“Here it is.”

     In the inner back garden, Liz went through the grass and showed him the black stone, Lloyd looked at her, surprised.

     “It’s a manastone, isn’t it? There’s  a barrier between it so one can’t find where it is.” 

     “Manastone?” Liz looked back at him.

     “Hey! Don’t get too close!” She heard yelling. When she turned, she saw a middle-aged priest dressed in a blue robe. He has a good figure, his eyebrows are thick, even his arms and his voice. 

     He strode and pushed past Liz and he stood in front of Lloyd. Although they were about the same height, the impression between the slim Lloyd and the well-built priest was completely different.

     Lloyd looked at him, “Mr. Hades.What do you want?”

     “You called. The chief priest is on his way. I just came a little earlier than him.” He has a patronizing attitude. He spoke with a grin and a nasty smile.

     ‘Huh? This man is for sure—’

     Liz thought that he looked familiar and realized that he’s one of the priests who accompanies the chief priest. Whenever she sees him, she remembers him yelling at Lloyd. Though Lloyd doesn’t seem to care.

     Hades swung his shoulder on purpose and  pushed Lloyd aside, peering through the grass. At that moment, he gasped, “Hey! Isn’t this a manastone!?”

     Liz thought that that was what Lloyd had said earlier.

     As well as, “And there’s a barrier!” Hades turned around, squinting and said, “It’s an incredibly powerful barrier. Even I wouldn’t know that it’s here until I saw it with my own eyes. Lloyd, how did you know?” He had a hateful expression, regretting that it was found earlier by him.  

     Lloyd smiled, “When I was mowing the grass with the maid’s help, I found it by chance.”

     Hades must have noticed that Lloyd was acting dumb, his face flushed red with anger.

     Liz glanced at Lloyd and she could see that his eyes were saying, “ Don’t say anything.”

     Hades came to Lloyd, “Don’t play around! How did you know!?”

     “—Liz!” Rebecca, who’s  holding the dragon in her arms, came running to her, breathless, “I’m surprised to see him suddenly jump out. So, where’s the strange stone that Liz found?”

     Lloyd frowned, his face changed to reluctance. Hades stared at Liz with a look that made her feel uncomfortable, “Was it Liz Stefan who found the stone!?” 

     Rebecca was startled by his loud voice, her shoulders trembled. She alternately looked at Hades, who had a distorted facade,  Lloyd, who looked complicated,  and Liz, who turned pale. 

     “I’m sorry. I’ll do something…”

     “Hey, Liz Stefan!” Hades stood before Liz, there was a sense of intimidating aura around him, “How did you know that there was a manastone here?”

     “…When I was looking for the door for the final selection, I just happened to find it here.”

     “Then how did you find out that this is a manastone, even though you do not have any magical powers?” He gave her a sharp glance, not letting go his gaze. She was looked down upon with such eyes. 

     Liz turned at him, “I don’t know what a manastone is. I just thought it was a strange stone.”

     Hades laughed. “You don’t even know what a manastone is and yet you didn’t call us nor the chief priest? Don’t be silly. Are you going to tell me that it’s a revelation? What’s the reason that you were able to get the holy dragon? Having magical powers must be the minimum requirement for a female candidate. Lloyd brought you without permission and took it on himself. I was against it from the start. However, the chief priest and the saint are too sweet.” 

     His voice was exploding, he then turned to Lloyd, “The chief priest seems to have taken a liking to you for some reason, but I don’t. Don’t think you are good.”

     Lloyd, as well as Liz seems to be hated by Hades. 

     Hades raised his brows as he suddenly realized it, “No way, Liz Stefan, you might have brought this magic stone to the temple, right?—Yes.. Even the current saint could only feel a faint sensation, but others haven’t noticed it.”

     Liz was getting fed up from his accusations that she’s selfish and assertive. Then, with a trembling voice, Rebecca refuted, “No, that’s not it!”

     “We are not permitted to go out of the temple. The priest may as well understand, so stop making excuses!”

     But Hades only snorted, as if she was saying a bunch of nonsense. As Lloyd was about to speak out.

     “Lloyd! Sir Hades!”Other priests came running towards them. 

     Hades gave them an exasperated loud voice, “Within the grass lies a magic stone! It’s a powerful manastone with a barrier. It’s unknown who placed it there, but this was in the temple and we, priests, weren’t aware of it, and the current saint only felt something faint. Nevertheless, the one who had found it was Liz Stefan!” He intentionally jerked his chin in her direction.

     The priests looked at each other.

     “How did you find it, Liz Stefan? How!”

""

     “As to what Sir Hades said, How did you know? In the back of the inner garden, and within the grass? It’s not a place where you can find by chance.”

     A disbelieving look was plastered on their faces, their eyes are all concentrated on Liz. Furthermore, she’s getting fed up with it.

     Suddenly, the manastone emitted a black light. At the same time, there was a sharp tap-like noise, which melted the barrier of the stone as if it had waited for a crowd to gather in that place.

     A complex magic circle centered on the stone, it embossed around it. A strange black light that emitted from the magic circle surrounded everyone.

     “Oh my god! What is this!?”

     “I can’t move! what’s going on?”

     A roar blows. The place has become a mess. The black light wrapped around their bodies like a rope. Everyone tried to escape with all their might, but the light was firmly entangled that they couldn’t move.

