Chapter 362: Looking over the Horizon

Late Morning - Late Winter : The Nest

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"~M..Making.. use of her?~" Grace spoke hesitantly as she finally looked me in the eyes.

"Don't act dumb," I spoke bluntly as I straightened my posture. "I know you're already using her to try and lay a landmine at Odin's feet... But I think she's more useful than that." Crossing my legs, I looked at Elizabeth with a somewhat predatory gaze.

"~You mean...~"

"I want to make her one of my apostles." As someone from Earth, even if she didn't realize it herself, she possessed a wealth of knowledge not known to this world. -If she received any kind of education on Earth, she'll be more than a little helpful...- Plus, since she was a nun in her past life, she was the perfect candidate to manage, spread, and deepen people's faith toward me.

But while Grace didn't seem too against it, she didn't seem too interested either. "~What if she refuses?~"

"She won't." My voice oozed with confidence. "I don't plan to force her to be my apostle, but I could tell when I asked about her reincarnation.. she would do anything to have her questions answered."

There was a short pause before Grace floated behind me, falling into thought, before continuing with a muffled tone. "~So you want to tell her about the reality of her reincarnation...~"

"No. I want her to figure it out herself. All she needs is a guide." Feeling Grace turn to look at me as she realized what I was getting at, I spoke firmly. "I can tell that you still feel guilty about what you did to her, so I'm giving you an opportunity to redeem yourself, not to her, but to yourself..."

There was a long silence before an incredibly muffled voice came from behind me. "~O..Okay... But only if she agrees...~" *Vwoom*

As she disappeared from behind me, instantaneously moving a few hundred meters away, I relaxed my divinity, and with it, time resumed, allowing Elizabeth to continue as if nothing happened.

"Maybe.. I should go back and ask- huh?" But she quickly noticed that something changed. "What just..."

-She really has some insanely sharp instincts...- Besides my posture changing slightly, the only thing to change was the atmosphere around me.

But she noticed that instantly, without even looking at me. "D-Did I miss something?"

I stayed quiet for a moment as she finally looked me in the eyes before leaning onto the table. "Elizabeth." The air around her shifted in an instant. "If you were given the opportunity to learn about the state of your reincarnation and have your questions answered, what would you give up for it?"

Her whole body tensed, and her eyes went wide as she spoke without a hint of hesitation. "I would give up everything."

It was a far quicker and firmer response than I expected. "Is that so? What if the reality of your reincarnation isn't what you want to hear? What if it makes you want to spiral into despair?"

"It won't." She looked straight into my eyes with an uncharacteristically firm, unwavering gaze. "Despair is just your mind telling itself something is impossible and denying reality... However, after everything that's happened, I've come to believe that impossibility is a myth, and denying something because you don't understand it is a sin to yourself."

-Wow...- I had expected a much shakier response, but it just made me want her more. "Alright." A smile came to my face as the tip of my tail began to sway back and forth. "Then, I will provide you with that opportunity."

Her eyes instantly stiffened with determination, no longer carrying the somewhat childish innocence from earlier. "What is it you want from me for it?"

-It's good she understands...- "Your faith." Seeing her tilt her head in confusion, I quickly rephrased. "I want you to become one of my apostles, Elizabeth... However, not right now." Using my aura, I poured her a glass of alcohol and moved it in front of her. "If you wish to accept, you will be guided to some places containing more information on things you have forgotten. Once you have found everything, only then will I accept your answer."

She paused as she looked down at the drink. "And if I refuse after learning about it?"

*Clink* Quickly throwing back my glass, I drank the last bit of Orange Death I had before standing up. "Then I won't break the cycle." *puff* Disintegrating my chair, I quickly straightened my clothes before looking at her one more time. "You will understand what I mean when the time comes." *puff* Disintegrating the glass as well, I finally turned away before undoing the countless barriers around us. *Vwoom*

The attention of everyone was instantly dragged toward us, where they saw Elizabeth still sitting, deep in thought.

But it didn't take her long to pick up the glass and drink it down in one gulp. *Clunk* "Hooh..." From before we spoke, the air around her had already changed immensely, and while her apostle friend ran over in a rush, I was more than satisfied with it.

