Strike while the iron is hot, as the saying goes. Deciding that immediate action was best, I headed straight for the upper levels of the God Realm.
My goal, of course, was to talk to Fate-san about Alice. Unfortunately, life is rarely that simple. When I visited her temple, Fate-san was nowhere to be found.
This put me in a bind. I couldn't even begin to guess where she might go, and if she had shirked her duties and gone into hiding, finding her would be nearly impossible.
I tried to reach her via Hummingbird, but Fate-san had apparently erected a specialized barrier specifically to block Chronoa-san, which prevented any messages from getting through. No matter how many times I sent it out, the Hummingbird just came circling back to me.
And so, I visited the one person most likely to know where she was—Chronoa-san. But at her temple, I heard something truly shocking.
"Ah, the God of Fate? She finished her work and left for the Human Realm."
"I see, is that so... Wait, what? She... finished her work?"
I felt as though I’d just heard the words least suited to Fate-san in the history of the world. Surely I had misheard. Fate-san finishing her work... I didn't want to be rude, but I simply couldn't believe it.
"Your shock is understandable. I was skeptical myself... but indeed, she has completed everything."
"Wh-What on earth happened?"
"I do not know. She seemed to have business in the Human Realm, but she spoke so softly I could not catch the details."
As Chronoa-san admitted her own surprise, she confirmed she didn't know exactly where Fate-san had gone.
This was a problem. Where would she go? What kind of place would motivate her to finish her work just so she could visit? I couldn't even imagine it.
"...Did you have some business with the God of Fate?"
"Eh? Oh, yes... actually..."
Faced with Chronoa-san’s question, I decided to explain why I was looking for Fate-san.
"Hmm. I see."
"Yes. So, Chronoa-san, do you have any idea why Alice has been acting like this?"
After listening to my explanation, Chronoa-san crossed her arms, her expression turning pensive. I pressed her, hoping she might have some insight into Alice’s behavior.
"...Why do you ask me?"
"Well... when you warned me about the Phantasm King before, you mentioned that she was noisy and annoying. I figured if she's annoying enough for you to notice, it must mean you talk to her fairly often."
"A sharp observation. However... I suspect I cannot give you the answer you are hoping for. If you still wish to hear it, I shall explain."
"Please."
Chronoa-san nodded, seemingly impressed by my reasoning, and began to describe her relationship with Alice.
"In truth, there is very little to say. It is simply that the Phantasm King visits my temple quite frequently."
"..."
"She would claim she was there to see the God of Fate or offer some other random excuse... but she never actually had any business. It was just idle chatter. Or rather, she would simply talk at me incessantly."
I wondered what that meant. From Chronoa-san’s tone, they weren't exactly friends, yet Alice went out of her way to see her. As far as I knew, they didn't have much in common. Why would Alice...?
"I grew curious once and asked her: 'Why do you speak to me so often?'"
"And?"
"She merely muttered, 'Your way of speaking... it's similar,' and said nothing more. Thus, I do not know whom I am meant to resemble. I am sorry, Miyama. I fear I cannot be of much help."
"No, thank you. That actually helps a lot. I'll try asking around elsewhere."
It was a curious detail, but as she said, it didn't seem like it would solve the immediate problem. I needed to keep looking. I still had the other Six Kings and Ein-san to ask. If I spoke to them, surely I could find more information—
"Miyama?"
"Yes?"
"Is this not... 'unlike you'?"
"Eh?"
As I was mentally moving on to my next lead, Chronoa-san’s quiet voice stopped me. Her heterochromatic red and blue eyes reflected my image with a weight that left me slightly breathless.
"Collecting information indirectly, surrounding her from the outside... I do not believe that is your way."
"..."
"You have always been simple, honest, and sincere in your confrontations. Is that not your greatest virtue? If you employ methods you are unaccustomed to, you will only stumble."
"Chronoa-san..."
It's unlike you. The words hit me with both gentleness and a sharp edge.
"I understand that you are afraid. Your current relationship is comfortable, and you fear that taking bold action might break it. But that is a meaningless worry."
"..."
"You have already resolved to step into the depths of her heart. If that is the case, you will reach that point eventually regardless of the path you take. The person you must face and the questions you must ask remain the same. Surely you understand this without me saying more?"
"...Yes."
She was exactly right. If I wanted to know about Alice, the answer was obvious: I had to ask Alice.
Whether she would answer me honestly was another story. But even if I spent all day gathering clues from others, I couldn't move forward without facing her directly.
Perhaps it was a boundary I shouldn't cross. I could wait for her to open up on her own... but some things in this world don't change just by waiting. Some things can only be found if you take that step forward yourself.
I believed Alice's secrets were like that.
If so, then Chronoa-san was right—this wasn't like me at all. I didn't intend to force her, but nothing would start until I tried. The place I should have gone from the beginning wasn't the God Realm. It was to Alice.
"...That is a good look in your eyes. I shall offer my own small prayer for your success."
"Thank you! I appreciate it!"
With Chronoa-san’s encouragement bolstering my spirit, I steeled my resolve. I was going to hear the truth from Alice’s own lips.
Dear Mother, Father—I’m not very clever, and I’m clearly not cut out for subtle, "smart" strategies. So, the solution is simple. I’ll do what I’ve always done. I’ll be myself—and I’ll face Alice head-on.
The sun began to dip below the horizon, casting the interior of the general store into shadow. Alice lay slumped over the counter with a dark expression, but her ears pricked up at the sound of a door opening—a door she was certain she had locked.
"Yahoo, Shaltan!"
"...Fate-san?"
Alice looked up ever so slightly, but upon seeing it was only Fate, she buried her face back into her arms. Fate walked toward the counter with a leisurely stride.
"...Sorry. I'm not really in the mood for tea today..."
"Oh, yeah, no worries. I didn't come for tea anyway."
"...Eh? Wait... Fate-san, why are you casting a barrier? And why are your eyes... golden?"
"Well, for starters... Hiyah!!"
"Gafh!?"
Even as she kept her tone light, Fate suddenly sealed the room with a barrier. By the time Alice raised her head, Fate’s eyes had turned a brilliant gold—the color they took when she was dead serious.
Before Alice could even finish her question, a fist slammed into her face.
The blow from a Supreme God sent Alice flying like a pinball. She crashed into the wall, which would have crumbled if Fate hadn't already reinforced it with her barrier.
"Wh... What... What was that for!?"
"Hmm. Well, you know, it's that. I know more or less what happened, but seriously... moping around over something so trivial? Are you a maiden or what?"
"I am a maiden! A lovely, delicate maiden..."
"Hah!"
"You punch me out of nowhere and then laugh in my face!?"
Ignoring the protest, Fate cracked her knuckles and stepped back into a combat stance.
"Well, moving your body should help cool your head. So, get ready, Shaltan."
"Wait, wait, wait! Why on earth—"
"Shut up!! I'm not taking questions or complaints! If you've got something to say, say it with your fists!"
"What kind of tyrant are you?! Wait, stop... how did it come to this...?"
"Heave-ho!"
"Geho?! You're even kicking me now?!"
The ○-machi-style Negotiation Technique.