Advent of the Three Calamities - Chapter 795: Panthea’s Obesssion [1]
Chapter 795: Panthea’s Obesssion [1]
Author Note : Luminarch –> Living Saint. [Should’ve been Living Saint not Luminarch]
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“…This will be all for the meeting. I’ve decided to delegate one entire platoon to aid the followers of Clora. In the meantime, please stay alert. The reward system will also be implemented following this moment. If you find anything remotely associated with the substance that is spreading around, immediately report it to us. We will compensate you accordingly.”
These were the last words of the Living Saint as he dismissed the gathering.
But despite the dismissal, a lot of the people remained standing still, their gazes hovering towards my direction.
I could feel over several dozen eyes focused in my direction, and for a moment, I nearly broke out into a smile.
’I’m sure the reason they’re looking at me isn’t because of my looks.’
But it was true that I was very handsome…
“You are all dismissed.”
It was only when the Living Saint spoke again that everyone finally snapped out of it and left the premises.
Everyone besides me.
I could tell from just the sparing glance that the Living Saint had given me that he wanted me to stay behind.
“What are you doing? He dismissed us. We should go.”
“Why are you standing here? Don’t tell me you want to cause trouble.”
“He definitely wants to cause trouble.”
“No doubt about that.”
“…..”
My lip twitched.
These guys…
Did they think so little of me?
But then again, I really had been planning on causing trouble. At least this would get the Goddess’s attention.
“See? He really was planning on causing trouble.”
“Unbelievable.”
I couldn’t refute their words.
I really was…
Thankfully, the Living Saint spoke up.
“He stays behind.”
Immediately, the people who were leaving stopped. Even the Seats that remained standing near the beacon showed some reactions.
However, before anyone could say a thing or voice out a complaint, the Living Saint spoke.
“This is an order from the Goddess. The two of them are acquainted.”
“…..!”
“…..!?”
The stares became even more uncomfortable.
Many wanted to speak, but upon thinking about the fact that I had been requested by the Goddess, none could speak, lest they wanted to go against her order.
At the same time, nobody doubted the Living Saint’s words.
His words represented the Goddess’s, and as such, the only thing the people could do was leave in silence.
“You also should leave. The Goddess only wishes to speak with him.”
The Living Saint’s voice was directed towards Leon and the others. The four of them looked at each other, evidently confused, but it was An’as who grabbed their attention.
“Let us go. I’ll bring you all outside. I don’t think it should take long. I also doubt that anything will happen to him. A Goddess will not stoop down to kill a lower being.”
Something about the way he called me a ’lower being’ felt a little off to me, but I let it go since he was indirectly helping me by getting them out. The others were also confused by his choice of words, but as I gave them a glance, they all retreated.
“Make sure not to disappear for several months. The most I’m willing to wait this time is a couple of weeks. I’ll think of you as dead right after that. Even if you do end up showing up.”
“Same here.”
“…Why do I feel like he might actually disappear again?”
Oy, oy oy…
Staring at the girls, I was shocked.
Why did the girls’ words make sense? It almost felt as though they were planting a flag.
Like, no.
I had no plans on leaving this time.
I was done.
But then again, who was to say the Goddess wouldn’t do something to me?
’Fuck…’
Even Leon was giving me a skeptical look, his gaze seeming to say, ’Last time it was three years, what about this time?’
I looked away from him, unable to respond.
In the end, they all left the premises of the Cathedral, leaving me standing alone in the presence of the Living Saint and the Seats of Solas.
The silence that followed felt stifling, the gazes of the Seats less than friendly. This was particularly so for the burly man from before, his gaze even more unfriendly than before.
The only one who regarded me with a smile was the Living Saint.
“We meet again, friend.”
He calmly made his way towards my direction, his white garbs sliding against the marble steps as he eventually arrived before me.
As he did, he got a proper look at me, his face unable to hide traces of shock.
“I was a little surprised when I saw you. To be honest, I didn’t think you’d grow this strong in just three years. For a moment, I even felt threatened.”
I wasn’t so sure about this…
While I was indeed strong, I was still far from his level.
It would still take some time.
“I’m sure you must’ve encountered quite a few frutious encounters. While I’d like to hear all about them, the Goddess wishes to speak to you. Please follow me, I’ll escort you to her.”
