589 The Invisible Hand of the Great God ③ ~ Collapse ~

Even after the devastating earthquake that struck Genos subsided, we were stuck in Inn Town for a while.

The main streets where the stalls were being served were heavily visited by soldiers who encouraged rescue efforts and were otherwise forbidden to cross.

But it was also thought to be an inevitable procedure.

The space at the north end of the outdoor area became a place to accommodate the injured, where dozens of people were supposed to be brought in.

In addition, some white smoke had risen in the area lined with lodgings on the south side and in the residential area on the west side. If there is a massive fire or something like that in an inn town with a lot of wooden houses, it is life-taking. The soldiers of the militia should have given top priority to putting an end to that fire first.

All in all, there were no injuries or anything like that on a line by the woods, but there was no atmosphere where I could offer to help rescue them at all, and once the streets were sealed off, I couldn't go back to the woods. After causing the overthrown stalls and luggage trucks to clean up the dishes that had been smashed to the ground, I could only watch the soldiers struggle with their thoughts.

"Asta, I have one suggestion for you -"

and Raina-Lou, who was somehow exchanging words with the Kama-Dou numbers of his blood clan, approached him with Rimi-Lou.

"As it is, I'm not even going to be able to get back to the woods for a while. Shouldn't we go back to the woods, one by one, from the Luu bloodline and other bloodlines?

"By the woods? But it doesn't look like we can even use the streets for a while yet."

"If you go through the back of this cluttered forest, you should be able to get out on the road to the woods. Without pulling the luggage, if you only take Totos, you'll be able to get through the cluttered woods, right? That's how one totoss and two humans go back to the woods."

Raina-Lou, who describes it as such, was felt to be a riddled face at no time.

"The families of the settlement should be showing us who we are. If you don't return after the end of the business, all the more so. Besides, we're worried about our own home. I don't think it would even collapse with as much ground tremor if it weren't for the old house... anyway, I want to make sure my family is safe"

"Yeah, I get it. Well, then we'll just have to bring Totos here again to get him to pull the luggage later, okay?

"Yes, we will wait on this occasion until its Totos arrives. It doesn't matter how late you get home, as long as I can tell you that this one is safe."

That being said, Rayna-Lew laid her hands on her sister's reddish hair.

"From here, I give you the most good remit on how to handle Totos. From there, what do you do?

When I looked back at everyone, Yun-Sudra came in.

"From here, I think Asta should go back. Fa's house was a lot older, so you're worried, aren't you?

"Yeah, but you're worried about Yun-Sudra, aren't you? Sudra's house has two babies..."

"I don't think Sudra's main house will collapse that way because it's still some new. And we're not used to riding tototos."

While stating so, Yun-Sudra combined her hands in front of her chest.

"Enough work, please. Tell your family that we are safe. And… tell us that our families are safe"

The other ladies were all staring at me with prayerful eyes.

I nod, "Okay."

"When I tour the house on one street, I bring Totos back. There may be another aftershock, so be careful, everyone."

"Shin? What is it?

"After a major earthquake, there will be a small one. In my hometown, they called it aftershock. After all this time, I think we're gonna be okay."

"Really...... I've never had a tremor as big as that. That's Ameshorn's Turnover."

"Ameshorn's Turnover"?... Oh, this continent is the great god Ameshorn himself "

"Yes, I hear that when the Great God strikes a turnaround, the earth shakes violently. Gibba and Totos must have been making a scene in anticipation of it."

While me and Yun-Sudra were talking like that, Oura-Rutim brought in Lulu of Totos. Instead of Oura-Rutim, Zwei-Rutim takes it perfectly.

"Limi-Luu, please give me the reins. … and say hello to Rutim's family."

"Yeah! You just have to tell Lou, Rutim, Ray and Minn's house!

"When we get to Luu's settlement, we're gonna run the other women to their families' houses, and Rimi's gonna escort you to Asta, right? So when I tour all the houses, I come back to Inn Town. When you come back, you can have Lyada-Lu or Barsha replace you."

When Raina-Lou tells him to teach, Rimi-Lou says, "Okay -!," he raised his hand.

That's where Mim picks me up with a desperate face.

"Asta, thank you for everything you've said about my father. The house we had rented should also have been the oldest in the settlement of Luu..."

