Chapter 39 – Visitors of the Sanctuary
The divine battle erupting beneath the sun did not only draw the eyes of those upon the earth.
While Japan's magical community trembled at this clash of powers far beyond their imagination, many other non-human beings also turned their gaze toward it.
By human reckoning, about ten years ago the new generation of God-Slayers began to emerge, ending the long reign of three… or more precisely, two God-Slayers of East and West who had ruled the earth since ancient times.
First came Alexander Gascoigne, then John Pluto Smith, followed a few years later by Salvatore Doni, and most recently, Hikigaya Hachiman.
Each could be called a monster in their own right. Hikigaya Hachiman, once thought to be a singular anomaly, was eventually recognized as a textbook example of a God-Slayer.
More and more came to believe that, with time, he would become another Voban— Sasha Dejanstahl Voban—and some even declared that he would surpass Voban in excess.
By contrast, John Pluto Smith bore the least infamy among the new generation. Yet his true identity remained little known.
Among these God-Slayers of the new age, Annie Charlton possessed something truly unique compared to her younger peers.
Ever since defeating Oberon, the Spirit King who reigned in the Undying Realm, and seizing from him the authority of the "Crown of the Spirit King," she could travel freely between this world of life and undeath. Not only could she come and go at will, she also enjoyed the privileges of the new Spirit King—by usurping his authority, she had inherited his Sanctuary.
This meant she could at any time go to meet the Mother of all God-Slayers, not only when on the brink of death. Nor would her memories be affected.
Now, once again, she used this privilege to enter the world of life and undeath.
As the Mother of generations of God-Slayers, known as the Witch, yet in truth a genuine divine being—Pandora immediately sensed the arrival of her adopted daughter.
"It's Annie," she murmured softly.
Among her foster children, the one she encountered most often was Annie Charlton. In Pandora's eyes, Annie was the most special—even among children across all generations.
Besides Annie, in the current generation there were also God-Slayers who could enter the realm of life and undeath entirely on their own strength: Aisha, who could open the Gate of Fairies, and Luo Cuilian (Luo Hao), who could traverse worlds with her arts. Yet even they could not move through the Netherworld so freely as Annie, who could wander and perform "world travel" with ease.
As for another child, Hikigaya Hachiman, he too was exceptional in his own way. Pandora could not even be sure how much longer she would remain his mother. She only knew that the end would come one day—and it might not be by Hikigaya's death.
For Hikigaya Hachiman was already a true human-god. He was not only Pandora's foster son but also the divine child of Di Jun and Athena. The essence of his life was already moving beyond the realm of the God-Slayers. He himself likely had no awareness of this.
Once such a person shed the confines of the flesh, he would instantly become one of the Spirit Kings of the Undying Realm, and with sufficient opportunity, he might even become one of the gods.
Of course, it was still far too early to say such things.
Here in the Netherworld, spirit and soul mattered more than matter and flesh—that was its law.
When moving through this world, one did not rely on legs or vehicles, but instead constructed in the mind the place one wished to reach.
This was a world with no relation to long journeys on foot. The traveler relied not on the body, but on the spirit.
However, there also existed "forbidden lands" that could not be reached by instantaneous movement. To reach those places, one had to transfer to a nearby point and then, as on earth, walk step by step.
Annie was now on such a journey. As one who held a Sanctuary, she too was a Spirit King, and she was heading toward the domain of another Spirit King.
Bathed in dazzling sunlight, she walked in silence across an endless desert, baked by heat like a vision of hell.
This Sanctuary had not been established long. Only at its core could one see its true form, but already the lord's power radiated widely enough to prevent any Spirit King from crossing unimpeded.
At that moment, a yellow butterfly fluttered beside Smith.
"Could it be that you are on your way to the battle, Annie?"
"Is that you, Mother?"
Even in the Netherworld, Annie still carried the appearance of John Pluto Smith. This stubbornness was another trait that set her apart from all other God-Slayers.
This butterfly that spoke human words was, of course, no ordinary insect. Nothing in the Netherworld was ordinary. It had been sent as the messenger of the foster mother of all God-Slayers. Annie, who had met with her many times, recognized this at once and replied in a cheerful voice:
"Just as you say—I intend to visit the new king's territory."
"Ah, that is quite a troublesome place indeed," came the goddess's voice through the butterfly. "What exactly do you plan to do there, Annie?"
"Only to pay a visit. Nothing more."
"If that is truly your only reason, I fear you may not leave intact. That one is not a being who can be casually visited. Nor does He abide by any tacit understandings among Spirit Kings. In fact, His descent here is for a terrible purpose."
"I know. He just went down to the surface. Though I could not get close enough to see what He did, fierce battle broke out almost immediately. That alone shows He is a ruler unskilled in hiding Himself."
"You do not intend to join in?"
"Many of our kind are already participating. I won't add myself to the crowd. But His Highness the Prince does not seem inclined to leave. And also, Mother, when I am like this, I hope you will call me by that name."
"Ah… yes, that one. Very well, very well. Now you are not Annie, but John. To hear such words from a child—why, in this long history, this is the first time…"
Pandora spoke with the air of a mother marveling at her own extraordinary child.
"Among the older children, the strangest is surely Aisha. Among the younger ones, you seem to be the greatest oddity," the goddess said with delight, softly musing. "It's hard to say who truly surpasses the others—but that is what makes you all so fascinating. In any case, the one you are going to visit values above all else aura and bearing. You absolutely must not behave in a way that would let Him look down on you. Do you understand?"
"Do not worry. I am only very curious about some things you once told me. I wish to obtain the answers from Him directly."
"Oh, but the price of those answers may be that He demands you serve Him as a woman."
"If He is a true ruler, He should not stoop to such pettiness. I prefer to trust my own judgment." Annie replied firmly, continuing onward.
Pandora's messenger then departed.
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