Hello, Mako-kun. Aya's level 99 greetings.
'Huh ... thank you. Lady Eil.
　The goddess of water smiling and waving her hand.
　How long is this goddess going to stay in the underwater temple?

　This is Goddess (Noah)'s space.
　Next to her is Noah, who has a mysterious look on his face.

What is the matter with you?　Master Noah.
Makoto. You've caught the eye of every (female) god outside of the Eil.
　I couldn't understand Noah-sama's words for a moment and was stuck for a response.
　The other goddesses caught my eye...?

Defeating the Demon King Bifrons was the clincher. The sun goddess (Althena) sister and fire goddess (Saul) found out about it. Teehee☆
It's your fault!　What are you going to do about it?
　At Eil-sama's words, Noah-sama let out a squeak and an angry voice.

''........That's not good, is it?
　Lord Noah is treated as an evil god in this world.
　That apostle was spotted by the Goddess of the Holy God tribe.
　Even if that wasn't the case, it seems that the previous sempai apostle was a crazy guy called 'crazy hero' or something.

''Well, for now, Makoto's behavior is more towards the human race, so I think it's okay.
And yet, I was attacked out of the blue by a brave fire goddess.
'Hmm, that was just Olga and the Fire Nation's higher-ups doing it on their own, not the Fire Goddess (Saul)'s orders, Mako-kun.
　Eil-sama gave me a quick backstory.

(So it was just as Princess Sophia had predicted.)

　However, it's not a good idea to talk about the upper echelons of the Fire Nation being involved.
　Perhaps even the martial arts competition could be interfered with in some way........

''Hmm, I don't think that's likely?　Mako.
Well, the Goddess of Fire (Saul), being a goddess of war, has an upright personality, so she doesn't like injustice at all.
Wow.

　That's a good thing to hear.
　If the management of the martial arts tournament set it up, Sa-san won't win it in any case.
　It seems to be a straightforward tournament.

''Hmph, will Aya-chan be able to win in the first place?''
'Eil has a bad personality. Mako came to see us because you wanted to ask her some questions about Aya, right?
Yes, sir.
　You've seen through it all!

　◇

　At lunch today, we all celebrated that Sa-san had reached level 99.
　Princess Sophia, for example, froze when I told her she went from level 35 to 99 in 5 days.

　But the conversation I had with her was
''Sa-san, will you be able to beat Fire Brave Olga at level 99?''
Hmmm ... I don't know exactly what it was because that guy wasn't serious at the time, but I have a feeling it's probably going to be difficult.
'Shit!　Even Aya can't win now!
　Lucy had a shocked expression on her face.
　To be honest, I was pretty surprised too.
　The conversation at that time came back to my memory.

　◇

"Hmm, Olga-chan is level 99 too. She's a combat fanatic.
''Not only that, the Fire Goddess's brave men can turn 'hot air' into a fighting spirit (aura), just like the Fire Goddess's brave men can turn 'hot air' into a fighting spirit (aura). Just like the brave goddess of light can turn 'sunshine' into aura. In the Land of Fire (Great Keith), Olga-chan has an absolute ground advantage.
　Eil-sama and Noah-sama explained it to me.
　So that's why........
　No wonder I felt strong against bullshit.


''Then it's only that way after all........''
　I remembered what I had discussed with Sa-san and Fujiyan during the day.
　After Fujiyan pointed out her unique skills to me, I realized that Sa-san has a number of skills.

The "Action Game Player" skill, the "Change" skill, and....

"'Evolutionary' skills...

　The skill was written in Sa-san's Soul Book (Soul Book).
　The effect is predictable.

　After all, it's evolution.
　If even the King evolves, he will become Gados and become extremely strong.
　I'm sure that using the "evolution" skill will make you even stronger.

　--The problem is...

You don't know how to evolve, do you?
　Master Noah grinned.
　Oh, you know this face.
　Thank goodness.

''Yes, I didn't know the know-it-all Fujiyan, Princess Sophia, Lucy or Friae-san either.
　The biology of demons is a mystery to begin with.
　And unless you're a demon user (tamer), there's never a demon in your group.
I looked up the 'evolution' method, but I didn't find it on the Adventurer's Guild's information board or in the Magic Library's books.

''Let's see~, Mako-kun. In order to evolve, you need a certain item...''
'Dude, you don't have to tell me that!　Mako is here to see me!
'Oh, please don't fight. Both of you.　
　I don't know what to do!
　I need to learn how to evolve, no matter what it takes.

Listen to me carefully, Makoto. In order to evolve, you need a magical stone. The stronger a demon is, the more powerful it is, the more magic (mana) it needs to have a magic stone to evolve.
　Noah-sama held up a finger and told me, a little too proudly.

