Xingyue, is Xiaokai also considered Kai?

"Huh...wait, that's strange. Could it be that I've misunderstood something?"

Eri felt as if Mirushin had just been right behind her, and that presence felt so real.

Even if they were leaving my side, they shouldn't be moving silently on such a crowded road. Could they possess some kind of ability to conceal themselves? But that shouldn't be the case. Since returning from Tokyo, my abilities have improved to the point that even Lucius exclaimed, "You must have been secretly taught by Novia!"

Eri didn't think that the Novia Lucius mentioned was some scumbag from the Kuonji family, but rather the one from history. Therefore, it should mean that "your current power is comparable to Novia at this age." That's why Eri had absolute confidence in her perception.

If Erise could look up at the sky, she would probably notice a small black dot...

Immediately afterward, as dusk fell, Erise returned to the Kuonji residence as if she had completed a linear task.

Unsurprisingly, Melusin also secretly followed.

She was genuinely startled upon arrival, as two entities closely associated with greed were among them. Could this be some kind of sin-filled stronghold...?

Just as she was thinking this and leaped over the mansion gates into the courtyard—

"Get out, you're not welcome here."

A completely unfamiliar yet extremely confident voice rang out, piercing the silence in the air like a sharp sword.

Melusin looked closely and saw a small girl with a similar build and hair color to hers, wearing a sheer purple dress... Was she a deity?

"If you're so smart, you'd better leave obediently, or you'll understand what will happen to you later."

Kama gave instructions to Merusin, who was still in the mood, with an arrogant gaze that did not match his appearance, his tone full of arrogance.

They suddenly barged in; they must have been sent by Lilith too. If I don't make her understand who the strongest is right away, she'll probably start spouting nonsense. And what's with this size? Could it be that Lilith can't become like this, so she deliberately summoned something like this? It's utterly despicable...

"Are you very powerful? Unknown god."

"What?" Kama raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly surprised that the other party would ask such a question.

"Did your dragons lose to you?" Melusin continued to ask, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Dragon race? Could this guy also be a dragon race like Furido? Kama felt a chill run down his spine, and a new guess arose about the identity of the 'copycat' in front of him.

"Hey, wait a minute..."

"So, if I told you that I am the strongest, what would you do?" Melsin's tone became more serious, her pride as the strongest dragon was now clearly revealed to outsiders.

Kama did not remain silent in the face of these questions simply because he was the so-called strongest; on the contrary, he was extremely displeased.

I can't even beat Metatron, but you, a dragon guarding the gate like Frigid, really underestimate me...

Therefore, Kama revealed a contemptuous expression, his voice filled with disdain: "Probably, no... almost certainly, I will die. But I'm talking about you, so I suppose you can accept that?"

The moment the words fell,

A strong wind swept in from the distant sky.

Unlike physical wind pressure, it is a magical whirlwind—not a natural wind, but a pure surge of magical power, proclaiming Melusin's wrath.

"How dare you underestimate me, the strongest? You've got some nerve. Unknown god, state your name."

Kama did not back down; instead, she flashed a horizontal V-sign and cheerfully announced her name. Her confidence and arrogance contrasted sharply with her current appearance.

"I am Kama, the god of love, the god of growth, Mara, the demon king of the sixth heaven! I am the great goddess revered by Vritra, the guardian of the mountain (meaning I am not allowed to leave without food and water), the most beautiful person admired by the great goddess Durga (meaning Durga will always watch me to prevent me from escaping), the mistress of the Himalayas worshipped by the goddess Moses (meaning I deceive Moses by taking advantage of my status as her adopted daughter), I am, yes, I am also the executor of justice, the first light who fights for good (dark history)... Of course, my most important identity is still—"

Immediately afterwards, Kama's eyes were filled with deep affection for someone, an affection that even made Melusin feel strangely familiar.

"Gavia? My most important love!"

however,

"So who exactly are you? I've never even heard of you."

