Side Story 59: 《Saintess Party》 Elma’s POV 55: In that case, I’ll Just Throw Caution to the Wind.

Shortly before then.

"I see you've received warm hospitality from Tougen, 'Sword' Saintess."

"…Yes."

Having been taken by Patty, I once again was back in the throne room.

Upon seeing me nodded in displeasure, Elysium, resting his head on his hand on the throne as before, looked down at me with a self-important look and said, "Well, I have good news for you. Your companions appear to have arrived in "World of Oblivion: White"."

"!"

By 'comrades', he must mean Exa and the others, right?

I see, so they had arrived in"World of Oblivion: White"…

Wait, where was this"World of Oblivion: White", anyway?

I never heard of it before, so I didn't know how to react to it.

"Of course, their goal must be to retake you. Hence, we have decided to intercept them. With that being the case, I would have to have you remain here in the throne room with Patty in the meantime."

No, what did you mean with Patty? Weren't you here, too?

Of course, I'd rather him not be here, but… I frowned. Something had been in my mind since a while ago, so I asked Elysium, "…Can I ask you something?"

"Hmm, you may."

"You said I was to be the bait to lure them, right? I don't know where this"World of Oblivion: White"is, but now that they've come, I've fulfilled my purpose, haven't I? Yet, why are you still keeping me alive?"

There was no need for me to ask that, but no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't figure out a reason that would compel him to keep me alive, and it made me feel unsettled.

However, Elysium's answer was completely unexpected, "What are you saying? I'm not keeping you alive for any particular purpose."

"Huh"

"I have stated this to the"Eight Sacrifices"previously: 'Be it to let her live or kill her, do whatever you like'. Hence, the fact that you're still alive is simply a matter of coincidence. Were you perhaps thinking that you hold much value to us? What a conceited one."

"~~!?"

H-huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuhhhh!? I had been down, but blood suddenly rushed into my head.

W-what a thing to say to someone you've barely met!?

In the first place, weren't you guys the ones who kidnapped me!? The cheek of you to say that!?

Don't think you're all that great just because you're a bit handsome now, you perverted sour-faced baldy!?

And I'm not conceited okay!?

Rather, aren't you the conceited one here!? What with your acting like the king of the hill in this place and all!?

I curse you to get beat to a pulp by Exa!? Having verbally abused Elysium in my mind, I bit my lips to suppress my emotions.

Yet, my pride didn't allow me to back down quietly.

"…You'll lose."

"What?"

"H-hey, if you keep on spouting nonsense, you'll be killed, you know!? Like, totally be killed, you know!?" Patty hurriedly stepped in to pacify me.

But Elysium stopped him by raising a hand and said, "That's an interesting thing to say. Does your confidence come from the fact he is immortal? Or does it come from the blessings he has received from the goddesses? Surely, you are not going to say it is from nonsense such as the bond between comrades, aren't you?"

"Dunno, I wonder which. But as strange as it may sound, I simply can't imagine the situation where he loses to you. Regardless of the fact you are in command of lots of them super-strong demons or the fact that you are in possession of the power of Goddesses of Genesis."

"*Chuckle*… I see. I expect no less of the saintess who is the childhood friend of that man. The amount of trust you placed in him is unordinary, indeed," said Elysium, sneering.

"…Not really," I said, feeling a little guilty.

After all, I had betrayed the trust between us.

When it came to the amount of trust put in him, in all likelihood I couldn't even hold a candle to those wives of his.

But still—

"You can never beat Exa. Because—he has become a 'very good man'."

"Hou? In that case, I'll let you burn it on those clouded eyes of yours. The unsightly figure of that 'very good man' crawling underneath my feet, that is."

"Yes, good luck on that. Though, that's never gonna happen."

With that, I turned my back on him and sat down in one of the vacant seats, and said, "Patty, can you brew me some tea? My throat is a little parched."

"No, I'm not your servant… I mean, you sure are composed considering the situation you're in…" Patty directed a look of exasperation at me.

"*Chuckle*…" Elysium gave another chuckle and said, "It's fine. Give her what she wants, Patty. She will eventually lose even that composure, after all."

"Alright~…"

I personally don't want to, but since Lord Creator has ordered, there's no helping it, Patty inflated his cheek and brewed me a hot cup of tea as I had requested.