''The magic stone........''
　I rummaged in my jacket pocket and took out a red magic stone.
　The magic stone I picked up when the Demon King Bifrons fell.
　Should I use this one?

Yeah, you're out.
Wow!
　Eir-sama suddenly hugged me from behind.
　It's like they were there a while ago.　

You're not that way, Makoto. Use Queen Lamia's magic stone that you got when you defeated the Harpy Queen in the Great Maze before.
Yeah, but...
　Wouldn't the Demon King's magic stone be more powerful?
　As if she had read my mind, Eir-sama whispered in my ear.

''If you use the Demon King's magic stone, Aya-chan will become the Demon King, right?''
　Noah-sama said calmly.

''Ufufu, then Mako-kun has to take down Aya-chan...''
What?
　What?

Well, that's not entirely true. However, the Demon King's magical stone has too much power. You should not use it, Aya-chan.
Yeah, yeah, I could mess up and change my personality...
And what can go wrong?
　I hadn't thought of that.

''If it's a magic stone from the Lamia Queen, it's from the same species, so it won't fail first.
Good. That's good to know.
　At Noah-sama's words, I sighed with a huff.

''Do you know how to use the magic stone?''
　'How do you do it?' asked Lady Eil, gently.
'No, how do you do it?'
　Lady Ail is being kind today.

"It's all about timing, darling. Midnight is the best time to do the Evolution. The skill of shedding your old self and being reborn. Perform your evolutionary ritual on a night when the world is full of death.
We also need to purify our bodies and put as little stuff on ourselves as possible before we evolve. In short, it's important to be aware of what it means to be born the way you are.
Oh, I see. I see.
　Noah-sama took over Eil-sama's words.
　I listened intently so as not to forget their words.

"And when you're ready, you can eat the magic stone...
I'm gonna eat it.
Yeah. I'm sure that if you haven't reached a state where you can evolve, the magical power of the magical stone will just be absorbed by your body. Aya-chan is qualified enough to 'evolve'.
You've reached the maximum level. I'm sure you'll make a great 'Queen of Lamia'.

　I ruminate on the words of the Goddess in my mind.
　How to do it, the conditions, the items needed.

(Yes, I understand.)
　Now I can tell Sa-san how to 'evolve'.

''Thank you, Noah-sama, Eir-sama.
　I bowed my head deeply and thanked him.　

　As I bowed my head, a thought occurred to me.
　If I had eaten the Demon King's Demon Stone that I had with me....

''You're welcome.......Makoto. Even if you become level 99 and eat the Demon King's Demon Stone, you won't be able to evolve.
Mako-kun... do you want to become a demon king?
　Noah-sama and Ail-sama both tsked me at the same time.
　You read my mind, didn't you?

Well, no, I guess not.
　I'm kidding, I'm kidding.
　I don't have an 'evolution' skill.
　........unfortunately.

'Noah~, Mako-kun is a naturally dangerous thought.
It's this kind of thing. If you eat the Demon King's magic stone, your body won't be able to withstand the enormous amount of magic and you'll die for sure. Don't do this!
Okay.....
　Does it die?
　It seems to be a rare item, but I have no use for it.

"Haha~ It's good that I'm here to keep an eye on you after all. Noah's apostles always cause problems...

Hmm?
What?
Oh.
　At Eil-sama's words, Noah-sama and I turn around in unison.　

''Eil what did you just say?''
Master Eil, did you say surveillance?
A-ha-ha!
　Eil-sama smacks herself on the head with a face that says, "Ikke-nay.
　She's cute, but she's not cute!

'But Noah knew, didn't he?　He said I'm here for that.
　At those words, Master Noah's mouth twisted in disgust.
''It's thin. It's probably sent by Altena and others anyway.
　Noah-sama raised the name of the eldest of the six great goddesses.　

'It's the Goddess of Destiny (Ila) who's telling Noah's Apostle's party to be careful! Lately, though, she's been holed up and hasn't shown her face. To be precise, she was saying that we should be careful with the 'Noah's Apostle' and the 'Moon Goddess Priestess', but...
It's not exactly a party for Makoto.
....

　I felt slightly uncomfortable with Eir-sama's words.
　The words of the Goddess of Destiny (Ila).
　She has the power to see the future of everything, or so I heard.

　Why do you care about our party?

It's just that both Mako-kun and Friare-chan seem to be good kids. Mako-kun, though, can be a bit dangerous at times.
　From the smiling Eil-sama, there was only a gentle atmosphere without any evil intent.
　Eir-sama, sometimes it's black, but it's so gentle.

''Makoto, you're being tricked. There isn't a single goddess with a good character.''
Oh, my God. That's right. Mako, you don't have to be a gentle goddess.
You can tell me that yourself?

　Well, I guess that's also called advice.
　When told by the goddess herself, I can only nod my head.　


