Chapter 2

…

... Sigh.

I can't stop wondering how the Oracle managed to summon the god.

Since they summoned the god before creating the staff, it seems like the ability isn't related to the staff.

I thought the one called the Great Oracle was cunning and clever... but I never imagined he would have the power to summon the Forsaken God.

…

Ah! Has the Oracle sided with the Forsaken God?

Exactly! I mean, what kind of god listens to a human? It just doesn't make sense.

Hmm... I don't think that's the case.

The Oracle is someone who meticulously controls every situation.

They wouldn't create a situation they can't control.

Besides, what the Forsaken God desires is the extinction of humanity.

I don't think he would go so far as to take that risk...

... Or maybe not?

There's one more thing that's bothering me.

Before the Oracle made his escape, he clearly said, 'Why is the Rift opening to Noctis instead of Earth?!'

What exactly did that mean...?

With the information we currently have, this seems to be the limit.

Since it is confirmed that the Savers can control abominations, using the Divine Land as a base would provide many advantages.

By investigating the Savers... or tracking down the Great Oracle to force him to spill, we might be able to resolve our doubts.

Yes. Then, I will now report the information that the Bureau has gathered so far.

Ga-young, please proceed.

Who? Me?

Oh! Right! Yes! Just a moment!

In recent days, we've confirmed that TS Cult followers are gathering at the Divine Land.

A large number of mercenaries are with them too. It's clear that they're plotting something.

Oh, I looked into that as well. The 'Divine Land' was once a sacred site for the TS Cult.

Currently, the 'Divine Land' has been abandoned due to the Rift and abominations, though...

It has been confirmed that the Savers can control the monstrosity, so there would be many advantages if Divine Land could be used as a base.

Yes. As you know, a religion's sacred site is usually chosen based on its connection to a deity or a saint.

But the Divine Land doesn't seem to have such records. Instead...

The suspicious part is that the Rift there had been dealt with in the past, but the records of the operation were deleted.

Wait, wasn't the Rift near Platina also a place that the First Human God visited?

Is the First Human God the TS Oracle's waifu?

Yes, understood. I'll also tell the Vanguard to prepare for departure to the Divine Land...

Emergency! This is an urgent message!

We've just received a message from the Crown Princess!

The name is Maximilia von Kaisersberg. The Empire's First Crown Princess.

The leader of the largest group in the Noctis Nebula dimension.

And among humans, she is also the finest leader. She's also an excellent swordswoman.

For Her Highness to send a message...

Yes! The message came in, so I'll send it to both you, Yeon Chae-young, and Kim Ga-young's devices.

Oh! It's here!

Alright, I'll read it now!

'Since my path diverged for my most important duties, I have often sighed, recalling your loyalty and honor.'

Hmm, I see! I was also thinking about Her Highness!

'Your noble devotion, loyalty, and faith in the people...'

As expected, Her Highness recognizes this Kalina...

Oh, come on! Stop interrupting!

As far as I know, most of the beginning of imperial custom is just greetings and such.

Just convey the main point below.

The greetings can be read later.

Okay... Just a moment...

Ah... out of the five pages... is this really the only main point?

Uh... 'It seems that the people of Noctis Nebula have fallen into the hands of vile beings.'

It seems that they are held by the Savers in a place called Divine Land, so I need to go there myself.'

'I regret having to ask this of you, but should anything befall me, I entrust my people to you, please, take care of them.'

What!!!!!!

Normally, I wouldn't be too worried, but...

If the opponents are from the Savers... I guess I have to go...

Huh?

Oh! Is this what they call killing two birds with one stone?! Two families under one roof?

... Just please, don't say anything at all...

Let's hurry up and get ready. We need to move faster if we're to catch up with the princess.

Understood! I'll get everything ready quickly!

???

Thank you!!!!!

I didn't expect the charm strategy to work this well...

Thank you for your efforts, Human God.

And Kalina, you've worked really hard too.

Hmm...

What's wrong?

It feels like... unlike the ones we've faced before, the abominations are moving in a more organized manner.

This is the first time I've seen something like this, and it makes me worry about the princess's safety.

From what I've heard, Lady Maximilia is said to possess remarkable prowess.

If even half of those rumors are true, I don't think there's too much to worry about.

The real issue might be if the princess is cornered and ends up having to take down too many abominations... The Oblivia phenomenon could become an even greater problem.

However, the fact that the abominations are showing organized behavior is definitely concerning.

Indeed. The tactical evolution of the abominations could pose a major threat to us.

Yes. I will hurry.

Thank you! I'll tell the team to get ready to move right away.

I hope nothing happens before we get there...

Good news, Human God! Kalina has found traces of the refugees.

Hmph! Luckily, my sharp instincts were spot on.