"Yeah, okay. I'm sure Michelle will be fine. Take care and wait."

That's how I lifted the leather bag I had left at my feet.

It is the first trunk case recovered from a fallen luggage vehicle. In this, I kept cookware, including santoku knives, and always carried it with me.

"Thur-din, can you keep this for me? With all this noise, I'm worried about leaving it in my luggage."

"... some of this is also punished with Asta's father's sword, isn't it?

Tour-Din received it with a nervous face and held it in with his loose arms looking important.

"I will never let you go from hand to hand until I see you again with Asta. Asta, please be careful."

"Yeah, so is everyone. Well, I'll be there."

That's how me and Limi-Luu decided to take Luluu and step out into the jungle.

Bad foot because it's not the kind of place humans go through originally. But it was also not so difficult to walk, as it was also a place where the people of the boarding town and the people in the stalls were allowed to pick up firewood.

"At Fa's house, Jilbe was there, wasn't he? I'm sure you're scared to be alone."

Limi-Luu has called for it that way, pulling Luluu's reins.

I nod, "Yeah," as I nod to Shiba to see what's going on in Inomachi.

"Besides, you're worried about the hunters who were in the woods. I think it's okay..."

"It's all right! If the ground rocks so much, Giva will be surprised and run, so it's absolutely fine!

Limi-Lew had been hoisting his eyebrows from earlier, as if he were angry.

I'm sure he's pushing hard to kill his inner anxiety and upset. At such a young age, she is the family of the Raging Lou family.

"Tara and Dora's dads must have been in the outdoor area just like us, so you're gonna be fine."

"Yeah! I'm fine!

"Oh I guess in those earthquakes, people in the house are more dangerous...... everyone in the settlement and the innkeepers are sure to be fine"

"It's all right! Because the woods and western gods will protect you!

Me and Limi-Lew kept going through the groves, calling out "It's OK" to make themselves say it.

As far as I can tell, there is no way that a large lodging along the main street is wrapped up in fire hands. The "Xuanrong Pavilion" and "Westwind Pavilion" on the back street, which cannot be confirmed from here, are sure to be fine.

That way, within a while, I finally got out to a familiar place.

It is a small vacant land, made in front of the road leading to the woodland.

The place was also considered an emergency shelter, with many people being embraced on the rug.

"What, where did you guys come from?

The guard, who apparently was partitioning the scene, asks questions in a slight manner.

"I went through the grocery forest from the outdoor area and came out this way. I'd like to go home and see what's going on with the settlement by the woods, can you forgive me?

The guard waved small and said, "Go."

"Thank you," he said, bowing his head, then me and Limi-Luu crawl up on Lulu. The rider is Limi-Lew, and I'm your luggage.

"Okay! Asta, hold on tight!

Dividing himself into deep green trails, Limi-Luu made a good run for Lulu.

It is a different speed than when you are pulling a luggage truck. Even for me, it was all about crackling to feel this.

Because it is a path that can be passed, Ruulu is running through the road without confusion. Ruulu was running in less than ten minutes down a path that would normally only take fifteen minutes.

"Then we'll head over to Lew's house first!

Remaining in its momentum, Limi-Luu drives Lulu north. We were literally able to reach the settlement of Luu in no time.

"Ah, Rimi! And you, Asta! You're finally home!

If you're going to step into Luu's settlement, those words are going to get bumped into you. Large numbers of women were rushing to and from the settlement square, and Lara-Luu, one of them, came running over and noticed us.

But I couldn't get my words back.

In the settlement of Lew, a house near the entrance and exit had been crushed by Peppenko.

It was - it was supposed to be the house where Michelle and Mimes lived.

"La, lala-lou! And is Barsha safe?

"Yeah, because Michelle and Barsha were with us in Kamadu's cabin in the main house. But Michelle fell over and rubbed her hands and knees, so now she's making that allowance in the main house."

I let you breathe relief with all my strength.

Remaining spanning Lulu, Limi-Lu looks around at the settlement for a moment.

"Ah! What are you doing in that house?

"Yeah. Looks like you broke a pillar over there, too. But no one's been hurt badly.... I wonder if that's thanks to Tia too"

"Tia's?," Lara-Lew nodded, "Yeah," I questioned.

