"This place should be about right."
"There isn't anyone nearby, either. We couldn't have chosen a more suitable location."
On a plain far from Orario, several figures riding wyverns slowly descended from the sky.
Not many people had accompanied them on this operation. After all, this was an important matter, and Elise's identity was somewhat special.
It would be disastrous if some villains seized the opportunity to endanger Orario while Elise was away.
Three humans and one god jumped down from the wyverns one after another and surveyed their surroundings.
"Before this battle begins, there's one more thing I want to ask you, Elise."
"It's nothing important. I merely hope you can resolve a question that has been troubling me."
"Come to think of it, this question is closely connected to your Familia."
Hearing Erebus call her name, Elise turned her gaze slightly toward him.
"What is it, Lord Erebus?"
"What is your justice?"
"Although we've already chosen you, so the answer no longer matters very much, a trace of doubt still remains in my heart."
"Elise, I've observed you before. Ever since the era of Zeus and Hera came to an end, Orario has never truly known peace."
"But after you appeared, Orario's transformation could only be described as an ascension."
"That made me wonder whether everything you've done was what you considered justice."
"So what, exactly, is your justice?"
Faced with Erebus' question, Elise paused briefly before asking in return, "Lord Erebus, let me confirm something. You're asking about... 'my' justice?"
"Of course. Since I want to understand your thoughts, I would naturally ask something concerning you. Do you have any other questions?"
"No, that's all."
Erebus' answer surprised Elise somewhat.
In the original work, Erebus had directly asked what justice was, laying a verbal trap for Ryuu. No matter how Ryuu answered, Erebus would refute her and use it to carry out his plan of Absolute Evil.
But now, although only a few words had been added to the question, its meaning was already completely different.
Erebus straightened his posture, ready to listen to Elise's answer. Alfia and Zald did the same. They all wanted to know what Elise truly thought.
"It's actually quite simple."
Elise had no intention of concealing anything. Besides, it was impossible to lie in front of a god.
"The justice I uphold is happiness."
"Everything I've done until now has been to help everyone obtain happiness."
Happiness?
Erebus fell into thought, but then he asked a crucial question.
"Elise, you should understand that the differences between people can be enormous, correct?"
"Yes, I understand that very well," Elise continued from where Erebus had left off. "That means conflicts will inevitably arise between the forms of happiness different people pursue."
"To some, happiness means having enough food and drink and a place to live. To others, happiness means fighting and growing stronger. There are even those whose happiness lies in taking happiness away from others..."
"I'm aware of all that."
Although her expression did not change, Erebus could sense the fluctuations in Elise's emotions.
"But unfortunately, I have a clear understanding of myself. No matter how powerful I become, it will still be impossible for me to make everyone happy."
"Like a set of scales, as long as good people exist in the world, bad people will inevitably exist as well."
"I'll do my best to allow more people to obtain happiness, but if someone threatens the happiness of an even greater number of people, then I can only apologize."
"I'll reduce the number of villains as much as possible."
Elise's words sounded somewhat cruel, but after careful consideration, they were perfectly reasonable.
Because that was reality.
"Oh? Judging by your tone, it seems you've experienced quite a few interesting things."
Erebus had not expected Elise to be so... mature.
She was undoubtedly no older than eighteen, yet her way of thinking did not resemble that of someone her age. It was almost as though she had experienced something terrible...
"Reduce the number of villains... Do you mean eliminating them?"
"That depends on the circumstances."
"If they have an opportunity to turn over a new leaf, I'll help them change. But if they don't..."
Elise did not finish her sentence. She merely made a throat-slitting gesture.
"Isn't that exactly what happened with Evilus?"
"When facing people carrying Inferno Stones, failing to eliminate them immediately would only result in more people being injured or even killed."
"I wanted to protect those innocent citizens, so Evilus could only be asked to suffer the consequences."
"Haha, that's true as well. However..." Erebus looked at Elise. "The way you are now doesn't seem much like the Saintess of Scales everyone speaks of, does it?"
"Of course not. Aren't those merely fantasies?"
"No one in this world is absolutely perfect. Saintesses are no exception."
Joan of Arc, Martha, and the many saintesses found throughout history and fiction could not be considered completely perfect.
"But it is precisely because of those flaws that we strive to improve ourselves. Only then can we continue pursuing our own happiness."
"I see. I understand what you mean."
After listening to her answer, Erebus smiled. He was not the only one. Alfia and Zald had also gained a deeper understanding of Elise.
"Then this humble god won't disturb you any further. This frail body of mine, with its divine power sealed, couldn't possibly withstand your rampaging. A single stray shock wave would probably kill me, wouldn't it?"
Erebus joked, "I'll leave the rest to all of you, then. I hope everyone will be satisfied!"
With that, Erebus took all the wyverns and moved far away from the place where the great battle was about to unfold.
Alfia and Zald had already completed their preparations, while Elise gripped her Sacred Demon Sword tightly.
"Let me make this clear beforehand. Although you've helped us greatly, we'll be using our full strength in this battle. We won't hold back in the slightest!"
"Only a truly genuine battle can draw out a person's potential. If we held back, the experience you gained would be greatly reduced, so don't blame us afterward!"
As they spoke, the pressure emanating from the two of them gradually became palpable, and faint winds began to stir around them.
How should it be described? The feeling was like the calm before a storm...
And Elise was about to face everything that came next alone and... crush her enemies!
"Then let us witness it," Alfia and Zald said simultaneously, "the hero capable of inheriting the previous era!"