A little before the collapsed Emilia woke up.

Latia and Fritz, together with Aly and Wendy, arrived near the laboratory where the?time machine?which was made by Pope Serivia Notre Dame Paulo III and Bill Harvey is——the location specified by Mei Mei where the Pope was hiding herself.

The base itself is an open place.

While surveilling that place, Fritz tossed a communication to Mei Mei.

They’re using the satellite of Little Garden to not be sensed by?Puritaria.

『Do you hear me, Mei Mei? We arrived at the pinpointed location』

– Is that so? How’s the situation? Did you find the?time machine?

『No, unfortunately we can’t find it. Maybe it’s hidden somewhere』

– .. is that so? In that case, then you’ll be unable to destroy it. Can you spot the figure of a person?

『Well, I see a person, and, that is..』

– That’s the face we saw back at the World Martial Arts Tournament, isn’t it? He’s carrying a big cross on his back.

Latia, who’s next to Fritz, answers.

『.. that means he’s Matthew-san. Since the other three have already been captured, he’s the last one remaining of the four apostles of the Pope who hasn’t been caught yet. Is there anyone else? Like for example, the figures of soldiers?』

– Unfortunately, we haven’t found any. Perhaps, they may have been defeated by Matthew inside the building.

– Eh, that.. look over there!

Suddenly, Wendy raised her voice

Nonetheless, it’s natural for Matthew who’s around 500 meters away to not hear that small voice.

When Fritz and the others saw ahead of the finger of the girl, they could confirm the appearance of a single woman.

The Pope of the Holy Church.

Serivia Notre Dame Paulo III.

The woman flew in the sky and landed on the side of Matthew.

Unlike always, there’s no hat concealing her.

And as for her arms, she was holding a naked girl in there.

Latia rapidly reports to Mei Mei.

– Mei Mei, Serivia has appeared! What do we do?

– Hey, calm down, Latia. If you raise your voice too much, they’ll found us.

– Ah, sorry..

The panicking Latia blocked her mouth with both hands.

Next, Mei Mei asks them.

『There’s no one else besides Serivia-san?』

– The other one is the little sister of President Claire... Serivia was carrying her. Ah, Serivia has entered the building! She held the little sister of the president in her arms!

『As I thought, Liza-san is still with her..』

It seems that the report from Latia was as Mei Mei and the others had guessed.

– What do we do? Shall we commence?

The curiosity and fear of fighting an unknown enemy——.

Latia was dominated by those two emotions when she asked while restraining those prevalent feelings.

『No, keep standing by as you are for now. I will change places with Dr. Charlotte on the ground from now on』

The moment the words of Mei Mei ended.

They immediately heard the voice of Charlotte.

『.. do you hear me, everyone?』

– Yeah, we hear you.

Answering, Latia asked.

– What should we do?

『Before that, there’s a report. We’re trying to hack the computer at Lunaltia Base from here so that she can’t operate it. With that, they shouldn’t be able to start the?time machine』

– Certainly, the Pope has entered the building, but nothing changed..

It was Fritz who said so.

『I know right? By around this time, the Pope should be confused』

With a grounding hit*, and while Charlotte said so with a proud look.

– Ah!

It was Wendy who was looking at the state of the laboratory who gave a small voice.

She took off her gaze from the laboratory, hiding her whole figure in the shade of the rock.

– What happened?

Aly asks with a small voice.

Then, Wendy answered with a trembling voice.

– I felt something.. like we were seen by Matthew-san..

– .. what?

– Is that true?

Fritz and Latia ask one after another.

Wendy nodded.

– .. I’ll confirm it.

It was Aly who said so.

Sticking out her face slightly from the shade of the rock, she points her gaze towards the laboratory of Bill Harvey.

– ——!!

Latia was convinced, looking at her who pulled back her appearance right away.

– That reaction, as I thought..

– Yeah, there’s no doubt that Matthew noticed the situation over here. I’m sure of that. Moreover, Matthew went into the building.

– Wha..! Don’t tell me that, what you mean is that he’s going to report the Pope about us?

– That possibility is high.

