Chapter 32: Pointing the Blade of Faith
“We shall decide this over a game of rock, paper, scissors. Whoever wins gets to go first. Ready?”
““I am ready!”” (Esphera & Graille in sync)
Oh, boy. I guess they’re going to be fiery like this all day.
The two constellations, the Ringed Star Mother (Esphera), and the Green Earth Mother (Graille) were expelling so much divine power that it enveloped them in visible auras of their own respective colors: Silver and Green.
If this were an anime, would this be considered a Kai-yu Kan? It’s not like their hair is changing color, so I can’t exactly call it “going Super Shay-gen.” God, I’m such a nerd.
Whatever the case, it was time to start the match.
“Three.”
“Two.”
“One.”
“GO!”
““Rock… Paper… SCISSORS!”” (Esphera & Graille in sync)
VUUUUOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!!
FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!
I’M FLYING! I’M FLYING!
I’M IN THE AIR, AND IT LOOKS LIKE I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE!
“VELL, HELP ME!”
Ori was in the air, too! It seems the immense force from their hands slamming down on their palms sent us both flying!
Is this where I’m going to die? Ah, shit. Am I really going to die a virgin?!
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Ori’s camisole flip up.
Oh. She’s wearing pink today, huh.
Maybe dying now isn’t so bad after all?
“YOU DUMBASS! WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING SO ZEN FOR! HELP ME OUT!”
“No, what are you expecting me to do? I’m not a constellation. Just a constellation larper. I am just as powerless before gravity as you are.”
“YOU IDIOOOOT! I DON’T WANT TO DIE! JUST DO SOMETHING!”
The ground was fast approaching, and so was the inevitable end.
Well, it was good while it lasted. Maybe I’ll get isekai’d after I die.
I know that other worlds exist now, so it’s not a stretch to believe I might either get reincarnated or transmigrated into another body in another world, right? That doesn’t sound too bad.
If I get to start over from zero, I hope I get a cheat that lets me bring shit over from Earth so I can play colony sims in another world. Come to think of it, that sounds cool for a web novel idea.
“WE’RE GOING TO DIE! FUCK! WE’RE GOING TO DIIIIEEEE!”
Man, she can really scream like a banshee, huh?
Hm? What’s that black spot in the distance–
Swiiiiisssh!
“Oog.”
All of a sudden, I found myself under Ramube’s arm. Looking over to the opposite side was Ori, who was also being carried around like luggage. And lying in what looked like one of those transparent backpacks for carrying pets was a familiar-looking elf baby staring back at me with her green eyes.
“Goo?” ← High Elf Baby
Ah. We’re saved.
It seemed that Ramube flew right after us, leaping from his spot like an Unravel Superhero. He caught us midair—while carrying that high elf baby from yesterday, no less.
Oh, right. I was wondering where that baby was.
Soon after catching us, Ramube pulled another superhero stunt—crash-landing onto one of those winged cow-rex things, sending it flying the other direction. The baby, Ori, and I were safe, though. Probably some of those crazy divine powers at work, somehow.
Now that we were back on the ground, Ramube set us down. Ori’s legs, as soon as she was back down, were wobbling like a newborn fawn. I, on the other hand, through sheer force of will, managed to maintain a more stable posture.
Ahem.
“I appreciate your help, Sir Gorilla. While I could have helped myself, it would not be appropriate for me to do so as someone who is emulating the human form. That would break practice, after all.”
“... Y-You’re… s-so full… of s-shit…”
It seems Ori was still recovering from the near-death experience. Hmph. What a weak-minded fool. Very much unlike my constellation self, who maintains a calm mind even in the most stressful situations!
I totally did not just regain clarity after seeing a peek under her camisole. That would be uncouth.
“W-Why do I-I feel the need to smack you over the head right now?”
“It must be your violent tendencies returning in full force. You really should get that checked by a therapist.”
“Fuck you!”
Alright. Enough of that. It’s time for us to go view the results.
“Sir Gorilla, if you will.”
“Oog.” (Thumbs-up)
Thud. Thud.
“W-Wait, why a-are you picking me back up again?”
“Why else, Ori? We fly! Go, Gorilla, Go!”
“Oog.”
“WAIT, NO–”
VUUUUOOOOSSSSHHHH!!!!
And just like that, we were in the air once again.
“AAAAAHHHHH!”
“Could you quiet down? You’ll spook the baby.”
