Chapter 1138: The Gods Have Rivalries Too

As the girls had said, we ended up having outdoor sex though we did it within our campsite so I don’t believe we had an audience anyway.

Aside from Ather of course... Who was very enthusiastically painting us doing the deed from a distance.

After my girls were satisfied, I didn’t really feel like calling it a night yet so I decided to take a walk outside.

Katsuki wanted to follow along but I decided that there wasn’t a need to and told her both Carrey and her could retire for the night instead.

Besides, even if something happened, Eins would still be with me so I wasn’t alone anyway.

Despite it already being late at night, there were still sounds of what was obviously lovemaking coming from the other campsites.

Heck, just walking a few steps out from our camp, I already found a couple where the girl had her hands placed on the trunk of her tree while the guy was ramming her from behind.

Neither of them even paid me any mind as I walked past them. In fact, the girl was even moaning out loud as if she wanted everyone to hear her.

Well... I was already used to such a sight so I ignored it and continued my stroll.

The scenery didn’t really change much the more I walked though, as I was just witnessing lovers having sex out in the open pretty much everywhere.

I guess this was seen as a normal recreation activity that people indulge in openly here...

As I was deciding if I should just walk deeper into the forest, I found someone seated on top of a rock with a canvas in front of her.

Though I couldn’t really see who it was because their back was facing towards me, there was only one person who would be painting something like this.

I strolled over to Ather and watched her paint from behind, not wanting to disturb her.

She continued for a minute before speaking up, "Aster? You’re behind me, aren’t you?"

I tilted my head at her, "How did you know?"

"I realised I was painting a little better than usual so I made a guess. Is there something you need?"

Not sure how me standing behind her would result in that but I decided not to question it.

"I wasn’t really tired yet so I decided to take a walk. Then I found you painting here so I thought you might want some company."

"Mmm... I don’t mind..." She muttered before suddenly putting down her paintbrush to turn to me. "But before that... Please allow me to apologise."

"Eh? Apologise? For what? You’re not going to say that you’re actually one of those illegal slavers and start attacking me now, are you?"

"Not at all. I just want to apologise for not being able to help for that incident."

"Huh? Why would you need to apologise for that? It wasn’t even your fault to begin with? You were passed out because you got affected by Srii’s presence, right?"

She tensed up for a moment after hearing Srii’s name before relaxing. It seems like even she isn’t immune to that eh?

She gave me a look, "You are a weird one, Aster... Even amongst Off-Worlders..."

"Eh? Why?"

"Do you even need to ask? I don’t think there’s anyone else in this World who is able to just casually meet with Gods and act like it’s no big deal. Heck, I’m pretty sure you’re the only one in this World who is able to call Goddess Srii by just her name as well."

I made a face at her, "While I agree with the second point... I believe the gods also show themselves to their priests and priestesses sometimes, right? And I believe there’s also the towers where the gods issue challenges as well, right? Surely they would also show up in front of the champions?"

"Perhaps, but you do realise that the people you have stated have to go through several requirements before they can even meet any of the Gods? Even myself, who is a Comissar, isn’t able to meet the God I supposedly serve anytime I want. Face it, Aster. You are an odd one. But not in a bad way, mind you."

"Err... I don’t know what to say to that..."

"I just wanted to point that out, that’s all. I’d think if it was anyone else in your position, they would be bragging about it non stop and maybe even using that fact to their advantage. Then again... It might just be the fact that you don’t do that being the reason why you are even able to meet the Gods like that in the first place. Tell me, was that naked person really Goddess Hiandoca?"

I nodded, "You better believe it... I would have thought you might recognise her as a god straight away since you’re a Comissar and all. Don’t they have some kind of divinity you can sense or something?"

Ather turned back to continue painting, "I admit. I was just in denial back then. I could tell she was indeed divine but I didn’t want to believe that one of the Gods could be such a deviant."

"Well... That’s part of who she is I guess? Have you met your god before?"

"Goddess Ralaie? Once when I was being inducted as her Comissar. But after that? Not at all."

"Hmm... So what are your thoughts about her? What is she like?"

"Why? Do you want to meet her too?"

I scratched my cheek, "Well... I mean... Maybe?"

"If it was anybody else, I’d think they were crazy to even think they could meet her. But for you, I think there’s actually a high chance of it happening... Which is a crazy idea in and of itself."

"So what is she like?"

"Just one word, dedicated."

"So like you?"

"I never thought you would be the type to sweet talk, Aster. But if you think I’m dedicated, Goddess Ralaie is much more than that. When I met her, she was in one of her forges and I was able to witness her working for just a moment. I will admit that I do have one regret from meeting her that I still carry to this day."

I smiled at her wryly, "Let me guess... You regret not having your canvas with you so that you could paint her?"

Even though I couldn’t see her face, I could tell that she was smiling.

"You already know me so well, Aster."

Well... More like you’re really obvious with your priorities but I decided not to say that.

Just saying... The painting she was currently doing was of a threesome between two female Nekomatas and a male Nekomata.

They didn’t seem to mind her painting them so I wasn’t going to comment on that either.

I also know that she was using her Chronomancy at the moment since parts of the canvas that weren’t being touched by her paintbrush were also being painted.

I got distracted by the painting until she suddenly pulled back to look at the work and nodded to herself, indicating that she was done with it.

She then started to clean her brushes before speaking again, "Just out of curiosity... Which Gods have you met so far, Aster?"

"Eh? Err... You already know Hiandoca and Srii... There’s also Drebann of course and I did meet with goddess Uskit once."

She turned to raise an eyebrow at me, "You met with Goddess Uskit?"

"Just once. When I first received a Divine Communication Stone and went to pray at her temple. She was just there to greet me before she transferred me to Drebann though."

"Hmph..."

Eh? I don’t think I’m imagining it but she sounded a little upset?

"Is something wrong?" I asked.

"No... It’s just that Goddess Ralaie isn’t really on good terms with Goddess Uskit. It’s not that they hate each other but... I guess you can call it a sort of rivalry between them."

"Rivalry? What are they even competing on?"

She shrugged, "I don’t know. I just know that they aren’t exactly friendly with each other, that’s all. To what extent, however, I’m not too sure."

Huh... This is the first that I heard of this...

I honestly thought that all the gods were getting along with each other so this was most definitely a surprise.

Well, I doubt I would get involved with them in their rivalry so it has nothing to do with me anyway.

I just hope that both of them wouldn’t mind me asking about what sweets they would recommend if I ever were to meet them someday.

I gave her a look, "They aren’t fighting are they?"

"No. I don’t believe it is to that extent. Otherwise, I might be called to war, you know? And the whole World might be involved and that’s not good. We already experienced first hand what might happen when two Gods fight, didn’t we?"

Right... Our entire World was destroyed because of some gods fighting each other.

Well, let’s hope that doesn’t happen to this World then...