The Reunion With Twelve Fascinating Goddesses Vol 1 Chapter 4

The 1st Imperial capital prison.

The prison closed in by tall outer walls, it’s an imprisonment facility directly controlled by the Empire Military. Within the prisons within the country, it’s the strictest in terms of security; it’s a placed secured with first cla.s.s criminals like ma.s.s murderers, terrorist leaders that planned to overturn the country, and so on.

Every part of the outer wall is buried by a metal that Spirit hates called [Ginite Alloy], making Spirits avoid the prison and Spirit techs are heavily restricted inside.

“Crimes caused by Spirit pract.i.tioner has been on the rise. If possible I want all the prison the country to put Ginite alloy into practice but…………..the cost is just too burdening. Because of that all the crazy criminals are settled here.”

Inside the prison.

Guided by Laila, Tooi and Alua were walking down the dull corridor.

This prison is completely shut off from the public, and even the families of the criminals is not allowed for an audience unless they undergo a mountain of doc.u.ments but, they were easily permitted to accompany because of general Laila’s words. This is probably what “A voice of authority is always correct” meant.

“So Ginite alloy still a high cla.s.s resource. I thought it would be distributed more since 10 years pa.s.sed.”

“Refining skills are being developed now but, the prices of the ore ingredients are increasing everywhere. Etherium is especially bad. Just one that can fit in between my finger has a value similar to buying a whole castle.”

*Whistle~~* Tooi whistled.

Etherium is a special alloy created from the compression of high quality Ether.

Looking past the price tag, it’s something so valuable that it can be called a legendary item.

[G.o.d’s Alloy] [Philosopher Stone] [Spirit’s Tear] [Deity’s Holy artifact], many names exist to describe it.

It’s a metal with high concentrated holy attribute and has an extremely high compatibility rate with Spirits.

In a simple term, it’s a metal closest to Spirits in this world.

“Incidentally, is Etherium refining techniques established?”

“Not at all.”

Alua answered the question.

“Not only is the production rate extremely small, if a human touches it even by a little bit, all the holy attribute of the alloy will disappear. Researchers and Spirit pract.i.tioners are researching it but……..there’s no noteworthy progress for almost a 100 years.”

It’s ideal to use a weapon made from Etherium as a medium for [Ray Alma]; that’s the best but----the current problem is that it’s an impossible pipe dream.

Rejecting the hands of humans, the Etherium does not allow being processed. And yet, since it is mostly mined up at the size of iron sand, it’s best to give up.

Because of that, when [Etherium Weapons] are mentioned in the country, it’s either referred as a fantasy weapon or maybe an impractical theory on the table.

“An Etherium sword is currently legendary-----no, it’s plain fantasy, Tooi………….Oopps, it’s right here.”

The 3 of them went further into the prison.

Soon----they reached the lowest floor. They pa.s.sed through the door with [No access] written on it with the key received from the personals there and went down the chairs which was inside.

What they saw was a long path. Since there were no windows at all, it felt somewhat oppressing. The Ether lights buried into the ceiling were pouring cold light as they pa.s.s each one.

“………..Is s.h.i.+ inside here?”

After Tooi asked, Laila pulled her chin.

“There’s a special VIP imprisonment treatment at the lowest floor. La s.h.i.+ Fomalhaut being here by itself is treated as special confidential information. Only the Military higher ups and a part of the personals here know. Even Alua was left in the dark until today.

“Un…………honestly, I still don’t believe it. There’s a deity here……..”

Alua was making a half-doubtful expression.

“This 1st prison, is certainly the biggest prison in the Empire………..but, I think it’s impossible to imprison a deity no matter how much I think…….In the first place, how did you catch her? It’s weird for me to not know if 1000 soldiers moved……….”

“You’ll get it once you see it. Tooi probably has an idea why right?”

“………..Ahh, well.”

Tooi nodded with a face as if he was suppressing a sour face.

First off, it’s probably impossible to connect prison and a deity that is named within the Nebulosa12 G.o.ddesses. The thought that a human made cage is able to restrain a deity, is wrong by itself.

(But, things changes when it comes to s.h.i.+…………)

Imprisonment, and escaping. Most likely, it’s beyond that level.