“Thank you very much.”
I happily followed the Living Saint from behind as he led me towards the familiar steps that led above the Ashen Spire. Neither of us spoke as he walked up the stairs, only stopping before the familiar door.
He didn’t need to say anything for me to understand.
Without wasting a single moment, I reached for the doors and pushed them open.
Clank!
The room was just as I remembered. It was plain and bare, with not a single decoration in sight. It was a simple hexagonal space, its glass walls offering an unbroken view of the city from every angle.
At the center sat a woman with long, flowing blonde hair, her back turned toward me.
Everything…
It was exactly like last time.
However, if there was one thing that I noticed, it was the fact that there was something a little bit off with the Goddess.
Her presence…
It was a lot more lacking compared to the past.
’It looks like the injury is eating away at her even more.’
“You’ve come again.”
Even her voice sounded frail, her presence seeming even less imposing than the last time that I had talked with her.
Nevertheless, she was still a ’Goddess’.
She wasn’t someone that I could underestimate because of an injury.
’There’s also the fact that her followers are very strong. Even if I do want to try something against her, but the time I do it, I’ll probably be annihilated by them.’
“I greet the Goddess.”
I lowered my head to show her some respect.
“You’re a bit different compared to the last time that I saw you. I can see that your strength has increased significantly. You’re a lot more talented than I had expected. Perhaps, this is the reason why Noel chose you.”
“…You flatter me.”
I went along with her speculations. The fact that she thought I was Noel’s disciple was better for me. Knowing that the relationship between me and the other gods wasn’t very good, I decided to keep the news a secret.
Who knew what could happen?
There could be a very good chance that she’d try to attack me or something like that.
I didn’t want to take any risk.
“This is not flatter. You’re really very talented. Enough to make me jealous. If you had worked for me, you would’ve certainly have reached one of the Seats.”
“Once again, you flatter me.”
Her compliments were starting to feel a little uncomfortable to me.
I didn’t know why, but something about the way she was complimenting me felt a little off to me.
’Is she trying to recruit me?’
That’s…
“Clara has passed away.”
“…..!”
My attention immediately returned to the Goddess.
What did she just say?
“It only happened recently. I can feel my connection to her has been severed. Unfortunately, she couldn’t hold out long enough for my followers to reach her… How unfortunate. How unfortunate.”
She sounded sad, but the growing sense of discomfort that I was previously feeling only grew.
Was she really sad…?
But besides that…
’Delilah really managed to kill a God? She’s that strong…?’
I was particularly shocked. Although I was aware of the fact that Delilah had been close to reaching the Zenith, I still wasn’t sure if she was capable of defeating a God. They were beings that had lived for far longer than she had, and even if someone were to become a Zenith, I wasn’t sure they could hold out against them.
But somehow, Delilah had managed to achieve it?
“The God Hunter seems to be a lot stronger than previously anticipated. It looks like we’ll need to put more focus on them. If we allow the God Hunter to carry on like this, there’s a chance that she might come looking for me as well.”
Panthea’s voice remained relatively calm as her body started to twitch a little, her long hair fluttering silently as a certain pressure started to come out of her body.
“However, that isn’t the most worrying thing.”
Her head shook.
“The most worrying thing is how things are proceeding just like in the past. The blood is spreading, and it won’t be long until a new Dimension will be created.”
The pressure around her intensified, a soft glow beginning to envelop her body as she slowly rose to her feet. I squinted, my eyes narrowing against the sudden brightness.
Bright…!
Panthea’s voice grew even more ethereal.
“But that’s not what worries me the most. The spread is only the beginning. Even if we fail to stop it, it won’t affect us much. What truly concerns me is something else entirely…”
By now, the glow had taken up the entire room as I couldn’t keep my eyes open.
The only thing I could do was hear the Goddess’s words as my heart started to race incredibly fast, my mind churning with all sorts of thoughts.
The drug wasn’t her main concern?
If not, what was it?
The Outer Being, direct invasion? The formation of a new Dimension?
What?
What was she so worried ab—
“What I’m worried about is…”
Her voice paused, the surrounding noise seemingly pausing alongside her breath.
Then—
“The Advent of the Three Calamities.”
