“If you were a devil itself, not borrowing a human body, would you be stronger than you are now?”

Frondier had only just defeated one of the devils of the Seven Sins. Moreover, the number of the Seven Sins wouldn't decrease.

But if Belphegor was actually even more powerful than this...

Thinking about the possibility of Frondier facing God someday, the future seemed bleak.

“……Well, it's hard to explain. The human body is constricting, but I can use all the techniques I can use. The fight with you was a critical hit for both of us, so that's even more so. The devil's body is a little more solid, but it wouldn't be able to withstand the sword energy you just used.”

Belphegor's words were somewhat reassuring to Frondier, but as if telling him not to let his guard down, Belphegor's eyes narrowed.

“Well, it wouldn't make much difference, but this isn't my home ground.”

At those words, Frondier's mouth closed.

Right, more important than the body was the fact that this wasn't the Demon Realm.

Frondier thought he was fighting in Manggot, a completely hostile territory.

But was it the same for the devil Belphegor, who was also in hostile territory?

“Frondier.”

“What?”

“If you've decided to save humanity, see it through to the end.”

“……What?”

As Frondier tilted his head, Belphegor said.

“That way, I can come back later to eat souls again.”

“……This guy.”

Frondier took a step closer to Belphegor.

Belphegor continued to speak sarcastically to him,

“So be sure to.”

Swoosh

In the meantime, the focus in Belphegor's pupils disappeared. His shoulders, which had been moving gently, and his breathing could no longer be heard.

“……What is this guy.”

Belphegor was dead. To be precise, his body died, and Belphegor's soul returned to the Demon Realm.

“He's not likable until the very end.”

Frondier sighed and looked around.

The army of corpses had disappeared, and it seemed like there were no seriously injured people.

Belphegor was gone, and Osprey headed to stop the descent of God.

He was worried about the barrier, but he figured strong people like Zodiac and Enfer would be able to block it sufficiently. The shepherds of Manggot and the teachers of Constel would handle it well. Above all, with Azier there, worrying was a luxury.

“……Now.”

Frondier's gaze turned towards the sky.

Even in the midst of all this, Frondier continued to think.

Was there anything left, anything he had missed? Was there still a gap he hadn't noticed?

“Ah.”

And then he remembered.

“First, I need to go to Aten.”

Frondier moved.

To fulfill the closest promise.

* * *

Osprey entered Manggot with Selena.

Selena didn't know all the geography, but before she left here, she witnessed the believers reciting prayers.

By the time they arrived, the mana gathering from their faith had become uncontrollable.

“Oh my! We need to hurry. Please subdue them!”

She spoke to Osprey and Selena, and Selena moved.

Selena didn't want to kill those who hadn't gone to war. During her long life in Manggot, she had become acquainted with some of the believers here.

Thwack! Thwack!

“Ugh!”

“Argh!”

For Selena, who knew the human body well, it was easy to knock out unarmed believers. Of course, it was a bit rough because she was in such a hurry.

Woong—

Meanwhile, Osprey recalled his body and approached the huge flow of mana located in the center of the believers.

He spread his hands and mana filled them.

There was no clear formula for the descent of God through faith, but what he had to do now was simply disperse the mana.

It was important to prevent the descent of God, but if he made a mistake and caused an explosion while spreading the mana, considering the cave-like geography of Manggot, everyone inside would be buried and die.

“Hmm! That was really close!”

Cold sweat ran down Osprey's back.

Indeed, the descent of God was truly imminent. Having traveled to many places over the long years, he smelled something similar to a sanctuary in this mana concentration.

Even in a sanctuary, one could meet God, have a brief conversation, or receive help, but the concentrated mana here was hundreds of times greater than that.

Moreover.

[Hmm.]

“……!”

Something slowly revealed itself within that concentration of mana.

[This won't be enough.]

Osprey opened his eyes wide and looked at it. His hands, which had been slowly dismantling the mana, trembled slightly.

[The one before my eyes, is it Osprey?]

“……That's right.”

The opponent recognized Osprey. However, Osprey didn't know who had just appeared. Only a silhouette could barely be seen within the brilliant light.

But fortunately, the opponent introduced himself first.

[My name is Prometheus. Do you know me, Osprey?]

“……Prometheus. I believed you loved humans.”

Prometheus was worshipped in this continent for protecting ancient humans and giving them fire. This part coincided with actual mythology.

Prometheus nodded at Osprey's question. Of course, it wasn't clearly visible because of the silhouette.

[Of course, I love humans. That's why I came to help them, but.]

“You came to help?”

[That's right.]

Prometheus' voice was calm.

[Didn't humans want to be destroyed?]

“……!”

[That expression, I see. This was also a war. You don't want humanity to be destroyed.]

Osprey's eyes twitched.

There was no way humans would want their own destruction.

Osprey naturally thought so, but Prometheus didn't.

[Humans will walk a difficult path once again.]

Prometheus' gaze sank as if he were sad. Osprey asked.

“What does that mean? Wanting destruction. How can it make sense for humans to want their own destruction? Why is it a difficult path to reject that!”

[To ask such a question…]

Prometheus' silhouette blurred. The concentrated mana began to disperse. This wasn't Osprey's doing but Prometheus' own will.

[It's too late, Archmage.]

And.

[But let me congratulate you first. This time, it's your victory.]

Swoosh—

Prometheus disappeared.

Not only that, but the massive lump of mana gathered by faith also vanished in an instant.

This was Prometheus' power, and there was no risk of being swept away by the mana current or of an explosion.

Everything went as Osprey wished, but.

“…….”

His agony only deepened at this moment.