3 of them were walking down the path.

After walking down the straight path, they finally reached the deepest part of the prison.

“Wha!?”

First, Alua shouted in shock. Tooi was shocked too but, since he has knowledge of the Deity’s personality, his shock was lesser than Alua’s.

The underground prison in front of them------was not a place that deserves to be called prison.

Although there’s a thick looking cell there, the interior deserves the word [Complex].

There were many dolls shaped like dog and bears and it came in big and small. Chess board, sugoroku, Spinning top, playing cards, darts and other toys of that such. Countless books and pictures.

Anyways, there were many things and, on top of that, everything was not kept tidy and in order. All the dolls were shoved to one corner. Since the books were stacked so it’s still okay but, most of it was on the floor while half-opened. The pieces for the Chess and Sugoroku ended up outside the cell.

“Is the entire prison cell in the country like this?”

“I said it’s a special VIP treatment.”

Laila tiredly replied to Tooi’s chat.

At that moment------there was a movement inside the prison cell.

It was not a hard shabby bed that’s imagined when asked about prison and rather, there were luxurious bed tools that do not lose to the bed that Tooi is currently sleeping in the Schut house.

On top of the comfortable bed, the rolled up expensive looking blanked-------started to wiggle about.

And after a whole, the blanket lump continued squirming around but, there were no other actions other than that. Having broken free from his numbness, Tooi let out his voice.

“s.h.i.+! It’s me. Tooi.”

The blanket stopped the moment he did that. The person inside then slowly showed her face as if a tulip was blooming.

“………..Hnaaa~~”

A young and cute voice appeared, was it a yawn or not because it was impossible to distinguish which.

The person that appeared from inside the blanket----was a young girl wearing one s.h.i.+rt.

She has the height of a 10 year old. She also has glowing blonde hair but, spiky bed hair could be seen all over her head. The face is extremely cute but, she was blinking repeatedly and was yawning. She looked really sleepy.

The word [Time & s.p.a.ce] was written largely with Sinology-----Sinology used in modern j.a.pan on the loose s.h.i.+rt that is totally not her size.

“Hn~~, Ahh~~………….ah~~”

After looking over to him while scratching her eyes, the young girl showed a slight shock and happiness on the expression which was looking sleepy the whole time.

“Too-kun. Long time no see~~”

*niheraa* her mouth relaxed and made a smile.

“Long time no see, s.h.i.+.”

“Un~~, Err~~, It’s been 3 days?”

“Apparently it’s been 10 years. By your viewpoint though.”

“Heh~~ Is that so~~”

She replied back with a useless answer with an extremely laid-back tone.

“……..You don’t change huh.”

“I am me after all~~. Hnaaa~~”

She then leaked a unique yawn again.

The strongest deity of the Nebulosa12 G.o.ddesses looks sleepy today too.

 

10 years ago.

This happened right after the [Demon King] was destroyed.

On pro-forma terms, the Nebulosa12 G.o.ddesses that are affiliated with the Empire as Tooi Cross’s contract Deity, cut off their ties with the Empire the same time they lost their master, and scattered about the continent.

However, within them-----the Deity of [Time & s.p.a.ce], La s.h.i.+ Fomalhaut was the only one who------got in contact with the Empire Military and brought up a certain deal.

“If you take good care of me then I’ll quietly let myself get caught~~”

Rather than a deal, it might be more of a threat.

If they don’t listen, they don’t know what would happen to them.

Having that said-------once they obeyed her then they have no idea what she would request.

The Imperial family and higher ups were having splits of opinions on La s.h.i.+’s treatment but,

“You can refuse if you want you know~~. When that happens, I will ask other countries.”

Once La s.h.i.+ released such a carefree answer, the arguments reached its conclusion.

If they had to hand over a grand power known as a Deity then, it’s better to have her here in their country no matter what price they had to pay. Having thought that, the Empire gave her a condition of being confined deep underground in return, they would accept to all of La s.h.i.+ Fomalhaut’s requests.

No matter how crazy the request may be, everyone was in complete fear but-------once the lid was opened up, the requests La s.h.i.+ brought up were all anticlimactic simple tasks.

