Chapter 278: First, Lets Clean Up
Volume 6 – The Supreme Palace
After being swallowed by the swirling tentacles of the Mother of Chaos, Asama and I were finally released… three hours later.
I have no idea why we were stuck for three hours, but when the Mother of Chaos burst out of the massive corpse of the Great Demon God, we were able to escape with her.
The gaping wound in the Great Demon God’s massive body collapsed into a heap of flesh as soon as the Mother of Chaos emerged. And just like that, the great upheaval came to an end.
But of course, the cleanup afterward was the real nightmare.
「What the heck are we supposed to do with this…?」
As I muttered to myself, the Mother of Chaos tilted her head and enthusiastically waved her tentacles in response.
「Tsuchii-san, it’s been a while!」
That’s what you’re going with right now?! Still clinging to the earth element, huh?
And she’s still dragging things out… No, let’s not go there. Honestly, if I keep taking everything Tentacle oneesan—er, the Mother of Chaos—says seriously, I might lose my mind.
First things first, Asama and I were completely naked. The Mother of Chaos had stripped us, and our clothes were now buried somewhere in this giant mountain of flesh.
But before I worry about our clothes, I should probably check on Nicholas, Great Demon King Ifriil—who was swallowed by Nicholas—Freed, and Dyson, who had been resurrected. There’s so much to check on, but given this chaotic scene, I can’t even move.
「…Huh!」
Asama, who had been completely unconscious, suddenly came to life.
「You’re still Asama, right?」
The body is that of eight-year-old Pope Anastasia II, so it’s hard to tell if Asama is still in control.
「Yes, it’s still me. And… Anastasia is refusing to switch back. She absolutely does not want to come out right now.」
「Understandable. With everything that just happened, no eight-year-old’s psyche could handle that.」
Anastasia had seemed like the classic legal loli trope at first, but she’s actually just a regular child. I’m relieved she wasn’t directly harmed.
「Oh, right, Takeru, Anastasia has a message for you.」
「Eh? What is it?」
「She says… ‘You pervert, creep, hentai.’」
「Wait, that’s not fair! This wasn’t my fault!」
It was completely out of my control! I was dragged into this just like everyone else!
「The Great Demon God’s massive body has already lost its power, and it’s now just a pile of meat. As for the resurrected Demon Kings, they’ve been pulled back into the depths of chaos and have vanished once again, so there’s no need to worry anymore.」
Ignoring my protests, Asama calmly explained the situation. Sure, I appreciate the update, but can you please clear my name with Her Holiness Anastasia?
Without paying any attention to me, Asama picked up a piece of flesh and started kneading it. As she worked, a pair of bear-themed underwear popped out from her hands.
After slipping into her freshly made bear-panties, she created a robe and quickly dressed herself.
In no time, she was back to normal.
「There’s plenty of material here, so I’ll make Sonata some clothes too.」
「Wow! That’s amazing! It’s like magic!」
「Honestly, what are you saying now? I am the Goddess of Creation, after all.」
「Oh, right.」
Given how little Asama had acted like a goddess this time around, I had almost forgotten. But yes, she is indeed the eight-thousand-year-old Goddess of Creation.
There are other women around here—knights and warriors—who were also stripped by the Great Demon God’s tentacles. Asama kindly bestows clothing to all of them.
It’s truly incredible, almost as if she really is a goddess.
「Takeru, stop thinking of me like some second-rate mage. I’m not a trickster!」
「Ah, you caught that, huh?」
Because you’re a real goddess, huh?
Of course, she can hear all my inner thoughts.
So, can you maybe do something about the Mother of Chaos? It’s not that her presence is bad, but… you know, visually speaking, having a bare-chested human woman figure could be an issue. Maybe give her some clothes?
「You want me to get near her again? Let me be clear—I’m never doing that again!」
「Yeah, I figured as much.」
Not wanting to push the matter, I had Asama craft a bikini-like chest piece, commonly worn by demons, and offered it near the Mother of Chaos as a peace gesture.
Oh, she’s picking it up with her tentacles.
「She put it on her head…」
「Honestly, I kind of expected this.」
Tentacle oneesan has never followed our expectations on the first try.
「Well, let’s leave her to it for now. I’ll start doing what I can to help. Since I have some responsibility in this disaster, I’ll make an exception and show you something truly goddess-like today.」
With a mischievous smile, Asama flapped her silver wings and took off, flying over the sea to rescue those who’d been thrown into the water. The sight of her saving people was truly divine.
