Volume 6, Chapter 32 – A Divine Revelation Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Looking back, she would use teleportation magic to send the great demon to Erin Slate. A fifth-rank demon, even among the Darkborn, was a minor lord-level figure; he must know a lot.

Fia let out a light breath and put down Calista, whose waist she had been holding. If it hadn’t been absolutely necessary, Fia certainly wouldn’t have intimately held another woman. Because Calista looked dazed, Fia couldn’t help but look her up and down.

“Are you alright? You shouldn’t be injured.”

Calista snapped back to reality, a look resembling respect flashing in her pink eyes as she looked at Fia.

“I-I’m fine. Thanks to you, I’m unhurt. Words aren’t enough to express my gratitude. If there’s any way I can help you in the future… although I feel that if you need help, my assistance would surely be useless, but if that day ever comes, please don’t hesitate. If not for you, I would have died here today. I didn’t expect to meet Your Highness again in Cold Night so soon after parting in the Milcandis Holy Kingdom. Should I say my luck is terrifyingly good?”

Aside from that, aren’t you going to look at your companions?

Fia had long noticed the two corpses lying on the rubble not far away. The two men were motionless and no longer breathing; clearly dead. Worried that Calista would be overly grieved, Fia hadn’t mentioned it. Yet Calista started talking a blue streak right away, showing no sign of sadness, seemingly not regarding those two as companions.

Fia looked hesitantly at the corpses on the rubble.

“Are those two over there your companions?”

Calista’s eyes dimmed slightly, and she shrugged.

“Hardly companions. They were locals of Cold Night. Seeing me alone and a Stellacryst Beast woman, they wanted to come up and flirt, but got caught in the demons’ sneak attack. Just their bad luck. Beastmen are like that; they can’t control themselves when they see a mature Stellacryst Beast woman.”

Stellacryst Beasts were powerful, beautiful, and very rare, perfectly fitting the aesthetics of beastmen who revered strength. Therefore, a woman like Calista entering Cold Night alone would be harassed endlessly. It was worth mentioning that because Milu was still a child and beastmen only liked big-breasted women, no beastmen harassed Milu.

“Is that so…”

Fia was momentarily speechless. Being killed for flirting—this way of dying was truly frustrating. But since they were strangers to Calista, it could only be counted as their own bad luck. If anyone wants compensation, they should seek out these demons.

Calista kicked the unconscious great demon with her foot, her words revealing the relief of surviving a disaster.

“Blocking a full-force blow from a two-headed troll with one finger… you’re way too strong. You’re actually a Stellacryst Beast disguised as an elf, right? But thinking about how you beat up a Moon Dragon with your fists, it doesn’t seem unacceptable. Hah, if our Eternal Daylight Mages had a talent like Your Highness, we would surely conquer the Southern Continent before long. This is a god walking on earth that one can see with their own eyes.”

“A while ago, I told your story to the people in the Eternal Daylight Mages. They all said I was talking nonsense. How could there be an elf who could compete in strength with a Moon Dragon? Not a single person believed me. They didn’t even believe me when I said a ninth-rank spell appeared in the Milcandis Holy Kingdom. A bunch of idiots.”

By the end, Calista crossed her arms, feigning regret. She glanced secretly at Fia, her gaze revealing eccentricity and a hint of expectation.

“If you could come back to the Eternal Daylight Mages with me and open the eyes of those old fogies who haven’t seen the world, they would definitely believe I wasn’t lying. Then they’d beg you to tell them the method to become stronger and treat you as an honored guest.”

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Fia naturally heard the hint in Calista’s words. She teased Calista in return.

“I’m not interested. You’d best not harbor ideas in that direction, lest you be disappointed.”

“…After all, the entire Elf Kingdom is your possession. I also felt you wouldn’t be interested. Just asking casually—what if you agreed?”

Speaking of this, Calista turned her head to look around, seemingly searching for something. Due to the appearance of the demons, the dilapidated slum was empty and exceptionally quiet.

“Where are the remaining three demons? Changes happened too fast; I didn’t see them. Did they run away?”

Actually, when the demons attacked her, she had closed her eyes and hugged Fia tightly out of fear, so she didn’t notice how the demons disappeared. But saying that would make her seem useless, so Calista told a small lie.

Fia pointed to the open space in the distance hidden by her [Cloud Moon of the Illusory Sea].

“None of them escaped. I dealt with them all.”

“What about the corpses? Demons are rare materials. Wings and bones are good stuff. If sold in the Eternal Daylight Mages, they could fetch at least a dozen gold coins, and that’s relying on connections. Ah, I’m not saying this to rob you; I just think it’s a pity to waste them.”

Materials, huh…

Fia found it somewhat hard to accept in her heart.

Although demons were enemies, they were still humanoid creatures capable of speech. Making demon bones into weapons or accessories to carry around felt terrifying; she would worry about the weapons suddenly moving on their own at night.

