I reached the temple entrance with Fate-san still on my back, where two women stood waiting for us.
The first was tall and slender, her bright pink hair tied back neatly. She looked every bit the image of a competent professional.
The other was somewhat petite, standing around 150 centimeters tall. Long white sideburns framed her face, and she wore... a dark green sailor uniform under a black robe. Why a sailor uniform?
"Sorry to keep you waiting~" Fate-san called out from my back in her usual relaxed drawl.
"Not at all. We are honored by your presence, God of Fate-sama," the pink-haired woman replied with a smile and a bow. Meanwhile, the woman in the sailor uniform simply stared off into space, remaining silent.
Fate-san hopped down from my back, and the pink-haired woman stepped forward to give me a deep bow.
"A pleasure to meet you, Miyama-sama. I caught a glimpse of you back at the Ducal House of Albert, but this is our first formal introduction. I am Heart, the Goddess of Romance. I serve under the God of Fate-sama and oversee this region as a low-ranking god."
"Ah, yes. I’m Kaito Miyama. It’s nice to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine."
Heart-san, the low-ranking deity of romance, seemed to be the local administrator. She certainly gave off a "career woman" vibe—speaking clearly and moving with purpose.
"Now then, Senpai, you as well..." Heart-san prompted.
She was addressing the sailor-uniformed woman as her senior, but the "senpai" in question didn't say a word. In fact, she wouldn't even meet my eyes. She just stared at the ground at a forty-five-degree angle, glaring as if the dirt itself had personally insulted her.
Realizing we weren't getting anywhere, I approached her and gave a polite bow. "U-Um, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Kaito Miyama."
"Tch."
"..."
This person was incredible. Truly, it was a first for me. I’d never had someone show such blatant disgust during a first encounter. Her face screamed, Why is this guy even talking to me?
"Er... hello?"
"...The Calamity God..."
"Excuse me?"
"I am the Calamity God... and since I 'hate you,' I have no intention of speaking further."
"Wait, Senpai!" Heart-san hissed.
Being told "I hate you" at a first meeting was quite a shock. Overwhelmed by the sheer hostility radiating from her, I instinctively took a step back. Fate-san stepped in and stood beside me.
"Hey now, Calamity God!"
"..."
"Sorry about this, Kai-chan. This girl is actually quite talented... but she’s terribly shy. She takes a long time to open up to new people."
"I... I see."
Open up? She's aiming pure venom at me! What did I even do?
"Um... Calamity God-sama? Did I do something to offend you?"
"..."
Silence. This was beyond unreasonable. Being shy was one thing, but being told I was hated followed by a refusal to make eye contact suggested a deeper issue.
I kept my eyes on her, and eventually, the Calamity God clicked her tongue again and glared.
"It's because of you... It's all because of you...!"
"Huh?"
"How many times do you think the God of Fate has dumped her work on me just so she could say, 'I'm going to play at Kai-chan's place~'?! It's all your fault!!"
"..."
So Fate-san was the cause?! Looking closer, the Calamity God was actually on the verge of tears. Just how much work had been shoved onto her?
I understood the hostility now. And while it was entirely Fate-san’s fault, I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of guilt. Given the level of her fury, I worried that our relationship was already beyond repair. That was a depressing thought.
Slumping my shoulders, I spoke up. "Look, it might not be my place to apologize for her... but I am truly sorry. Your anger is completely justified."
"Wait—! No, that's not—!?"
"Huh?"
I figured apologizing was better than making excuses, but the Calamity God’s voice changed instantly. When I looked up, she was flustered and panicking.
"I-I wasn't exactly blaming you personally..."
"Uh, Senpai? You were definitely blaming Miyama-sama," Heart-san interjected. "That was the textbook definition of taking your frustration out on someone."
"I—! Gah... Look, the God of Fate is the one who's truly terrible! You don't have anything to apologize for!!"
"Oh. Okay."
I watched her, slightly dazed by the sudden shift in tone. She turned to Heart-san with a pale face.
"W-W-What should I do?! H-He looks depressed... I went too far, didn't I? I should apologize..."
"Then just hurry up and do it."
"Fine! Listen, Otherworlder!"
"Yes!?"
"I'll forgive you just this once!!"
"I see... thank you?"
"Senpai, that wasn't an apology," Heart-san sighed.
Wait. Maybe the Calamity God was actually a decent person? Her phrasing was awkward and she still wouldn't look at me, but she was essentially trying to say "sorry for being mean," wasn't she?
"...Shi... Sia."
"Pardon?"
"My name is Sia! I-I'll specially allow you to call me by my name! It's a special exception, okay?!"
"Right. I look forward to working with you, Sia-san."
"Hmph! Likewise..."
Sia-san looked away, appearing quite embarrassed. She was certainly an intense personality. Between her shyness and the way she talked in a rapid-fire, overwhelming blur, it was a lot to take in.
But she seemed kind enough at her core, and she did return the greeting. She was a type of person I'd never encountered before.
"Are you two done chatting?" Fate-san asked.
"Fate-san... whose fault do you think this mess is?"
"The Calamity God's, obviously! It's all her fault!"
"Uwaaaaaah!! I hate you, God of Fate-sama!!"
"Yes, it's completely Senpai's fault," Heart-san added dryly. "Are you a toddler throwing a tantrum? Pathetic."
"I hate you toooooo!!"
She started bawling. This woman was truly pitiful.
I looked at the group, suddenly very worried about this meeting. We had a lazy Fate-san, and Sia-san was currently sobbing while tracing circles in the dirt... Heart-san was the only one who seemed sane.
Sensing my concern, Heart-san gave me a weary smile. "It'll be all right. She might not look like much right now, but Senpai is the No. 5 of the God Realm, ranking just below the Creator God and the Supreme Gods. When it's time to work, she'll pull herself together."
"Really...?"
I was shocked to learn Sia-san was so high in the divine hierarchy. Was the God Realm really going to be okay? Then again, the one at the very top was... well, her.
(I blush when you praise me so suddenly.)
I wasn't praising you, you Clueless Goddess!
I fired off a mental retort to the voice in my head and looked back at the chaos in front of me.
"Ugh, I'm so tired. I don't want to walk another step," Fate complained.
"I... I want to go home..." Sia sobbed.
"Then just go home already. Here, Senpai, go home," Heart-san deadpanned.
"Shut up! You're an idiot!!"
The future was looking very, very bleak.
Dear Mother, Father—The Goddess of Romance, Heart-san, and the Calamity God, Sia-san, whom I met shortly after arriving in the Hydra Kingdom, were quite the handful. That aside, I’m starting to think Chronoa-san is the only sane high-ranking deity I know. Is the God Realm going to be okay?