— — — — — —
'So that's how it is...' Ryo thought to himself. 'Just as I expected. Those two really were working together.'
Back in the original story, Issei Hyoudou had received recognition from Chimune Chipaoti, the God of Breasts, while also gaining the approval of the Creator God's will.
Now Ryo finally understood the hidden story behind that.
According to Great Red, the Holy Mother Goddess, or real name Chimune Chipaoti. She had been actively operating in the DxD world, searching for people capable of opposing the Evie Faction of the ExE World.
"The Holy Mother Goddess is difficult to deal with." Great Red's expression grew serious. "Her powers are extremely strange. She's a terrifying opponent."
As he spoke, he deliberately glanced at Ophis, "Especially for people who lack love."
Ophis raised her chin and stared coldly at Great Red, her gaze sharp enough to kill.
Great Red snorted. "Stop glaring at me. The Holy Mother Goddess's unique Authority is 'Mother.' Very few people can overcome its influence and bring themselves to attack her."
He paused before adding, "And for a brat like you? That's even more impossible."
"...Mother."
The corner of Ryo's mouth twitched.
Even though he'd already learned about abilities like that from Arcadia's database, it was still difficult to imagine how such a power actually functioned.
Did activating it force everyone to call her Mom? Some kind of conceptual authority focused on mental influence?
That really was troublesome.
The strongest examples Ryo had ever seen were rebellious sons arguing with their mothers.
As for actually killing one's mother... he'd only ever heard about that kind of lunatic behavior in the news.
Looking at it that way, the Holy Mother Goddess really was a difficult opponent.
"Come to think of it, the Creator God also possesses a 'Father' trait. I still don't know how that works." Great Red muttered quietly to himself.
The comment immediately gave Ryo a strange expression.
Father? There's an authority like that too?
Can the DxD world please produce some normal powers for once? Why are all the strongest abilities these bizarre psychological attacks? The stronger they are, the weirder they get.
Compared to the Creator God and the Holy Mother Goddess, Ophis's Infinity suddenly seemed refreshingly straightforward.
"If you're curious about how the Creator God does it, ask Him yourself after He's revived."
At the moment, Ryo wasn't particularly interested in that issue.
There was something far more important on his mind. The future governance of ExE.
"What kind of personality does the Holy Mother Goddess have?" he asked seriously.
"How should I put it..." Great Red frowned. "Have you met Creator?"
Ryo nodded.
Not only had he met her, but he'd spent the past few days teaching her about Little Garden and helping deepen her ties to Arcadia.
"You mean they're similar?" Ryo asked with a peculiar expression.
"Pretty much cast from the same mold," Great Red replied after a moment's thought. "Though Holy Mother is a bit more lively."
"I see."
Ryo instantly understood the strategic situation in ExE.
Support the Etouldes. Control the Evies.
As for why he'd choose control over extermination...
Naturally, he had his own plans.
His Mechanical Authority wasn't just for show.
Maybe he couldn't handle Doraemon. But a few mechanical gods? That was easy.
With that thought, Ryo confidently turned toward Great Red. "I've got the outline of a plan now. Next comes cleaning up the little rats."
"I hope so."
Great Red still carried deep psychological scars from his encounters with the ExE world's powerhouses.
He was genuinely worried that Ryo might underestimate them.
"You'd better make more preparations."
More preparations?
Ryo narrowed his eyes.
What else was there to prepare?
'When it comes to world observation, I'm cautious and meticulous. When observation isn't needed, I solve everything with my fists.'
If not for gathering those "twelve points of Influence", he would've steamrolled a world that didn't even possess a Three-Digit long ago.
Silently grumbling to himself, Ryo turned toward Nijō Castle.
There lay the final piece needed for the revival of the Creator God. And the most important one.
The True Longinus, the Holy Spear of the Setting Sun.
"Still not done? Has Arthur not reached Samael's location yet?"
Hidden from sight, Cao Cao stood guard at the entrance of the Fourth Passage and quietly spoke toward the seemingly empty surroundings.
A moment later, Jeanne's voice responded. "No signal yet. Cao Cao, has Indra's side reported in?"
"Nothing." His tone darkened. "By all logic, Indra's plan should've succeeded by now. Great Red should already be fighting. But we haven't sensed any battle at all."
"Maybe they've entered a separate dimension or the dimensional gap?" Heracles offered a guess. "You know how it is. If beings at that level fought in the real world..."
"That's possible." Jeanne immediately agreed. "We've all met Ophis. If someone like her fought here, this entire country would probably sink beneath the ocean within minutes."
"That's true." Cao Cao considered it for a moment and temporarily suppressed the unease in his heart. "...Just in case, let's wait another two minutes. If nothing happens by then, we retreat."
"Got it!" xN
The others responded one after another.
A short while later, Cao Cao heard Georg's voice. Yet at the same time, an inexplicable sense of wrongness crept into his mind.
Then suddenly, a series of electronic beeps rang out.
Jeanne cried out in surprise. "Arthur sent the coordinates! He's only two hundred meters away from us!"
Cao Cao's eyes lit up.
Much of his doubt vanished instantly. But just as he was about to issue an order, a much harsher alarm sounded.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
"Not good!"
His expression changed dramatically.
"It's an emergency retreat order from Indra! Move!"
The moment he shouted, he reached toward the hidden Georg nearby.
In a flash, his hand grabbed a large arm, and he immediately pulled toward the exit.
"Everyone, get over here! Georg, use Dimension Lost and get us out!"
But the instant the command left his mouth, Georg's voice rang out from roughly fifteen meters away. "Everyone, come to me!"
Cao Cao's pupils contracted violently.
Georg was fifteen meters away. Then... whose arm was he holding?
At that moment, the hand he had grabbed suddenly tightened around his wrist instead.
Only then did Cao Cao realize where that feeling of wrongness had come from.
Earlier, when everyone had answered "Got it," Georg had already been standing fifteen meters away.
And then, from somewhere nearby, a soft whisper drifted through the darkness.
"Good evening, Cao Cao~ I heard they call you the strongest human."
.
.
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