“Goo?”
“I HATE YOU, YOU BASTARD!”
What a tsundere you are, Ori. You’ll make me blush.
Of course, I can’t actually say that out loud, or she really will smack me over the head once we’re back on the ground.
Speaking of the ground, it seems we’re fast approaching our destination. I could already see the crater surrounding my two constellation disciples, along with dust clouds that still obscured the view a little.
THUD!
Once we landed, Ramube dropped Ori like a discarded rag, while I perfectly landed on my two feet like a graceful cat. Then, I approached the two who were glaring daggers at each other.
It seemed that they still hadn’t seen the results themselves yet, since the dust clouds were still covering their hands from view.
I clapped my hands together as I approached the two.
“Alrighty, alrighty. Let us see who has won this match. Sir Gorilla, if you could clear the dust away, please.”
“Oog.” (Thumbs-up)
Ramube took a second to wind up, pulling his arm back behind him.
Hey, I think I’ve seen this somewhere before. Is this Konkey Bong’s Neutral + B attack from Mega Bash Bros?
After gathering some strength in his arm, he shot it forward, sending a bullet of wind forth, clearing the path of dust. Naturally, I dodged out of the way before I could get sent flying again.
Monkey Dong’s attack was a melee move, so I guess this doesn’t count as infringing, right?
Anyway, once the dust cleared, the results were finally in.
ESPHERA - Scissors
GRAILLE - Paper
ESPHERA VICTORY!!!
“I-I won, Lord Yvell!”
“This is unfair, senior! I demand a rematch!”
“Nuh uh. Lord Yvell’s word is law. Therefore, I am the victor.”
“Curses!”
Esphera puffed her non-existent chest out in pride as she declared herself the winner, as Graille angrily stomped her foot. Ramube clapped in applause, while Ori was glaring at me from the ground like she was trying to kill me with her eyes.
“Alright, then. Let us tidy up the scene a bit before getting back to business. Graille, since you had lost the bet, you will have to pick up the tent that flew off, along with all the items that flew along with it.”
“Yes, sir Yvell…”
“Sir Gorilla, help flatten out the ground a little. I will have Graille regrow the grass in the area once she returns.”
“Oog.”
A few minutes later, with the environment now restored, it was finally time to discuss Esphera’s problem. She did come here to consult me on something, after all. Though I find it a bit surprising that she sought me out so soon after telling me she was planning on going independent.
Now that the foldable chairs were back where they’re supposed to be, we each took a seat around a foldable table I had pulled from the condo with Ramube’s help. We each had some snacks and drinks to eat and drink during the discussion.
“Lord Yvell. To be honest, I had not expected you to return so soon.”
“Well, neither had I. Circumstances just happened to lead me back here quicker than I had planned.”
Not that I could’ve returned on my own, of course. I’m just talking out of my ass here to sound more convincing, since Esphera had planned to show me the results of her hard work after some generations of independence.
“Yes, I can see that…”
The two goddesses glared at each other for a moment before Esphera continued.
“You see, in my haste to show you the results of my independent efforts much sooner, using your teachings, I guided my followers into thinking I had the power to decide night and day.”
Hm? That sounds… normal? She’s a sun goddess, so of course, she gets to control when daytime is. Where is she going with this?
“As a result, I seized the power to change time, just as I had hoped.”
“Y-You what?”
Oh. Oh shit. She’s a time goddess now, too?
Although I was surprised by this sudden announcement, I made sure not to let that show on my face. Ori, on the other hand, had the liberty to comment.
“I do not believe we have met before, human. Are you an acquaintance of Lord Yvell?”
“Uh… Yeah. We’re online friends. He brought me along to h-help with things, like designing the green woman’s new race of worshippers.”
Ori said this while pointing at the high elf baby in a high chair who was getting spoon-fed crushed blue apples by Graille.
Wait, where did they get a high chair? Did Ramube and Graille get one while I was fast asleep? Also, Ori, are you trying to get yourself killed? Call her by her constellation title.
“A friend, hm? I see.”
Why do I get the feeling that that smile Esphera just flashed wasn’t a friendly one?
Ugh, the atmosphere is getting cold. I need to push the conversation forward.
“That is quite the amazing achievement.”
“Indeed, Lord Yvell! I have been hard at work, guiding humanity’s path. Having stretched time far into the future, I can proudly declare that humanity has secured its place in the world—no longer trembling before the dangers that once held it back, with towns and villages now spread across the land!”
