Chapter 187

Chapter 187. Underwater Battle, Round Two (2)

While ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Anagin fought the ugly one.

The ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍subordinate woman, Sphinx, and Pairon immediately got moving.

In ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍order to take the subordinate woman's younger sisters, who had taken on the appearance of old women, and evacuate them to a safe place.

They ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍hadn’t discussed it with Anagin beforehand, but they moved in perfect sync regardless.

Fortunately, ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍escaping wasn’t too difficult.

That ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was thanks to Anagin thoroughly clearing the path for them and leaving behind helping hands like Sphinx and Pairon.

If the subordinate woman had been alone, she wouldn’t have been able to do anything.

And understandably so.

How could she possibly take care of five younger sisters by herself?

It wasn’t like she could abandon the others and run away with just one.

Fortunately, Sphinx and Pairon helped solve that problem easily.

Far stronger than she looked, Sphinx effortlessly lifted the subordinate woman’s younger sisters and placed them onto Pairon’s back. Then they climbed on as well and immediately started fleeing.

"We're ready. Please go!"

Perhaps because Pairon had experience escaping together with Anagin during the battle against Orpheus, he immediately started running at Sphinx’s command.

Thump-thump-thump-thump—!

Once they got outside, they saw that the cave entrance had been completely destroyed and was practically wide open, while far in the distance, Anagin was fighting the ugly one.

His movements were too fast to clearly follow, but it felt like Anagin had the upper hand.

Of course, that didn’t mean there was nothing to worry about.

He had said she was nothing special, but no matter what, the opponent was a bishop of the Barbaroi Cult.......

Not someone they could afford to underestimate.

And there was no telling when the fisherman mage might intervene.

The fact that even the subordinate woman was worried made it obvious how dangerous the situation was without needing to say it aloud.

However.......

“Please don’t worry about it.”

Ironically, Sphinx, who was actually Anagin’s companion, told her not to worry and urged Pairon to run even faster.

“I’m sorry, but could you hurry a little more?”

Kweeeiiik-!

Pairon answered energetically and, like Sphinx, didn’t even spare a glance toward the fighting Anagin as he sprinted away.

As far from the battle as possible.

By the time the sounds of air rupturing and explosions from the fight had grown faint, the subordinate woman finally couldn’t hold back anymore and asked.

“Is this really okay?”

“You’re worried about Brother?”

Sphinx responded with a question of her own.

Yet her tone was strange.

It sounded both surprised and understanding at the same time.

There was even a faint trace of amusement.

Still, it didn’t seem malicious or mocking.

More like light teasing.

But even that was enough.

“I, I.......”

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, the subordinate woman stammered, feeling emotions she herself couldn’t properly define.

It seemed she was surprised by her own reaction as well.

Then Sphinx answered in a voice stripped of playfulness.

As though saying the teasing would stop here.

“Don’t worry. He said he’d be fine.”

“But still.......”

“He may not look like it, but when it matters, he’s actually pretty dependable.”

“.......”

The subordinate woman couldn’t say anything.

She had no idea how to respond.

Perhaps, without realizing it herself, she agreed with those words.

While the subordinate woman remained lost in confusion, Pairon had already traveled quite far from the battlefield.

There were several trees nearby, the sea was close, and above all else, they could still see Anagin’s battle from there.

“Thank you, Pairon! It’s exactly the kind of place I asked for.”

After checking the surroundings, Sphinx thanked Pairon and immediately began chanting a spell.

[O breath of the forest, please lend us your aid. Hide us.]

After reciting the spell, Sphinx spread the wings on her back and lightly flapped them.

A gentle breeze stirred, and as the branches and leaves swayed with the wind, they moved as though responding to her call and concealed Sphinx’s group.

It was a magic Sphinx had learned when she and Anagin temporarily stayed with the Pebble Traveling Troupe.

A concealment spell that hid one’s body within the natural environment of the forest.

Although only the mage who used that magic could cast it, its effectiveness was remarkable enough to inspire awe, so Sphinx had asked to learn it just in case.

After all, there was no guarantee Anagin wouldn’t end up in danger again.

At the very least, she thought it might save their lives once, so she paid an enormous sum to learn it.

Anyway, she could just spend Anagin’s money.

‘I learned it just in case, but to think I’d end up using it like this.... Thank goodness.’

The magic itself was difficult, and the conditions for using it were strict, making it hard to learn, but Sphinx managed to grasp it imperfectly by connecting it to her own wind magic.

Using the forest air as a medium to request concealment, hiding their presence and even masking their scent.......

No matter how powerful the Barbaroi Cult was, they wouldn’t easily find them.

Sphinx explained the effects of the magic she had just used to the subordinate woman.

To reassure her.

“...That’s a relief.”

After hearing that they likely wouldn’t be discovered easily, the subordinate woman let out a sigh of relief.

However, there was still something slightly stiff and awkward about her demeanor.

Sphinx hesitated for a moment, but ultimately couldn’t stop herself from asking.

It might have been somewhat unnecessary in a situation like this, but before being a mage, Sphinx was a scholar.

And scholars couldn’t suppress their curiosity.

“Lady Goddess. Are you still worried about Brother?”

“...Is teasing me that fun?”

The subordinate woman responded irritably to Sphinx’s slightly excited tone.

Fortunately, although her reaction wasn’t great, it wasn’t as sharp as before.

Back then, it had felt like dealing with an enemy.

Now, it was more like dealing with an uncomfortable person.

Or perhaps an ill-fated companion.

It was a dramatic change in such a short period of time.

Sphinx suspected it was because of the conversation the subordinate woman had with Anagin inside the underwater cave.

