Summoning Genius of Kizen - Chapter 187 The sky began to ripple in accordance with Saint Israfil's flute performance. It was like waves, like tides. The rippling sky gradually began to manifest an entire landscape. “Lady Israfil is also known by the epithet, ‘Mistress of the Divine Sea’.” Lete said, looking up at the sky with an enraptured expression, her hands clasped together. “Mistress of the Divine Sea?” “Yes.” The sky rippled and, astonishingly, began to transform into a vast ocean. Ripples spread across the surface of the water. Fish splashed or leaped above the surface. Divine Sea creatures with wings instead of fins had different shapes and colors from the fish of the continent. There were also large individuals resembling dolphins. Splash! Splash! Whoosh. Everyone was mesmerized, looking up at the sky at a truly avant-garde and overwhelming spectacle they had never seen before. As if gravity were reversed, the sea remained in the sky, and not a single droplet of water fell. It was as if two different worlds were gazing at each other. If one stared blankly, it was hard to tell which was the real ground. ‘…Damn it!’ Only Rate, who knew what was about to happen, gritted his teeth. ‘Is she going to destroy all the evidence?!’ Israfil’s flute performance reached its climax. A large black shadow appeared in the center of the vast Divine Sea. The fish, which had been swimming harmoniously, scattered and fled. And then. —Whoooooosh!! A white whale, whose size was impossible to gauge, with a body as large as an average city, leaped out of the Divine Sea. The white-colored whale, with countless wings on its scales, passed through the water's surface, transcended the sky, and descended towards the ground. “Lete!” As Simon lunged, the Sky Whale descending from the Divine Sea swallowed the Blood Heaven Cult’s headquarters. Kwakwakwakwakwakwakwa! Water droplets and mud scattered everywhere. The Blood Heaven Cult headquarters building was entirely swallowed by the whale's gaping maw, and it then changed direction, ascending back into the sky where the Divine Sea resided. “Daaamn it!” Rate tore at his hair, bursting with rage. The whale safely entered the Divine Sea, and by the time everyone who had been prostrate raised their heads, the Blood Heaven Cult headquarters had vanished without a trace. Floating, floating. Soon, bubble-like spheres poured from the surface of the Divine Sea. The residents who had been captured in the headquarters and the suffering experimental subjects were descending, trapped within these bubbles. As Israfil played her flute once more, the Divine Sea slowly closed, returning to its original sky. ‘…Haha.’ Simon, who had been watching, was dumbfounded. Such immense power could exist in this world. “Ah, come on!” Lete pushed Simon’s chest with her palm and broke free. Israfil, who had dealt with the Blood Heaven Cult in one blow, was descending to the ground with the water bubbles. “…Lete.” “What is it?” “You said that Holy Maiden is my mom’s direct junior. Could my mom have used such power in her prime?” She shook her pure white hair and shook her head. “The Essence of the Saint changes its type of power depending on the recipient. It’s true that Teacher Anna’s Saint of Miracles’ essence went to Lady Israfil, but I heard their abilities are different.” “What was Mom’s like?” “I wasn’t from that generation, so I don’t know well. They say she was the strongest Holy Maiden of her time, and according to rumors…” Her voice echoed softly. “She opened not the Divine Sea, but Heaven itself.” Israfil landed on the ground with the prisoners. As the bubbles burst, their wounds were already cleanly healed. The Inquisitors uniformly knelt on the ground and prostrated themselves. ““We greet the Goddess’s closest daughter!”” Israfil nodded with a smiling face. Her eyes were closed, either because she couldn't see, or for some other reason. KWAANG! The only man standing tall like a mountain while everyone else was prostrate was Rate. He slammed the cross-shaped sword in his hand onto the ground. The ground split in two from the furious impact, and landslides occurred in various places. Thump! Thump! Thump! He approached with menacing footsteps. ‘Ugh, Chief!’ ‘This guy looks like he’s about to cause trouble.’ Some of his close associates raised their heads and looked at Rate with worried eyes. Grab! Rate approached Israfil and grabbed her hand before she could even extend it herself. Then he roughly knelt on one knee, kissed the back of her hand, and stood up. ‘W-what is he doing, so recklessly?’ Though he performed a courtesy, it was an impolite action in front of a Holy Maiden, who was a semi-divine being. But Israfil maintained her smiling expression with her eyes closed. “It’s been a while, Chief Rate.” “What is the meaning of this?” Rate said, grinding his teeth. His level of anger was such that it wouldn't have been strange if he had physically assaulted the Holy Maiden right then. “This was a legitimate inquisition launched with a proper warrant! It was a golden opportunity to uncover all the masterminds and information behind the Blood Heaven Cult, which is shaking the Federation!” She smiled gently. “There are no other masterminds behind the Blood Heaven Cult. The Blood Heaven Cult is just the Blood Heaven Cult.” “No matter what!” A vein bulged in Rate’s neck. “Even if Your Ladyship opposes the war, this is not right! To annihilate the evidence! Interfering with a legitimate investigation…!” She cut Rate off and turned her head. “Come out, Lete. And your companion.” At her words, Lete and Simon, who had been hiding behind a tree, looking for an opening, rushed out. “Gratula mi Kivilis. I greet the Goddess’s closest daughter.” Lete, uncharacteristically formal, made the sign of the cross and bowed. Simon also subtly mimicked her actions, his gaze fixed on Rate. ‘Wow, look at that killing intent. His eyes look like they could tear a person alive.’ At this point, Israfil, standing calmly in front of someone emitting such killing intent, seemed even more remarkable. After completing her bow, Lete stood up, received the briefcase Simon handed her, took five steps forward, bowed again, and knelt before the two. “This is a document that belonged to Aloken, the Bishop of the Blood Heaven Cult.” And she respectfully offered the briefcase with both hands. “Well done.” Israfil smiled and took the bag. She had blown away the Blood Heaven Cult headquarters, and now this was the only evidence. “The future of the Divine Federation is truly bright.” Israfil seemed pleased. Her gaze, which had been proudly fixed on Lete, swept over Simon, who was standing behind her. “These young children have accomplished what we adults could not. I have high expectations for their generation.” “…Just open it already.” Rate, clearly displeased, said curtly. He wished he could burn the document before it was revealed, but he couldn't do so in front of the Holy Maiden. Israfil opened the briefcase and quickly scanned the document placed at the very front. “This is interesting content.” She read the contents of the document aloud in a voice as gentle as a spring breeze. “Leak information to the Inquisition, and Chief Inquisitor Rate, a hardliner for war, will be the first to witness the scene. Form strong public opinion against Necromancers, and induce war between the Divine Federation and the Dark Alliance.” Rate’s fists clenched tightly at the stark revelation of the contents. “It’s clear now. The Blood Heaven Cult’s objective was to induce war between the Divine Federation and the Dark Alliance. And the Chief Inquisitor almost got used by the Blood Heaven Cult, didn’t he?” “…” Rate suppressed his rage and closed his eyes. He couldn’t very well say, ‘Actually, we were using the Blood Heaven Cult.’ Now that the Holy Maiden herself had seen the contents, the war was off the table. No matter how much of a mad dog Rate was, as the head of an organization, he had an obligation to accept defeat and minimize damage to his organization. Israfil also understood this fact and implied that she would not investigate the Inquisition, signaling for him to end it here. Ultimately. “…Yes.” Though his heart burned with fury, accepting the outstretched hand was the best option. “Then you may withdraw, Chief.” Like a Holy Maiden, she gracefully clasped her hands together, tilted her head slightly, and curved her lips upward. “I will report directly to His Holiness the Pope.” “…” In the end, Rate led his Inquisitors away, trudging. His steps lacked strength, but his burning expression and chilling gaze seemed to imply that he would never give up. ‘…Somehow, I survived today too.’ Simon sighed in relief inwardly as he watched Rate and the Inquisitors gradually move away. “Stand up, Lete.” Israfil said. Lete, who was still kneeling on the ground, slowly stood up. As Israfil smiled kindly and spread her arms, Lete’s eyes sparkled. “Lady Israfil!” Lete ran and embraced her tightly. It was an act against etiquette in front of a semi-divine Holy Maiden, but the two seemed to be close personally. Israfil patted her back. “I was worried about you, Lete, hearing you got caught up in a big incident.” Lete, who had buried her face in Israfil’s embrace, raised her eyes and made a sulky expression. “Really?” “Of course.” “When I told you I was on the train hijacked by the Blood Heaven Cult, you just said ‘Good luck,’ but when you heard the Blood Heaven Cult was trying to start a war, you dropped everything and rushed over.” “That’s because I trusted your abilities, Lete.” Israfil maintained her smiling face with her eyes still closed. Simon, watching, briefly thought how convenient a consistent expression could be. There was a moment where Lete whined and Israfil comforted her. If Lete regarded Anna as an absolute idol and like a birth mother, she treated Israfil like a close older sister whom she had known since childhood. “My cute Lete~ When are you going to become a Holy Maiden and play with me?” Israfil asked, pinching Lete’s cheek. She replied with a smile. “When Lady Israfil retires! I want the Saint of Miracles’ essence!” “You commit blasphemy as if it’s an everyday meal! I want to crucify you~” “Before that, I’ll expose all of Lady Israfil’s dark history in court and die.” Israfil, who had been laughing aloud, shifted her gaze to Simon. “Lete’s companion?” “Ah, yes!” Simon replied, tensing up. “Thank you for looking after and protecting our Lete.” “Ah, what are you talking about! I was the one being looked after!” “Lete, you should keep quiet.” Simon smiled and bowed his head. “Yes, I was indebted to Lete. It is a great honor to meet the Goddess’s great daughter.” “It’s nice to meet you too. Your name?” “It’s Ska Seraphino.” At that moment, Israfil separated Lete from her embrace. Then, without her feet touching the ground, she flowed through the air and stood before Simon. As the Holy Maiden suddenly came closer, Simon felt a surge of tension. “Acolyte Ska.” “Yes.” “You…” Her closed eyes opened, and deep, abyss-like black pupils gazed at Simon. “You resemble someone I know very much.”
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