It was more than bustling—it was chaotic. The sound of a countless crowd gathering and murmuring, along with what sounded like a group prayer, filled the air. The atmosphere buzzed with confusion, joy, and exultation in an incomprehensible jumble of languages. What on earth was going on?
Alterra, looking just as bewildered, paused mid-bite of something resembling galbitang and glanced outside. She would have sensed it more clearly than us, but even we could feel vibrations that seemed to come from the footsteps of the throng outside. Were these the tremors she detected through the ground?
“There’s an incredible amount of noise coming from all the people moving outside. What is it? Is there some kind of festival happening?”
Maybe it was a festival… but then again, the direction of the voices pointed toward us, so it didn’t feel like random passersby were just chatting loudly. Moreover, the content of their words was strange.
Goddess… Radiance. Words like those weren’t typical for an ordinary festival; they belonged to religious ceremonies. Could it be that some religious event was scheduled to take place at this cathedral?
How could things get so twisted? While berating myself inwardly, I still wanted to know what was happening, so I stepped out of the kitchen. Yuna, Akashi, and even the priest appeared equally confused, muttering among themselves about what might be going on.
I was about to ask if they thought we should just go outside and see when… I hesitated, reluctant to open the door and face whatever bizarre scene awaited us out there.
“Just hypothetically speaking, Myungho… If this has anything to do with something you’ve done, what are we going to do about it?”
Alterra casually conjured a rock greatsword from the ground and posed the worst-case scenario question. It wasn’t entirely impossible. After all, the cathedral was one of the places closest to God outside of holy sites. Perhaps my transgressions had been exposed.
But if that were true, why wasn’t there any mention of dark magic or burning at the stake? Instead, the tone of the voices suggested reverence towards something sacred.
“The holy emblem… It’s glowing… Goddess, what is going on here? Why are people gathering at the cathedral… What exactly is happening?”
“Myungho, Alterra! Have you two done something strange? Or maybe Akashi? Why are humans suddenly swarming like bees?”
“Quiet down, Yuna! Can’t you see I’m thinking? This unsettling vibe… Hmm. No way. There’s no real reason for that to happen anyway. But still… why? How?”
No one seemed particularly helpful in this situation. Everyone looked just as clueless. I’d never seen the holy emblem shine before either. What could this possibly mean?
“There’s no need to worry. There’s no sign of exposure, and the words I can hear aren’t ominous. They’re talking about the Goddess, blessings, radiance… stuff like that. Relax. Even if something did get exposed, it’s unrelated to why everyone’s gathered here.”
I whispered quietly enough for only Alterra to hear, and though she seemed skeptical, she reabsorbed her rock greatsword back into the ground—not because I asked her to, but because she was probably pondering how to fix the dent it left behind.
Whatever it was, there was definitely something significant happening beyond the door. Glancing out the window, I saw people prostrating themselves in worship on the ground. Had the Pope arrived? There didn’t seem to be a clear reason for such a visit. Was it because Alterra was injured? That explanation felt plausible.
…Looks like we’ll have to go out and check. Staying put wouldn’t resolve anything, and if anything, the commotion was growing louder. Curiosity began to overpower my fear when whispers of a divine descent reached my ears.
The fact that people were uttering potentially blasphemous statements indicated this wasn’t an ordinary event. Exchanging a glance with Alterra, I steeled myself and opened the door. Immediately, a dazzling pillar of light greeted me.
And standing at its center was a woman staring directly at us. Two horned horses flanked her protectively, and on the back of one rested a familiar sword.
…Wait. That’s the sword Alterra bought from Soleo.
“I’ve called to you many times, yet it seems my voice hasn’t reached you. Is it because you carry dragon blood, or perhaps… the mark of an evil deity blocks my words?”
“You’ve called? No, I’ve never seen you before. Who are you?”
Alterra instinctively guarded herself against the woman before us. Her demeanor, her voice, even the unicorns by her side—all of it seemed oddly familiar. Yes, I remembered now… when I was dragged here…
“Is there no respect in you? Are you truly the child of a dragon, and your other half a witch? Would you understand if I told you I am the deity your lover worships?”