Things like buying the toys, books and baked sweets in the city. The bed and blanket she first requested was the only high quality but, everything else were goods that can be bought with a child’s pocket change.

She would sleep all day long and once in a while when she wakes up as if she recalled something, she would ask for toys and baked sweets on whim before going back to slacking.

About 10 years in time, La s.h.i.+ Fomalhaut lived her life in the underground prison without doing anything.

 

The moment he heard the whole story from Laila,

(That’s so like s.h.i.+)

Tooi thought.

In terms of pure power, La s.h.i.+ Fomalhaut is at the top even in the Nebulosa12 G.o.ddesses. With time and s.p.a.ce under her control, she is the owner with a power that can separate herself from the others.

However, there was one problem.

And that’s-----she’s a b.u.m.

La s.h.i.+ Fomalhaut has a lazy personality that is so serious that it’s scary.

Everything is troublesome to her, every event is annoying to her. Her sleep time is overwhelmingly longer than her time when she’s awake-----and more importantly, she doesn’t move.

While having tremendous power that no one else have, she would not use it by saying that it’s [Troublesome].

It’s so serious that she formed a [Deus AlmaDeity Equipment] with Tooi only once.

“………Hnaa~~”

s.h.i.+ opened her mouth wide as it could open and let out a big yawn.

She stood up on the bed and tried stretching her arms but……….since she’s currently naked with only one s.h.i.+rt on, it was quite a dangerous pose in a lot of ways.

“s.h.i.+. It’s showing.”

“………….Oo~~. Dangerous, dangero~~us”

While saying that in a carefree tone, s.h.i.+ pressed down the hem of her s.h.i.+rt.

The appearance and clothes of Deities or high ranking Spirits are determined by the wearer's will. Fundamentally, they would wear clothes or armors according to their personality or attributes; many of them have mystical and yet n.o.ble appearances but----in s.h.i.+’s case, she would manifest only a s.h.i.+rt because she of the reason that it’s [Troublesome].

It’s dangerous in 2 ways.

In terms of defense and in exposure rate.

“Hnn~~, Ah~~, we are kind of like always naked based on how you think about it~~. It’s just clothes made based on our mood anyways. So I guess there’s nothing to be embarra.s.sed of~~”

“Have some shame. That would increase your charm of a female.”

“Hnn.if Too-kun says that then I’ll do it~~””

“…………The word [Time & s.p.a.ce] is on your s.h.i.+rt as usual huh.”

“Un~~. It’s my word that Too-kun taught me~~. Cool right~~?”

It’s not cool at all……….rather honestly, it's lame was what he thought but since she looks satisfied, Tooi did not say anything. It’s probably like how foreigners put on word tattoos without knowing what it means.

“Well~~, for now, welcome home~~, Too-kun. You came back huh. Did you enjoy your world?”

“So so. I see that you're fully enjoying your underground life.”

“Un~~, It’s because Laila-chin has been taking good care of me. Oo~~ Long time no see Laila-chin……Un? A-re-re~~?”

La s.h.i.+ tilted her head.

Her half-opened eyes were looking towards Laila----no, towards Alua.

“……….Laila-chin, you stopped wearing gla.s.ses~~? Your hair is shorter………and, your breast turned super small?”

“That’s my sister Alua.”

“s.h.i.+. I already did that joke.”

“…………Uwaaan~”

Laila pointed that out, Tooi retorted her, and Alua was in grief.

“Ah~~, I see. Laila-chin is the one with the bouncy b.r.e.a.s.t.s. So, the flat chest here is Laila-chin’s sister huh. First time meeting you~~. Let’s get along, Alua-chi~~”

“……..Y-yes, hi………”

Alua lowered her head while her cheeks were twitching. Judging by the side of her face, she was showing anger along the lines of [That’s something I don’t want to be told by you!] but, she is well aware that she’s dealing with a deity.

“So~~, Too-kun, Laila-chin, and Alua-chi. What business do you have with me? Hnaa~~”

La s.h.i.+ sat down on the bed and said that while mixing in a yawn.

“Though I say that, I pretty much have an idea~. It’s probably related to the Nebulosa12 G.o.ddesses problem right?”