「Now, what about this goddess over here?」
The Mother of Chaos was now pulling the chest piece from side to side, using it to scratch her back.
So close, yet so far.
She was almost figuring out how to use the underwear.
「Tsuchii-san, look at me! I’m doing something goddess-like too!」
Before I could respond, she grabbed a random piece of flesh and tossed it straight into my mouth.
「Gghhff—!」
Not again! It was so sudden that I reflexively swallowed it.
「Full of love!」
「Mmph! Shut up! Wait, this taste…」
The piece of meat I’d just swallowed tasted like… an undercooked hamburger patty?
※※※
「To receive such delicious meat as a gift… truly, the love of the ‘Mother Chaos’ is boundless, Takeru!」
Oracle was now worshiping the Mother of Chaos, who was standing there with a smug look on her face. Meanwhile, she and the others were devouring the hamburger-like meat. While Asama continued to rescue the soldiers cast into the sea, the rest of us had turned the situation into a massive barbecue.
They say you can’t fight on an empty stomach, but honestly, food is just as important after the battle.
「I have to admit, it’s a blessing.」
I said, realizing just how hungry I had been. There had been no time to eat during the relentless battles.
Thanks to Oracle and Kaara’s assurances that the meat was safe to eat, we decided to feast on the Great Demon God’s remains. The mages and soldiers under my command, being used to eating monsters, had no issue with the fact that the Great Demon God was our food source.
According to Oracle, the Mother of Chaos, whom the demons worship, promises not only terrifying destruction but also prosperity—like the flooding of the ancient Nile River.
Floods may bring devastation, but they also offer fertile land and much-needed water. While her methods are extreme, the Mother of Chaos may actually be a source of blessing too.
「I am not eating any of that!」
The one shouting from the corner, gnawing on dry biscuits, was Revenant, the court mage of the Kingdom of Castilia. Not everyone was willing to join in.
「Revenant, it’s good, I promise. Smells great, doesn’t it? Even Asama said it was safe to eat.」
It might be a bit of an exaggeration, but even Asama praised the monster meat.
After all, this thing is a hundred meters long. We’ve got plenty of big eaters, but there’s no way we can finish it all.
It’s fun if you think of it as a barbecue, but no matter how much we eat, the pile of meat doesn’t seem to shrink. Everyone’s going to have to pitch in if we want to get rid of it.
「Ugh, how revolting. I don’t care what you say, I am not eating that wiggly meat! You can handle it yourself!」
「You’re stubborn. Well then, can I take this bounty for my kingdom?」
Technically, this thing fell into the lands of the Kingdom of Castillia, so I thought I’d offer them ownership.
「By all means. I was wondering how we’d even dispose of it. Take it all back to the Kingdom of Silesie!」
Just then, Sherry came running over.
「Oniisama, take a look at this!」
「What’s with the wheat?」
Sherry held out her hand, revealing small grains of wheat, slipping through her fingers.
「The tentacles were like hamburgers, but when we cut open the torso, we found a ton of high-quality wheat inside.」
「That’s a relief. All meat would’ve gotten old fast.」
「And wheat lasts a long time. This is like a treasure trove! It’ll solve our supply issues and more than make up for the damage we suffered in this battle.」
「Hey, Revenant, you heard that. Are you really sure you don’t want a share?」
「I-I don’t need it.」
Did he just hesitate for a second?
If he’d only try it, he’d see how good it is. His stubbornness is costing him.
「Well, here’s hoping Revenant and the others come around. Anyway, I’ve had my fill. Guess I’ll help with the cooking.」
「Oniisama, I’ll help too!」
Sherry and I headed over to where the others were grilling meat.
The invasion of the Great Demon God and the ensuing global crisis had severely weakened the land and naval forces of many nations. But something good had come out of it.
Soldiers and mages from all over the world had united to fight a common enemy, and the historical record would show that the demons had cooperated as well.
Old wounds and prejudices run deep and won’t heal overnight, but today, a new understanding was forged between Asama, the goddess worshiped by humans, and the Mother of Chaos, revered by the demons.
Though the city lay in ruins and most of us were camping out in the open, we all gathered around the fires and shared stories. On this day, the leaders of the allied nations agreed to the formation of an international united military force.
The practical reason was to fill the gaps in the heavily depleted navies. But with the creation of a fleet to protect the seas beyond national borders, the world had taken a new step toward peace and cooperation.