"Why are you suddenly drinking tea?!"
"And where did that table and chair even come from?!"
The scene before them completely shattered the adventurers' composure.
Fine, defend yourself if you want—but drinking tea on top of that?
Doesn't that just make us look ridiculous?
"Are you finished attacking?"
Elise took a sip of tea and spoke calmly.
Though her tone was mild, everyone present felt an inexplicable sense of danger emanating from her.
"If you're done, then I'll begin my counterattack."
Her utterly dismissive attitude truly irritated the adventurers.
"Then bring it on! Your defense may be strong, but your offense might not be!"
One adventurer forced himself to speak bravely.
In response, Elise gave him a mysterious smile.
Thirty minutes later.
"Ah, that was refreshing!"
"It feels like all my stress has been swept away!"
"Another day as a saintess, helping so many adventurers!"
Elise stepped out of the alley looking invigorated.
Those adventurers had truly been energetic. She had almost struggled to hold herself back.
To demonstrate her overwhelming strength as clearly as possible, she had chosen to use a "spell" that looked undeniably powerful.
With a gentle wave of her hand, the entire area had been submerged in lightning.
No one escaped. No one even managed to cry out. A single strike was enough to defeat everyone present.
Of course, she had held back. She had not used too much power. Those who were defeated remained fully conscious.
"H-How can she be... this strong?"
The Level 4 adventurer spoke unwillingly.
He had been skeptical of the rumors at first. Only after facing her personally did he understand just how different she was.
You're telling me this is a Level 2?
A Level 2 who can defeat a Level 4 in a single blow?
Even Ottar probably couldn't have done that when he was young.
"Ah, I'm sorry! I didn't control my strength well!"
Elise's slightly flustered voice came from the side. A white glow immediately lit up in her hands, spreading across the area.
Within minutes, the people on the ground stood back up.
But this time, their faces were filled with confusion.
What is she trying to do?
Why heal us?
"Are you all alright?"
Elise's gentle voice brought them back to their senses.
"You... what are you doing? Shouldn't you just knock us down and leave us here?"
That was the norm among adventurers. Usually the one being targeted got into trouble, though in rare cases, the target could counterattack successfully.
Those who caused trouble either knocked the other party down—or got knocked down themselves. That was common sense.
But Elise's actions completely defied their understanding.
"You're not bad people. I only needed to intimidate you a little. There's no need to leave you bedridden for days."
In addition to healing them, Elise used purification to remove the dirt from their clothes, making them look almost the same as when they had arrived.
In fact, they looked even cleaner.
"Alright. I've demonstrated enough, and I've treated your injuries."
"If you still want to fight, I'll accompany you. But this time, I won't heal you afterward."
"..."
Hearing her words, the adventurers who had surrounded her fell silent.
They did not know what expression to wear before this girl.
Yes—a girl.
According to the Guild's records, Elise was only sixteen years old.
Everyone present was over twenty, yet despite the age gap, none of them could defeat her.
"I just finished brewing some tea. Would you like to try it? I'm quite confident in my skills."
So she wasn't brewing tea to humiliate us—but to offer it to us?
This...
The adventurers exchanged glances, each seeing complicated expressions on the others' faces.
Not only had they lost in strength, they had lost inwardly as well.
The girl called the Saintess of Scales possessed an inner character no less beautiful than her appearance...
Truly worthy of being called a saintess.
Truly worthy of being called a saintess.
Heh! I knew you'd think that.
At first, I only defended without attacking, letting you display your strength while brewing tea to stir your emotions, making you think I was looking down on you.
But that was only the buildup!
Next, I reveal overwhelming power and crush my enemies completely, stripping away their will to fight.
At the final moment, I heal and purify them, then offer the tea I brewed earlier. That makes everything perfect!
These people will absolutely become excellent promoters of Elise's reputation!
Of course, Elise would only go through this effort if they were good people. If there had been true villains among them, she would never have bothered with something so thankless.
Fortunately, the feedback from Scales of Judgment had been reassuring. These people were merely troublemakers, not members of some hidden evil faction in disguise. Otherwise, Elise would have been cleaning up trash instead.
"Not going to try it?"
Elise picked up the teapot on the table and asked with a faint smile.
"No. We understand now. You truly are as powerful as the rumors say, Saintess of Scales."
"We lost. And since we lost, we have no face to remain here. Let's go."
And so, this test of Elise ended in failure.
No one had suffered any real loss. Truly a happy outcome.
But...
Elise looked at her palm, still faintly glowing with white light, and revealed a trace of lingering dissatisfaction.
"If only I could keep saving lives and healing the wounded like this."
"Future members, hurry and come to Orario already!"
"I've arranged more than enough special training for Alise. If you don't arrive soon, she's going to leave you far behind!"
...
The Far East.
After an unknown amount of time, the black-haired girl regained her senses.
She lowered her head, expressionless, staring at the boy lying in a pool of blood—and at her own hands stained crimson.
In her mind, the goddess' words before she lost consciousness echoed again and again.
"This is my sin. From now on, you need not obey the family or me any longer. Consider this a farewell gift."
"Ah, it's fine. The one you cherish below wasn't used."
"Forget your fantasy..."
The goddess had dissolved Kaguya's Familia contract.
"Heh heh..."
The girl in the black kimono laughed as though something inside her had broken.
Why had she been made to suffer such a thing?
"How laughable..."
"Justice..."