However, seeing Calista’s enthusiastic look, she was probably used to it. Connecting this to the fact that Calista was a rising star of the Eternal Daylight Mages at only the third rank, perhaps the Eternal Daylight Mages was an organization that wasn’t very wealthy and lacked strength—or rather, Twilight Flower and the Silvar Kingdom were too wealthy, far exceeding their peers.

Unfortunately, apart from the great demon in front of them, the remaining four demons had either become chunks of meat or burned to ash. Even if she wanted to give them to Calista as a favor, she couldn’t.

Fia chose to change the subject. She signaled Calista to look around. This was a slum in Brinkat City, full of dilapidated houses and ruined walls. The air also carried a strange smell of stinking ditches mixed with poultry feces. It wasn’t a place to talk.

“Let’s change places first. What are you doing alone in Cold Night?”

“Er,” the muscles on Calista’s face stiffened, her expression becoming unnatural. As if feeling guilty, she looked away. “Well… actually, I originally had companions, but we were separated by undead while crossing the Netherworld, so I’m the only one left.”

I’m not asking why you’re alone; I’m asking what you’re doing in Cold Night.

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But looking at this stance, Calista probably wasn’t willing to tell her, or had difficulties speaking of it. Fia had contact with Calista in the past and knew Calista was a smart girl who wouldn’t fail to understand what she was asking.

She didn’t press further, but reached out her hand to Calista.

“I still don’t know why you were targeted by demons. It would be troublesome if you were targeted again after I leave. Where are you going? If it’s not too far, I can give you a lift.”

“Then what about this demon?”

“He won’t wake up for a while. Someone will come to take him away soon.”

“I… I see…” Looking at Fia’s palm, Calista’s exquisite features were filled with hesitation. She hugged one arm, appearing somewhat guarded. “Your Highness, I have a question. Why are you so good to me?”

“I’ve taken a fancy to you.”

“T-Taken a fancy?!” Calista’s eyes widened instantly, her voice pitch rising several octaves. She even revealed an obvious expression of fear, taking a small step back, so panicked she stammered. “W-We haven’t even said a few words, and… and it progressed to this step? That’s not good, right? Besides, we’re both women!”

Fia sighed helplessly.

“I was just joking because you talk too much. I’m not interested in you. I helped you because you gave me the Key of the World Tree before. This magic item did me a huge favor. This is a return gift.”

If not for the Key of the World Tree, she wouldn’t have been able to kill the Despair Demon General easily. Moreover, the Key of the World Tree also somewhat reinforced her recognition of her own identity. The Key of the World Tree could separate souls parasitizing others’ bodies, and since it didn’t work on her, it indicated she might indeed have just lost her memory—although there was also the possibility that her soul strength was too high for the Key of the World Tree to take effect.

“A joke? Key of the World Tree?” Calista was stunned at first, then a look of realization dawned in her eyes. She dropped her guard, covering her mouth with her fist in embarrassment. “I-Is that so… Originally I was just throwing away trash; I didn’t expect it to help someone…”

Hey, I heard your muttering.

Back then, Calista had indeed dumped all the Keys of the World Tree on her, afraid she wouldn’t complete the task given by her mentor.

“Alright, speak. Where are you going?”

“Ah, then I won’t stand on ceremony!” As if to cover up her embarrassment of asking for help, Calista spoke in an extremely energetic tone. “I came to Cold Night to find the Holy Son of the Fire Cat Tribe!”

“Huh?”

Hearing this answer, Fia froze on the spot.

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An hour later.

“Thank you for being willing to receive me, Your Excellency. Calista expresses her deepest gratitude.”

In a spacious wooden house with a distinct Japanese style, Calista, kneeling on the floor, bowed deeply to Nola, who was sitting in the seat of honor. It must be said, kneeling here didn’t signify submission but was local etiquette. The city of the Charm Cat Tribe looked very similar to the Japanese style of Earth’s ancient times in Fia’s eyes. Houses were mostly wooden, with many flying eaves and stone forest garden decorations. Tables were low; only by kneeling could one sit comfortably at the table to enjoy a meal.

As for the current situation, Fia took Calista to find Nola. Nola, having resolved the monster harassment, met with the matriarch of the Charm Cat Tribe. So everyone was now sitting together. Nola was in the seat of honor, while Fia’s group and the Charm Cat nobles sat on the seats below on both sides.

In addition, the matriarch of the Charm Cat Tribe was unexpectedly a tall young girl rather than an elder. Her figure was comparable to Erin Slate’s. With pink cat ears resembling fox ears and white shrine maiden attire, Fia thought at first glance this was a fox shrine maiden of Inari God or the like.

