Sardinia was sparsely populated, so the casualties from this disaster weren't too severe, and the relief efforts weren't particularly difficult.
The only real headache was probably the local government, since post-disaster reconstruction always costs a fortune.
"What's wrong, still feeling unwell?"
Phainon walked side-by-side with Erica, glancing at her occasionally pressing a hand to her chest and frowning slightly, and couldn't help but ask.
It was only at times like this that a trace of fragility showed in the girl's expression. Usually, she always wore an elegant smile.
"That was a blow from a Divine Beast, even if it was just the shockwave. Taking it head-on wasn't exactly pleasant..."
Erica couldn't help but roll her eyes. An ordinary person would have been done for after a hit like that. Even though she'd used defensive magic, she was still injured. Until she fully recovered, she wouldn't be able to fight like before.
"I see... Well then... do you want me to carry you?"
Phainon nodded, then reached out and patted his own shoulder.
"Carry me?"
Erica looked at Phainon's broad shoulders, lost in thought for a moment.
"We've still got a way to go to the station. Since you're not feeling well, let me help you out for a bit. Don't worry, my back is pretty comfortable. Even Teacher Tribbie, who isn't as rowdy as the other two teachers, praised me when Trianne and Trinnon were playing around."
Phainon said with a hint of pride.
"In that case... I'll trouble you then."
The strong-willed girl rarely showed her vulnerable side. Earlier, when choosing clothes with Phainon, Erica had managed to suppress her injury, but as time went on, she was starting to feel weary.
They'd just finished a battle against a god, and now she was injured with no time to rest. She was, after all, just a sixteen-year-old girl.
Logically, suggesting such an intimate act as carrying her piggyback out of the blue could be seen as presumptuous. However, after their recent battle, Erica understood Phainon's character.
Besides, she held a certain fondness for him, so she accepted his offer.
Phainon immediately stood in front of Erica and gently bent down.
Erica then placed her hands on his shoulders and slowly leaned forward.
"Whoa!"
At first, Erica felt a bit shy and reserved, but Phainon, oblivious to the girl's feelings, simply reached back, hooked his hands under her legs, and stood up straight, hoisting her onto his back once he felt she was steady.
His sudden movement startled Erica, making her fling her arms tightly around his neck.
Just as Phainon had said, his back felt broad and warm to Erica.
Gazing at his silver-white hair, Erica had a fleeting illusion—it was as if this man had the strength to carry the world itself. It was profoundly reassuring.
But then she caught herself. 'This guy is just a powerful warrior, that's all.'
Thinking that, Erica couldn't help but ponder further. After all, Phainon's strength was truly immense.
She was a Grand Knight; in terms of combat prowess, she stood at the peak of ordinary humanity. Even her uncle, Paolo, the leader of the Copper-Black Cross, was only her equal in a fight. But Phainon?
That massive wild boar Divine Beast, which had left her flustered and unable to land a single scratch—she could only manage to distract it—had been sent veering off course by Phainon with a single swing of his club...
Wasn't that strength just absurd?
And his instantaneous explosive power was even more formidable.
When she was hit by the shockwave, Phainon had been some distance away. Yet, in the brief moment it took for her to fall from the sky to the ground, he had managed to rush over and save her...
Remembering this, Erica inadvertently recalled the feeling of being held in Phainon's arms earlier...
Hmm, that felt even more comfortable than being carried on his back. Moreover, this man seemed to possess a peculiar magnetism...an intoxicating one.
But the next moment, she shook her head vigorously.
'No, no, Erica, what are you thinking! You're someone who aims to slay gods! Erica, how can you sink so low? You need to snap out of this comfortable daze!'
Immediately after, she buried her face, slightly embarrassed, into the crook of Phainon's neck.
Her golden hair cascaded down over his chest, and her warm, faint breaths gently brushed against his neck. Seeing this, Phainon didn't say anything.
A girl's heart was always hard to decipher. Phainon would never have guessed that, in those short ten seconds, Erica was engaged in an unprecedented internal storm.
As he walked, he hitched his grip on Erica's legs a little higher; her earlier squirming had thrown his balance off a bit.