(Ah, yes. I have to hear that thing at the end.)


''Noah-sama, Eir-sama. The Land of Fire doesn't have any water spirits at all.
Yes, Mako. So don't be reckless.
'Yeah, right. Mako-kun is so incompetent in the land of fire.
　Master Eil is terrible!
　Well, it's certainly useless!

So I was actually thinking about this...

　I discussed the 'new warfare method' that I had been thinking about while training for the past few days.
　When I talked about it, Noah-sama and Eil-sama both made amazing expressions.


　--in the way they looked at the kitschy.


''Hey!　Mako. I think you should switch to the Water Goddess rather than do that!　I'll give you a sacred grade skill for water magic.
It's no use, Eil. That's just the way Mako is used to driving.
No way.　It's not just suicide!　We don't allow suicide in the Water Country (Roses)!
''You don't have the aptitude, but you're trying to synchronize with a 'Fire Magic King Grade' skillful person, or you're trying to control the Great Spirit of Water (Undine) with a proficiency value of just over 200, Makoto. The brakes in his head are broken.

You're both awful!
　I don't know if it was such a bad idea.

"No. Out of the question. Sophia will cry.
But even if I say no, she still does it, you know.
　As expected, Master Noah, you know what you're doing.

I didn't mean it as a compliment.
　I was patted on the head by Noah-sama.

　In the meantime, the two goddesses gave me some advice on the battle tactics I had come up with.


　◇


　--at mealtime the next morning.


　I didn't get much sleep because I had been talking to the goddesses for so long.

(...still a bit sleepy.)

　But we've got work to do.
　We had a discussion about our future plans.
　Fujiyan has been gathering information on the 'buyer', a nobleman, in order to save his classmate, Kahoku-san, but it seems that he has been unable to find any decisive information.

　What we do know is that Mr. Kahoku is in the most guarded building in the slave market in the capital.
　I've heard that Mr. Hebei is being treated politely because he possesses a rare skill.
　The problem would be that there are only a few days until the next slave auction.

''Fujiyan, is there anything I can help you with?''
Well I'll let you know if I need anything else.
　Fujiyan's answer was the same as it was a few days ago.
　His expression is dull.
　I'm having a hard time with this.
　It's frustrating that I can't help him much with these things.

　The rest of the day was spent making small talk and finishing breakfast.
　And when we were all having tea after dinner.

(Ah, yes. I have to talk to Sa-san about the 'evolution' skill that Noah-sama taught me.)
　As I sipped my tea, I turned around to see Sa-san, who was eating a plump cookie.

"Sa-san, can you come over to my room tonight? Can you come to my room tonight?　Around 11pm.
'What?　Umm, yeah, fine, but...
　As I recall, they said the best time for 'evolution' was midnight.
".........
　I felt Lucy and Princess Sophia's gaze turned to me.
　However, right now, Sa-san's 'evolution' is important.　

''Sa-san, before you come, take a bath and wash every inch of your body. And also, come with as light clothes as possible.
''Heh!''
　Sa-san raised a bare voice.
　Noah-sama should have said that it was better to be aware of the 'state of birth' as much as possible.

''........''
　Lucy and Princess Sophia's gaze grew more and more intense.
　Mr. Furiae is playing with the black cat (Tsui), as if he's not interested.

　Apparently, I'm sleepy and still can't think straight.
　But I have to pass on the Goddess's advice before I forget.

Let's see. Takatsuki-kun. What will I do when I go to Takatsuki-kun's room late at night wearing light clothes after I take a bath, and what will he do to me?
　Sa-san was moping and asked me with a look up.
　What, have I forgotten about the 'evolution' skill?

''What a ritual, of course.''
Gee, a ritual!
　I don't know why I'm so surprised about the evolutionary ritual.　
　We've been talking about it for a while.

All right, all right. I'm new at this, but I'm on it.
Yeah, I'm looking forward to it.
　How strong Sa-san will be.

'Wow, I might be nervous...'
　Sa-san's face is red.
'Don't worry, I'll take care of it.'
　After all, the Goddess taught me that.
　I can't fail.

'Takatsuki-kun be nice to me.
Yeah, of course (?).
　I'm just going to tell you how to do it.
　What do you mean, "be nice"?

Ta, Takatsuki-sama. I don't want to talk about that stuff when we're alone...
Don't you start with me this morning, sweetheart.
　Nina-san was terribly reserved and Friae stared at me with icy cold eyes.
　Beside her, Lucy and Princess Sophia were crunching their mouths.

(Hmm~?)

　Oh, uh ... did I say something weird?

Tacky-dono I've said nothing but strange things. Anyway, wash your face and correct me.
With the 'mind reading' skill, Fujiyan, who realized everything, calmly followed up.


　--The misunderstanding was cleared up.