The Protagonist and the Heroine Must Stay Together (2)
"No! Just switch already! Is that so hard?! She's right there!!"
—Don't say such nonsense! Do you even know what kind of call this is?! Can't you understand how precious an opportunity it is to speak with a god?!
"Precious, my ass! I've been dragged into conversations like this plenty of times already! I'm dizzy enough as it is, so can't you just do it?!"
—Absolutely not! You're talking nonsense! Around the same time, the supporting character left behind in the Abyss was shouting at the ring on his finger.
"Come on! You talk to me whenever you feel like it, Auntie! All you have to do is lend the ring to the Modern God or the Magic God for a second, so what's so difficult?!"
—Don't call me Auntie! You're just a human! I helped you when you couldn't fulfill your oath, and now you're throwing a tantrum like this?!
"You're doing the same thing right now! Didn't you hear that crazy woman is going to take Arty hostage? Helping me is the only way to keep Arty safe!"
—...Still, no.
"Aaaagh!! Come on!"
—No means no! There are rules!
The Ability God began explaining one by one to make the protesting Ju Joyeon understand.
—You and I have a legitimate 'justification' to converse through this item, but the Modern God and the Magic God do not. They cannot use the ring I'm wearing to speak with beings on the surface. That would lack 'justification.'
"...Aren't you just twisting the situation with complicated words?"
—It only sounds complicated because your brain is lacking! In any case, handing the ring over to them is impossible. Even the workaround of relaying their words to you is impossible. You can only speak with me through this ring.
"...Tch. Useless as always."
—How rude! You're being far too disrespectful to me! This is blasphemy against a god!
"It's just the truth! You haven't been any help to me at all, Auntie!"
—I am not an Auntie!! If you have questions, ask me! Why are you trying to ask the Modern God and the Magic God?
At the Ability God's words, Ju Joyeon trailed off with a voice full of disbelief.
"Well... do you even know anything?"
—Don't look down on me! I am the Ability God! Though I may not be the chief god overseeing this world, I watch over the surface just like the Modern God and the Magic God. Of course I know exactly what's happening right now.
Despite the Ability God's confident tone, Ju Joyeon asked slowly, clearly unconvinced.
"Fine. If you give me the answer I want, I won't call you Auntie anymore."
—Good!... Wait, no. Calling me Auntie is the origi—
"What I want to say is this. That crazy woman's actions are clearly not normal. She's committing insane acts under the pretext of doing it 'for the gods.'"
—...Haa, fine. I'll endure it with my vast tolerance. But before I answer, your way of asking is wrong. If you ask like that, I can't tell you anything.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
—We are gods. We are omniscient. We know everything, even things humans on the surface don't. Naturally, we know everything about Lily Cubus, whom you're asking about—including things you don't know.
Ju Joyeon's ring, 'I Shall Pour All My Heart for You,' was merely an artifact meant to convey one's will to the other party. However, because the wearer was a god, it inevitably possessed far greater power than intended. That was why there were 'restrictions' on the Ability God speaking to Ju Joyeon.
—If you want to ask me questions, you must at least tell me how much you know about her and what exactly you think the problem is. Only then can I explain accordingly.
"Can't you just tell me everything you know?"
—No. This ring doesn't give me the 'justification' to intervene that deeply. At most, I can only tell you things close to the information you already possess. Do you understand?
"I don't get it."
—This is why humans are so foolish... Through conversations using this ring, I cannot provide completely new information that lacks 'causality.'
"What? So you really are useless!"
—That's why I'm saying I'll organize it within the information you already know! Stop complaining! You! Do you know what kind of Dominator she is?!
"Of course. She's the Dominator of Reason."
—Are you certain? Why?
"At first I thought she was the Dominator of Peace because she tried to brainwash me, but later she tried to seduce me with her body. Plus, everyone who approached to subdue me was male. According to what Lara taught me, the only Dominator capable of such things is the Dominator of Reason."
—Good. So? What exactly are you saying is the problem with her?
"She's trying to commit mass slaughter in the name of the gods' will. To begin with, that woman isn't even a priestess of the Modern God or the Magic God, right? She's just interpreting things however she wants and causing trouble on her own."
—So?
"What?"
—So what? What's the problem?
"No, it is a problem. Mass slaughter? War? War is a problem."
—No. There is nothing wrong with her actions whatsoever.
The Ability God firmly denied Ju Joyeon's question.
—In case you misunderstand, let me say this first: I'm not speaking this way because I have ill feelings toward you. Truly, there is nothing wrong with what she's doing. The Modern God and the Magic God would say the same.
"She's thinking absurd thoughts and trying to annihilate an entire city!"
—Yes. That is the 'story' she believes in for this world.
"...Story?"
—Yes. 'Story.' Just like you, she is a priestess living a completely different life due to a twisted fate, and this is the story she dreams of. A story of apocalypse that will not stop until one side—modern humans or magic users—completely disappears.
"......"
—This world is one where the 'story' has not yet been decided. This world is one where the 'protagonist' has not yet been decided. Anyone can become the 'protagonist' through their own 'story.' You have entered the 'story' of a woman who dreams of being the protagonist named 'Lily Cubus.'