Pressed against his back were two soft mounds, while his hands held legs that were toned yet retained a uniquely maidenly softness and fullness.
They say women are made of water, and even a warrior like Erica had legs that were incredibly slender, soft, and tender.
Soon, the two reached the station.
"We're here." Phainon gently lowered himself to let Erica down.
"Oh..." For some reason, after leaving Phainon's back, Erica felt an inexplicable sense of loss...
But she quickly collected herself and sat down on a nearby bench. Phainon took a seat beside her.
For a while, neither spoke.
Due to Sardinia's sparse population, the trains were infrequent. Phainon and Erica likely had to wait another half hour.
The atmosphere between them grew somewhat awkward.
Finally, Erica broke the silence.
"Um... I know this might be a bit forward, but I'd like to know... how exactly did you repel that wild boar earlier?" Erica asked, her tone curious.
Phainon didn't look much older than her, just a young man, but his strength—revealed in that single, fleeting strike—was clearly far greater than hers.
"How I repelled it?" Faced with the question, Phainon was momentarily stumped, unsure how to explain.
"I just took the club and whacked it hard on the head. It was that simple."
"Pfft..."
Phainon's blunt answer drew an involuntary laugh from Erica.
"It's just hard to believe... you, with such immense power. Was that baseball bat some kind of powerful weapon?"
"Powerful weapon? Not really. It's just particularly sturdy."
Phainon shook his head. After being enhanced by the system, the bat only gained a 'Sturdy' property, making it hard to break. It didn't have any other special effects.
"Eh? I don't believe it. Relying purely on your own strength, how could you possibly repel a Divine Beast? That's something very difficult for a human to achieve."
Erica denied Phainon's answer almost like she was acting coy.
Knowing that arguing with a girl was futile, Phainon played along: "Yes, yes. Honestly, my own strength alone wasn't enough to repel that boar. That bat did have a blessing on it. But, I also have this greatsword named 'Dawnbreaker.' The blessing on that weapon is potent enough to slay a god."
Phainon said seriously.
"The power to defeat a god? That would qualify as a divine artifact, wouldn't it!"
Erica grew curious. "Can I take a look?"
"Sorry, no can do. It's a blade blessed by the God of War. It must draw blood once drawn. If it doesn't taste blood, it might go berserk."
"Mhmm, that sounds like a fitting price for wielding such a powerful divine artifact." Erica nodded, readily accepting Phainon's tall tale.
If a little white lie could make the girl feel better, Phainon didn't mind telling one.
After all, she had just suffered a defeat and her confidence was bruised. If he ruthlessly stated he was just naturally that strong, it might have been a devastating blow...
"Ah, the train's coming. Looks like we're in luck, didn't have to wait long."
In the distance, the train bell rang incessantly. A smile touched Phainon's lips as he stood up.
Then, he glanced at Erica, who remained seated.
"Aren't you going to lend a hand? Leaving a lady to get up on her own isn't very gentlemanly." Erica lightly extended her small hand.
"My pleasure, madam." Phainon replied with a helpless smile.
Then, he gently took her hand and, with a slight pull, helped her to her feet.
Perhaps because of the recent disaster, when Phainon and Erica boarded the train car, they found it empty except for the two of them.
Just like before, they got on and sat together.
Maybe it was the fatigue after the intense battle, but not long after the train started moving, Erica's head gently came to rest on Phainon's shoulder.
Her breathing gradually evened out.
Seeing this, Phainon had no choice but to maintain his position.
Throughout the journey, passengers came and went, but the two of them remained unchanged in their posture.
It wasn't until Phainon saw their stop on the station board that he gently shook Erica awake.
"Mmm... Are we there?"
Erica opened her drowsy eyes and looked around.
"We're here. But, your guard is surprisingly low, isn't it? If I had wanted to do something to you earlier, you wouldn't have been able to resist."
"Ridiculous! Even though I was asleep, I still maintained basic awareness!"
Faced with Phainon's teasing, Erica retorted proudly—though it would have been more convincing if she had wiped the trace of drool from the corner of her mouth first.
