Anima, The Goddess of Nature [ A sneak peak]

"Okay."

Yves tilted her head and strangely glanced at Natsuki.

What happened to her?

"Are you sure she is the God you were talking about?" She turned around towards me and asked dubiously.

I smiled wryly. "Why don't you ask her instead." Don't she believe me?

"How?"

I shrugged. "Don't know."

Yves sighed. Doesn't seems like she will get something out of him. But is it alright to disturb her right now? She had listened God doesn't like being disturbed.

Natsuki was sitting in a relaxed manner along with Silver while chewing the cookies. She didn't look any different than a child right now although Yves had already seen the mess she had created just a moment ago but still can't believe her eyes right now.

She put on an entangled expression and looked at Leon for help only to get ignored mercilessly.

He is doing it on purpose!! She cursed inwardly and stood up. She faced Natsuki with a smile.

"Your highness, I am Yves Lurey Crea, the gu-"

"Hahahaha... "

"What!?" Yves frowned and looked at the source of laughter.

"Hahaha, put down with the antics of yours. She is deaf and can't listen to you." I said while laughing out loud. It's amusing to see this play let's take it a step further.

Yves took a quick glimpse and Natsuki and then faced me again. "So, how does she communicate."

I glanced at her with surprise. Did she believe my words!? That's good, that's good.

"She communicates using touch.." I said with a serious expression.

"Touch??"

"Yup."

Yves glimpsed at him once more to confirm he is serious and not just playing around with her but till now the Goddess haven't even lifted her head once, despite all the conversation taking place since. Does it mean that she speaks using touch, that's absurd but...

She took a deep breath and moved ahead with a conflicted face. She arrived in front of Natsuki and tried to call her one last time but it didn't work out.

I looked at the scene unfolding in front of me with an amused face. Will have to agree this little goddess is really arrogant. She ignores everyone's existence like air.

Yves sighed in the end and put down her hand on Natsuki's shoulders and closed her eyes waiting for her to initiate contact. But what she waited for never arrived instead something else happened.

She mysteriously got teleported back to her place while Leon was staring at Natsuki with a sharp gaze.

"What happened right now!?"

"It's nothing."

Nothing!? wasn't he sitting previously... how had he exchanged places with her, he is standing exactly where in front of Natsuki right now, where she was standing a moment ago. She wanted to scream what exactly happened but somehow the tension in the room made her shut her mouth unwittingly.

"If you do that again you are done."

Natsuki smirked and continued eating despite my warning. Nevertheless, her non-rebuttal was enough for my confirmation. I nodded once and got back to my seat only to find a confused Yves staring at me. She was internally struggling as whether to ask what happened right now or not. Her whole body was numb and she felt an intolerable chill a moment ago. What was that feeling exactly? She wanted to describe it in words but was unable to.

Let me describe what exactly happened a few moments ago, the moment Yves's hand touched Natsuki's shoulder, she released a powerful spell which was enough to disintegrate her into the ashes. If I haven't interfered in time she would be dead. I never thought this Loli would dare to do something like this sitting next to me. Seems like I underestimated this loli's self-respect. She has too high self-esteem.

"Don't worry about her, you don't need to ask her anything. She told me everything just now. She said everything is fine and she won't do anything to affect the peace.m of your Empire or whatsoever." I said to Yves to divert her attention from the previous matter.

"B-But what was that feeling right now?"

I smiled back. "It's nothing you have windows opened, you might be feeling cold."

Yves turned back only to see the windows open. Didn't she close them already? How it is open? She shook her head to remove all the thoughts from her mind. Whatever happened right now she doesn't want to know about it, regardless the moment she has met this strange man only strange things are happening around her. The Empire is safe that's it, she doesn't want to pursue this matter more and even if she wants to she can't go against this pair of God and Pseudo-God.