"Inside a story..."
—Even if you tell the Modern God or the Magic God that there's a crazy woman trying to use them to destroy the world, they would be delighted rather than stop her. That's all I can say. Whether you remain buried as a 'supporting character' in this 'story,' or whether you overwrite her 'story' with your own 'story'—think carefully.
With those words, the connection with the Ability God was cut.
—Ah, and from now on, if you call me Auntie, I really will curse you, so keep that in mind.
Ju Joyeon remained still for a while, lost in thought.
****
BOOM!!
"Kyaaah!"
"W-what's happening?!"
In the middle of the city, with a tremendous roar, people and building fragments flew through the air. BOOM-BOOM!! At the epicenter of the sound were two beautiful women, and seeing magic and thrown weapons flying toward them, people screamed and ran away.
"We're pursuing wanted criminals! Everyone go back inside!!"
"Get inside the buildings so you don't get in the way!"
The guards, whose absolute priority was capturing Tiasia, paid little attention to the damage occurring around them.
"House! How far to the Neveiria lord's mansion?"
—Report. 100 meters ahead.
"Are there enemies around the mansion too?"
—Affirmative. Curia Church paladins and priests are waiting around the mansion.
"Tch! I was wondering why we hadn't seen the Curia Church...!"
It had been an hour since Tiasia and Arty began heading toward the Abyss while evading the Neveiria guards and adventurers pursuing them. Tiasia had thought that with her endless stamina she could reach the mansion quickly, but even she couldn't handle all the guards and adventurers lying in wait along the route while carrying Arty. The fact that she had protected Arty from so many veteran adventurers until now could only be called a miracle.
"Hey! You're missing way too much! I'm not even asking you to hit the head!"
"Do you think that's easy?! She's leaping between buildings like they're puddles! At least block her movements or... gah!!"
Whoosh!!
However, even miracles had limits. No matter how capable Tiasia was, she didn't possess the combat sense to perfectly block an overwhelming volume of attacks. Splash!
"Urgh..!"
"A-Arty!"
In the end, among the countless spells and arrows raining down, one stray arrow grazed Arty's forearm as she was held in Tiasia's arms. Seeing the long red line on Arty's arm gradually turn crimson and bleed, Tiasia's face turned pale.
"Y-your wound..!"
"I'm fine. It just grazed me. It's only bleeding a little, so don't worry, Tiasia."
Seeing Tiasia stammering in panic, Arty calmly gripped her own arm and soothed her. Though it looked like it was bleeding a lot, it was only a shallow cut on the skin, so even Tiasia could tell that with proper hemostasis and healing magic, there wouldn't even be a scar. But—
'What do I say to Master...'
The very fact that Arty, whom Ju Joyeon had entrusted to her, had been injured was an unforgivable situation for Tiasia. Whoosh! CRASH!!
"Hii..! T-Tiasia! I don't think you should stop! We need to run away quickly!"
Realizing that Tiasia couldn't be stopped by ordinary means, the pursuers' attacks grew fiercer. Seeing a sharp spear land right beside Tiasia's leg, Arty spoke in a trembling voice to snap her out of it.
'It's only natural that I get punished for letting Arty get hurt. The only thing I can do now is send Arty safely to Master's side without letting her get hurt any further!'
Snapping back to her senses thanks to Arty's voice and the urgent situation, Tiasia tightly gripped Arty's body.
"Arty! I'll move more roughly now! Hold on tight!"
"Y-yeah!"
At Tiasia's words, Arty also wrapped her arms tightly around Tiasia's neck and curled up. Confirming that Arty was ready, Tiasia dodged the attacks coming from behind and leaped toward a large nearby building.
"Over there!"
"Did she jump wrong?!"
"Now's our chance! Before she lands, prepare—"
CRASH!!
Contrary to the pursuers' expectations, Tiasia, who had jumped toward the building, kicked off the outer wall and leaped forward again. The wall she had used as a foothold exploded as if hit by a bomb, tripping the pursuers chasing after her, and the next building she used as a foothold met the same miserable fate.
"...Is she a monster?"
"At least she's not human."
****
Having eliminated any future threats, Tiasia shook off most of her pursuers and arrived in front of Lord Richard's mansion. Worried about Arty, who had been caught up in her reckless movements, Tiasia carefully set her down and checked her condition.
"Arty, are you alright?"
"Uwee~ I-I'm fine~"
Though Arty said she was fine, the bleeding continued since it hadn't been stopped, and her condition kept worsening due to the effect of 'Obsession.'
'Rather than the bleeding, being separated from Master seems to be affecting her condition more... I need to send her to his side quickly.'
"We've almost arrived. Once we go down to the basement, Master will—"
"This is as far as you go, follower of an evil being."
The mansion's front gate opened, and a familiar voice rang out. When Tiasia took her eyes off Arty and looked ahead, she saw a beautiful woman, no less stunning than Arty, standing under the escort of knights in pure white armor.
"Priestess Lily Cubus."
"Surrender quietly. Bishop Kilhug already sees through all of your intentions."
Lily was controlling the situation as usual by putting the bishop forward.
