"Ha… Ha… Ha…"
Although she possessed unparalleled talent and ability in spiritual vision, her frail physique was truly a bit embarrassing. She hadn't run for long before she was already panting softly, clutching the Gorgoneion tightly in her hand. The Miko-san looked pale and somewhat exhausted.
"Sora-kun, you absolutely must be alright…"
Although Athena's aura had disappeared, what worried Yuri was that she couldn't even sense Sora's aura.
There were only two reasons for an aura to disappear: either they had left the city and were too far away to be sensed, or they were already dead. Biting her lip tightly, Yuri forced herself not to think of the worst. The only thing she could do now was to trust Sora-kun and do her own part!
Well, if the Miko sister knew that the Sora-kun she trusted was actually already gone, what kind of expression would she have?!
Rustle!!!
A sound of something cutting through the air rang out, and suddenly a figure descended from the sky and landed in front of Yuri.
This was a girl with a long silver ponytail, who at first glance gave off a majestic and imposing feeling. Unlike Erica's queenly nobility and fiery passion, this girl had a face that reminded one of a fairy, with a pure and clear aura like a spring.
"Liliana-san… Why are you here?"
Seeing the girl blocking her path, Yuri immediately showed a surprised and unexpected expression, as if she had met a long-lost friend.
Moreover, from the girl's tone, it was clear that they knew each other.
That's right, the girl who suddenly appeared and blocked Yuri's path was none other than Liliana Kranjcar, the genius girl of the "Bronze-Black Cross," who was currently serving as the Marquis Voban's guardian knight.
"Hand over the Gorgoneion."
Unlike Yuri's joyful expression, Liliana had a cold and calm look. She held her beloved sword, "Silver Master," in her right hand and extended her left hand towards Yuri as she spoke.
"No, I must seal it immediately!"
Pulling the Gorgoneion into her embrace, the Miko-san refused without thinking. Although they were friends, she absolutely could not back down on this matter!
"Seal?"
Frowning slightly, Liliana had an expression of disbelief.
"Ah… It's already been agreed upon. While Sora-kun and Erica-kun are stopping Athena, I will seal it!"
Without any concealment, Yuri replied honestly and with certainty.
"A mere Miko's seal, how could it be effective against a god?"
Shaking her head slightly, without any hint of sarcasm, Liliana spoke with an expression that simply stated the facts.
"Even so, I must do this!"
Although she knew her actions were childish, the thought of Sora-kun and Erica-kun working hard while she could do nothing made Yuri feel a pang of sadness. A hint of determination flashed in her eyes, and she spoke with an incredibly firm tone.
"Indeed… You are still the same as before."
"In that case, I will take it by force!"
Sighing softly, Liliana's expression suddenly became sharp. She also had her own mission and duty. If words didn't work, then action would!
"What…"
Hearing the girl's words, the Miko-san was suddenly startled. She had absolutely zero combat ability and had no power to resist in front of Liliana, who possessed the strength of a Great Knight.
Her heart was anxious, but just then, a black car suddenly sped out from the street corner. The knight girl Liliana, who was standing still, changed her expression and leaped away.
"What are you standing there for? Get in quickly!"
The back door of the car opened, revealing the young lady Kaoru in men's clothing, with a hint of urgency in her tone.
Although she was also a genius girl, the young lady Kaoru had some self-awareness. If it came to a fight, she was no match for this "Sword Fairy," who was as famous as that vixen.
"Ah… Oh! Oh!"
Coming back to her senses, the Miko-san immediately showed a surprised and joyful expression and quickly got into the car.
"Mariya Yuri!"
Liliana was unwilling to let Yuri escape just like that. She gripped her beloved sword, Il Maestro, and prepared to chase after her.
"Do it!!!"
With a focused expression, the young lady Kaoru shouted to a certain slovenly man in the driver's seat.
"Yes, yes, young lady!"
His usual lazy expression disappeared, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. Amakasu Touma clasped his hands together and quickly formed several hand seals. A barrier immediately rose from the ground outside the car, blocking the pursuing Liliana.
Without any hesitation, the ninja comrade skillfully stepped on the accelerator, and the car sped away with a roar.
"Phew… That was close! Kaoru, why are you here?"
Watching as they finally shook off Liliana, Yuri let out a long sigh of relief and turned to the young lady Kaoru beside her.
"Hmph, you silly girl were almost kidnapped, how could I not come?"
Pouting, the young lady Kaoru replied in an annoyed tone.
"Where's that guy, Sora? I suddenly can't sense his presence anymore, even though that vixen Erica's presence is still there. Do you know what happened to them?"
Miss Kaoru smoothed her hair and asked casually.