As long as they don't want to say something by themselves, she can never know about it. As for selling them to Empire, this idea did flash into her mind but won't it amount to the self-destruction of the Empire as a violation of God's Treaty. If you attack a God or near-god being they have all right to retaliate using all of their power and not just demigod level strength, it is better to not take that risk.

As Yves was lost in thought I remembered something and asked her. "Hey, Miss Yves by the way do you know of a good place near the Imperial Institute, I have a lot of free time it would be nice to visit someplace nearby." If Mia heard this right now she would be cursing this bastard, didn't he told he doesn't have time to go along with them.

Yves was slightly surprised but she recovered back from what happened right now.

"Let me think..." She made a thoughtful expression thinking about a good place where they can't cause much trouble.

"You can go to Light city."

"Light city??"

"Yea, it also has an auction house built by the Phoenix family of the Mithras Empire. They own the largest amount of Auction houses in both the Empire, you can visit there but better not create any trouble for them."

"Do I look some kind of troublemaker to you," I said displeased.

Yves didn't reply and continued, however, it was enough to affirm it.

"Since that city falls under the jurisdiction of the Institute it is not under the control of any Empire. Multiple illegal activities are going on there. Recently, one name is quite famous in that town. Snake lord of the snake gang, he is said to be controlling the underworld trade of many cities along with the Light city."

"Oh, so you want to uproot them for you. That's fine it's not a hard task and I am bored recently as well." I said in a carefree tone, as a gang of the medium level city is nothing to me. At most, it would have some eight-level powerhouses that's it. Snake gang that's a good name.

Did I hear it before somewhere?

"No! That's exactly why I am telling you this thing. Don't interfere with them!" Yves look at the yawning person in front of her and raised her voice. Why can't he let her finish first? And how he can be sleepy right now? She doesn't know normally it's impossible for him to feel tired but the toll on Leon's mind was quite much yesterday night plus that extensive physical exercise tired him out.

"Oh ok but why is that?" I looked at her slightly surprised but agreed to her request nonetheless.

Yves stared at me like an idiot. "If the demigods started killing these small thugs, then how will small adventures and hunters earn their livelihood. Don't you understand it."

"Oh, got it." I nodded at her.

Although she didn't say it explicitly but it simply means creating crime so that the current system doesn't collapse and both sides can survive. Both are dependent on each other if one is removed another would not survive.

"But Miss Yves what I am supposed to do if they are the ones who attack me first?"

"Then just kill him and don't upturn the whole city for it."

"Mm."

"..."

"... Are you sometimes ... consciously acting stupid in front of me." Yves said with narrowed eyes. Although she finds this guy irritating but she can't guess whether he is plotting something or not. Sometimes she feels like he is very cunning and hard to deal with, but at the same time, she finds him weird and strange with an easygoing attitude...

"Nope. Okay, cya Miss Yves and don't forget I will visit you this weekend."

"Okay." Yves nodded, as for his answer she didn't believed it.

"Weekend!?" Suddenly, Yves's face changed remembering something.

So many things happened so suddenly that she forget about it, but now thinking about it carefully ... Did she got tricked by him??

Still, does he even know her house address?

"Wait! Do you know my add-... Gone!?."

She sighed and slumped down. Well, It is good if he doesn't know about her location, it's his loss, not her. As she was lost in her thought a voice entered her ears.

"I know everything about you." Before she can think any further and respond, she felt a warm pair of lips over her lips.

"Huuu..." She breathed heavily and opened her eyes wide in surprise. She immediately looked around only to find a completely empty room.

"Was it a dream?"

....

"Let's go."

"..."

I teleported back outside and started moving again. Natsuki was just following silently without asking anything.

"What is fun in that human flesh." Out of a sudden, Natsuki thought of something and asked.

"You hate humans it's not my issue." I said bluntly.

Then, I smirked briefly and peeked at her chest making a mocking expression. "Or you are just jealous that she has bigger ones than you."

Natsuki wrinkled her brows. She stared at her chest blankly for a while before moving ahead quietly. [Why does it even matter?]