Tooi was slightly shocked because she hit a bulls-eye.

“How did you know? You have been sleeping in here for 10 years right?”

“My ears are made differently from humans. Hnaa~~. I can grasp the commotion from above if my sleep is light~~”

“Then this makes things fast, La s.h.i.+ Fomalhaut.”

Laila cut to the chase.

“Your previous master Tooi-----“

“Don’t wanna~~. It’s so troublesome.”

“………………….”

“Hnaa~~.Sleepy…..”

Rejected. La s.h.i.+ rejected it without even listening properly before laying on top the bed. It was a really rampant behavior.

However, Laila did not bother much about it and lightly raised her hand to make a pose. It’s a reaction showing that she predicted this to happen to a certain extent.

“Sorry but, I don’t want to come out from here~~. Rather, I don’t want to do anything~~. I want to be lazy every day and sleep sleep and sleep when I want to~~”

“What do you mean by sleep sleep and sleep? Isn’t that supposed to be sticky sticky.”

At least make it sleep eat and sleep, Tooi said that.

La s.h.i.+ [Ahaha~ true~] laughed as if she didn’t cared and while rolling around the bed, she wrapped herself in her blanket.

“Even Too-kun hates troublesome matters right~~? Just ignore it. Give up on me and the other deities.”

“It’s true that I hate troublesome problems……but, I can’t just ignore this. I have my responsibility for having you all serve under me.”

“Responsibility huh~~………….There might be a few things to think about the current situation of the Nebulosa12 G.o.ddesses~~. But, I think Too-kun doesn’t have the right to say anything. You revoked our contracts in such a one-sided manner and went back to your world after all…………”

Also, La s.h.i.+ continued.

“You’re in a sense not really our master right?”

Instantly------

The sleepy eyes which were half-opened-----suddenly opened up with a glare.

Those wide opened eyes were giving off a devouring gaze.

“…………….”

Tooi did not say anything.

He kept his eyes closed and made a quiet expression.

“We were serving under you? Ahaha~~that’s really funny~~. You made a mistake; it should be using us right? The Shrines you conquered is about 5. How dare you act like our master, Too-kun?”

“………………….”

When Tooi was keeping silent, Alua raised her uneasy voice.

“Wh-what does she mean……?”

“Simple.”

Laila answered the question.

“Alua. Why do you think people gather at the city?”

“………….Yesterday, I had the same conversation with Tooi Onii-chan when we came to the imperial capital. It’s not that people gather to the city, it’s because people gather here that it’s a city……………”

“Yes. That is correct. It might sound like Tautology but, the reason why people gather to the city is because people are gathered in the city---------same as that, this is the reason why this man was able to make contracts with 12 deities.”

Laila spoke fluently.

The events that occurred 10 years ago in this world-------since she was traveling in this world with Tooi Cross as his partner, she is able to say this.

“Within the 12, only 3 or 4 of them were deities that Tooi made a contract with through the formal steps------they were the deities that accepted Tooi Cross as their masters from the bottom of their heart. Most of them, took advantage of this by making contracts with him because Tooi was already a Deity knight”

“Took advantage……….”

“You can call it blind following behind if you want. There was value on using him-----once they step onto the chance of victory; they decided to lend their power to Tooi.”

Chance of victory.

On [What] kind of victory it was, Alua immediately knew.

“The reason why the [Nebulosa12 G.o.ddesses] gathered under Tooi Onii-chan……is all to defeat the Demon King Hadar, is it………?”

“Yes. Causing a grand war which dragged the whole continent into the war, Hadar naturally caused anger to most of the deities and Spirits which are the same species. Just like how the humans from various countries formed an alliance, the deities also decided to form a faction. The human known as Tooi Cross was a plausible and convenient 3rd wheel-----a mediator.”

“No way……! Then, Tooi Onii-chan was…….”

“He jumped over the necessary steps and immediately became a deity knight. In other words, he was dragged into a war between deities and a sad victim only there to be used.”

“----I’m not a victim.”

Tooi let his words slide while not looking away from La s.h.i.+”

“I won’t act like a victim after all this time. I decided to use the deity and be used by the deity with my own will.”

