On the nineteenth day of the Month of Earth, I found myself staring blankly at the passing scenery.
A lot had happened yesterday. Alice had been pulled away from her guard duty for some Six Kings' meeting, so Ein-san had filled in for her for the day.
And then there was the visit from Lunamaria-san’s mother... I was truly floored to discover it was Noah-san, the woman I had met previously.
Noah-san had spent about an hour at Lilia-san’s mansion, chatting over tea before heading home with a promise to return. Most of her stories revolved around Lunamaria-san—sharing childhood anecdotes and family memories without the slightest reservation. It had been quite fun, actually... though Lunamaria-san looked like her soul had left her body, and she had spent the entire time screaming at her mother never to come back.
It had been a hectic day, or so I thought as I went to sleep... but honestly, I hadn't expected an even more unforeseen event to occur the very next morning.
Inside a spacious, luxurious carriage, I shifted my gaze away from the window and spoke to the person sitting across from me.
"...Um... Why was I abducted before I even had the chance to eat a proper breakfast, Chronoa-san?"
"...I can only apologize for that. The arrangements took a tremendous amount of effort, and I simply didn't have the leeway to provide prior notice."
"...Sigh."
Yes, right now—at a time that could be described as "immediately before breakfast"—I was being whisked away in a carriage by Chronoa-san, who had appeared out of nowhere.
It was an incredibly abrupt development, but as soon as she arrived, Chronoa-san had bowed her head with a look of pure agony. "I’m sorry! There is no time. Please, just come with me and ask no questions," she had pleaded, and I didn't have the heart to refuse.
"W-Well, that’s fine, I suppose... but where exactly are we going?"
"To the God Realm."
"...Huh?"
"By the will of Shallow Vernal-sama, you are being invited to the God Realm."
"...What?"
Shiro-san was inviting me to the God Realm? Now that she mentioned it, I felt like she’d said something to that effect a while ago... I see. So that was why Chronoa-san had come to fetch me.
"I-I see. I understand our destination now... but by the way, Chronoa-san... you look a bit haggard, don't you?"
"...Shallow Vernal-sama insisted that you be invited as soon as humanly possible... so I had to rush about, handling a mountain of procedures..."
"M-My deepest condolences."
As I spoke to Chronoa-san, who looked utterly drained, it became clear she was still suffering under Shiro-san’s unreasonable demands. This woman really was far too pitiable.
After all, her superior was Shiro-san. She was a natural airhead of such magnitude that if you threw a jab at her, she’d counter with a missile launcher uppercut.
Still, "various procedures," she said... When I went to the Demon Realm, I needed a permit that took a week to issue, so I suppose the God Realm isn't the kind of place you can just visit on a whim, either.
"Thank you for all your hard work... I mean, does it really require that much paperwork to enter the God Realm?"
"The 'Lower Level' isn't particularly difficult. You simply apply at a Temple, and once a permit is issued, you can visit. However, the place Miyama is heading this time is the 'Upper Level'..."
"Lower Level? Upper Level?"
"Hmm... Are you familiar with the geography of the God Realm?"
"Yes... It’s a circular landmass with a hole in the center, right? I saw it on a map."
I remembered that the God Realm was a donut-shaped continent, considerably smaller than the Demon Realm or the Human Realm. Chronoa-san nodded once before offering a brief explanation.
"That is correct. However, while it’s difficult to see on a map, the land of the God Realm is divided into three tiers as you move toward the center."
"Three... tiers?"
"Yes. Wait a moment, I’ll prepare a map."
Chronoa-san produced a map similar to the one Lilia-san had shown me before and handed it over. Taking it and re-examining the document I hadn't looked at very closely until now, I saw that the circular land indeed appeared to be three overlapping rings of different sizes, with slight gaps between them.
"First, the outermost ring is the Lower Level. Low-ranking Gods, their subordinates, and priests who serve the Temples live there. Humankind and Demons can visit that area freely, provided they have a permit."
"Right, right."
"Then there is the next ring inward... The height difference is hard to discern on a flat map, but there is a second tier, the 'Middle Level,' which sits at a much higher elevation than the Lower Level. This is primarily the residence of high-ranking Gods. One cannot enter without, at the very least, the status and credibility of a King of the Human Realm."
Apparently, the map of the God Realm was like looking down on a mountain from above; the land got higher the closer you got to the central hole. And normally, you couldn't enter the Middle Level unless you were King-class... So what about the remaining Upper Level?
