The God Realm, which I was visiting for the first time, greeted me with a series of truly fresh and wondrous sights.
The Lower Level's layout was somewhat reminiscent of a city in the Human Realm, but it featured a fantastical sprawl of giant flowers standing several meters high and lakes floating weightlessly in the sky.
The Middle Level felt like an upscale residential district where nobles might reside. It was lined with beautiful white buildings, interspersed with trees that looked like the Light Trees I had seen before, bathing the entire city in a soft, ethereal glow.
Finally, we reached the level above those two—the highest point in the realm besides the Sanctuary where Shiro-san lived: the Upper Level. It was an open expanse of land where grass spread out like a lush green carpet. Even though it was daytime, multiple streaks of light resembling meteors arced across the sky, lending the place an air of solemn majesty.
In the distance, perched at the edge of the donut-shaped land closest to the Sanctuary soaring even higher above, three massive temples stood as if standing guard around the divine center. Each one was as large as a castle; it was impossible to grasp their full scale without looking at them from this distance.
At Chronoa-san's suggestion, we decided to visit Fate-san and Life-san's temples before heading to see Shiro-san. We made our way toward Fate-san's temple first, as it was the closest.
It seemed that the rumors were true: only the Supreme Gods and their direct subordinates were permitted to set foot here. Unlike the Lower and Middle Levels, I saw almost no other Gods at all, and the vast silence made the space feel strangely hollow.
Upon entering Fate-san's temple, we found ourselves in a corridor so wide that even Megiddo-san could have walked through it with room to spare, let alone myself. The atmosphere was truly befitting a place where a deity at the pinnacle of existence would reside.
Of course, it would have been utterly impossible for Magnawell-san to fit... but his size was just an anomaly. To begin with, any "house" he could actually enter wouldn't be a house anymore; it would be some kind of "colossal structural anomaly."
We proceeded down the long, quiet corridor until we stood before a pair of massive doors. They were so gargantuan that I didn't feel like I could even budge them, but Chronoa-san didn't seem bothered as she reached out and knocked.
"God of Fate, are you there?"
"...Nnh? God of Space-Time? What is it now...?"
When Chronoa-san called out, a lethargic voice responded from the other side. The giant doors slowly groaned open, revealing Fate-san.
Her purple hair was a disheveled mess, sticking out in every direction, and her ritual robes were hopelessly wrinkled. Looking past her into the room—which was as vast as a sports field—I saw a sea of cushions packed so tightly together that it resembled a ball pit for children. It was a setup designed for the express purpose of lounging anywhere at any time.
How should I put it? It was a "total failure" formation with zero openings in any direction. She was a bit too dedicated to her laziness.
I had known she was a slacker ever since we met in the Human Realm, but apparently, terrifyingly enough, she had actually been tidying herself up for public view back then.
As I stood there, dazed by a sight that was so quintessentially Fate-san, she rubbed her half-open eyes and spoke sleepily.
"I'm busy relaxing right n—ow...?"
"Umm..."
However, the moment those half-lidded eyes caught sight of me, they snapped wide open. Fate-san froze, her face contorting into an expression of pure shock. After staring at my face in a daze for a few heartbeats, she began to sweat profusely.
"U-Umm... could it be... even if I don't ask... Kai-chan?"
"Ah, yes. Er, it's been a while."
"Sor—wait just a second!"
"Eh?"
No sooner had she spoken than she slammed the door shut.
Wait? For how long?
Just as the thought crossed my mind, the door swung open again only a few seconds later. The Fate-san who stepped out was a woman transformed.
"Hi there! Welcome to my temple, Kai-chan!"
"Wha—!? E-Eeeehhh!?"
The change was staggering. Her beautiful hair was now silky and shimmering with a glossy sheen, and her pure white ritual robes were crisp and without a single wrinkle. The excessively large room, which had looked like a disaster zone moments ago, was now spotless. The floors and walls were polished to a mirror-like shine.
"Come on, come in, come in. I'll get some tea ready."
"Umm, somehow, haven't you... changed drastically from a moment ago?"
"Ahaha, what are you saying, Kai-chan? I'm a bit of a 'cleanliness fanatic,' you see. I just happened to have only just woken up a moment ago... I'm afraid you caught me at an embarrassing moment."
