Edward spotted two familiar faces at once: the future Archbishop Horamick and his captain. Both looked grave.
Because of [Spatial Concealment] and [False Reality], Little Villa No. 11, the original crime scene, had instead escaped notice. To outsiders, it remained perfectly intact, as though nothing had happened.
After hesitating before the collapsed ruins for a while, Edward waved gently. "Reparo."
For a moment, the scattered wreckage rapidly restored itself as though time were flowing backward. In just half a minute, it went from shattered debris to its original, intact state.
He stepped inside and flipped a coin. After confirming there was no problem, Edward ended the summoning and returned to Sefirah Castle, then returned to reality.
He walked to the second-floor bay window and watched the busy Machinery Hivemind members on the street, growing increasingly puzzled. A Half-God-level Beyonder had already gone on a killing spree. Why hadn't the Archbishop of the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery shown up at all?
Surely... the Church hadn't reached some agreement with "Intis" to stay out of this?
On what grounds?
What could Intis possibly offer to persuade the Church?
"Huh?"
An aged voice abruptly sounded behind him. It was Coward, who had left and returned. Surprise filled his aged face. "I didn't expect you to know the Snake of Mercury, let alone have recorded His [Reboot]."
Edward's heart jolted. How had this fellow appeared without a sound? Even the Demoness's invisibility he had [stolen] shouldn't have evaded my spiritual warning.
"I knew that since you'd moved the residents away beforehand, you certainly wouldn't be able to stand by and watch the Demoness hurt ordinary people. Heh, such interesting humanity."
Coward smiled faintly, pinched a crystal-carved monocle, and placed it over his right eye.
"Hmm, you can't use that special