What?! We found it together! Why are you acting like you found it all by yourself?

During the reconnaissance, I spotted an automated cart loaded with beans and wheat on the move.

And that cart disappeared towards the abandoned buildings in the east.

For the record, when Kalina says "automated cart," she means a truck.

I know that much! I just use the term because I'm used to it!

Anyway, we spotted people wearing Noctis Nebula attire near the abandoned buildings.

The enemy numbers were overwhelming, so we couldn't get any closer...

The number of regular mercenaries is over a regiment... And there seem to be over 200 abominations as well.

Judging that the situation is serious, we've already urgently requested reinforcements from the Bureau's forces.

Yes. If your plan is to have the Bureau's forces handle the mercenaries...

It's doable. Though we'll have to take on both the abominations and coordinate with the Bureau's forces...

If we do that, it seems like a solid approach to rescue the refugees effectively.

Very well.

Since the refugees are being held captive, I'll make preparations as quickly as possible.

We'll locate the enemy positions as soon as we can and transmit the attack route to your device.

Please give the order whenever you're ready to begin the operation.

The operation was a success. The detained refugees have been rescued.

The refugees whose identities have been confirmed are currently having their health checked by Bella.

There were hardly any casualties on our side, and the forces of the Savers were all subdued.

The refugees seem to be alright, apart from severe malnutrition.

And... we also have a message that was given by one of the rescued refugees.

For the record, I was the one who found it.

Oh! Now that I think about it, this note is written in the Imperial script.

Haha... I'll read it for you.

'The Second Crown Princess, Luise, sends her regards to her beloved sister, the Shield of the Empire.'

In this case, the "Shield of the Empire" refers to Princess Maximilia.

Just to clarify, it's not referring to our Mansgard family.

No one here would misunderstand that, so you don't need to worry unnecessarily.

Well... just in case, you know...

This is a letter from 'Princess Luise' to her elder sister, 'Princess Maximilia.'

Hold on a moment... the greetings are a bit lengthy...

Ah, here's where the important part starts.

Huh? Are we skipping the greetings?

If we remove all the noble pleasantries, doesn't that take away from the elegance of the letter?

Please just convey the main content first. The greetings can come later.

Alright. Don't worry.

Recently, a group called the Savers appeared, offering to evacuate imperial citizens to Earth where my sister is.'

There are many here who can no longer endure, and it is urgent to evacuate them to Earth as soon as possible.'

I don't know how much we can trust these people called the Savers.'

As expected of Princess Luise.

Erneste? Please save your commentary for after we finish reading the letter.

Tsk...

Once the citizens arrive in the dimension where you are, I have arranged for the promised signal to be immediately sent to the imperial insignia that you possess.'

There will also be a second group departing, so if possible, I will join them to ensure their protection.'

With love and respect, Luise of Kaisersberg.'

…

This Princess Luise certainly seems like a wise person.

But doesn't the mention of a second group mean that there are still people left in the Rift?

Could it be... Princess Luise herself as well?!

Shouldn't we step in and take care of those people ourselves?

A genius mage! And an incredible one at that!

She's also famous for having received the Imperial Guardian Medal at just fifteen years old!

It's an honor! It symbolizes defending the Empire with fire magic.

In the Empire, those who receive it are called Imperial Guardians.

Among the human mages, aside from your "brothers," there is probably no one who can match Princess Luise.

Even throughout the entire history of the Empire, that holds true.

Broctis and his brothers. That's what we mean by the four of them. If I were to list them in order...

Broctis of the Dead Star, Antakis the Soulguide, Delric the Giantslayer, and the Skywinged Dwarf...

These four brothers, along with Princess Luise, are probably the greatest mages in the history of the Empire.

They are the ones who have elevated the name of the Empire.

Hmm? That sounds a bit strange. Is the last brother really named "Dwarf"?

Ugh! Yeon Chae-young! Don't be ridiculous. How could someone's name actually be "Dwarf"?

The fourth of the four brothers has neither his name nor face known. Instead, due to his short stature, people simply called him "the Dwarf."

But, most of the incredible magical artifacts were made by the Dwarf. Even if he's small, he gets everything done.

Hmm... Even if Antakis and the Dwarf are fine... Broctis and Delric don't exactly have the best reputations, right? Their magic skills are incredible, sure, but...

From what I heard from Sister Kalina, those two are also pretty discriminatory towards other races... And they've done some dangerous experiments too...

Ugh... This is the problem with the church folks. They dislike magic without even trying to understand it...

And as for the discrimination, it's just because those two are from an older era. They're from 200 years ago, and I heard things were just like that back then.

Anyway... Thanks to Princess Luise, Princess Maximilia has made her move, and so have we. That's a relief.

More than that, I'm a bit worried about Princess Luise going into the Rift.

