Novel Full Chapter 615: Small Things
Chapter 615: Small Things
Finally, after a few days of rest, I manage to get inside the castle without popping the bubble that keeps it stable. I glance around the interior—safe and sound.
’There are a few cracks here and there, but it’s stable enough...’ I figure Mom won’t mind a few small fractures appearing, since I actually managed to pull the entire castle out of the abyss.
Now there’s just one important thing left. I need to finish developing the "Presence Suppressor" I’ve been working on, to stop Azraelith and Mom from killing everything around them with their mere presence.
And of course, to stop me from killing everything too. After all, my magic is so dense nowadays that it would be lethal to most living beings.
"..." I whip around in shock as something easily slips through the bubble surrounding the castle. I ready myself to fight even though I’m exhausted, but who entered catches me off guard.
"Stars?" The two of them are here, which genuinely surprises me. However, both bear far more obscure traits and black hues in their clothes, eyes, and hair, as well as on their extremities like their fingertips.
’Their corruption seems to have increased quite a bit...’ Amiya is still riddled with ridiculous debuffs, so it makes sense. Even without me doing anything, Amiya is so depraved that she slowly and unintentionally amps up the corruption.
"Hello, Pandora. We came to see you since you’re in a neutral zone where we normally reside," the taller one says to me with a somewhat fractured smile. She clearly isn’t as enthused as she’s trying to appear.
"Do you have something to say? I’m kind of busy, and I doubt you came just to visit. By the way, you look awful. That darkness staining your body so deeply is almost disgusting." I’m not saying it to insult her, but realistically.
"..." The two exchange a glance for a moment and seem to decide to ignore what I said.
"Amiya is close to evolving, so I’m going to die. My disciple here will become the new Star, and Amiya will become a disciple of the Star. We just figured it was good to warn you."
"Besides, the universe has become more stable, which is pleasant for both of us—"
"Okay, okay, enough with the gratitude. I know I’m incredible." I lower myself, placing my knees on the floor because I’m much taller than the Stars. My ten meters in height in my true form is pretty large, truth be told.
"You’ve become... quite different." The two study my body analytically, and I agree with them. It’s probably very different from what they’re used to.
"This is the real me. As for Amiya, I care very little about that girl. You can take her with you if you want. I fulfilled our deal and didn’t kill her." I’m someone of my word, and I kept my word. I even kept her safe within my castle.
’The two of them look quite tasty...’ The mouth on my belly licks its "lips" with desire. I must say, I’d love to sample a piece of them.
"O-Of course... so should we leave? Or do you need something? Considering our brief alliance and your current situation, we judged that perhaps we should help you a little." They notice the mouth on my belly craving a taste of them and shiver.
’Help...’ I ponder any sort of help the Stars could give me. They’re very good at spatial magic, dimensional magic, and anti-monster attacks, but none of that is very useful to me at present.
"I think I have a job for you two." I scoop them up with my hand, keeping them standing on my palm as I start walking toward the castle entrance.
"I’m currently trying to create either a spell or a relic that can suppress the destructive effect of my mother’s and sister’s auras. If you two have anything useful to add on the subject, I’d love to know." I make my current focus clear to them, leading them to the throne room, which is where Mom should be with Evangeline.
"We can help. Although we aren’t the best at hiding direct power, we are still good at reducing any damage or harmful effects that come from the power emitted by the body." They nod in unison as the Star gives me a decent answer.
"Great. By the way, would you two like to get involved in the war against the goddesses on my side?"
"No." The two deny it immediately, and unfortunately, I understand why. Even though I didn’t expect much, it didn’t hurt to ask. Both are neutral and are "invaders" not native to this universe. Obviously, neither of them wants to pick a fight with anyone, besides the fact that they’re pretty weak.
"I’ll respect your neutrality for now." I reach the throne room and open the door, immediately seeing Mom seated on the throne. Mom glances at the two in my hand and seems to roll her eyes.
