Chapter 222: Exchange Meeting-3
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 222: Exchange Meeting-3
In a space resembling a hotel banquet hall, Dimension Management Gods who were acquainted with one another gathered to share light conversation.
Long tables lined the edges of the hall, boasting a vibrant array of colorful dishes.
While everyone was busy letting their stories bloom, someone appeared at the top of the stairs leading down into the ballroom.
With that presence's arrival, the buzzing chatter ceased all at once.
The faces of the Dimension Management Gods gathered in the hall held various peculiar expressions, but the woman looking down at them possessed a singular, extraordinary aura.
Descending halfway down the stairs, she leaned lightly against the railing and raised the glass she was holding.
"I decorated this place in a style that was once trendy in a dimension I manage... I'm not sure how it turned out."
She swept her gaze across the decorations adorning the banquet hall.
"This is the first exchange meeting I've hosted since being promoted to 2nd Class. I hope you all have a wonderful time. After all, it is an exchange meeting."
With a sharp snap of her fingers, a glass appeared in the hands of everyone in the hall.
A deep orange liquid began to fill the glasses from the bottom up.
"Now then, let the exchange meeting begin. I hope you all enjoy yourselves."
As she raised her glass, classical music began to resonate throughout the hall.
The exchange meeting hosted by the 2nd Class Dimension Management God, Nibiru, had officially begun.
Solaris excused herself from Runin and Empen and began to wander through the hall.
She scanned the faces of the gods gathered in small groups, searching for Nibiru.
Deep down, the thought 'Am I just doing something unnecessary?' crossed her mind, but she was a woman of principle.
Solaris navigated the vast banquet hall, but Nibiru was nowhere to be found.
'Is she in her room?'
She spotted a room at the top of the spiral staircase rising from the center of the hall.
Solaris climbed the stairs without hesitation. A few gazes followed her, but they soon turned away as if losing interest.
After all, 4th Class Gods trying to get on the good side of a 2nd Class God were a dime a dozen.
Solaris stood before Nibiru’s room, which was partitioned off by thick curtains.
Even at the very last moment, a lingering doubt tried to hold her back, but she shook it off with a single swallow.
She was a woman of principle.
"Senior Nibiru. It’s Solaris."
Therefore, it was only natural to report an anomaly that had occurred in the dimension she managed.
*
When she entered the room upon Nibiru’s permission, there was already an immortal guest inside.
The guest was a face Solaris recognized. It was impossible not to, as she had seen her just moments ago and couldn't forget her.
"......."
The guest seemed to remember her face as well, as her expression twisted grotesquely.
It was only natural for Solaris to feel uneasy during this awkward encounter, but she couldn't afford to be.
"Uh-uh, are those hands coming down?"
A voice, 180 degrees different from the one that had announced the start of the meeting, flowed from Nibiru’s lips.
Nibiru was sitting in a chair, while beside her, Ranael was kneeling with her hands held high in the air.
Solaris tilted her head at the incongruous scene.
"It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other face-to-face like this. How have you been?"
Regardless of the situation, Nibiru looked at Solaris with her usual benevolent expression.
"Ah, yes. I’ve been well."
As Solaris answered with a dazed face, a deep smile spread across Nibiru’s features.
"I know through the reports that the stability rate of the dimension you manage is among the highest. It wavered briefly recently, but seeing it stabilize so quickly, I thought you handled things well."
Nibiru continued to praise Solaris, not sparing a single glance at Ranael, who was being punished beside her.
Solaris scratched her cheek, feeling bashful at the praise from such a high-ranking senior.
"Looking at the Realm you’ve built up... you might be promoted to 3rd Class soon. It’s like looking at my past self."
With a soft chuckle, Nibiru subtly mixed in a bit of self-boasting.
It wasn't an unpleasant boast; no matter what anyone said, Nibiru was a highly competent Dimension Management God.
Solaris waited quietly through the praise and only spoke up when Nibiru paused to take a sip of her drink.