Wait... More importantly, if the refugees came here through the Rift...

Doesn't that mean there's a Rift exit here?!

Considering how the Oracle opened a Rift before... Could it be that they used that power again?

Ah! You're right! We must find Princess Maximilia immediately.

Indeed... It would be wise to find the princess, gather more information, and then make our move.

I'll prepare to head towards the Divine Land right away.

Please give the command when you think it's the right time.

Let me report on the current situation.

The rescue of the refugees that Ms. Luise requested in her letter has been completed.

However, there was information that the Savers took some of the refugees,

And there is evidence suggesting that key figures of the Savers have fled into the Rift.

Additionally, there is a high possibility that the second wave of refugees is in the Rift. Ms. Luise may follow as well.

Luise shall face no significant trouble for the time being.

That child is far more clever and capable than I am, after all.

Well... Luise really is clever. As long as it's not an overly dangerous Rift, she'll manage...

Would she avoid the dangerous places, though?

Wait, Ms. Osla? Where are the other three?

I asked for just one of you.

With all four of you, the meeting wouldn't proceed properly...

I came as the representative. I won the election, you see?

Ah! The Vanguard representative, I mean. This Ms. Osla was elected as the Vanguard representative.

What? Ms. Osla was chosen as the representative?

What are you looking at me like that for? Who else would be the representative if not me? I schooled them all fair and square in the "Lineage of Legends!"

... Isn't that a game only Ms. Erneste and Ms. Magnatira know how to play?

Even... Ms. Erneste is in the Iron Tier, isn't she?

Did somebody hold a gun to your head to stop you from playing the game?

... Let's put this discussion aside for now and come back to it later...

Let us address the pressing matters first.

We need to pursue the Savers and retrieve the artifact held by the Oracle, so it seems reasonable for us to enter the currently discovered Rift.

And if possible, rescuing Ms. Luise, who might encounter danger within the Rift, should also be included in this mission.

Does anyone have anything additional to mention?

Me! Me!

Go ahead.

The refugees that were taken away! What happened to them?

Aren't we supposed to investigate that?

That's actually quite a reasonable question, not as expected.

As for the refugee issue, I expect it will be resolved once we apprehend the officials.

This is because the refugees are highly likely to be with the Savers' officials.

Ooh! Okay.

Hmm... Since this is Erneste's question, we can skip it...

Ah! This one! Kalina asked me to bring it up... By any chance, when we bring back Luise, are we also getting Princess Maximilia?

I also hope that Princess Maximilia goes along with her.

Maximilia is smart, and she's an incredibly valuable warrior, after all.

Haha. I did not expect Ms. Osla to hold me in such high regard.

I have a good eye for people too, you know. So, what do you think about having her join us?

The Human God's personality is quite agreeable. Being a god certainly has its perks.

I must admit, I'm rather curious about what exactly makes it so remarkable...

It appears that accompanying you would be quite impossible.

What? Don't you want to see your sister?

The people who rely solely on me are still here, so I cannot leave.

Luise and I made a promise.

Here, I shall aid the people in settling down...

while Luise shall bring salvation to our people there.

That duty, born as princesses indulged in luxury, is something we must repay to our people.

Is that so?

Thank you for your gracious understanding, Your Highness.

I was going to give you something in light of that, regardless.

This is the Imperial Crest, a magical relic passed down among the imperial family.

This magical artifcat, wherever its holder may be, always returns to its rightful owner…

Originally, it was meant for vassals to return safely,

but if given to Luise, it will surely aid her in coming back safely.

Oh!!!

Then, I suppose it will suffice if we just find Luise and bring her back?

I shall accept it for now. It will surely be of great help.

And once we return, I shall make sure to return it to you.

I wish I could go and rescue my sister myself... It is unfortunate that this is all I can do to help.

Do not worry. We will bring Luise back safely.

I do believe in you.

Yes. Then... Officer Kim?

Yes!~ The Rift defense squad has been deployed.

I have also prepared the camp drones for inside the Rift.

Now, once the Vanguards are ready, we can depart immediately.

I've sent the operation map to your device, so you may send it whenever you wish, Human God.

Then, for now, we shall return and prepare the Vanguards.

When you are ready, please give the command to deploy.

Phew... Well done, everyooone...

But aren't there far more abominations compared to last time?

Why is that?

The Vanguards said that this place was also cleared by the First Human God...

You think so?

But there are way too many of them for it to have happened naturally...

Ah! Right! That actually makes sense.

Those wicked Savers would definitely do something like that.

But... where did they get the abominations from, especially after their lab was raided?

Did they capture them from somewhere else?

Um... something strange has been found...

This...

This... isn't this that thing? What was it again?

Ah! Right! A citizen ID! They called it a citizen ID.