"As soon as I heard the gibberish, Tia started making noise. The earth will shake, be careful. I didn't know what that meant, but Mother Meer Ray said it was dangerous to be in the house if there was going to be a ground tremor, and she let everyone out. And then it really turned out to be all that noise."

"Really... for now, no one got hurt badly, did they?

"Yeah. The Ziva lady got out right away, too, so nothing was at stake. Michelle and the housewives are falling a little."

With that said, Lara-Lew has been looking up at us for a while.

"So? What are you doing? Sisters Raina, are you all right?

As we tried to answer, another shadow ran over from the square. With Mother Meer Ray, it's Tia.

"Asta, you're safe! Tia has been praying for Asta's safety on this occasion for so long!

Arriving at our feet, Tia leaped with one left leg and jumped all the way over the saddle of Lulu.

I manage to catch that little body in a panic of "wow." Tia had a joyous look as she hugged my torso.

"Whatever would have happened if Asta had returned her soul, Tia was anxious and couldn't wait! Tia is sincerely delighted that Asta is safe!

"Ugh, yeah. I'm glad Tia's okay."

"Tia is the Son of the Great God, so she will not be crushed by the Great God's turnaround. But Asta is the son of a god, not the Great God, so I was worried!

"Well, then... what the Tiers worship is the great god Ameshorn"

"So I don't know such a name. The Great God is only one righteous God in this world."

After saying that, Tia suddenly said, "Ah!," he shouted.

"Too much joy, I touched Asta's body! Now I'll be scolded again by Ai-Fa! Asta, what do we do?

"Damn, you're a noisy little girl. Why don't you just calm down for a second?

Mother Meer Ray, who was eager for this look from under Ruulu, raised her voice around a bitter laugh as she picked up Tia's thrown crutch.

"But well, because all the Lew humans have to thank Tia. … so how come only Limi and Asta came back? What's wrong with everyone else?

So me and Limi-Lu were supposed to explain the situation like this.

After hearing everything, Mother Meer Ray arms up, "I see."

"Unfortunately, Jidula is used by Lyada-Lu, isn't it? I asked him to go and see if his family's home was safe.... Lara, I'm sorry, can you go deliver this story to Rutim?

"Yeah, okay. Why don't you just borrow a toss at Rutim and tell Ray and Minn the story, too?

"Oh. So if Limi and Asta come around to see what's going on with the other clans, that means someone delivers Totos to Inn Town, right?

"Yes, thank you"

That's how I looked down at Tia sitting right between me and Limi-Lew.

"Um... well, can Tia wait here again?

"What! Does Tia have to leave Asta again?

Tia looked sincerely shocked and glared at her body.

Look at that, Mia Ray. Mother giggles.

"I'll take over the role of delivering tototos to the Inn Town. I'll give her back to Asta already. I'm sorry to keep you away from her because she was supposed to be the daughter of Asta."

"Really?... Well, let's go together"

When I called her that way, Tia twisted her body and stuck to Limi-Lu's hips as she grinned full face.

"Then Asta wants you to be careful not to touch Tia. It's troublesome, but we have to keep the woodland code."

"Yeah, you are."

I grabbed Rimi-Lou's left shoulder on Tier's shoulder and decided to add my right hand to the saddle under my butt, which was my first experience, but Tier and Rimi-Lou have a small body so it wouldn't be a burden to Lulu either.

Tia's crutches are stuck in my waistband and I have to go.

"Um, which house should I go to at first?

"Let's go from the south, in order. Bayme, Gaz, Fa, Sudra, Din, Meme."

It was fortunate during the misfortune that Lilli-Lavitz was not on stall duty today. Ravitz's house, which covers the house quite a bit to the north, is quite a long way from using Totos.

Limi-Lew doesn't know where Baym or Gaz's house is, so I navigate that. The first house is Baym's.

"Oh, Asta, are you okay?"

Upon arrival at Baym's house, Fay-Baym's mother - that is, the parent's companion woman - greeted her with a smile.

"Is Faye safe? Dagola's daughter said not to worry..."

"Yes, the street commerce is done outdoors, so it wasn't that dangerous. Neither Fay-Baim nor the others have a single scratch."

The parent's partner was relieved.

And the other ladies are surrounded by crushed houses, looking like they're on their way. Even here, a house had collapsed.

