Mariya Yuri was indeed very dissatisfied.
She still didn't understand, up to this moment, why while they were chatting, Kaiser suddenly ended up fighting Seishuin Ena.
Seishuin Ena herself, on the other hand, wore an unconcerned expression. Though she lay on the bed covered in injuries, her face was full of smiles.
"No helping it. Before I knew it, it just ended up like this."
With such a statement as her justification, Seishuin Ena concluded the topic, causing the dissatisfaction on Mariya Yuri's face to deepen further.
"Then what about you?" Mariya Yuri turned toward the doorway, speaking with indignation, "Why did you strike so ruthlessly at a girl you just met, Your Majesty?"
The one Mariya Yuri was questioning, Kaiser, was standing at the door, leaning against the entrance, not looking into the room, but instead playing with an object in his hand.
What Kaiser held in his hand was precisely the divine sword that had previously radiated extraordinary battle aura and shown a transcendent will to fight—Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi.
At this moment, the divine sword lay obediently in Kaiser's hand, as though it had lost all desire to resist, letting him toy with it.
Ever since Kaiser grasped it and held it in his hand, this famed divine sword had remained this meek, completely void of its former edge.
Clearly, once Kaiser held it, the divine sword finally sensed the existence of Authority within him and realized what kind of dominance a Campione like him held over an existence such as itself, hence it yielded obediently.
Kaiser, while toying with the divine sword, casually responded to Mariya Yuri without even turning his head.
"Can't you tell? I already went easy on her more times than I can count."
If Kaiser had truly intended to be ruthless, then how could Seishuin Ena still be cheerfully talking?
If Kaiser had gone all out, then this chief Hime-Miko would've long since been turned into a puddle of minced flesh, not a single intact piece remaining.
Don't let the merciless strikes of Yagrush and Aymur against the chief Hime-Miko fool you into thinking Kaiser had struck with full force. In truth, had Kaiser truly intended it, Seishuin Ena wouldn't have even withstood a single blow from the magical clubs.
With Kaiser's current strength, whether it was Yagrush or Aymur, if unleashed at full power, they possessed the terrifying might to obliterate an entire mountain in one strike.
Though Seishuin Ena was a Spirit Possession User, and even with a Divine Spirit descending into her through her art, at best she could fight divine beasts or demi-gods—there was no way she could contend with Yagrush and Aymur.
Thus, Kaiser had genuinely shown considerable mercy, which was why Seishuin Ena ended up merely in her current state.
Despite the girl's body being covered in wounds, they were all just superficial.
The proof being, after Mariya Yuri treated her wounds and even used some healing spells, Seishuin Ena's injuries began rapidly recovering and were already nearly healed.
In this regard, the person most aware was clearly Seishuin Ena herself.
Thus, the girl echoed Kaiser's words.
"His Majesty truly did show mercy to Ena, otherwise Ena would certainly be dead right now."
Seishuin Ena cast a gaze full of admiration and reverence toward Kaiser.
"Truly amazing. Even though Ena used Ame no Murakumo and even summoned Grandfather's Divine Spirit into her body, she was still completely defeated. His Majesty is indeed a God-Slaying Sovereign. Ena and Ame no Murakumo's challenge was indeed overestimating ourselves."
The girl truly seemed to admire Kaiser, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him. Not a trace of resentment could be found in her expression despite her battered state.
She was the epitome of a magnanimous Yamato Nadeshiko—perhaps even if she had actually died by Kaiser's hand, she wouldn't have held any grudge against him.
Of course, Kaiser also bore no ill will toward Seishuin Ena.
After all...
"It's not your fault either. If you really think about it, you were just caught up in something beyond your control."
Kaiser continued playing with Ame no Murakumo, speaking casually while doing so.
"The reason you came here, stood before me... I'm guessing someone sent you, didn't they?"
Hearing this, Mariya Yuri froze.
"Sent...?"
She looked at Seishuin Ena in surprise.
"As expected, His Majesty has already seen through it," Seishuin Ena seemed to be deifying Kaiser, and upon hearing him say that, she looked a bit embarrassed as she said, "Even Kaoru and Mr. Amakasu could tell—Ena knew she couldn't hide it from His Majesty."
