Ch.172Chapter 172

The Appearance of Gaia.

When she first appeared and saved my life, I momentarily felt a sense of attraction due to the suspension bridge effect, but once I calmed down, she still seemed like nothing more than an eccentric being with strange sensibilities.

While I had this odd feeling upon seeing her, I also had one question.

I could understand why Demeter hadn’t emerged, as she was guarding the dead emperor’s side, but what had this one been doing all this time without any mention?

If she was classified among mystics as an Outer God of the Ideatic Realm, even her slightest movements should have left records.

Perhaps noticing the questioning expression on my face, Gaia scratched her head with her finger and said:

“Well, if I let the Princess move freely, humanity would be in danger, so I’ve been sort of keeping her contained here.”

Hmm.

So she’s saying that after hearing what I said, she realized something and is now somewhat restraining the Princess’s power.

Even though only about ten years had passed—not a particularly long time for a Great Race member—she had apparently been unable to do anything and had just been spending boring time until I arrived here.

Hmm.

“You brought this on yourself.”

“Kuhuk.”

Oh my.

I accidentally blurted out what I was thinking.

Well, it’s the truth, isn’t it?

Considering what she did, she should take that comment with a smile.

Though she looked slightly wronged, she didn’t seem particularly offended, suggesting her claim about deciding to believe me wasn’t a lie.

“Tanthyn!”

“Woof! Human, are you okay?!”

Just then, the other Great Race members rushed toward me.

Having witnessed my nearly dangerous situation, their expressions were colored with concern.

Since it happened due to my carelessness, I nodded while twisting my lips in embarrassment.

After confirming I was fine, the Great Race members turned their attention to Gaia behind me.

Among them, Fiore’s expression turned vicious, and Apta had an unusually cold look in his eyes.

“Why is that one here?”

“Apparently, he’s been restraining the Princess.”

“Him?”

Fiore glared at Gaia with obvious disgust.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen her show such dislike toward another living being before.

Gaia, who had been showing emotional expressions until just now, had already returned to a blank face.

Was that side of him something he only showed to me?

“Anyway, I’ve done what I came for, so I’ll be going now. Otherwise, she’ll cause trouble again, as expected.”

By “causing trouble,” I assume he meant the Princess.

“Hey, hey! If you’re leaving, take us with you!”

“That won’t be possible. I’m barely masking your presence as it is. If I were to carry you all, she would immediately sense your presence.”

After saying that, Gaia stuck out his tongue at me with a mischievous expression that only I could see, then flew away.

Ugh, seriously.

He acted like he’d matured, but he hadn’t at all.

When this is all over, I’ll flick his forehead so hard he’ll spin like a top.

As I was grinding my teeth in frustration, I heard the Vice Commander’s footsteps approaching.

“Tanthyn, are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Are you injured anywhere, Vice Commander?”

“Thanks to you, I’m not.”

The Vice Commander smiled faintly, which relieved me somewhat.

From a distance, it had clearly been a dangerous situation.

“But judging by the number of Outer Gods climbing the walls, what just happened is merely the beginning.”

“Sigh.”

The Vice Commander sighed gloomily, but.

Isn’t this exactly why I summoned those four deities?

“Bell, Fiore, Zumiya.”

At my call, all three turned their attention to me.

We had already discussed this beforehand, so I didn’t need to explain anything to them, but I called them again deliberately to inform the Vice Commander.

“Vice Commander.”

“Don’t tell me.”

“That’s right. They will be our powerful allies.”

The Vice Commander made an expression that seemed somewhat uncomfortable, but soon nodded with a sigh.

I wonder how these beings appear in others’ eyes.

I wanted to quickly extract Oko and experience it, even if just for a moment.

Alright.

There was no more time to waste.

“Apta, come here.”

“Yes.”

I beckoned to Apta, who remained alone in place, and he nodded and slowly walked over.

The Huntsman and Asti, who had finally finished tidying up, approached as well.

The four of us gathered together.

Looking at our formation, I couldn’t help but smile.

“Why are you smiling?”

In response to the Huntsman’s question, I smiled gently and said:

“It’s just that the original members are all gathered now.”

“If you put it that way, shouldn’t we exclude that maid?”