     ‘What is this!?’

     Liz, too, tried to untangle herself with all her strength, but the black light tightened even more, as if it’s mocking her efforts. Suddenly, something flew up into the sky like a pillar of fire and  black light noticed it.

     Looking up, Liz saw the Holy Dragon jumping out of Rebecca’s arms, flapping its wings and breathing heavily. It seemed like it was going to breathe out the white flame she saw during that uproar that happened due to Grace’s sacred fruit.

     The Holy Dragon opened its mouth, and the black light shook violently.

     “Kyu—!!”

     A moment later the Holy Dragon was enveloped into the black light. The black light twisted around a thick rope, tightening up the small body of the Holy Dragon.

     “Shiro!” cried Liz.

     “Gyu…!!” The Holy Dragon grimaced in pain, it turned pale and started to cough. Something came out of its stomach.

 A worm and a black glowing insect came down from above. One of the priests who seems to dislike insects screamed. 

     “Mimizun!” Rebecca shouted, struggling to get away from black light binded to her body.

     At a time like this, Liz thought, ‘It’s name is Mimizun!?’

     When it was falling, the black glowing insect shook it’s whitish wings and flew away. Only the earthworm fell to the ground. Rebecca tried to run up to it, but her body couldn’t move.

     Once again, the black light shone and enveloped the powerless earthworm on the ground. Its body grew larger and larger.

     “What’s going on!?”

     “The worm is growing…!”

     The people were buzzing. In an instant, the earthworm was about twice the size of Liz.

     The priests were horrified at the sight. Some were pale and screaming desperately. The huge earthworm—even though it’s a holy worm, it’s texture and appearance looked slimy and creepy. In addition to that, it has short hair all over its body.

     It raised up its head, wriggling.

     “Is that Mimizu —” Rebecca murmured blankly.

     The giant earthworm began to move as if it’s confused. It may be moving as it normally does, but due to the size of its body, as it moves, the rocks on the ground bursted up from the tremulous vibrations.

     The direction it was going was towards where the priests were.

     “Don’t come!”The pale priests struggled to escape, but they’re unable to move even an inch due to the black light.

     “We must do something about this light!”

     “Damn it! I can’t take it!”

     They desperately tried to get out, but the black light tightened even more as if ridiculing them.

     “Mimizun, no! Please stop!” Rebecca cried out.

     “Everyone, calm down!” Hades’ loud and powerful voice broke out their chain of fear. He shuts his eyes in the dark light and began to chant a spell. Eyes full of expectations were poured onto Hades. He opened his eyes wide.   

     “Oh, Sir Hades……!—eh?”

     The black light around the Hades did not fade nor did it loosened.

     “Well…Nothing has changed.”

     “No way. Isn’t Sir Hades under the chief priest…is it not like that?” 

     The priests looked at each other. Hades was humiliated in the presence of his subordinates, he looked distressed and ashamed. Watching the moving worm, he began to cast a spell again. A light arrow that came from Hades flew towards the worm. It pierced its long body, red blood flowed out. It wriggled in pain.

     “Mimizun!? Please, stop!”

     Ignoring the crying Rebecca, Hades grinned and shook his head proudly, looking around the priests. 

     Liz felt bitter. Surely, the giant earthworm would be dangerous, however for Rebecca, it’s a very important earthworm.

     (and—)

     And since Hades could not manage the black light, he instead placed his target on a simple earthworm.

     “As expected of Hades!” The magic arrows of Hades continue to fly, as he was pleased by the cheers of his subordinates.  The arrows stuck deep into its head and body. The worm writhed as it spun around.

     “Please, stop! Please, stop!” Rebecca cried out.

     Hades laughed heartily before her. It was just for his own pride.

     Liz bit hard on her lips. 

     ‘I hate this. It’s wrong. I want to do something…! I want to help Rebecca’s Mimizun…!’ 

     “…!” Liz felt a sudden sensation. Her body and cheeks instantly began to faintly glow white. Her red eyes shined, it was a proud glow reflecting the strength of her will.

     The black light wrapped around Liz’s body broke down one after another like charcoal. It was like the white light emitted by Liz had overpowered it.

     The priest, who was watching, gave a cry of astonishment. Hades turned around and his eyes almost fell off its sockets.

     “Hey, Liz Stefan! You…What happened to the black light!? Why are you free!? I’m sure that you have been caught earlier!”

     “Yes, I was.” 

     “…What!?” 

     The Holy Dragon that was entangled by thick layers of black light in the sky was struggling with all its strength. It started to fall down from exhaustion. Liz rushed towards it and caught the dragon. She held it gently on her lap and tore off the black light from its body.

     The priests turned pale from shock. Hades shook his pale face from side to side, thinking that it was impossible.

     “What…How on earth did you do that?”

     Just before the gaping Hades, a black light struck down all at once towards Liz to catch her again, but its tip turned white as it touched Liz. Every part of it scattered and faded away.

     It quickly attacked her one after another, but the results were the same. The black light seemed chagrined, since there was nothing happening. It kept on going around Liz.

""

     “…wow” Rebecca murmured. Hades and the other priests were staring at Liz in shock. It was only Lloyd who’s faint eyes gushed with happiness. 

 

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