Kouki slid on the ground, barely steadying himself, and looked at the guard with a shocked expression.
Although Kouki had been focused on his own 'touch-and-go' idea, he could barely see the guard's attack.
The guard relaxed his strength, and with a natural posture, lowered the sword he had raised. That's right, even the previous attack was so natural that Kouki felt no sense of danger, which was why he couldn't react.
"Hey, Hero, you... weren't originally a warrior, were you?"
Kouki was heavily impacted, both physically and mentally.
The guard, a man, seemed to narrow his eyes and ponder for a moment, then suddenly questioned Kouki with a rather arrogant and rude attitude and tone. Faced with the sudden question, Kouki stammered but still replied:
"Huh? Uh, yes, that's right, I was just a normal student originally."
...Now you're a 'Messenger of God'?
The guard glanced at Ishtar and other Holy Church personnel, as if to say it was a joke.
Then, with very natural steps, he closed the distance with Kouki.
"Raise your sword, Hero, if you keep being so pathetic..."
Goosebumps rose on Kouki's back; the rest of the sentence was very clear without being spoken.
As he felt an intense killing intent, his instincts suddenly sounded an alarm, and Kouki was able to obey his instincts and raise his sword in time to block.
Clang!!
With a grand burst of sparks, a powerful impact echoed all around.
Kouki, still kneeling, took the heavy sword that was chopped down from directly above, and in his shock, he could only think, "When did he get so close?"
Kouki met the guard's downward gaze at an extremely close distance, and instantly, an even denser killing intent, as if piercing through Kouki's body, struck him.
"Ahhhhh!!!"
Kouki let out a cry that was indistinguishable between fear and anger, and a massive torrent of magical power erupted from his entire body.
The guard was pushed back by that force, losing his balance.
Kouki seized that opening and swung his Holy Sword!
The dazzling holy light made the man involuntarily narrow his eyes, and his expression became slightly more serious. He felt that this power was indeed a power bestowed by God.
Then, the next moment.
"I'm not fighting anymore." He threw his sword to the ground.
Chapter 36: The Emperor of the He Lu Xia Empire!
Kouki's Holy Sword stopped precariously in front of him, almost cutting him, but the man didn't even blink.
"Ah!?" Kouki was still radiating a sacred aura.
"I said I'm not fighting anymore, I surrender."
The man spread his hands.
Hearing his words, Kouki couldn't help but be speechless, but what could he do when the other person had already surrendered?
"I didn't expect the Hero to be just a child..." he said with disappointment.
The voice was neither loud nor soft, at least everyone present heard it.
Kouki became agitated again after hearing it, wishing he could draw his Holy Sword again.
"Hero-sama is still growing, and lack of experience is unavoidable."
"In any case, let's consider what was just said as encouragement for Hero-sama."
"Otherwise, even you, as the Pope of the Holy Church, I must confirm whether your faith in God is devout, do you understand what I mean?"
"Emperor Gaharuto."
The voice of the white-haired Pope Ishtar was full of majesty as he spoke.
"Hmph, as expected, I can't hide anything from His Holiness the Pope." The man cursed in a voice that the surroundings couldn't hear, while taking off the earring from his right ear.
Randomly, as if covered by a mist, the air around the guard began to turn a hazy white.
When the mist dispersed, a completely different person appeared.
It was a rough and bold man, about forty years old. He had short silver hair, a pair of sharp, jade-green eyes reminiscent of a wolf, and although his build was slender.
Even through his clothes, it was evident that his body was extremely muscular, as if condensed to its limit.
The moment that figure was seen, the surroundings erupted in a clamor.
"Ga-Gaharuto-sama!?"
"Your Majesty the Emperor!?"
That's right, this man was none other than Gaharuto D. He Er Xia, the current Emperor of the He Lu Xia Empire.
King Elchsig of the Heiligh Kingdom, rubbing his brow at the unexpected turn of events, asked:
"What is the meaning of this, Emperor Gaharuto?"
"Isn't this King Ericsid? My apologies for not greeting you properly."
"I simply thought it would be quicker for me to confirm it myself, so I put on a small act. After all, this is a matter of great importance concerning all of humanity, please forgive my rudeness."
Although Emperor Gaharuto offered an apology verbally, he showed no sign of remorse.
King Ericsid sighed upon hearing this and shook his head, saying, "Never mind."
This Emperor was unpredictable, and such unexpected surprises were commonplace for him.
"Your Holiness Ishtar, as you said, my previous remarks were merely advice given because I found Hero-sama's state to be too dangerous."
"We would never insult a Messenger of God."
"As for the crude choice of words, it is due to the nature of our nation. Please forgive any offense."
Gaharuto, with a clearly disingenuous tone, gave Ishtar a reply that was not quite an apology.
Ishtar, though his eyes narrowed, maintained a gentle expression and nodded in understanding.
