"By the way, Lily!"
Erica clasped her hands together in front of her chest, her bright, charming smile only deepening the ominous feeling rising in Liliana's heart.
"I heard you're really into novels! What a coincidence—I love them too. In fact, I even brought one with me! It's perfect for killing time when things get dull… Since we've got such a rare chance to relax together, how about I read it to you?"
And just like that, Erica pulled out a notebook that Liliana immediately recognized. Flipping it open, she began to read aloud.
"The knight rode forth upon a white steed."
"His hair shimmered like gold beneath the sunlight, and his emerald-green eyes sparkled with clarity. A softness like flowing water and a strength as steadfast as stone could both be felt in his gaze. His figure embodied both the elegance of femininity and the vigor of masculinity."
As Erica's recital continued, Liliana's eyes widened in horror. Her cheeks flushed bright red.
"The wicked dragon who had kidnapped the princess lay dead, its scalding crimson blood failing to mar the knight's pristine white armor. His holy sword, engraved with intricate runes, radiated a divine and solemn aura."
"'I've rescued you from the clutches of evil, my princess.'
"With a voice low and brimming with power, the knight knelt on one knee before her. 'May you find peace. Your people and your kingdom shall rejoice for your safe return.'"
"'Thank you, my knight,' the princess stammered, trembling slightly. Her skirt fluttered like a blooming rose under the sunlight. The knight raised his head, his gaze unwavering…"
"Waaah—!! Shut up already!!"
In a flurry of chaos, Liliana somehow managed to snatch the notebook back.
Her face was as red as a tomato, and she glared at Erica with murderous intensity.
"Why do you have my notebook?! How did it end up in your hands?!"
"Oh, I found it in your room at the inn! You hid it in the drawer's secret compartment, but honestly, setting up so many anti-theft spells just made it more obvious."
"If you saw the anti-theft spells, you knew it was private! That's my personal stuff, you thief!"
"What's the big deal? I'll tell you some of my secrets in return! How about I share my three sizes with you?"
"Why would I care about that, you perverted woman?!"
This was exactly why Liliana disliked Erica so much. Liliana's pure and upright nature clashed with Erica's mischievous streak, and she always ended up falling victim to Erica's teasing.
Despite Erica's self-proclaimed status as a lioness-like beauty, Liliana couldn't help but think of her as more of a cunning fox.
"Speaking of which…"
Erica leaned forward, placing her hands on the table. Her sparkling eyes locked onto Liliana like a predator eyeing its prey.
"Hey, Lily, isn't the princess in your story based on you? Silver hair, blue eyes… it's a dead giveaway. Who would've thought someone as serious as you had such girlish fantasies? Dreaming about being a princess rescued by a knight, huh?"
"Wh-what?!"
Liliana's face grew even hotter, and steam seemed to rise from her head as if she were a kettle about to boil over.
"So, Lily… be honest with me. Are you in love? Does this 'knight' in your story have a real-life counterpart?"
"N-no! That's ridiculous! I don't have feelings for anyone!"
Liliana's voice was loud, almost a shout, as if she were trying to drown out Erica's words. Her eyes darted about, betraying her panic and unease.
Erica, delighted by Liliana's entertaining reactions, couldn't resist poking further.
But amidst her amusement, she also felt a twinge of genuine curiosity.
Who was the person Liliana liked?
After all, someone as naive as Lily might easily fall for the wrong person… like some scoundrel with blonde hair.
Uncharacteristically, Erica found herself worrying about her friend.
"Hey! Erica! Are you even listening to me?! I really don't have anyone I like!"
"Yes, yes, I got it…"
Propping her chin on one hand, Erica watched Liliana's flustered state with great interest while quietly mulling over the mystery of her love life. At the same time, she made a mental note to be cautious—if Liliana's flustered state escalated, things might end with Erica being silenced… permanently.
But before their banter could continue, a new voice abruptly interrupted them.
"Ah, so girls' conversations often involve topics about love, huh?"
Startled, both Erica and Liliana jumped out of their seats, the latter even knocking her chair over in her haste. Neither of them had noticed the presence of a third party until now.
Their reactions didn't go unnoticed by the newcomer. Artoria scanned the two with a calm gaze before continuing, her tone laced with mild bemusement.
"Still, talking about love at such a young age? Kids these days really are… precocious."
Although the speaker appeared to be a young girl, her words carried a maturity—and perhaps a weariness—that seemed out of place for someone so youthful.
Erica, not recognizing Artoria, hesitated. The modern outfit and restrained divine presence made it difficult for her to connect the dots, despite having heard vague descriptions of the god's appearance.
However, Liliana's trembling voice broke the silence.
"G-God… God-sama! Why are you here?!"
"God-sama?!"
Erica's jaw nearly dropped. If not for the soundproofing and anti-detection spells already in place, Liliana's outburst might've drawn the attention of everyone nearby.
Artoria's expression remained impassive. "You're here investigating the unusual magical fluctuations in the area, aren't you? Though, I must say… you seem rather relaxed about it."
Her lips curved into a faint, almost mocking smile.
"Well, leisure or not, I have a task for you."
Erica immediately straightened up, stepping forward with a serious expression. "Please give us your orders, God-sama. If it's within our capabilities, we'll do everything we can to accomplish it. We can even mobilize our magecraft associations if needed."
Her heart pounded loudly in her chest. Her body felt heavy, weighed down by tension. Despite her anxiety, Erica forced herself to speak properly—offending a deity was the last thing she wanted to do.
A request from a god wasn't something to feel honored about. If anything, it was terrifying.
"Relax. It's nothing too difficult," Artoria replied evenly.
"There's someone nearby attempting to summon a Heretic God. I assume you wouldn't want the people in this area to be wiped out, would you? So, go ahead and evacuate them."
With that, Artoria turned and left, offering no opportunity for further discussion.
She knew exactly what would happen if the two mages discovered someone was summoning a Heretic God—they'd try to stop it or involve her.
Rather than rejecting their pleas later, she decided to leave before they could even make their case.
---
...
Huh. You really stuck it out all the way to the end.
Didn't think you had the patience. Guess I was wrong.
WiseTL's the one who actually made all this come together. I'm just here putting a bow on it… or, well, shoving it in a backpack and calling it a day. Same thing.
If you had fun, you know what to do:
👉 [patreon.com/WiseTL]
Heads up—Patreon's 50% off for all tiers during May. So if you were on the fence? Now's the time.
And if you're the social type, there's a Discord too. Pretty decent spot to hang out—no battles required.
👉 [discord.gg/wisetl]
Alright. That's enough standing around. Go on—before you make it weird.
—Leaf