"The Stars, I see. What did they come here to do?" Mom speaks with a certain distaste for them, and they shrink back a little. The Stars are REALLY quite weak. It makes sense that Mom scares them.
"They came to help a bit, as well as to secretly ascertain what I still think about the contract I made with them. But I think they’ve already received the answer they sought." Obviously, they sensed my increase in power.
In other words, I could simply decide that the contract holds no value, and then they couldn’t do anything about it. In the past, I was weak. They could have killed me if I broke our agreement.
But now, I can easily kill them. Therefore, they’re uneasy about what I’ll do with their poor protégé, Amiya. But I’m still going to uphold the deal. I won’t kill Amiya as was agreed, and I’ll maintain the "friendship" we have.
"Perfect, then. They’re going to help contain the destruction we cause, right?" Mom hits the nail on the head. Even she knows that the world is now the most fragile of all panes of glass, liable to shatter at the faintest contact.
And that effect is already happening. This galaxy we’re currently in hasn’t been snuffed out only because both Mom and Azraelith are inside this bubble that stops them from affecting the outside.
"Yes, Mother. I’m going to try to get their help solving this problem as soon as we leave this ’neutral zone,’ which is dangerous because other goddesses can access it." I confirm what she’s asking.
"..." Mom rises from the throne, still in her form of only three meters, probably so she can enjoy herself with Evangeline without crushing her.
She approaches the Stars, whom I set down on the floor. They stand face to face as the Star averts her gaze to the ground, and the Disciple of the Star hides behind the Star.
"Are you going to get in my way?"
"N-No... I’ll return to my place as soon as possible..." The Star gives a very evasive answer, typical of a coward who can’t sustain conflict.
"..." I stare at the two of them. It’s funny because it reminds me of animals. A larger animal asserting dominance over a smaller one. Mom looks at me and gives me a cold stare, as if she knows exactly what I’m thinking.
"Keep it that way. But if you get in my path, there won’t be another chance for you. We’re not in the neutral universe or anywhere else." The death threat Mom delivers hangs heavy in the air as she returns to the throne.
’The Star seems quite bothered.’ I hope she understands. This is how we are. If we were to put it simplistically, Mom and I are "evil" goddesses, the Stars are neutral, and goddesses like Elowen are "good." Labels far too simple to truly define us.
But they simplify our behavior into something more logical. The Star says nothing, merely waits.
"Stars, I’ll take you to a special room here in the castle. We can start working there. Also, thanks for the help." I show her some gratitude, starting to walk toward the door.
They begin to float, coming my way and following slowly. From what I can sense, Azraelith, Violet, and Baeh’Wa are in a room on the other side of the castle. I’m curious about what they’re discussing.
"Pandora, you are a unique goddess." The Stars catch my attention, making the large floating eye turn to face them, but I don’t slow my pace.
"Why?" I question without any interest in this. I know well how unique I am as a goddess.
"You are neutral too, so I don’t quite understand why you agree to follow through with something as chaotic as a divine war."
"...Neutral... As a goddess, I am neutral. The apocalypse makes no distinction between good or evil." That’s how the apocalypse works.
"However, I am also selfish, and I choose what I want to do. And if I want to do something that isn’t neutral, I’ll do it. Being a neutral goddess won’t bar my personal desires."
"Besides, killing goddesses is also my duty. I choose whether that should happen sooner or later." I stop walking, crouching down to the Star’s height.
"You’ve also overstayed your limit. As the goddess of the apocalypse, I should kill you right now." When I say that, her mouth falls open in shock until she grasps the reality of it.
"Ah... you’re right... I have overstayed my time... thank you for your benevolence in not ending my existence..."
"Yes, you have overstayed your time. So don’t question my ’neutrality,’ because if I were neutral based on duty, I would take your life right this instant. Now, don’t make me stop again to face you. It’s annoying having to keep bending down because you’re small." I stand up again, resuming my walk to guide her to my research room in the castle.