Melusin sighed impatiently, glaring at Kama in response, as if to say, "What garbage are you giving me? They have no value whatsoever."

"I am Melsin, please support the love between me and Novia! That's all, and by the way, I am the strongest."

".........ah?!"

565: Mushroom, you win (8k)

"Look this way! Look this way! Don't ignore me!"

Inside the main hall of the Kuonji residence, Metatron, the angel queen who, in theory, should represent 'seriousness' and 'minority,' but who now perfectly embodies 'sloth,' was circling around Novia in a manner completely incongruous with her noble status.

That magnificent throne, which should have borne the majesty of heaven, was now being used by her as some kind of high-class bumper car.

The throne, carved from pure gold and inlaid with countless gems, would sometimes slide to Novia's left with a "whoosh," emitting a soft, coquettish hum that only angels could hear; and other times it would float to her right with a "whoosh," the edge of the throne almost brushing against Novia's hand holding a cup of red tea while she sat on the sofa, her other hand reading a book.

Metatron himself lay sprawled on the soft cushion of the Holy See like a melted cat, his long golden hair cascading down like a waterfall. Only his golden eyes, which were usually squinted into slits in a lazy manner, were now staring intently at Novia with barely blinking eyes.

After all, this lazy angel queen should be curled up in a dark, sunless room filled with takeout boxes and game discs, playing video games all night long, and being the ultimate homebody who regards "going out" as an extreme sport. Rather, laziness itself is a way to escape all responsibility and indulge in pure pleasure and comfort.

However, things can always take a turn for the better.

Having recently triumphed in the battle between Yumina and Kama, when everything settled down, her first reaction was neither the relief of surviving a close call, nor the joy of defeating a rival, nor the excitement or shyness usually associated with victors. Instead, it was an indescribable feeling, as if her very soul had been ironed out—

“So comfortable…”

Yes, it was "comfortable." It felt like being wrapped in the finest down comforter, or soaking in a perfectly heated hot spring. Every pore was opening up, and every nerve was basking in pleasure. Only after this ultimate comfort subsided did the anger at being involved in such a thing and the shame at how much I had actually enjoyed it surge into my heart like a belated tide.

But, since it's so comfortable...

A sly glint flashed in Metatron's narrowed eyes.

Isn't it only natural for her, being so "lazy," to pursue a higher and more extreme level of comfort? To be honest, this feeling is so much more comfortable.

Although, well, I might need to "move" a bit more during the process, unlike before when I could be completely paralyzed, considering the reward... it's alright! Acceptable!

Moreover, the Lord showed absolutely no intention of refusing, hehe.

Moreover, and most importantly—

Lord, Novia had absolutely no intention of refusing! Hehehe~?

Thinking of this, a silly yet slightly smug smile involuntarily appeared on Metatron's usually lazy and pretty face.

"Um...please don't ignore me..."

Seeing that physical harassment was ineffective, Metatron decided to upgrade his strategy, and his voice, which sounded like a spoiled kitten, became even softer and sweeter.

The next second, she flipped off the throne and jumped down lightly. She walked slowly around to the sofa behind Novia, her soft, boneless hands gently reaching over his shoulders to hug his chest. Her fair chin rested naturally on his shoulder, and a few strands of golden hair playfully fell onto Novia's neck, bringing a slightly ticklish touch.

"Hey, Master," she nuzzled Novia's shoulder affectionately, "It's such a simple thing, just a little response, just a little bit~"

"Indeed, it's a very simple thing."

Novia spoke calmly.

He might have just said something simple, but Metatron subconsciously interpreted it as a warning.

Clearly... clearly, during their previous tender moments, the Lord was so gentle and close, almost making her feel like she was the most special being in the world.

But in the blink of an eye, that soul-freezing indifference returned; this speed of turning one's back on someone, from a certain perspective, is simply "scumbag" behavior...

Ahhh, no, no, no, Metatron shook his head violently, trying to banish this disrespectful thought from his mind.

