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As we were racking our brains trying to figure out how to fake Ann’s death, she pulled a small piece of paper from her pocket and spread it open.
“This is a rough map of the area after we enter the Empire.”
“You were able to get something like this?”
“No, I drew it myself. It’s based on predictions from various documents, and I also used the itinerary for this marriage procession that was sent from the Empire.”
That’s impressive… Being able to draw a map like this from that kind of information is real talent. The finer details might be rough, but the general terrain and roads were easy to understand.
“The route we’ll be taking is marked by this red line. Two days after entering the Empire, we’re supposed to pass through a narrow road in the middle of a rocky mountain area. It’s this part on the map. I want to make it look like we were attacked by monsters there and that the carriage fell off the cliff…”
The carriage falling off a cliff… Yeah, that would definitely be the most realistic way to fake a death. There wouldn’t be any body to recover.
“The problem is whether monsters will conveniently appear like that, and when Ann would escape from the carriage.”
“Exactly, so—”
Ann suddenly cut off her words. She stared at me for a moment, then shifted her gaze to Rebecca and stood up from the bed.
“There’s something I want to tell Luca alone. Rebecca, I’m sorry, but could we talk privately for just a moment…?”
Rebecca looked puzzled at Ann’s apologetic expression but nodded anyway, and I stood up from my chair.
“…Should we step out into the hallway?”
“No, the corner of the room is fine. Rebecca, could you cover your ears for a moment?”
“Alright. That’s fine.”
“Thank you.”
Ann made sure Rebecca had covered her ears and even closed her eyes before stepping closer to me—so close that her breath brushed against my ear.
Then she whispered—
“Luca, you’re a divine servant, aren’t you?”
—The words were so unbelievable that my mind froze.
“H-how do you know…? Wait, does that mean—”
“I am… a servant of the Goddess of Life.”
No way. No way. My brain completely stopped working from the shock. I never imagined there would be another divine servant this close to me. I had been told that even if I dealt with the stampede, no one would find out as long as there weren’t any other servants in this city, so I thought I was completely safe.
Was the Goddess of Life on good terms with Lady Seremees? I really didn’t want to end up opposing Ann…
“You entered the dungeon during the stampede and destroyed the dungeon core. That means you defeated a servant of the God of Earth. The kind of person capable of that is almost certainly another divine servant. So I asked my goddess to observe you and Rebecca. She said she saw you entering the divine domain… I’m sorry for acting without permission.”
Ann shrank her shoulders apologetically, and I shook my head.
“You don’t need to apologize, but I’m seriously shocked. Ann and I can still get along… right?”
“Probably. My goddess said you’re likely a servant of the Goddess of Peace… is that correct?”
“It is. That’s amazing—you can figure that much out?”
“I’m relieved. That means our goddesses aren’t in conflict.”
I let out a long breath. Thank goodness… I felt the tension leave my body.
“Are you two done talking yet?”
Rebecca’s voice suddenly called out, and my body jumped in surprise. I had completely forgotten she was waiting because of how shocking everything had been.
“Ann, Rebecca already knows everything about me. Is it okay if I tell her about you too?”
“I see. In that case, I’d be happy to include Rebecca in the conversation. I only told you first in case she didn’t know.”
“Then let’s talk with Rebecca too.”
When we returned to where we had been sitting, Rebecca sensed us and opened her eyes while still covering her ears.
“Are you done?”
I nodded, and she lowered her hands, tilting her head curiously.
“Can I ask what you were talking about?”
“Of course. Actually, we decided to tell you too.”
Ann then told Rebecca the same thing she had just told me. Rebecca was clearly shocked, but she accepted it fairly quickly.
“So Ann’s goddess is the Goddess of Life. What kind of goddess is she? Wait—does that mean I can visit her divine domain too?”
“Of course you can. Luca can as well.”
“Wait, I can too!?”
“Yes. Lady Milora said so. Since we’re at it, shall we continue the discussion in the divine domain?”
So the Goddess of Life was called Lady Milora. If I wanted to enter her divine domain… I should probably ask Lady Seremees for permission first.
“Let me ask Lady Seremees if it’s alright to speak with the Goddess of Peace.”
“Of course.”
“Thanks.”
“Lady Seremees, are you watching the mortal world right now?”
“I’m not, but…”
“If you have time, could you please look at me?”
A short silence followed my words. She must have moved to her water mirror, because soon her voice returned.
“I see you now. There is another woman besides Rebecca.”
“Yes. She’s going to become our companion, and it turns out she’s a servant of the Goddess of Life.”
“…Is such a thing possible?”
Lady Seremees seemed genuinely surprised. After a moment of silence, she spoke again in a solemn tone.
“I was surprised too. She seems to have realized I’m your servant because of what happened during the stampede. So… would it be alright if I visited the divine domain of the Goddess of Life?”
“I am not opposed to Milora, so I don’t mind… but are you going there right now?”
“Yes.”
“In that case, perhaps I shall go as well.”
Wait—gods can visit each other’s divine domains?
“So that’s possible?”
“Only if both sides agree. Many gods are in conflict with each other, and some simply do not associate with other gods, so it’s rare. But in unusual situations like this, it does happen occasionally. I will speak with Milora.”
“Thank you.”
After finishing my conversation with Lady Seremees, I explained everything to the two of them. Both of them were quite shocked, but their eyes sparkled at the thought of seeing two goddesses together.
I understood that feeling perfectly. Conversations between gods were so rare they barely even appeared in myths.
“Then let’s go as well. Could you take my hand?”
“Of course.”
“Got it.”
For the first time, I headed toward the divine domain without activating Divine Domain Interference myself.
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