"Eh...?"
Slash! Raphael froze at the unexpected turn of events. A shaft of shock rushed through him at the unbelievable sight that caught his eyes.
The fire in the rings is... gone.
Raphael could not believe it. This was the first time that this had happened in thousands of years, and Raphael knew why.
It's my fault. I allowed myself to curse.
He had failed to suppress his momentary emotional outburst that he had never before experienced during his time as an angel. As such, rage got the better of him despite his benevolence and mercy. The price he paid for defiling his purity was a heavy one.
Clang!
Ack! Raphael felt an intense pain in his back. It was Javier who had landed a forceful strike on him. Soon, Raphael was engulfed by thousands of aura strands from the swordmaster.
Fwish!
The world blinked in Raphael's eyes. Every ounce of energy in him left his body as if he was electrocuted, and his knees reflexively buckled.
"Eh... Argh!"
Were my legs this feeble? Was the iron mace I carried around this heavy? At last, Raphael knew.
I lost.
He felt his body roll off the Jewel of Truth and was unable to stand back up. His shivering body and wobbly legs refused to listen to him, even though he wanted to stand up. He was glad that he was an angel as his sturdy body had saved him from being slashed by Javier's sword. However, this was still the most serious injury he had ever received throughout his life.
I suppose this is the capabilities of a grandmaster from Earth.
Raphael's initial impression of Javier had been mere amazement after seeing his fiery rings block the latter's attack. But now that his body received a direct hit from him, he felt an almost chilling sense of awe. But on the other hand, he was...
Pathetic.
He had lowered his guard because he was a high-ranking angel and his enemy was a mere human. His confidence and certainty had eventually turned into arrogance.
I thought too lightly of this job.
He had never failed a mission and always dealt with whatever he was given. That was why he thought it would be the case this time as well. The reality, however, was different.
Lloyd Frontera. Javier Asrahan. Who are these humans?
Feeling his strength and consciousness fade away, Raphael introspected and chewed over his insolent mistake. Meanwhile, Lloyd and Javier spoke.
"Hey, are you okay?" asked Lloyd after clearing his strained throat.
"Yes, I am fine. Except for my defiled ears," quipped Javier.
"Tsk... Even then, you were able to take a breather thanks to me."
"By the way," Javier said, ignoring Lloyd's question, "you were too reckless back there, Young Master."
"Reckless? How?"
"Just a while ago. The iron mace could have killed you if I was even a little late." Javier looked at him solemnly.
"I trusted you." Lloyd shrugged.
Javier narrowed his eyes.
"I mean it," pressed Lloyd. "I knew if I pushed the angel into cursing and created a weakness for it..."
Javier asked, "That I would take care of everything afterward. Is that what you believed?"
"Yeah."
Javier narrowed his eyes some more.
"What? You don't believe me?"
"Well, of course—"
"Just believe me in times like this," blurted Lloyd. "Come on. By the way, what should we do now?"
"I wonder too," remarked Javier with equal uncertainty. "Should we chain him up for now?"
"I don't think that's enough. He'll easily be able to snap through something like chains once he recovers his strength."
"You have a point, Master Lloyd." Javier nodded. "What do you want to do then?"
"Well. I should talk to him first."
Lloyd walked toward the angel and asked a question.
"Excuse me, over there. Mister angel?"
Javier narrowed his eyes some more.
Raphael, in his fading consciousness, found Lloyd to be extremely shameless. But Lloyd continued to speak.
"Um, this is kind of funny for me to say this after all that we did, but... Raphael the Throne? Your Grace? If you think about it, you started all of this today. Don't you agree?"
Raphael simply listened without giving any response.
Lloyd continued to speak. "You threw the first jab... And we had no choice but to defend ourselves and our property. So, let's make this point clear. What we did was self-defense. Do you understand, Your Grace?"
Javier narrowed his eyes some more.
Raphael didn't want to understand. He wasn't interested in listening to this human's drivel.
I only came here to complete my heavenly duties.
This job was entrusted to him by his supervisor, Gabriel the Seraphim, and the demolition had been decided after a long discussion between the directors and managers inside their department. As such, he only was doing what he was told to do.