Saying so, Aly asked turning towards the communication device.

– Charlotte, what do we do? Should we withdraw from this place?

『No, that’s not necessary』

Charlotte answers and continues her words.

『You guys, continue hiding as you have been doing it till now. I’m sending rescue there. I was about to talk about that now』

– .. rescue? What do you——

Fritz wondered about that, because he heard that Hayato, Emilia and Claire had lost consciousness.

And aside from those three, the one who can battle against the Pope is the usual trio.

However, those three have finished a battle to regain control of Lunaltia Base as well.

They should be considerably exhausted.

『As I mentioned earlier, the ability of the God——of Pope Serivia Notre Dame Paulo III as a Variant is considerable. Aside from the strength of her attacks based on?energy, the N?barrier?deployed around her body will nullify most of the attacks that use?energy, additionally she has the power to control people——especially those with strong Variant Virus. You already heard this from Mei Mei, right?』

– Yes..

Fritz nodded.

As Charlotte says, they heard this from Mei Mei.

『So, I thought of something. That only one person among us who gets none of those effects』

– Oh——

With those words, Latia realized.

– You’re right! Since Touka has strong antibodies against Variant Virus, there’s almost no Variant Virus in her body, and since she doesn’t get manipulated, then she’s not going to get damaged by her attacks!

『Pretty much. The ceremony venue has already been liberated, so we decided to temporarily remove her from the guard of the Princess and head over there. However, since Touka-kun is on her own, that will take quite a while, so Nesat decided to be of help too』

Charlotte added that they judged so mainly because she’s the least damaged of the persons who came back to Little Garden section and that it should be Nesat since her?energy?dropped only a little, so she’s still a fighting force.

– If that’s the case, then we feel more secure. If it’s us, then we can win against that Pope. I have that sort of feeling! At any rate, the opponents are two.

– Latia—it would be better to think they aren’t two but three people. With that look, it seems that Liza may also have been manipulated.

– .. I see. Now that you mention it, there was that too..

– Dr. Charlotte, how much do you think the possibility of Liza attacking us is?

It was Fritz who asked.

『I don’t know. But the?energy?of Liza is important to the Pope. In simple words, she shouldn’t do something that will make her consume?energy』

– It’d be great if that’s the case..

– For the time being, I don’t know if she’s going to “fight”.

– So that’s how it is, huh.

Fritz nods towards the words of Latia.

Wendy raised her voice there.

– Ah, everyone. The Pope-san came out!

– What!?

– But it’s not just Serivia-san! Matthew-san and Liza-san are with her!

And then, Serivia immediately turned her eyes towards Wendy and raised a finger in the sky. A chill thing runs through the spine of Wendy.

– This is bad! We must run!

Looking up at the sky, Wendy shouted.

It was because she felt?energy?was gathering there.

– .. wha!

With that voice, Latia and the others also noticed it.

A mass of?energy?similar to a thunder falls from the sky all of a sudden.

The four of them leaps as if dispersing in all four directions, they barely dodged it.

Simultaneously with that, Fritz reported to Charlotte.

– Dr. Charlotte, looks like she finally found us! The Pope has launched an attack!

『I see... If that’s the case, it can’t be helped. There’s still two minutes till Touka-kun and Nesat-kun arrive. Please resist until then』

– Roger. There’s nothing else to do. We’ll have to earn time according to the strategy——Wendy!

– Yes!

How will they move now that the situation became like this?

The strategy has already been shared with everyone.

The four of them deploy their armaments all together.

– Okay then, let’s go!

Fritz fired a shot, turning the muzzle of Shooting Star——the rifle of?Stronghold——the Long Shooter type Hundred that he’s holding towards Serivia.

Next, Wendy fired seven magical-like beams from?Starlight Dreamer——her Wizard type Hundred towards Matthew.

– Here I goooooooo————!

Nonetheless, both Fritz’s and Wendy’s——.

The beams of the two aren’t aimed directly at Serivia or Matthew.

They are no more than a diversion.

It’s a strategy so that Aly and Latia who is fully armed launch an attack on Serivia together, using the cloud of dust that whirled up after them.

