Yuri immediately headed towards Tibaut now that the pale woman calmed.
He used some healing magic on him, hoping it would leave him better off.
“(Is he going to pass out?) Damn, if only Milky were! Try to find somewhere safe to hide near the stairway, I'll go get some food and water for him.” Yuri stated before he ran back to the stairway, quickly leaving their sight.
With Yuri gone, Elizabeth looked to Tibaut with suspicion, and he couldn't help but look away from her.
“I assume her words had something to do with that god taking residency within your body?”
“Y-yeah, something like that.” He answered.
“Let's hope for both of our sakes that he doesn't come back,” Elizabeth said. “And when you have the time please tell me more about them, we need some countermeasures in the event they return.”
“So Gabriel's Saint thinks she can deal with a higher power?”
She immediately took a step back but the body of Tibaut easily matched her, their noses now touching.
“Peekaboo!” Tibaut’s body said.
He placed a hand on her head and started patting it and in the same instant blocked a punch aimed at his face.
“Gabriel always did care for appearances, so it's no surprise you're her current doll.”
“Why are you back!?” Elizabeth shouted. She tried to trip his legs but Satan merely stomped on her leg, causing her to flinch. She backed away a moment too late and he grabbed her nose, with the force of her retreat causing her nose to be yanked forward.
She batted his hand away and clutched her nose.
“Relax young Saint, I'm here to tell you good news.”
She glared at him but listened carefully. “Your adjective is the cult, oh, my bad, The Marrow of Lucifer, correct?” He asked.
She nodded while keeping her surroundings. That's right the pale woman, where was she?
She moved in a position to keep both in sight and to her surprise the pale woman was… on her hands and knees, sobbing? What kind of being could make these women yield without raising a hand?
“How pathetic. She truly is an imitation of my sister's later years. But as I was saying, as long as you have that group as a goal, I have no interest in getting your way.”
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
“D–d-do,” Her forehead was covered in sweat and she couldn't help her stutter as she tried to communicate with him. “Do honestly think I believe that-”
“Calm yourself, princess, I have no interest in getting your God's ire. I am just letting you know the sooner you deal with this group, the sooner this boy will be free of my influence.”
“R-really?”
“Now put him to good work… That bastard!” He muttered as he felt his head. He looked at Elizabeth and tried to hide whatever happened.
(“Ugh, what did he do to me when I blacked out?”)
(“...Based on that woman's reaction, at the very least I can tell his intentions for the cult are nothing positive. It would make sense to inform the Saint of this. I don't believe in Tibaut’s body, that God would stand a chance… but I need him if I hope to become the heir apparent. If I count Tina, that's only two solid hands. There may come a time in the future when I'm flooded with talent but for now, I need him.”)
“I do hope you're not referring to the Saint like that.” She answered.
“Wha, I wouldn't, I just thought about something unpleasant.”
As Tibaut thought he escaped suspicion, Elizabeth had already decided to look the other way.
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“Saint Nichto, you don't mind if I leave this woman with some dignity, would you?” Elizabeth asked as she sketched on a page.
They were now on the fourth floor and approached what looked like an armoury.
“Ah, well, I imagine some will complain the sketches aren't fully accurate but you can leave out the body parts you feel are unnecessary.”
Elizabeth nodded and continued to draw the pale woman like a mannequin.
After Satan's exit, the pale woman clung to Tibaut like a frightened child.
“Right here, this was where I found the demon lying.” Tibaut pointed.
The Saint entered and exited the room moments later.
“I can confirm the blood on the floor is hers.” He pulled out his notepad and jotted down a few more notes.
“If you don't mind me asking, how'd you do that?” Tibaut asked.
“Oh, I just used an exorcism technique. Demon blood evaporates if you use one on it. I think there was a time when they were the most effective way to battle demons, but honestly, you can fight them like any other foe nowadays.”
“Exorcism?” Tibaut asked.
“They're a group of uninherited techniques created by the churches,” Elizabeth said. “And unless you're going to be hunting demons, they're useless for us.”
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They quickly moved on to the final floor and found themselves in the room with the giant gate.
“It's a terminal,” Yuri said as he made notes.
“A terminal!? Are you sure, Saint Nichto, that doesn't resemble any terminal I've seen before.” She soon began sketching down.
Tibaut looked to them for some clarification.
“I can guarantee it. Thankfully it isn't in use but I do believe we'll need a very strong presence here after seeing this…”
“(A terminal that leads to the underworld, what sort of magic would be invested in that?”) Elizabeth mused before noticing Tibaut, still looking clueless. “A terminal is a platform that can be used to teleport between nations or long distances, Tibaut.”
“Thanks…”
“But unlike others, the one here leads to the underworld,” Yuri said. Both of them realised a fraction of a second too late that they were supposed to be surprised by that information and held stone faces at his words. “(No reaction?) I, uh, guess that would be obvious.” He softly mumbled before jotting more notes in his notebook.
“Very,” Elizabeth responded.