"What exactly is going on?" Mariya Yuri couldn't help but ask. "Who sent you, Ena?"
"There were two people who sent Ena." Seishuin Ena apparently no longer intended to hide it and replied straightforwardly, "One was Grandmother from back home, the other was Grandfather."
"Grandfather?" Mariya Yuri recalled what she had just seen through Spirit Vision, covered her mouth, and murmured, "So it really was that old gentleman..."
Kaiser also turned his gaze over.
Familiar with the original work, Kaiser naturally knew who Ena's "Grandfather," Mariya Yuri's "old gentleman," and the elders mentioned by Sayanomiya Kaoru and Touma Amakasu truly were.
They were a group of ancient beings—figures so old that even the History Compilation Committee and all the factions and clans within this nation's magical community had to take them seriously.
Some were spirits, some demi-gods, some enlightened monks, some degenerated god-ancestors, and even some were once Heretic Gods. They were entities beyond human understanding, nearly immortal, having detached from the laws of the mortal world, and chosen to live in seclusion in the Netherworld.
They had existed on this land since ancient times and held an inseparable bond with it. So although they lived in seclusion in the Netherworld, they still occasionally interfered with the mortal realm and influenced the workings of forces including the History Compilation Committee.
They generally didn't care about the tribulations the people of this land would face, but they did care when the land itself faced significant influence. Hence, when a factor capable of impacting the land's safety appeared, they would intervene in the mortal world.
The "Grandfather" Seishuin Ena referred to and the "old gentleman" Mariya Yuri mentioned was one of these beings.
Mariya Yuri had already recited his identity using Spirit Vision.
Susanoo-no-Mikoto, also known by numerous names—Susa-no-O, Susanoo, Takehaya Susanoo-no-Mikoto, and others—was one of the three noble children born of Izanagi, the sea god of Aohara, the land deity of Izumo, and the god of storms.
The Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi was the sword he drew from the body of Yamata no Orochi. He had once rampaged across the land as a Heretic God, but later grew weary of his deeds, shed his rebellious nature, and secluded himself in the Netherworld.
Seishuin Ena called him Grandfather only because he had bestowed the divine sword upon her and she served as his Hime-Miko.
In other words, the true master of Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi was this old gentleman, not Seishuin Ena.
As for the "Grandmother" Ena mentioned, she was the head of the Seishuin household.
"Originally, it was Grandmother who wanted Ena to approach His Majesty, to build a good relationship and attempt to bring His Majesty over to our side. That's why she gave orders for Ena to come down from the mountain."
Seishuin Ena readily explained the whole affair.
"Because Ena had always been training in the mountains, she only learned about the emergence of a God-Slaying King here after receiving Grandmother's instructions."
Initially, Seishuin Ena was just curious about Kaiser and hadn't decided to immediately carry out the order.
However, that was when the old gentleman she called Grandfather appeared.
"Grandfather told Ena to bring Ame no Murakumo to test His Majesty's capacity." Seishuin Ena looked at the Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi in Kaiser's hand and said helplessly, "But Ena didn't plan to challenge His Majesty right away—she intended to build a good relationship first."
"Who would've thought that Ame no Murakumo would be so impatient."
"Was it because of Grandfather's instructions?"
After all, the sword belonged to Susanoo-no-Mikoto. It was his subordinate deity.
When Seishuin Ena encountered Kaiser and the sword developed a special fighting spirit toward him, that old gentleman in the Netherworld fanned the flames and awakened the sword's power.
That sudden storm was the handiwork of the old gentleman.
Unfortunately for him, Kaiser saw through it. While entangled in battle with Seishuin Ena—or rather, with Ame no Murakumo—he used the power of Yagrush and Aymur to compete for control over the storm, and with the Golden Sword, severed a portion of the old gentleman's Divinity, injuring him even while he was in the Netherworld.
On the surface, Kaiser struck Seishuin Ena, but in reality, he struck Susanoo-no-Mikoto hiding behind the scenes.
"But why would the old gentleman target His Majesty?"
Mariya Yuri felt puzzled by this.