"Um... Senior. Actually, I have something to tell you regarding the dimension I manage."
"Something to tell me?"
Nibiru’s eyes widened slightly as she swallowed her drink, looking surprised.
"Yes. To be precise, it is a 'report'."
Solaris’s gaze shifted to the side of Nibiru.
"...Ranael, would you step out for a moment?"
Realizing it was a serious matter, Nibiru spoke to Ranael.
The moment Nibiru finished speaking, Ranael scrambled to her feet and hurried out of the room.
Solaris watched the undignified exit before turning her attention back to Nibiru.
"Have a seat."
Solaris sat in the chair provided.
"It sounds like a fairly serious matter. What happened?"
At Nibiru’s question, Solaris felt her mouth go dry.
She had made up her mind, but the words wouldn't come easily.
"It’s alright. Tell me when you’re ready."
Nibiru gave her plenty of time to prepare.
After a moment, Solaris finally opened her mouth.
"It is a case that has already been dealt with, but..."
Solaris confessed everything to Nibiru.
That a soul had flown in from somewhere and possessed a body.
That the soul was a Noble Soul.
And that some kind of spell was placed upon that soul.
"Solaris, is that soul perhaps in your dimension right now?"
Nibiru interrupted, cutting Solaris off mid-explanation.
"No. I couldn't break the spell... so in the end, I passed it off to someone else like a ticking time bomb."
As Solaris spoke with a hint of regret, Nibiru laughed.
"No, it was a matter you could have easily hidden if you wanted to. But you’re being honest with me."
Nibiru, who had moved closer at some point, patted her on the shoulder.
"Actually, that soul came to me as well."
As if to comfort her, Nibiru revealed a shocking fact as if it were nothing.
"Pardon?"
Solaris looked up at Nibiru, her eyes wide.
"Fortunately, in your dimension... it seems he acted according to your plan, so Causality didn't deviate much. But in my dimension..."
Nibiru shook her head as if she didn't even want to think about it.
"When I think about how much I struggled to fix the warped Causality..."
Suddenly, Nibiru’s gaze turned sharp as she glared toward the door where Ranael had exited.
Nibiru tapped Solaris’s shoulder twice.
"Anyway, I’m aware of that matter. I’m also tracking it in my own way."
"Tracking, you say...?"
Solaris asked cautiously.
"Ah, I should probably tell you in advance. I made a contract with a mortal from my dimension. They are currently tracking that soul."
"You made a direct contract with a mortal. Why didn't you do it yourself...?"
"It has to be done covertly... If I move personally, everyone will find out."
Once again, Nibiru’s gaze drifted toward where Ranael had disappeared.
"They are following the traces of the dimensional transfer, so they’ll likely visit your dimension soon. They’re moving secretly, so you might not notice, but don't be too surprised if you happen to observe them."
Nibiru gave a bright smile.
—Vrrr
Just then, a loud alarm rang inside Solaris’s head.
It was a sort of alarm she had set in case Maria exhibited any abnormal behavior.
"Oh, one moment... excuse me."
She pressed her fingers to her temple and closed her eyes.
Was it already time to punish the Order?
Solaris thought Maria had moved faster than expected.
"......"
Solaris, who had been quietly observing the situation, opened her eyes.
"It seems the mortal you sent has arrived in my dimension."
"Speak of the devil. ...But how did you find out? They should be moving quite quietly."
"Ah... I didn't detect their entry into the dimension. However, I found out because they made contact with someone I’ve been keeping an eye on."
"Ah, I suppose that could happen. This is troublesome... they might be discovered soon at this rate."
"But, Senior."
Solaris asked Nibiru tentatively as the latter expressed her worry.
"How many mortals did you contract with?"
Solaris was being extremely cautious, as if trying to confirm something.
"One."
Nibiru held up her index finger.
"That..."
Something was wrong. That was Solaris’s thought.
Just as Nibiru began to sense something strange from her stammering junior, Solaris asked again.
"Isn't it two?"