“That sounds wonderful, Esphera! What an impressive accomplishment! With humanity having left its primitive stage and entered a more civilized era, you can finally call yourself a fully established goddess with pride!”
“Thank you, Lord Yvell! I work hard to make you proud!”
“Wow~ That sounds great, senior~”
Uh, Graille. You don’t sound very pleased about Esphera’s achievement. Your hand is shaking, and you’re spilling the crushed apples all over the high elf baby’s bib.
Hold on. If she’s managed to pull that off, then what’s the problem?
“But if you have managed to accomplish these grand feats, then, what pray tell could the problem be?”
“It is a… rather difficult problem to explain. It is quite an important issue that I believe must be resolved immediately.”
“We have time. Graille’s issue is not an immediate one, and we have already found a solution for it in the high elf child, so we have time to assist you.”
Thud!
“But mentor!—”
“Priorities, Graille. If Esphera’s problem truly is as urgent as it sounds, then we must attend to it as soon as we can. And do not slam the table like that. You might just scare the child.”
“Goo.”
“I-I… I understand…”
Graille dropped back onto her seat, head downcast. Graille has been a lot more irritable since Esphera arrived. I wish she’d cool it down a little.
Also, that baby seems really chill. Now that I think about it, it was pretty calm while we were zooming through the sky earlier, too. That baby’s probably going to grow up with extra high MP.
“... Did you just call that constellation by name? I recall you called her Graille this morning too…” (Muttering)
“What was that?”
“It is nothing, Lord Yvell…”
No, why do you look so depressed now? Were these two constellations always this moody? Just as I’d expected, today’s been very chaotic thus far. Is it only going to get crazier from here?
I’m going to need to invest some more stat points into SAN if I’m going to want to last.
“So, Esphera, if you could continue?”
“Oh, of course! Um. You see, Lord Yvell, there is a town quite a ways away from here called ‘Starfell,’ where Agni and her group settled some generations ago…”
“How are the tribes of the Evergreen Plains responding to our provocations?”
“Unfortunately, they continue to maintain their silence, Chief.”
“Damn it… nothing stirs them? Does their duty to protect the Spirit Shrine outweigh even their honor as fellow Espherites?”
In the largest mudbrick building in Starfell, two figures conversed in what might be called an early throne room. At its center stood a throne of bone, wood, leather, and feathers, placed beneath an open roof where daylight poured down upon it like a spotlight.
Sitting upon the decorated throne with a pose that radiated arrogance was the Great Chief of Starfell, Nova’k. Beside him, standing protectively, was his summoned efreet—a bear-like fire spirit easily towering over Nova’k, who himself was taller and broader than most men.
Nova’k’s conversation partner was an older, much smaller man, clad in shamanistic robes. A man by the name of Snide.
“They are an immovable people, which is hardly surprising. What measure of honor would they sacrifice by remaining steadfast as guardians of the Great Shrine? Words carry little weight beside such duty.”
“… I had at least hoped that their young chief would prove quick to the bait. Prideful youths often fall prey to sharp tongues, yet this one appears… different.”
“Indeed. While that plan may have faltered, I have succeeded in stirring some hearts among our own. Sentiment against the Shrine Guardian Tribe is sinking like a stone in a lake.”
“What use is that if their Tribe does not come to us? We would be at a disadvantage if we engaged them on their own territory, out in the plains.”
“That is true…”
Nova’k scratched his temple, sinking deeper into thought.
“I had hoped that by stripping them of their role as guardians of the Spirit Shrine, we would earn greater respect across the land and expand our power from there. Yet it seems that such a plan lies far beyond our grasp.”
Then, all of a sudden, Snide’s eyes widened as if remembering something.
“... Chief, what of the afflicted ones? The ‘Gnomes,’ as they call themselves.”
“Those small folk living in the forests beyond Starfell? What of them?”
“I have heard people of their kind have begun gathering in droves. Enough to form a small settlement of their own.”
“I am curious to see where you intend to take this.”
A most devious smile gradually formed across Snide’s wrinkled face.
“Our people have grown most proud as missionaries carrying forth Esphera’s will.”
“... And?”
“What if we were to weave a small lie? Redirect their devotion—and claim glory as Esphera’s blade of judgment.”
“What an interesting suggestion.”