The Huntsman made a disdainful expression, but Asti simply kept her eyes closed, paying no attention.

“And we should change that one’s appearance too.”

When the Huntsman pointed at Apta, Apta tilted his head, then nodded and snapped his fingers.

He transformed into a familiar appearance that felt genuinely nostalgic.

“Huntsman, despite what you say, you must have missed this form quite a bit?”

“…Was he always this chatty?”

“No. He wasn’t like this when he was in his Outer God state. I think it might be part of this form’s concept.”

“Come on, don’t be like that! It’s the final battle, let’s go without any complaints!”

The Huntsman nodded with a sigh at Apta, who had transformed into Aghartha.

“…So this is why I stayed in Rondan, because of this damn team.”

“What?! What did you say?!”

“Shut up! Hurry up and move forward.”

“No?! I need to hear that again?!”

…Wait.

At this point, isn’t this really a different personality?

What was it…

Is it just my imagination that I’m reminded of the thousand-faced god from the world created by the Love Creator?

Well, anyway, Apta must be acting this way because he likes the Huntsman.

Thinking that, I spread my wings and prepared to fly.

Alright.

Let’s really go now.

“Ta-Tanthyn!”

Just then, I heard what sounded like a slightly tearful voice from behind.

All four of us turned our heads simultaneously toward the voice, and let out stupid sounds like “Ah.”

“D-don’t leave me behind…! I’m still here…!”

Come to think of it, I left the Princess on the roof while fighting earlier.

I approached the Princess, who was making a pitiful expression and earnestly expressing her loneliness, and carried her as I flew.

Distance to the Princess.

Approximately 180km.

#

The firepower of the Vice Commander’s team, now joined by the Great Race members, had become overwhelmingly strong.

Proving this, despite flying at a speed that would make high-speed trains envious, the Vice Commander was keeping pace with us.

It seemed largely thanks to the dragon mounts summoned by Zumiya.

How should I put it.

There was something refreshingly novel about seeing humans and deities joining forces to fight against other deities.

During all this time, I had thought it might be a situation I would never see again.

The fact that we were actually achieving this made me feel strangely emotional.

Our speed had now surpassed the Vice Commander’s.

Because of this, the deities’ attention began to focus on us as well.

Of course, with Asti and the Huntsman intercepting in the air, the Outer Gods couldn’t easily approach us.

“Huntsman, you’ve definitely gotten stronger? Somehow you seem more refreshed than before.”

“Couldn’t you use the energy from that constantly moving mouth to help deal with the Outer Gods?”

“I’m afraid not! The rule is that I can’t interfere in human affairs.”

“Then what was that thing you did in the cave before?”

“That’s why I didn’t kill them! I only gave them shame.”

Listening to Apta and the Huntsman’s usual banter, I was reminded of our time in the underground prison, and I found myself getting sentimental.

After some time had passed.

When we had reached about halfway, we landed in an area with clustered buildings and let Asti off.

“Wait here, and when the Vice Commander reaches this point, provide support.”

“Yes.”

“Sorry, I feel bad making you work alone again.”

At my words, Asti lowered her gaze expressionlessly, then suddenly spread her arms.

“Then let me recharge with Raedan energy when you return.”

Uh.

Um.

…No matter how many times I hear it, I just can’t get used to such embarrassing lines.

“Sure… I’ll do whatever you want when this is all over.”

“Heehee.”

Asti quietly laughed, then waved at me first.

Seeing that, I quietly nodded and took off again with the remaining three.

Maybe because our numbers had decreased.

I could definitely feel that my body was lighter, and our flying speed noticeably increased.

Wait.

Come to think of it, doesn’t Apta not need to cling to me?

“Apta, can’t you fly on your own?”

“Ehhh?! How could you be so cold? You’re holding the other two without complaint!”

“Well, I wouldn’t exactly call this ‘holding,’ and besides, it’s not efficient, is it?”

I thought I’d made a reasonable point, but Apta just lowered his head calmly, then suddenly transformed only his head back to his original appearance.

With Aghartha’s outfit but Apta’s face, he looked at me with sparkling eyes.

“Hold me, Raedan.”

“You really are something else.”

He really does whatever he wants with that expressionless face.

That playful deity.