Chapter 349: Hirt(2)
Chapter 349: Hirt(2)
In mythology, gods are often depicted as giants, regardless of their individual differences.
After all, there is no easier way to project an overwhelming sense of presence than through sheer physical scale—a majesty so great that mere mortals dare not even look upon them.
In this regard, the Goddess of Nature was more than worthy of being called a creator deity. Since she was nature itself, it was only natural for her to be colossal.
When one thinks of nature, the first things that come to mind are the soaring heights of the sky, the vast expanse of the earth, and the unfathomable depths of the sea.
It was only fitting that Hirt, the Goddess of Nature in this world, fell into this category.
"I’ve finally met you, child."
Hirt, who had crouched down to meet my eye level, gave a gentle smile and a warm greeting. Her eyes, sparkling like stars, were filled with deep affection.
Forgetting all sense of etiquette, I stared back at her with trembling eyes. Even Luminous and Mora had only communicated through their voices, but Hirt had appeared in person.
Though she barely covered her private areas with leaves, I felt no trace of lust. Instead, I felt a childlike urge to be held in her arms.
Yet even that desire was suppressed, overwhelmed by the sheer aura she radiated. As I said before, Hirt was the Goddess of Nature.
Humanity is a fragile, tiny existence before the face of 'Nature.' If looking at a great mountain inspires awe, how much more so would standing before the Goddess of Nature herself?
I stared blankly at the smiling Hirt for a moment before quietly opening my mouth.
"…Lady Hirt?"
"Yes, what is it?"
"Are you… truly Lady Hirt?"
It was a foolish question, to be sure. But anyone in my position would have felt the same.
This was a god. The Goddess of Nature, who was essentially a creator deity.
She hadn't just spoken to me like Luminous or Mora; she had manifested physically. How else was I supposed to feel?
I was bewildered. So bewildered, in fact, that I had no idea what to do with myself.
"O-O Mother of All and the precious Goddess of Nature, Lady Hirt! A descendant of the Angels offers her greetings!"
While I was frozen in indecision, Arwen took action first.
She had been linking arms with me, but before I knew it, she had let go and was prostrating herself flat on the ground. Her body was trembling slightly to boot.
No matter how great the Queen of Albenheim might be, she was nothing more than a mere creature before a god. I was no different.
Even if I was Xenon, she could make everything vanish with a single word. Only then did I finally grasp the reality of the situation.
I quickly lowered my posture to prostrate myself as well, but a hand reached out to stop me.
Ssh—
"…Lady Hirt?"
"There is no need to force yourself. Besides, you must still be unfamiliar with this place."
Hirt spoke benevolently, pressing a finger gently against the top of my head.
The way she softly stroked me felt like someone petting a cute puppy.
In fact, that simple action alone seemed to soothe my frayed nerves. I even felt a strange urge to act cute and ask for more pets.
Was this why Leona enjoyed my touch so much? I closed my eyes slightly and smiled.
"I greet the Mother of Nature."
"Oh, you."
"I felt I should at least offer a proper greeting."
"Hehe."
Hirt let out a gentle laugh, seemingly pleased by my response.
She then lifted her finger from my head and spoke to Arwen.
"You may stand as well. There is no need to feel burdened."
"Y-Yes…!"
At Hirt’s gentle request—rather than a command—Arwen slowly raised her head. Her face was still visibly tense.
Perhaps wanting to ease her burden, Hirt gave her a bright, soothing smile.
"Lift your head. There is no need to be nervous."
"B-But…"
"As you think, I am the Goddess of Nature. And nature does not 'arbitrarily' harm anyone. Even if you were to commit an act of rudeness, I cannot punish you directly."
This was a stark contrast to Luminous and Mora. Unlike the twin sibling gods, Hirt could not strike someone with lightning or artificially impose a Divine Punishment.
Even if she could, it was uncertain if she would, and the intensity of such a punishment would be entirely unpredictable.
However, Hirt’s words weren't meant to imply that rudeness was acceptable; rather, she was telling Arwen to feel at ease.
Arwen seemed to understand the intent, as she cautiously lifted her head. She looked like a wary squirrel peeking out of its burrow.
Hirt gave her another bright smile, seemingly finding her reaction adorable.
Even though she had been told to be at ease, it was only natural to maintain etiquette before a literal god.
"By the way, it took you quite a while to get here. Did you not want to see me?"
