I, Kurumi Tokisaki, Am a Wanderer

Following the path Nuada once walked, Kurumi headed eastward, crossing the town of Shil and passing fields dotted with small, pale-pink flowers. They started as tiny buds, gradually blossoming into delicate blooms, only to fall in cascades, as if mourning Nuada's passing.

Kurumi stood on the western shore of Saint Mary's Isle, gazing out at the eastern sea where she and Nuada had once fought. Terns flew over the waves, and Kurumi sat where Nuada had once sat, overlooking the sea, its deep blue hue reminiscent of an enormous sapphire.

She seemed to hear Nuada's voice once more, echoing across the millennia, as the songs of Nuada's people praised her name. But now, as Christian churches dotted the land, the eternal hymns of Celtic mythology had long faded away.

The local Cornwall magic society had taken on the responsibility of concealing the truth of the battle between two Heretic Gods, concocting a plausible explanation for the media and the public.

In the world of the Godslayers, magicians were far less secretive than in the Type-Moon World. Many elderly locals knew the location of the nearby magic societies and were even vaguely aware of their powers.

The battle between Kurumi and Nuada had been fought in the open, with Nuada's brilliant white light visible from distant reefs. Fortunately, the area wasn't a fishing zone, and no unfortunate fishermen had intervened during their clash.

Princess Alice extended an invitation, urging Kurumi to visit London, where the Greenwich Council of Sages and the entire Mage Associations harbored a deep curiosity about this unique Heretic God.

Southeast of Greater London, across the River Thames, lay the district of Greenwich, approximately ten kilometers from Charing Cross.

Typically, Heretic Gods did not stray far from the lands where their myths had been woven. But for Kurumi, who was not bound to any specific myth, such concerns were irrelevant.

Standing by the window, Kurumi quietly admired the verdant landscape of this foreign land.

Behind her, a thick, red line slashed diagonally across the center of the room—a representation of the Prime Meridian stretching from the old Greenwich Observatory. That zero-degree longitude line held deep significance in the mage world, with many secluded magicians living along the towns south of the Thames.

Considering Kurumi's abilities, Princess Alice had chosen this residence as a fitting retreat.

Inside the room, the diagonal Prime Meridian split the space into two domains.

On one side sat Erica, with her golden hair cascading like a sunlit waterfall. She sat cross-legged, hands on her hips, her small face puffed up in a pout of pure indignation.

Across from Erica was a girl with long, silver hair. Her age matched Erica's, but her expression was more serious and cautious. Compared to Erica's mischievous spirit, she exuded the aura of a true knight.

This was Liliana Kranjcar.

Together, they were known as the twin prodigies of Milan, and she was the heir of the prestigious [Bronze-Black Cross] magical society.

Yet, the two didn't seem to get along at all. Their gazes locked, eyes wide in defiance, and their delicate faces were nearly pressed together.

"Oh my, Lili, it seems we truly are bound by the sword of fate."

"Please don't address me with such a familiar nickname," Liliana responded solemnly, dismissing the notion.

"Besides, my presence here has nothing to do with you. If it weren't for my duty to serve Lady Kurumi, I'd keep my distance from you."

"Oh, Lili, that's not what you say in your romance novels." Erica's sly smile had the glint of a fox's cunning.

Known as the "Fairy Knight," Liliana's earnest, medieval-knight-like personality was an irresistible target, especially when paired with her girlhood dreams.

"If someone truly—" Erica teased, mimicking a line from Liliana's latest manuscript with a smirk, "pins me against the wall, gazing down upon me..."

"W-What?!"

Liliana threw herself at Erica, outraged that her private fantasies had been shared so freely. She wrestled Erica to the ground, furiously tugging at her cheeks. "I'll make you pay for this!"

She had a good idea who'd leaked her novel's latest lines—her traitorous maid had to have been involved.

How could she betray her like this?

Thud—

Kurumi turned to find Liliana sitting atop Erica, the silver-haired girl with a bright, flushed face as she pulled at the girl beneath her, who whimpered adorably.

"My, you two really get along," Kurumi remarked, smiling. "Oh, by the way, I'm going out for a bit, so Lili, make sure to play nice with Erica, alright?"

"No way!" Liliana protested, nearly on the verge of tears.

"Lady Kurumi, please wait for me! I'm here to serve you!"

Liliana quickly chased after Kurumi, while behind her, Erica calmly adjusted her rumpled attire.

Liliana saw herself as Kurumi's servant—a belief she clung to with devotion.

[Bronze-Black Cross], the rival yet cooperative society to [Copper-Black Cross].

Its leader was Old Kranjcar, Liliana's grandfather. Upon learning that [Copper-Black Cross] had shamelessly allied themselves with the Heretic God, he had berated Paolo for his betrayal.

A magician surrendering to a Heretic God? It was disgraceful.

Then he had sent Liliana to London, bearing a letter in his own hand.

Only [Bronze Black Cross], and particularly Liliana with her maiden lineage, was truly suited to serve as a shrine maiden to the goddess.

Old Kranjcar had conveniently forgotten that his beloved granddaughter had just been knighted with the sprouting sword back at Giardino Monastery.

Hurled to London by her grandfather and overwhelmed with crash courses on ancient shrine maiden rituals, Liliana had essentially transformed into a walking bundle of nerves.

Meeting Kurumi in her formal white and crimson priestess attire, Liliana had blushingly declared herself a pure maiden ready to serve her goddess, with steam practically billowing from her head.

"Oh, Lili, I never imagined you were this type of person!"

Her cheeks flushing furiously, Liliana turned to find her dreaded nemesis, staring in shock.

Why... why was she here?!

...

To cater to the preferences of her goddess, Liliana had specially dressed in the traditional miko attire: a pure white robe paired with red hakama pants.