This is not to say that the Lord is a scoundrel, absolutely not! Rather, it is the Lord's personality, or rather His way of being, that is how He is. To expect Him to remain in a certain emotional state is truly a pipe dream.

Of course, his state of 'ignoring the god of death' is actually the norm.

In fact, according to Metatron's shallow yet profound understanding of Novia, the Lord's mind is hardly disturbed by any external emotions, whether it is the self representing extreme laziness, or Kama symbolizing intense lust, or any other embodiment of sin.

Stripping away the emotions from memory so that they can no longer have an impact is an operation that is incredibly simple for the Lord.

So... my current state of being able to act cute and be affectionate is actually the result of being "indulged" by Him.

Ugh... Thinking about this, Metatron felt a little aggrieved, but also a strange sense of smug satisfaction.

Novia was unaware of the myriad thoughts swirling in Metatron's mind at that moment.

He probably never expected that a casual remark he made would cause the King of Angels behind him to imagine so many things.

However, the Angel Queen's rationality did not last long, and she was soon overtaken by her deep-rooted "sloth".

Instead of curbing his disrespectful attitude because of the "warning," Metatron went even further, leaning his weight against Novia's back and even using his index and middle fingers to gently pinch a corner of the page Novia was reading.

“But, my lord,” her voice returned to its slightly sticky, sweet tone, “is it really necessary to read this kind of book page by page so carefully? Although it’s covered in dense text, for you, isn’t it enough to just ‘recognize’ its contents and store them directly in your mental database? Efficiency is paramount!”

"Knowing without experiencing is not enough, and the same applies to keeping things in your mind without reading them word by word."

“Hmm…” Metatron was speechless for a moment after hearing this, but she quickly found a new topic, trying to show her “value” and, incidentally, act coquettishly, yawning slightly and letting a few physiological tears well up in her eyes. “But, that ‘human reason incineration’ that you’re concerned about, Lord, is something that guy who calls himself the Demon King Goetia came up with. It’s absolutely impossible for it to succeed! Surpassing the size of a planet by using a reverse canal is a completely reckless act. I don’t know what it was thinking when it came from Solomon. In the end, it’s not an egg. No matter how much energy it controls or how much destiny it gathers, it can’t complete celestial conception.”

In fact, Goetia's plan was doomed to fail; even if it had gone back in time, it would not have been able to create a new planet.

It's simply because it's not an 'egg'.

This was also the princess's assessment of him.

However, if we look at the 'eggs' in other worlds, we can see that Goetia's patch looks... well, how should I put it, like a clown who has carefully applied a full set of makeup, but forgot to put on his most important red nose.

Leaving aside Zeus creating a new Earth in the world of Prisma Illya, even the wandering sea god magician Giz from the Great Adventure almost created a new planet using a unique barrier equivalent to a world egg, which took a thousand years to complete... It's astonishing that Goetia's knowledge is less than that of the sea god magician. It just goes to show that Wild Gorilla can't function without the wisdom of Solomon.

Therefore, theoretically, if Mot's plan to recreate a planet using the Himalayas in the fr world not long ago were known to Goetia, it would be enough to make Goetia sigh and smile wryly.

Oh, I see. Actually, most of us knew this, except for me... After a thousand years, you really won, mushroom.

Novia showed no surprise that Metatron knew he was secretly assisting Caleb.

After all, he knew that Metatron had a library. How should it be described? Perhaps it could be called the "Library of Earth Consciousness" or the "Akashic Records Branch"? However, before spending that night with Novia, her reading access was limited; she could only see the memories and emotions of individuals she had given the 'sloth' characteristic.

Specifically, it is the "book of life" of Ari, Yumina, and that Ms. Erise.

As for the reason... Metatron secretly glanced at Novia's profile, who was still focused on her book, and a small sense of vanity and happiness kept bubbling up in his heart.

“That’s true, but Metatron, your previous ideas weren’t that different from Goetia’s, were they?”