And perhaps it was Fia’s illusion, but she felt the other party was constantly observing her. When she looked back, the Charm Cat matriarch revealed a seductive smile with silky eyes, and the collar of her dress lowered quietly, exuding the soul-snatching charm unique to mature women. Fia even felt that if it were a normal man, just a glance from the Charm Cat matriarch would cause a physiological reaction. The snow-white thighs occasionally exposed under that short shrine maiden skirt were already on the danger line, too eye-catching, making one’s heart uncontrollably expect “a little higher.”

It was a pity she wasn’t a succubus.

Nola, sitting upright in the seat of honor, waved her hand gently. This was a formal occasion, and her words and deeds represented the entire Fire Cat Tribe, so she had the majesty of a superior, showing no trace of the nonsense she spouted when drunk.

“You and I are both Holy Sons; there is no need for such formality. According to you, you were chosen as a Holy Son not long ago and are full of doubts about your identity, so you came to find me?”

“Precisely.”

Calista responded seriously.

“I come from the Eternal Daylight Mages. I wonder if the Clan Chief knows the name of the Eternal Daylight Mages. It is an organization that believes in elemental magic and discards gods and faith magic. Becoming a Holy Son in an organization that doesn’t believe in gods is too ironic. Although I have communicated with the god people speak of, I haven’t seen her with my own eyes. Since she cannot appear in person, I have reason to suspect she is not a god, but someone far stronger than me pretending to be a god.”

Calista had said before that she came to find Nola to seek answers from Nola, a fellow Holy Son. She never believed in gods and even despised those who did. Yet she was chosen as a Holy Son overnight without reason. Added to the fact that the person claiming to be a goddess didn’t appear before Calista in person—even when Calista asked, her goddess would only say it wasn’t the time—she still didn’t believe the other party was a god, even though the goddess bestowed a God-Given Weapon upon her.

If Nola had seen the true form of a god, then she could choose to try believing the god’s words.

Nola’s tail swayed. She frowned tightly, hesitating for a long time before answering.

“Sorry, I haven’t seen the Goddess herself either. But I don’t think your interpretation is correct. The Goddess has her own thoughts; the will of a god is not for us to speculate on.”

“When one’s realm reaches a certain level, their thoughts will be vastly different. Take the past me and the current me for example. When I was a slave, I only thought about how to get the next meal. But now, my gaze is set on several years into the future. Power and strength determine thought. Thinking a god doesn’t exist just because you can’t see them… If the god hadn’t given you help, your thoughts would be understandable. But after receiving the grace of a God-Given Weapon, to still struggle with whether to believe in her or not would be seen as ungrateful in our Cold Night. Even if you don’t treat the other party as a god, you shouldn’t harbor hostility toward her.”

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Calista frowned repeatedly. In terms of stubbornness, the two were exactly alike.

“I look down on people who believe in gods because they are ignorant. What benefit can gods bring them? If they called a god’s name in desperation and the god responded, I would never despise them; I might even believe in gods like them. The problem is, apart from legends, no one receives help from gods now. What necessity is there to believe in such a god?”

“As for your claim of ingratitude, I only suspect her identity; I didn’t say I would treat her as an enemy. I just hate that atmosphere of playing god. Since she wants to use me, she should stand openly on the stage and say what she wants. As long as it benefits me, I’m willing even if used.”

Calista paused, standing up. Her movements showed an intention to leave. She had absolutely no common language with someone like Nola, who hadn’t seen a god but still spoke for one.

“Since the Clan Chief hasn’t seen the Goddess either, I think the answer is already coming out. Thank you very much, Clan Chief, for clearing my doubts. From now on, I will move forward without confusion.”

“Wait!”

Nola called out to stop Calista. Anger brewed in her purple cat eyes, and her tone carried the smell of gunpowder.

“Are you trying to say I am ignorant, blindly believing in her without seeing her? Take back your meaning, guest of the Eternal Daylight Mages. The Goddess saved my life; I won’t pretend I didn’t hear your words!”

Calista was silent for a while. She stared straight at Nola, a trace of something like pity flashing in her eyes. Finally, she sighed long and deep, speaking profoundly.

“The god who chose me claims that besides her, there are no other existing gods in this world. If she didn’t lie, then your god is lying. And if your god truly exists, then it means my god is deceiving me. Do you want me to believe in a god like that?”

“Ugh.”

Calista’s statement changed the expressions of everyone present, so much so that the air seemed to solidify. Especially Nola, stared at by Calista’s burning gaze, couldn’t speak for a long time. Hostility gradually emerged in her serious eyes.

“Do you dare guarantee you aren’t lying with that sentence?”

“I guarantee with my character, there is absolutely no lie. If Your Excellency insists I am lying, then please take me to see your god. Then I will change my persistence. If you cannot do it, please pretend I never came. I have disturbed Your Excellency.”

With that, Calista bowed slightly to everyone present, including Nola, offering an apology. Then, without any hesitation, she turned and left the wooden house.