Aly was the one who launched an attack on Serivia first.

– Haaaaaaaaaaaaa———!

Even so, and as planned, this is also a diversion.

It’s not to her liking.

While raising a loud voice, Aly slashed at her with her own Phalanx type Hundred——Braveheart.

Not surprisingly, Serivia dodges her nimbly.

However, Latia was approaching there.

Aly raised a loud voice so as to not make her go noticed.

– I’ll have you return the little sister of the president!

Latia who came close till she was right next to her shouted so, punching Serivia.

– Kuhh!

Her Martial Arts type Hundred?Strike Beast?specializes in speed and close combat.

The fist of Latia was able to hit in the gap successfully, it seized the cheek of Serivia splendidly and sent her body flying to the back.

– Alright!

Latia involuntarily raises a delighted voice.

It was because she was able to keep the distance between Serivia and Liza who was standing still.

– Serivia-sama!

It was Matthew who shouted.

He bombards Latia who hit hard Serivia with the cross he was carrying on his back——he changed his Battle Shooter type Hundred?Sacrifice?to a rifle type. And then, when he tries to fire a shot——.

– I won’t let you.

Aly appeared before Matthew.

– Kuh!

Matthew, who was assaulted with?Braveheart, loses his aim, he had no choice but to dodge it by moving to the back.

Ultimately, Matthew couldn’t deliver the shot.

For now, the surprise attack was successful.

However, there’s still around one minute till both Touka and Nesat arrive.

They have to earn time during that period.

– Four people here, two people there. We double your numbers. I wonder how much of an opponent God is, now that the advantage is on our side?

Standing in front of the fallen Serivia, Latia emitted those words.

– Aha, ahahah.. ahahah, ahahahaha!

– Hmm? Why are you laughing?

Serivia continued her words while standing up, putting her knees on the moon’s surface.

– It seems like you already know my identity, yes?

– Yeah, you’re something along the lines of God and alien, right? But, we don’t care about such things. We’ll stop your ambitions. That’s the only——

When listening to her answer, Serivia showed a grin on her face.

– Certainly, that’s who I am. However, you said one big mistake.

– .. a mistake?

– Yes, a mistake.

At the same time as she says so, Latia noticed that the eyes of Serivia emitted a golden brilliance, then she fell on the moon’s surface, receiving a pain on her temporal region as if she was hit with a blunt weapon all of a sudden.

(.. as I thought, she can manipulate her..!)

The attack wasn’t from Serivia.

Nor it was from Matthew.

While she collapsed, Latia pointed her eyes to those who were attacked.

There was a girl standing with one of her palms facing Latia.

– Ahaha, did you forget? Or haven’t you heard? You ought to take back Liza Harvey, who’s one of my pieces.

Serivia laughs with a loud voice.

– Kuh..

And, Latia glares at Serivia with a sort of vexing expression on her face, because that’s merely a lie.

Believing that it was a success in her mind, she chuckled.

Originally, Latia had predicted that Liza would attack the moment the pupils of Serivia shone.

So, to not make her notice it, she deployed an E?barrier?at the very limit and collapsed on purpose.

Now it would be great to make her talk.

That’s right——.

The best goal now is to earn time.

As it was already planned, it’s possible to increase the distance between Serivia and Liza.

(..they’re here?)

That time should arrive any time now.

It’s not only Latia.

The moment the other three thought so.

There was something that the four of them, including Latia, felt inside their bodies.

(They came! It’s the?energy?of Nesat!)

She wonders if she felt that?energy?as well.

– .. reinforcements!? Kuh..!

Serivia turns her eyes towards the direction of the incoming energy then grasped the appearance of a girl who was on board of a flying device similar to a manta then immediately shot a bullet of?energy.

With that, the flying device that Nesat created is destroyed.

However, Touka was hiding while lowering herself, and by kicking the flying device just before that, she flew high in the air.

– Haaaaaaaaaaaa!

Having her own black sword?Hokuto Kai?at the ready, Touka heads towards the position of Serivia who tries to shoot her down, firing?energy?shots once again.