Because Sphinx herself had experienced something similar once before.

'Lift your head! The one who saved the humans here is none other than you! You! Not me, and not them, but you! So stand proud. Raise your head.’

Realizing this, Sphinx immediately apologized.

"I am sorry if you felt like I was teasing. It is absolutely not like that, so please understand. As I mentioned before, I just have a lot of curiosity because I am a scholar."

Sphinx apologized while mentioning the conversation they had shared in the past.

Back when Anagin had gone alone to the Nereid Fishing Village, and afterward the mages had departed as well.

Sphinx had exchanged a brief conversation with the subordinate woman.

She had spoken a little about her own past, told stories about Anagin, and said that the person who would help the subordinate woman would probably be Anagin.

After all, it was only natural for a familiar to assist her master’s work.

Perhaps the food she had brought over hadn’t been entirely meaningless, because the subordinate woman had exchanged a few words with her, leading up to the present.

Even that alone was a great achievement.

After all, under normal circumstances, a monster like herself and a goddess would never have a chance to speak like this.

Sphinx decided not to provoke the goddess any further and focused on her work instead.

“Pairon, could you take out the tent and blankets?”

As requested, Pairon spat out a tent, blankets, and various other items.

Sphinx skillfully set up the tent.

After all, the subordinate woman’s younger sisters, who were barely more than half-dead corpses, needed somewhere to rest.

The subordinate woman understood what Sphinx was trying to do and attempted to help, but.......

“No. Lady Goddess, please take care of your younger sisters instead. Try mixing some water with the cookies in a bowl and feeding them first.”

Sphinx offered her some leftover cookies and suggested another task instead.

Not only was the subordinate woman unsuited for this sort of work, but taking care of her younger sisters, who were little more than skin and bones, was the highest priority.

If circumstances allowed, she would have wanted to make porridge for them, but given the situation, there was no time for that, so she settled for cookie porridge instead.

Since it concerned her younger sisters, the subordinate woman accepted the cookies without resistance.

However, instead of immediately crushing them into a bowl with water, she simply stared at the cookies.

As if deep in thought.

Sphinx had no idea what she was thinking, but she didn’t rush her.

Instead, she continued doing what Anagin had asked of her.

After inviting her to fight alongside them, only to send her here, he probably meant for Sphinx to help the subordinate woman as much as possible.

And Sphinx intended to follow that intention.

“The tent is ready. It’s a bit cramped, but I’ll put all your younger sisters inside and cover them with blankets. And if your strength returns, escape into the sea immediately. That’s why we came somewhere overlooking the ocean.”

“...You really believe he’ll pull it off, don’t you?”

Though she hadn’t expected an answer, the subordinate woman finally spoke.

It seemed she had organized her thoughts at last.

Instead of scolding her for saying such things at a time like this, Sphinx smiled faintly and answered.

After all, chances to converse with a goddess like this were rare.

“Well. I guess after staying with Brother for so long, I just ended up becoming like this without realizing it.”

“It won’t be easy.”

It was discouraging to hear, but Sphinx didn’t mind.

“I caught a glimpse earlier, and Brother was overwhelming the Barbaroi Cult bishop—”

“The bishop isn’t the problem. We don’t know when that bastard will appear, do we? He might’ve already appeared by now.”

By that bastard, she clearly meant the fisherman mage.

The illegitimate child born between Poseidon and a human.

At that moment, Sphinx became curious.

Why was the subordinate woman so wary of him in particular?

She understood that he had grown stronger by absorbing the power of mermaids, but even considering that, the subordinate woman’s reaction still felt somewhat excessive.

Sphinx wanted to ask in detail why she was acting that way, but instinctively realized she wouldn’t get a proper answer.

Gods never properly answered the questions people asked them.

And besides, there was no time.

“I’ll go help too, so please don’t worry too much.”

“What if....... Just what if even your strength isn’t enough?”

It was an ominous thing to say, but Sphinx didn’t get angry.

Right now, no matter how awkwardly, the subordinate woman was worrying about Anagin and Sphinx.

A god worrying about a human and a monster.......

Some people might say that wasn’t a big deal.

But Sphinx knew it was.

Just as Sphinx was about to reassure her, the subordinate woman suddenly asked an unexpected question.

"Then would he receive a blessing?"

She was asking whether Anagin would accept a blessing if even Sphinx joining the battle wasn’t enough.

It was a rather contradictory question.

If they still couldn’t win even with Sphinx helping, then the subordinate woman wouldn’t recover enough power to grant a blessing anyway.

However, having experienced various forms of social interaction, Sphinx chose not to point out that unnecessary truth and instead answered only the question itself.

And it was an important answer.

“He absolutely wouldn’t accept it.”

“Absolutely?”

“Yes. Absolutely. That’s just the kind of person he is.”

It was an irrational and absurd answer.

Yet the subordinate woman accepted it.

Because it was Anagin.

An uneasy silence passed between them.

Then Sphinx spoke again.

“But please don’t worry too much. Brother will somehow save you and your younger sisters.”

“......How can you be so sure?”

“Because Brother never lies. He bullshits all the time, though. So he’ll keep his promise to save your younger sisters.”

It was a completely baseless thing to say.

And yet, for some reason, it carried a strange sense of conviction.

No—she wanted to believe it.

Even so, the subordinate woman couldn’t completely shake off her anxiety.

Because her younger sisters’ lives were at stake as well.

And just as the scales in her heart tilted back and forth—

Swoooooosh......!

The subordinate woman could feel it.

The power she had personally torn out and offered up to save her younger sisters was returning to her body.

Anagin had kept his promise.

As if telling her to stop doubting him already.