According to reports, Kurumi Tokisaki, the Heretic God, undeniably shared a profound connection with the distant eastern land of Japan. So naturally, adopting the traditional miko attire seemed appropriate.

Throughout history, certain young women among magicians have been born with unique bloodlines. They know how to concoct secret potions, control animals with magic, and even soar through the skies.

Possessing an ability called Spirit Vision, they are even capable of receiving divine revelations. Only those born with such innate talent could master these mystical arts.

In Eastern or Southern Europe, such girls are often called witches, while in Japan, they are known as shrine maidens. It's said that they are descendants of gods who fell to the earth in ancient times.

And Liliana was indeed a prime example of such a gifted descendant.

The divine curse energy was overwhelming, beyond the reach of ordinary spells. Only a shrine maiden serving a deity could perform the proper rituals to appease such a being.

In serving a deity, one must be mentally prepared to offer up everything.

Liliana sat in front of Kurumi, her posture upright and her gaze unwavering, hands placed properly on her knees, her entire demeanor one of utter nervousness.

She wasn't particularly comfortable in the formal seiza position, with her hips resting on her ankles. But thoughts of her grandfather's stern face kept her there, lips pursed as she awaited her trial from the goddess.

Her figure was delicate, with a slender frame that seemed as if it could be swept away by a gust of wind. Her moonlight-like hair cascaded down, and the loosely fastened collar revealed a glimpse of her delicate collarbone.

Yet there was nothing particularly seductive about her appearance; Liliana's expression was far too solemn. Her figure was indeed childish and flat compared to Erica, whose figure had already started showing the beginnings of blossoming curves.

Kurumi's voice, soft and gentle as if stroking a cat, sent a shiver through Liliana's body, leaving her feeling light and tingly.

A Heretic God has the ability to color the world according to their whims, and winning over a person's heart was as easy as uttering a word, harboring a single thought.

Whether intentional or not, Kurumi exuded a charm that was nearly enchanting. The idea of curling up by her side or resting one's head on her soft lap emerged as unbidden fantasies…

Until Liliana, already blushing from nervousness, caught sight of Erica, who wore her signature, devilish grin.

Liliana had been in London for a few days now, and Kurumi had yet to respond directly to Lord Kranjcar. Her stance seemed to be one of tacit acceptance.

Not everyone had the privilege of staying close to Kurumi. Apart from the inner sanctum of the heart, adorableness was also an essential selection criterion.

And Liliana fit Kurumi's preferences perfectly.

The honest little knight was entirely no match for Erica, the mischievous little devil. Liliana's flustered reactions each time Erica teased her—her shy little secrets laid bare, her cheeks flushed and eyes teary as she turned to Kurumi for help—were simply too cute to ignore.

Such a helplessly adorable look was irresistible, practically inviting one to tease her just a little bit more.

Feigning indifference, Kurumi clasped her hands behind her back and strolled toward the Thames, her lips gradually curling into a broad smile as her mood soared.

"Oh my, such earnestness—it must be even more fun to play with," Kurumi thought mischievously.

"Maybe I should make her wear cat ears as a servant offering herself to her goddess, and have her dance a little…"

"Oh, and definitely add a collar! Little Liliana's bashful expression would just be too cute to resist."

Meanwhile, Erica continued to tease Liliana, dodging with an elegant grace that resembled flamenco dancing.

Liliana, swift and lithe as a hawk, pursued her. But just as she was about to catch Erica, she found herself crashing into a soft, warm body.

Oh no... Such insolence toward the goddess was an unforgivable offense...

Liliana's face turned pale instantly.

Unlike Erica, Liliana had spent her journey to London mentally preparing herself to meet the goddess.

While Kurumi's appearance resembled that of a human, she was still a completely different existence in spirit and ethics.

Stories of shrine maidens suffering divine punishment for accidentally offending gods suddenly filled Liliana's mind. She'd been on edge ever since arriving, but now, thanks to Erica's antics, she'd gone and committed such a grave error.

Liliana bit her lip, trembling with fear, her eyes brimming with tears.

Suddenly, Kurumi lifted her up, enveloping her in the sweet scent that seemed to cling to her presence.

With a mix of fear, shame, and nervousness, Liliana's entire body began to tremble.

The goddess's face was right in front of her, and lying in Kurumi's arms, she looked up into the eyes of the divine being she had pledged to serve.

Her soft lips, reminiscent of petals in early April, and the intoxicating red gleam of Kurumi's eyes reminded her of the sacred rites that shrine maidens performed to offer their mystical powers to their deity.

Liliana's face reddened further as she was overwhelmed with embarrassment, her entire demeanor resembling a steamed bun.

That deeply ashamed expression was one of the cutest Kurumi had ever seen, rivaled only by the timid blushes Sakura had worn on that moonlit night.

Watching Kurumi cradle Liliana, Erica suddenly felt as if she had made a grave mistake.

She shook her head sharply, hurrying to catch up with Kurumi, wondering what on earth she had been thinking.

As mentioned before, the Prime Meridian held a particular significance for magicians.

Following the line northward, Kurumi encountered countless magicians along the way.

They stood out among the average people who were either engrossed in their own lives or entirely oblivious to her presence. The magicians, in contrast, watched her with expressions of shock, awe, or sheer fascination from a distance.

There she was—a Heretic God walking upon the earth.

The local Mage Associations had long prepared for her arrival, knowing that the last thing they wanted was some hot-headed fool attempting to slay the Heretic God and become a Campione, risking her wrath in the process.

After all, she was the terrifying being who had defeated the God-King Nuada. Only someone blessed with extraordinarily good fortune would stand a chance against her.

But Kurumi wasn't interested in them. She was tracking... a certain approaching threat.

"There you are…"

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