But isn't that issued to imperial citizens in Noctis?

Yes, it is. The problem is...

This was found inside the abominations' bodies...

…

What??? Are you saying these abominations were originally imperial citizens?

How...

!!!!!

…

I can't forgive them! Those bad bast... guys!!!

They can't do this to people...

Then those tagged specimens, they could also be abominations created by these guys!

Do they not see people as people? How could they do such a thing?

…

Anyway, we made sure to bury the abominations' bodies properly.

And...

Let's make sure we catch those villains from the Savers.

I don't think I could ever forgive those people.

It seems Princess Luise isn't here either.

We need to scout further...

Ackkack!!!

Ah! I didn't mean to surpirse you...

Because I heard my name...

Hello! I'm Luise. I'm a pretty and cute mage.

??? What??? How do you speak our language so well?

Moreover... a pretty and cute mage, after all...

I used some translation magic.

This is an essential quality of an imperial noble magician.

And, "pretty and cute mage" is my title...

What? No, that's not it. I definitely heard it was the Imperial Guardian...

That doesn't sound very cute.

Hmm... You're quite different from what I imagined...

Anyway, nice to meet you.

I was getting bored hiding here with magic anyway...

But... aren't you going to introduce one person and one god?

What? You know that [PlayerActorName] is a god?

Huh? Of course. How could anyone confuse a human with a god?

But aren't you going to tell me your name?

Ah! I am Kim Ga-young from the Bureau of Rift Management.

I serve the Human God.

Ah! So, something like an imperial shamaness! Or perhaps... like a Flowmancer from Tranel?

Human God... so that's what it meant!

Amazing! To usurp a divine throne in a human body...

It must have been incredibly difficult...

Ahem! Well, for our Human God, it wasn't anything too challenging!

But more importantly, what brings you to a place like this?

If a god is directly taking action, it must be something serious...

The Savers... you mean Delric's gang?

And the letter... you met with your sister, right?

Are you doing well, sister?

I'm so relieved. My sister and the people are all safe...

I did my best... but I couldn't save everyone...

I promised to lead them to safety...

But you managed to save most of them, so please don't be too hard on yourself.

But still... So you saved most of them, right? Hmm... hmm... Not sure how the Contract will judge that.

More importantly, what happened?

I heard you might come to the Rift...

It's kind of a long story if I explain everything...

But to put it simply...

After my sister led the Great Escape, those who were left behind gathered with me...

The sick... the children...

Anyway, for various reasons, not everyone was able to leave.

Anyway, I wanted to evacuate them one last time...

But I don't know anything about Earth.

So, I made a bit of a contract with Delric from the Savers.

A contract with the Savers? What kind of contract did you make?

Well... it was a magical contract, so it's difficult to talk about the details...

Anyway, Delric broke the contract he made with me.

I didn't give what I promised, so Delric got furious and attacked...

Sorry... it was a Contract of Silence, so it's impossible for me to tell you the details.

So, I followed the refugees...

Delric, wasn't that the one we talked about last time... Some kind of mage brothers, if I recall correctly...

Ah, no. Those people were from 200 years ago, so by now, they must all be in their graves.

You're right. He's him.

Huh?

But he's a person from two centuries ago...?

They're mages. And not just any mage, but archmages who transcend norms. So, it's not really that strange.

Not strange at all, right?

Wait, hold on a second!

Are you saying that Delric, the archmage, is in the TS Cult?

That sounds incredibly dangerous for us...

It is dangerous. But we have a god on our side...

So it's not something to worry too much about, right?

Exactly! If it gets too dangerous, we can just use that Imperial Crest Princess Maximilia gave us to escape.

What? The Imperial Crest? You plan to use that to escape?

... Alright then. ... I suppose I should make preparations as well.

Yep! And I'll go tell Officer Yeon about what we just discussed.

Officer Yeon should know about this too!

How cute she is.

You said you were planning on pursuing those guys anyway, right?

I think I have a general idea of where you're planning to go.

Alright! I need to head back there myself, anyway.

For the sake of the citizens of the Empire.

Then... I'll be counting on you!

Luise?

You're back? How's your body? Are you alright?

Of course! I'm totally fine!

Thank goodness! Those awful bastards...

It's okay. It's okay. By the way, Rhasadina... were you hiding safely?

Yep! I was hiding just fine.

But... this person...

What?! It's a god!

Ah! Let me introduce you. This is Rhasadina, a fairy who helps me out.

Come on, Rhasadina... say hello.

…

Haha... Sorry about that. Rhasadina is really shy around new people.

I understand. Fairies are always shy at first.

Thank you for understanding.

How is it? Everyone? This is your first time in Noctis Nebula, right?

This is... Noctis Nebula...

The environment seems quite similar to Earth, doesn't it?