But I failed. No, I am about to fail.
Raphael never experienced something like this before. He hated every aspect of his current situation, his helpless surrender, and Lloyd's inconsiderate ignorance and chatter.
Does this mean my career advancement will stop here?
The chances were likely. After all, he had come from the lowly rank of an Angel. The only thing that enabled his promotion was his impeccable record. But now, it was about to be ruined.
Is that why I am...sad?
Raphael considered the question for a moment. No, he wasn't sad that there would be a blemish on his record. He was frightened and saddened over the possibility that he may fall into despair and never be able to do greater things for both Heaven and Earth than he did before. As such...
I mustn't let this stop me.
The heavens and the world had a lot of things to do before they got better, and Raphael was ready to put more effort into that end. As such, he couldn't fail. He needed more status and power until he became useful to the world.
That's my reason for existing!
Raphael clenched his teeth after coming to a decision. He could not give up his duty now. Something had to be done. Anything.
I don't care if I can't go back to Heaven for ten or so years!
He had lived for tens of thousands of years. Ten years would pass in a blink of an eye. As such, he decided to double down and jumped into action.
The moment the venomous resolution bloomed in Raphael's heart, the ring over his head glimmered and got sucked into his body. Soon, an immense amount of holy power started to surge and bubble inside his body until it exploded.
Kaboom!
By the time Lloyd widened his eyes and raised his arms at the unexpected burst of holy energy, both of his feet were already off the ground. No, more precisely, he was being catapulted into the air.
"Master... Lloyd!"
Lloyd picked up a faint, frantic shout belonging to Javier. He reflexively held out his hand toward his knight, thinking that the latter did the same. He was right. His finger brushed Javier's but failed to grasp it.
Sent away into the air, Lloyd lost sight of Javier after they grazed past each other.
What's going on...?
Every passing moment came in slow motion because of Lloyd's heightened senses. He felt how he was getting further from Javier, sent off the ground, and hurled into the air amid the booming, explosive noise and shock waves until he landed on the peak of the Jewel of Truth.
Thwack!
Lloyd wondered if his whole body had been crushed. Was this what it felt like to be hit by a truck? He couldn't breathe, and he couldn't even move a single one of his fingers. His body lay flatly on the ground.
На... На...
Lloyd doggedly grasped his fading consciousness, assured that he wasn't dead yet. Afterward, he hurriedly awakened his manaheart and sent mana throughout his body for a quick check-up. Thankfully, no bones were broken, and his organs were all fine. However, he couldn't rise or move around due to the still significant damage he received from the impact of the fall.
Dammit. That angel is so needlessly strong.
It never occurred to Lloyd that such an explosion would be possible when Raphael had lost after Javier's sword strike. He never imagined that Raphael had enough strength to cause an uproar and throw a stronger attack.
Did he... absorb his overhead ring?
It appeared so. Lloyd spotted Raphael emerge from the dusty storm, spread his wings of light, and charge straight toward the peak of the jewel. Raphael looked completely fine, uninjured from Javier's attack. There were only brilliant rays of light enveloping his body and the mace in his hand.
Dammit.
Lloyd could sense that Raphael was charging forward to simultaneously destroy him and the Jewel of Truth. Breathing hard, Lloyd struggled to rise up but couldn't. He turned his head and stared at Raphael. Just then, Javier suddenly came into his vision and blocked the angel's mace.
Crash! Another shock wave spread across the area. Javier's body trembled as his feet slid several yards back. Raphael, on the other hand, was completely unaffected. A furrow appeared between Javier's eyes.
Javier narrowed his eyes some more.
Javier felt his hands tingle in pain. His manaheart and mana circle were now running wild in alarm. That was after just blocking the mace one time.
He's different from earlier.
Javier's eyes tensed when he realized he was now going up against a different kind of enemy. The speed and strength weren't the same, and the blow a moment ago proved it. Even if Raphael had put a lot of strength into his blow just now and he hardly had any time to put up a good defense, Javier never thought one blow would put this much strain. Javier coldly assessed his opponent.
Now, he has the same amount of strength as a grandmaster, even without his fiery rings.
