Nightfall.

The dusk has way passed ended and the stillness of the nighttime brushes the land. Cold breeze whirls outside but the heat of the banquet still lingers. In the first place, why did we even had this banquet when we are seeking answers from the Goddess named Asteria.

Conversely, about the topic earlier with Ichirou, Asteria seems like she plans to stay secretive about it. I don’t want people worrying about me and less starts being hostile to Ichirou for some crude reason. If something were to leak out, my confession to him that night would inevitably be dug out.

Right?

By the way, since it’s too heartless to leave Ichirou, Fang, and Hasu outside in this cold night, Izuna suggested them to stay at an inn near the Fox Manor. They reluctantly agreed to the idea. Actually, they won’t budge initially and their reasoning is that they need to keep an eye on danger.

Considering that Alstroe and I are here, that kind of worry is already unfound. I am not that confident with myself but even if Alstroe is in weakened state and less, in her child form, she can still deliver a strong punch.

It only took Izuna few words to convince them. I believe she told them that the liquor in that city is quite the knocker and gave them some expenditures. They left after some few more words of persuasion.

To get motivated with liquors…these guys are really…

Moving along, since the vibrant ambiance of the party is dying down, we settled ourselves and nestled in a long and low table where one has to sit. There’s a cushion beneath our butt to keep things comfy. Also, the table is covered with a thick clothing or rather…

Isn’t this that…?

A very long kotatsu? The thing that has a heater under it? I know that the Fox Manor is an eastern residence but to also have this kind of commodity, truly, they are spoiling us…

At the very edge of the table, Asteria sat with Apollo and Artemis sitting beside her. Since we are dawning near of the dead night, she herself took the initiative.

By the way, Mimi has already retired because of excessive intoxication. Topaz accompanied her and slept together in a single futon. I want Violetta to slip under a bed too but this time, she strongly insists to stay awake.

“Well then, since I had my fun, I shall talk. About me, the Goddess Asteria, about what is currently happening to this world, and about the long lineage of the Fox Clan.”

From those words alone that brought out from Asteria’s lips, everyone directed their attention to her. The tension suddenly grew heavy and the vibrancy of the party earlier has now collapsed.

Asteria’s eyes sharpened, or rather, that’s still Higan’s body so it’s fair to say Higan’s usual deadpan eyes sharpened. Her presence overrides Apollo and Artemis which made her a little menacing. With the air filled with tension, a sound of gulping slowly comes to my ears.

“It’s…”

Asteria’s initial word further made us grew drawn to her. Her expression further incites curiosity and quizzical eyes that entranced with confusion. Even I wanted to hear what she has to say because she dragged the topic for half a day.

Suddenly, Asteria eyes gleamed and she abruptly speaks.

“It’s a little embarrassing to be gawked at, Tee-hee!~”

DAMN IT!

Stop screwing around! I want to hit her but that means I am going to hit Higan too in the process! Everyone made a sudden fuss. Of course, they would and even I did by slamming my hand on the table!

This girl or rather, this Goddess is infuriating! Whimsical and playful, are they always like this or Asteria is just a special case?! Even Izuna can’t take the joke and her cheek is twitching as she watches the very face of her daughter making such ridiculous expression!

From the abrupt words of Asteria, Apollo and Artemis both pinch both sides of her cheeks.

“Auntie, this vessel of mine is reaching its wakefulness limit. I want…to settle this matter…quickly…Damn this table…it’s robbing me of my consciousness…it’s…warm…and…cozy…”

“Aunt…don’t do that again…ahh…sleepy…”

Apollo and Artemis, as they said, are getting sleepy as their head wobbles up and down. In reality, it’s Casablanca and Hibiscus that are getting tired. If their body loses their energy, it seems that Apollo and Artemis would also expel from their control of the body.

Ah…this kotatsu is indeed demonic! The bane of humanity! I’m feeling a little sleepy too.

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“Ahahaha! Alright, alright! Geez, my adorable niece and nephew!~”

She laughed off the whole mess like it’s not her problem at all. And, she doesn’t even look tired at all even though her, Higan’s body, was a messed earlier. This is a really long day for us and yet, look at her go like she has an infinite supply of happiness steam.

“Ehem, I want this to be as laid back as possible. Indeed, this will be a little crucial for most of you but I am definitely sure that the reading of the stars expresses that this world won’t be facing any more danger. The Curse of Revision has been lifted after all.”

Asteria leaned back and supported her body weight with her arms behind. The tension earlier was a lie after all and now, the talk came to us casually and unfiltered.

I shake off my drowsiness and focus on Asteria.

“First off, about me, Asteria. I, together with Apollo and Asteria are what you could call Foreign Gods. In a sense, we are from another world. But that alone cannot justify the reason for us being here. In retrospective view, we have been here more than anyone could have imagined but at the same time, we also exist in another world.”

That’s…a little confusing…

“What I mean is, we might be a simple disambiguation of the Goddess called Asteria, Apollo, and Artemis or we may not. In a simpler explanation, we exist in a variety of world but also conscious of each and every one of them, however, this world is one of the million or even billion exceptions. Thus, we are Foreign Gods.”

In a fair point of view, this concludes that multiple worlds, timeline, and even alternate universe conversely exists. It’s not that I am just learning this today but in hindsight, no one can even prove it through a solid explanation.

If what Asteria is saying meant to be the truth, then this herself is from another world along Apollo and Artemis. Drawing out a conclusion, they are from another world themselves and at the same time, exists in another world consequently.

Wait…I’m getting a little bit dizzy. Is it just fine to assume that’s what omnipresence means?