Just because you'd just woken up? No, that's not the point! The room! Look at the room! It wasn't just a matter of being a little messy earlier; it was a literal ocean of cushions! What on earth happened in those five seconds?!
"...You. If you are capable of moving that fast, you should do so every day," Chronoa-san muttered.
"Geez, the God of Space-Time is such a jokester! I'm always the serious and energetic Fate-chan!"
"...I shall ask one thing. Why are you putting in so much effort?"
Yeah, even I could tell Fate-san isn't usually like this. In fact, she looked and acted so much like a different person that I almost suspected she was an impostor. She was clearly giving this her absolute all. I wonder why? I had a vaguely... unpleasant feeling about this.
That anxiety turned out to be spot on. In response to Chronoa-san's question, Fate-san shouted her declaration at the top of her lungs.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm going to seduce Kai-chan, of course!"
"Hey... Fate-san..."
"I mean, I've visited him several times, but his reaction never improved! I was starting to think maybe Kai-chan was into men..."
"Hey, watch it, you no-good goddess."
Of all the things to say! Who's into men?!
But in true Fate-san fashion, she magnificently ignored the cry of my soul and kept right on talking.
"But then I heard from Shaltan that you've become lovers with the Underworld King and the Death King... and an Elf too! That means there's a chance! I can do this!"
"Do what exactly...?"
"If the Underworld King is within your romantic strike zone, then my height is perfectly fine too! In that case, the only thing left to do is attack! I'm aiming for that dream lifestyle of a kept woman! I shall become the NEET God!"
"..."
"..."
Ah, yep, this is definitely Fate-san. The moment she mentioned being a "NEET God," her beyond-saving uselessness came through loud and clear. Chronoa-san looked completely defeated, pressing her fingers to her temple while her cheek twitched.
"And so, Kai-chan! Let's 'kiss' for starters!"
"No. Even if you say it like you're ordering a beer at a pub... the answer is no."
"Ehh? Why not? It's just touching lips! Tell you what, if you do it now, I'll even let you touch my chest as a special bonus!"
"..."
As I watched Fate-san inching closer, I felt a sharp sense of déjà vu and backed away. Unfortunately, Chronoa-san had yet to recover from her state of shock. With bloodshot eyes and a faint trickle of drool at the corner of her mouth, Fate-san kept stalking toward me.
"It's okay, it's okay... it's just a light greeting... mwah..."
"Wait a moment, Fate-san!"
Just as I was about to panic—Fate-san was closing in like a hungry predator despite her petite frame—Alice suddenly appeared, looking genuinely frantic.
"Eh? Oh, Shaltan? Did something happen?"
"Move! Get away from him right now! You're going to die!"
"Eh? What on earth are you talking abou—Hah!?"
Almost the exact moment Fate-san tilted her head in confusion at Alice's warning, the entire room was enveloped in a thick Black Mist.
Whether Fate-san immediately recognized what it was or not, her face turned ashen and she began to sweat like a waterfall. A pair of golden eyes floating in the darkness glared fixatedly at her back.
"T-This is incredible... I've... never before... felt death so vividly... H-Hahaha... I-I-It was just... just some friendly skinship... okay?"
"Fate-san! Apologize! Quickly!"
"I-I'm sorr—"
Before Fate-san could even finish her apology, she was swallowed whole by the black mist. A second later, a scream that seemed to tear through the air echoed through the temple.
"Gyaaahhhh!? Stop, stop it! It's going to tear off! It's seriously going to tear off!"
"...I was too late, wasn't I?" Alice muttered.
"Higyaahhhh!? I'm being crushed! I'm being crushed!"
"...Farewell, Soul Friend. I shall never forget your brave sacrifice."
"Wait, I'm not dead ye—Migyaahhhh!? Not that! Anything but that! Wait, huh? My wounds are healing... Ginyaaaahhh!? O-One more set?! Stop! Please stop!"
Fate-san's screams continued to echo from within the black mist for quite some time.
Dear Mother, Father——
After reaching the Upper Level of the God Realm, our first stop was Fate-san's temple. Well, how should I put it? I knew what to expect, but Fate-san is just as much as ever.
Kuro (serious mode) has arrived... Fate... you reckless fool.