"Oh? What is it you wish to say? But don't think you can make me change my mind and become your ally with just a few words. I am, after all, a deity. I'm not so easily swayed."
Quetzalcoatl looked at Castorice with a gentle smile. When not fighting, she was like a kind older sister.
Who could have guessed, from her current expression, that in battle she was as ferocious and brutal as a prehistoric tyrannosaurus?
"I feel like she's referring to someone specific..."
Ana and Ushiwakamaru exchanged a glance, then simultaneously looked towards Jaguar Man and Ishtar nearby.
These two... really did seem to come awfully easy...
"Hey, what's with that look you two are giving me? This is blasphemy! You're committing blasphemy!"
Ishtar, noticing Ana and Ushiwakamaru's expressions, couldn't help but speak up.
"Yeah, meow! I put a lot of thought into deciding to join you guys... Our top priority right now is to defeat Quetzalcoatl, isn't it? Don't let her drive a wedge between us with just one sentence, nya!"
Jaguar Man beside her also spoke with a somewhat evasive tone.
Although everyone knew what Quetzalcoatl said was true, given the timing, it still felt like they were making excuses.
"Ara ara, Jaguar Man. Judging by your reaction, you joined them quite easily, didn't you? To think our time together all this while was worth less than a few words from them? This makes me very sad."
Though she was smiling, the hairs on Jaguar Man's back stood straight up.
"S-such a scary smile..."
"But you are a benevolent goddess, are you not? Why form an alliance with Gorgon to destroy humanity? I saw the state of Eridu. All the people you killed have been resurrected."
"Didn't I say it before? Having been summoned by the Mother, my duty is to destroy humanity."
"Rather, it is you—you are not from this world, are you? I can sense that the destruction or salvation of this world holds no consequence for you. If that is the case, why do you remain here? The life and death of others should be none of your concern, should it not?"
Facing Castorice's question, Quetzalcoatl's eyes held not a trace of hesitation. Instead, she turned the question back on her.
"None of my concern? This is life and death we're talking about. How could it be none of my concern? To stand by and watch lives fade away before my eyes... that is something I cannot do."
"Therefore, I wish to do something. Even if the final outcome remains unchanged, as long as I have tried my best, when the story reaches its conclusion, my heart will be without regret."
Castorice gently shook her head, thinking of the reason she had crossed over to this world in the first place.
If it hadn't been to save someone else, how could she have possibly been dragged under the wheels of that truck?
The situation had been critical. Even though she knew it was dangerous, her body had moved on its own.
It was the same with coming to this world. If she wished, she could leave right now.
After all, the condition of ten thousand magical beasts—she had met that requirement just days after arriving in Uruk.
The reason she hadn't left yet was simply that she wanted to do something for this world.
"A good person acting for the sake of a clear conscience? I don't dislike that type, you know~ But... have you considered that the price for such actions could be your own life?"
"I have. I did think about leaving at first. But you see, humans are emotional creatures. The longer I stay in this world, the harder it becomes for me to leave. Besides... I might just be able to change something."
As she spoke, Castorice's gaze grew firm.
"I see. I like you more and more, Castorice~ However, as I said before, it's impossible for me to change my mind based on a few words alone."
As she spoke, Quetzalcoatl clenched her fist, smiling as she looked at Castorice.
"I understand. I never intended to run away. So... I will show you my resolve."
A scythe materialized in her hand, and Castorice's eyes held a steady determination.
In the end, a fight was unavoidable. But from the very start, Castorice had never thought she could solve things with just talk. In her mind, only one being could resolve everything just by speaking—God, whose words become law.
Her spirit, energy, and focus coalesced in that moment. Castorice's expression turned serious.
On the other side, as if sensing Castorice's resolve, Quetzalcoatl's eyes also grew stern. Within her agile frame lay explosive power enough to shatter mountains and seas.
Her mere presence was enough to inspire fear.
"This is bad! Quetzalcoatl is serious! If this blow lands directly, she'll die!"
Jaguar Man, watching this, spoke with a sweating cheek.
Hearing Jaguar Man's words, Ana and Ushiwakamaru grew anxious and wanted to step forward to help Castorice. However, Ishtar, standing nearby, placed a hand on their shoulders.
"Let her go. This is something only she can do. If you interfere, you might just achieve the opposite effect."
Ishtar shook her head.
It was only then that Ana and Ushiwakamaru realized this seemed to be a test for Castorice.
The next moment, Castorice pushed off lightly from the ground with her toes, gathering all her strength as she charged towards her opponent.
Facing her, Quetzalcoatl, smiling, also unleashed her full power, throwing a punch.
Visibly, the punch created a ring of white shockwaves, followed by the shrieking sound of a sonic boom.
With a powerful physique befitting a chief goddess, this strike from Quetzalcoatl wouldn't just overwhelm Castorice—even Gorgon would have a hard time weathering it.
Yet, facing this blow, Castorice showed not a hint of fear. With a sweep of her arm, her scythe swung as she met the attack head-on.
At the instant their forces collided, Castorice lost consciousness. If she had to be honest…wasn't Gorgon actually the weakest of the Three Goddess Alliance?
The chief goddess-level Quetzalcoatl was in a league of her own, and even Ereshkigal was invincible within the underworld.
Only Gorgon, though possessing the authority to create magical beasts, wasn't overwhelmingly powerful in her main body—this was evident from the fact that Ushiwakamaru alone could hold her off.
While Ushiwakamaru wasn't weak, there was still a vast gap compared to a divine existence.
When Castorice came to, she found her head resting on a pair of firm yet supple thighs. Looking down at her was the golden-haired older sister.
"Congratulations, you passed."
Quetzalcoatl looked down at Castorice, a smile on her face as she spoke.
After witnessing Castorice's fearless courage, Quetzalcoatl had already made her choice. As a benevolent goddess, she had always loved humanity.
Having seen Castorice's spirit, she had even less reason to remain an enemy of humankind.
"As expected of you, Lady Castorice!"
Ushiwakamaru, watching from the side, couldn't help but voice her admiration.
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T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.