“Furthermore, as Foreign Gods, interactions with this world’s Gods are impossible. All we can do is read everything through our own powers and learn every single thread of knowledge here. As for me, I make use of the stars. It’s not exactly thaumaturgy but it’s more like lining every possible result from a single thread and pacing them up to what this world could lead to. But, as soon as him, Nil, awakened to his powers, those threads of destiny suddenly stops at one point.”

I knew it…

This has something to do with Nil…

“Lest reading the stars, everything crumbles pieces by pieces as time inside the curse of revision goes on, thinning what this world’s dimensional friction could offer to resist destruction.”

“Wait a minute, destruction?!”

I slammed my hand on the table as I asked that. I know I heard of it but I cannot significantly catch a whiff of a clue of why would the Curse of Revision become a real potential danger to this world.

“Yeah, destruction. If the Curse of Revision continued to assault this world several more times, this dimension would surely collapse and everything will become a void, thus, leading nothing but an empty space in myriads of timelines. That’s how significant your existence, Asagao Lionheart.”

“I…I just did what I am told...to do my best for this world but…I know I’ve heard of that from Apollo but…such thing…”

“The reading of the stars started raining down once again when the Curse of the Revision was lifted. Even I am clueless of the condition about clearing that curse but thanks to you, the flow of Destiny in this world returned. Once again, the flow of time here was normalized after thousand of revisions.”

“How…how do you know all of these?”

“Ohoho, like I said, I am the Idol Goddess Asteria!~”

I would like to make a snickering comment at her idol pose but…

I got overwhelmed by what she said.

I know I’ve already heard this from Apollo and Artemis but for Asteria to further emphasize everything and laid down more detailed facts and explanation, I felt butterflies in my stomach.

“That’s the second, about what’s happening to this world! I just forgot to mention it earlier, hahaha! Any more than that and I know you guys would be asking me to read the stars to see the future but I have my own reasons to decline!~”

“No one’s going to ask anyway.”

Apollo made a slithering comment that made Asteria froze in a frigid smile. What happens to the future will happen and I myself is not interested in such.

I’ve learned my lesson in messing with time and encounters so that notion alone made me lose interest in foresight.

“I…I see…n-now…Moving on! About this family lineage.”

Quite a blow from Apollo who is on the brink of falling asleep. Artemis, on the other hand, has succumbed to dreamland and softly breathing beside Asteria. At this point, she is now Casablanca.

THUD

Without abandon, Apollo followed and fell asleep too. At this point too, that’s Hibiscus who started leaking cute sleeping sounds.

Following their downfall to dreamland, Hinoki immediately stood up from her seat and of course, lifted the sleeping Casablanca on her arms.

“Sierra, please.”

“Right, my lady!”

I don’t know if I should be this rude even inside my head but, as Hinoki called out to her councilor, Sierra, the young elven girl jerked from her seat as if cold water was poured on her back.

Even so, Hinoki just sprouted a motherly tepid gaze at Sierra as if she is also looking out at Sierra like her daughter. Following her call, Sierra immediately picked up Hibiscus in her arms.

“Ah, Big sis Hinoki, I’ll lead you to your rooms!”

“Ah, if you would, Izuna.”

“Yes!”

Izuna beams with that response. Even though she is a mother too, she sounded like a child there. It’s adorable how a single presence of a person can bring out something entirely from another one. Usually, Izuna is calm and collected and is a good mother for Higan, but right now, she is indeed the pseudo little sister of Hinoki.

How cute…

“Aw…Apollo and Artemis retired. I’m still feeling a little lively too.”

“It can’t be helped. Also, as far as I am concerned what about Higan’s body?”

“Hmm? I can’t say much but there’s pain everywhere, you know?”

Eh…?

“What do you mean?!”

“What I said. Pain. External pains are one thing but, this vessels emotion is being torn apart, that, earlier. Her previous anxiety grew to extreme uncertainty, the pent-up desire or libido became a frustration, and most of all, her unrewarded and one-sided love becomes a double-edged sword that keeps assaulting her chest. Is that what you wanted to hear?”

“That’s…”

“I can’t blame you. As a matter of fact, I can overlook all of those are you are the one who relieves this world of its curse, however, I cannot sugarcoat her feelings. That’s why, as selfish as I can get, stop jeering lovingly at that man and start looking at this vessel of mine.”

“Wha--?!”

Violetta and the others heard of it!

“Asagao, jeering lovingly at that man she said…what’s that supposed to mean?”

“That’s nothing!”

“My ears haven’t deteriorated yet, Asagao and it wouldn't in the future.”

Violetta, then and there cross examines me. Everyone’s gaze then fell towards me and I felt like I was put on the spot.

I immediately glared at Asteria! In the first place, how did she even knew about that?!

“Oops, teehee!~”

Damn it!

Violetta’s eyes fixate on me and I cannot come up with an excuse. This is the last thing I want to talk about and yet, Asteria just have to slip!

I knew it, I shouldn’t trust her!

“Well, well, as soon as the head of this Manor and that long ear comes back, let’s hit the hot spring! This body has been sullied with the heat of the banquet earlier so I want to take a good dip!~”

“Hot spring? How did you even knew about that?!”

“I asked around and a servant told me that there’s a huge one here. Before hitting the sack, why don’t we take a round of a bath and continue that talk there?”

“Y-Yeah! Let’s do that! Ahahaha!”

I was stiffened with a funny smile as I said that.

I immediately marched out from the heat of the Kotatsu made my exit to escape from Violetta’s inquisition that would reveal something embarrassing!