"...And finally, the tier closest to the center is the 'Upper Level.' This is a place where even Gods are forbidden to tread unless they are a Supreme God or one of their direct subordinates. For a member of Humankind to visit here is a first since the First Hero... It is an absolute exception among exceptions."
"...Is that because Shiro-san lives there, after all?"
"Strictly speaking, it is slightly different. Shallow Vernal-sama resides at the very center of the God Realm, though it isn't marked on the map—an island floating in the heavens known as the 'Sanctuary.' Even I cannot enter there without Shallow Vernal-sama’s express permission."
"..."
Wait. Something felt off. I understood that it was an incredible place—a location even Chronoa-san, a Supreme God, couldn't enter without permission. It was literally the most difficult place in the world to visit.
But a floating island in the sky? Wasn't that... exactly where I had first received Shiro-san's Blessing?
(That is correct.)
Ah, I thought so... Then, instead of making Chronoa-san go through all these elaborate, exhausting preparations, couldn't you have just teleported me there directly, just like when you gave me the Blessing?
(...Now that you mention it, that is true.)
Hey, you! You Natural Goddess! Did you seriously just not think of that!? Chronoa-san looks like she's about to drop dead from exhaustion!
(Then, I shall teleport you now—)
Don't you dare! Don't you dare render all of Chronoa-san’s hard work meaningless now! I’ll go with her as planned, so just wait for me there.
(On one condition.)
...Why am I, the one complying with your request, the one being given a condition? Why? Are you really that much of a free spirit?
I felt a bit indignant, but I knew arguing with Shiro-san was a lost cause. For now, I just asked her to state the condition.
(Since Kuro is being unfair, I want you to join me in a hot spring as well.)
...What is this person saying? A hot spring? Did she say a hot spring? Does something like that even exist in the God Realm?
(I created it.)
Shiro-san, what on earth are you doing!? You’re way too impulsive! Or rather... does that mean she seriously intends for us to bathe together? No, no... that’s surely...
(Kuro is being unfair.)
No, but that’s, well...
(Kuro is being unfair.)
...Could we compromise with, say... swimsuits?
(No.)
...Is this a situation where I don't have the option to say no?
(Yes.)
She said it without a hint of hesitation. She just declared she’d keep repeating herself like a broken record until I gave in!
Ugh... this was a real dilemma. Shiro-san possessed a magnificent figure and an appearance that was nothing short of peerless beauty... I honestly had zero confidence in my ability to keep my composure.
Even worse, Shiro-san could read my mind. I was terrified she’d see me desperately trying to resist and then move to deliberately shatter my self-control.
But unfortunately, I didn't have a veto. Since she’d just loop infinitely until I agreed, I had no choice but to surrender. This was too unreasonable.
(Kaito-san... is entering a hot spring with me... unpleasant?)
That way of asking is cheating. Her voice was monotone as ever, but the emotional damage was still massive.
Fine... I’ll do it. I’ll go in! Are you satisfied now?!
(Thank you. Then, I shall look forward to it.)
Sigh. Somehow... is it because her voice is so devoid of emotion? It was hard to grasp her true intentions, and since Sympathy Magic didn't work on her, I really didn't know what she was thinking.
"Is your conversation with Shallow Vernal-sama finished?"
"E-Eh? Oh, yes... well..."
Chronoa-san, who had stayed silent out of consideration for my mental link with Shiro-san, spoke up. I slowly explained the conversation I’d just had with the Creator God.
I glossed over the catalyst so that Chronoa-san’s efforts wouldn't be in vain, but for some reason, her eyes lost even more of their light, turning into the dull, glazed eyes of a dead fish.
"...I see..."
"U-Um, Chronoa-san? What’s wrong?"
I had expected her to react with something like, "I won't allow such scandalous behavior!" but... what was with this face that looked like she’d given up on existence itself?
"...Miyama... I beg of you... once we reach Shallow Vernal-sama’s island, treat me as if I do not exist... Please, do not leave even a trace of me in your memory..."
"...Huh? Er... okay."
Dear Mother, Father—I suppose you could call it a sudden development, but I’ve ended up being spirited away to the God Realm by a suddenly appearing Chronoa-san. Chronoa-san currently has the eyes of a dead fish, and for that... well, I’m pretty sure it’s Shiro-san’s fault.