Everything was just as Laila said.

For an organization to stay an organization, they must the existence of a clear [Enemy]. By having an enemy that has to be defeated, order and control is born in the organization.

Because there is an [Enemy] called the Demon King Hadar, the Nebulosa12 G.o.ddesses turned into a strong organization with one goal----into a force that shared the same fate. Everyone wasn’t that obedient to Tooi but even so, there was control there.

In order to fight Hadar who possessed tremendous power as if it did not belonged to the world’s structure, they needed to join forces.

That’s why-------he won’t think that his decision was wrong.

(But………)

Now that he thinks back------it was a sad relations.h.i.+p.

A relations.h.i.+p with no trust and is only connected by benefits.

One with, using each other by greed.

“Of course, it’s not like everyone did not accept Too-kun~~”

La s.h.i.+ said that lazily.

“From the looks of it Ryu-tan, Zo-tan, Pan-tan were totally in love with Too-kun~~. Ze-tan, Gu-tan, A-tan might be strict with their words but, I think they accepted Too-kun. But~~ most of us only thought of Too-kun as some kind of useless rock.”

“……….What about you, s.h.i.+.”

“Me? Let’s see~~. Hnaa~~. I like Too-kun………..but, I have no intentions to obey you~~”

Her tone was soft but, her words were sharp.

“I didn’t want to make a contract in the first place after all~~. Last time, I had no choice but to work to defeat Hadar. I hate going through troublesome matters------Hadar is going to resurrect sooner or later so, things might change for me if it’s going to do something to the world again~~”

The sentence that easily came out from La s.h.i.+------caused fear in the area.

(Hadar’s resurrection…….you say?)

That demon king.

That disaster.

That threat.

Is it about to resurface again?

The violent battles from 1 year ago reappeared in Tooi’s mind. Disgusting sweat flowed out form his back. The feeling of stabbing into the demon king’s chest vividly reappeared in his hands.

Alua’s face was looking pale. Laila somehow managed to suppress her bewilderment but even so the uneasiness and shock which she could not hide were oozing out form her expression.

“Hadar’s resurrection…………? Is that true La s.h.i.+ Fomalhaut.”

“Yes. Of course, Laila-chi. Though I said that------it will become another existence from the previous Hadar”

After saying that much, La s.h.i.+ slightly opened her eyes wider again.

 

“There has to be 21 deities----that is absolute. That is how this world was created.”

 

When no one could make nay replies, La s.h.i.+ continued talking in her own pace.

“Well~~, I might have said [sooner or later] but, it’s a [sooner or later] based on my standards~~. It might be around 100 years later or so, so it’s something you humans should not be worrying about I guess? By the way Too-kun.”

The eyes of the deity of [Time & s.p.a.ce] were looking at Tooi.

“Within the 21 Deities of the world, you made contracts with 12 of them. Although it’s just merely for form’s sake, that number crosses over half. Do you understand, what that means, Too-kun?”

“…………………..”

There’s something called [Stock Company] which is one of the several company structures in modern j.a.pan. It’s a business that uses stocks to gain capitals; the company then uses the funds and conducts the service provided.

It might look like a wonderful and useful system at first glance but-------as a price for that, the company itself does not belong to the company employee and president; and is the possession of the stockholder who bought the stock.

Because of that.

If someone possesses more than 51 percentage of the stock, the company becomes that person’s possession in reality. There are many corporate and unions in various parts of the modern world using this system.

Controlling more than half------has the same meaning as controlling everything.

Then, Since Tooi had more than half of the deities under his command-----

“------You understand this, Too-kun?”

La s.h.i.+ said that.

With a devouring gaze.

“Too-kun…………..should have known this already. On what kind of existence we are-----and, on how crazy of an act you performed”

“……………….”

Since he continued not replying back at all, La s.h.i.+ [Hnaaa~~] let out a carefree yawn. The special pressure disappeared and her face turned back to a sleepy young girl.

“Ahaha~~. Don’t look so troubled, Too-kun. Sorry~~. I didn’t plan to bully you. To apologize, I’ll listen to your wishes for a while.”