That's why the settlers from Noctis Nebula were able to adapt on Earth.

But... there were a few things I wanted to ask last time when we were inside the Rift, but we didn't have enough time...

Ah... You mean the Oracle that you and your followers are pursuing, right?

Yes. We lost the trail, so we were tracking down the officials of the Savers.

And Princess Maximilia requested that if anything threatens Princess Luise, she should be brought to Earth.

Since those wicked Savers are here...

It is dangerous, right? Ah! That's right! I also got something called the Imperial Crest.

Apparently, I can use it to return to Earth.

I heard about the Imperial Crest. It's actually quite tricky to use...

Huh? Why?

Hmm... No, no. What could possibly happen?

I mean, there's no way a dimension warp would happen nearby, right?

Well, setting aside those minor worries, I think it was a good call to decide to pursue the officials.

Delric seemed to be quite high-ranking among those Savers, so he might know a lot.

And Delric was said to be at the Monastery of Four Brothers...

If we go there, we might be able to find Delric...

Delric surely knows a lot.

Heh... It's a bit difficult to talk about...

I'll just tell you what I can.

To put it simply, it was a contract to safely guide the people of Noctis Nebula to Earth.

That was the price they had to pay...

Hmm... I agreed to provide a magical offering.

But it's a bit difficult to reveal exactly what it was.

Specifying the exact payment is forbidden in magical contracts.

It's not something just anyone could offer, anyway...

Whoa!!! Wh-who are you?

Stop right there. Identify yourself.

I am the one you've all been discussing until now...

He's Delric.

Whoa?! Delric? That guy is Delric?!

...He looks younger than I expected. I heard he's over 200 years old...

Is that really important right now?

You there, did you say your name is Delric? I have two things to say to you.

First, disarm yourself and raise your hands. For safety...

... It's alright. That's just an illusion.

Huh?

…

State your reason for being here.

You must know that we're pursuing your Oracle.

Are you here to surrender or something?

Surrender?

... Heheh... I'm more interested in an unfinished old contract than in surrendering.

I'm also interested in forming a contract with a new god.

You broke the contract. You turned people into abominations!

The contract details... Well, I suppose it's difficult to go into specifics here.

The one thing that's certain is that the contract between us isn't fully completed, and I hold proof of that.

If you want it back, you'll need to fulfill the contract.

And you mentioned being interested in forming a new contract with the Human God, didn't you?

What? What contract?

Let me ask you first. Why are you so sure that pursuing the Oracle would be a disadvantage for me?

What do you mean by that...

First, it seems proper to pay my respects to the god. From here on, it would only be right to address the god directly.

My greetings to the young god.

This humble one is Delric of Marrochium, a nameless mage of the 'Starpath Tower.'

I've come to deliver a simple message.

Not every member of the Savers follows the Oracle.

I am one of those people.

Then why didn't you come to us first?

That would have been rather difficult. The Oracle's gaze reaches every corner of this land.

The Oracle has even received power from them to control the abominations.

A lengthy conversation here would be troublesome. If you would kindly visit the Monastery, I will explain everything to you.

However, I understand that it may be hard for you to trust me... If you come to the Hill of Rugali, I will provide you with proof.

What? He just says his piece and leaves!!!

... The Monastery... which one is he talking about...

If it's a Monastery...

It's probably the "Monastery of Four Brothers."

Of Four Brothers...

…

Oh, come on! Officer Yeon, you should have said "the Monastery"!

…

First, I'd like to hear what kind of place it is. Ms. Luise?

Yeah. You know about the Four Brothers, right?

Yes. Archmage Broctis and his brothers...

And I know that their reputations are quite mixed.

The Monastery of Four Brothers is where they secluded themselves in their later years.

It was originally an abandoned monastery...

But after the brothers went there, everyone started calling it the Monastery of Four Brothers.

... There are many rumors, but telling them all would take a really long time...

However, there are many stories claiming that everything about the Four Brothers is contained there.

There's even a legend that countless thieves targeted the monastery, but none ever returned...

And now, one of its masters is still alive and calling us.

For some reason, he seems intent on betraying the Oracle...

Somehow... I have a feeling there's some bullshit, no, some lies, mixed in here...

That guy, didn't he scam Ms. Luise before too?

There's no guarantee he won't lie to us again this time...

I feel uneasy about it too. I've been tricked by Delric myself.

How should I put it... Delric is really hard to trust.

But, I agree with going to the Hill of Rugali.

It's close by, and the area is open, so it will be easier to detect any threats.

If things go south, we can always escape into the Rift.

So, you've decided to go there for now, then.

Alright, give me that... what do you call it, a pad? I heard you can display maps on it.

I'll mark the map for you. If you feel like it, you can head there whenever you're ready.

