In fact, the moment Akuto called her over, Saint Raphael had already sensed that something was off.
Because the instant she stepped in front of Akuto, she realized she had fallen into a state where she could not move.
Saint Raphael's instinct was correct. The moment she arrived, Akuto used the contract to seize control of her body.
However, Akuto was not the type to enjoy a wooden doll. So after he began pouring his divine power into her, he released his control.
Once the restraint was lifted, Saint Raphael not only did not resist—she answered him with the most fervent response at once, proactively slipping past his teeth, while using every ounce of effort to trigger that thin strand of shrine maiden blood within her.
Saint Raphael truly did not resist.
On one hand, she was already the Holy Child's knight. It was perfectly normal for the Holy Child to order his subordinate into battle, and it was also perfectly normal for him to grant a blessing before battle. She had no reason to refuse.
On the other hand, she had in fact been longing for exactly this kind of opportunity—an opportunity to draw close to the Holy Child.
At this moment, Saint Raphael not only deployed every technique she could, she also continuously released that trace of shrine maiden blood within her, preparing to obtain some intelligence about Akuto through this intimate contact.
Because only by doing so could she identify the god's true body—and then free Akuto from the state of being possessed.
…
Even if she could not rescue Akuto, learning the Holy Child's true identity was still immensely meaningful. If that disgraceful disciple she had taught for a month or two could arrive in time, she could pass along intelligence about the Heretic God, raising Doni's odds of succeeding at godslaying.
All in all, Saint Raphael did not particularly like Akuto. From the start, she had treated him as a "friend," a "comrade," and a "junior with great potential."
But as the intimate contact continued, Saint Raphael discovered her mind growing hazier, her breathing gradually disordered, and her responses to Akuto becoming increasingly crisp and proactive.
Thus, under the effect of Akuto's gold-rank succubus bloodline, Saint Raphael's wheat-colored skin slowly flushed, her body temperature rose by a few tenths of a degree, and her body swiftly entered a reproductive preparatory state.
It was not that Saint Raphael truly held romantic feelings for Akuto.
But she did genuinely admire Akuto, and she had always been optimistic about his potential.
And Akuto's "succubus bloodline" possessed the ability to convert goodwill associated with Akuto into goodwill directed at Akuto himself.
In the midst of this soft, lingering kiss, Saint Raphael's favorability toward Akuto was skyrocketing.
It could not rise to the level of outright "conquest," but it was entirely capable of pushing her emotions in the direction of romantic feeling.
…
While Akuto and Saint Raphael were locked in a deep kiss, Erica froze in place.
"Hm!?"
"This is… granting a blessing? But… isn't this way of granting a blessing a little too—"
Erica could feel Saint Raphael's power strengthening rapidly, and she also witnessed with her own eyes Saint Raphael's extraordinarily proactive, almost craving, way of seeking his lips.
Since childhood, Erica had known that Saint Raphael was Europe's strongest swordswoman. A few years ago, she had even seen the vow of tooth-guarding in Saint Raphael's presence.
And now, the female holy knight whom she had always admired and respected was revealing a woman's side in front of her eyes.
That contrast made Erica's mind tremble. Heat rose through her body.
…
Only after a full minute did Akuto finally release Saint Raphael—who had been kissed into a daze, and had even wrapped her arms around him of her own accord.
"I… what is this…"
After separating from Akuto, the usually calm Saint Raphael suffered an unprecedented upheaval of emotion.
One reason was that the kiss had been too deeply印PRESSIVE for her. In particular, the image of her actively letting Akuto in was something she could hardly bear.
Another reason was that she discovered something was wrong with the power Akuto had transferred into her.
The divine power Akuto had given her was extremely similar to a Heretic God's power—yet it carried none of a Heretic God's "heretic presence" at all!
Come to think of it, Saint Raphael had never sensed any "heretic presence" from Akuto from the beginning!
At the time, she had assumed Akuto had used some special method to conceal his heretic presence.
But just now, during the kiss, she confirmed it—Akuto had none on the surface, and none inside his body either. There was no such thing as "heretic presence" at all!
Which… which meant…
Akuto was not possessed by a Heretic God?!
But… how was that possible?
"Wait. This divine power is—!"
All of a sudden, Saint Raphael realized something else, and her black pupils dilated instantly.
She discovered that the divine power Akuto had transferred was extremely "yin," and moreover, it was dark-aligned divine power!
In addition, that trace of shrine maiden blood within her had been stimulated to its maximum by the divine power Akuto gave her!
