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Chapter 459

The Archangel Gabriel possessed exceptionally outstanding infiltration abilities.

To evaluate it coldly— the level of protective magic Leon had obsessively installed throughout Cascadia was such that even a minion of an Outer God would find it impossible to break through in a short time.

And yet, by securing even a fleeting instant, he had penetrated all the way here in one stroke, knocked out Melissa and Lispa, and successfully secured Elpiria.

“Gabriel. This bastard. I thought he was at least better than the others— I’m the idiot. This trash.”

Luna spoke, clenching her fist so tightly it let out a cracking sound.

The mere fact that Elpiria was in his arms made it difficult for her to act recklessly.

If there was any relief, it was that he wasn’t using her as a hostage.

“Your words are quite harsh. I have no intention of harming this child. However, it seems you still do not understand the current situation at all, so I will explain. Listen carefully to what I say from now on.”

His lips moved slowly.

“The duty of an archangel cannot be neglected. Until now, I have been mediating because I understood your circumstances, Leon, and yours as well, Raphael.”

“Then why not just leave things as they are?”

“Raphael. You would know. The five dimensional veins.”

At those words, Luna’s eyes widened.

“That—?!”

“That’s right. At present, an outer-dimensional monster has already eroded three of those locations. All three incidents occurred while I was mediating between Michael and you.”

The Archangel Michael had been using every possible method to block the Outer Gods.

The reinstatement of Luna and Lispa.

The retrieval of the power of the Progenitor Archangel, Lucifer.

And lastly— the matter of Elpiria, whom he currently held.

“Do not speak of whose fault it is or whose malice it is. Archangel Michael is still fighting that monster even now. His methods are extreme, and from your perspective, unacceptable. But if sacrificing one can save tens of millions, Michael will press the button without hesitation.”

Even if that someone were himself.

“Of course, this may be something the two of you can never accept. But our judgment is that this monster is not something that can be handled complacently.”

The fact that three out of the five major strongholds had been lost due to Gabriel’s mediation was no small matter.

“Luna. What happens if all of them are taken?”

“It’s like the pillars holding up a building disappearing— the ceiling collapses.”

In other words, it meant destruction.

Leon’s expression twisted.

“So. This time you’re taking Elpiria?”

“I must fulfill the duty of an archangel.”

Soon, both his body and Elpiria’s began to grow faint.

The light that occurred when an archangel returned to the heavens made interference virtually impossible.

After that, his expression softened slightly.

“This concludes my duty as Archangel Gabriel. And from now on—this is personal advice. Leon Cascadia. And Luna.”

He gave a bitter smile.

“Whatever you do, it doesn’t matter. At the very least, prepare to subdue Michael. We’ll be betting on you from this side as well.”

As his wings spread, the shattered Cascadia mansion began to restore itself in an instant.

“I hear you’ve secured adamantium. With that, along with the Dragon Lord and Merkavalt’s assistance, you should be able to create a weapon capable of reaching Michael.”

The fact that he specifically mentioned Merkavalt led to a certain inference.

The dragon’s essence originally attached to the Sea Dragon’s armor.

“You have one month. Prepare thoroughly and ascend to the heavens. During that time, I will ensure that Michael absolutely cannot awaken Elpiria as an archangel.”

“Whose side are you on, exactly?”

“I have no interest in black-and-white logic. Must I choose a side between Archangel Michael and Archangel Raphael?”

With an irritated expression, he spat the words out.

“Even sibling fights should have limits. Seriously, it pisses me off.”

With those words, Gabriel vanished, and Luna collapsed to the ground.

“Luna.”

Clear tears streamed down Luna’s eyes.

It was only the second time Leon had ever seen Luna cry like this—someone usually slow to show changes in expression.

The first was when she had lost the Fate Lord for the first time.

The second was now.

However, unlike before, she bit down hard and made no sound as she cried.

“A-Are you… alright.”

Merkavalt, having learned an unexpectedly heavy truth, approached the two hesitantly.

At the same time, Luna suddenly grabbed her arm tightly.

“Hhk?!”

Startled, she looked at Luna, who spoke with resolute eyes.

“Do you remember what Gabriel said?”

“W-What do you mean?”

