---

In the northern snowfield, there truly are many monsters.

And when it comes to facing these monsters, I can currently give it my all.

‘Mana is ample.’

While subduing Beelzebub, I gained an immense amount of mana.

I’m not just walking across the snowfield; I’m riding it atop my staff, overflowing with confidence, and there’s enough mana left in my body to face that gigantic monster.

“Burn, Flare.”

Fwoosh.

Flames bloom around me.

Not just any flames, but flames shaped like flowers, blossoming around me.

Kyaaaaak——!!

The serpent appearing in the snowfield seemed ready to crush the flower petals in its blizzard breath, but they flickered like candle flames, refusing to extinguish.

“Linked formation. Expansion.”

With Beelzebub’s power coursing through me, when I use my mana, it is easy for it to ‘expand.’

If I were to liken it to insects.

I become the queen bee, and the mana around me turns into worker bees.

“Construct nexus. Form widespread connection. Open flame net.”

Previously, it was limited to just creating huge flames and throwing them, but through Beelzebub’s power, my will now directly propagates to the mana, allowing me to control every individual flame at my command.

In other words.

“Expand. Flare Twist.”

The fire-breathing mana shaped like a swarming insect can fly freely according to my ‘will.’

Kyaaaak!!

The serpent unleashed its breath towards the fire bugs.

With just a slight motion of my hand, I could direct the dazzling evasive maneuvers of the fire bugs, which perfectly dodged the breath and approached the serpent.

Kiaak!!

As soon as the fire bugs touched the serpent, it writhed in agony.

Typically, bugs cling to their foe and nibble at them, but these fire bugs are essentially ‘mana’ and ‘fire.’

In other words, while they appear as if they are gnashing flesh, what’s actually happening is self-ignition.

“Easy peasy.”

I was already adept at handling willpower.

But with Beelzebub’s ability combined, the mana infused with my will moved as freely as my own limbs.

If I were to express this power in a single word….

‘ pheromone.’

It sounds odd but feels accurate; there’s no better expression.

Without being influenced by any other power, I can scatter my finely segmented mana in all directions.

“Ha ha ha.”

The serpent screamed and fell sideways.

The flames clinging to its body didn’t stop until they completely roasted the serpent, and the ground where it fell melted down, drenched in the heat of the flames.

“Tada.”

I entered the barrier.

Not just Lucius, but the other three seemed tense at the sight of my power, swallowing hard.

“Sage, what on earth…?”

“From the last battle… um… I’ve regained my power.”

Actually, it’s not quite regained.

But it would be strange to say I’m borrowing power using Beelzebub’s Soul Stone, so it’s more fitting to say the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus was once an incredible being.

“I’m a vessel with a sealed amount of mana. As long as my mana is guaranteed, I can use the same powers I employed in the past.”

“That’s impressive. Just how strong can you become?”

“Well, enough to turn half the continent into a sea of flames?”

“Impressive indeed, Master.”

I wasn’t joking.

Even without me, the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus I’m impersonating could easily turn the continent into a sea of flames or drop meteors with her meteor magic.

If I store as much mana as I can in my mana pouch, I could easily rain down meteors several times over.

No one handles the endless power of magic as well as I do.

Since the Sorceress of Crimson Lotus was the world’s greatest at fire magic, I too am a great sorcerer skilled in magic.

“It’s been a while since I checked my strength, so I decided to use my abilities. We don’t know what dangers lie in the northern continent we’ll be heading to.”

I accepted the teacup Lucius offered and took a light sip.

I couldn’t taste it, but I felt warmth in my body, easing both my physique and mind.

“Haah. By the way, do you know about the Ice Witch?”

“If it’s about the Ice Witch…”

The Ice Witch.

“I’ve heard she’s lived so long she can no longer count her age.”

“She’s been around since before Great Demon Lord Bel Phegor’s rampage.”

“Are you talking about the legendary witch who created the entire snowy fields in the northern continent?”

“Yes. And we need her help.”

She is a highly dangerous being, yet to reach the Sky Island spoken of by Ascalon, we must seek her assistance.

“It’s not just about breaking through the northern continent. To reach the Sky Island mentioned by Ascalon, we need the Ice Witch’s skills.”

“Is it an island that only opens under certain conditions?”

“No. Ascending from the Ice Witch’s stronghold is simply the most convenient, quickest, and most efficient way. Since it’s floating in the sky.”

From just hearing it, everyone couldn’t quite grasp it.

However, once seen and experienced directly, they’d immediately understand what the ‘Sky Island’ truly is.

“If she assists us willingly, that would be great, but if she opposes us and tries to kill us, we’ll need to deal with that.”

“Deal with… suppress?”

“No. Kill.”

Though we’ve known each other for a while, I couldn’t help but think it was unavoidable for my survival.

“I don’t know how you see the Ice Witch, but she is a truly terrifying witch. Her identity…”

Ah.

“I can’t tell you.”

“What?”

“It could be information that the church is censoring. If I say too much, the church could flip out.”