'How disgusting, a woman who imprisoned Master and tried to seduce him so vulgarly pretending to be righteous. After I safely send Arty to Master's side...'
"I have no idea what you're talking about or what crime we've committed. I don't particularly want to fight you either. I was simply forced to respond while fleeing from suspicious individuals who suddenly attacked two helpless women."
At Tiasia's brazen words, Lily smiled brightly.
'I didn't expect capturing Lady Arty to be this difficult. Tiasia, was it? It's most likely that she's one of the undead he commands. She's a variable, but if she's undead, she'll be at the worst compatibility with the Church's holy knights, so the advantage is still ours.'
"They're not suspicious individuals—they're kind people helping our Church. You have the crime of being wicked necromancers. If you surrender quietly, we won't treat you harshly."
They already knew each other's objectives. The Church's knights didn't step forward unnecessarily, instead forming an impenetrable wall to prevent Tiasia and Arty from passing.
"Could you move those scary-looking men aside?"
"These are the Church's proud Holy Knights. There's no need to fear them if you're innocent."
Meaningless time continued to pass in the conversation between Lily Cubus and Tiasia, and it was only Tiasia who was at a disadvantage.
'A way to break through them without injuring Arty...'
Click.
'Hm? House?'
Just as she was feeling frustrated at the lack of a solution, the baby roach hidden on Tiasia's shoulder secretly signaled her through Morse code.
—Report. No enemies inside the mansion. The Curia Church knights in front are the last.
'The last enemy. The last one really is the trickiest. There's no way to safely send Arty...'
—Suggestion. A method to safely send Arty to Master.
'.......'
Hearing House's proposed plan, Tiasia smiled for some reason. What stood before her was a massive, perfectly organized order of knights. There was a clear difference in skill compared to the pursuers who had been chasing Tiasia individually until now.
"...House, I'll follow your suggestion. Please take care of Arty."
Click.
Tiasia walked forward, leaving Arty behind. Arty was slightly flustered, not having expected Tiasia to move while leaving her alone in this situation.
"H-huh? Tiasia?"
"Arty, House will guide you. You must reach Master no matter what."
"Eh? What do you—"
BOOM!
Before Arty could finish speaking, and before Lily could interrupt their conversation, Tiasia kicked off the ground with all her strength and shot forward like a cannon—straight toward Lily Cubus. A suicidal charge that Lily Cubus, who possessed only ordinary physical abilities and had no regard for her own body's safety, let alone the constraint of Arty, could not possibly avoid. Though slightly startled by Tiasia's sudden action, Lily quickly regained her composure.
"She's aiming for the priestess!"
"Protect her!"
It was because the knights near her moved at a speed comparable to Tiasia's to block Lily's front, becoming her shields. Tiasia collided directly with the knights' shields, and the knight in front vomited blood and collapsed from the powerful impact that twisted his insides. However, that alone meant Tiasia's charge didn't reach her original target, Lily Cubus.
'I didn't expect her to launch such a reckless attack. She underestimates our knight order...'
Shiver!
Lily trembled and took a step back. It was because of the menacing glint in Tiasia's eyes as she faced the knights.
'I've already heard that you're the Dominator of Reason. The most precious existence who can even give orders for countless people to die. Therefore!'
"You trash who laid hands on Master! I'll kill you!!"
Tiasia shouted at Lily Cubus with unmistakable killing intent. Crack! Using her monstrous strength, Tiasia grabbed the steel shield blocking her path and swung it around like a club. Naturally, the knights holding the shields became part of the club itself. Thud-thud-thud!
The only thing she could rely on was her incomparable monstrous strength.
"Block her somehow! The evil being is targeting Priestess Lily!!"
"Priests! Treat the injured!"
"[May the blessing of God be with you... High Heal]!!"
"Everyone, subdue that woman!!"
At Tiasia's actions, all the knights present moved to suppress her, ignoring their original target, Arty. Thanks to that, a massive gap opened in the mansion entrance that had been so tightly guarded.
"...Everyone?"
At the unexpected situation, Lily called out to the knights, but they were too busy protecting her from the rampaging Tiasia.
BOOM!
"Arty!! Now!!"
Tiasia shouted to Arty while throwing one of the knights trying to suppress her high into the sky.
"Uh... Ah, yeah! Got it!"
Understanding the situation from Tiasia's cry, Arty began running with all her might through the now-wide-open mansion entrance. When the situation she had thought was checkmate suddenly reversed, even Lily couldn't help but have her thoughts freeze for a moment.
'How on earth...'
Though Arty, their highest-priority target, was now unprotected, no one paid her any attention. No one chased after her. Everyone's focus was solely on Tiasia.
'What was she thinking, doing something like this... Leaving Lady Arty behind and charging alone. Was she certain that no one would chase Lady Arty? Did she know this would happen? How? How much does she know?'
As her thoughts threatened to sink into a swamp of contemplation, Lily hurriedly shook her head to clear her mind. How they had found this breakthrough was no longer important. Right now, there was only one person who could chase Arty—the very person who had brainwashed her, Lily herself. Lily Cubus ran into the mansion after Arty to capture her personally.