“That he needs your help refining adamantium.”

“…Yes. If there is something this body can do, what could I possibly refuse? Do not worry. What he referred to must be the dragon’s essence that only this body can handle.”

“I have somewhere to stop by for a moment. Leon.”

She then extended her hand toward Leon.

“The pendant.”

At her request for the pendant that carried Lucifer’s voice, Leon quietly looked at her.

“What are you planning?”

Luna did not answer.

She simply looked at Leon with a face filled with complicated emotions.

Leon let out a short breath and placed Lucifer’s pendant in her hand.

Afterward, she checked on Lispa and Melissa’s condition once more, healed them, and then flew off somewhere.

“A-Are you alright? From what I can see… that child is like your own.”

“How could I possibly be alright? I should go and flip the whole table over.”

“Then…”

“But I need to prepare first.”

The restrictions caused by the hierarchy difference with Michael had disappeared.

However, other preparations were necessary.

“Young master! We’re sorry. We couldn’t stop the intruder…”

“It’s fine. Move Melissa and Lispa to the bedroom and take care of them until they wake up. And Arsha?”

“That is… she received a letter and went to the neighboring territory…”

“A letter?”

“Yes. She recently became friends with a young lady from the neighboring estate. She said she can’t keep hiding at home forever and wants to stand on her own…”

“…Alright. I understand.”

It was fortunate that Arsha hadn’t been hurt.

“Um… Young master. What should we do about this matter?”

“Don’t spread it around. There’s nothing to gain from doing so anyway. And Merkavalt.”

“Y-Yes…!”

“I’ll need your help.”

“What should be done first?”

* * *

Gabriel, having arrived at the palace of pure white light, staggered the moment his feet touched the ground.

“That had some bite.”

Though Melissa was a Sword Master, she wasn’t truly that threatening to an archangel.

However—

Lispa Elde Remielia, who had charged at him like a vengeful spirit— the former archangel Remiel—her attacks were not something he could take lightly.

To be honest, since she was in a rival relationship with Luna, he hadn’t expected her to care that much about Elpiria, the child of Luna and Leon.

That miscalculation had become the problem.

“You’ve arrived.”

Soon, the gates of the pure white heavens opened, and numerous archangels slowly revealed themselves.

All archangels except Luna and Lispa.

Looking down once at Elpiria, who was sleeping peacefully in his arms, he walked step by step toward Michael.

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BOOOOM!!!

Before Michael could even speak, Gabriel threw a thunderous punch and sent him flying.

“Gabriel!!”

The Archangel of Judgment, Raguel, flew into a rage at the sight and revealed hostility, but the moment he faced Gabriel, he flinched.

“Do not interfere, Raguel.”

“……”

Approaching Michael, who had been blasted back into the wall, Gabriel spoke coldly.

“One month. If you harm this child during that time, I will have to face you as an enemy as well, Michael. Do not forget. Unlike you or Raphael, I am truly capable of doing despicable things.”

“…Very well. I accept.”

His face, hidden behind the helmet, revealed no emotion.

Gabriel slowly carried her deeper into the heavens, toward the innermost part of the Heavenly Crystal.

The other archangels followed.

“You should calm down a little.”

“Didn’t I tell you not to interfere?”

At Gabriel’s unusually vicious tone, the Archangel Camael shut his mouth.

Gabriel then laid Elpiria in a cradle placed there, glared once at Michael, and then disappeared into light.

After Gabriel left, the remaining archangels quietly looked at one another.

“W-Well, it seems things worked out. This child is the Immaculate Archangel…”

Archangel Camael approached the peacefully sleeping Elpiria and looked down at her quietly.

It felt strange.

Before gaining a sense of self and emotions, he wouldn’t have cared—but now, it felt different.

How should he describe it?

An inexplicable sense of fondness toward this child.

“Uriel.”

“What is it, Camael?”

“It’s strange. When I look at this child, I feel an inexplicable affection.”

“I feel the same. Well… perhaps because she resembles Raphael, but objectively speaking, she is quite cute.”

They knew how absurd it was for archangels to speak of something as “cute,” but neither bothered to correct it.

After all, since gaining self-awareness and emotions, they knew they were no longer the same as before.