“…Then we should first let you know what the church is aware of.”

Saintess Yan shook her head solemnly.

“I know nothing.”

“What?”

“I know nothing at all. It’s taboo to speak of the Ice Witch, but I only know there’s a witch that has survived in the north until now.”

Surprising.

This means the Order of the Crescent Moon Goddess has no grasp on the Ice Witch’s identity at all.

“Why don’t you know?”

“Because we simply don’t. We know of the Ice Witch’s existence, but she hasn’t particularly harmed us, right?”

“That’s true. While one might say she has caused some harm now, to an extent.”

If remnants of the former Demon King’s Army fled to the north and are still alive, attempting to make their way back to the south, it’s quite likely that the Ice Witch has taken them in.

In other words.

“Perhaps the Ice Witch has formed an alliance with the remnants of the former Demon King’s Army.”

“…An alliance with the Demon King’s Army?”

“Yes. The Ice Witch was an ally of the Demon Lord 500 years ago.”

She was my ally.

I had heard there was an enormous witch in the northern continent. When I went to meet her, I ended up having a massive scuffle, but after delving deep into discussions about magic, we eventually became friends.

“At the very least, the Great Demon Lord Belphegor had mentioned that in terms of ice magic, the Ice Witch was stronger than him.”

“Goodness….”

“Is she that powerful? The Ice Witch?”

“Indeed. While she appears in a humanoid form, her actual essence is somewhat different….”

I wonder if I can say this.

The Ice Witch probably wouldn’t mind, but the problem lies with the church.

“Yan. Are you sure saying this won’t cause trouble?”

“It’s highly likely to be sealed as a top-secret and become a secret known only to the Pope and the Saintess. Depending on the situation.”

“Is that so? It could definitely be information that the church could never accept. Are you sure it’s alright?”

“That’s why we’ve established taboos and keep them safely. Don’t worry, Sage. The Order is safe.”

Since the Saintess assured me of safety, I suppose it would be fine to reveal it.

“Um, although it’s something I find hard to say, I have no choice but to tell you. We might have to fight after all.”

“With the Ice Witch?”

“Yes. If she truly assists the Demon King’s Army and Asydia from behind, then we must take her down.”

Depending on the situation, she could become the worst enemy.

Her powerful strength.

And the warnings of the woman who claimed to fear the one who wields it.

“She is a deity.”

“…….”

Everyone’s faces turned pale.

Particularly, Saintess Yan’s expression froze completely.

“…Did I hear that wrong?”

“I’ll say it again. The Ice Witch, she is a deity.”

“…Is she a race named after ‘God,’ or is she a being who is literally a god?”

“No. She’s like the Moon Goddess or the Red Moon Goddess. She’s a goddess.”

“……Sage.”

Saintess Yan spoke with a trembling voice.

“You are currently denying the Genesis of the Order of the Goddess.”

“That’s why I asked ahead of time. It might be information the church is censoring, so I’ll be careful. But didn’t you ask me to say it?”

“……Ugh.”

Saintess Yan seemed genuinely aggrieved, trembling her fists in frustration.

“Are you saying the history of the Order of the Goddess… is wrong?”

Assessing I wouldn’t lie, she seemed to wholly believe my statement.

‘Ah. It struck a nerve.’

Should I just call it a lie?

No.

Once I meet the Ice Witch, she’ll learn the whole truth, and by then, it wouldn’t be surprising if I took the brunt of it.

Then.

“Well, Saintess. Would you like to know the real Genesis?”

“…….”

“It might be serious enough that you’d rather live your entire life without knowing. It might be good for you to just believe what you’ve previously known as the truth. But if you still wish to hear it, I’m open to it. After all, as long as I eliminate the Demon King’s Army, it doesn’t matter to me. If need be….”

I pointed to the others.

“I could tell only the Saintess separately?”

“…I will listen. And I will leave the judgment up to the others.”

Yan corrected her posture.

“The true Genesis…. The content unknown to the Order, even beyond the taboos. If I hear it, I will probably have to keep it a secret for a lifetime, but facing the truth is always a sad affair.”

“Is it okay for you to say that, Saintess?”

“The Moon Goddess has said: Do not turn away from the truth. Perhaps she has spoken this in light of our current situation.”

“Ah, is that so?”

This woman is also quite severe.

I guess she’s truly not just any Saintess.

“The others… well, no need to mention. Ahem. Listen attentively. The Ice Witch we will meet ahead, a woman who may become our enemy is—”

A goddess.

“Her name is ‘Celcius.'”

“……What?”

“The first spirit. The Water Spirit King. The creator of the spirit device ‘Celcius,’ which can wield her powers. Well, to sum it up in one word….”

“A goddess.”

“Yes.”

I pointed to the sky.

“Unlike the Twin Moon Goddesses in the sky, she is one of the seven deities that have existed from the very beginning of this world.”

And her relationship with Great Demon Lord Belphegor.

“Perhaps, we might need to kill a god.”

She’s my ex-girlfriend.

 

---