Chapter 75: Toward Phatar
"A seed of Yggdrasil?" Nerez asked, looking at what he held in his hands.
Nerez had gone to the palace's spacious reception hall on his own, since the visitors asking for him were the reapers Destemos and Falagor, and Sae had decided to stay out of the god of death's affairs.
Not that Nerez would have minded either way, but he also had no reason to convince her to attend.
"My lord, after analyzing the seed, we realized it was developing. Inside the one called Rozer, no less," Destemos explained, kneeling beside Falagor.
"Ah... that strange case where, according to the Soul Ledger, his soul should already have reached the Lustral River, but he was still in the mortal world."
"That is correct. As it turns out, he was a champion of the Goddess of Life," Destemos replied, looking up.
...
"And if this seed is here in my hands... that means the champion is dead?"
...
"I told you we shouldn't have eliminated him so easily," Falagor whispered in Destemos's ear.
"My lord, his soul should already have been in the Underworld. He gained his immortality through artificial means, so we have done nothing wrong," Destemos defended himself before anyone could say anything. "This case is very different from the ones you allow to remain among the living, such as the apostle Mireia, or the vampires, whose final outcomes remain undefined in the copy of the Soul Ledger you gave us."
Nerez let out a weary sigh and handed the seed back to the kneeling Destemos. "It is probably not the only one out there."
Destemos took the seed and rose to his feet, followed by Falagor, ready to set out.
"We will continue investigating. There is no doubt that the goddess Lirien plans to plant a Yggdrasil in Eryndea," Destemos assured him. "The repercussions of that would be immeasurable."
"For one thing, her influence would increase considerably," Falagor added, his hands behind his head. "I'm surprised she still hasn't given up. She could save herself all this trouble and leave you in peace as the most powerful god."
"I have no interest in being the most powerful god... But well, if you want to investigate, go ahead. Just make sure not to mention it to Cerys, or she will want to hunt down Lirien's champions left and right and end up starting a war."
"My lord, forgive me for saying this, but I believe the Goddess of Life has already declared war on us," Destemos said, clenching his fist.
"Maybe, but I have no reason to play her game just because she wants me to," Nerez replied, gesturing with his hand for the reapers to leave.
"You are right, my lord. If we are to face her, it will be on our own terms." Destemos offered a small bow and left the hall with Falagor following after him.
...
That should keep them busy for a while... What Lirien wants is probably to become the supreme goddess of Eryndea, but as long as it does not affect my cave, I do not really care. She can plant a whole garden of Yggdrasil trees if she wants.
Nerez turned around and began walking toward the opposite door to meet Sae, who was waiting for him. But then he stopped dead in his tracks and let out another deep sigh.
"My cave...? My cave has turned into a problem farm..."
Over the years, Nerez's fortress in the Inner Underworld had become a gigantic metropolis. Millions of souls now called it home.
Why is nobody interested in reincarnating? I have far more Faith than I need, so I have not stood in the way of anyone who wants to give life another chance. But no one wants to do it! After all, why would they give up living with their families when all they have to pay is a tax in Faith?... Or maybe it is the fact that we managed to get food even souls can eat...
"Shouldn't there be some limit to how large the Underworld can grow? The system seems designed for the god of death to increase his power endlessly... ah."
That was when Nerez remembered just how many things would have been impossible without his absurd amount of spiritual energy. One example was raising the Soul Ledger to rank S, since the hidden condition for doing so had basically been having the spiritual energy of a supreme god.
And that was one of the main reasons he could call so many souls to live in the Inner Underworld instead of leaving them in the river of death.
***
"A vacation, Lord Nereziel?" Sae asked after Nerez returned to the balcony and told her what he had in mind.
"That's right. It doesn't matter where in the Underworld I am, whether in the Last Valley or with Drazira in the demon kingdom, they always manage to find me."
"Well, you have so many loyal servants, and they all love being around you, so it does not surprise me in the slightest," Sae replied with a gentle laugh. "Quite a few festivities are held here during your visits, all organized by my grandfather."
"Yes, I know. That's why I sometimes come in secret, or all the visiare are going to end up in the hospital from drinking too much," Nerez replied, letting out another sigh. "But what I always wanted was a quiet life, and this has become the exact opposite..."
"That is because everything works so well, in spite of everything. You are a very responsible person, after all," Sae assured him, resting her chin on her clasped hands and giving him a warm smile. "And where do you plan to go on vacation? To Empyrean Peaks?"
"No... something tells me that would be worse... No, I plan to live hidden among mortals."
"But thanks to Miri's artistic talents, the empire is full of statues that look almost exactly like you. Are you sure they will not recognize you?"
"I have been visiting the empire for years, but surprisingly, being recognized is harder than one might think. I am not saying it can't happen, but it is difficult. Besides, even if they did recognize me, it would not be the end of the world."
It is not as if they are going to surround me asking for autographs or anything like that... At most, I might give someone a heart attack, which would be rather unfortunate, but that would only mean that person would live in the Inner Underworld... alongside the hundreds of ancestors who already live there...
"You can also vanish and reappear from one temple to another at will," Sae added. "Now that I think about it, you are right. There would not be much of a problem if they did recognize you."
"Besides, I am not going to the empire for my vacation, but to Phatar, so I am much more likely to go unnoticed."
"Phatar... Is that the kingdom where the twins have their county?" Sae asked, tilting her head.
"Exactly. It is under the influence of the god of the sun, so across the rest of its territory, there are few statues of me, if any. But I will visit the twins later. Otherwise, everyone will find out I am in the area. I trust you will keep my secret, Sae."
"Of course, Lord Nereziel! I wish you a peaceful vacation," Sae replied, bringing her hands together. "If you need anything, please do not hesitate to ask. We visiare are mortals, after all, and our existence in Eryndea is already known, so I can even send some servants with you."
"Thank you very much, but for now I want to go alone. If Cerys asks, tell her I am fine and that I am not in any tavern, so she won't bother coming looking for me."
"You are not going to visit any taverns?"
"Of course I am. Vacations are meant to be enjoyed, aren't they?"
***
Nerez said goodbye to Sae and prepared to make his way to Edrick, who was waiting for him on the banks of one of the river's offshoots, well out of Thaelor's sight. After all, Edrick would be his accomplice in reaching the kingdom of Phatar.
Rather than simply appearing at some temple or altar dedicated to him, Nerez preferred to take the scenic route, and besides, he liked sailing.
But with so many presences throughout the palace, he had failed to notice the shadow following him.