Chapter 82: The Goddess’s Second Coming
[space_man][space_man]When the light subsided, Eld and the others found themselves in a pale blue space.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Where is this……?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Moira looked around, surveying the unfamiliar place. When she glanced at Eld and Marie, both were looking upwards. Moira followed their gazes and looked up as well. A lone woman was slowly descending from the sky.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Is that…… the Goddess?”
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[space_man][space_man]Beautiful blonde hair, unmatched in this country and perhaps even the world, and pure white wings sprouting from her back. It was the very image of the Goddess passed down through generations.
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[space_man][space_man]The Goddess landed before the three of them. Moira’s heart leaped at seeing the Goddess for the first time. However, the Goddess was looking at Eld with a somewhat displeased expression.
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[space_man][space_man]”Hey there, Goddess Aleamia. Sorry for summoning you.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”……Honestly. I was sleeping soundly, you know. Please don’t call my name so many times like that.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Ahaha, I’d heard about the prayer pose, but I didn’t know how to actually summon you.”
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[space_man][space_man]”Really, where did you even learn such an old method?”
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[space_man][space_man]Aleamia said with a sigh. Moira agreed with her. The prayer pose Eld had performed was used in ancient times to summon the Goddess. Even then, successful examples were few and far between.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”I happened to come across it while traveling around the country. At the time, I thought I’d never use it, but it’s surprising how useful things can be in unexpected situations.”
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[space_man][space_man]Eld said with a wry smile. Aleamia sighed once more and straightened her posture.
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[space_man][space_man]”So, what’s the matter? For a Goddess-hater like you to summon me, it must be something really important.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Moira stared at Eld at those words. In this country that worships the Goddess, did they really need someone who openly declared their dislike for her? Moreover, it seemed quite unusual for the Goddess herself to be aware of it. In just a few minutes, Moira realized how little she knew about Eld.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Ignoring Moira’s reaction, Eld explained the current situation to Aleamia.
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[space_man][space_man]”So, I was wondering if you could help me fudge the date of my engagement with Moira.”
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[space_man][space_man]Hearing this, Aleamia placed her hand on her forehead and looked up at the sky.
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[space_man][space_man]”……The red-haired one, Marie, was it? Are you really going to marry this guy? It’s not my place as a Goddess to say this, but he’s saying some pretty outrageous things.”
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[space_man][space_man]Aleamia turned to Marie and asked.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Yes. Regardless of the method, I was the one who asked him to help Moira.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Oh, I see…… Well, to get to the point, it’s possible. The contract was originally made under the witness of the Goddess.”
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[space_man][space_man]It wasn’t clear when the contract originated, but there were records of a contract with the Goddess at least as far back as the founding of the country. If that was the case, it wouldn’t be strange for the contract itself to have been taught by the Goddess and for her to be managing it, Eld thought.
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[space_man][space_man]”However, while it’s easy to falsify the date of the contract, I can’t change the actual past. I can’t set a date before you met or when you were physically separated and couldn’t have made a contract. You need to at least be in the same town on that day.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Hearing that, the three of them discussed it. The best day would have been the day of the party, but that wasn’t realistic. Moira suggested the day they came to Linus territory for the request, but Eld rejected that, saying it would raise suspicions that they deliberately got caught in the avalanche.
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[space_man][space_man]After racking their brains for a while, they remembered a day when Moira was alone in the central capital, based on their actions since the party. And that day happened to be a day when Eld and Marie were also staying in the central capital. Thankfully, it seemed they were even in the same store at the same time that day. Moira had dyed her hair at the time, so she wasn’t very noticeable. Eld and Moira decided to make that the day of their engagement.
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[space_man][space_man]”Have you decided? Then, both of you, take out the stones you use for the contract.”
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[space_man][space_man]Eld took out the Guidance Stone hanging around his neck, and Moira took out the jewel she had in her pocket.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”You keep it in your pocket? Aren’t you worried about losing it?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”I-It just happened to be today! I usually keep it in a bag and wear it around my neck! There are no accessory shops in this town, so I can’t get it processed.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Oh, I see.”
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[space_man][space_man]”Oh, you don’t believe me! It’s true!!”
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[space_man][space_man]Seeing their exchange, Marie chuckled. Aleamia sighed.
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[space_man][space_man]”Can I begin?”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Eld touched his Guidance Stone to Moira’s jewel.
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[space_man][space_man]”Then, Moira, will you be engaged to me? To save you.”
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[space_man][space_man]Moira’s expression momentarily clouded at his words. But she quickly replaced it with a smile.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Yes, Eld. Please be engaged to me.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]In response to their voices, their stones began to glow. Aleamia’s fingertips also glowed, as if she was writing something. Then the light faded.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”This should be fine. Can you check it?”
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[space_man][space_man]Eld immediately summoned the Record magic and searched for the engagement section. He confirmed that the date of his engagement with Moira was the day they had just discussed.
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[space_man][space_man]”Thank you. There’s no problem. You’re really reliable.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Aleamia shook her head in exasperation.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Just a warning, I was able to rewrite the date because you both agreed to it. Normally, it’s not possible.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Ah, that’s true. Sorry.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”It’s fine. Sigh…… Why did I get involved with this guy…… No, it’s partly my fault too……”
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[space_man][space_man]They couldn’t hear the last part. As Eld was about to ask her to repeat what she said, Aleamia flapped her wings.
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[space_man][space_man]”You’re done, right? I want to go home and sleep, so I’ll be taking my leave.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]She said and leaped into the air.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Ah, uh…… Thank you. If something comes up, I’d like to consult with you again.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Absolutely not. Being summoned with that kind of call is nothing but an insult!”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]With that, Aleamia soared high into the sky.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”……That kind of call, you mean the prayer pose?”
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[space_man][space_man]Marie said, looking at Moira.
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]”Well, it seems the Goddess has only appeared a handful of times using that pose, so maybe.”
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[space_man][space_man]”I guess that way of summoning her was a bad idea……”
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[space_man][space_man]Eld’s mutter was drowned out as the three of them were enveloped in light.
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[space_man][space_man]After confirming they had returned home and the light had subsided, Eld and the others explained the situation to Yarolk and Jaylot. When Moira happily recounted her encounter with the Goddess, Yarolk looked envious, which left an impression on Eld.
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[space_man][space_man]”With this, I think all we have to do is wait for their next move……”
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[space_man][space_man]Eld said, sipping the black tea Jaylot had brewed for him.
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[space_man][space_man]”Wouldn’t it be an option for us to go to them instead?”
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[space_man][space_man]Jaylot suddenly suggested.
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[space_man][space_man]”Well, that might be true…… We need permission from the Central Temple to build the church anyway, so it might be a good idea to go……”
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[space_man][space_man]Eld looked out the window. The snow was still falling, though it had weakened since morning.
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[space_man][space_man]”Either way, we can’t do anything until the snow stops.”
[space_man]
[space_man][space_man]Though Eld found it troublesome, he decided to head to the Central Temple in the central capital.