Seraphina's Trial
Seraphina's eyes brimmed with emotion, but Beatrice's gaze was sharp. Their reactions were so different in the same situation... First... maybe I should greet them. I slightly lifted one of my roots and waved it, just like a hand.
Both of them flinched simultaneously. Ah, they got startled because the root moved.
"Hello! You're Seraphina and Beatrice, right?"
As I engraved the letters with a root, their expressions grew even more flustered. They looked exactly like they did in the game, but witnessing such vivid emotional displays made them seem even more beautiful. Seraphina's pink hair fluttered like cherry blossom petals, and Beatrice's silver armor gleamed as if it truly captured moonlight.
If alt Beatrice had been released, she would've been insanely popular...
"How... do you know us?" Beatrice asked, refusing to drop her guard.
Oh no! Did I carelessly mention their names!?
At that moment, Seraphina nodded as if realizing something. "Could it be... that Michael-sama told you?"
Uh... actually, it was thanks to the status window and my past life's game knowledge... but isn't that also Michael's grace?
"That's right!"
Seraphina immediately knelt and began to pray. Her lips trembled. "Through Michael-sama's revelation, we came here to meet you. The being I saw in my dreams every night... it was you all along."
Huh? What did she say?
Michael's revelation... they really came to find me? Then, what am I supposed to do for them?
"What do you mean by 'Michael's revelation'?"
"I saw you in my dreams every night. A sacred flower blooming on the snowy mountain..."
"Michael-sama loves peace and mercy. For such a being to guide me here..."
"Huh? Loves peace?"
My root trembled slightly. Michael definitely desired greater power. That's why she told me to offer blood sacrifices to make me stronger...
"Yes, Michael-sama is the light of the world..."
"No! I've received so much grace from Michael. Every time I killed monsters, she granted me new power, and every time I offered blood sacrifices, she bestowed blessings."
Seraphina's expression hardened. "That... can't be. Michael-sama would never desire blood..."
"All the divine power I've received from Michael was earned through blood sacrifices."
Seraphina hesitated before speaking. "But..."
"I was taught that Michael-sama is a merciful light... why..."
She clutched her holy symbol tightly and continued. "A thousand years ago, when the world was shrouded in darkness, she saved humanity. According to the Church of Light's records, Michael-sama shunned war and violence, bestowing healing and mercy. That's why even now, we..."
Sigh... Just like Marianne before, they really don't know Michael at all? Especially Seraphina, a saint—how could she be like this? Did Michael send her here so I could correct her misguided beliefs?
Then, my role is Seraphina's trial...' 'I didn't want to fight...
"Enough."
"I understand Michael's will. Come at me."
I cut Seraphina off. Her trembling eyes suggested she still hadn't grasped the situation. "Y-Yes...?"
"Tch."
"Are you prepared?"
While engraving the words with a root, I slowly assumed a stance. Beatrice immediately stepped in front of Seraphina. Her silver sword emitted a cold gleam. The bugs writhed, readying for battle.
No. This is the task Michael entrusted to me.
The butterflies flapped their wings hesitantly, and soon all the bugs retreated.
Phew... let's get started.
The black roots burrowed into the ground. And in an instant—
Whoosh!
Roots erupted from beneath Beatrice's feet. She twisted her body nimbly to dodge, and her silver sword plunged down like lightning.
Clang!
The sword cleaved the root, but even more roots surged from the severed stump. An overwhelming horde of auxiliary batteries, regenerating the roots endlessly.
Then Seraphina's staff glowed. "Light of Judgment!"
Pure white light exploded outward, repelling the roots. As expected of a saint's power.
Now it really begins.
This time, multiple roots intertwined like dancing serpents and attacked. Beatrice's sword traced circles of light in a spin. Severed roots scattered like black rain.
"Holy silver light!"
Beatrice's sword took on a blue hue. In an instant, sword energy rent the air, slicing six roots at once. I couldn't help but flinch at the speed and power.
But in that moment, a single root grazed her shoulder. Red blood sprayed into the air.
Ssssh—
The airborne blood morphed into red mist, beginning to fill the surroundings.
"This is...!"
Beatrice scanned the area with wide eyes. Their vision grew hazier by the second.
Seraphina raised her staff high. "Light of Purification...!"
But yellow pollen engulfed her in that instant. Paralysis effect.
At the same time, roots lashed out from every direction. Beatrice dashed to Seraphina's side in a single bound and swung her sword. The flashing silver arc severed the roots.
"Sera!"
But a root pierced her leg in the opening. Thicker blood turned to mist, fully obscuring their sight.
Seraphina's healing magic enveloped Beatrice's wound. Yet red pollen rained down, spreading the bleeding effect. The wound's hemorrhage wouldn't stop.
"Ngh!"
"Bea! Get ready!"
Seraphina's staff blazed with light. Holy energy wrapped around Beatrice's sword.
They've still got one trick left.
"Take this!"
Beatrice's sword flashed like a streak of light. Over a dozen roots were lopped off in a heartbeat.
Ugh!
I flinched at the unexpected pain. But fresh roots sprouted in an instant.
Not bad. But...
