So, in the end, I ended up calling the Slayer by her na.
Zmiya.
It felt like I might have crossed a bridge I couldn’t return from, but honestly… maybe it was fine now.
The Scribe was practically omnipotent.
Nutricha was basically my friend.
The Cook was like a mom.
And Bell… well, Bell was just a dog.
I’d already gone beyond acceptable limits with two or more Outer Gods, so crossing further boundaries didn’t seem like it would change much.
But at the sa ti, it felt like this was the final line. If I went further… it’d really be over.
“Husband.”
Zmiya still called the sa thing.
Given the special aning behind the word “husband,” it was unlikely she’d co up with anything more intimate than that.
“Husband, you still don’t seem to understand why everyone wants to be close to you.”
“Why they want to stay near ?”
Wasn’t it just… pure possessiveness?
According to the Saint’s explanations, that seed like the simplest answer.
As I thought that, Zmiya gave a knowing smile, as if she had expected my response.
“Although we quarrel around you, we all share the sa purpose.”
“What purpose?”
“To befriend humans who misunderstand Outer Gods.”
Zmiya said this with a faint, sorrowful smile.
To befriend humans, huh?
I rembered how Zmiya had descended to this world, curious about humanity and eager to form connections.
Of course, her nature as an Outer God had made that impossible.
“So, you want to use to get closer to other humans?”
“Well… if you put it that way, the result might be similar, but that’s not the core reason,” she replied, shaking her head in slight disappointnt.
“Since you’ll learn soon enough, I’ll just summarize. Each of us oversees a domain, or in terms humans might use, a ‘concept,’ as that mystic researcher once described it.”
And with that, Zmiya began to delve into a deeper explanation.
It felt odd hearing such an intellectual discussion from soone who usually sched ways to kidnap . The cognitive dissonance was real.
“…What is that expression?!”
“No, no, keep going. I’m listening.”
“It was a very unpleasant look, husband.”
“Really, it wasn’t anything like that.”
Outer Gods and their sharp senses…
To smooth things over, I exaggeratedly focused on her appearance, pretending to look at her with admiration. That seed to fluster her enough to make her continue.
“Ahem. In any case, think of it this way: forming a deep bond with another being is akin to ‘fusion.’”
“Fusion?”
Did she an two Outer Gods rging into one?
I suddenly imagined Bell and Fiore combining into so kind of monstrous patchwork creature.
“Whatever you’re imagining, it’s not like that,” she said, reading my mind.
“Ah. Good.”
Right.
Fiore’s dignified deanor and Bell’s hyperactive personality combined? That was a terrifying thought.
“To put it simply, consider how the weed worked with that flower brat to completely seal off their space. In such cases, their powers can mix, creating strange phenona in their surroundings—or in their domains. That’s what we call fusion.”
Hmm.
It was an abstract concept, but I was starting to get it.
“So, if their abilities are similar, the effect amplifies, and if they’re completely different, they mix to create sothing unique?”
“Exactly!”
Zmiya smiled brightly, making an “okay” gesture with her fingers.
I see.
So the closer two beings are, the stronger this effect becos, leading to the manifestation of unique abilities.
“And how does this relate to people wanting to be close to ?”
“Hmm? That’s because you’re the singularity, husband.”
A singularity?
Was she referring to Coward Mode?
…Wait, how did Zmiya know about that?
I gave her a bewildered look, and she quickly covered her mouth.
“Ah! I almost broke my promise to the Scribe!”
“What promise?”
“T-that’s classified! For now, just know this: we’re pooling our powers through you to stop that loner!”
What the…?
Why was everyone hiding things from ?
Not just Fiore—now Zmiya, too?
I let out a deep sigh.
Still, I got the gist of what she ant.
They wanted to grow stronger through , defeat the Snowy Mountain Giant, and break down the barriers between Outer Gods and humans.
But could defeating the Giant really accomplish that?
The real issue was ntal contamination. As long as humans couldn’t interact with Outer Gods without losing their sanity, cooperation was impossible.
I didn’t know anymore.
The complexity of the topic was starting to give a headache.
“Anyway, I’ve said all I wanted to say. Now that my business is done, I’ll return you to your world, husband.”