“…Goddess?”
Though I didn’t hold much reverence, the golden heart on the back of my hand tingling confirmed her identity. Whether she was truly the Goddess or merely someone possessed by her, she was undoubtedly divine.
If she came for me, why hadn’t she sought me out until now? That remained unclear.
—
This woman before me was really the faith deity of humanity? Despite her regal bearing… her? Why had such a lofty figure come for me?
Tension gripped my arms tightly. What was she planning to do by approaching me? From the start, I couldn’t fathom why she would seek me out now when she had ignored me until this moment.
“Yes, pleased to meet you, Hero. Many things have happened since our last encounter—or rather, lack thereof. You’ve held hands with a woman you shouldn’t, obtained the final legacy of a forgotten kin, and formed ties with someone who partly belongs to Gaia. Though I wish we could sit and chat calmly, the matter at hand doesn’t allow for that luxury.”
Her tone and expression were gentle, but the implications were far from it. The Goddess knew about Myungho’s alliance with demons. Channeling mana into my heart, I prepared to cover my body in scales at a moment’s notice.
“…What’s your agenda?”
Whatever happens, I need to make sure Myungho gets out safely. I never trusted this so-called Goddess, and now, I wanted nothing more than to tear her apart if given the chance.
“I come bearing no ill intent. In fact, if anything, I’m here to assist you. I haven’t come to condemn sinners or punish former kin turned traitors. I’ve come to bestow power upon your weapon.”
Not me, but my weapon? Isn’t that essentially the same thing?
“Are you curious? Allow me to explain. At this time, I cannot grant power directly to the offspring of Gaia and my own child. However, if I call upon someone else to refine it and mix borrowed power into a weapon, then it isn’t a violation of any pact.”
I still don’t understand what she’s saying. Even if she explains further, it’ll likely remain incomprehensible. So, I resolved to ask only what I absolutely needed to know.
At the Goddess’s gesture, the greatsword tied to the unicorn’s back floated upward. She then traced something onto the blade with her finger while I pressed her for answers.
“…Why me?”
“Because of your strength. We need a warrior who can cross battlefields alone, even under a hail of bullets—a warrior who carries half of my blood.”
So, after ignoring me for so long, there’s finally a reason for her attention. Now, I wondered what that reason might be.
“Several of Gaia’s members have been corrupted by impious crows. They plan to abandon their birth star and follow them to the moon. Fearing defeat and submission, they choose to flee from their duties. Don’t you find it ridiculous? Thus, I empower you. Use this strength to sever the wings of crows attempting to soar into the night sky.”
Do gods flee? And from whom?
“…Why are they fleeing? From whom?”
Myungho, intrigued despite himself, didn’t speak but edged closer to me.
“They fear disappearing at the hands of humanity. The wise sun has submitted to me, and most of Gaia remains silent. Yet, some smaller entities of Gaia have lost all judgment and seek escape. Futile efforts, for there will come a day when no place will remain untouched by human hands.”
Gaia represents nature, so does this mean nature itself is trying to escape humanity? Meanwhile, the pillar of light had grown large enough to envelop our entire group.
“Take it. This is a sword imbued with divinity, capable of cleaving through sacred barriers. It will easily crush any servants of Gaia who stand in your way. And I’ve heard your goal is to slay your father—this will aid you in achieving that as well. As I said, this benefits you.”
“…What if I refuse?”
Though I had no intention of doing so, the Goddess handed me the sword with a simple reply.
“You already know the answer. Neither do I wish for it to come to that.”
She lied without batting an eyelid.
“Go forth, warrior. Fulfill your duty. Sever the wings of crows and bring the corrupted Gaia back to the earth. Then act as you see fit.”
With that, the Goddess delivered her message and disappeared in a radiant glow.
“What… was that? You guys met the human goddess and had a conversation we couldn’t hear…”
As soon as the light faded, Yuna’s bewildered voice broke the silence.