However, the?energy?shots were erased as soon as they touched the body of Touka.

– Wha——

Being quite surprised, Serivia opened her eyes wide, but soon became aware of the reason.

– You are——

– Kenzaki Style Secret Technique——《Whirlwind Slash》Senbuuzan!

– ——kuh!

The body of Serivia swayed, receiving the attack of Touka who slashed at her while rotating her body.

Once she lands on the moon’s surface, Touka got in the bosom of Serivia then releases a second long sword with the same momentum.

–?Zaneizan: Second Style!

Once more, she unleashed Kenzaki Style Secret Technique——.

Everyone thought that would definitely be the finishing blow.

However——.

– Wha——

The pupils of Serivia shine in golden color.

In an instant, she steps back and dodged the attack of Touka at the last moment.

Then, both Nesat and Aly go after her.

She’s assaulted with swords from different directions, but she continues dodging them.

– If so, then I——!!

Accelerating, Latia tried to release a kick towards the Pope.

However, by kicking the ground, the Pope soars high in the emptiness.

On her back, there are wings made of?energy.

– Kuh..!

Chasing her, and when Latia was about to jump.

– Wait, Latia!

It was the voice of Fritz that was heard from the ring of the neck.

Immediately afterwards, a thick?energy?beam was fired towards Serivia.

It’s a full power gunshot of Shooting Star——the rifle of Long Shooter type of Fritz.

– .. did that do it?

Instinctively, Latia raised her voice.

But, nothing falls.

– Ah..

Serivia appeared from the dazzling light and remained floating in the air.

(But it doesn’t mean that it’s not working)

When looking at her, they see that the vestments worn by Serivia became tattered.

That means that the beam of Fritz broke through the?barrier?she was deploying.

Moreover, there was a person trying to launch an attack there.

It’s Touka.

– Haaaaaaa———!

It’s one of the coordinated strategies that Nesat and Touka were planning on their way towards this place.

It’s a measure taken the moment Serivia floated in the sky——it’s to slash at Serivia using sheets of steel like stairs that Nesat created in the air.

– Kenzaki Style Secret Technique——

Kicking the last foothold to jump high, Touka tried to slash at Serivia. Until at the last moment, Serivia didn’t notice her.

This time she’ll surely be able to get her.

She thought so, but a shadow appeared before Serivia.

– ——you won’t.

– Wha——

It was Matthew who dyed his eyes in golden color and attacked Touka who tried to release?Zaneizan?towards Serivia.

He understands that Touka doesn’t get attacks based on?energy,?but she does get physical attacks.

Matthew instantly appeared in front of Touka and vigorously swung the Battle Shooter type Hundred he was carrying on his shoulders——Sacrifice.

– Guuh!

It’s a direct hit on the head of Touka.

Her body fell in a straight line and hit the moon’s surface.

– Touka!

Shouting, Latia rushes to the side of Touka.

Touka fainted in the center of the big crater that was just made.

– Kuh!

Impossible, the ultimate weapon ended up knocked down...

(.. what do we do?)

Latia ponders.

The situation was completely reversed.

Matthew landed on the moon’s surface then speaks to Serivia who’s floating above him.

– Serivia-sama, leave the rest to me. With opponents of this degree, me alone is enough.

– Oh my, Matthew. Are you really sure? That helps me a lot.

– There’s no problem.

When Serivia heard that reply, she landed to the side of the standing Liza.

And then, when turning her gaze towards Matthew,

– I understand. When you finish, we’ll do the thing we always do.

– Yes, Serivia-sama.

Simultaneously with those words.

Matthew who was inexpressible until now, showed a smile for the first time.

– Well then, shall we watch the game from over there?

Saying so, Serivia gently flies up, connecting hands with Liza.

The destination they are trying to head is on top of a nearby rock.

– Hey, wait!

As if was natural, Latia tried to move and go after Serivia.

However——.

– Don’t move.

– Wha——

The pupils of Matthew shone in golden color.

His speed is so great that Matthew stands in front of Latia who jumped and struck her with?Sacrifice.

– Kuh!

