*****

In any case, we proceed into the metropolis quietly.

The first thing I notice upon setting my feet in the city is that there are virtually no trees around. It feels suffocating. The thick, smoky scent filling the entire atmosphere doesn't exactly help our experience either.

The culprits... well, the numerous factories scattered around the whole area.

Pinching my nose, I turn to my mom, who is also pinching her nose.

''I'm starting to understand why dwarves are a bit hated.''

With a sea of dwarves walking and running around us, this statement can usually get them to jump on me, but I basically erased our presence already, so it'll be fine... I think.

''Aren't they destroying the atmosphere with this?''

This time, I direct my concerns toward Eva, who only reacts moderately while fixing her gaze in a direction.

''I can take care of it for now.'' She says. ''When it gets serious, I will give them a stern warning.''

''Fair enough.''

Since there is no need for unnecessary procedures, we quickly locate Dad's position inside one of the bigger mansions and have Eva take us there.

Upon stepping through the portal, I am immediately greeted by two surprised men—one old, one young. Well, I think Dad is older than that dude, but... anyway.

''Dad!''

''Daughter!''

A tearful reunion ensues. Although it has only been a relatively short while, I'm glad we can see each other again now.

''Dad, you're here for that, right?''

''Of course.''

''Then, I'm sorry, but let me have a word with him first. Time is precious.''

Turning to Dwarf King, who is still staring at us with a bewildered gaze, I quickly correct my voice and speak.

''Dwarf King, where do you store the divine fragment?''

Straight to the question.

I'm sure someone of his caliber at least knows what a fragment of divinity is. Even if he doesn't know where exactly it comes from, he is bound to know what it does.

At this, the man furrows his brows, his eyes turning sharp.

''Why do you know about it, Saint?''

''It doesn't matter. Can you give it to us?''

''Hey, hey, you're asking something unreasonable. Why do we have to give it to you?''

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

''We need it for a power-up. You know how bad the situation is—do you have the confidence to handle the corrupt goddess on your own?''

''...Even so, we can't. We just... can't. It's something vital to us.''

''Vital? Do you even know how to use it?''

''Yes.''

Yes?

What? Is he telling me that someone is going to use it to become a deity? What am I missing here?

''It's like that. So, I'm sorry, but we can't hand it over no matter what.''

''...''

A heavy silence descends. As I rub my chin and ponder, the goddess herself, Eva, steps forward with a confident gait. Since I can't let a mortal sit while speaking with a deity, as that would be disrespectful, I flick my finger and force the man to stand up.

Before he can even react, his whole body freezes as if under an immense presence.

''What...?!''

''Mortal.''

With a single word, Dwarf King trembles visibly. Soon enough, his knees give up, and he slumps on the floor.

''Hey, that's...''

''That's Eva.''

Dad, who secretly whispers to me, seems dumbfounded. If he finds out that I am about to have sex with her, he will faint on the spot—no doubt.

Nevertheless, Eva has now established her presence, which should make that dwarf concede.

''Tell me where the fragment is at.''

Eva's voice, as leisurely and as casual as it sounds, carries a strong hint of authority, which forces the other person to cower. Even the man kneeling on the ground, who bears the title of a 'king,' seems infinitely shaken.

gulp—!

If... if her domination was directed at me... if I was faced with such reign...

Goddamnit.

My lust doesn't quite settle down peacefully, does it?

But since I'll be able to taste hers very soon...

Unknowingly, my hand reaches down to my crotch. Just imagining Eva's gaze as she forces herself on me... hah...

''Calm down, idiot.''

Perhaps noticing my abnormal state, Liana hugs me from behind and grabs my naughty hands with her own. Feeling her sharp chin resting on my shoulder as her scent invades my nose, I finally calm down a bit.

''...Thanks.''

I'll have to appease these gals first. Hopefully, they'll allow me to sleep with Eva.

Either way, with Eva interrogating, Dwarf King quickly gives up his defense and obediently guides us to the place. As we pass through the roads, I catch up with Eva.

''Why didn't you teleport straight to it? You know where it is, right?''

''It seems there is something going on with the fragment. If not treated carefully, my or your presence might trigger a negative reaction. Which is why...''

We both turn to Dwarf King, who is cowering like an earthquake hit him.

''What are you using it for?'' I ask.

''Er... so you know we own a proud blacksmith hall, right? It's in the central area of the city—''

''Nope. No idea.''

''...Either way, it consumes a ton of power to keep the furnaces lit, so we use that instead of others...''

''What? How long has it been running? Where did you find it anyway?''

''I'm... not sure. It's been there since I was born, and I didn't care about it enough to find out.''

''Screw you, old man.''

''What the—ah, okay.''

With a single glance from Eva, the old man shuts his mouth completely. Is this what the legendary 'peaceful' mode is like?

''Stop.''

The goddess orders everybody to stop, so we do just that. It honestly feels like our body freezes on its own.

''Evacuate everybody near the fragment. I need to make sure no one is in danger.''

''O-Okay—I mean, yes! Understood!''

The sight of a burly man trotting away with his short legs is comical... yet I can't help but feel like we're treating the thing as though it is a bomb.

Left behind, our gathering naturally breaks into smaller groups as my parents start to greet my spouses properly.

''Hey, Eva. What will the third trial be like?''

Itching closer to Eva, I seize her left arm and sandwich it between my breasts. The moment I feel her cold skin brush against my hot one, my shoulder shakes.

As for Eva...

She seems largely unfazed, but I can definitely notice her being slightly flustered.

''Since you have obtained the fundamentals through the first two trials, the next stages will remain the same. Each trial will boost your growth rate by a certain amount in a certain timeframe, so you need to take full advantage of them.''

''Oh... that's cool.''

''How do you plan to execute this trial?''

''I mean, since the fastest way to skyrocket my divinity is to have a ton of sex, I'll do just that. And... um... since my partner also matters a lot...''

When I look at Eva's ruby-like eyes, I get the feeling that she does catch my subliminal. Seeing as though she isn't outright rejecting anything...

Will I be sleeping with her for days and nights?