La s.h.i.+ got off the bed while trying to take back her last remarks. She crawled on the floor and got closer to the cell bars.

“Making a contract is troublesome so sorry~~. Since Ryu-tan’s problem is causing you guys the biggest headache right now, I don’t mind giving my help okay~~”

“………Are you serious, s.h.i.+”

“Un~~. Having Ryu-tan as the opponent is just too burdening to the currently powerless Too-kun so………how should I say this, it’s not fair at all~~. Also~~, Laila-chi has been taking care of me for 10 years after all~~”

The words that came out from the personification of laziness- La s.h.i.+, was a whimsical proposal which he did not wish for.

(This was all Laila’s plan huh………..)

Requesting help from the deity of [Time & s.p.a.ce]------La s.h.i.+ Fomalhaut.

This was most likely the goal for bringing Tooi here.

Having the contract done and getting her back to his control would be ideal but-------even if that’s impossible, having her help was possible.

If it’s the request from none other than Tooi Cross.

If they are able to borrow La s.h.i.+’s power-----it is even equal to a million troops.

To Tooi, Laila and the Empire Military, the deity of [Time & s.p.a.ce] is an outstanding talent and force that they want to the point of desperation.

“I’ll pa.s.s.”

However----Tooi easily said that.

La s.h.i.+ slightly pouted her lips since he did not grab her extended hand and showed a sulking gesture.

“……….F~~uun. What’s this Too-kun? Didn’t you want me?”

“I do. I want everything about you. But-----I hate to get it like this.”

Tooi crouched down. He then finally was at the same eye height as the short La s.h.i.+.

While both of their gazes are tangled to each other at equal height, Tooi told her this.

“I’m glad I met you today, s.h.i.+. I have been getting shocked at every fact, ever since I got to this world so I've forgotten this……….but now, I remember it clearly. The reason why I came to this world.”

There wasn’t only one reason.

There are many reasons why he chose this world and reasons why he did not choose his world.

But the biggest reason would be------

“I wanted you all to serve under me again.”

Tooi said that.

“For me, beating the demon king 1 year ago was just a [Method] for me. That’s why, the Nebulosa12 G.o.ddesses that was formed to defeat the demon king…………putting into words, is just a [Method] for another [Method].”

“Well~~, that goes both ways too~~. We used Too-kun too after all~~”

“Yeah. That goes both ways. But, I don’t want things to end with that sentence.”

Was it guilt, obligation or-----maybe lingering attachments.

Even he has no idea what is the ident.i.ty of the emotions oozing out from the depth of his heart.

Tooi was desperately craving for the Nebulosa12 G.o.ddesses.

“I want to regain the bonds I lost----no, regaining it isn’t enough. I want to tie it a lot stronger than before. In a real sense, I want to become a real master for you all.”

That’s why; Tooi said that before standing up.

“I’m thankful for s.h.i.+’s suggestion but, I won’t be swallowing that. I don’t have the rights to be your master if I wiggle my tail happily when I receive something.”

He stopped looking straight into her eyes and silently looked down at his former servant.

“The time when I will use your power-----will be the time you accept me.”

“…………….”

“Okay then, I guess I’ll end things here and head back. I’ll come back again.”

Tooi then turned around and walk away from La s.h.i.+. Laila and Alua also followed a moment later.

“Sorry, Laila.”

“I don’t mind. I’m used to you not doing things that don’t go my way.”

Laila said that sarcastically.

3 of them then went back to the path but-----

The s.p.a.ce in front of them suddenly distorted.

“Uh!?”

The impossible phenomenon gave the 3 of them a fright but, they entered alert mode in an instant. The distortion in s.p.a.ce slowly became bigger and slowly turned into a hole.

*Pyokon* a young girl jumped out----from a light sucking black hole.

“Escape, success~~”

La s.h.i.+, who was supposed to be captured by the cage behind them, teleported in front of them in an instant.

“s.h.i.+…………”

“Too-kun, Long time no see~~”

“………..That’s an overly fast long time no see.”

