CHAPTER 17

Great Goddess

I’m so deeply moved by the miracle that I’m trembling.

Dimension Blade: an attack that can cut through the fabric of space itself… That’s… That’s amazing! How does that even work?! The Hero’s powers are godlike!

As I’m blinded—overcome with emotion—someone tugs on my arm.

Before I realize it, I’m going through the gate to the unified spirit world with Seiya and arriving at the all-white Summoning Chamber.

“Huh?”

I have no idea what just happened; Seiya smacks me on the head.

“Ouch! What do you think you’re doing?!”

“Don’t space out. The real fight starts now.”

“Huh? The real fight…?”

“Dimension Blade only cut off Deathmagla’s arm. Once he pulls himself together, he’s going to go on a rampage and kill Mash.”

“O-oh yeah! What are we going to do?!”

“That’s why we came here where time flows one-hundredth the speed of Gaeabrande. If things go smoothly, we’ll have around ten seconds before he snaps out of his confusion and picks up a weapon to kill Mash. To sum it up…”

Seiya then walks straight to the Summoning Chamber doors and pushes them wide open.

“Starting now, we have fifteen minutes to find a way to travel from the unified spirit world to where Deathmagla is and save Mash. Got it? Now follow me.”

I’m puzzled for a moment, but…

“Y-yes, sir!”

With a loud voice, I reply to Seiya as if I were talking to one of my superiors in the spirit world.

After that, I guide Seiya through the sanctuary as requested until we reach Great Goddess Ishtar’s room. I hesitate in front of the door, but he urges me on.

“What’s wrong? This is the highest-ranking goddess’s room, right? Hurry up and open the door.”

Su-sure, Ishtar will be able to find out where Mash is, but…

I give Seiya one final warning before opening the door.

“Listen, Seiya, Ishtar is a really—I mean, really important goddess. You have to treat her with respect. Got it?”

“Got it.”

“I sure hope so. Anyway, leave the explaining to me. Do not say a word.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

After clearing my throat, I open the gorgeously decorated door. Ishtar is resting in her chair and knitting like she usually does.

“I apologize for bothering you. It is I, Ristarte, the Goddess of Healing. I have come here today to make a request to—”

Seiya upstages me before I can even finish my greeting.

“You’re taking way too long. I’ll cut right to the chase. Listen, Grandma, we need to find Mushroom in Gaeabrande, so I need you to open a gate that takes us right to him.”

“Seiya!! I told you to keep quiet! And stop calling Mash ‘Mushroom’! You’re making it sound like we’re looking for food!”

More importantly, how dare he talk to a Great Goddess like that! For crying out loud, he was saying Mash’s name right up until a few seconds ago! But now it’s back to Mushroom.

…I feel like I’m going to explode if I don’t find an outlet for all this rage. However, Ishtar simply smiles just like she always does.

“Hoh-hoh-hoh. In short, you want me to find your friend, correct? However, excessively helping humans is prohibited by spirit world law…”

“All I need you to do is create a gate at a specific point in Gaeabrande like this woman always does. There’s no problem with that, is there?”

“Hmm… I suppose not, if you put it that way.”

“I do. Make it quick.”

“Yes, yes.”

Even though my heart is pounding out of my chest, Ishtar doesn’t seem offended by Seiya’s incredibly rude behavior. She stands up, grabs a large crystal ball off the shelf, then places her hand on it for a few moments.

“…I see. It appears he is being held captive in an underground vault beneath the forest near Krain Castle.”

“W-wow, you’re amazing! S-so, Seiya, what’s the plan? Should we have the gate take us to an area slightly away from the vault similar to last time?”

“No, things are different from last time. Right in front of the rotting Mushroom will do.”

“Right in front of the boy, yes? Very well.”

Ishtar casts a spell, creating a gate to Gaeabrande. Around ten minutes have elapsed since we came to the unified spirit world, so we should have plenty of time to save Mash.

I bow deeply to Ishtar.

“Thank you so much! I will definitely repay you for your kindness! Seiya, tell her thanks!”

“Well done. Your assistance was praiseworthy.”

“…?! Who the hell do you think you are?! …More importantly, I’ve got to ask. You do have a plan to deal with the undead, right? Because the moment we walk through that gate, I guarantee that Deathmagla’s going to have his zombies and skeletons attack us by the dozens.”

Seiya sends me a reproachful gaze.

“Who do you think you’re talking to? Of course I’m perfectly prepared.”

As Seiya proceeds toward the gate, I see his left hand and my eyes widen.

…I see. It looks like he really is prepared. His left hand is already wreathed in flames.

“I’m going to use Hellfire on him the moment the gate opens. Use that opening to save Mushroom. Got it?”

“G-got it!”

A-all right! I’m gonna give it all I’ve got!

But when Seiya tries to open the gate—

“…Seiya Ryuuguuin.”

—Ishtar suddenly calls his name.

“What?”

“You’ve grown.”

“You make it sound like you’ve known me for a while, but I believe this is the first time we’ve met.”

Seiya seems baffled for a moment, but he soon nods as if he just had an epiphany.

“Oh, wait. She’s probably just senile.”

I can’t take it any longer.

“Show some respect, you ass! She is not senile! She is an all-seeing goddess, and she’s complimenting you for slightly improving as a person who would do anything to save his allies despite being overly cautious, arrogant, and rude!”

After furiously berating Seiya…

“Isn’t that right, Great Goddess Ishtar?”

However, Ishtar doesn’t say a word. She only smiles.

Seiya gives a smug snort.

“I’m not doing anything daring like saving an ally. I’m just going to pick a mushroom. Now come on. Let’s go.”

We open the gate to Gaeabrande.

“May you be victorious.”

I hear Ishtar’s kind voice behind me.