Come to think of it, after hearing that Machina-san was the God of my world, a certain question had crossed my mind. Simply put, I didn't feel the same overwhelming, massive presence from her that I did from Shiro-san.
I sensed a vague, unsettling danger, certainly, but not that unfathomable depth I’d experienced when I first met Shiro-san.
"Ahaha, that can't be helped. I'm suppressing my power as much as possible so Shallow Vernal doesn't find out. Besides, if I were to release even a tiny fragment of my strength, this space wouldn't be able to withstand the pressure. It would probably just get 'squashed flat.'"
"..."
Squashed flat? She made it sound cute, but what she meant was that her power was so immense that if she were to release even a fraction of it, this dimension would be crushed instantly. That was... more than a little terrifying.
She had also naturally read my mind again. Like Shiro-san, she probably considered this a standard divine ability.
"Ah, sorry. Did I scare you? It’s okay. Even if that happened, I wouldn’t let a single scratch touch My Child. I really should have made a sturdier space, I suppose, but that would only increase the risk of Shallow Vernal spotting us."
"I-I see."
"Yes... I even received a roundabout complaint from her the other day. In a way, I’m as much a victim as anyone else..."
After muttering that under her breath, Machina-san sat on the edge of the skyscraper with effortless grace.
"Would My Child prefer a chair?"
"Y-Yes. That would be helpful."
Even if this was a dream, sitting on the ledge of a skyscraper required more courage than I possessed. There was no wind to speak of, so standing wasn't a problem, but I decided to take her up on the offer. Machina-san gave a light wave of her hand, and a wooden chair appeared out of thin air. I sat down.
"Oh, since we’re here, do you want something to eat? We’re in a dream-state, so your physical stomach won't actually get full, but you can still enjoy the taste."
"Oh? Yes, please. Thank you."
"In that case, here is a special treat..."
She announced this with a smile, producing a paper bag from nowhere and handing it to me.
A meal prepared by a God sounded rather intimidating. I wondered what it could be. Inside, I found two individually wrapped round items, a drink, and french fries. Wait... no matter how I looked at it, this was just a regular hamburger set from a chain store.
I mean, they're delicious, and I like them, but... a "special treat"? For a God, she was remarkably down-to-earth.
"Oh? Is it no good? These are my favorite... Would you have preferred something else?"
"No, not at all. I was just a bit surprised."
It wasn't that I didn't want it; I was just genuinely caught off guard. Since a God had called it a "special treat," I’d half-expected some legendary, high-end cuisine I’d never seen before.
"High-end cuisine... like a Wagyu steak, maybe!"
"..."
I’d suspected it before, but this woman’s sensibilities were far more common than I’d imagined. Specifically, the fact that "Wagyu steak" was her go-to idea of luxury gave her a surprising sense of approachability.
I still sensed flashes of danger and a certain heavy dampness from her, but I couldn't bring myself to think she was a bad person.
Even if I couldn't recall the details right now, we were supposedly acquaintances. She seemed like a good person at heart.
"Thank you. I'll help myself."
"Go right ahead. There are refills, too."
As she smiled happily at me, she didn't look like a majestic deity; she looked almost cute.
"Haa... My Child is even cute when he’s eating."
Still, I couldn't ignore the occasional, inexplicable chill running down my spine.
I pushed the thought aside and took a hamburger from the bag. Between one thing and another, I usually ate meals prepared by the mansion’s chef, so it felt like it had been ages since I’d had a burger. I figured Alice would probably make one for me if I asked, so I made a mental note to request it sometime.
"Oh, that reminds me, My Child... I haven't even fulfilled my main purpose for calling you here yet."
"Purpose?"
"Yes. Though it won't take long."
"Pardon?"
"...Thank you."
"Huh?"
I tilted my head at the sudden gratitude. Machina-san maintained her gentle smile as she continued.
"I've wanted to meet My Child properly and thank you in person for a long time. It certainly took a while to make it happen, though."
"Um... what are you thanking me for, exactly?"
"For saving my precious Best Friend."
"Your Best Friend?"
"That’s right. Since we have the time, why don't I tell you a story while you eat? This time, I won't be vague. I'll tell you the story of a girl in a certain world... the story of the girl once called a Hero, whom you know so well."
???: "Would you please stop that?! Both Iris and Machina... I—ahem. Why do you keep telling Kaito-san about Alice-chan's past episodes behind Alice-chan's back?! Have you considered how I—I mean, Alice-chan—will feel when he looks at her with that warm, knowing face later?!"