Chapter 275: One Strike, and Then
Nicholas’s sacrificial strike pierced straight through the abdomen of the tentacle oneesan.
「We did it!」
Nicholas really pulled it off!
As expected of a top-tier saint in terms of power.
He had finally landed a fatal blow on the 100-meter-tall giant.
Honestly, I didn’t think it was possible.
With a thunderous crash, the Great Demon God collapsed forward, sending up a massive dust storm as it fell.
Even that caused damage from the sheer force of its impact.
But surely, this had to be the end. No creature could survive having its stomach torn open like that…
「What…?」 The Great Demon God slowly stood back up, its massive form moving smoothly as if nothing had happened.
「What the hell is going on?!」
There was no denying it.
Even with its stomach ripped open, the Great Demon God was still alive.
The first desperate shot.
Then, Nicholas’s life-risking second shot.
Neither had been enough to take the Great Demon God down.
What are we supposed to do now?
「Hero Takeru…」
A solemn voice called out to me. It was the voice of Anastasia II, the young girl with silver hair crowned in flowers, her white wings unfurled. But by the sight of those wings, I knew…
「Is that you, Asama?」
「Indeed… I am sorry, Hero Takeru. I should have intervened from the start.」
「Asama, no! You can’t become the next human cannonball!」
Nicholas was one thing, but there’s no way I could let an innocent eight-year-old girl sacrifice herself. That was simply unthinkable.
「Wait, you misunderstand.」
「Huh?」
「Who said anything about me being a human cannonball?」
「Wait, you’re not?」
「I will go to the Great Demon God, yes, but I do not need to be fired from a cannon. The Mother of Chaos’s target is me. So, I shall directly enter the Great Demon God through that hole in its body.」
「But Asama, the Great Demon God is after you!」
The Great Demon God, now fused with the Great Demon King Ifriil, aimed to crush Asama with its power. If she went directly to it, wasn’t she just walking into a trap?
「No, that’s not the case. The truth is, the tentacle creatures, or what you call the ‘Furuki Sha,’ were not created to destroy me.」
「Then why were they created?」
Until now, we had believed the Mother of Chaos acted without purpose, and that the tentacle oneesans were just another mindless threat. But was there a deeper reason for their existence?
「If you observe the shape of those tentacles, you will realize their purpose. They were created to make contact with me.」
「Are you saying they’re some kind of… communication interface?」
「Communication, yes. That might be exactly it. I created the human race 8,000 years ago. Whether the Mother of Chaos has a will of its own is unclear, but I believe the Furuki Sha were created at the same time to reach out and touch the world I had shaped.」
「That… makes sense, in a way.」
「I have been afraid of those tentacle beings for a long time. That’s why I’ve resisted any interference from the Furuki Sha for all these 8,000 years.」
「I can’t blame you for that.」
Even a goddess like Asama could not stand against the Mother of Chaos. Its overwhelming power and utterly unknowable motives made the thought of direct contact with one of its interfaces terrifying.
「But I cannot abandon the human world while it is under threat. I have come to a decision. I will attempt what you call ‘communication.’」
「Asama…」
It’s understandable that Asama feels fear toward chaos, and yet she’s still willing to face the tentacle oneesan. That’s a bold and courageous decision.
Asama has it tough.
「And I want you to come with me.」
「Wha—? You want me to go too? But that’s way too dangerous!」
Honestly, this is something I’d rather avoid… Actually, no, I’d really like to avoid this. Why do I have to go along with her?
「It is dangerous indeed. If you enter like this, there’s a chance you’ll be consumed by chaos.」
「Exactly!」
「However, Hero Sawatari Takeru, you are the only one who has touched the ‘Furuki Sha’ and survived. Not only that, you successfully communicated with them and were granted the power of the Mother of Chaos.」
「So, that’s why you want me to come?」
Even if it’s a direct request from Asama, this is… I’m not exactly thrilled about this.
But before I can react, she firmly grasps my shoulder.
「Thanks to you, I have found the resolve to face the Mother of Chaos. They call you a hero for a reason, for even a goddess finds courage through you!」
「You’re flattering me a bit too much…」
Asama, did you really mean that as a compliment?
