<789 - As a Warrior (35)>
The flagship of the Foundation fell into the sea.
The Warrior Party barely withstood the impact of the fall, relying on the barrier of Saintess Yufi.
“Did we… survive?”
“It’s over. It’s really over.”
A clear sky.
A calm sea.
The giant face of Strength-All-in, half-submerged in the surface, and Oknodie, sitting on top with swinging legs.
Everything about the scene felt distant, but it wasn’t just a feeling.
“What was that just now? Oknodie’s thing.”
“Wasn’t it a finishing move or something?”
“Is there a finishing move that produces countless top-tier warriors?”
“If it’s Professor Sadako, maybe.”
Skola felt swept away by Yufi’s near resignation claim.
So distant.
It wasn’t a realm close enough to dare to feel will or jealousy.
Incomprehensible.
A gap that permits no understanding had sprung up between Oknodie and the rest.
“Moreover… it wasn’t just a kid.”
“It must have been a rampaging spirit. Too much power in that tiny body.”
“Are you really accepting all this?”
“What can we do if we don’t?”
“…”
“Give up. The rank is different.”
Even the Warrior Party felt humiliated, but there was one person who approached Oknodie.
Right now, Warrior Ishtar stood behind Oknodie.
What was she thinking?
Yufi prayed.
That her sense of despair wasn’t greater than theirs.
—
Ishtar quietly approached Oknodie from behind and spoke.
“I didn’t know. You had such power.”
“I didn’t know either! Who would have thought I could become such a nice body!”
“Why did you come?”
“Well, without me, everyone would be in trouble, right?”
“Do you remember everything?”
“Remember what?”
“…No. It’s nothing.”
Speaking closely, yet feeling such distance was unbelievable.
Ishtar wasn’t sure how to face Oknodie.
To be honest, she lacked confidence.
Seeing Oknodie’s strength that had finally taken down such an impressive director.
Could she, who was less than Oknodie, call herself a warrior and deserve to be by her side?
Could it be that the real warrior is Oknodie, who has accomplished more than any warrior without the power of a warrior?
—
“You know, Ishtar, it’s really tiring. What are you going to do with so many thoughts?”
“I’m… tired?”
“Stop that. You get hurt easily and easily get enchanted. It’s no wonder the goddess is reluctant to raise a Pufferfish warrior and instead looks at Astarot and raises goblins.”
She didn’t quite understand, but it meant she was lacking.
Perhaps Oknodie was really unhappy with Ishtar’s broken spirit, resembling a mental breakdown.
Oknodie propped herself up with one hand and jumped to stand, turning on her toes to look back at Ishtar.
“How can I gain confidence?”
“There’s no way! There’s such an amazing kid like you.”
“Would I gain confidence if you weren’t around?”
“Absolutely not!!”
If you disappear again, that would be when I’m…!
The words and emotions that surged to the tip of Ishtar’s throat made Oknodie exhale deeply.
“It’s really troublesome, you know.”
Thud Oknodie leaned against Ishtar.
With her back rested, the gaze looking up somehow showed a sentiment like maternal love, which strangely didn’t suit a small child.
Even Ishtar, who had long since forgotten about parents, wondered if a mother would look at her this way, it’s a warmth.
“I’ll be in power-saving mode for a while.”
“Power-saving mode?”
“Royal edict! Can’t do anything!”
“…!”
Ishtar quickly grasped Oknodie’s shoulders and pressed their foreheads together.
Through mana resonance, she examined and meticulously diagnosed the internal state, which was completely a mess.
The rampaging Dark Mana had utterly shattered the mana circuits on its path.
The path known for the flowing of souls had become even worse; just dispersing the gods’ violent pressure dried up the soul spring, leaving cracks.
“I’ll protect you. This time for sure.”
“Hmm~ can you really do it?”
“I’ve gained enlightenment.”
—
This time, Oknodie yanked Ishtar’s nape, pulling her down so their foreheads nearly collided with force.
Using mana alone was painful enough to scream without a peep as Oknodie conducted the mana scan.
After finishing the diagnosis, a smile crept onto her lips.
“Heh. You’ve awakened to Stage 4 in your realm!”
Releasing energy to expand the realm, broadening it with more energy, conferring functions onto the realm to create specialized zones, and imprinting functions onto the world to unfold the engraved zone.
The realm of Stage 4, constructing and expanding a world centered on oneself.
Ishtar’s achievement of reaching Stage 4 was quite pleasing.
