Chapter 210 - I Think it's Shiro-san's fault

The 19th day of the Earth month. I was just staring at the scenery now, dumbfounded.

A lot of things happened yesterday. Alice had temporarily left from guard duty, apparently due to a meeting of the Six Kings, and Ein-san had been guarding me all day yesterday.

And then, Lunamaria-san’s mother came to visit…… and I was really surprised that it was actually Noir-san, whom I had met before.

Noir-san left after drinking tea and chatting at Lilia-san’s mansion for about an hour or so, saying she would visit again.

Most of Noir-san’s stories were about Lunamaria-san, and I enjoyed the fact that she was generous with her family stories, like how Lunamaria-san used to be…… Lunamaria-san just looked at her with dead eyes, as if she was screaming at Noir-san to stop coming back, but Noir-san just said she would come back……

Well, I honestly thought the day would end with that ruckus, before I end the day after going to bed but…… honestly, I didn’t expect more unexpected events to occur the next day.

Moving my gaze away from the window of this luxurious carriage I’m riding at…… I called out to the person in front of me.

[……Ummm…… Why did I get abducted when I should be carefreely eating breakfast now, Chronois-san?]

[……I’m sorry about that, but it took a lot of work to arrange, so I didn’t get to tell you beforehand.]

[……Huhh…]

Yes, I was currently being transported in a carriage by Chronois-san, who appeared out of the blue just before breakfast.

It was a sudden turn of events, but as soon as Chronois-san arrived, she said “Sorry! I don’t have much time. Don’t ask anything and just follow me.” while bowing with a sad expression on her face, so I wasn’t able to refuse.

[……W- Well, that’s fine but…… Where is this carriage heading?]

[To the God Realm.]

[……Ehh?]

[By Shallow Vernal-sama’s will, we are inviting you to the God Realm.]

[……Huh?]

Shiro-san invited me to the God Realm? Come to think of it, I think she said something like that before…… I- I see, so that’s why Chronois-san came to pick me up.

[I- I see. I can now understand why…… By the way, Chronois-san…… Why do you look worn out?]

[……Shallow Vernal-sama decreed that we invite you as soon as possible…… I’ve been rushing around to complete various formalities so……]

[I- I’m sorry about that.]

When I asked Chronois-san, who looked exhausted, she seemed to be struggling with Shiro-san’s absurdness as usual…… This person really is too troubled.

I mean, the other party is that Shiro-san, you know? She’s the kind of airhead that doesn’t think that a jab for her would be a combo of uppercuts and a missile launcher for us.

However, she just said various formalities…… Even when going to the Demon Realm, you would need a permit that would take a week to issue, so the God Realm might not be a place you can just go and visit immediately.

[Great job…… Or rather, I guess you would need lots of procedure to go to the God Realm huh?]

[It isn’t that difficult to get to the “lower levels”. You just need to apply to the temple and get a permit to visit. However, it’s the “upper levels” that Miyama is going to this time……]

[Lower levels? Upper levels?]

[Fumu…… You are aware of the shape of the lands of the God Realm, right?]

[Yes…… It’s in the shape of a circle with an empty center, isn’t it? I saw it in the map.]

I remembered that the God Realm was a donut-shaped land, and was quite small compared to the Demon Realm and Human Realm.

After hearing my words, Chronois-san nodded once before lightly explaining to me.

[Umu, that’s right…… It’s just that, it might be difficult to see on the map, but the God Realm is divided into “three” areas.]

[Three?]

[Yeah, wait a moment, I’ll get a map.]

Saying that, Chronois-san takes out the same map that Lilia-san showed me before and holds it out to me.

Taking it and looking at the map again, which I hadn’t really looked at so closely before, I saw that the circular earth did indeed seem to be three overlapping circles of different sizes, and I could see a slight gap in between each circle.

[First, the outermost lands are called the lower level, where the lower-ranked Gods, their subordinates, and the priests who serve the temple live…… As for that place, Humans and Demons can freely visit it as long as they have permit.]

[……Fumufumu.]

[And the lands within it…… the difference in elevation will be hard to see on the map, but there’s the second layer of the God Realm, the “middle level”, which is placed in lands higher when viewed from the lower level…… This is mainly the home of high-ranking Gods, and only people, with at least the rank and credibility of a King of  the Human Realm, were allowed to enter here.]

Apparently, the God Realm is supposed to be like a mountain, and the closer the area was in the middle of the map, the higher the ground is.

And then, the middle level is basically inaccessible, unless you’re the same class as kings…… What about the remaining upper level then?

