READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 172
Gaia’s Appearance.
The moment she showed up, I felt a slight charm due to the shaky bridge effect of her saving me, but once I calmed down, she just seemed like a weirdly eccentric character.
Seeing her immediately brought up such a strange feeling, but I also had a question lingering in my mind.
Demeter had been guarding the corpse of the deceased emperor and thus hadn’t come out, so that makes sense, but what on earth had she been doing until now without any mention?
Given that she’s categorized as an Elite Outsider in the so-called Idea Level by mystics, there should have been records of any of her minor movements.
My puzzled expression must have shown on my face, as Gaia scratched her head with her finger and spoke.
“Well, if the second princess was allowed to move freely, humanity might face danger. So, I suppose you could say I’ve been keeping her tied up here.”
Hmm.
So she realized something after hearing my words and had been trying to suppress the second princess’s power a bit.
But after all, it hasn’t even been ten years, so it’s not like that’s a lengthy time for a Divine Race. Regardless, it means she had been unable to do anything until I got here and had spent her time in boredom.
Hmm.
“Serves her right.”
“Cough.”
Oh dear.
I accidentally let slip what I was thinking in my heart.
But, it was true, wasn’t it? Given what she had done, I should at least smile about it.
Yet even though she looked slightly pained, it didn’t seem like she was genuinely displeased with my words.
“Tanton!”
“Bark! Are you okay, human?!”
At that moment, other members of the Divine Race rushed over to me.
Seeing my situation, which had nearly turned dangerous, their faces were all painted with worry.
It was a situation that arose from letting my guard down, so I twisted my lips in embarrassment and nodded.
Once the Divine Race confirmed I was okay, they immediately turned their attention to Gaia behind me.
Fiore’s expression was grim, and Apta had a chilly gaze that was different from her usual demeanor.
“Why is she here?”
“Apparently, she has been playing the role of suppressing the second princess until now.”
“She?”
Fiore openly showed her disdain as she glared at Gaia.
It seemed like she had never been this openly hostile toward another living being before.
Gaia, who had just shown her emotions until a moment ago, suddenly returned to a stoic expression.
Was that a look only she showed me?
“Anyway, I’ve taken care of my business, so I’ll be on my way. Otherwise, it’s clear there will be chaos again.”
Is she referring to the second princess causing chaos?
“Hey! If you’re leaving, take us with you!”
“That won’t do. There’s barely enough cover for your presence as it is. If I try to carry you, your presence will be felt immediately.”
Saying this, Gaia stuck her tongue out at me with a cheeky expression and took off into the sky.
Oh, come on.
She was acting all mature, yet it turned out she really wasn’t.
Once everything’s done, I’ll have to give her a little smack on the head.
As I ground my teeth in frustration, the footsteps of the Deputy Director were closing in.
“Tanton, are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Are you uninjured, Deputy Director?”
“Thanks to you.”
The Deputy Director said this with a faint smile, which relieved me somewhat.
From a distance, it had looked like a genuinely perilous situation.
“But looking at the number of Outsiders scaling the castle walls, what just happened is likely just the beginning.”
“Hoo.”
The Deputy Director let out a sigh that seemed bleak.
But I had summoned those four Divine Races with this very situation in mind.
“Bel, Fiore, Zumiya.”
At my call, the three of them turned their eyes toward me simultaneously.
Having already discussed this beforehand, there was no need to explain to them again, but I deliberately called out once more to inform the Deputy Director.
“Deputy Director.”
“Don’t tell me…”
“That’s right. They will be your strong allies.”
The Deputy Director’s face contorted with a sense of unease, but he soon sighed and nodded.
I wonder how they appear to others?
After quickly pulling Oko outside, I started to feel a desire to experience it, even if just for a moment.
Alright.
I had no time to waste anymore.
“Apta, come here.”
“Yes.”
As I beckoned the Apta, she nodded and slowly walked over.
Finally, the Hunter and Asti arrived after finishing their preparations.
So, the four of us were gathered together.
Looking at the scene, I couldn’t help but smile a bit.
“Why are you laughing?”
At the Hunter’s question, I responded with a gentle smile.
“Basically, the initial members are all gathered, aren’t they?”
“By that logic, shouldn’t we exclude that maid?”
