“Both of you, listen carefully.”
Frondier whispered.
“As much as possible, don’t kill them.”
“……?”
To the two who looked at him with question marks in their eyes, he continued whispering.
“If you make it too one-sided, the other Paladins will start to intervene. The reason the Paladins aren’t moving right now is that they’re assessing the situation, and it’s also a matter of pride. It wouldn’t look good for those who represent Palma to jump in all at once for just three people.”
Frondier had observed Paladin Antero and Charon and was certain.
Paladins were strong, but they were weaker than the Zodiacs. If Elodie and Selena each took on one, there was nothing to worry about, even if they had to hold back.
“And most of the Paladins are just clueless.”
“……You feel sorry for them enough to let them live?”
“Yeah.”
Frondier admitted plainly.
“They just want to eradicate evil.”
Frondier was reminded of Zodiac Ludovic. He had dedicated everything to the Empire out of loyalty. But because of that, Ludovic was consumed by immense regret.
Frondier wondered what had become of him. Had he overcome it?
“The most important thing is to buy time.”
“How long?”
“Sorry. That’s not up to me.”
“……Okay.”
Elodie nodded in understanding. Selena did the same.
“Alright then.”
Frondier raised his voice and looked at Charon.
“Shall we continue, Charon?”
“……!”
Whoosh
Frondier drew back his bowstring,
Thud!
Elodie, Selena, and the two Paladins all moved almost simultaneously.
“W-wait, ugh!”
The Paladins wanted to protect Charon, but Elodie and Selena wouldn’t allow it. Charon realized this and tried to get up, but the pain was still unfamiliar and overwhelming.
Whoosh!
“Gah!”
Clang!
He hurriedly swung his sword, barely managing to deflect the arrow.
‘Don’t notice.’
Frondier thought as he aimed his next arrow.
He hadn’t used ‘Sure Hit’ since the second arrow that had grazed Charon’s shoulder. If he had, that second arrow wouldn’t have just grazed Charon; it would have struck him dead on.
To be precise, he was aiming at other things in close proximity to Charon. There was no need to use his ability directly on him. He aimed at the pebbles on the ground nearby, the trees behind him. Charon thought the arrows curving towards him were targeting him, but in reality, ‘Sure Hit’ was latched onto something else entirely.
In his current state, Charon wasn’t in any condition to fight properly.
Pielott had suffered far worse injuries and still achieved incredible feats. In comparison, Charon was struggling against a mere sliver of demonic energy. The very thought infuriated Frondier, but he had to desperately suppress his anger for now.
‘Don’t notice, Charon.’
Clang! Clang! Claaang!
Charon was using all his strength to block the arrows.
Or so he thought. They were arrows that would have missed even if he had just stood still.
It was a ridiculous farce if one knew the truth, but from Charon’s perspective, it was fortunate.
‘If you find out, I’ll have no choice but to kill you.’
Frondier increased his speed. It was as if he was getting impatient with how well Charon was blocking his attacks.
His two companions were locked in a prolonged battle with the Paladins, and there were still many Paladins remaining. And above all, there were the Gods.
So he wanted to end this quickly.
To make it seem that way, he fired arrows with urgency, drawing his bowstring haphazardly.
His vision seemed to narrow, as if solely focused on Charon.
And at that moment,
“—As long as it’s not divine power, right?”
Thud!
Something pierced Frondier’s back.
His eyes darted around. There was no pain.
Suddenly,
“Frondier.”
A woman descended before him, bathed in radiant light.
It was Aphrodite.
Their eyes met. At the same time, she unleashed her full power.
Frondier quickly averted his gaze. His eyes landed on a young boy, floating in mid-air, holding a bow.
The bow was armed with a golden arrow.
A painless golden arrow, a young boy floating in mid-air.
Aphrodite, who had met Frondier’s eyes the moment the arrow struck its mark.
“...Cupid.”
“Oh my, you even know that name.”
Aphrodite chuckled.
Frondier, struck by Cupid’s arrow and gazing upon Aphrodite, who was currently emanating her divine power in all its glory.
“Now you’re mine. You can neither disobey nor ignore my words. That is the power of love. Now, kneel before me—”
Thud—!
And then.
Everyone witnessed it.
Their jaws dropped.
Their gazes shot from left to right.
“...Th-that, that, that…”
What just happened?
Aphrodite, who had been standing beside Frondier just moments ago, was now embedded in the wall of a building at the far right.
Frondier was extending his leg in the direction where Aphrodite had been standing.
Which meant,
‘…He kicked Aphrodite…’
Frondier, struck by Cupid’s arrow and having received the full brunt of Aphrodite’s divine power.
He had sent Aphrodite flying with a clean kick, and after slowly lowering his foot,
“The power of love, huh.”
He muttered, then,
“I can definitely feel its effects.”
He clenched and unclenched his hand, a strange expression on his face.
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