Uneasiness oozed out when he heard her sudden voice.

s.p.a.ce teleportation, one of the powers La s.h.i.+ has. With time and s.p.a.ce under her control, making a hole in s.p.a.ce is just a piece of cake. She can even easily twist off her targets along with the s.p.a.ce and even lock down a broken s.p.a.ce for eternity.

Even destroying the 3 of them along with s.p.a.ce here------

“Ahaha~~. Don’t be so scared~~. It’s not like I got out of the cell because I got angry~~”

Opposite to the frozen 3, La s.h.i.+ made a relaxed smile.

“Rather, it’s the opposite~~. I feel real good right now~~. Too-kun is a good man-----even though it’s for one time, the man that used me is a good man and that made me really happy.”

That’s why a present~~.

After saying that with a soft smile, she clapped her hands in front of her chest.

“If you cling on me and start crying with [Save mee~~] , and it turns out that you’re a pathetic man that would jump onto my suggestions without thinking, then I thought of hiding this forever~~. But, since Too-kun rejected it properly. So it’s present time~~”

“……..You tested me?”

“Yup~~. I tested you. I am going to be testing you more from now on. In order to see what you can do~~”

After letting go of her joined hands, darkness swirled there.

The darkness soon tore apart and light leaked out from the gaps.

The object that came out from the light----was a single black sword.

By the size and shape, it would probably be categorized as a dagger.

However that sword was too random to be called a sword------it was just too simple.

There’s only the glowing blade, and no guard or scabbard of the sword. There’s just a sad amount of cloth wrapped around the grip of the sword.

It’s like a single ore made into the shape of a sword-------

“That’s……!”

Tooi opened his eyes wide and stared intently at the sword.

“It’s my sword.”

“Tooi Onii-chan’s sword!?”

Alua shouted suddenly.

“W-wh-whi-which means that, that’s [Zodiac]!? The legendary sword used by the [Tyrant Slayer] Tooi Cross which is only made by Etherium!”

She instantly got tension up and started talking with an energetic pace.

“The ultimate sword forged by the Deity of [Weapon Empress]---Zesca Aldebaran using refined Etherium which were mined up by the deity of [Earth]---Gushana Rigel. Even the Etherium which rejects the hands of humans can be forged into the strongest weapon as long it’s the deity performing it. The created sword that was then completed by mixing the blood of Tooi Cross and the souls of every members of the Nebulosa12 G.o.ddesses, is this black short sword. There is no other sword better than this to act as a medium for the [Deus Alma]…………10 years ago, it is said that this is the sword that put the final blow in the demon king Hadar……….but, wasn’t Zodiac lost together with the death of the demon king……!?”

“……yup. Thanks for the explanation, Alua-chan.”

Tooi quietly stopped the excited Alua.

(Is this girl perhaps a maniac when it comes to me?)

She’s full of knowledge regarding the Nebulosa12 G.o.ddesses and [Tyrant Slayer], what’s more she’s quite well informed with the books with Tooi as the theme.

Apparently, she holds an unbeatable admiration towards Tooi Cross.

Of course, rather than calling it feelings towards a single human, it's more towards the feeling of admiration towards a historical great person or fict.i.tious person.

If this keeps up, it feels as if she’s going to turn into an explanation character but----well, let’s leave that aside.

“s.h.i.+. Why is Zodiac over here? Just like what Alua-chan said, it broke when I defeated Hadar……….”

“We fixed it~~”

While saying that La s.h.i.+ pulled out the short sword from the s.p.a.ce that appeared in front of her chest.

The black Etherium blade darker than darkness was giving off a mystical glow after it received the light of Ether pouring down from the ceiling.

“It happened right after Too-kun went back~~. Everyone went looking for the fragments in the demon king castle~~, and reforged it back once more!!”

“Why………..”

The farewell from 1 year ago----was equal to saying farewell to this life. No one should have expected him to come back like this.

“Who knows~~ I wonder why~~. No one brought it up and everyone from the Nebulosa12 G.o.ddesses naturally just went with it~~. Someone suggested making a tomb and stabbing it there but, it’s not like Too-kun died. That’s why I ended up being the representative to keeping it since I am the strongest~~”

“……………….”

“After everything thing that has happened to us…….Too-kun is someone special. In both good and bad ways~~”

While saying it in a joking manner, La s.h.i.+ presented him the sword.

