Rise of the Rejected Deity from Chaos

Since Kaeliyus was worn out, he wasn't giving off any energy that could alert the HS to be wary of him. So, they naturally turned to the person who looked more haggard, seeming more involved in the chaos that had taken place.

"What faction are you from? And where are the other members of your group?" she asked, stretching to peer past Seiya.

Though she had grasped the essence of the situation—that Seiya was responsible for the village's current state—she drew her own conclusions. It seemed unthinkable that one person alone could have resolved the village's issues. Naturally, she assumed he was part of a Humanity Savior faction, dispatched to handle the matter as a team.

Within the Saviors of Humanity Association, numerous sub-factions operate independently, taking on cases without the direct involvement of headquarters.

"I understand you may only need to report back to your faction, but surely you see my concern. This is a high-ranking issue, restricted to only the upper echelons of the Humanity Saviors. The fact that you've intervened without the headquarters' awareness is… suspicious."

She fixed him with a pointed gaze, her words laced with skepticism.

"Every major faction was briefed and involved in the decision to act on this case. The operation wasn't set to commence until a month from now. And yet, here you are."

"This is a classified matter. No faction has the authority to act independently without notifying the SOH leadership. That's why I need clarity from you."

Her questions came swiftly, one after another unto Seiya.

"How did your group bypass the barrier? How were you able to handle the demons? Did your group manage to eliminate all of them? And, most importantly, was the mission completed successfully?"

The villagers, Kaeliyus and Seiya, simply stood in silence, none offering any response. The girl waited for a moment, awaiting answers from Seiya but when nothing came, she pressed on.

"I need you to tell me the name of the faction you belong to, and what happened to your comrades. It's been a while since you arrived here, yet none of your comrades have emerged. Are you both the sole survivor?"

Seiya, weary from the relentless battles, longed for nothing more than the comfort of home and a well-earned rest. Without a word, he took a step forward, intending to leave, but the girl swiftly blocked his path.

"I'm sorry, but you cannot leave without providing an explanation. If you resist, I will have no choice but to restrain you. Please comply."

With a swift motion, she activated her ability. A radiant chain shimmered into existence, swirling around her in a graceful yet commanding display of power.

The villagers watched in stunned silence, their faces a mixture of awe and fear for the young girl. Kaeliyus, however, could not mask his outrage. His mouth hung open, disbelief giving way to simmering fury at what he saw as a blatant act of disrespect toward his young Lord.

However, he maintained his composure, holding back the rage building within him as Seiya hadn't said anything.

Seiya's gaze remained steady, fixed on the girl. He lingered in silence for a moment before speaking, his voice calm.

"I am not an Awakener," he said. "And I haven't been sent here by a faction as I am not a part of any."

He tilted his head slightly, gesturing toward Kaeliyus. "Nor have I come here with any, other than myself and him."

Shock rippled through the two Humanity Saviors, mirrored by the astonished expressions of the villagers. They had all assumed Seiya was an Awakener dispatched by the association.

The girl's composure cracked, her disbelief evident. If Seiya's words were indeed true, then had he truly faced the demons alone? Had he single-handedly broken the barrier that none of them could breach? The thought was staggering. No reinforcements, no backup—just him and Kaeliyus?

Rather than easing her suspicions, Seiya's revelation only deepened them. The villagers' rescue mission had been classified as an S-grade operation. Headquarters had deemed it so perilous that multiple Humanity Savior factions had been assembled to prepare for it.

Plus, no one among them were able to break the barrier, not even the Awakeners summoned from abroad. Yet, she got a boy who appeared no older than 16, standing before her to claim such a feat. To make matters more bewildering, the barrier had not simply been shattered but the villagers' life forces appeared to have been separated before anything.

Could a boy so thin and youthful, who isn't an Awakener, have accomplished such a feat?

As an HS working directly under the headquarters, the girl could not simply let the matter slide. Protocol demanded she report this to the association immediately. But beyond that, her instincts compelled her to ensure that both Seiya and Kaeliyus came with her.

There was no doubt—the revelation of their actions would shake the nation. Letting Seiya walk away now was not an option.

With a graceful flick of her chains, she shifted into a poised stance, her eyes narrowing with determination.

"If your words are true," she said, her voice firm and resolute, "then that only strengthens the need for questioning. You will come with me to the Association."

Sensing the rising tension, the villagers cautiously backed away, their fear outweighing their curiosity. None dared to interfere.

"I am sorry," Seiya said, his voice soft, attempting to be as polite as he could. "But no."

"Then I am left with no choice but to make you comply," she declared.

Before Seiya could make a move, the girl's chains shot forward with the speed of a striking serpent, swiftly coiling around him and binding him in an unrelenting grip. She exchanged a brief, silent glance with her companion, who gave a curt nod before unsheathing the sword at the side of his waist.

Kaeliyus' face contorted with savage fury at the sight of his young Lord bound as if a criminal. Though Seiya remained calm, Kaeliyus was like a volcano on the verge of eruption, his rage simmering dangerously beneath the surface.

"A truly wise person knows when to mind their own affairs—for such wisdom is the path to immortality."

In a blur of motion, Kaleiyus appeared before the girl, and with a swift swipe of his tensed hand, her head flew off.