"----"
In that instant, the entire hall fell silent.
Led by Rivi, Erlord's nobles all stood frozen in place.
Led by Alice, Megumin and Darkness also widened their eyes.
Fang Li was likewise stunned by Aqua's declaration.
As for Logcraft, whom Aqua had declared "not human," his face had completely frozen, never to thaw again.
A deathly silence filled the entire hall.
Only Aqua, wearing a solemn expression, circled Logcraft as she spoke.
"I just feel like there's something off about you. No, I should say there's something seriously off about you. I can't explain why, but you're not actually human, are you? You're some kind of humanoid monster, like a Serene Maiden, right?"
----"Serene Maiden."
A monster that could take the form of a pitiable young girl, keeping passing travelers from leaving and entangling them until they died a peaceful death.
Aqua had actually compared Erlord's chancellor to such a monster.
"Y-You... what nonsense are you talking about!?"
Prince Rivi finally snapped out of it and flew into a rage.
"You dare regard our nation's important chancellor as a monster? Is the Belzerg Kingdom planning to make us pursue this as a diplomatic matter!?"
Rivi's anger startled even Aqua.
"B-But this person..."
Aqua tried to say something else, only for Darkness to cut her off.
"We deeply apologize, Your Highness!" Darkness pressed down on Aqua's head as she spoke. "My friend here is a believer of the Axies Cult!"
The moment those words were spoken...
"T-The Axies Cult!?"
"T-That Axies Cult?"
The retainers beside the prince immediately turned pale and backed away.
"I see. The Axies Cult..."
Rivi was no longer angry either. As though he understood, he looked at Aqua with wary fear.
In the end, all of Erlord's high-ranking officials and nobles had retreated merely upon hearing