She had expected to reach it upon graduation.
Hadn’t she advanced her achievement by at least two years?
“Oknodie, what do you plan to do from now on?”
“Plan? What do you mean?”
“The Foundation has ended. So… you won’t have to be tied to such a world anymore, right?”
“Is there really any difference? I’ll just live as I always have.”
“Kuh… Even without the Foundation, the fragments of the soul we couldn’t find still have such an effect…”
“?”
Ishtar’s usual nonsensical words didn’t bother Oknodie much.
“Besides, even without the Foundation, there’s the Dark Trading Company.”
“?”
“The work the Foundation was doing must be continued by someone, and it would be perfect if Jezel took over.”
Such trusts birthed honest thoughts.
The Dark Trading Company inherited the system that prevents invading dimensions, collects, isolates, and utilizes dangerous entities to protect the Middle Realm.
Unfortunately, Oknodie’s line of thinking today had spread dark imaginings among others.
“Jezel… replace the Director? What does that mean, Oknodie? What the hell is the Dark Trading Company doing? And before that, what does the Dark Trading Company even do?”
Having casually accepted the Dark Trading Company’s favors, she hadn’t even thought about the reasons behind them.
The organization that greatly contributed to the formation and supply of the allied forces.
Jezel, who had been the second in command of the underworld, had been steadily increasing her power behind the director.
Of course, it was assumed they were on the same side.
Not realizing there was a reason to be vigilant, the Dark Trading Company had entered Ishtar’s line of sight for the first time.
Not as a friend’s friend organization, but as a suspicious entity from the underworld.
—
“It really was a major incident. I’m glad it’s wrapped up now. We’ll take care of the follow-up as the Dark Trading Company, so perhaps the young lady and the warrior would like to rest in our provided accommodation?”
“Wow, a ghost hotel! Innerworkings! Is there no stronger candy since the one I took is losing its effect?”
“Haha. You’re going to get misunderstood. Couldn’t you at least call it training candy properly?”
Once the floodgates of suspicion opened, Ishtar began to view everything—Jezel’s narrowed eyes, her friendly demeanor, the claim to naturally retrieve the Foundation’s flagship—all suspiciously.
“Jezel. What is the purpose of the Dark Trading Company?”
“The purpose, you say?”
In response to Ishtar’s serious expression, Jezebel seemed troubled, scratching her cheek.
“Though I wouldn’t say it’s grand. The goal of merchants is foremost to make money. It’s just an organization of people gathered to handle more products than others and earn more money.”
“…Really?”
“You both must have had a tough day. Forget the aftermath and rest comfortably. I’ll contact you later if your help is needed. Including scheduling your return to the Academy.”
Jezel was hiding something.
Ishtar’s sixth sense picked up on that fact.
But now wasn’t the time.
Oknodie was exhausted.
Difficult to control strength, just like Ishtar herself.
If they were to sever ties with the Dark Trading Company and engage in prolonged conflict now, both would have to prepare for death.
“I feel sorry for asking such a request while being indebted, but if possible, I would like to rest along with everyone from the Warrior Party.”
“Of course, where the warrior goes, the Warrior Party should also be. I’ll prepare enough guest rooms.”
For now, they would retreat.
And they would watch.
What kind of person is Jezebel?
What is her agenda?
If she is sure of it, then the sword must be grasped again.
Next time, she wouldn’t feel the helplessness as she did today.
—
“I need to grow stronger. More than what I saw of Oknodie today.”
Ishtar had grown stronger.
And she would grow even stronger.
Then she would become a new barrier for Oknodie.
Having lost both Emperor Papa and Chairman of the Foundation.
She needed a new guardian.
At least she wouldn’t give that guardian’s place to some endlessly suspicious narrow-eyed person.
—
“Oh! But what about Tito?”
“Titosso? Does she have some problem?”
“Since Chairman Papa died, I can’t summon the Dimensional Gate, so I have no way to interfere with Goblin World!”
“Goblin World? Come to think of it, the Goblin Warrior mentioned something suspicious earlier. What weird plots are they concocting in the back?”
“Nothing much, it’s just that there’s an Howling Child we worked hard to make together with Titosso.”
Ishtar’s mouth dropped open in shock.
Howling Child.
Between Oknodie and Titosso?
Two women.
Moreover, a goblin.
And that it’s also a warrior.
What on earth does that mean, Oknodie…?
“You have to tell me correctly about the information you know!!”