Javier had no way of knowing how that happened nor the time to dwell on it. Right now, his job was crystal clear.
I will not retreat.
Grab! Veins popped in Javier's knuckles, and his eyes held a glint of intense determination. He would root his feet to the ground and not take a single step back. He would protect Master Lloyd and the jewel, come hell or high water, particularly the former. But in the process of solidifying his resolution, a thought interrupted him.
But why?
A question suddenly pestered him. Why was he trying to protect Lloyd? While throwing his own safety out the window? All of a sudden, his decision seemed odd.
Because he is the son of my lord? No. That is not why.
That Lloyd over there wasn't real. He was a fake. So, technically speaking, he wasn't the lord's son. That he was protecting Lloyd because he was the lord's son made no sense.
And yet, why am I trying so hard to protect him?
He had no way of knowing. But one thing was clear. It was a very simple matter.
I want to protect him. Lloyd is my true master in my heart.
Lloyd was his friend. And now, Javier wanted to protect Lloyd. He would sincerely protect him with everything he had.
So, come at me.
Javier's eyes flashed with resolution, and he aimed his glinting sword toward Raphael. His body gave off the serious determination that he would never take a step back in protecting Lloyd. At the same time, a string of messages appeared in front of Lloyd's eyes.
Ding dong.
Eh...?
Lloyd was losing consciousness when the dinging noises woke him back up. His eyes opened, and he saw what was in front of him.
[Javier Asrahan has finally become aware of his feelings of friendship and loyalty toward you deep inside his heart.]
[His impression of you has greatly changed.]
[Deep inside him, you have become "Someone I genuinely wish to protect" from "Someone I am forced to protect."]
[Your likeability with Javier Asrahan has increased by 45 points.]
[Current RP with Javier Asrahan: +68]
[You have earned 810 RP by improving your relationship with a main character.]
[Current RP: 9,385]
[The intimacy level with Javier Asrahan has increased two levels from <Average Favor> to <Close Friendship>.]
[You have earned 200 RP as a bonus for the upgrade.]
[Current RP: 9,585]
Dang.
This message was not expected. It, however, wasn't the end.
Ding Dong!
[The Commander of the White Cavalry, Valeradi Blanc, was moved by Javier Asrahan's action.]
[He has always considered you his lord.]
[He has gripped the shovel and risen up for you.]
[Your likeability with Valeradi Blanc has increased by 1 point.]
[Current RP with Valeradi Blanc: +59]
[You have earned 9 RP by improving your relationship with a main character.]
[Current RP: 9,594]
What the?
Lloyd became goggle-eyed. Sir Blanc? Against Raphael, the angel? Fight him? It wasn't over, however. A cascade of messages continued to appear as if the system was grinning at his widened eyes.
Ding Dong! Ding Dong! Ding Dong!
[The vice commander of the White Cavalry, Orlando, has shouted.]
[He has willingly grabbed the shovel to join the combat and protect you.]
[Your likeability with Orlando has increased by 2 points.]
[Orc warrior Arosh is flailing his nose as he watches your predicament.]
[Arosh has dropped everything and is running over with his bulging muscles.]
[Your likeability with Arosh...]
[Elf archer Siroko's ears perked up.]
[Siroko still remembers the delicious taste of the barbecue you personally grilled in the past and determines that he cannot lose such a precious friend like you.]
[Siroko joins the combat to help Javier's solitary battle to protect you.]
[Your likeability with Siroko...]
[Engineering Corps soldier Rexton raises his pickax.]
[He shouts and urges others to protect you, their young master.]
[Engineering Corps soldier Arbok...]
[Orc warrior Tuarek...]
[White Cavalry lancer Blaser...]
Ding dong. Ding Dong!
Messages appeared in series, one after another, with no sign of stopping. The 500 lancers of the White Cavalry, hundreds of orc warriors, elf archers, and human soldiers united their efforts to protect Lloyd, and his likeability with them continued to increase bit by bit. Even though the rewards of RP weren't much when considered separately, the actual sum became significant because there were about 2,000 individuals in total.
Hа...
Lloyd swallowed. Shazam!
Just like that, he was now earning heaps of RP that he could use to become a swordmaster.
