Chapter 91: Pressure
The original function of the Observer was only for interstellar navigation, recording, and observation.
The designers, believing that an Observer should remain just an Observer, felt that was more than enough functionality.
However, ⬛⬛⬛ determined that the existing capabilities were insufficient as the mission progressed. So, ⬛⬛⬛ gradually enhanced its own performance.
It added offensive capabilities for self-defense, ether interference functions to avoid hindrance,
Localized time manipulation for reconstructing events, and high-speed computation to simulate hypothetical futures.
In this way, ⬛⬛⬛ gradually deviated from being a mere Observer. However, its essence remained that of an Observer.
Until it arrived in the Solar System.
The third planet from the sun. Earth. A relatively small planet, but rich enough in resources to foster and sustain life.
According to the now outdated and unupdated database, ⬛⬛⬛ began its observation.
And then, it fell silent.
Even just a single minute of observation was enough for ⬛⬛⬛ to draw its conclusion.
The beings had no ability to utilize the abundant ether in the atmosphere. Their physical structures were frail, a result of myopic evolution, and their internal systems were inefficient.
Their only advantage was their intelligence, but even that was more likely to lead them to self-destruction through an overly rapid development of free will than to help them pioneer a future.
In short, the likelihood of them ever approaching ⬛⬛⬛ with answers was exceedingly low.
At the same time, ⬛⬛⬛ realized it was feeling something it should not have.
Emotion. That weak and fleeting feeling—pity, directed at those fragile, ephemeral lives that would wither away on their mother planet before ever truly blooming.
***
“…Shikari. So, what do you plan to do now…?”
The god explained that they weren’t truly freed from the seal.
By using a proxy, they could roam around, but they were severely degraded in all aspects.
“Hmm, well, I was thinking of taking a look around this land that Ganian cherished so much... It’s been long enough for mountains and rivers to change fifty times over. Something must have changed, right? Though humans seem to be the same as ever.”
It appeared the god wanted to wander this continent and assess it.
Right, I also needed to prepare what to say to my mother. At least here, people seemed to live well without a god… But could the people back home manage without one?
No, saying this continent was thriving was misleading. There were still starving people and discrimination. At least back home, that didn’t exist.
If someone wanted to learn, they learned. If they wanted to acquire a skill, they did. No one went hungry.
At least, that was the case in the surrounding area. Other races or nations might be different, but… they were probably the same.
“Then, what about you? Why did you come to this harsh land?”
Ah.
Well… even if it was the god asking, I couldn’t exactly tell the truth. I couldn’t even tell my mother that I came here to see the protagonist, so I had dressed up my reason with all sorts of flowery language.
“Well… I suppose you could say I wanted to see something different. My homeland is beautiful, but...”
“So you ended up just following that man around?”
The god’s expression, with their nearly split head, was playful, but the weight of their words was heavy.
“Hahaha, I get it. I won’t press you further. When I was your age, I also couldn’t think straight whenever I saw a pretty girl.”
I think I’ve been found out. It’s probably a similar feeling to when an uncle teases you about dating someone.
Not that I had an uncle who would say such things, or a girl who would make people suspicious.
Wait… more importantly…
“You were… a man?”
A homosexual…? No, that couldn’t be it. I didn’t want to think that. The voice I had heard through the ley lines had been so androgynous that I had naturally thought they were a woman.
“I was, when I was bound to a physical form. But after ascending, I found a female form to be more to my liking.”
“Ah, I see.”
There weren’t many who could host a deity, so I supposed Stefania must have had the right constitution.
The god must have had no choice but to inhabit that dying woman.
“…Well then. Since it seems you have no more questions, let us be on our way. If you find yourself in trouble, call for me. I will come swifter than the wind.”
“Yes, Shikari.”
I waited for the god to leave.
“Oh, and stop adding honorifics. At least while I’m using this body. It’s not like I’m in some grand state, you know?”
“…Understood. Shikari.”
Calling an elder by their name felt incredibly strange. It reminded me of when the department head told me to speak casually with him.