They acted out of duty, but they were not cold-blooded beings without blood or tears.

As if looking at their own kind.

Or perhaps, at something sacred.

At that moment—

Elpiria, who had been sleeping peacefully, began blinking her eyes open, awakened by the commotion.

Then, as if searching for her mother, she looked around.

Camael and Uriel felt an indescribable emotion.

Surely… she wouldn’t cry?

They said babies cry when their parents aren’t around.

The two—frozen in subtle anxiety—soon met Elpiria’s gaze.

Then, Elpiria flailed her arms and legs excitedly and burst into laughter.

“Kyaa-haha!”

“Ah…”

Camael faltered as if malfunctioning.

Uriel was the same.

“It is a promise with Gabriel. For one month, no one is to approach that child.”

“But the child must eat and sleep, Michael.”

“You will handle that, Uriel. Aside from that, do not approach.”

“Understood.”

At Uriel’s reply, Michael approached Elpiria in full armor, the sound of metal clanking, and knelt on one knee, looking down at the child.

“What is it?”

“I need to be certain that this child is truly the Immaculate Archangel.”

“The divinity emanating from that child is undoubtedly that of an archangel. And currently, the only vacant seat among the archangels is that of the Immaculate Archangel.”

He did not respond to Uriel’s somewhat stiff tone.

Soon, Michael slowly extended his gauntleted index finger toward Elpiria.

Elpiria reached out, grabbed his finger tightly, and giggled.

“……”

Michael silently held his breath as he watched.

“Lord Michael?”

Infants tend to grasp whatever they touch or try to put it in their mouths.

When Elpiria grabbed the sharp finger of his gauntlet and tried to bring it to her mouth, his body twitched briefly—then light erupted.

At the same time, the other archangels’ eyes widened in shock.

“Lord Michael?!”

Michael’s gauntlet dissolved into light, part of it vanishing as if evaporated.

It was Michael—not Elpiria.

“I-It is merely a promise. If she is harmed, it would violate the agreement.”

He removed the finger portion of his gauntlet himself, leaving only a human-like finger like the others, and tried to step back.

But Elpiria, giggling, held onto Michael’s hand and refused to let go.

Michael froze, unable to move.

Behind the helmet, his gaze remained fixed on Elpiria.

Uriel and Camael exchanged glances.

See?

No matter how you look at it, something’s strange.

That child… she’s not an ordinary child.

Though they did not speak, the meaning was clear.

Elpiria, now in high spirits, flailed her limbs widely, showing signs that she wanted to be held by Michael.

Naturally, Michael tried to refuse—but the child, quick-witted, immediately sensed his attitude and began to whimper.

At that, Michael’s hand trembled unconsciously.

“What should we do?”

“…If a child cries, it will exhaust itself.”

“That is true. Judging by the situation, she will cry if left alone.”

At those words, Michael tapped his chest with his remaining hand.

Then, the breastplate of his golden armor disappeared.

After that, he removed all armor parts that might touch Elpiria and lifted her into his arms.

“It is merely a promise. She is just a child. Once she falls asleep, I will put her down.”

That sounded like an excuse…

The archangels were left speechless at the unprecedented sight of Michael’s flustered state.

“Raguel.”

“Yes, Lord Michael.”

Raguel, practically Michael’s right hand, bowed his head slightly.

“Descend to the middle realm and bring things that might interest the child.”

“Understood.”

Raguel vanished.

Afterward, Michael’s gaze flashed from within his helmet as he looked at Uriel and Camael.

“You two will take turns staying by the child’s side.”

“Stay by her side?”

“Yes. It is a promise. She must not be left to cry.”

Then why not just put the child down first?

Camael felt something strange but did not voice it.

Elpiria’s existence was unlike that of a normal human baby.

Her appearance was no different, but the aura she emitted felt extremely familiar to them.

And because of that—since her arrival, the solemnity, mystery, and radiance of heaven itself seemed to have changed.

“Kyaa-haha!”

“……”

At Elpiria’s pure, untainted laughter as she snuggled closer into Michael, his body trembled once more.

“The Immaculate Archangel… To possess such power from infancy—truly a being worthy of prophecy.”

At that muttering, Uriel and Camael instinctively thought—

That’s probably not it.

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