Phainon didn't call her out on it. Teasing a little cat was fun, but if you provoked it into hissing and puffing up, things could get messy.
Perhaps the rest on the train had done Erica some good, as she didn't ask Phainon to carry her for the remainder of the journey.
It might also have been her pride at work; they were about to meet the Witch of Sardinia, and being carried by Phainon would surely invite teasing.
Soon, they arrived at the home of the Witch of Sardinia, Lucretia Zola.
"Coming, coming."
A woman's lazy voice answered the knock, followed by the wooden door swinging open.
To be honest, Phainon was a bit surprised. She was called the Witch of Sardinia, but her house was in a residential area. Shouldn't a witch live in a forest cottage, constantly stirring potions in a cauldron or something?
The door opened fully, revealing a woman with a youthful face.
She had wheat-colored hair, and features so delicate they were captivating even without makeup. A tear mole at the corner of her eye added a touch of allure.
But what really caught the eye was her attire. In her haste to answer the door, she hadn't properly dressed, wearing only a loose robe. Her ample bosom and shapely, pearl-like legs were fully exposed.
Phainon could clearly see the deep, shadowy valley of her cleavage.
Honestly, Erica had a great figure, but compared to this ripe, succulent peach... she seemed like an unripe melon!
"My, Erica, I didn't expect you. And this young man..."
Zola looked Phainon up and down, her eyes lighting up. "Such a handsome lad is a rare sight. No wonder our proud genius Erica is traveling with you!"
"Don't misunderstand, Lucretia! We've only just met. It's not the kind of relationship you're thinking of!"
"What kind of relationship?"
A knowing smile played on Lucretia's lips. "I didn't say anything~"
"Never mind, there's no point arguing with you. I was injured fighting the Divine Beast, so I need your help, Lucretia. A place to stay for now, and some healing potions."
"No problem, I'm happy to help with that. Actually, your uncle already contacted me."
She cleared her throat. "Ahem, 'My niece may be a genius, but she's still young. I fear she might be taken advantage of. If she seeks your help, please don't hesitate. Put everything on the Copper-Black Cross's tab.'"
"Yeah, that's what he said."
Lucretia added with a wink aimed at both Erica and Phainon.
'Why is this old woman acting like a bashful maiden?'
Of course, Phainon only dared think it. Age was a sensitive topic for women.
Even the... ahem, Lady Yakumo, who'd lived who knows how many years, still called herself an eternally seventeen-year-old beauty, didn't she?
"Here, this is a medicinal wine. Just drink it, and your injuries will gradually heal."
Lucretia smiled, leading them to the dining table as she explained.
Erica looked at the bottle hesitantly.
"What? The future heir to the Diavolo Rosso, the Grand Knight... can't hold her liquor?"
"Who says I can't! Glug glug glug..."
In the end, she was still young. With just a little provocation, Erica grabbed the bottle and downed it.
As expected, within ten minutes of finishing, Erica became dazed and confused before finally slumping over the table, out cold.
"I'll leave her to you, young man. Take Erica to her room."
Lucretia took a sip of wine and winked at Phainon.
"Don't worry, she's fine. The medicine is taking effect. She just needs to sleep it off, and her injuries will heal completely~ Though the alcohol content is quite high. Erica will probably lose her memory of this period~ So, whatever you might want to do is possible~"
The witch's words carried a hint of suggestion and provocation, but Phainon pretended not to notice.
Looking at the drunk Erica, he sighed in exasperation. Fortunately, she wasn't completely limp like a noodle, so he easily scooped her up in a princess carry and headed towards the bedroom.
"Help me with the zipper... I can't quite reach..."
Once in the room, Erica murmured softly.
She only knew she was back in her room, completely forgetting it was Phainon who brought her.
Seeing this, Phainon sighed.
'If I don't enter hell, who will?' Guess he was playing the part of a harem anime protagonist now.
He had shifted to supporting her by the shoulders when they entered the room.
Hearing Erica's request, Phainon gently felt for the zipper on the back of her dress and pulled it down.
Once freed from the zipper's constraint, Erica's crimson dress slid down her snow-white body and pooled on the floor.