After that, during the formal talks, the Empire also gave a very standard reply.
On the grounds of future potential, they expressed willingness to acknowledge the Hero, so the purpose of this visit seemed to have been basically achieved.
"Your Majesty, what do you think?"
Gaharuto and his envoy were walking back to their room after the talks had concluded, and the envoy asked in a low voice.
"What else is there to think? He's just a snot-nosed kid."
"Then, the rumor of successfully conquering the Orcus Great Labyrinth is also false?" The envoy asked, puzzled.
"Who knows." Gaharuto recalled the holy light, then scoffed with a disdainful laugh,
"Perhaps someone else conquered the Labyrinth, who can say?"
Unbeknownst to him, he had inadvertently spoken the truth.
"Those brats are not a concern, the one we truly need to be wary of is the Pope." Gaharuto's eyes became serious.
"Understood."
----------
This was a silent space where even the sound of insects crawling could not be heard. The terrain's unevenness appeared extremely natural, showing no signs of artificial intervention.
Although this was a naturally formed cave, it could only be called natural under the premise of excluding its completely sealed form with no entrances or exits, which was extremely strange.
The decisive point that made this enclosed cave eerie was at the very center of the cave.
That was the geometric patterns carved into the ground, these patterns were both complex and delicate, surrounded by a circular array, which is what is called a 'magic circle'.
If a magician of this era were to see this magic circle, which was about three meters in diameter, they would certainly be stunned speechless, and might even faint directly!
—It was such an astonishing magic circle.
But this magnificent magic circle, which should have been revered as a national treasure, was now covered in dust, even somewhat dirty, exuding a mournful atmosphere.
It was clear at a glance that this magic circle had not been used for decades, even centuries, resembling a legendary sword in folklore, quietly waiting for a worthy warrior to appear and draw it.
It's unknown what triggered the magic circle, causing it to begin to change.
Faint red light began to flow along the grooves of the magic circle, initially like fireflies, barely perceptible, then gradually increasing in brightness.
The next moment
Light burst forth!
The brilliant red magic circle shone brightly, dispelling the darkness of the cave and revealing a mysterious and magnificent scene.
If anyone were to witness it firsthand, they would surely tremble and then be dumbfounded, feeling as if some supernatural entity was about to appear.
However, when the light dissipated as if melting into the air, revealing the three figures on the magic circle, a voice rang out.
"What the hell!?"
They had been in the dark underground Labyrinth for months, and after finally finding a teleportation magic circle to get out, they discovered they were still in a cave!
He had been looking forward to seeing the long-awaited sunlight, what a disappointment.
Hiyama felt a pang of disappointment in his heart, but then he felt his clothes being tugged.
"What's wrong?"
Hiyama turned his head and looked at the petite girl whose height didn't even reach his shoulder.
She had fluffy golden hair and red eyes reminiscent of the moon.
With skin like white porcelain and thin, peach-colored lips, her eyes slightly sleepy, she was a beautiful girl like a ceramic doll crafted with all the effort of the Creator God.
She was Yue, the vampire princess who had been sealed at the bottom of the abyss.
"It's normal for a magic circle to be hidden in such a secluded place."
"Hmm, that's true." Hiyama chuckled.
Anyway, they were out, so there was no rush.
At this moment, a bright light rose in the cave. The reason was that the silver-haired girl next to them took out a small, glowing white stone from the silver-white ring on her hand.
It dispelled the darkness.
This ring was originally a spatial ring given by the system. Hiyama, having Oscar's ring, gave this one to the silver-haired maid. It mainly contained their daily necessities and convenient tools.
Chapter 37: They're Out!
And when Yue saw this scene, she also pouted and asked Hiyama for a ring.
Hiyama, annoyed by her constant pestering, also made her a ring with an exquisite pattern and gemstone.
However, this ring had no spatial ability. Instead, it had a large magic stone on it where Yue could store magical power. She could draw from it when her magical power was depleted, a very convenient function.
Yue's expression when she received the ring looked very surprised and happy.
"Ehehehe~ Darling proposed to me..."
"No, no, no, I never said anything like that, besides, if you weren't constantly pestering me...."
Unfortunately, Yue, immersed in her own world, could no longer hear him at all.
Hiyama could do nothing about her and could only let her fantasize.
"Master, there is a magic power reaction ahead."
2B's cold and emotionless voice came.
Hiyama looked forward and saw a wall with neat vertical lines appear. At his eye level, there was a seven-sided shape about the size of a palm.
Each vertex had strange patterns drawn on it, and one of them was a pattern he had seen frequently over the past few months—the crest of Oscar Olucus.
Hiyama approached the wall, aiming the ring he inherited from Oscar at the pattern.
A rumbling sound was heard, and the wall opened to the left and right, revealing the passage behind it.