Hirt turned her gaze from Arwen back to me. Despite her benevolent voice, her tone was somewhat grumbly.
She felt like a perfect blend of Luminous and Mora. I replied with a much more relaxed heart than before.
"Things just turned out that way. Unlike the other two, it’s difficult to meet you, Lady Hirt."
"That is true. Even if you built a temple, it wouldn't have much effect."
Hirt nodded, seemingly accepting my excuse—or lack thereof.
Like the other two gods, she had temples, but they didn't hold much power. They were mostly used for simple rituals, and she didn't receive Sacred Power through them.
As mentioned before, to receive Hirt’s help, one had to rely on the power of sorcery, such as rain rituals. Therefore, her temples were more symbolic, much like in my previous life.
"Well, it doesn't matter now that we've met. Child."
"Yes."
"Is this world livable for you? Adapting might have been easy, but I imagine the common sense here must have been quite difficult to deal with."
I was about to say I was fine, but then I glanced at Arwen. I wasn't sure if Hirt had said that on purpose or if, as a creator deity, she simply didn't feel the need to mind her surroundings.
Because that question was essentially 'proof' that I had come from another world. And Arwen had already been suspecting as much.
It was only natural for her to have a strong reaction now that her suspicion had been confirmed.
Sure enough, as soon as Arwen heard Hirt’s question, her eyes widened as she stared at me.
Her rabbit-like eyes were filled with a mix of shock, wonder, and various other emotions.
"Oh dear. Was I not supposed to say that?"
Hirt seemed to realize her slip of the tongue a moment too late and covered her mouth with both hands. Seeing her eyes go wide, it seemed like a genuine mistake rather than a calculated move.
But what’s said is said. Arwen had already been suspicious anyway, so it wasn't a huge blow.
Besides, I planned to write about my past life after the story was finished, so I could just consider this a slightly early reveal.
"No, it’s fine. Arwen had already guessed to some extent."
"I-I knew it… You really are…"
"If you dislike it, I can turn back time for you. Or I could erase her memory if you prefer."
Regardless of Arwen’s shock, Hirt offered a proposal befitting a creator deity. However, neither option appealed to me, so I shook my head.
Since things had come to this, I decided to speak freely. I looked into Hirt’s massive face and spoke comfortably.
"I’ll decline. Regardless, thanks to the consideration of you and the other two, I’m living a happy life. Not only do I enjoy unprecedented honor, but I’ve also been united with the women I love."
"I am glad to hear that. If you had been living miserably, we would have had to walk on eggshells."
Because of a Demon Worshipper’s trolling, a soul from Earth had been brought to this world.
According to Luminous’s explanation, this was an act that defied the 'reincarnation' found in Buddhism, which had caused the gods of Earth to raise a massive fuss.
Still, from my perspective, it was a blessing in disguise. In my past life, I was just an ordinary web novel writer living a life of isolation.
After losing my parents in an instant to an accident, I had even closed off my heart.
The fact that I was able to accept multiple women despite having the common sense of my previous life was likely due to this.
"Is there nothing you wish to ask me?"
"Do you have nothing more to say, Lady Hirt?"
"My reason for meeting you is simple. I just wanted to see you once. I do have something I must do, but I will save that for the end, so feel free to ask anything."
"In that case…"
There was one thing. It was a question I had originally intended to ask Luminous or Mora directly, but since the party involved was right in front of me, it was fine.
"When I tried to name this world, you stopped me, Lady Hirt. Why was that?"
It was a famous scene where Xenon shouted the name of the world to boost the morale of his allies. Just as he was about to decide on a name, Hirt had intentionally caused an earthquake.
At first, I thought she was just embarrassed, but on second thought, that couldn't be it. Causing an earthquake just for that didn't make sense.
"That is an unwritten law among us gods. Do not name the world after yourself. Doing so alone would allow one to monopolize Sacred Power."
"Even though you are the Goddess of Nature and the Creator?"
"It is because I am nature. If the power of nature becomes too strong, it becomes difficult for people to live. Imagine if storms raged every day, lightning poured from the sky like rain, and volcanoes erupted at every opportunity. Furthermore, since I am nature itself, I cannot even control it."
"Oh…"
It wasn't so much terrifying as it was impressive. So that’s what happens when nature gorges itself on divinity. I had to remember that.
Come to think of it, the supreme gods of various mythologies never named the world after themselves either. It was fascinating to learn there was such a hidden reason.