"Kaoru…"
Hearing Miss Kaoru calling Erica a vixen behind her back made the pure and upright Miko-san, Yuri, blush a little.
Although she really wanted to correct Kaoru and tell her not to speak ill of others behind their backs, when she thought about how Erica was always clinging to Sora, and the various rumors about them at school, the Miko-san suddenly found herself wanting to call her that too…
Ugh… No, no, that's very impolite, even thinking it is wrong!
"You silly girl, what are you thinking about! Here, call them and ask what's going on."
Looking speechless, Miss Kaoru gave the Miko-san's little head a hard tap, pulling Yuri back from her strange state. Miss Kaoru took out her phone and handed it to Yuri while speaking.
"Ah… Okay!"
Coming back to her senses, the Miko-san was incredibly embarrassed. Without thinking, she quickly took the phone.
Well, if the Miko-san, Yuri, had thought a little more or noticed the slight upward curve of Miss Kaoru's lips, she would have immediately realized a problem. Why didn't Kaoru call herself, and instead bothered to hand the phone to her?
"Hello, Sora, can you hear me? How are things over there? Are you okay?"
Completely clueless about technology, even in high school she didn't have her own phone. The Miko-san held Miss Kaoru's phone and nervously shouted loudly into the other end of the line.
"Oh dear, it's Mariya! Things aren't looking good over here. Although Athena has been temporarily repelled, I'm sure she'll be back soon."
"As for the King, well, he's dead."
Although she had called Sora's number, it was Erica's voice that came through.
And what did she say? Sora is dead?!!!
Miss Kaoru, who was constantly observing Yuri, naturally heard the voice on the phone clearly. Her body instinctively trembled, but she seemed to think of something and quickly recovered, immediately showing an expression of extreme anger.
"What, Sora is dead? Then… that, Erica, I didn't hear clearly just now, could you repeat it?"
The simple Miko-san wasn't as quick to react as Miss Kaoru. She only suspected that she had misheard, but her body couldn't help but tremble, and her voice was even a little stuttered as she spoke to Erica on the other end of the phone.
"You didn't hear clearly? Then I'll say it again. The King is dead! To stop Athena, the King was struck by her death curse and is now dead."
Erica's voice came through the phone again, without joy or sorrow, as if stating a simple fact.
"Sora, dead…"
Like a bolt from the blue, Yuri's face instantly turned pale, and she was completely stunned.
Scene after scene with Sora flashed through her mind. They met because of Shizuka. At first, Sora always avoided her because he was afraid of her lectures. Later, they met while training in the mountains and spent a month together. It was during that time that she and Sora got to know each other, became familiar, and their relationship changed from just acquaintances to good friends.
Her body was weak, and Kaoru and Ena, who liked to tease her, always threw her to Sora. Although he often complained, Sora was actually very gentle and considerate. Not only did he always take care of her, this burden, but he also saved her life multiple times at critical moments.
Later, when Sora and Ena made their knight's promise, she saw it. Sora became a Godslayer, the Demon King of the Earth. She couldn't believe it. How could Sora become one of those willful and annoying Demon Kings? Perhaps she had seen wrong.
However, it wasn't long before Sora really became a Demon King!
At first, she was confused, worried, and scared, afraid that Sora was no longer the Sora she knew. But to her great surprise, even after becoming a Demon King, Sora was still Sora.
Although he was still a little willful like before, Sora was a special Demon King!
When she heard the rumors about Sora and Erica, she was shy, excited, and even angry. So when she heard from Kaoru that Sora had actually brought back the Gorgoneion, she completely exploded!
It was only now that Yuri suddenly realized that perhaps the real reason for her anger back then wasn't because of the Gorgoneion, but because Sora had left her behind and was dating other girls…
Thinking of this, Yuri could no longer bear it, and tears streamed down her face. She was completely stunned, not even noticing that the phone in her hand had dropped.
"Hey, you dead fox, what kind of joke are you playing? If that guy were dead, would you still be so calm?!!!"
Catching her phone from mid-air, Miss Kaoru's voice, filled with endless anger, roared at Erica on the other end of the phone.
Damn you, Erica Blandelli, is this kind of joke something you can just make?!
"Oh my, you don't believe me? Then I'll send you a photo, future head of the Sayanomiya family!"
Erica's faint voice came from the phone. As expected, not long after, a photo was sent. Sora was lying on a bench with a pale face, looking like a dead person.
The words she was about to curse stopped. Looking at the photo on her phone, Sayanomiya Kaoru's pupils contracted, and a trace of blood instantly dripped from her tightly bitten lip…
"That guy, he's really dead…"
Just like Yuri beside her, Kaoru also had a stunned expression…