Latia couldn’t evade it, she was only able to block it with her arms crossed.

With that momentum, Latia is knocked down on the moon’s surface.

Following that, it was Aly who went after Matthew who landed.

–? Haaaaaa!

She slashes at Matthew with the two blades of?Braveheart.

However, Matthew avoided that attack while turning around his body.

And then, by using that reaction, he sent flying the body of Aly with?Sacrifice.

– Aly-san!

It’s Wendy who shouted, looking at Aly who was blown far away.

– This was the third——.

– .. !!

You’re the fourth; the moment when Matthew turned his shining golden colored pupils towards Wendy.

The face of Matthew shows a great distortion, he’s blown off to the side.

– Who’s the third one, huh? I’m not done yet!

It’s Latia who shouted.

She’s not defeated yet.

Getting up and accelerating, she hit hard the cheek of Matthew.

That obviously doesn’t mean that it’s their victory.

Matthew quickly got up.

It’s Fritz and Wendy who launch an attack there.

– .. you are troublesome guys...

Matthew dodges the beams that the two of them fired with a jump and by transforming?Sacrifice?into a gun shape, he aimed and shot Fritz in the air, but it ended up being blocked by his shield.

However, this wasn’t what he was after.

He threw?Sacrifice?while turning around his body as he was.

– Eh..?

It hit the body of Wendy that was full of gaps.

– Kyaah!

Wendy collapses receiving the direct hit of?Sacrifice.

Although she fell victim to him, Matthew has no weapons now.

Trying to make use of this gap, Nesat creates a twin sword in her hand and swooped it down on Matthew.

But the attack of Nesat doesn’t land.

It’s because Matthew used the ability of the Variant.

Then, he catches?Sacrifice?that was coming back like a boomerang.

With that, Matthew attacked Nesat.

– .. kuh!

The attack of Matthew is fast and very heavy.

It’s because he released the ability of the Variant.

Nesat parried?Sacrifice?which was swung down, but as things are, she might end up being crushed.

Because of that, Nesat also releases only for an instant the ability of the Variant and brushes it away.

The eyes of Nesat dye in golden color.

And at that instant.

A voice was heard in her head.

『I will never lose——because I will receive the favor from Serivia-sama——』

She recalled the moment when he fought with Kisaragi Hayato.

This is what it’s called the empathy between Variants.

Next, images float behind the eyes of Nesat.

It was a small church of a medium-sized town.

Around 20 children are gathered in a big room there.

– Today a great priest-sama from the Holy Church head office has arrived. You will be able to listen to a wonderful story.

An old man who is the priest of the church said so, then a woman in white vestments entered in the big room.

She was introduced as a great priest, but in reality she’s the Pope of?Puritaria——Serivia Notre Dame Paulo III.

Falsifying her identity, she advocated to teachings like this.

Her goal is to look for a《God Child》.

It’s kind of a selection for Slayer scouting, so to speak.

While explaining teachings, she fixedly gazes at the children.

What called her attention was an absent-minded boy watching outside of the window.

There’s no doubt he didn’t hear the story.

It seems that it’s completely uninteresting for him.

However, Serivia felt a talent as a Slayer from him.

Like a resonance of the Variant Virus, so to speak.

And when Serivia finished the story.

She asked to the priest of the church who came to say his words of appreciation.

– What is the name of that child?

What she pointed with her line of sight is the boy of a while ago.

– Well, that boy, you ask..? His name is Will. Actually, he is an orphan we are taking care of in this church.

The priest continued with a troubled appearance.

– .. is it because he didn’t hear the story of the great priest-sama?

– Yes, sort of.

– I am sorry. That boy, since we are taking care of him, he has been like this. It can be said that he does not have an interest in anything... Even us do not know what to do with him..

– Is that so? If that’s the case, is it fine if I go and speak just a bit with him?

– Yes, of course, please go ahead.

Serivia, who got permission of the priest, at that boy she——.

She approached to the side of Will.

– Will-kun, can you give me a minute?

– ..

Will didn’t reply.

However, he just turned his face to Serivia.