Her flawless form was thus displayed before Phainon's eyes. Though she acted mature, her choice in underwear was unexpectedly cute.
Beneath the pure white fabric were pink trim and white lace edging. Her snow-white panties even had a pink bow.
And below, lace-trimmed white knee-high socks.
But Phainon wasn't the type to take advantage. After removing her dress, he simply deposited her on the bed and tucked her in.
Just as he was about to leave, he found the bedroom door locked.
A light, airy voice came from the other side: "Don't think about breaking it down, young man~ This room is warded. Disturb one part, and you disturb the whole. If you want to break the door, you'll have to dismantle the entire house~"
Damn witch...
Phainon grumbled internally, then sighed. 'Fine, I'll make do on the sofa.'
He was a healthy young man, after all. If he really squeezed into the same bed as Erica, the one suffering would definitely be him.
Before settling down, Phainon remembered something. He pulled up his system interface...
--+--
The next morning, Phainon's alarm was a girl's sharp cry, filled with both embarrassment and anger.
He opened his eyes to see Erica, clad only in her underwear, clutching the white sheets to her body and glaring at him furiously.
"You! What did you do to me!"
"Hold on, don't start a fight. I know you're upset, but just hold on. If you attack me, I will defend myself. Remember the difference in our strength."
Phainon looked completely unsurprised and spoke calmly.
"I understand."
"Good that you understand."
"Understand my foot!"
Seeing his expression, Erica, who had initially planned to let it go, grew angrier the more she thought about it. She launched herself at him, aiming a slap at his face.
Predictably, Phainon caught her wrist.
His large hand clamped around hers like an iron vise. Refusing to give up, she tried to kick him.
Phainon simply used his leg to block hers.
The white sheet wrapped around her waist finally slipped away, revealing Erica's alluring curves.
Their position was now somewhat intimate. With her limbs restrained, Erica could only shoot daggers at him with her eyes.
"My, my, playing so roughly first thing in the morning? Young people these days certainly enjoy their peculiar games."
The door had opened without them noticing, and the witch's teasing voice reached them at the perfect moment.
"It's not what you think!" Erica shouted, then suddenly realized something. "Wait, it was you, wasn't it! You scheming witch!"
Erica glared angrily at Lucretia.
"Oh my, I merely provided a little assistance..."
Lucretia covered her mouth in mock surprise, giggling.
"And as for being scheming, who doesn't know that the Copper-Black Cross's Lady Erica is famous for both her pride and her cunning? Your 'little devil' reputation is known throughout Italy. Besides... aren't you enjoying this situation too?"
Lucretia teased, noting the blush on Erica's face.
However, she knew this level of teasing was nearing Erica's limit.
So, she promptly changed the subject.
"I have new information. Would you like to hear it? It's about the Heretic God this time."
"Information? Let's hear it."
Sure enough, Erica's attention was immediately captured.
"I'll tell you, but... let's wait until we're in the living room."
Lucretia gave Erica's body a once-over. "Mhmm, developing quite nicely, Erica."
With that, she turned and left, leaving Erica and Phainon alone.
"Are you going to watch me change clothes?"
"Wouldn't be opposed to it."
"Get out!"
The moment Phainon stepped out, the door slammed shut behind him with such force he felt the whole wall shake.
Later, a properly dressed and composed Erica arrived in the living room.
"Last night, the Heretic God appeared again. This time, it was a black tornado and a golden bird. But soon after, both manifestations vanished. I also obtained information about the Heretic Gods involved."
The witch smiled. "One is an unknown War God from the East, and the other is the ancient Phoenician God King, Melqart."
"These two top-tier Heretic Gods battled a few days ago, resulting in a stalemate where both were wounded. The various Divine Beast manifestations we've seen recently are all avatars of that Eastern War God, reclaiming his power. Once he's fully recovered, the two deities are bound to clash again."
"Given their power and destructive capability, if they fight again on Sardinia, the entire island will likely be affected..."
The path ahead for Erica and Phainon was now clear.
They had to find a way to prevent these two top-tier gods from fully recovering and clashing again!
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.