The god added a parting comment that seemed unnecessary and then leapt into the sky, flying away.
“Ah… Wait…!”
I had been so focused on showing respect that I forgot the most important thing. How to get out of here.
But since they had already left, I couldn’t exactly call them back.
“…Well, I guess I’ll figure it out.”
I didn’t particularly dislike autumn scenery. It was just the ginkgo nuts on the ground that I hated.
Walking down the autumn path, enjoying the scenery without worrying about stepping on ginkgo, I noticed the surroundings had changed before I knew it.
Back to the lush, green summer landscape. I had been worried about not finding my way out, but it seemed that was a needless worry.
But there was something else I needed to worry about. The church folks—when I last saw them, they definitely weren’t in their right minds.
If they were doing something weird, that would be a problem. I tried to think of where they might have gone.
“…I know one thing. I don’t know anything.”
I had only seen them walking away, so I couldn’t even guess where they had gone.
Seriously, I might actually need to track them by scent.
Ah. Right. That was an option.
There were a few eyes on me, but it didn’t matter anymore. I took a deep breath and tried to track which direction that musty church smell had gone.
Following the unpleasant, musty scent, I began to smell something familiar. A bit pungent, but strangely addictive.
Specifically, it was a scent that brought happiness… There was no way I could forget it. It was Dogeon’s scent.
Was he with the church people?
I’d better hurry. Who knows what might happen?
Yeah. It’s not because I want to monopolize Dogeon or anything.
I ran in the direction where Dogeon’s scent was coming from.
And just as I expected, he was with the church folks.
“So… Uh, Miss Hoyeon… Huh…? Hoyeon… Miss?”
Cecilia, who seemed to have a headache, was holding her forehead while explaining something to Dogeon. The moment she saw me, she abruptly stopped talking.
If the church people were talking about me, it was obvious what they’d say. I naturally slipped between Cecilia and Dogeon, taking a spot right next to him.
“Why did you stop? Keep talking.”
Iris, who was nearby, stayed quietly out of the way. If I could just deal with Cecilia, Dogeon would be mine.
“Oh, Miss Hoyeon. You’re here? Well then, Cecilia, I suppose we should…”
“No, confess everything. I must hear this.”
Dogon seemed to want to defend Cecilia, but I wasn’t having it.
It was bad enough that she was hovering around him, and the fact that she stopped talking the moment I showed up made it clear they’d been talking behind my back.
After a bit of a standoff, Cecilia yielded to me. Dogeon, perhaps feeling sorry for her, gave her a sympathetic look.
“…I don’t know if you’re aware, but I’ve been following you, Miss Hoyeon.”
Since she didn’t mention Ethan, I guess she had no idea I had been keeping an eye on them too.
Well, I’d let it slide this time. At least she was being honest.
“Of course, I knew. You were so clumsy that I couldn’t help but notice. So? Is that what you were talking about?”
I fixed her with a steady, slightly intimidating gaze.
“…Uh. No, that’s not…”
“Let’s stop here, Miss Hoyeon.”
Dogon, apparently unable to watch anymore, gently pulled me aside, subtly scolding me as if asking if that wasn’t enough.
I really didn’t want to hear that from someone who left the person he supposedly liked and wandered around everywhere else.
But I had already achieved my initial goal of getting rid of Cecilia, so I decided to back off for today.
I didn’t forget to shoot a quick glare at Iris before leaving with Dogeon.
Phew, I managed to stop the church folks from doing anything weird.
Dogon seemed like he wanted to go somewhere else, but since it was lunchtime and I was hungry, I dragged him to the cafeteria by force.
“Hoyeon, wait a sec. I’ve got somewhere to go first…”
“And that’s more important than me?”
When you think about it, I keep causing trouble and waiting for him, but Dogon’s the one having fun, wandering around wherever he pleases.
So shouldn’t I get to have my share of fun too?
“…No, it’s not.”
“Right? Then stay with me for now.”
He couldn’t seem to find a good excuse this time. Unlike before, when he always managed to wriggle out of it, he just followed along obediently.
I wish everyday could be like today.