Wearing a pleased expression as I walked toward the door, I saw the tall axe-wielding man sitting up, having regained consciousness, with Michael tending to him while the other man who didn't attack me and the rune mage woman tended to the elf. -She's still unconscious, huh?-

As everyone turned to look at me, I lifted up her body with my aura before rebuilding her pulverized ankles, knees, and vertebrae by weaving metal thread through the countless fragments before promptly dropping her back to the ground. *Thump* "She'll be better in a few days if she heals fast."

But while I walked past them expecting to have to smack another chicken in the street, as I walked out, I found nothing but eyes on me and the one grey thunderbird bowing next to me.

"Did I miss anything while I was talking to that girl?"

Chamrosh quickly shook his head as he straightened up. "No, although the central guard was notified."

"Central guard?"

"They are individually known as Floor Guardians and are the strongest thunderbirds beneath Acanthis."

-Ah.- "Well, that's good. That'll speed things up." Looking into the cavern, where I felt a heavy approaching aura, I moved my hands behind my back. "If I were to gather all the thunderbirds in one place, would I go through one of them?"

Chamrosh paused for a moment before looking in the direction I was. "The floor guardians don't exactly have that kind of authority. They are more than guards and do have some ability to manage floors within the cavern, but Lord Acanthis has what humans would call a secretary for organizing such things."

"Is that so?" -I could probably gather them with a more heavy-handed method.. but that might have some unsavory long-term effects...- "Alright. Is there any way you can lead me to that person?"

He quickly turned to me with a nervous look. "I-I can.. however, he resides on the upper floors, which I, as a non-noble, cannot access."

But it just made me raise my eyebrow at him. "Why would something like that matter when I'm here?"

"A-Ah... That's true..."

Hearing him quickly go silent, I looked deep into the cavern once more and watched as a huge, singular thunderbird entered the edge of my aura. "Well, I guess it would be impolite to not meet him in the middle..." Turning to look at the group of adventurers, my gaze turned heavy. "You all can leave when you're ready." -Although...- Looking at Michael, several thoughts ran through my mind before I used magic to speak solely to him. "If you wish to expand your knowledge on the world and the realm of magic, there is a nation called Siratha across the Banaevan Desert... Going there will do more than open your mind; however, if you need help, use the name of Nott to contact a woman named Leif Vilulf, and tell her I sent you.. she'll be able to organize whatever you need."

He froze, and his eyes went wide as he looked around to see if anyone else heard me before looking back at me.

But all I did was nod. -Although, he's still pretty lousy, with how much he's grown in the last few years, he could be useful for establishing a place of magic research in Siratha...- The issue was I also wanted to implement science into that, but had no one to do it for me. -I could maybe reach out to Vlastári Palaiós at the academy.. but...-

I needed someone more adept with the realm of science, but that reduced my possible candidates to.. Krystallo...

But the thought of her doing research made me want to burst out laughing, so I just shrugged it off for the time being. -I'm sure I'll find someone eventually...-

For now, I just needed to focus on baby steps.

At least, that was the case for something like cultivating Siratha. -Since I've said what I need to, should I hit the road?- *flash* Changing back to my fenririan form, no longer caring about the peering eyes of the adventurers, I looked down the road with a wag in my tail. "Chamrosh, try and follow me, I'm gonna go take care of that guard."

"A..Alr-" *CRACK* A deafening crack echoed through the cavern instantaneously as I disappeared, moving dozens of kilometers in the blink of an eye, before reappearing in front of the Floor Guardian.

His feathers were a clean mix of vibrant brown and deep black, and he donned heavy white armor all around his body. Only being about 20 meters shorter than Acanthis, he seemed like quite an interesting specimen.

*Vwoof* As he finally reacted to my appearance, he instantly slowed to a halt a few kilometers off the ground, looking closely at me with a mix of apprehension and caution. "You.. really are Nott..."

I immediately smiled, showing my teeth slightly.

"You... Are you here to kill the rest of us?" His voice shook with fear ever so subtly.

"No, rather, it's the opposite." My long tail hanging beneath me wagged as I hovered. "I came with a proposition for your race."

"Now, if you will excuse us." Chamrosh, finally catching up, quickly mediated. "Lord Nott here needs to meet with 'the Secretary'."

He instantly tensed up before folding his wings and falling to the ground.

-Hm...- Unlike his lord, he actually knew when he was in over his head. -He.. might be worth keeping instead of handing him to Hera...-

But at that moment, all I planned to do was observe him. -Although.. I should be keeping my eyes out for promising birds...-

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