I think I understood why Hirt had intentionally caused the earthquake. If such a name had appeared in the Xenon Biography, Hirt would have undoubtedly monopolized the divinity.
I nodded in admiration. In that case, it would be better to create a name myself rather than taking one from the gods.
"Do you have any other questions? I will answer everything within my power."
"Is it possible for the others to manifest like you, Lady Hirt? It seems you’ve borrowed the power of the World Tree…"
"It is possible, but I told them not to come."
"Why is that?"
I had wanted to see them at least once. I was especially curious about Mora. I wondered if she looked like Cecile.
Hirt gave a gentle smile at my question and answered kindly.
"Even if you are fine, this child would find it difficult to endure."
"M-Me?"
She pointed at Arwen. Arwen looked bewildered at being singled out.
"Yes. You do not have as much Sacred Power as this child. Even now, you are breaking into a cold sweat; if my children were to come as well, you would surely faint."
"A cold sweat? Huh?"
At Hirt’s words, Arwen finally wiped her cheek with her hand.
Even though Hirt was borrowing the power of the World Tree, a god was still a god. Because she was unknowingly consuming her mental strength, she was indeed drenched in a cold sweat.
If Luminous and Mora had appeared in this state, she would have fainted from the pressure. Thanks to that, I was able to realize just how abundant my own Sacred Power was.
"Anything else?"
"Do I have to visit the World Tree every time I want to speak with you like this?"
"That would be the most convenient way. I could possess that child Leona, but that would be hard on her."
"How hard?"
"She would suffer from Divine Fever for an entire week. It wouldn't matter once she got used to it, but you aren't the type of person to allow that, are you?"
Of course not. I’d rather visit the World Tree myself than have Leona suffer.
"I understand. I’ll make sure to visit often."
"There is no need to do so. I will have my children relay my thoughts instead. Also, it puts a strain on the World Tree, so please refrain as much as possible."
To think that even the World Tree, which had driven back the demons, would feel burdened. Even meeting like this was difficult.
Then why had Hirt gone so far as to manifest? I couldn't understand why she had pushed herself when she could have just communicated through her voice like Luminous and Mora.
Just as I was about to voice that doubt, Hirt gave a warm smile, as if she had read my mind.
It was a smile that brought peace to the heart just by looking at it. It felt as comfortable as lying down on a thick bed of down.
"Child."
"Yes?"
"Thank you so much for saving our world from crisis."
After offering her thanks, Hirt reached out both hands toward me. I didn't react at all as she moved.
She supported my bottom with one hand and my back with the other, bringing me close to her face.
Not only were we now at eye level, but I was also face-to-face with her beautiful countenance.
Her eyes, sparkling like stars, felt somewhat frightening because their depth was entirely unfathomable.
Just as I was being overwhelmed, as if facing the universe itself, and unable to take any action, Hirt closed her eyes slightly and began to chant quietly.
[The Mother of All and the Goddess of Nature hereby declares…]
Unlike before, Hirt’s voice was greatly amplified. It didn't feel like it was being delivered to my ears, but rather echoing inside my head.
It was different from what Luminous and Mora had done. Each word felt like a dagger being driven into my mind.
Just as my mind was becoming hazy, as if under hypnosis, Hirt continued.
[May the Pure Blessing of Nature be upon you.]
With those words, Hirt brought me closer to her face and…
Mwah—
She gave me a light kiss. However, given her size, her lips were large enough to envelop my entire face.
A kiss from the Goddess of Nature was… strange, to say the least. There was definitely physical contact, but there was no sensation afterward.
More than that, however, I was simply dumbfounded. I had no idea what Hirt had just done to me.
"…Lady Hirt?"
"Hehe."
When I asked with a dazed expression, Hirt gave a benevolent smile and straightened her bent knees.
The simple act of her standing up boasted a majesty akin to the birth of a massive mountain range.
"I feel sorry for my children, but this seems to be the only way to stop their bickering."
"… …"
"Please continue to work hard for this world."
Flash!
Leaving only those words, Hirt instantly turned into particles of light and vanished. The particles rose into the sky and soon scattered into the air.
I stared blankly at the sight before suddenly shifting my gaze to where Hirt had been.
In the spot where she had been crouching, a single 'seed' remained.
It was definitely no ordinary seed; it was much larger than an adult man’s fist.
"… …"
No way.