Chapter 23: Trial

Seraphina’s eyes were filled with emotion, but Beatrice’s eyes were sharp.

Same situation, but their reactions were so different…

‘First, let’s say hello.’

I lifted one of my roots and shook it, as if waving a hand.

Both of them flinched at the same time.

Ah, I was surprised because the root moved.

“Hello! Are you Seraphina and Beatrice?”

The two people’s expressions became even more flustered as they carved the letters with their roots.

It was exactly as they had seen in the game, but seeing such vivid expressions of emotion made them look even more beautiful.

Seraphina’s pink hair fluttered beautifully like cherry blossom petals, and Beatrice’s silver armor seemed to be filled with real moonlight.

“If Beatrice had released a different Beatrice, it would have been really popular…”

“How do you know us…?” Beatrice asked, still alert.

‘Oh! Did I say the name for nothing!?’

At that moment, Seraphina nodded as if she had realized something.

“Did… you tell me, Michel-sama?”

Uh… Actually, it was thanks to the status window and the game from my previous life… but wasn’t that also Michel-sama’s grace?

“That’s right!”

Seraphina immediately knelt down and began to pray.

Her lips trembled.

“I came here to see you by Michel-sama’s revelation.

The being I saw in my dreams every night… It was you.”

“Huh? What did you say?”

A revelation from Michel… Did you really come to see me?

Then, what should I do for them?

“What does Michel’s revelation mean?”

“I saw you in my dreams every night.

A sacred flower blooming on the snowy mountain…”

“Michel is someone who loves peace and mercy.

That’s why he led me here…”

“Huh? You love peace?”

My roots shook slightly.

Michel was definitely someone who desired greater power.

That’s why he told me to offer blood sacrifices to make me stronger…

“Yes, Michel is the light of the world.”

“No! I received many blessings from Michel.

He gave me new strength every time I killed a monster, and he blessed me whenever I offered blood sacrifices.”

Seraphina’s expression hardened.

“That… can’t be true. Michel would never want blood…”

“All the divine power from Michel that I received was obtained by offering blood sacrifices.”

Seraphina hesitated and then opened her mouth.

“But…”

“I learned that Michel is a merciful light… why…”

She continued, clutching the holy symbol tightly.

“A thousand years ago, when the world was engulfed in darkness, he saved humanity.

According to the records of the Church of Light, Michel is someone who distanced himself from war and violence, and bestowed healing and mercy.

That’s why even now, we…”

‘Ha. Just like Marianne last time, don’t you know Michel too well?

Especially how could Seraphina, a saint, do this?

Did Michel send her to correct Seraphina’s wrong beliefs?

Then, my role is Seraphina’s trial.’

‘I didn’t want to fight.”

“Enough.”

“I understand Michel. Come at me.”

She cut Seraphina off.

Her trembling eyes seemed to not yet grasp the situation.

“Huh…”

“Are you ready?”

She slowly got into position, engraving the letters with her roots.

Beatrice immediately blocked Seraphina’s path.

The silver sword emitted a cold light.

The bugs also squirmed and prepared for battle.

‘No. This is a task that Master Michel has entrusted to me.’

The butterflies flapped their wings hesitantly, and soon all the bugs retreated.

Whew… Let’s begin.

The black roots dug into the ground.

And in an instant—swish!

Roots sprouted from under Beatrice’s feet.

She quickly twisted her body to dodge, and at the same time, the silver sword struck down like lightning.

Bang!

The sword sliced through the roots, but more roots sprouted from the cut areas.

The roots regenerated endlessly with the overwhelming amount of auxiliary batteries.

At that moment, Seraphina’s staff glowed.

“The Light of Judgement!”

A pure white light burst out and pushed the roots away.

It was indeed the power of the saint.

“It’s just beginning!”

This time, several roots danced and attacked.

Beatrice’s sword spun in a circle of light.

The severed roots scattered like black rain.

“Holy silver!”

Beatrice’s sword turned blue.

In an instant, the sword energy cut through the air, and six roots were cut off at the same time.

I flinched involuntarily at the speed and power.

But in that moment, one root brushed her shoulder.

Red blood spurted into the air.

Swish—

The blood that had spurted out turned into a red fog and began to fill the surroundings.

“This is…!”

Beatrice looked around with surprised eyes.

Their vision gradually blurred.

Seraphina raised her staff high.

“Purifying light…”

But at that moment, yellow pollen covered her.

Paralyzing effect.

At the same time, she launched root attacks in all directions.

Beatrice ran in front of Seraphina and swung her sword.

A flashing silver trajectory cut through the roots.

“Sera!”

But the root that took advantage of that gap pierced her leg.

The thicker blood turned into fog, completely obscuring her vision.

Seraphina’s healing magic enveloped Beatrice’s wound.

But at the same time, red pollen rained down, spreading the bleeding effect.

The bleeding from the wound that had already formed did not stop.

“Huh!”

“Bea! Get ready!”

Seraphina’s staff shone dazzlingly.

The holy energy that poured out enveloped Beatrice’s sword.

“I guess we still have one more move.”

“Take it!”

Beatrice’s sword flashed like a ray of light.

In an instant, a dozen roots were cut off.

“Ugh!”

She flinched slightly at the unexpected pain.

But in an instant, new roots grew.

“Not bad. But…”

More roots rose from the cut-off places, squeezing the two of them.