"We were safe, too, but one house at a time was crushed in Baim and Dagola. It was an old house, so I just... well, I just have to do something about it."

"Really? But more importantly, if you weren't injured."

"Yes, the house will return as long as it takes, so we are grateful to Mother Forest too. … Ah, even to the Father Western God"

That's how we greeted him there, after Baim's house.

Next up is Gaz's house.

Even here, there was quite a noise. Gaz's house was safe, but three of his family's Matua houses were crushed.

"For a while, we'll have to keep Matua's family at Gaz's house. Well, I think it's a good opportunity to deepen our ties with the blood family."

The partner of Gaz's head of household said so with a laugh. but there is a bandage wrapped around its head, and there is a smudge of blood around its temples. She knitted a grass cage in the house and hit her head on a fallen shelf to protect her own toddler.

"Because I guess I'm the one who suffered the worst injuries in Gaz and Matua. If the rest of your family was safe, there's no way. Look, you can tell the rest of your family how safe your family is."

"Yes. Please take care"

After Gaz's house too, he runs Lulu again.

Next, it is finally Fa's house.

"You've crushed all the old houses. Fa's house is old too, so did it crumble?

Tia, who had no concept of reluctance, said so with her neck twisted to mine.

I twist my inner anxiety, and I say, "I think so."

"But Zilbe was the only one in Fa's house, so I just have to make sure Zilbe's okay. All you have to do is wish me and Brave well."

"Ai-Fa is strong, so he won't be crushed by the Great God's turnaround. I'm sure Brave will be fine too, so Tia thinks we should hope Zilbe hasn't been crushed. He's so big, he's as weak as a toddler."

I breathe heavily as I feel the wind blowing too much on my cheeks.

"Hey, how could Tia have known in advance that an earthquake would happen?

"Does that mean you're going back to sleep? A red people should be able to tell anyone. It's just that I've never had a bigger turnaround."

"Oh well. It's like Giva and Totos were able to feel it, too. … so Zilbe will be fine."

While we were exchanging such words, we finally saw the sidewalk leading to Fa's house.

Limi-Luu slows down just a little and rides Lulu in there. Really, "Bauuuu!" I heard voices.

"Zilbe, you're safe!

A black mass rushes over here with fierce momentum. Remi-Luu squeezed his reins and made him stop moving, as Lulu rocked his back to dislike it.

I go down to the ground and intercept Zilbe.

Zilbe seemed to be losing his strength, and I was supposed to get a buttcake when I hit him.

As she strokes her neck in the same position, Zilbe gives her a sweet voice and snorts her nose away. In the meantime, there seemed to be no injuries anywhere.

"I'm glad Zilbe is safe!... but..."

Limi-Luu's voice spanning Luluu has been reduced from the middle of nowhere.

I already know why. With Zilbe's big body in my arms, I was being made to look different.

Fa's house is collapsing.

It was as if the giants had crushed it.

When I took a deep sigh, Zilbe turned a very sorry glance at me.

"No, this is something no one can prevent. I'm glad Zilbe got away with it."

When I stroked her head, Zilbe gave her a cheerless voice, "Kukun".

"Hmm. The place to sleep is crushed, but the place to cook meals seems safe"

That's what Tia said as she jumped apart on our behalf.

"Yeah. The Kamado cabin was built recently. The mother shop... I don't know, but it must have been a lot older."

On the other side of the collapsed mother house, we could see Kamado's cabin standing unchanged. Compared to the cabin, the mother house seemed to have shrunk to about half its original height.

"Hey, Asta wants to see what's going on at home, right? Sudra, Din and Meme's house will be seen just by Limi!

"Huh? But you don't know where the house is, do you?

"Ask the folks at Fou, it's okay! I'll be back as soon as we're done talking!

That's all I left to say, Limi-Luu on Luluu ran away. The settlement of Fou has been out on a feast, so Limi-Luu is also turning the place around.

I decided to stroke Zilbe's head again before proceeding to Fa's house.

As we get closer, we can finally see the tragedy of the house very well. Apparently, the columns on his right hand side had broken toward him, and the house was leaning naked.

In other words, many of the houses by the woods are roofed without any reason. So, the right hand side is supposed to be higher, but it's down to about even lower than parallel. The walls on the right hand side were so crushed that they did not fasten the prototype.