"Didn't I just say? To test His Majesty's capacity!"
Seishuin Ena answered as if it were only natural.
"...It still doesn't seem that simple."
Mariya Yuri frowned, murmuring softly.
Kaiser glanced at Mariya Yuri.
This Hime-Miko's spiritual sensitivity really was strong—she had already faintly sensed that there was a deeper reason behind it all.
Others might not know what those beings in the Netherworld were scheming, but Kaiser understood completely.
Because this country hid a tremendous secret—and that secret had everything to do with those people.
No, more precisely, it was because of the secrecy and concealment by those people that it became a secret.
And with a God-Slayer like him suddenly appearing here and displaying extraordinary capabilities, those reclusive entities in the Netherworld could not possibly ignore him.
Whether he could potentially become a great danger to this nation, or possibly uncover that secret, neither was something those elders were willing to tolerate.
Hence, figures like Susanoo-no-Mikoto sought to make contact with Kaiser and test him.
The result... test and perish.
The old man probably never imagined that Kaiser could launch an attack on him from the mortal world, using the Golden Sword to sever a part of his Divinity and injure him.
If not for the separation between the Realm of Life and the Realm of Immortality by an entire world, the portion of Divinity severed wouldn't have been so limited.
Aware of all this, Kaiser smiled faintly and said to Seishuin Ena.
"In that case, you all should already be mentally prepared for my retaliation, right?"
Those elders held considerable status in this nation and great influence—but what did that matter to Kaiser?
All he knew was that he had been unjustly suspected, provoked, tested, and schemed against.
Any king with a temper, who didn't tolerate being wronged, wouldn't simply let it go.
Kaiser considered himself a man of limited patience, so he was genuinely curious whether those people had anticipated his revenge.
Though in the end, it wasn't him who suffered, but rather the old gentleman hiding in the Netherworld...
"Your Majesty!" Mariya Yuri sensed Kaiser's intent and hurriedly said, "Ena and the old gentleman have already been punished. I beg you to be merciful!"
Clearly, Mariya Yuri was very worried that Kaiser would blame Seishuin Ena.
As for Seishuin Ena herself, she appeared completely willing to accept any punishment.
"Ena did indeed offend His Majesty. Even if it was Grandfather's command, or Ame no Murakumo's willfulness, Ena was the one who raised her blade toward His Majesty."
Saying so, Seishuin Ena struggled out from the covers and solemnly bowed her head to Kaiser in a dogeza.
"Ena is prepared to bear His Majesty's wrath. His Majesty may deal with Ena as he pleases—Ena will not harbor any resentment."
The girl's open-mindedness, as if she had even put aside concerns for her own life, showed no fear on her face, and even her voice remained so cheerful.
"Ena…"
Mariya Yuri immediately looked at her childhood friend with a face full of worry, then cast a pleading gaze toward Kaiser, as if hoping he would show leniency.
"I have no intention of blaming you. I said before—you're innocent." Kaiser ignored Mariya Yuri's expression and calmly said to Seishuin Ena, "You're already injured anyway. Just take that as your punishment, and we'll call it even."
Hearing this, Mariya Yuri breathed a sigh of relief, and Seishuin Ena also lifted her head, smiling as brightly as ever.
"Looks like Ena doesn't have to lose her life after all. Thank you for Your Majesty's mercy."
However, just as Seishuin Ena's voice fell, Kaiser spoke again.
"But I'm taking this thing."
Kaiser raised the divine sword he had been toying with all along and spoke playfully.
"It was this guy that challenged me, and the one behind the scenes was also this guy's original owner. So as compensation, this sword is mine now."
To be able to replicate or steal part of an opponent's power or properties during confrontation, and to convert the stolen target into the wielder's own, able to fuse with existing Authorities and produce new powers—Ame no Murakumo's abilities were indeed interesting.
Furthermore, it could absorb power that inflicted harm on the wielder and convert it into its own, able to suppress dragons and serpents, and even possessed anti-magic properties.
Kaiser was very curious—if he used it to absorb his own Authority or power, what kind of effect would it produce?
Therefore, Kaiser intended to take the sword.
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