As if giant snakes were dancing, dozens of roots danced in the red fog, completely surrounding them.

Beatrice raised her sword.

The silver sword tried to cut through the fog, emitting a blue light.

However, a thicker red fog continued to rise.

“No…”

“Mikel-nim… Did I misunderstand…”

Seraphina’s voice trembled.

Her convictions seemed to be wavering.

Is this enough…?

When the red fog cleared, the two figures were clearly visible.

Beatrice was still on guard, holding her sword, while Seraphina was kneeling on the floor with a complicated expression.

“You can get up now. I have no intention of fighting anymore.”

“How can I… trust you?”

Seraphina asked cautiously.

‘Hmm…’

After thinking for a moment, she opened her petals slightly.

As a sweet scent spread, the bugs began to move peacefully.

A landscape like a small garden was created.

“I’ll show you my heart.”

Golden nectar formed between the petals.

It was a special honey made with her will toward Mikel-nim.

“That…”

Beatrice still had a wary look in her eyes, but Seraphina slowly got up and stepped forward.

“You can probably guess what I’m thinking.”

Seraphina cautiously reached out her hand.

A barely-there drop of honey touched her fingertips.

For a moment, her eyes widened.

Then, she froze in place as if possessed by something.

“Seraphina!”

Beatrice approached her worriedly.

“This is… a longing for peace, my true feelings for Master Michel… and…”

Beatrice hesitated and reached out her hand.

She too froze when she tasted the honey.

“This taste… is a first.”

(Do you understand my true feelings now?)

“Yes…” Seraphina raised her head.

“Michael-sama’s will is that overwhelming power is needed to protect the peace.

You were not a tool for Michael-sama, but a guardian of peace.”

Beatrice also nodded slowly.

Whew… Is that enough now?

I felt just like a former officer in a game.

Still, I was very satisfied to have corrected their wrong beliefs.

Is this the reward of being a former officer…?

Then is my job over?

I feel bad for having fun and sending them back like this…

Is there anything else I can do for you?

“Uh… What is there…?”

Game knowledge… seems useless…

Can’t I give you skills like Michael-sama?

Do you want to make honey too?

Yip yip!

I tried to share my abilities with Seraphina and Beatrice, hoping that they would be able to make delicious honey, but there was no change.

Perhaps because they sensed that I was trying to do something, the two of them turned their eyes toward me with anticipation.

‘Ah… so embarrassing. Ugh… I really feel like I should give them something…

Oh right! The master said I can take all of Rare’s treasures!

‘Girl Butterfly!”

The butterfly with blushing cheeks flew in.

‘Bring me some weapons that would suit them.’

“Nothing too good!”

As the butterfly fluttered and flew away, several bugs headed to the deepest layer.

The Hyperborean Ant took the lead, followed by the Crystal Beetle.

Soon, they brought a bracelet and a pendant.

One of the bracelets seemed to contain a sky-blue storm.

Inside it, a light moved like swirling clouds.

The other was a pendant that seemed to be made of condensed shadows.

It glowed softly like a shadow under the moonlight.

‘Oh… doesn’t this look too good?”

I asked the butterfly with my eyes.

Even though we didn’t have real eyes, we could communicate.

“Didn’t I bring something too good?”

Jiggling, “Is it bad?”

Nodding.

What, this isn’t good?

‘As expected, the master’s treasure is on a different level…

You can give it to me with confidence.

If there’s a problem, I can polymorph and go retrieve it!

“These are gifts for you.”

When I handed them each one with the root, their eyes widened.

“This… has incredible magic…”

Beatrice carefully touched the bracelet.

“Are you just giving me something like this?” Seraphina asked in surprise.

“Hehe, I guess you like it!

Well, since I’m also a manager, this much…”

“By any chance… this is Prostia’s?”

Even without hearing the end, I could tell that Beatrice was afraid of her master.

“The master gave it to me.

And the master is out right now.”

Beatrice seemed to be about to ask something more, but when I shook the root slightly, she stopped asking.

“Thank you.”

Seraphina bowed her head.

There was no longer any confusion in her eyes.

We’re getting close now, right?

Then, can I ask Beatrice about the alien Beatrice that I was curious about?

(But what’s with that sword and armor?)

“This is a holy sword.

I’m… called the Silver Warrior.”

“Huh? Warrior…?”

My head became complicated.

A warrior, but I’m going to beat him up?

And the warrior I saw in the game was definitely a different person?

What was his name?

It was a bit long…

Ah, I only remember the face and the warrior…

I didn’t bother to memorize the male characters’ names!

{Aren’t warriors male…?}

“Hmm? There are five warriors in total.

Three of them are male and two are female.”

For a moment, I thought it was a sexist comment, but I found out more shocking information.

‘Five warriors!?’

No, then…

(There are many Demon Kings?)

“Demon King? I know Demon Kings are legendary beings.”

Huh? Then what do heroes do?

“According to the legend, the first hero defeated the Demon King.

The heroes of this era deal with the monsters and followers of evil gods that threaten humanity.”

As if she noticed my curiosity, Seraphina continued her explanation.

But what about followers of evil gods…?

Are evil gods like Demon Kings…?

Hmm…

(Seraphina is a saint, right…?)

“Yes, she is lacking, but she is called that.”

‘Phew…”

It’s not that different from what I know.

Still, it seemed like there was too much discrepancy in the information.

I guess I have a lot to ask.