From the severed spots, even more roots surged, coiling toward the pair. Like massive snakes in a frenzy, dozens of roots danced through the red mist, fully encircling them.
Beatrice raised her sword. The silver blade glowed blue, attempting to part the mist. But denser red fog kept billowing up.
"No way..."
"Michael-sama... have I been wrong all this time...?"
Seraphina's voice quavered. I could see her convictions beginning to waver.
This should be enough...?
As I dispersed the red mist, their figures sharpened into view. Beatrice remained vigilant, sword at the ready, while Seraphina knelt on the ground with a conflicted expression.
"You can get up now. I have no intention of fighting anymore."
"How can we... trust you?" Seraphina asked cautiously.
Hmm...
After a moment's thought, I parted my petals slightly. A sweet fragrance wafted out, and the bugs began moving peacefully. It was like a quaint little garden had sprung to life.
"I'll show you my heart."
Golden nectar beaded between my petals—special honey infused with my devotion to Michael.
"That..."
Beatrice's eyes stayed wary, but Seraphina slowly rose and stepped forward.
"You'll understand my thoughts."
Seraphina reached out tentatively. The quivering droplet touched her fingertip. Her eyes flew wide. She froze on the spot, utterly entranced.
"Sera!"
Beatrice hurried over in concern. "This is... a longing for peace, true devotion to Michael-sama... and..."
Beatrice hesitated but extended her hand as well. She too stiffened after tasting the honey. "This flavor... it's unlike anything I've ever known."
"Now do you understand my sincerity?"
"Yes..." Seraphina lifted her head. "Michael-sama's will—that overwhelming power is needed to safeguard peace. You're not merely Michael's tool, but a guardian for peace itself."
Beatrice nodded slowly as well.
Phew... it's done.
It felt just like being a job-change NPC from the game. Still, correcting their misguided beliefs filled me with a profound sense of accomplishment. Is this the reward of being a job-change NPC...? So, is my task complete? It feels wrong to just thrash them and send them on their way... Is there anything else I can do for them?
Uh... what could it be...?
Game knowledge... probably useless... ...Can't I grant them skills like Michael does? Want to make honey too? Yap yap! I tried sharing my ability in hopes that Seraphina and Beatrice could produce delicious honey of their own, but nothing changed. Sensing my intent, their eyes turned toward me, brimming with expectation.
Ah... this is too embarrassing...
Ugh... it feels like I have to give them something... Oh, right! Master said I could take any of the rare treasures!
"Girl butterfly!"
A butterfly with rosy cheeks fluttered over.
"Bring some gear that would suit them."
"Not the super amazing stuff!"
The butterfly flapped away, and a few bugs headed to the deepest layer. A Hyper Borealis Ant took the lead, with Crystal Beetles following behind. Soon, they returned with a bracelet and a pendant.
One was a bracelet that seemed to hold a sky-blue storm, with swirling cloud-like lights inside. The other was a pendant like condensed shadow, faintly gleaming like moonlight on darkness.
Uh... these look way too good?
I eyed the butterfly. Though it had no real eyes, we understood each other.
"Didn't you bring something too good?"
Shake, shake.
"Are they bad?"
Nod, nod.
What? These are just okay? As expected, Master's treasures are on another level...
Safe to give, then. If there's trouble, I can polymorph and go retrieve them!
"These are gifts for you."
I handed one to each with my roots, and their eyes went wide.
"This... such absurd magical power..."
Beatrice fiddled with the bracelet cautiously. "You're just giving us things like this?" Seraphina asked, stunned.
Hehe, they love it.
Well, now that I'm basically an admin...
"Could it be... Frostia's...?"
I didn't need to hear the end—Beatrice's fear of Master was palpable.
"Master gave them to me. And Master's out right now."
Beatrice looked like she wanted to ask more, but she fell silent when I wiggled a root.
"Thank you."
Seraphina bowed her head. The confusion was gone from her eyes. We're on good terms now, right? Then I can finally ask about alt Beatrice?
"So, what's with that sword and armor?"
"This is the holy sword. I'm known as... the Silver Hero."
Huh? Hero...?
My mind reeled. A hero got wrecked by me? And the hero from the game was definitely someone else? Their name was long... Ah, I only remember the face and that they were a hero... I didn't bother memorizing the guy's name!
"Aren't heroes supposed to be men...?"
"Hm? There are five heroes in total. Three men and two women."
For a second, I wondered if that was sexist, but the real shock hit harder.
Five heroes!?
No way, does that mean...?
"Are there multiple Demon Kings too?"
"Demon King? Demon Kings are beings from legend, as far as I know."
Huh? Then what the heck do heroes even do?
"Legend has it the first hero defeated the Demon King. The heroes of this era battle monsters threatening humanity and followers of the evil gods."
Seraphina continued her explanation, perhaps sensing my curiosity. But what's this about evil god followers...? Are the evil gods like Demon Kings...?
Hm...
"Seraphina, you're the saint, right...?"
"Yes, though I'm unworthy, that's what they call me."
Phew...
It's not entirely different from what I know. Still, the information gap feels huge. I've got so many questions.