CH 423

A hole opens in the air, and I go through it.

The first thing I see is Hipopo, and Araysla in Taula’s body still on top of it.

All right. It looks like not much time has passed since Zwei was eaten. It’s just the position that was shifted a little.

Hipopo then starts trembling and falls to its knees, with its face on the sand.

What did it see? Its face is filled with fear and dread.

Araysla then floats from Hipopo, and hovers a few centimeters off the ground.

Her arms drip purifying light as she slowly opens them, and she exudes a beauty that is both ominous and divine.

Her gaze is aimed at Hipopo, with that unpleasant light in her lifeless eyes.

I feel like Hipopo probably incurred the goddess Araysla’s displeasure, so I immediately make the decision to return it.

And then, where Hipopo was just a second ago, a vortex of fire rises.

“Hou… Did you do that? Did you interfere with my punishment? How reckless.”

A cruel smile forms on the previously unemotional face of Araysla.

“Hipopo is a dear friend of mine. And I’m going to have your return Taula’s body too, Araysla.”

“You dare to talk like that before my divine atmosphere? How about this?”

Says Araysla while swinging her arms widely.

I’m guessing what she means by divine atmosphere is a kind of divine protection. As she swings her arms, I can feel something I can’t see but at the same time carries pressure spreading around.

Nothing happens to me, probably because of Zwei’s power, but everyone else falls to the ground with their faces twisted in fear.

Kalin is the only one who falls to one knee and manages to bear it, and she yells while looking straight at where Araysla is.

“I’ll draw her attention. Everyone else get away!”

“It’s all right, I’ll handle it. Everyone go somewhere safe.”

I stand behind Kalin and place my hand on her shoulder.

That activates the same transportation technique Zwei used when I grabbed its hand, and sends Kalin to the world I called ‘detached office of the Kagero Institute’.

“『Manifest』 Rose. Take care of everyone.”

I take out a scroll, and Rose’s vines wrap around everyone here. Their faces twisted with fear are also painted with surprise as they all follow Kalin into the ‘detached office of the Kagero Institute’.

Roa, Ahri, everyone in the Admiral’s army, and the Lesser Hipopo.

All that’s left is me and Rose on one side, and Araysla and Seilook on the other.

And Eve’s bamboo shoot army that surrounds us.

…Apparently Araysla ate the remaining mermen in the blink of an eye while I wasn’t here.

And then, Araysla starts speaking with exaggerated gestures.

“So this won’t work either. And that power. Who are you? I will allow you to introduce yourself.”

“Rust. The chief of the Kagero Institute of the Admiral dominion.”

I say my name, and make my first move towards Araysla.