Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
’It seems I made it just in time. Things are already in motion… I will take charge of the situation. Lend me your strength, Apostle Shinji.’
’Of course. Do you have any idea about the incident in the valley, Arian-sama?’
’Yes. Rather than having an idea, I should say that I got involved in a problem with the goddess here.’
The group felt confused by the sense of regret coming from Goddess Arian in response to Shinji’s question. They would soon find themselves filled with complex emotions as she revealed the truth.
Let’s go back in time. After finishing her conversation with Satin in the dungeon, Goddess Arian immediately began to take action.
The treasure vault was filled with countless treasures, and checking them all without a plan would take an enormous amount of time. However, if she searched with specific conditions, it would be a different story.
When she searched for treasures related to spirits or vast magical power, she discovered the treasure that Satin had stolen.
It was a seed of a plant called ‘Taboo.’ It required an immense amount of magical power to grow, and ultimately, it would grow into a tree so tall it could pierce the sky, bearing a single ‘Taboo Fruit.’
Why was it sealed in the treasure vault? The answer is that the magical power needed for it to fully grow could destroy an entire world.
’A plant that can destroy the world…’
’Created by the hand of a god… no, it is life. The rank of this life is above that of humans and spirits. It is a being lower than a goddess. It exists deep in the valley and has absorbed the high-ranking spirit that was managing this place.’
If the stolen treasure is revealed, it will be clear that Satin’s goal is to use the ‘taboo’ to destroy the world. If that’s the case, the first place that comes to mind for where she would strike is the world where Shinji and the others live, which Satin has sent succubi to.
Thinking that she would target the same world, Goddess Arian investigated and found a faint trace of a goddess that was neither Satin nor herself.
With that momentum, she squeezed information out of the goddess who cooperated with Satin, learning that she lied and handed over the ‘taboo’ seed as a gift from Goddess Arian to the spirit guarding the valley.
’So, the voice that Freri and the others are hearing is from the high-ranking spirit watching over the valley, right?’
’No, that’s not it. They seems to be completely absorbed by the taboo, and there’s no response when I call out to them. The taboo is mimicking voices and magic power to lure and capture the surrounding spirits.’
’What a terrible situation…’
’How awful…’
Flair and the others were speechless. They had served Goddess Arian for a long time, but they had never known a situation as bad as this. As high-ranking spirits, they had no experience facing someone clearly stronger than themselves, and the terrible headache only added to their fear.
But Freri was different. Having grown alongside Shinji, she wasn’t afraid to send her thoughts to Goddess Arian in the face of a stronger opponent.
In terms of talent, Shinji was just slightly better than an average person, yet he continued to achieve good results through every possible means. Freri had watched him closely and had schemed alongside him.
If she was with Shinji, they could manage somehow. In fact, if the taboo was like a plant, she even felt a greedy desire to defeat it, capture it, and use it to elevate herself further.
”Do you have any measures for the headache? It’s hard to fight like this.”
’If it’s a spirit, the influence of their voice can’t be avoided. Freri is a half-succubus, so their influence should be weak for now.’
’Yeah, then I’ll handle it myself. I’ll focus on that, so Shinji, I’m leaving the rest to you.’
’Got it. Freri, I’m counting on you.’
’Mm.’
Shinji watches Freri in silence, feeling a strong bond of trust between them. It’s not just trust; they both have an unbreakable spirit that keeps them looking up, no matter what happens.
When choosing an apostle for the goddess, they have always valued the ability to form contracts with high-ranking spirits. Because of this, the other apostles are not compatible with the ‘taboo’ at all. That’s why not only Flair but also Goddess Arian feels reassured by Shinji’s positive reaction.
From Shinji’s perspective, having the highest-ranking being, Goddess Arian, lend her strength is a great situation. Considering her personality, it’s easy to guess she wouldn’t tell him to face an opponent with 0 chance of winning.
So, all he can do is try to increase his chances of winning by even 1%. After all, if he does nothing, the world will end, so he has no choice but to act. Goddess Arian, who can read minds, picks up on his strong trust and determination.
It should be a given for an apostle to trust and admire the goddess, but instead of just being happy about it, a feeling of affection wells up in her chest.
(Once everything is over, I must wrap him in countless loves…♡)
While Goddess Arian has decided to spoil Shinji completely, Flair and the others, feeling ashamed of their own shortcomings, also get motivated.
’Shinji! We will do what we can too-noja!’
’Even if we can’t go to the valley, we can still help. Please let us know if there’s a role for us.’
’Thank you… Goddess. What do we need to do to defeat that taboo plant?’
’Hmm. You must break through the soldiers created by the forbidden and destroy the core that has absorbed the spirit.’
’Destroying the core… Is that something we can do ourselves?’
Goddess Arian says that the ‘taboo’ is above humans but below gods. Shinji couldn’t believe that magic created by humans would work against it.
That is the correct understanding. The barrier of the ‘taboo,’ created by the gods, blocks all attacks from this world.
That’s why Goddess Arian felt relieved that she was in time. If Shinji and the others had faced the ‘taboo,’ they would have been completely toyed with.
’I plan to give you the ‘Divine Staff’ that will make it possible. However, Shinji, you cannot use it right now. To use the ‘Divine Staff’ and other ‘Artifacts’, you need a very special quality──magic power. Shinji, you don’t have that right now.’
Shinji, knowing his own lack of talent, nods in agreement. At the same time, he realizes that if he lacks the necessary magic power, he can just absorb it. It wouldn’t be difficult for him to absorb someone else’s magic and transform his own.
’Given the situation, I feel bad for the other person, but let’s forcefully take their magic, Goddess. If we send Flair and the others to that person, we can do it right away──’
’Shinji, that person is in the Dragonmen village. If we explain the situation, they will likely agree.’
Hearing Goddess Arian’s words with certainty, Shinji feels an uneasy premonition. The idea of absorbing someone with rare magic power to enhance his own has been a common trait among nobles throughout the ages.
In other words, the most likely candidate is──.
’Long ago, the royal family had the blood of the “Divine Artifact Users.” The one who inherited that magic the most strongly is Princess Coral.’
A bad feeling came true, and Shinji covered his face with one hand and looked up at the sky.
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