"This... looks like we'll have to rebuild it from scratch."

At that time, from behind, he said, "Asta!" I heard voices.

Looking back in surprise, I saw Ai-Fa and Brave rushing over here with tremendous momentum.

A few seconds later, I was going to be hugged with tremendous force by I-Fa.

"You're safe, Asta. I've been watching you since I got back here."

"Yeah. I'm glad Ai-Fa's okay, too."

When the first surprise disappeared, I also got a great deal of relief in my chest.

I don't even feel like the stains and the abrasions are smudging, but there is no such pain. I am truly thankful to the Forest and the Western gods that Ey-Fa was safe.

At our feet like that, Zilbe leans against Brave. Brave was gently blinking his black eyes as he was sweetened by his disciples with bigger figures than himself.

"Tia accidentally touched Asta just now. I hope I don't get too angry because it was a pleasure to have Asta safe."

In those words of Tia, it seemed that I-Fa had returned them to me.

At the end of the day, I squeeze my head against my cheek, and then I let myself go, as if nothing had happened, to rub my perseverance on my face.

"Was Zilbe and Tia safe, too? But you don't seem to see Gill."

"Gill is still an accomodation town. The streets were out of use for a while, so it was just me and Limi-Luu riding back to Lulu to see how things were going."

When I briefly explained the situation, I - Fa breathed "well".

"If there weren't any humans in every house with major hand injuries, fortunately. I had never heard of the tremor of the earth."

"Yeah.... thanks to you, your house is crushed"

Ai-Fa turned his eyes to the house that collapsed, but there was no change in its frivolous expression.

"This house was old, so it would have been possible to build it in a few more years even if it had been left alone. There's nothing to mourn because all of my family was safe."

"Oh, you're right. But... I wonder if I'll have to give up my household tools."

"Household tools?"

"Yeah. You know, the glass of vitreous wine I got for Schmiral, the big plate of vitreous I got for the Radajids... and the eye-fa ornament..."

Ai-Fa frowned softly.

"If it breaks down to this point, you can even get inside the house. Either way, we have to clear this place up to build a new house... and then we'll have to pick up what we need."

"Do you have something you want back?

Tia looked up at us strangely.

"Tia has a small body, so I think we can get inside through the gap here. If you want something back, Tia will collect it."

"No, in this state, I don't even know when it will collapse. We need to break down the house to get rid of that worry first"

"But if I do, won't the important things of Asta and I-Fa break too?

Tia smiled.

"What Asta's talking about is that glittering vessel, right? Tia will find it and collect it."

"Yes, no, that's dangerous. If the house collapses along the way, Tia could get hurt..."

"Tia's life must be used for Asta. Even if this wound heals, Tia cannot return to the mountains of Morga unless she redeems the sins she has committed against Asta. I'm sure the Great God has given us the opportunity to redeem our sins."

As Tia lay herself down on the ground, she peered into the flat cavity that used to be the front door.

"Please let Tia redeem her sins. For Tia, that's the joy."

"No, I knew you couldn't. I can't let Tia do such a dangerous imitation."

I made him say that in a resolute tone.

No matter how important the product is, you can't risk your life for it.

That's how I really lost my life.

My father's santoku knife has been entrusted to Tour-Din in the boarding town. But even if that santoku knife was in this house, there was no way we could have missed Tia's reckless deeds or anything.

"Forget what I said. Let's start by breaking the house down, as Ai-Fa put it."

Tia smiled again rather as she crawled to the ground.

"Tia thought of diving under here of her own free will. Is this an act that touches on the contraindications by the woods?

"Huh? No, I'm not talking about contraindications or anything like that."

"Then Asta will not be commanded. Tia's soul is free unless it touches the law of the outside world."

If you abandon it that way, Tia's body then disappeared into the cavity.

An eye-fa put his hand up, but it was too tight to make it. Ai-Fa tongues with a thoughtless look.

"What a lame imitation! You could really give your soul back!

"Yeah...... wish I hadn't said something extra. I was right, my family was safe, so I should have been satisfied."

Then Ai-Fa stared at me with her thoughtless swirling eyes of fire.

"That's not true. It's only natural to wish you didn't want to lose irreplaceable objects. … but he's a big liar, imitating himself without listening to us."