There are no more abominations for now... but it seems Delric hasn't shown up yet.

He'll probably show up soon, since he wants something...

May glory be with you, young god.

Well, you've arrived safely, indeed.

Isn't that a bit too rude?

Appearing before the Human God twice as just an illusion is really pushing it.

If I carelessly reveal my true self, a mere human like me could be torn apart by the whims of a god.

Humans can do nothing but rely on the favor of a god.

Besides, you've seen the Oracle's abominations, haven't you, Princess?

The Oracle's eyes are already all over this place.

Are you really against the Oracle in the first place?

It seems like you can't openly oppose them, can you?

…

... First, let's discuss the deal you mentioned.

What is it that you want? Let's start with that.

The Earthling over there, your name was Yeon Chae-young, aren't you?

I've heard that you know nothing beyond your work. Indeed...

Tsk... How do you know about me...

Well, getting straight to business is just as well.

What I want is simple.

The Oracle's downfall. And for you to free me from the contract with him.

A different contract from the one with me?

…

I see. So, Human God, what shall we do about his demands?

... I am unable to speak about who he is.

However... if you come to me, I believe I could try a number of things with the aid of divine power.

At that time, I will be able to properly reveal everything to you.

The identity of the Oracle... and all the secrets involved.

Beyond that...

!!!!

…

Very well. At the very least, I will no longer target Luise.

If the Oracle is gone... there will be no need to target her anymore.

…

Two demands, huh...

Surely, the princess must have something she wishes from me as well... yet she's been silent about it.

What Ms. Luise desires?

It's the collateral for the contract.

... Isn't that something you and I need to resolve?

If that's the case... that works for me.

Very well. Let's work out the details of the conditions when we meet.

Young god, I shall be waiting at the Monastery of Four Brothers.

Unfortunately, I must ask for your forgiveness for not being able to move as I wish.

And... even if forces related to me take action... it is not by my will...

So please, forgive me.

It seems things are going relatively well.

... Though there's still a chance it could be a trap...

I...

... No, really. Thank you.

But... are you planning to keep moving forward?

... Alright. I'm a bit anxious about it, though...

Moving forward might not be a bad idea.

For starters...

Ugh... What is this... these tentacles...

... Human God?

I've thought about it, and I think it might be best for you to return to your original world.

These tentacles aren't from an abomination.

What? They're not from an abomination?

Then...

... I think I know who Delric sold me out to.

What? Delric... sold you, Princess, to those tentacles?

Sorry, it's difficult for me to explain in detail.

…

Ah! It must be about the contract, right?

…

Human God... this was in our ancient records. Records from thousands of years ago...

We don't know exactly what these tentacles are either, but...

At the very least, we know they're beyond human comprehension.

They are dangerous not only to humans but even to gods...

Huh? Dangerous to gods as well?

There are records stating that when those tentacles appeared in the past, many gods lost their lives.

Wait... those things... could they be what Platina mentioned, something about some outer space demon...?

It does seem kind of similar, doesn't it? Hmm... Should we ask Ms. Platina about it?

For now, unless we're certain, do not go looking for Ms. Platina.

I heard that last time, you bothered her saying you wanted an autograph.

But... isn't it hard to resist when it comes to robots? For most people, at least?

No, I can resist just fine, thank you. Ms. Platina is doing her best to recover whenever she's not in combat.

Since she is such a powerful asset, please do not interfere with her physical recovery.

Aww... okay...

And there's no evidence that these tentacles are the same as the ones from history.

Ms. Luise, there's no need to worry too much.

If necessary, the Human God will make a decision.

I know, but...

Because of me, so many people are in danger...

Exactly! We can't just abandon our duty like that, without loyalty!

Besides, we also have a purpose, to find the Oracle through Delric.

... If that is what the Human God has decided, then there's nothing I can do...

Alright. I'll do my best to help until we find Delric.

Thank you.

No, I should be the one thanking you... truly...

The Human God and the Vanguards...

No need to mention it.

We don't necessarily need to believe all of the old legends completely.

For now, let's move forward a little more, as the Human God suggested.

... This is getting troublesome.

Are you alright? Not too exhausted?

... You know that too, don't you, Human God?

Those tentacles are targeting me...

I've been offered as a sacrifice to them.

... Maybe it's best if we turn back now.

Even the Human God is getting caught up in this...

Don't say such nonsense!

Luise, you've been helping the Human God all along too!

The Human God has to help Luise too!

Rhasadina, you know that.

…

Haha... What is that...

I guess jokes aren't really your thing, Human God.

…

... Thank you.

Later... if you really want me to repay you...

N-no! ... Forget what I just said.

So, let's talk about what we're going to do next, okay?

... It might be tough...

Yeah! Luise, let's do that!

... Alright! Let's meet Delric and get that... back.