[……And in the place closest to the center, there are the lands called the “upper level”. This is a place that no one but the Supreme Gods and our subordinates are allowed to enter, and among the Humans, you’re the second person to visit the lands after the First Hero…… You should be able to see how abnormal the situation is.]

[……I guess that would be because Shiro-san lives there huh?]

[You are correct, though you’re slightly mistaken about something. Shallow Vernal-sama lives on an island in the center of the God Realm, which isn’t shown on the map…… It’s an island floating in the skies called “Sanctuary”. In that place, even I will not be able to enter without Shallow Vernal-sama’s permission.]

[…………………]

Arehh? That’s weird…… I can tell from her tone that it must be an amazing place. A place that even the Supreme God, Chronois-san, can’t enter without permission…… making it literally the hardest place in the world to visit.

However, an island floating in the skies? Isn’t that…… the place where I first got my blessing from Shiro-san?

(That’s right.)

Ah, I knew it…… So, why did you have to go through all these troublesome matters? Couldn’t you just teleport me just like you did the first time you gave me your blessing?

(……Now that you mention it, you’re right.)

Oi, you there, airhead goddess…… You just simply didn’t think about it!? Chronois-san looked like she would collapse from exhaustion here, you know!?

(Well then, I will now teleport you……)

Stop right there!!! Don’t let all the work Chronois-san did come to nothing! I will properly visit you there under Chronois-san’s lead, so please just wait there.

(On one condition.)

……And why are you demanding me a condition for that? Oi, why? Are you that free?

I haven’t completely cleared my doubts but, I know all these questions would just be useless to Shiro-san…… For the time being, let me hear what that condition is.

(Only Kuro is unfair, so please take a bath in the onsen with me too.)

……The heck is this person talking about? Onsen? Did she just say onsen? Does onsens exist in the God Realm?

(I made them exist.)

Shiro-san, what the heck are you really doing!? Are you really that free!?

I mean…… Does that mean you’re seriously going to get in the onsen with me!? No, no…… As expected, that would be……

(Only Kuro is unfair.)

No, like I said, that is, errr…….

(Only Kuro is unfair.)

……How about some compromise and we go swimwear?

(No compromise.)

……Is this one of those requests where I don’t have any option to say no?

(Yes.)

She just said it outright. She just declared that she would keep repeatedly saying it until I agree!?

M- Mngghhh…… This is very troubling. Bathing with Shiro-san, who has really magnificent proportions and is an immensely beautiful woman…… I’m not confident that I can seriously suppress my reasoning.

To make matters worse, Shiro-san can read my mind…… I’m afraid that she would be able to anticipate that I was desperately trying to endure it, and move to crush my reasoning.

But well…… Unfortunately, I don’t have the option to veto. It would just be an endless loop until I agree to it, so I would eventually just agree…… This is too unreasonable.

(Does Kaito-san…… hate taking a bath on an onsen with me?)

I think that way of asking is too unfair. There’s still no inflection in her voice, but the damage is still too d*mn high.

Alright already…… I’ll go with you. I just have to take a bath with you, right!?

(Thank you. Then, I’m looking forward to seeing your arrival.)

Hmmm, I’m not really sure…… if it’s because of the lack of inflection in her voice or not, but it’s hard for me to understand her intentions, and since my Sympathy Magic isn’t effective, I can’t understand what she’s thinking.

[Have you finished talking to Shallow Vernal-sama?]

[Y- Yes, well…… You see……]

Chronois-san, who seems to have been quiet because she noticed I was talking to Shiro-san, calls out to me, and I slowly tell Chronois-san about the conversation I just had with Shiro-san.

I spoke ambiguously about the beginning of my conversation with Shiro-san, so that Chronois-san’s hard work wouldn’t have been in vain but…… For some reason, Chronois-san’s eyes lost more light than before, and turned into the eyes of a dead fish.

[……I see……]

[U- Ummm, Chronois-san? Is something the matter?]

I thought she would respond with “I will not allow such immorality!” but…… She looks like she just gave up on everything……

[……Miyama…… later…… When you get to Shallow Vernal-sama’s island, please treat me as if I’m not there…… Please don’t remember me at all……]

[……Huh? Errr…… Yes.]

Dear Mom, Dad—— Call it a sudden turn of events, Chronois-san suddenly appeared and brought me to the God Realm. For some reason though, Chronois-san had eyes that looked like a dead fish, but I think that’s most probably——– Shiro-san’s fault.

<Author’s Notes>

Serious-senpai: [……God of Creation-sama’s turn huh…… She’s kind of like my natural enemy…… I’ll just go home……]

T/N: 69/237. nice.