「This is fate; resign yourself to it. Now, saintess, bestow upon Hero Takeru the sacrament that will strengthen his body for the upcoming mission.」
「Sacrament…? You’re not talking about that sacrament, are you?」
I’ve got a bad feeling about this…
「A blessing kiss from the saintess… Oh, I’m not talking about you, Steriana.」
「Why not?!」
Of course, as soon as the “blessing kiss” came up, Ria—who had been silently standing by my side—protested. It’s no surprise she’s upset, since she’s missing out on this important moment. Still, shouldn’t she show a bit more respect toward the goddess?
「Ria, you’ve already lost your virginity… Not that it really matters, but because you’ve given birth, any divine power from the kiss would pass on to your child.」
「That’s… quite a revelation! So that’s why you’re no longer a sister after marriage…」
What a shocking truth to reveal here.
Honestly, why does Asama always bring up such blunt topics? It feels a bit awkward hearing this from her, especially given her appearance as an eight-year-old girl…
「So, of those present…」
「Allow me to do it!」
The one who raised her hand was Sister Rosa, the bishop from Silesie. While Ria may be off the table, I’m not exactly thrilled about receiving a kiss from Rosa, the bishop of my own diocese. It feels… awkward.
I could go along with it in the heat of the moment, but what about later? How am I supposed to face her after something like this?
「Rosa is a fitting choice.」
「Of course, I am!」
She’s really enthusiastic about this. Well, she has mentioned before that she wanted to be assigned as a sister to the hero…
「Asama, is the kiss really necessary?」
Why does it always have to be a kiss? Surely, there are other methods, like sprinkling holy water or something.
「What’s wrong, Takeru? There’s no time to hesitate. This is the fastest and most effective method.」
I’ve got my reservations, but there’s no time to be picky. A new wave of tentacles could attack at any moment.
「Wait! I’m more suitable for this than Rosa!」
Stepping forward was a nun with sepia-colored hair. It’s Sister Marea, the archbishop of Lanct, clad in her silver garments. She helped out during my wedding to Eleonora.
「What is it, Archbishop Marea?」
「I see through Rosa’s intentions. She’s trying to take advantage of Steriana stepping down, aiming to claim the position of Hero’s Sister for herself.」
「Archbishop, that’s quite the accusation! I’m here purely to help save the world in this time of crisis.」
「Then, as someone of higher rank and greater power, you should yield to me!」
「Ugh… no, I refuse!」
「See! It is selfishness! Asama, surely you’ll agree that, as an archbishop, I’m the more appropriate choice!」
「Takeru-sama belongs to my diocese. He’s my hero!」
「No, he’s not! Takeru-sama is also the hero of Lanct!」
And now they’re wrestling with each other… Asama, is this really okay?
「Ugh, enough! Are you two children? I’ve already told you there’s no time for this! Just… both of you, get it over with!」
「Wait, both of us? Seriously?」
The two saintesses, still locked in their petty rivalry, rushed over and kissed me—one after the other. Rosa’s kiss was sweet and gentle, while Marea’s was much more intense and passionate.
「Mmph!」
「Hold on, Archbishop Marea! That was way too long. I’m going again!」
Why is Rosa going for a second round?
「Hey, wait a sec—mmph!」
「Well, if Rosa gets two, then so do I!」
「Mmph!」
With kiss after kiss, it became hard to breathe. They just wouldn’t stop. After what felt like an eternity of being smothered, I was finally released.
「Hero Takeru, you should wipe off that lipstick…」
「That was exhausting…」
Asama handed me a napkin through Anastasia’s body, and I wiped away the layers of lipstick smeared across my face. Wait, why do saintesses even wear lipstick?
「What’s with sisters wearing makeup?」
「We anticipated this happening and prepared accordingly. Good luck, my hero!」
Marea beamed, her face lighting up with satisfaction.
「Hold on, Archbishop Marea, that’s unfair! I gave the first blessing, so Takeru is my hero!」
「Whoever has the stronger connection wins.」
And they were back to bickering again, grabbing at each other. Even Asama looked utterly fed up.
「What’s wrong with the leadership of my church?」
「Isn’t this because you let things slide, Asama?」
「Ahem, now’s not the time to place blame. Takeru, let’s leave these two behind and go.」
「Yeah, we don’t have a choice, do we?」
My body began to lift off the ground—Asama’s magic at work, I assumed. After all the unnecessary drama, it was finally time for Asama and I to make our move. We plunged into the opening in the Great Demon God’s belly.