Hmm... I thought she will get irritated about it but didn't look like it affect her. I peeked to my right only to see her walking in front calmly. Till now I have understood one thing, this girl, it isn't like she does not talk at all, but it is more like she doesn't find the people worthy enough for her to speak. You can call it her arrogance or pride whatever you want.

As we were walking up the road I sensed something abnormal in the faraway hill and gazed above.

„Rumble..."

The sky above the hill, one does not know, suddenly became cloudy.

The dark cloud seems like a vortex fluctuating and has probably lightning in glittering, it arouses one intermittently depressing buzz whining noise.

The air becomes very heavy.

The land also starts once for a while shivering.

Two large eyes popped up on the ground. The land slowly started extending as it changed its form into the water and started materializing into a visible figure of a woman.

She was a Goddess, has a long hair, a tall figure is dressing dignified Priest clothes, her facial features are beautiful, her eyes were tightly closed, probably she cannot see anything, but she is starting far into the distance that can not be seen even by the Gods, she looks extremely tranquil at this moment.

Natsuki noticed, Leon starting somewhere. She stopped and asked. "Is someone following us?"

I grinned. "Following us? Umm... A lot of people are watching us but they can only watch, till the moment they are just watching it is fine but if they..." A brief red glint flashed across his eyes but soon it disappeared and it again turned into black color.

Natsuki nodded. She has also sensed many people coming after them but no one is of enough status to alert her. As for someone who can't be traced by her, there are very few beings like that in this world. Unfortunately, one of them is the one which Leon spotted just now.

"Let's go, we will take a carriage to Light city."

Natsuki flinched. Can't he just teleport directly, but she didn't say it out loud as she is sure, she won't get a reply.

She sneakily moved her hands in the air instead, a few symbols flew outside of her hand in the direction of Guild and got imprinted on Yves. These are similar to the runes she left on Ana.

I sensed something unusual and turned to Natsuki's side only to find a pair of blue eyes staring at me. What is she up to? Huh...

We wandered further for the next few hours roaming around, at the end, we exited at the south entrance of the Capital. We could find a Carriage from here to Light city and if everything goes alright we should be crashing there till tomorrow night.

There we a few other people waiting here for the same carriage as well. Most of these people might be migrants who came to the capital thinking of earning more but in the end, cannot survive the fierce competition and are going back to their respective towns.

I don't like much crowd in the first place and the same goes for Natsuki so we were waiting at a slight distance from the stop.

"How much sweets do you like girl?" I turned around and asked on a whim. To be frank, this is bothering me from quite a bit, she doesn't like lower beings but at the same time eats the pastries created by them.

Natsuki glimpsed at him once but soon ignored him. As for Silver this person completely follows the custom of not eating anything other than living beings. Don't get deceived by his looks. He likes eating living humans, beasts and demons and the rest of time he will just snooze.

If she doesn't want to say, its her choice. I closed my eyes and tried to rest. I need a lot of time to heal the damage to my brain. Although I am not at risk currently but if I suffer a few more mental attacks it could potentially harm me.

As I was nearly into a deep state of rest a voice me up.

"You could have sold me."

I opened my eyes slightly and looked in her direction.

After a breif moment of silence, I chuckled. "Haha, Nothing in this world is free.." Did she thought i would leave her that easily?

"You are going to pay the price for it or else I always have an option to hand your over to that cult."

"What price?" Natsuki blinked her eyes and said without a care. She had already expected this, else he won't leave her alive till now.

"You are going to keep Archangels and Church at bay for me."

"Can't you kill them by yourself!?" Do he take her as some kind of job worker?

"I don't want to kill them for now, you are going to inform Celestine that I was working for you and mistakenly killed that Adventurer. I don't believe she will be petty enough to go on a fight with you for a nameless human."

Natsuki narrowed her eyes. "Haven't you heard about The Great War, do you think she will stop because of me and won't it make her even furious."

Great war huh... What exactly happened in it? Will ask this Loli if I have free time.

