This is the cathedral...

　Ludmira gulped as she looked at the chalk temple towering ahead.

　She was currently traveling in a carriage with the other Four Heavenly Holy Swords (Sacred Edge).
　Sitting on the seat next to her is a beautiful woman in a dress that reminds me of a noblewoman - Fiore.

''I've only been here once, but Ludmira-san was the first time, right?
Yeah.

　A sense of tension rises.

　The international organization "The Guild of the Brave" unites more than 100,000 brave men and women in front of the cathedral, the headquarters of the Guild.
　In front of the cathedral, the headquarters of the guild, the cathedral.

　In front of the cathedral, there are a few people who look like brave men and women.
　Basically, only the upper echelons are allowed inside the cathedral, but the facilities around it are used for training the brave men and women.

'Sis, you're here?　And Mr. Ludmilla.

　A boy ran up to him.

　He had a well-defined face with blond hair and blue eyes.
　The noble atmosphere was unique to the son of a nobleman.

''It's been a while, Elio-kun.''

　Ludmilla smiled.

　Elio Quell.
　His age was fifteen years old.
　He was Fiore's younger brother and Ludmira's junior at the hero training institute.

''Do, hello.''

　Elio blushed and greeted her.

'Huh, you look good, Elio.
You too.

　Elio turns to Fiore, "I'm sorry," he says.

'You were here for training?　It's energizing.
'I've been selected for the second group, too. I have to do my best.

　Elio smiles proudly.

"The second group...
Yeah, Operation Demon Invasion, three months from now.

　It was about two weeks ago that a mission to break the wards of the demon world and invade was carried out.

　In the first group, a hundred brave men were chosen to attack the demon world.
　Unfortunately, they were defeated and the Demon King's power restored the boundary between the human world and the demon world.

　It took roughly three months to finish preparing to break the boundary again.
　I heard that the second operation was scheduled to take place there.

　Last time, they had been carefully selected from Wisdom Angel (Cherubim) and Seated Angel (Solone) level Miracle Armor users to take on the challenge.
　However, this time, in order to bring a larger group of people together, they will also gather members from lower-ranked wizards.

　Erio was probably chosen as a member because he is a Lord Angel (Dominion) level user - the fourth highest Miracle Armor rank.

''I'm going to defeat a lot of bad demons. I wish I could go with Ludmilla-san and my sister.
I wish we could be there...

　Ludmila bit her lip.

　Anyone with a miracle armor of the level of a fierce angel (seraph) cannot enter the demon world.
　Therefore, they were unable to join the previous operation.

　However, I heard that the top brass is working on a countermeasure for this.

　If I'm selected as a member in the next operation, I want to fight to defeat the demon race.
　And this time against the Demon King who was completely defeated the other day──.



　There are about 100,000 brave souls who can use the Miracle Armor given to them by God.

　The Miracle Armor is ranked according to its power, and the number of users in descending order is

　The "Seraph" class, 4.
　Cherubim, 500 members.
　Solone, 1000 members of the Seated Angel class.
　Main Angel Dominion level, 2000 members.
　4,500 members of the "Vacher" class.
　NouTenshi (Power) level, 6,000.
　Principality level, 12,000.
　Archangel, 25,000 angels of the Arc Angel class.
　50,000 angels of the Angel class.

　And then the brave men and women were united.

　And the thing that unites these brave men and women is the 'Brave Men's Guild'.
　The upper echelon of the guild - the ten highest executives of the guild and Ludmila and the other Four Heavenly Sacred Swords (Sacred Edge) had met face to face.

　To be precise, it was not the executives, but a communication magic device that conveyed their will.
　A total of ten rectangular plates about three meters high flickered in front of Ludmila and the others.

''Well done!''

　A voice rang out from the board.

'I've heard of you four's exploits.
''We are happy to be here to talk to the Four Heavenly Holy Swords (Sacred Edge), the symbol and pride of the Brave Guild.
I'll get right down to business.
It's about the second invasion of the Underworld, which will take place in three months.

　Ludmilla and the others listened in silence to the voices coming from each board.

''The main purpose of the last mission was to reconnoitre into the demon world, which was an unknown territory.
'The route to the Demon King's Castle had fewer enemies than expected, and some of them made it to the Demon King.
In the end, the heroes died or were defeated, but the battle for the war was won in a big way.
I've defeated three Demon Commanders and killed the Demon King... but it looks like we have a new Demon King.
The brave men who have actually fought and survived have reported that their power far surpasses that of the former Demon King.

　Ludmilla stiffened reflexively.
　Memories of defeat came back and she unconsciously clenched her fists.

''Regardless, it has been proven that a higher-ranked hero can compete with the Demon Army Chief class, which had little data to engage until now.
''Of course we must not be careless. Aside from you guys, the only people who can stand up to the high-level demon race are a few wielders of the Wisdom Angel (Cherubim) level and the Za-Angel (Solone) level.
'The power of the majority of brave men is not far behind the demons.

　Yes, the demon race is strong.
　Especially the Demon King, his entourage, and the equivalent classes have high fighting ability.
　Most of the brave men are able to gather in tens, and in some cases hundreds, to finally fight.

''Moreover, I hear that the remaining demon army chiefs - the Immortal King (Lord Undead) and the Beast Emperor (Gigantroa) - are fierce fighters of the best of the best,''
The demon eyes (Vision) and the Dreamer Princess (Dead Charm), both of which are said to have special powers, are also troublesome enemies.
But with the combined strength of our brave men and women, we can surely defeat it.
"We'll defeat the remaining demon chiefs and destroy the demon king - once we've done that, the rest of them are minnows.
The brave men will be overwhelmed by the sheer force of their numbers.
"We humans will exterminate all demons.
"The demon world will be destroyed and the world of men will have eternal peace.

　They proclaimed, "You are the four of you.

"And at the center of it all are you four.
"I wish you all the best in your endeavors.
"to ensure that this time, the Demon Lord will be buried.



And what you are fighting for will be legendary.



　Their voices chanted.

'Let me preface this by saying... but here's the thing.
I hope you guys get more out of it.
I was given the means to do so the other day by an 'oracle'.
"The four most powerful miracle weapons of the seraphic class, the four most powerful seraphs...
"Miracle armament enhancement...

　Ludmilla looked at the other three.

　We can be stronger ourselves.
　Then we might be able to beat the Demon King next time.

　However, there were some things that bothered me.

(If only God would give us that much power from the beginning...)

　Ludmilla raised her eyebrows.

(The casualties from fighting the demon race should have been much less.)

　Why does God give his own people limited power, as if ... it would be a waste?

　It's as if God has this battle - and he's not.

"Do not measure up to the will of God.

　The boards flickered at once, as if to interrupt Ludmilla's thoughts.

'Do not disobey the will of God.'
"Do not doubt the will of God.
Trust me.
"Trust in God.



　A few hours later, Ludmila is on the top floor of the Cathedral, where there is a door decorated with majestic reliefs.
　In front of her, there is a door decorated with solemn reliefs.

"Beyond this is the 'oracle room' - right?

　This was the only place on earth where she could communicate with the Heavenly God.
　She was allowed to enter this room in order to strengthen and cultivate the Miracle Armament of the Four Heavenly Sacred Swords (Sacred Edge).

''Hmm, nice to meet you, Ludmilla-san.

　Fiore smiles next to me.

'It's nice to meet you too. We'll both be strong together.'

　Ludmilla opens the door.
　A pale golden light flooded in from the other side.

'I will be stronger than ever.

　I swear on my heart.

"And I will surpass the Demon King...

　Ludmilla took a step into the 'oracle room'.