To be able to do something like this, there was only one possibility—the Earth Mother Goddess?!
Akuto was actually hiding divine power that belonged to an Earth Mother Goddess?!
…
Now Saint Raphael truly could not make sense of it.
If he was not a Heretic God, then how could Akuto possess dark-aligned Earth Mother divine power?
A Godslayer could not possibly have divine power. What Godslayers possessed was "spell power."
A Heretic God was also impossible—Akuto had no heretic presence.
So… had a god's true body descended into the world?!
That didn't make sense either. What Earth Mother Goddess was male? And… and there was also the title "Holy Child."
After eliminating every possibility, Saint Raphael could only think of one remaining answer.
Could it be that Akuto was never possessed by a god at all? From beginning to end, he has been acting by his own will?!
Having reached that conclusion, Saint Raphael snapped her gaze toward Akuto.
"…"
Akuto did not speak. He merely smiled and nodded, fully confirming Saint Raphael's suspicion.
…
"Ugh~~~"
The moment she thought about the fact that she had signed a contract to become Akuto's knight—and had been forcefully kissed like this by Akuto—Saint Raphael's body and soul trembled.
She had never once viewed Akuto through a man-and-woman lens.
But from today onward, that would change completely.
When she looked at Akuto again, and recalled that the one she had kissed was not some god but Akuto himself, she unconsciously licked her red lips, still carrying his lingering presence, and her mind went blank for a moment.
How did I never notice before that Akuto-kun would grow into such a handsome man once he matured?
Seeing Saint Raphael react like that, Akuto gently lifted her hand. A dimple split at the corner of his mouth, and he gave it a light pat.
"Saint Raphael, I have bestowed upon you a portion of my divine power, as well as the power of this land."
"Now then—do you have the confidence to bring me victory?"
After that kiss, while her body and mind still trembled, Saint Raphael finally remembered the true reason Akuto had kissed her in the first place.
"Yes. Gladly."
Drawing a deep breath, Saint Raphael met Akuto's gaze.
No matter what, she would first fulfill what Akuto expected of her.
…
Just as Saint Raphael raised the replica "Lion's Demonic Sword" and "Silver Demonic Sword," Akuto's voice suddenly sounded in her mind.
Akuto: By the way, Saint Raphael, you don't need to take this battle too seriously. The matter you truly need to focus on comes after the battle. After the second round ends, I will assign you a more important task.
Saint Raphael: Hm? This is… Akuto-kun speaking to me?
Akuto: That's right. Through the blessing, I left my divine power inside you, so I can speak to you like this.
Saint Raphael: Tch… then that means, Akuto-kun, you can hear my thoughts?
Akuto: That's right.
Saint Raphael: "..."
Saint Raphael fell silent and slowly lowered her head.
Because only moments earlier, in her heart, she had thought, How did I never notice before that Akuto-kun would grow into such a handsome man once he matured?
…
When confronted with something they do not wish to face, people often choose to逃避.
So after only a few seconds, Saint Raphael replied again.
Saint Raphael: Fine. I understand. Then can you tell me what my post-battle task is?
…
Soon, the second contest—the contest between "subordinates"—began.
After thinking it over, Verethragna sent out the Boar he had just subdued.
In theory, the Boar counted as his true body, but since he currently had almost no self-recognition, he treated the Boar as a subordinate for the time being.
"To avoid affecting the outside world, I think we should first find a suitable battlefield. Wouldn't you agree?"
As he spoke, Akuto looked to Verethragna, his eyes asking the question.
"Indeed. I can use the power of Gale to form a barrier. However, from thy words, it seems thou intend to act personally?" Verethragna heard that Akuto planned to create the battlefield himself.
"Yes. I intend to act personally."
Akuto nodded and lightly stamped the ground.
"RrraaaAAAAAA—!!"
In the next second, countless strands of golden draconic qi surged from the earth's veins, rising from all directions to encircle the area where everyone stood.
Ever since absorbing Athena's Earth Mother Authority, Akuto's affinity with the earth had risen greatly, and controlling the dragon veins had become far more effortless.
Before, Akuto could only control a portion of Southern Europe's dragon veins, maintaining a "Super Demon King-level" barrier.
But now, Akuto could already control the earth-veins of all Europe, and the draconic qi barrier's grade had risen from Super Demon King-level to low-tier Chief God level.
"Good. Since thou hast made arrangements, I am at ease."
Verethragna lifted a hand lightly. In the next second, from the sky above, the Boar—overflowing with violent attributes—dropped down from above!
(End of Chapter)
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