Zilbe and Brave stopped by at Ey-Fa's feet worried.

As he strokes those heads, Ai-Fa breaks his knee in front of Tia's disappearing cavity.

"Hey, Tia! Are you all right?

"I'm fine. None of the vessels were broken. Asta's wish was heard."

"Then just come back! There's something wrong!

And it came to pass, when Ai-Fa had said so, that the house was stingy.

They've lost some equilibrium because Tia broke in.

"Hurry up! Are you really going to give me my soul back!?

"Because of this, I can't turn back to you. But I'm sure you'll be fine."

"What's OK! Come on, come on!"

Ey-Fa's voice was cancelled by a tone called Mishimi.

Now the wall on my left hand side is starting to collapse.

"Tia, hurry up! I don't have a house anymore!

I heard an unpleasant noise.

At the same time, even the roof, which was just in a low position, starts to dizzy and sink. The front door, which was flat open, was completely blocked by it.

"Tier -!"

The house of Fa completely collapses, and the momentum leads to dust.

Tia didn't show up.

Ey-fa grabs my arm from the side as it stands.

"Ai-Fa... because of me, Tia..."

"No, it's not. Look at that, Asta."

"Huh?"

The tip of Ey-Fa's pointing was blurred with dust, but I could hear him coughing with a blowjob.

"Ugh, I smoked a lot of sand. Tia wants water."

"Tia! You're safe!

I rushed over to you with a marabou-like foothold.

Behind the completely collapsed house of Fa, Tia, brought to the wall of Kamadu cabin, smiles back.

"Every vessel was safe. Asta should thank her god too."

Tia was carrying a round, fuzzy giva fur. Looks like he wrapped it up and brought out a liquor glass and a large plate.

"No more unscrupulous imitations! How worried do you think we were?

Me and I-Fa gave in to Tia and let that smile creep from left to right.

But Tia remains smiling and laughing.

"I appreciate you showing Tia around, but Tia's not my friend or my brother, is she? More than that, I think we should be happy that the important product was safe."

"You can't say that without worrying, can you?

"Wouldn't you? If you're a forest chief, you'd say Tia's words are right."

Saying it that way, Tia began to unwrap her fur.

but it does not produce a glint of vitreous. What came out of it was a familiar white fabric.

"Is that it? Tia, could that be..."

"Hmm. Is this outfit also important to Asta? Then I picked it up."

It was a set of cooking clothes I wore in my hometown. Carefully, it creases to a slippery heel deck shoe.

"There was a window in this dressed room, so I went out of there."

Two liquor glasses and a large plate were hidden beneath that cooking garment.

It would have been almost a miracle that those products made of vitreous were safe. The glittering glass and large plate in the sun seemed to have no scratches anywhere.

Arrange them on the ground before the tier snaps through the inside of the cooking outfit.

"And this is to Ai-Fa. Is this an important item, too?

I didn't think so, and I said, "Ah."

It was probably an irreplaceable piece for Ey-Fa - a jade bug-colored hair ornament I gave her for her birthday.

When Ai-Fa received it with an unspeakable expression, she eventually held it to her chest as if she could not reveal herself.

"Besides, this giva fur belongs to Ai-Fa too"

After pressing the cooking clothes inside on me, Tia let me spread the fur.

It was two sheets of fur, both hunter's clothes.

One, however, has only about half the area of the other. It was a razor hunter's coat made of young Gibba fur.

"How could you..."

"Isn't it true that when I dressed up in that room, I always looked at these furs like they mattered? That's why I brought it up."

The smaller cape is the garment of the kasumi hunter, which Ai-Fa had made in his childhood.

And the other is the shape of a father like no other, Gil-Fa.

Ai-Fa was once again set to stare at Tia with an indefinite face of emotion.

"But... there must have been some of your hunter's clothes on the spot. Why didn't you bring it up?

"Madarama's leather is sturdy, so you can pull it out after the house collapses. Before that, I thought we should take these items out first."

"Why? Asta doesn't have to redeem me anyway, does she?

"If Ai-Fa rejoices, it becomes Asta's delight. So if Asta is happy with Tier's deed, it will be Tier's redemption."

With an innocent grin on her face, Tia said so.

"I think this could have redeemed about one arm. Tia is so happy that we've only been able to redeem her nails earlier."