"This divine artifact is quite a headache."
A blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl in Milan, Italy wore a troubled expression.
The cause of her troubles lay in the strange object she carried.
It was shaped like a jet-black obsidian medallion engraved with images of snakes and a female monster.
This was the "Gorgoneion," a divine artifact.
And the girl's name was Erica Blandelli.
Known by the moniker "Crimson Devil," she was the young lady of the famous Blandelli household in the magic world.
She also belonged to the Italian Mage Association "Copper-Black Cross."
She held the rank of Great Knight and bore the nickname "Red Devil." Her beloved sword was "Cuore di Leone" (Heart of the Lion).
She practiced a magic called "Iron Alchemy," which allowed her to freely manipulate steel objects.
Personally, she excelled at creation, transformation, destruction, and reinforcement spells.
The reason she was troubled about the Gorgoneion she needed to escort was because it was related to a Heretic God (a "God Who Does Not Obey").
Because one of her ancestors was a "Devil King," she knew information about Devil Kings and Heretic Gods.
"Devil King" was also called a "Campione." (TN: "統神者" can translate to "God-Slayer" or "Campione," meaning someone who overthrew a god.)
This world contained two opposing yet deeply intertwined forces that could affect the balance of power worldwide: the "Heretic Gods" and the "Campiones."
Should a Sun God descend, the entire world might become unbearably hot.
If a Sea God appeared, gigantic waves could swallow everything, sinking it into the ocean.
If a God of the Underworld arrived, plagues would spread to every corner, turning the world into a city of the dead.
If a God of Judgment manifested, everyone living here would face all sorts of punishments.
Even just passing through this world, such a deity would bring tremendous impact—an unsettling God who shaped calamities in a form of Their own choosing. That is a god who does not obey, a "Heretic God!"
All the weapons humanity could create on Earth could not harm such gods in the slightest.
No matter if it were gunpowder, explosives, or chemical weapons—these creations of ordinary humans could not deal any damage to gods.
As the name implies, a "God-Slayer": one who kills Heretic Gods.
By slaying a deity, one devours Its spirit and thereby gains a body beyond human measure and obtains that god's authorities (divine powers).
Currently in the world, six such Campiones reigned. They were also respectfully called Devil Kings.
This was the world's greatest secret.
Only certain associations and organizations knew the truth about Campiones and Heretic Gods.
Erica was one of those in the know.
And the Gorgoneion in her hands was connected to a Heretic God of disastrous proportions, certainly enough to worry anyone who understood how terrifying Heretic Gods could be.
[Ding! Erica Blandelli has joined the chat group!]
An unfamiliar voice and an unknown floating screen suddenly appeared. Instantly on guard, Erica brandished her beloved sword, Cuore di Leone.
But after remaining cautious for a while, she found no immediate danger.
Yet upon that "chat group" interface, lines of text scrolled past, as if several people were conversing.
Piecing it together with the new knowledge emerging in her mind, Erica stood astonished.
"An inter-world 'chat group'? How fake is that?"
Frieren: "Welcome, newcomer. If either of you two new folks are here, feel free to say hello. Maybe introduce yourselves."
Yomogawa Ayame: "I wonder if this newcomer will be like some folks who start off extremely wary."
Mai Sakurajima: "The chat group's info is all transmitted directly into everyone's minds—that's the best proof, unless the newcomer's world has truly formidable powers."
Megumi Kato: "Mai, haven't you gone to bed yet?"
Mai Sakurajima: "Ugh, I can't sleep. Rei Ao might be right next door."
Megumi Kato: "Yukino?"
Mabel: "Waaaah, just now Yukino was so loud, but it's quiet now—maybe they finished?"
Tohru: "Impossible! It hasn't been that long. Rei Ao can easily keep going for hours. I'm aware of that barrier technique he uses."
Izawa Shizue: "So that means Rei Ao deliberately blocked the noise."
Sui: "They're already up to barrier-level defenses, so it looks like Rei Ao has gone full power?"
Frieren: "Er... is Yukino actually okay with that?"
Mabel: "Ugh, I hope Yukino won't die."
She was Mabel's meal ticket, after all, so Mabel didn't want Yukino being wrung dry.
Yukinoshita Yukino: "Mabel, you! Shut up!!!"
Mabel: "Wah! Yukino's alive!"
At the unstoppable motions, Yukino was humiliated and furious enough to kill.
Why bring up these matters in the chat group now, of all times?
"Yukino, you're tensing up too much. That's going to hurt. Relax,"
Then, tagging Mabel in the chat:
Rei Ao: "@Mabel, if you have any ideas, you're free to come substitute for Yukino. I'll allow it."
Mabel: "Um... that... I'm dead tired, good night, good night!"
She fled. She was scared, after all.
Rei Ao was one to do exactly as he said.
Huddled under the covers, Mabel glanced nervously at the door in the darkness, worried that Rei Ao's big hand might smash it in and pin her down for a thorough session.
Seeing how ungrateful that person was, Yukino clenched her teeth again. She regretted it once more.
She should never have taken her in back then!
After reading that, Rei Ao laughed.
"Yukino, see? Mabel absolutely needs a lesson. Next time, why don't you and I have a go at punishing her together, see about getting you some payback?"
Hearing she could get revenge, Yukino blurted it out almost reflexively. But she quickly realized something wasn't right.
At that shocking thought, Yukino regained some composure. Glaring with wide eyes, she said, "I-I never said there'd be a next time!"
"Too bad, you already agreed. And honest Yukino wouldn't go back on her word, right?"
Rei Ao smiled mischievously.
He didn't let her finish. Bending down, he kissed Yukino again, stifling her rebuttal. Yukino's eyes went wide—yet she offered no resistance. In fact, for reasons unknown, she clung to him with even more initiative.
Her mind told her not to think so much—right now, her body felt happiness.
As for whether they actually took that verbal agreement seriously? No one knew. No one could say.
— Currently You can Read 200 Chapters Ahead of Others!