At Riku's words, Jibril raised her head, her wings trembling slightly as she looked squarely at the race called humans for the first time.
"What excellent judgment. Despite having no possibility of connecting to the Elf Corridor, you reached such an accurate answer with your eyes alone. It seems the reason you have stubbornly survived isn't simply the God of Victory's protection."
Even if she was currently nothing more than a weak little girl, that was only in relative terms.
She could still fly and absorb elves. Judging whether the human Riku had merely gambled on an answer or was certain of it was quite simple.
Noticing something unusual about Roland was easy, but reaching that answer when his presence was restrained and carried no divine might was another matter entirely. At least, Jibril did not think those pointy-eared inferior beings could manage it.
"We've merely learned a little from the past, and we know our own limitations."
Riku took a deep breath, raised his head, and met Roland's clear, ruby-like red eyes.
In those mirrorlike eyes, his numb face remained fully visible.
Just as it had ten years ago.
Back then, in the small settlement where he had been born, he had just lost both parents to a disaster and was walking along numbly when he encountered a boy with the same look in his eyes as Roland.
The boy looked at his young self and, in a nostalgic tone, spoke the words that changed his life.
"Humans... you still exist."
"I am the ever-victorious god of war, protector of the people and royal authority."
"Boy, if you are unwilling to leave the stage here, if you wish to win this battle for survival, then establish Malkuth in my name."
Those words made no sense.
The settlement was already