Translator: Kazumi
Editor: Silavin
The spring on the seventieth Floor differed markedly from those on previous Floors. This one was entirely artificial, contained within a perfect circular enclosure approximately three meters in diameter. Unlike the other springs, the water here rose about fifty centimeters from the center, suggesting this was the source rather than merely another tributary.
Kousuke approached the three springs and examined each with God’s Left Eye. Two contained the familiar <Aeris Water> and <Laspica Water> he had discovered previously, but the third presented something new. When he confirmed the name of this final spring, the result aligned with his expectations: <Water of SuJal>.
The pattern was now complete. Eris, Spica, and Jal. Now, all three names were present. Kousuke noticed another name as well, but before he could confirm it, he turned to Lirica.
“You mentioned sensing Divine Power. Do you know its location?”
Lirica had been searching since before he asked. “Yes, please give me a moment longer. I’m certain it originates from here, but I cannot pinpoint the exact center.” She kept her eyes closed, finding it easier to detect Divine Power without visual distractions.
After several minutes of concentration, Lirica located the source. It was directly in the center of the three springs.
“I believe it’s here,” she said, moving to the precise spot and tilting her head in confusion.
“What’s wrong?” Kousuke inquired.
“There appears to be something you can press, but I’m uncertain whether you should.” She indicated what resembled a button embedded in the Floor. It was in a position where someone might accidentally step on it while passing through. Such obviously placed mechanisms were typically traps.
As they debated whether to activate it, Peach approached and casually touched the button.
“Peach!” Kousuke called out, but she responded with characteristic confidence.
“It seems safe to press.” She had not intended to activate it initially, merely to examine it. However, upon contact, her expression indicated her power was at work. Despite her attempts, the button resisted her efforts.
After several more attempts, Peach looked to Kousuke. “You press it.”
“Me?”
“Yes. It must be you specifically.”
Being understanding, Kousuke took her place and pressed the button without difficulty. The moment he touched it, he sensed its reaction to his Divine Power. It was clearly designed to respond only to those possessing such power.
A deep rumbling suddenly echoed from all directions.
“Master!” Kouhi immediately positioned herself protectively beside Kousuke while Mitsuki surveyed their surroundings. Nana crouched low beside Mitsuki, prepared for action.
The rumbling intensified as their environment transformed rapidly. The ground beneath them, the area containing the springs, began rising steadily upward. When the sound finally ceased, they found themselves atop a temple that had emerged from below, with the spring now crowning its summit. Their elevated position prevented them from viewing the structure’s complete form.
…
A staircase descended from beside the spring, which they followed to discover the spring occupied the temple’s second Floor. The first Floor stretched before them as a vast hall with an entrance leading outside.
Despite having been underground moments before, the hall carried no musty odors of long burial. Instead, a surprisingly tranquil atmosphere pervaded the space.
While the others observed the hall’s general features, Lirica focused intently on a wall painting. Kousuke approached her.
“You’re studying that quite carefully. Have you discovered something?”
Lirica contemplated the artwork before responding with uncertainty. “I both understand and don’t understand what I’m seeing.”
“Can you explain?”
“This painting depicts Goddesses from ancient times, but I’ve never encountered the text written here.” Given the number of Goddesses in this world, comprehensive knowledge of all of them was impossible. Many had been lost to history, leaving Lirica uncertain about their stories.
“If I’m correct, these three figures represent the Three Great Goddesses.” She indicated where three women were portrayed.
The faces did indeed resemble the Goddesses Kousuke knew, yet Lirica’s expression remained doubtful.
“You seem uncertain.”
“I am. I’ve never seen the woman positioned in the center of the three.” Throughout the painting, the three women appeared repeatedly, but always accompanied by a fourth woman depicted in a position of apparent superiority over the others.
“I have never heard of a Goddess ranking higher than the Three Great Goddesses.”
Kousuke’s brief acknowledgment seemed to trigger a realization in Lirica.
“Kousuke-sama?”
He shook his head dismissively. “Rather than dwell on that, if this woman outranks the other Three, wouldn’t this temple serve as her place of worship?”
Perhaps recognizing she should not pursue the matter further, Lirica answered without additional questions. “Yes. However, considering its size, this would be better characterized as a branch temple commemorating achievements rather than a primary place of worship.”
“That assessment seems accurate.”
After thoroughly investigating the shrine, they proceeded directly toward the teleportation gate leading to the seventy-first Floor. Access to that gate would allow them to return to the seventieth Floor at any time.
Though their investigation remained incomplete, the others recognized from Kousuke’s behavior that excessive examination would be unwise. Kousuke understood this as well, but chose not to articulate his concerns aloud.