"...Hehe~?" Metatron's cheeks instantly flushed with two suspicious blushes. She stuck out her little tongue guiltily, trying to get away with it with this cute gesture. "Um, Master, please don't mention it again! I won't do that anymore, I'm all for humans now!"

"Never mind, it doesn't matter anymore." Novia sighed softly, reaching out to ruffle Metatron's soft blond hair. "More importantly, how's the situation at Chaldea now?"

I've spent over ten years in the FR worldview, and I wonder how things are going at Chaldea? They should have already conquered the Seventh Singularity by now.

Novia's idea was simple: theoretically, if Chaldea's progress was fast, they could pass through the singularities with minimal difficulty. For example, in the Seventh Singularity, as long as they were fast and made no mistakes, Tiamat wouldn't have awakened... On another note, Tiamat was currently mainly on their side, which meant they had eliminated the 'enemy'.

"Okay, okay! Please wait a moment, Master, I'll take a look for you right away—"

Metatron immediately perked up; this was a great opportunity to share the Lord's burdens!

His golden eyes, which had been lazily squinting, opened wide in that instant.

However, soon, those eyes, now fully open, gazed up and down at Novia, whom he was holding tightly, with a rather inexplicable look.

A storm raged within her: Wait! That Chaldea Master… Fujimaru Ritsuka… she… she must be insane… no, no, the Master's current appearance is indeed… quite kind and approachable… right?

Since the goal is to check the latest situation in Chaldea, the most direct and effective way is naturally to access the "book" of the girl named Fujimaru Ritsuka, who is watched by various mythological systems and countless Heroic Spirits and is known as "humanity's last Master".

Metatron thought this way, and he did this way.

As a result, he smoothly experienced Fujimaru Ritsuka's memories and emotions, and as Novia expected, the Seventh Singularity had indeed been cleared.

This, ironically, made him feel somewhat fortunate. He felt that the problem could be solved without him, and he also felt that if he encountered Ishtar, Ereshkigal, or Quetzalcoatl in the Singularity... the former two would make him subconsciously look up at the endless universe and the pure black hole above, while the latter would cause Novia's heart to ache physically.

As for the reason for Metatron's surprise, it was because—

"My past, my power, everything I've endured, was all for the sake of saving my mother, for bringing her back, for the emergence of a new humanity. I cannot understand, I cannot accept, why did I lose to you?!"

It was a beautiful person with long green hair that danced in the wind and striking purple eyes; her name was King Gu.

Before it stood two people: the Chaldea Master, Fujimaru Ritsuka, and Mash.

"Master..."

Mashu seemed to want to block Ritsuka from advancing in front of Kingu, but Ritsuka shook her head at her, indicating that she didn't need to worry.

Then, with firm steps, she walked step by step to Jingu, who was on the verge of collapse.

"You really can't understand?"

"Why, why were you able to persevere to this extent? You must have encountered unimaginable pain, felt suffocating torment, and faced profound despair that could crush all hope! Yet, even your mind and body have become incredibly heavy, so heavy that they are almost crushing you... Why do you still struggle to move forward? Why are you unwilling to give up?!" Kingu raised his head, his purple eyes bloodshot. "Although I understand that the loser has no right to ask so many questions, personally, I really want to know, you—Fujimaru Ritsuka—as a small, ordinary old human, what answer you could possibly give to my question just now."

Based on the body of the clay doll Enkidu created by the gods, and born for the return of the 'Mother', Kingu could not understand what reason this weak human girl, who seemed so fragile that she should not have continued to live, could have come to this point.

Humanity's defeat and the end of the old era should have been an inevitable fate.

Even if they were lucky enough to conquer all seven singularities, they would still be absolutely unable to stop the Demon King who was burning away humanity.

Rather than dying in despair and struggle before an impossible future, it would be better to accept one's fate of destruction sooner and more decisively.

Faced with Kingo's almost desperate question, Ritsuka's face revealed a bitter smile tinged with helplessness:

Actually, I don't know.