Two days have passed since we decided to participate in the Sacred Tree Festival, and today is the 18th day of the month of Fire.
Lunamaria will check the exact date of the Sacred Tree Festival and mentioned that she would prepare everything we need, including arranging a flying dragon for us to ride. For now, all we have to do is wait.
As a side note, thanks to the book Kuro wrote earlier, Kusunoki-san and Yuzuki-san are now able to use their magic power successfully.
I’ve heard that they’re starting to practice the actual activation of their Magic today, but… since they, like me, come from another world, I wonder if they’ll be able to use some unusual kind of magic too?
As I walked down the corridor, lost in thought, I made my way to the dining room. I had woken up early and expected to be alone, but when I entered, I saw someone inside. Reflexively, I bowed my head.
[Good morning.]
[Umu, you’re quite early. That’s a good attitude to have, Miyama. Humans have a finite amount of time, so don’t waste it.]
[………………]
I shut the door in silence.
That’s strange… I have this odd feeling that someone who shouldn’t be here is here. Did I open the wrong door? That must be it… Alright, let’s try again with more confidence!
[……What the heck are you doing?]
[That should be my line… Why are you here, “Chronois-san”…]
Yes, sitting at the table in the dining room is a Supreme God who’s supposed to rarely visit the Human Realm, except during the Festival of Heroes… the Goddess of Time, Chronois-san. And there she was, casually drinking tea like it was the most normal thing in the world.
As for how I address her, it’s simply that I’d been calling the God of Creation, Shiro-san, by her name in our previous conversations, and Chronois-san firmly stated that she wouldn’t allow me to use “-sama” when referring to her. So, I ended up just calling her by her name—Chronois-san.
[Me? I’m here at Lilia’s request. I told her to call me if any trouble arose… Well, I didn’t expect it to happen this quickly, nor did I imagine it would be because of the worst-case scenario…]
[No way, did something happen!?]
[…………….]
[Eh? Ummm… Chronois-san?]
When I heard Chronois-san speaking as if something urgent had come up, I quickly asked, thinking it must be something that would require the presence of Chronois-san, a Supreme God… But Chronois-san gave me a look of sheer disbelief, and as her red and blue heterochromatic eyes turned toward me, she let out a sigh.
[Well, I suppose I can understand the trouble Lilia is going through with you. I came here because of that situation you got yourself into… I heard you became acquainted with the Death King?]
[Eh? Ah, yes. Isis-san and I became friends two days ago.]
[That power of yours, the one that blesses you with connections, might as well be a curse. How is it that you found the Death King so quickly…?]
[N-No, it was really just a coincidence that I met Isis-san…]
[I know that. But still, it’s unusual for someone to get to know two of the Six Kings in less than twenty days… especially the Death King. It’s not like the Underworld King dragged you into meeting her, right?]
[……Yeah, well.]
That’s a fair point, and one I can’t really refute.
When I think about it carefully, the people I’ve met since coming to this world are some of the most powerful individuals around, many holding the highest positions of power… You could call it fortunate in some cases, but it could just as easily be seen as unfortunate. I can understand why someone might describe it as a curse.
But let me add one more thing—aren’t you also part of that group of outrageous people I’ve met?
[Moreover, to think you’ve been acquainted with the Death King of all people… If it were someone like the World King, she would have been easier to talk to…]
[Is Isis-san really that feared by everyone?]
[She’s pure, both in good and bad ways. That’s also why she’s much harder to deal with than the other Six Kings. There are many times when she just doesn’t make sense.]
[………………..]
Hearing Chronois-san’s words left me with a complicated feeling.
I know I haven’t exchanged many words with Isis-san yet, but I don’t believe she’s a bad person.
Isis-san seemed truly happy when she spoke with me… That suggests she’s probably been lonely all this time, and I could feel that from the emotions I sensed through my Sympathy Magic.
Feared as a monster by both the Demon Realm and the Human Realm due to her magic power of death, and constantly being looked at with fear—I can’t even imagine what it must have been like for her.
That’s why I couldn’t agree with Chronois-san’s comment about Isis being bad, so I remained silent.
Chronois-san nodded once, looking somewhat impressed, and at that very moment, a blue bird appeared in front of me.
[……Eh?]
[……A hummingbird… Good grief, speak of the devil and she appears, huh.]
[Errr, what’s this?]
[Think of it as a convenient way to communicate over long distances using magic power, like a short letter delivered by messenger birds. Touch it, and her message should appear.]
