The Eve (3)
A beautiful flower bloomed in the capital square.
It was truly a breathtaking beauty.
“Oh…”
Someone in the square let out a dazed sound.
Sybil stood tall and radiant in the center of the square.
It wasn't that she was striking a particular pose or expression.
Just a very small change—her eyes, the corners of her lips, the way she moved her hands. In terms of numbers, it was only a few centimeters of difference.
But that alone transformed Sybil.
The people around her tried to remain calm, attempting to proceed with the vote.
But most of them glanced at Sybil as they passed.
Whether Sybil was aware of it or not, she gradually drew closer to the voting line. In other words, she was walking towards the center.
“Wow, we made eye contact! Hello!”
“Yes, yes?”
Sybil's eyes met Bruna's. Of course, the same went for Lupina, who was standing next to her.
Both of them were flustered.
They knew they weren't important.
In the end, it wasn't them that people were choosing, but a God.
They were choosing between Hera and Aphrodite.
Both were famous beauties in the capital. People's appearances were subjective, and it wouldn't be strange no matter who won.
However, if someone undeniably more beautiful were to appear…
It would no longer be a matter of voting.
It might even be said that the Gods had chosen the wrong humans.
──An incident.
The people in the square suddenly sensed that an unexpected incident had occurred.
“……Arald.”
The first to move was, as expected, the Frondier.
“Check on Charon.”
[Y-yes!]
Arald responded, understanding his intentions.
Even the Frondier's mind had momentarily stopped when Sybil appeared.
The Frondier hated incidents more than anything.
Naturally, all sorts of questions arose in his mind as he tried to cope.
Why was Sybil, who should be in the Empire, here?
Did she come alone? Was someone with her?
How did she get past Poseidon? Did she know about the situation on this continent?
How much information did she have?
Was her current action planned or accidental?
After going through all those questions, he reached a conclusion.
‘It’s fine.’
It didn't matter what Sybil's intentions were.
If she wanted to do something, then Frondier would just ride the wave.
It was right to actively help her.
The reason was simple.
‘Sybil is not a villain.’
As long as the Frondier believed that, Sybil was a reliable ally.
[Charon seems to be having an urgent conversation with another Paladin.]
Arald reported.
From the Frondier's position, there were too many people to see Charon.
But he was definitely the first one to move.
“Tell Lily. If Aphrodite makes a move, be ready.”
[Will she move?]
“Not now. But she won't be able to stay put.”
Then the Frondier looked over his shoulder.
“Gregory. What about Baal?”
[It seems like he's ordering his subordinates to find the gate that Astaroth's subordinate came through, the one you told me about. He himself is waiting for Satan.]
“Waiting?”
[I don't know, but he's started some kind of ritual to summon a devil.]
“Without a Dragon Heart?”
[Yes. There doesn't seem to be any proper medium for a devil contract.]
That was strange.
To summon a devil as powerful as Satan, a medium with considerable power would be needed. Was Baal different?
The Frondier stopped thinking and asked,
“Are any of the other 72 Devils nearby?”
[I don't see any.]
Then, perhaps a considerable number of the 72 Devils were also nearby.
Fighting a God itself was one thing, but a fight against a human possessed by a God was manageable. They were the main body, after all.
Right after the Frondier spoke, a loud voice suddenly rang out.
It was Charon's voice.
“Devil!”
Charon personally appeared at the front of the square.
His finger pointed directly at Sybil.
“A-a devil? Me?”
“That's right, you vile creature. How dare you try to deceive the eyes of the citizens!”
Charon suddenly called Sybil a devil and radiated hostility.
Strangely enough, the atmosphere in the square calmed down.
‘Aha.’
The Frondier understood.
The appearance of someone more beautiful than the two women chosen by the Gods.
That alone was confusing. But if that person was a devil, the citizens could rest assured.
‘People tend to believe what they want to believe rather than what is right. Not bad for thinking on the spot.’
Of course, Sybil was unaware of such circumstances. She was just feeling wronged.
“Deceive? What did I do?!”
“Silence! I shall pass judgment upon you myself, right here and now!”
Charon was a Paladin. His trust among the citizens who didn't know his true colors was strong.
He said she was a devil, so she must be a devil. And that was more comforting.
“A-a devil…!”
The citizens quickly began to distance themselves from Sybil.
“E-evidence!”
“Such things are unnecessary!”
The only evidence for calling Sybil a devil was, in fact, ‘because she is more beautiful than the humans chosen by the Gods.’ That was something that could never be said out loud. It was like an inconvenient truth that everyone knew.
Therefore, he had to act quickly. Charon drew his sword and unleashed his aura.
“Die!”
He kicked off the ground and charged at Sybil. His blade extended in a long, straight line.
It wasn't a bad strategy, but…
“……What, seriously?”
There was something he didn't know.
Clang!
“Huh?”
Charon's sword snapped in half.
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