(Two chapters in one. Please vote with your monthly tickets.)
Raphael actually had two options: gamble that the God of Combat would care about information concerning the Evernight Goddess, or ask the Oldest One to help.
In fact, when those two demigods had come looking for them and Xio had worn that expression of someone prepared to die, Raphael had already abandoned the idea of hiding in the Dark Hut alone.
Xio had never needed to get involved in this, yet she had come with him anyway. Raphael was not blind. He could not ignore that.
A Devil was not without a conscience. Most of the time, malice simply buried it, but some things could still awaken his conscience.
So when Raphael saw the God of Combat's projection, those two options had occurred to him.
Unless he truly had no other choice, however, he would not ask the Oldest One for help. He might have to repay that favor five or ten times over someday. Besides, letting the God of Combat see the Oldest One might trigger some kind of chain reaction.
Fortunately, the first option worked. Amid the intense twilight-colored light, Raphael saw a figure clad in battered armor descend before him, radiating immense pressure.
Of course, this was not the God of Combat's true body either, but a projection infused with a trace of his divine consciousness. It could be considered an avatar of the God of Combat.
Even an avatar put Raphael under tremendous pressure. He lowered his head, not daring to look up.
In a solemn voice, he asked Raphael, "What do you wish to tell me?"
Elsewhere, Erlin and the Many-Eyed Monster finally had a chance to catch their breath. They immediately hid deep within the Spirit World. The next time they emerged, they would