Chapter 414: Threatening Liliana to Serve as Well...
Her body was gently lifted and placed against the propped-up pillow. After the person in front of her left, Alice's guiltily averted gaze slowly returned to normal.
From Ericsson's expression, Alice could tell that the housekeeper had figured out the truth. The moment she took off her clothes, she couldn't help but show a strange expression.
Damn it, it's all Lucretia's fault.
So, while cursing inwardly, Alice couldn't help but recall the sensations she had just experienced, causing her to blush again.
So, what exactly happened to her?
What did she see?
What did Lucretia do to her?
She saw a very inappropriate room, filled with questionable items.
And in that room, Lucretia was performing indescribable acts on someone tied to a bed.
It really seemed just as Lucretia had said when they picked her up at the airport—this old woman had truly started indulging in such things, enjoying herself, and had found someone for it.
So, just witnessing such a scene had caused her to react this way?
How could that be!
It was the moment she was stunned by that scene that Lucretia, sensing she was being observed through spiritual vision, used a forbidden-like spell to affect Alice.
That spell was one where harming oneself would simultaneously harm another.
It was as if the physical sensations of two people were connected.
Therefore, Alice was forcibly made aware of Lucretia's condition, which caused her own issues as well.
So, does this confirm Lucretia is not under suspicion?
Of course not, we still need to keep observing.
In the night-shrouded city, people indulged in the nightlife as if they had already forgotten the anomalies of the previous night.
On a rooftop, two graceful figures were engaged in a duel.
Suddenly, one of them had her sword knocked away, and a thin blade was pointed at her neck.
Thus, the outcome was decided.
"Lost just like that?"
The girl murmured in a daze.
She had always been evenly matched with her opponent, but this time, her defeat was too obvious.
It meant there was a clear gap in strength between them.
More importantly, her opponent hadn't used any Authority at all.
"What's wrong, Lili? Are you that disheartened?"
Erica, who had sheathed her thin sword, spoke with a hint of pride or perhaps showing off.
Of course, this display was intentional.
Erica knew that if she hadn't been blessed by luck, there was no way she could be so much stronger than the equally renowned prodigy before her.
She acted this way precisely to provoke this rigid girl.
In response, the other remained silent.
"Lili, do you want to obtain a Divine Authority too?"
"Huh? By slaying a god?"
Was she suggesting finding a Heretic God for her to slay?
"No, you can't do it."
These words caused the girl—Liliana Kranjcar—to slightly change her expression.
Was this still meant to humiliate her?
"Actually, I'm not a Campione either. I can't slay a Heretic God."
Erica sighed as she said this.
"What do you mean?"
Liliana was confused. If that wasn't the case, how did she obtain a Divine Authority?
"It's simple. The reason I gained a Divine Authority is because I believe in a god, serve that god, and was granted the Divine Authority by that god."
This straightforward revelation made Liliana's eyes widen in shock.
"Th-That's impossible! How could there be a being capable of granting a Divine Authority to a human?"
"Why not? Isn't Pandora one?"
"Th-That's different!"
"It is a bit different. Pandora's method of obtaining a Divine Authority is too dangerous—you have to personally defeat a Heretic God. But the god I serve can personally defeat Heretic Gods and grant their Authorities to us."
"Huh?"
Liliana was stunned once again.
"Just by serving, you can be granted a Divine Authority?"
It sounded too easy, too simple.
It felt unreal.
"That's right, but it requires serving—serving with your entire heart and soul~"
Erica said this in a suggestive tone, causing Liliana to freeze for a moment before realizing what "entire heart and soul" implied.
"Y-You're not serving some evil god, are you?"
"Of course not. Besides, the god I serve is actually one you believe in too."
"I believe in? The one I believe in is—"
Her voice cut off abruptly, and she stared wide-eyed at her rival before her.
"Y-You must be joking."
"Well, I am joking."
"..."
"So, Lili, why don't you join us?"
"I..."
"Come on, let's go meet the master we serve."
"W-Wait, I haven't agreed yet!"
Liliana still harbored some suspicions, fearing it might be some evil god or the like.
"Whether you agree or not, you must join!"
"Are you forcing me to join?"
"What else? You already know so much—how could we let you go?"
"I—"
["Ah~, that kind of cold person is the most detestable. But what is this fierce throbbing in my chest? Could it be... could it be love?"]
Erica suddenly spouted these inexplicable words, causing Liliana's body to stiffen.
"Guess where this line comes from?"
"N-no idea!"
"It comes from a notebook in someone's bedroom drawer—the second one from the top."
This teasing remark made Liliana freeze, her face gradually flushing crimson as she glared at Erica with murderous eyes.
"H-how do you know about that?"
Liliana's voice trembled.
It was an absolutely irrevealable secret—how did the person before her know about it?
"If you don't join, starting tomorrow, its contents will be spread across the world via the internet."
Instead of answering the question, Erica issued this playful threat.
So, how did she come to know such a secret? She was aware of the innocent girl's hobby—writing romance novels.
The answer lay in the existence of a maid serving as a secret informant by her side.
Thus, this threat was exceptionally effective. For someone as pure and thin-skinned as Lili, it was absolutely potent.
The exposure of this secret was more terrifying to her than death.