey's words, Ruby wore a puzzled expression.

"I want to be with you forever."

"Again..."

"Let's run away together in the name of love."

"What the hell..."

Ruby's mouth was firmly shut upon hearing those words.

- Thump, thump, thump...!

"...W-where to?"

After a while, when Ruby finally regained her senses and asked while trying to ignore her pounding heart, Frey quietly pressed his face against her cheek.

- Crash...!

"Keheeeeeek!?"

"Um... so..."

The sudden punch caused Ruby to fold in 90 degrees at the waist, then Frey gently whispered to her.

"How is that?"

"...Crazy bastard."

With teary eyes and saliva dripping from her mouth, Ruby cursed.

- Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump...!

However, her heart somehow was beating more intensely than ever before.

- Click, click...

Her heart was pounding so loud that she didn't even notice that someone was taking pictures of them with a magical recording device.

.

.

.

.

.

The next morning.

"..."

In the imperial palace meeting room, an unusually heavy silence prevailed.

"So, what is... the meaning of this."

The four main heroines, except Ferloche, who was lying in the hospital after being rescued by the imperial army, plus Isolet and Lulu, were gathered in the room.

The girls who loved Frey more than anyone else were staring at the newspaper on the desk with cold expressions.

[Frey & Ruby, Escaping to the Western Continent for Love? Shocking...]

[The Hero Party And The Imperial Spokesperson Yet to Confirm The Situation. Fact-checking in progress...]

[Sunrise Empire's Biggest Scandal, Analyzing the Reason for Their Journey to the Western Continent]

[The Academy Losing Its Pivot, Great Panic. Citizens' Anxiety Deepens...]

"..."

Pictures of Frey with wounds all over his body protecting Ruby, followed by a tender moment of them sharing a kiss.

In addition to that, everyone's eyes were fixed on the breaking news that was decorating the front page of the Imperial Newspaper, along with a photo showing them engaging in various romantic gestures like holding hands and wearing hats while boarding a ship bound for the West Continent.

"That damn wench doesn’t know her place… How dare she cause such a stir.”

After a long silence, Clana muttered in a cold voice.

"Let's go."

There was no one who disagreed with that statement.

"To the Western Continent."

Shortly after, a carriage discreetly left the imperial palace.

***

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