– You didn’t hear to my story a few moments ago. I wonder why is that?

– .. because I wasn’t interested.

– If so, then in what things are you interested?

The moment she asked so.

The pupils of Serivia dyed in golden color.

Thereupon, the pupils of Will also dyed in golden color for an instant.

– .. I-in nothing.

Although Will was stupefied for several seconds, at the same time the eyes of Serivia regained their original color, he replied so, looking like he wasn’t interested in anything.

When she noticed it, the interior of the room was starting to get noisy.

From among the children, she could hear voices that criticize Will, such as not having manners with the other person who is the great priest-sama.

If it’s with this personality, then it can’t be helped.

Apparently, he seems to feel quite out of place among the children of the village.

Rapidly the priest comes up and said to Serivia.

– I am sorry, he is truly a rude child..

Serivia heard his circumstances from the priest after that.

She was told that he was living with his mother from a very young age and that his mother died in an accident, protecting him.

– So that’s how it is.. Then, can I request something?

– .. a request?

– If it’s fine with you, why don’t you let me take care of Will-kun?

– Eh..?

The priest was amazed with the sudden proposal.

– I felt a portion of the《Gods’ Power》in Will-kun.

– Does that mean he has the qualities to become a Slayer?

*Nods*, Serivia nodded.

– Yes, so will you give me your permission?

– As for me, if he says he is fine with it, then I do not see the problem..

The priest turns his gaze towards Will.

Serivia went to Will and asked him.

– Hey, I’ve been wondering. Do you want to visit the Holy Church?

– .. do as you like.

That’s the reply of Will.

– If that’s the case, then it’s decided.

It was truly unbelievable for the children of the village including the priest that a portion of《Gods’ Power》is dwelling inside Will.

But if the great priest says that such a thing is possible, then nobody can put an objection there.

Thus, it had been decided that Will would head to the main office of Puritaria, leaving behind the church with Serivia.

– This is where you are going to live from today.

– .. I see.

That was a room of?Puritaria?main office.

– Unlike till now, you can use this large room for yourself. Aren’t you happy, I wonder?

At any rate, in the small church where he was living, bunk beds were installed in a 15 square meter room, he was barely given that as his own space.

Now it seems that all those 15 square meters became his own space.

However, Will wasn’t delighted.

– I don’t care.

That’s the answer of Will.

– You really aren’t interested in anything, hmm.

Showing a “Oh dear!”?expression, Serivia continued.

– I told you, didn’t I? You’re a person who has the power of God. It’s fine if you don’t have an interest in anything else. But just do your best in training. In that case, I will give you my favor.

– Fa, vor..?

– Another way to say it is that I am going to give you the favor* of loving you in a special way.

Serivia gets close Will and hung?Sacrifice?on his neck.

– .. this is?

– I made it with a God Stone. Carry it close to yourself.

– ..

Will touched it with his hand.

Then, the cross shone a little.

The cross reacted to his?energy.

– That’s good, as I thought, you are a child of God. A very wonderful kid.

Right after she said so.

The pupils of Serivia dye in golden color.

The pupils of Will too.

Serivia smiled sweetly and by putting her hands on both cheeks of Will, she kissed his forehead.

Immediately after the lips of Serivia were apart from his forehead.

– Okaa, san..

Without thinking, Will was murmuring so.

From his eyes, tears are flowing.

– Okaa-san? Is it something wrong?

– .. no, it’s nothing.

As if embarrassed, Will replied.

That reaction is as Serivia was expecting.

He only wanted one thing.

Not an object or a friend.

But his mother he loved so much.

That’s what she understood when she spoke to him the first time.

Influencing the Variant Virus going around inside his body, she looked into his mind——his memories.

That was a splendid and correct interpretation.

Right before kissing his forehead.

Serivia made use of her technique and put over herself the figure of his mother.

That made it possible to completely grab the heart of Will.

– Yes... It would be great if it’s nothing.

Smiling sweetly, Serivia said.

– Well then, this is all for now. Training will begin from tomorrow. You must be tired because of the trip, so take a good rest today.

– Wait!

Will to-->>

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