"They didn't kill him immediately. Instead, they cruelly tortured him with cursed weapons..."
"By the time we followed the trail and arrived, our companion had been tortured so badly we couldn't tell whether he was alive or dead!"
"For more than a decade, day after day, we've endured far too many betrayals and tragedies like this."
"Gros was simply blinded by hatred. He wasn't harboring hostility toward you specifically, my lord!"
"Please, have mercy and spare him this once!"
"Gros is actually a very gentle companion. He's just too afraid of losing everyone again."
It wasn't just the two leaders. All the Xenos turned back toward the God.
Even the little horned rabbit Haimo had been stroking on his lap earlier was now clinging tightly to his right trouser leg with its two short paws, its long red ears drooping.
Tears pattered down as it gave faint, pitiful chirps, seemingly pleading for mercy too.
Haimo sat there. Finally, he waved a hand.
"Haa-huff!"
With that tiny movement, the two arms locked around the neck of Gros, who was kneeling ahead and on the verge of passing out, finally dropped limply to his sides as though drained of all strength. Gros gulped down air smelling of earth into his splitting lungs.
He looked as though he had been hauled out of the water. His enormous stone dragon body lay on the ground, coughing and gasping violently. Alive.
He was alive again.
With those violent gasps, a current of life finally returned to the atmosphere in the square.
"My lord... just now..."
Fels, beside him, had likewise recovered and stared at Haimo in disbelief. "Want to know?" "Lady Fels."
Haimo looked at Fels with a smile and slowly spoke.
"Once Gods descend to the Lower World, they may not use their Arcanum.