The Hunter made a face as if he found it annoying, but Asti simply remained indifferent, eyes closed.
“And that girl’s appearance needs to change as well.”
As the Hunter’s finger pointed toward Apta, she wiggled her head and nodded, snapping her fingers.
As if she had returned to a form that felt genuinely foundational, she transformed.
“Hunter, you said that, but it seems you missed her a bit?”
“…Did that guy talk like that earlier?”
“No. She didn’t act like this when she was in her Outsider form. I thought that was part of her concept.”
“Come on, don’t be like that! It’s time for the final battle, so let’s go without scolding each other!”
With Apta’s words, transformed into Agartha, the Hunter sighed and nodded.
“…Yeah. So you stuck around Rondan because of this damned team.”
“What?! What did you just say?!”
“Shut up! Move forward quickly.”
“No way?! I have to hear this?!”
…Wait a minute.
Isn’t this feeling like I’m dealing with a totally different personality now?
What is it?
Is it just me, or does she remind me of a god with a thousand faces from a world created by a love manufacturer?
Well, whatever the case, Apta’s actions must stem from liking the Hunter.
Thinking like this, I spread my wings, ready to take flight.
Alright.
Let’s really get going now.
“T-Tanton!”
At that moment, a slight whimpering voice came from behind.
As we four turned our heads simultaneously to the direction of the voice, we all let out an “Ah.”
“Please don’t abandon me…! I’m here…!”
Now that I think about it, I left the princess sitting on the roof during our fight.
Approaching the princess, who was pleading with a sorrowful expression, I picked her up and took flight as well.
Distance from the second princess.
About 180 km.
The firepower of the Deputy Director’s team, supported by the Divine Race, became overwhelmingly strong.
To prove that, even though we were flying at a speed that’s as fast as a high-speed train, the Deputy Director could still be seen keeping up.
It seemed everyone greatly benefited from the dragons summoned by Zumiya.
How do I put this?
It felt refreshing to see the Divine Race and humans joining forces to take down other Divine Races.
During the time since then, I even felt it might be a situation I’d never see again.
So finding out it was actually happening in this way made my heart warm up for no reason.
The speed at which we advanced had now surpassed that of the Deputy Director.
Because of that, the attention of the Divine Races began to shift toward us as well.
Of course, Asti and the Hunter were preventing the Outsiders from approaching easily in the air.
“Hunter, you’ve really grown stronger, haven’t you? I can even sense a refreshing feeling about you that’s different from before.”
“Shouldn’t I use my energy spent on talking while moving. Is it too much for me to help with killing Outsiders?”
“Unfortunately! There’s a rule that says you can’t interfere in matters related to humans.”
“Then what about what we did back in the cave?”
“Well, I didn’t kill them! I just embarrassed them.”
Listening to Apta and the Hunter’s usual banter brought back memories of the Underground Prison, and I got lost in my thoughts.
A fair amount of time must have passed since then.
As we landed in a place with gathered buildings, almost halfway there, I let Asti off.
“Just wait here, and when the Deputy Director arrives, support him.”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry, but it feels like I keep putting you through trouble.”
At my words, Asti looked down expressionlessly, then suddenly spread her arms wide.
“Then just let me recharge your Leydan energy when you come back.”
Oh.
Well.
…No matter how many times I hear it, I just can’t adapt to such an embarrassing line.
“Sure… I’ll let you do anything once this is all over.”
“Hehe.”
Asti quietly chuckled and waved her hand at me first.
Nodding quietly as I watched her, I grabbed the remaining three and took off again.
Perhaps because we were fewer in number, I felt lighter, and our flying speed visibly increased.
Oh.
Now that I think about it, there’s really no need for Apta to cling to me, is there?
“Apta, can’t you fly on your own?”
“Ehh?! Why are you saying such hurtful things? The other two are holding onto me without complaint!”
“No, saying clutching is a bit much, isn’t it? Plus, it’s not efficient.”
I thought I made a valid point, but Apta merely lowered her head calmly before suddenly reverting just her head back to her original appearance.
Wearing Agartha’s outfit, her face looked at me with sparkling eyes.
“Give me a hug, Leydan.”
“You’re really something else.”
She’s so emotionless yet does everything else without hesitation.
That mischievous Divine Race.