As Zmiya stood, I followed suit.
Looking around her empty domain, I realized why it was so barren—she hated creating things like her Young Dragons, only for them to vanish later. It was easier to leave the space empty.
She was the complete opposite of Fiore in that sense.
As Zmiya’s hand began to glow, signaling my return, I gave her a small smile.
“Zmiya, you know, in the human world, so people redecorate their hos every year.”
“…?”
“The Young Dragons are living beings, so it’s a bit different. But even if sothing disappears like a fleeting bubble, if it leaves behind good mories, isn’t that enough?”
Staying in such a void could drive anyone mad.
Even Outer Gods, for all their divinity, weren’t immune to that kind of emptiness.
Zmiya seed surprised by my words, her lips pursed slightly, before she gave a warm smile.
“You’re truly a good man, husband. No wonder I’ve fallen for you.”
“Uh… right.”
“Thanks to you, I feel encouraged. Perhaps I’ll try redecorating my space.”
Zmiya laughed, her voice bright.
“Just as you said—like redecorating for fun.”
With those words, a light enveloped .
When I ca to, I was back at the branch.
“So, I’ve returned.”
My relationship with Zmiya had been nded.
…Now it was ti to get back to work.
Since I was preparing for a long journey, I was at the headquarters of the Knights Order, filling out a set of official docunts.
The Commander explained that since I’d be absent for an extended period, this was part of the process to ensure a smooth handover.
In essence, the conclusion was clear: the Commander would officially take over as the leader of the headquarters.
For so reason, the Deputy Commander’s office had been relocated to a space within the Commander’s chambers, but Marenne, the Deputy Commander, was nowhere to be seen.
“Uh, Commander?”
“What is it?”
“Where is the Deputy Commander?”
“Who knows.”
I noticed it then—sothing peculiar in the Commander’s eyes.
A sticky, lingering emotion.
“She’s probably exhausted from all the work she’s been doing.”
“Uh-huh.”
I stopped myself from habitually asking what kind of work.
…Sohow, I got the sense that knowing wouldn’t do any good.
Still, judging by how my romantic radar was blaring in my head, the situation seed… favorable.
I struggled to suppress the smile creeping onto my face.
anwhile, I was having a bit of trouble filling out the paperwork.
Specifically, the section requiring to state my reason for the journey.
If I wrote, “I’m going to investigate the Observer,” in a system that didn’t even acknowledge the Observer’s existence, the request would be rejected imdiately.
A knight’s absence was a critical matter for Londan at the mont.
Ugh.
I hadn’t expected my role as a knight to hold back like this.
Noticing my struggle, the Commander rubbed their chin thoughtfully before letting out a small snort and speaking.
“So, you’re planning to go to the capital of the Empire. It’s going to be a dangerous journey.”
“…Yes, but I have a compelling reason to go.”
“And one you can’t explain?”
“…That’s correct.”
“Hmm. Normally, without a proper reason, I wouldn’t grant permission.”
Despite those words, the Commander snatched the paper from my hands and hastily scrawled sothing in the reason section before tossing it onto the pile of approved docunts.
I glanced over and saw the reason they’d written: “Commander’s discretion.”
That phrase ant the Commander was taking full responsibility for whatever happened.
“Commander…?”
“The pursuit of truth is comndable. To block the steps of one walking the shining path of chivalry with re bureaucracy would be laughable, wouldn’t it?”
The Commander chuckled softly as they spoke.
These romantic fools, I thought, blinking back sudden tears.
“Thank you, Commander!”
“Go on now.”
Just as I was about to leave, the door slamd open with a loud bang.
Soone stord in, walking right up to the Commander and placing a piece of paper in front of them.
“I’m going to the Empire’s capital. I’d appreciate your permission.”
The voice was familiar.
I turned to look and found myself face-to-face with soone I knew.
“Oh?”
“…”
While I was startled, the other person seed entirely unfazed, rely glancing at briefly before redirecting their attention to the Commander.
They pointed at and spoke.
“Can I bring this one along?”
The hunter said this with a distinctly mischievous smile, her gaze locking onto with an almost predatory intent.
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