What? But... if we take it back...

It's the best option we have.

…

We've completed the scouting, Human God.

Hmm? The mood...

Ah, it's nothing! Ms. Yeon Chae-young, you just returned from scouting, right?

How's the scouting situation?

It seems the situation is getting worse.

The tentacles are reappearing, spreading around this area again.

... Truly... just like the old records...

We can manage a few more battles like this, but...

Some of the Vanguards might not be able to hold out.

Retreating all the way back to the Rift might also require significant sacrifices.

From now on, we must carefully choose our strategies.

Don't worry, I have a plan.

Delric has something that belongs to me. Once we get it back, everyone can escape safely.

Could you please explain exactly what you mean by that?

Well... I'm sorry... I'll be able to explain soon, truly.

Since it's related to magic, it's a bit hard to explain right now.

... Understood. For now, it seems reasonable to follow Ms. Luise's suggestion.

Don't worry. This is the most reliable way.

So, what we need to do is...

Just a bit to the east from here, there's a hill.

From there, we can reach Delric at the Monastery of Four Brothers using a message spell.

Let's do whatever it takes to get to that point.

Understood. Let's give it one last push.

Don't worry. Everything will be alright.

You've worked hard getting this far.

Once we get the Imperial Crest, we'll need to start the ritual immediately...

We needed an open space like this.

This level of movement is fine.

By the way, Delric was supposed to come...

Finally... you've shown up.

You brought the Imperial Crest, right?

Are you asking for the collateral back then?

I can consider this the completion of the contract, right?

Yes. The contract has been fulfilled.

... I trust you. I'll look forward to it.

…

Actually... the Imperial Crest needs to be in a pair to work properly.

My sister gave it to me so that I could use it when I met the Human God.

But... I had given the Imperial Crest as collateral for a magical contract...

Anyway, now that I've got the Imperial Crest back...

I'll be able to perform the return spell.

Alright! It's time to start the ritual, then.

Once they sense us, the abominations will swarm, so just buy me a little time.

... Are you okay?

If you got the collateral back...

It's nothing special. It's just time to give what I owe from the contract.

Once the ritual is complete, I'll leave it behind. Don't worry.

…

We're busy! The enemies will be here soon! Get ready for battle right away!

You, have to protect me.

The ritual is complete now. The Human God's Vanguards will start returning to Earth one by one.

However, since the Human God's soul is quite immense... it might take a little longer.

Yeah... it's time to go.

Honestly, I didn't want it to end up like this...

Thank you. Really...

For protecting me... through all of this...

For caring for our people and making sure they reached Earth safely.

If I knew it would end like this, I would have talked with you more.

... I'm sorry. I won't be able to go with you.

The price for safely sending off the last of the citizens was my soul.

His duty is to ensure the safety of our people.

My duty is to give my soul in exchange for Antakis's freedom.

The collateral was the Imperial Crest I held.

Most of our people are safe now. The Human God saved them.

... Besides, those tentacles' main entity would still be after me regardless of the contract, wouldn't it?

It's a relief...

Foolishly, I thought that with the Human God here, I could break that contract...

But it seems it doesn't work that way with demons.

Rhasadina, could I ask you to watch my back?

... Alright.

Thank you. I'm counting on you, Rhasadina.

…

My soul is already bound, and the magic has been cast.

The Human God will soon be able to return.

You must already know, Human God. Your presence in this world is beginning to fade, isn't it?

Your body isn't moving well either.

Even as a god, you can't defy the World's Will.

The magic of the Imperial Crest is the World's Will. Even you, Human God, cannot refuse it.

Then now... this is farewell.

Human God, have you arrived?

Why are you so late! Everyone was worried.

For now, all personnel have safely returned...

But... where is Ms. Luise...?

Oh...

Sob... How could this happen... So, the princess... passed away?

This is my fault.

I should've known something was off when Luise made that weird face while talking about using the Imperial Crest...

I just thought it was kinda strange...

Ugh, I'm such an idiot!

What are you all standing around for?

Of course, we're talking about how to save Ms. Luise!

How? Luise's soul has been taken!

The Human God has the power to interact with the souls of the fallen.

Even if Ms. Luise has died, if you make her soul into a follower...

Maybe we could bring her back to life.

Huh?

Really?!?!?!

It's not certain yet, but...

Hurry up!!! If they're offering a big soul like Luise's, they'll definitely need a ritual!

If we hurry, we'll make it!

If that is what the Human God wishes.

I'll prepare quickly! So we can leave right away.

I trust you understand the risks.

However, the Human God of this Earth cannot back down like this.

I will prepare as many supplies as possible.

After calculating the combat route, let me know immediately, and I'll be ready for departure.

This time, let's show exactly what the Earth's Human God and the Vanguards are capable of.

