[…Do something about it, she says.]
“Major or whatever, I won’t tolerate him controlling my body as he pleases. That bastard Vishnu has no intention of showing his face or talking to me. I’ll make him pay.”
[Elodie, wait.]
Rudra let out a warning voice.
Every single word Elodie was uttering was laced with magic power. Elodie was doing it naturally out of anger, but for a mage of Elodie’s level to utter words imbued with Mana would produce a kind of magical effect. The words themselves would gain ‘meaning.’
It wasn’t as powerful as an incantation, but the words she spoke acted as a force of restraint and compulsion.
Words were like water that couldn’t be retrieved once spilled. Words imbued with magic power made their meaning very clear.
[First, calm down and let’s talk—]
Rudra sensed it and tried to stop Elodie.
“Like I care. He’s hiding and not showing his face right now. Coward. I always thought he was shy, but he’s just a scaredy-cat.”
Remarks directed at one of the three divines. And she was even imbuing them with Mana.
Elodie wasn’t doing this unconsciously. She was doing it on purpose.
Words that couldn’t be taken back meant that they couldn’t be passed off as ‘lies’ or ‘jokes.’
In other words,
[Elodie.]
A voice other than Rudra’s was heard. It was Vishnu.
[Think before you speak.]
Elodie had just provoked him.
Vishnu, one of the three divines.
“You finally came out. Scaredy-cat.”
[Elodie. Your anger right now stems from nothing but arrogance.]
Vishnu spoke in a stern voice. It was a completely different atmosphere from when he was dealing with Frondier.
[Don’t forget your place just because you’re loved by the five Gods. Elodie, you’re just a human. It would be wise of you to behave yourself while our five Gods still find you endearing.]
Vishnu had never said such a thing to Elodie before.
It was only natural. They were words that clearly defined their relationship. Words that would only instill fear in a human who loved him. They weren’t pleasant at all.
But Vishnu had to do it. A human was truly looking down on a God. As a God, he couldn’t condone it.
Even if it meant that Elodie would be frightened and their relationship wouldn’t be able to return to how it was before, it couldn’t be helped.
“You’re hilarious.”
But Elodie scoffed.
Vishnu was surprised by her impertinent words, but in fact, it wasn’t surprising at all.
Elodie de Iniés Liashe.
If Frondier had been by her side, no, if anyone who knew Elodie had been nearby.
“Behave yourself while I’m still calling you my friend, Vishnu.”
Elodie’s reaction was exactly as everyone had expected.
[—This is…]
And finally, Vishnu…
“….!”
[Why do you always make me do this? Our princess.]
As if he was emerging from a curtain that opened in the air.
He appeared before Elodie.
A tall man with all sorts of precious metals adorning his body. However, a divinity emanated from him, dimming the brilliance of the jewels.
One of the three divines, Vishnu.
Elodie, facing him, smirked with one side of her mouth.
“…Well, well. For a scaredy-cat, you have commendable courage. To think you’d show your face.”
[Elodie. I don’t want to hurt you. Don’t get worked up and just behave.]
“Behave, you say… It’s not like I can’t.”
Elodie’s gaze remained provocative as she stared at Vishnu.
“Declare right now that you won’t possess my body. Go on, say it. ‘I will not touch Elodie-nim’s body from now on. Until the day I perish.’”
[…]
Vishnu’s face hardened.
It wasn’t that he was angered by Elodie’s words, but rather, he realized that a proper reconciliation with her was no longer possible.
He shook his head.
[I’ll have to do it one more time.]
“…Ugh!”
Elodie felt a sudden tingling sensation in her hand. It wouldn’t obey her will.
The possession had begun again.
[I went easy on you last time, so it was only for five minutes, Elodie. Because I was worried about your mind. But if I set my mind to it—]
Elodie’s hand lifted, reaching for her own throat. As if trying to strangle herself.
[There’s a limit to looking down on a divine.]
“Grr, ugh…!”
Elodie clenched her teeth. In an instant, her eyes began to glow.
Crrraaaackkk!!
Once again, the wind of Mana blew. Elodie focused her entire being on controlling her body.
[…!]
Vishnu’s eyes flickered.
Elodie’s hand stopped. Just before it could reach her neck.
“Five minutes because you went easy on me…?”
Elodie laughed. Her eyes, fixed on Vishnu, were filled with murderous intent.
The five Gods who claimed to love her. Vishnu, said to be the most powerful among them.
“It seems you need to be taught a lesson.”
[…Elodie…!]
“Not even for a second! You arrogant bastard!!”
Crackle, crackle, craaaack!!
Elodie heard the sound of the air tearing apart. Every time her Mana and Vishnu’s control clashed, the air around her hand vibrated.
Elodie had just been possessed a moment ago.
The sensation of something else taking over her body in her stead.
That’s why, right now.
Elodie was feeling something that most humans would find difficult to perceive.
Something that everyone who had ever fought in this world believed in, something that set them apart despite being one and the same.
Something that no one could truly grasp.
‘The soul.’
“Vishnu…!”
Elodie slowly extended her hand.
The very hand that Vishnu had tried to control.
[This is…!]
Vishnu instinctively understood.
This wasn’t simply Mana. If it were just the power of Mana, it wouldn’t be able to overpower his strength. Not even Elodie could.
This, this power was.
[No, if this continues…!]
—The Pandemonium will open.
“We’re through!!!”
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