Tooi extended his hands out but------he stopped half-way.

“Hn? What’s wrong~~? Ah~~, it’s hard to accept a present from me after I did all that bragging huh? Then I’ll give it like this.”

La s.h.i.+ then bent down on the spot. She made a posture of serving Tooi who was standing in front of her, while lifting the sword above her head with both her hands.

That appearance----looked like a loyal retainer serving her master.

“This is not pity or charity, Too-kun. This sword does not belong to me, it’s yours after all~~. I am just returning it to its original owner.”

“s.h.i.+………..”

After a few seconds of silence, Tooi made up his mind to take the sword. He grabbed the presented sword with his right hand.

Deity sword Zodiac.

A weapon made from Etherium and only one exists in the world.

The sword that he has not grabbed for 1 year was so comfortable in his hands to the point of horror. It felt as if the sword and his hand was one. It’s true that this sword was made just for Tooi.

“……….hey, Laila. Incidentally, how much is it if I sell this?”

“Let’s see. Just the very fact that this is a short sword forged by Etherium which is an ultra-rare and impossible to handle alloy, brings in a tons of cash but; if you add in the naming value such as [Weapon forged by a Deity] or [Weapon that defeated the Demon king]…………..fumu. I guess you’ll get an astronomical price tag that can get you a small country with ease.”

“…………….”

“T-Tooi Onii-chan!? Yo-you can’t! What’s with that hesitant face! Are you planning to trample on the feelings of everyone in the Nebulosa12 G.o.ddesses!?”

“I know. It’s just a joke.”

Tooi then looked back at La s.h.i.+.

“Thanks. s.h.i.+.”

“Un~~. I don’t mind~~”

While saying that as if she didn’t care, La s.h.i.+ tried standing up from her bend but, she let out a pathetic [Ah~~] scream half-way before falling down to the floor.

“No good~~, I don’t have the energy to stand anymore~~”

“No, doesn’t mean that you can sleep on the floor. Do it on the bed over there if you want to sleep------“

“Nee~~, Too-kun.”

While ignoring his words, La s.h.i.+ said it while lying on the floor.

“Come back once you become strong enough to beat me. Then let’s have a fight~~”

There’s an innocent light in her half opened sleepy eyes. There were no bad intentions or schemes, the innocent glow similar to a newly born baby, was inside her eyes.

“Enough to defeat you huh…….that’s going to be tough even after I gather more than half of the Nebulosa12 G.o.ddesses”

“I’ll do anything, even reestablish our contract if I lose~~. I’ll listen to every order you make. I’ll even lick Too-kun’s a.s.shole~~”

“………..By the way, what if I lose?”

“U~`nn. I guess I’ll make you lick my a.s.shole when that happens~~”

Aren’t both sides a prize? There’s only gain whether I win or lose------he thought that but, he didn’t say it out as expected.

“Ahaha~~, how about it, Too-kun. It’s insulting to lick the a.s.shole of a little girl like me right~~? You don’t want to right~~?”

“…………….”

Tooi kept silent. Was this s.h.i.+’s aim? Did she say this because she’s an airhead? It was a hard decision to make.

He then let out a big sigh.

“I understand s.h.i.+.”

He said that. There was fighting spirit and determination in his eyes.

“I will definitely beat you. And-----I’ll make you lick my a.s.shole.”

“”……………..””

The Schut sisters standing beside him were glaring at him with dead eyes. The gazes were giving off [What is this guy saying with such a cool face?] vibe. They started whispering [What is he making such a small girl……..] [I thought he loves big b.r.e.a.s.t.s but, he can go loli too huh].

However, La s.h.i.+ nodded with a quite satisfied face.

“Okay~~, wash your a.s.s and wait~~”

After that, he carried La s.h.i.+ back to the prison when she tried to crawl back to the prison like a caterpillar before the 3 of them returned to the surface.

The meeting with the strongest existence of the Nebulosa12 G.o.ddesses ended here.

Re-establis.h.i.+ng the contract was not possible----but the gain was high.

His beloved deity sword Zodiac.

And-----a promises with a little girl to have their a.s.shole licked.