As I’m startled by the sudden appearance of the blue bird, Chronois-san gives me a quick explanation.
Huh? A hummingbird… Where have I heard that before? Didn’t Kuro mention it?
As I tilt my head, trying to recall where I’ve heard that term, the blue bird disappears when I touch it, and pale blue magical letters appeared in the air.
“……Today…… Afternoon…… I’m coming…… to meet you.”
That’s freaking scary!!! Did she just send me a cursed letter!?
A-Anyway, it seems like this message came from Isis-san, and it looks like she’s coming to visit today.
Chronois-san glanced at the message and muttered, “I guess it’s a good decision for me to come, huh,” before standing up from her seat and leaving the dining room, heading toward Lilia-san’s room.
It’s already past noon, and Lilia-san, Lunamaria-san, Chronois-san, and I are gathered at the entrance of the mansion, waiting to greet Isis-san’s arrival.
It’s a stark contrast to when we welcomed Kuro—this time, we’re a much smaller group. There aren’t many people here, as Chronois-san ordered the feeble-minded and those with little magic power to stay in their rooms, including Kusunoki-san and Yuzuki-san.
I’m not sure if it’s because Lilia-san and Lunamaria-san are both feeling anxious, but they keep adjusting their posture with pale expressions, clearly on edge, as they wait for Isis-san to arrive at any moment.
[…You don’t have to worry, Lilia. Just follow my lead.]
[C-Chronois-sama…]
Chronois-san calms Lilia-san with words that only an ikemen would say, and Lilia-san looks at her with eyes that seem to be full of trust.
It seems like Lilia-san and Chronois-san share some sort of unspoken understanding from their previous conversations… I’m not sure if it’s because they sympathize with each other over their troubles with the higher-ups, but it’s clear that Lilia-san relies on Chronois-san quite a lot.
As we waited in the tense atmosphere, a bluish-white light appeared around the gate, and through that light, Isis-san emerged.
Dressed in the same gothic-lolita style dress as before, she began to float toward me, moving slowly.
I don’t know if it’s because my body has gotten used to her magic power of death since the last time we met, but I don’t feel the same way I did back then… Still, looking at Lilia-san and Lunamaria-san, who were trembling repeatedly, it seems her magic power of death still reaches us, even from this distance.
And, like the ikemen she is, Chronois-san naturally steps in, moving Lilia-san behind her to protect her from Isis-san’s magic power of death.
When Isis-san notices me, a happy expression spreads across her face, and she quickens her pace to reach me.
When Isis-san notices me, she has a happy expression on her face as she speeds up a bit to get in front of me.
[…Kaito… Good afternoon… I’m sorry… for the sudden visit… I’m not a bother, am I?]
[Good afternoon… It’s not like you’re a bother or anything. It’s good to see you again, Isis-san.]
[…Ahh… Unnn.]
Isis-san asked timidly, so I greeted her with a smile.
She smiled brightly, like a blooming flower, and happily nodded her head… As expected, I really can’t imagine her as someone difficult.
[It’s been a while, Death King.]
[……Chronois? …… What are you…… doing here?]
[I know the homeowner of this place…… Anyway, it seems you’ve come at quite a reasonable time.]
[……Lillywood said…… it would be rude to visit around noon…… and I should wait until afterward.]
[I see, it’s the World King’s advice, huh… That’s to be expected from the so-called Conscience of the Six Kings.]
Chronois speaks to Isis with a cautious tone, but Isis responds without showing any sign of being disturbed.
[Anyway, why have you come here today?]
[……I’ve come…… to visit Kaito…… Ah, Kaito…… Here…… I’ve brought some souvenirs.]
[Eh? Thank you very much. I’m sorry for the trouble.]
Isis-san said this as if she had just remembered and then handed over a basket of what appeared to be fruits. As I wondered whether I should accept it, disregarding the homeowner, I noticed Lilia-san, who looked pale and was trembling behind Chronois-san. So, I decided to accept it and offer my thanks.
At that, Isis-san smiled happily, her cheeks slightly flushed, and spoke.
[……If you’re happy with that… then I’m… happy too.]
[……Who the heck is this woman?]
Looking at Isis-san, who was shyly poking her fingers together and smiling adorably, for some reason, Chronois-san had a dumbfounded expression on her face.
Dear Mom, Dad—Chronois-san appeared, then Isis-san showed up, and how should I put this—it’s going to be another rowdy day.