To those blasphemous ones.

We broke through the Rift without any losses. Now, the important thing is Ms. Luise's whereabouts.

It's just like I thought, returning on a path we've already traveled isn't that difficult!

... When did Ms. Erneste get here again...?

Huh? In a discussion about strategy, shouldn't me, the Empire's top strategist be present?

Wow... such confidence...

Ahem! Anyway, in this world, it's my job to do the briefing.

First, where is Princess Luise?

This one's easy! Last time, Delric also called us to the Monastery of Four Brothers...

A mage's base isn't easy to be moved, especially due to the prepared magic.

If they are planning to perform a ritual, it's even more likely.

The objective remains the same as before! We head into the Monastery of Four Brothers.

Makes sense.

Oh wow!!! Ms. Erneste actually looks cool for once!

Fufu…

Second, we need to decide on the route to take...

This one will need a bit of checking.

If we go down a path filled with tentacles like before...

We'll definitely get surrounded and have our progress stalled again.

Considering that time is our most important resource right now, we need to move a bit quicker.

First, we need to reach the initial point where we previously fought.

From there, we can scout the surroundings and then decide on the route.

... I think Ms. Erneste's suggestion makes sense.

Yes, I will prepare for battle immediately!

We've finished the drone scouting for the route to the Monastery!

Seeing that the Rift response density isn't too high...

It doesn't seem like there'll be an overwhelming number of abominations.

For now, there are no tentacles in sight.

It seems we can use the same route as before...

We probably can't avoid issues like ambushes or suddenly more tentacles appearing.

The tentacles could suddenly spring up from underground...

But there's no point overthinking it, right?

If that weird monster shows up, we just have to hack it down.

Still, it's something that we can't see them right now, right?

We gotta move quickly before the tentacles come!

Just like last time, we're going straight through!

You seem to really hate them...

Ugh... I really hate tentacles.

The way they move is just... lewd.

Huh? Why are you calling them lewd?

…

Whoa... "Eroneste"? Were you thinking about that stuff?

Seriously! Don't call me by that name!

Alright, alright... but more importantly...

About the Monastery of Four Brothers we're headed to...

Why bring that up now...?

Well... you said "Four Brothers," right?

What was it again? Broctis of the Dead Star, Antakis the Soulguide, Delric the Giant Slayer, and the Skywinged Dwarf...

Oh! You actually remembered that?

??? Didn't we talk about it before?

More importantly... Delric, who lived 200 years ago, showed up too...

What if the other three brothers show up? Wouldn't that be incredibly dangerous?

... That's impossible.

Especially an archmage like Broctis, wouldn't stoop to doing things like Delric...

No... Those four brothers are definitely capable of that.

Especially Broctis and Antakis, do you know how many terrible things they did to our kingdom?

The second brother, Antakis, tried to collect the souls of deceased elves

and Broctis tried to steal the Stem of the Father Tree, which is most important to us.

You're a man.

Of course! I mean, it's super unlikely, but even if it did happen, there's no way they'd try to show off in front of the Human God.

Alright. I'll get ready as scheduled!

Just let us know when you're ready, Human God.

There aren't as many abominations as I thought.

At this level, we should be able to push through quickly.

Mmm...

Mmm...

Hmm...

Huh? Ms. Osla, why are you Mmm-ing like that?

Thinking about dinner tonight?

Isn't it strange?

Excuse me? What exactly is "odd" about it?

Has anyone seen any abomination corpses besides the ones we've collected?

... Oh!

Come to think of it, why were there any corpses at all?

Exactly. Normally, abomination bodies are taken away by other abominations...

But there were a few bodies left here.

Is it because we fought them before they could take them away?

That makes sense. Then... who were they fighting to end up as corpses?

We fought as soon as we got here.

And all those strange tentacles disappeared too...

Ugh... yeah, that's true... What's going on?

Human God... what do you think this is all about?

Ah! Yes! That's definitely more urgent.

Right... let's save Luise first, no doubt.

Alright then, I'll start reconnaissance and preparations right away.

Let me know when you're ready, Human God!

There are no more abominations nearby.

Great! Now let's go in and rescue Her Highness.

No signs of a major spell being cast yet.

Good, that means we can still save Sister Luise if we hurry.

If we can, we should capture Delric and also take hold of Antakis.

Gah! When did you get here?

I just got back from checking on the supplies.

Anyway, all that's left now is to make our move into the monastery.

Please be cautious.

Delric was once called an archmage... And Antakis was regarded as even more powerful than that.

They may not be able to handle the Human God in a head-to-head, but...

They may have definitely prepared some kind of wicked trick.

Just like the Oracle...

Alright. Then I'll get ready so we can be deployed at any time.

Let us know when you're ready, Human God.