The Devil Who Grants Wishes

180 – Shard of Power (9)

“Ahhh… it hurts…”

On the night of the first battle, of course, the party of warriors who had been robbed by Faust to the core are lying on their beds and screaming in pain.

Even though they only dealt a little damage and failed to hit Faust effectively, their faces show no regret or regret. On the contrary, it seemed that he could not bear it because he was so happy and proud that he did a little damage.

“Please stay still. Because you keep moving, your bones are about to break. If your pelvis is fixed in a twisted state, you’ll have no other choice but to cut your belly when giving birth, second to swordsmanship, right?”

“…Okay, so please stop saying such bloody things. It’s really scary.”

Of course, even so, this pain covering the whole body does not go anywhere. In return for fighting seriously, Faust also did so against the warriors’ party, resulting in the warriors’ party’s complete defeat.

Since it would be an insult in itself to deal with those who were strong enough to damage Faust, everyone in the warriors’ party, including Faust, did not feel any doubts about the fight without mercy.

“Anyway, you’re really strong. You’re still moving even after being hit directly by Dad’s attack, though your bones are a bit out of whack. And somehow you look familiar.”

“Ah… that’s because I’ve fought Faust-sama before…?”

“What? It’s the first time I’ve heard of it.”

“…didn’t I tell you?”

However, despite the complete defeat, everyone feels no despair. It was as if there hadn’t even been a fight.

It was said that he rushed with the momentum to defeat Faust, but of course he did not expect to be full on the first drink.

I didn’t even expect it in the first place, so I didn’t feel much of a sense of defeat. As much as the subconsciousness that it is natural for them to be defeated by Faust is deep in their hearts, it is natural for them to be defeated by the strong Faust, so there is no need to feel defeated.

“It’s nothing special, just back when I was weak, Faust-sama personally sparred with me for three days and nights. That must have been the first meeting between me and Faust-sama?”

“Hmm… first meeting? And three days and nights? It’s strange, as far as I remember, Dad never came home for three days.”

“Ah, that stopped time. Only me and Faust-sama can move in the space where time has stopped—”

“…what?”

“Hey, is it the story that Iris and Faust-sama mixed their bodies for three days and nights in a space just for the two of them? Iris is pretty good too?”

“No, why are you both taking it that way?”

We just spend time chatting with each other as usual. Of course, I am recovering while chatting.

Upon hearing what Iris said, Lucia opens her ax eyes and looks at Iris, and Celestine, seeing Lucia’s reaction, twists her words gently, making fun of both Lucia and Iris at the same time.

Nothing is said about the sparring with Faust that took place during the day. It’s not because I’m not motivated or anything like that, it’s not because everyone just doesn’t understand enough to have to talk.

While already fighting Faust, everyone felt enough with their bodies.

What they lack, what they need to develop more, whether their cooperation is at a sufficient level or not, everything.

From their point of view, who have already been together for a long time and have adventures, to have a discussion is just to reiterate what they already know. The most important thing for the warrior party now is not how to improve training, but to relieve stress caused by fighting.

“Ah… That’s when, for some reason, they said that I smelled too much of another woman, but I guess it was because my whole body was covered in sweat from moving my body for three days and nights.”

“Lucia? No, why do you say that? You know it’s not.”

“I know, of course… but I can’t help but feel a little envious, right? I’ll have to stop time for three days and nights and ask my dad to stay with me.”

“No… Stop it!! You’ve already made your wish come true! Why, before leaving for Cael, you left us alone and attacked Faust-sama just because you were afraid of what would happen if you fought Serapia—”

“Stop it, both of you are noisy, so stay still and lie still.”

Although on the surface Lucia and Iris seem to be verbally fighting each other, this is just one way they relieve their stress.

Since they have already come too far to be truly hostile to each other, they tease and curse at each other as if dealing with bad friends, and relieve their fatigue during the day. Of course, it cannot be said that there is no malice at all.

“Really, I know everyone has their own reasons for being together, but I’ll do it after the wounds heal a little… Wait a minute, why?”

After tying Lucia and Iris’ bodies together with ropes of light, Celestine, shaking her head, suddenly remembered.

Everyone has their own reasons for being with Faust. Lucia is a father, Iris and Irene are blessed, and I am a revelation.

But… Lena?

Until now, I hadn’t heard why Lena was with Faust. Of course, at first Faust paid Lena to hire her, but wasn’t that a long time ago? The contract between Lena and the warrior party ended after Ceraphia was captured.

“Lena, why is Lena following Faust-sama?”

“Yes?”

Lena, who has been concentrating on healing her wounds with her mouth shut until now, turns her head away in bewilderment at Celestine’s unexpected question.

“What are you talking about all of a sudden…?”

“No, everyone else has their own reasons for following Faust-sama. But I think Lena doesn’t have that reason.”

“Reason… uh… that’s… just?”

Lena hesitates at Celestine’s urging, but soon responds with her tongue twisted, and upon hearing the answer, Celestine is immediately convinced that the answer is a lie.

But I don’t bother asking about it.

No matter how much you say it’s a lie, it’s because you honestly tell your true feelings to the point where it’s worse than not telling such an obvious lie.

is it just

Who would believe that he was just following him after seeing that reddened expression?

‘When Faust-sama told Gaia to return the great forest and the elves because Lena had to have a place to return to, Lena suddenly acted strangely… I guess it was from then. Wow, what a sinful man.’

Celestine laughs inwardly at Lena’s embarrassment, thinking.

Only then did the existing doctrine need to be completely overturned.

Celestine, who first served Serapia, then Stella, and now serves Faust, wants to completely overhaul the doctrines of the Faust Church to be worthy of her title as a saint. In other words, bigamy with multiple people does not violate morality and ethics.

**********

‘As expected, Dad is very strong.’

It’s a fact that I already knew to the bone, but it’s a very different story if you face it directly with your eyes and skin.

After the treatment is over, Lucia, who went back to her own room and became alone, recalls her fight with Faust during the day.

I couldn’t even use my hands or feet properly. It did damage, but it wasn’t an effective hit.

Of course, it would be something to rejoice over even if the damage was done, but isn’t Faust’s power split in half?

‘I can’t do that.’

Lucia thinks.

If everything is over, the father can absorb another father and return to normal. If that’s the case, compared to my dad now, it’s no different than having his strength more than doubled or tripled.

so it’s difficult

You have to grow until you can completely subdue your dad, but wouldn’t you be silent if your dad suddenly became so strong?

I need some way

Something that can become incredibly strong. Something that could make you strong enough to subdue your dad.

‘…Is there really only that?’

Lucia recalls the magic sphere floating around Faust.

The demonic sphere, made from the great forest, absorbed all the demonic energy flowing out of his father’s body, allowing him to roam around in the human world without any penalty.

And when Lucia saw it, the demonic sphere never spit out the demonic energy it had absorbed.

Lucia thinks that she will surely become overwhelmingly stronger if she absorbs the demonic sphere that has condensed a tremendous amount of mana and magic so far, since magic is her strength.

‘Shall we ask Dad for the Magi Sphere tomorrow? No, I can buy a boundary, so I’ll do it after I’m done.’

If Lucia becomes extremely strong, there is a high probability that Faust will prepare for it in advance, so Lucia becomes stronger by surprise and tries to subdue her father without Faust having time to prepare for it.

Deciding that absorbing the magic sphere and attacking her father should be done after killing another father, Lucia falls asleep with a satisfied expression.