“Johann, Johann, what’s the matter?”
As I sat down for dinner, pondering what to discuss with the Status Window, Millia looked at me with a concerned gaze.
Was I so deep in thought that I worried Millia?
I put down my utensils and looked at Millia.
“Just a lot going on lately. I was thinking about that for a moment.”
“That’s true~ but still, you should take a little break.”
I could predict her follow-up advice immediately.
“Sorry, but I don’t think I’ll have time to go out this weekend.”
“Tsk.”
“Where are you going?”
“I have someone to meet.”
Technically, it was a demon. But I figured that would cause a commotion, so I brushed it off.
“Johann, you seem busy…”
“You’re calling me uncle. We just need to worry that the uncle will be bringing more women along.”
Viola’s joke changed the expressions of the other women.
From worried to ‘no way.’
“… Just to be clear, I have no intention of adding more.”
“I wouldn’t say anything if you did, but isn’t seven a bit much? Are you sure you can handle that?”
“Renny, really, there’s no reason to worry.”
“Well, if you say so.”
Seven is definitely too many. Viola, slightly embarrassed for bringing it up, hesitantly made eye contact with me.
“Sorry, uncle…”
“Don’t worry about it. I understand if you all have those thoughts. Still, I hope you don’t stress too much.”
“If Johann says so. But please don’t overdo it, okay? I know you’re strong, but… it’s hard not to worry if we don’t see you.”
“Noted.”
I nodded at Karina’s words.
—————-
Am I alone now?
Returning quietly to my room, I stared at the demon heads.
Harpas, Agares.
The two demons I caught in grades one and two.
Depending on the situation, maybe I could collect one more demon head to add to this collection?
Or maybe not.
I pulled Harpas’s head off the wall and turned it around. It was a brief moment of boredom, but I thought it might be quite meaningful for gathering information.
For example, I could ask Rue to have a feel around the brain still left in this head.
If it were an ordinary living being, it would have rotted away long ago, but these are mighty demons, right?
Maybe the brain is still alive. Once I finish other matters, I could have Rue extract some information from the brain.
I hung Harpas’s head back on the wall.
Shall we start slowly?
“Status Window.”
Now that I think about it, it’s been ages since I last opened the Status Window.
I looked back and forth between the familiar Trait Window and Skill Window and suddenly remembered that I hadn’t received points in quite a while.
Should I ask for some points?
Honestly, I should be getting points thrown at me for catching Outsiders. But this thing hadn’t said a word in a long time.
What could be the issue?
With curiosity, I called out to the Status Window after such a long time.
“Hey. Can you hear me?”
-…
“Are you asleep?”
Is it possible that this thing sleeps too? I glared at the silent Status Window and debated whether to wait until it woke up or keep trying to get a response.
Waiting for it to wake might not be bad, but discussing something this important in the morning feels a bit off. Tomorrow, I had to talk to Eligos again.
“Hey. Respond.”
-…
“Hey, Kalon.”
-Yeah?
“So you are the one who granted me the Status Window.”
-Well… I created it, so isn’t that obvious? Didn’t you hear it from Sabrina?
“Admitting it easily, huh.”
-I’ve already dropped enough hints, so what’s the point in denying it now?
It was just replying through text, so I couldn’t really tell how it felt, but I somehow imagined Kalon shrugging at me like in the original story.
Thinking about that pink-haired, pink-eyed boy being all cocky… I just wanted to give him a punch.
But did he look the same here?
I was curious.
All the characters I met until now had transformed from 2D to 3D appearances…
Well, that’s not the important thing right now.
“Kalon.”
-Wow, you’re not even adding honorifics. I’m your lifesaver, you know…
“That’s not really important. Right now, I’d like you to answer the question I’m asking.”
Sigh. Being so nice, I have to hold back. So what is it?
“Where is the guy that’s planning the invasion?”
-Invasion, huh… He’s still just watching us for now. He hasn’t entered this world yet. The problem is… he’s secretly bringing in the gods he laboriously kicked out.
“I still don’t understand his purpose.”
-It’s obvious. ‘Watching.’
“Watching…”
So, is he some kind of Cthulhu enjoying the show?
As much as I wanted to punch him in the gut, unfortunately, I couldn’t fight now. Winning was also hard to predict.
In battles, information is crucial, and I had none about that guy. And that guy, on the other hand, probably knew everything about me.
If that peeping Outsider had been watching me, he would’ve seen every move I made.
“If watching is the objective, is there a guarantee that he will descend into this world?”
If he’s just going to watch, there’s no need for him to show up.
A fast sentence popped up in front of me, illuminating my doubt.
-For sure. Do you think that world is the only one those guys have been eying? Seriously, why would they fixate on my world…
“… So, it means we have to get rid of him. Kalon, how strong are our odds if we fight now?”
-1%
“More than I expected… but still not high.”
-How could it be high? Fighting now means entering his territory. How do you expect to defeat a god on its home ground?
“So, what’s the plan?”
-First, let’s finish off all the ones who returned.
“… At this rate, we’re going to lose all humanity.”
I was already pretty much beyond human, but if I infused more divine power here, wouldn’t I then truly be a god? The sudden thought of becoming immortal wasn’t really what I wanted.
-You barely look human to begin with. Right now, you could probably take down that dragon all by yourself.
Am I that strong?
I had realized that I’d become stronger since acquiring the Quartz family’s blessing, but I never thought it was to that extent.
-Anyway, the reason you’re talking to me is because of the guys coming in secretly, right?
“Yeah.”
I didn’t know how many had been banished, but I wanted to avoid a prolonged battle. If I could block them, I should do everything possible to stop them.
It would be easiest and most convenient just to smash their heads.
“At this rate, it feels like we’ll just be stuck in a boring battle of attrition. Is there any way to strike first against that guy?”
-Hardly. Also… killing gods is necessary for you.
Is that really necessary? I thought it was just cleaning up.
Fortunately, Kalon didn’t seem to have any intention to hide information from me, as he answered right away.
-Here’s my plan. If you kill the gods, combine their powers, and funnel that energy to you during the battle with that guy. Then, you’ll have enough power to fight him for a short time.
“How much would that increase the odds?”
-30%?
“Not bad.”
-You’re optimistic. That’s very good. I’m glad I put your soul into the empty shell of the Quartz family.
“Let’s set that aside; I’ve found that taking down the three sea gods caused quite a stir. Can’t you reduce the aftermath on your end?”
Crazy. If I keep fighting guys like the sea god, the continent might break apart before I even fight that nameless Outsider. I needed a way to mitigate the fallout.
-I currently don’t have the luxury to focus on the aftermath while trying to keep those guys from entering. Instead, I’ll let you grab some useful items from the Grand Temple through my oracle, so take those and go end it all.
Is that enough?
“I’m not sure if I can use the Holy Sword, though.”
-You have the qualifications.
So hurry up and take it, whether to melt it down or just use it. It’s something that’s very effective against gods.
“I guess I’ll cause a ruckus in the Grand Temple again.”
Seems like I’m going to get labeled a hero.
-So, I’m leaving now?
“… Good luck.”
-The way you say that… Add a little more respect while calling me. Your Invoker.
With those words, the Status Window closed without my command.
“… The Holy Sword, huh.”
That’s one of those overpowered items that you usually get at the very end of the main quest through the Holy Knight branch.
I never expected to obtain it this way.
With unexpected loot bringing me joy, I laid back on my bed.