"That's exactly what I want, to let her think that it was you. As soon as she comes to know of you, She will withdraw all the Archangels of her's because they aren't a match for you and when she personally comes I can deal with her."

Natsuki fell silent. In all this, she was gaining nothing out of it. But what would he do if she rejects his request?

I smiled viciously and threw away the last bone at her. "How about this deal, I will hand over her to you and you can later do whatever you want with her."

Natsuki eyes instantly lit up. "Deal!"

She can't defeat Lidas but according to the power levels he showed till now, he can easily defeat Lidas plus she can find an opportunity between their fight to take care of this otherworldly God as well.

"Don't you worry about the girl from tomorrow night? She can come for revenge."

I shrugged. "Why would I? She was spying on me by her own choice and she should be ready for the worst consequences, not to mention she was able to take all that torture without breaking, which means she must be mentally strong. If her brain still works she will better avoid me instead."

"She must be cursing her Fate" Natsuki laughed inwardly and mumbled. Lidas' daughter huh... If she gets to know about it how will she react ... Her face would be fun to watch ... Haha.

I smiled wryly and chuckled. "Future is decided by our choices, it is useless to curse her fate, what you are today must be the result of your own choices taken yesterday."

Natsuki snickered and turned to another side.

.... At this moment I didn't know she was mocking Celestine and not that girl.

"Let's go, it has arrived."

Several wagons were ready for departure near the entrance.

Three horses could be seen in front each wagon and the same number of men driving it.

The largest wagon was driven by a middle-aged man whose atmosphere was that of a veteran carriage driver, confidently holding the reins on the horses.

The other two wagons behind it were driven by younger men who were staring at Natsuki in her outfit. Her outfit has a strange aura which can gather a lot of gazes.

But we were unbothered by all the gazes around us and boarded the carriage silently. Along with us, a few more people hoped Inside.

The moment I stepped inside I fell asleep I need to restore as soon as possible, although this Dark God is quiet for while but who knows what she will do in future. Silver was here so I wasn't worried much and as for Natsuki for now restraints are still working on her.

"Hmm... This girl along with a human. That's interesting..."

On a faraway hill, a woman whispered, her voice sounded like the voice of Nature itself. It was pleasant and soothing to hear, unfortunately not many has the opportunity to see her let alone hear her voice.

Shortly, a yellowish mist crowded the area next to her. A man wearing a large hat along with an orange suit appeared out of it. He had long yellow bangs and was wearing glasses. His eyes were shining with silver color inside the glasses.

"After thousands of years she got outside. something must be special with that human. Don't you think Anima we should investigate him. It could be fun." He grinned, with his expression it was visible he doesn't have much good intentions.

Anima was unfazed by his behaviour as used to it. "Better not mess up with her, she has a short temper and if you play with her toys, you will have to pay the price."

"Haha... "The man next to her laughed. He tried patting the back of the woman called Anima but the moment his hand touched her body it passed through like water.

He sighed. "You are no fun, Anima. Well, I don't want to mess with that devil anyway... I just want to know more about that human which can interest our Natsuki."

"Be careful, Hermes. Lidas is watching you, till now she hasn't forgotten what you did last time." Anima shook her head tired although he said he won't do anything but if he really messes this up she fears The Great War may repeat again.

Hermes pouted. "I just did what I should. And doesn't that stopped the war between these two mad women, why should I be blamed." Soon, he straightened up with a serious face. "Nonetheless, recently, she is creating a lot of trouble in human world aren't you going to do something about her?"

Anima raised her brows and glanced in another direction. A black mist was reflecting in her eyes in middle of which a figure was visible, though it quickly disappeared.

"... Leave her for now, as long as she doesn't make major troubles..." Anima turned back into water and disappeared with a warning.

"Remember I am watching you."

Hermes glanced at two large creepy eyes in the ground and sighed. He shrugged not caring about her warning.

Soon, he also turned into a yellow mist and disappeared.