“Fuwawa~….what a good day. It seem like another peaceful day in ‘Asgard’.”
I looked out toward the sky from the window of my room calmly, I said that to myself while letting out a big yawn.
Yup, it was best when it was peaceful. Although I could solve all the problem that kept happening recently, I still disliked the unease that I was feeling like now.
“Really… Because of the strange atmosphere that I felt from Beruze-san, it got me to be warry for no reason.”
That was right —— One week had passed since the day that I talked with Beruze-san who felt sad which was something uncommon.
Since then there was nothing unusual that required us to worry about and ‘Asgard’ was also operating smoothly today. To be able to yawn unconsciously meant that it was peaceful.
Actually I accidentally bumped into Beruze-san whom I didn’t meet for a while and we had a small conversation, it seemed like he was being back to his positive self again.
I felt at ease since there was no need for me to worry excessively. I even had the extra time to sleep during the afternoon when the gentle sunlight was the brightest.
“Instead of being leisure, it’s more like…. boredom, I feel like this is something that I shouldn’t say.”
I picked up the words that I said to myself and threw it into the trash bin in my heart. That was because I only had some leisure time now.
Around ten days before this, I managed to get the attention of the Open Seas King, Aegir-sama to be interested in me. After that I was sure that I would be given the task of purchasing food regularly now, I believed that there would be a new lifestyle waiting for me which was totally different from what I experienced until now.
And not only that, in order to liberate Fenrir from the magical ribbon, Grapevine which was binding him, Loki was earnestly planning to gather the materials for the Ívaldi sword. From now on there would be a lot of interesting things, I believed that I would surely have my redemption when I said that I was bored now.
“…..Hmm? What’s that sudden noise coming from below…”
Don’t tell me that something happened….? That was strange, I pretty sure I didn’t said I was bored for sure?
I prayed that it wouldn’t become a troublesome thing and walked out of my room. Since I was having a leisure time and I was bored after all…. Ah, why did I have to go and said that!
“Uwa, a lot of people had gathered. Um, did something happen?”
After going out from the staff dorm, I arrived at the entrance of the main building of ‘Valhalla’. I asked nonchalantly while facing the large amount of people which formed the shape of a black mountain. But, the reply that I received was the directly opposite of me, a guy who was panicking.
“You are in the way, little one! Witige-san ……the Old man Witige was cut down!!”
“……..Eh!?”
At this point, I came to understand how serious things happened.
In the crowd of people in front of me —- what I saw through the silt was a silhouette of a person being carried on a stretcher. On the ground, there was a bright red line that came from it, there was no mistake… it the ‘Black Sword Saint’ Witige-san.
—— After a few hours.
It was so late at night that the date had also changed, around the moment when I started to hear the footsteps of the dawn slowly ——
“Ah! I’m exhausted~!”
In the ‘Valhalla Canteen’ which fell silent after the cleaning finished, the voice of exhaustion from the seventh sister of the Valkyrie, Siegrune-sama could be heard.
Siegrune-sama walked unsteadily toward the sofa near the wall and then laid down. The fourth sister, Waltraute-sama who arrived late to the canteen, gave a gentle chide after seeing her.
“Hey, Rune-chan. It’s not good for you to be that shameful since you’re also a girl, okay?”
“Ok~, but Raute-nee-san, I was using the rune of ‘Berkana’ the whole night? I’m already pretty exhausted now….”
“Come on, Rune-chan, the night had just begun.”
“Um… that…thanks for your hard work! Siegrune-sama, Waltraute-sama!”
I who was waiting in the canteen promptly gave my words of appreciation to the both of them.
Siegrune-sama who just waved her hand carelessly as a response, relatively, Waltraute-sama turned toward me and squatting down, while showing a smile, she patted me.
“Thank you~ Pork-chan. You were worried about the grandpa Witige-chan? It’s alright~ Grandpa had already pass the difficult part already.”
“Rea, really!? That’s great……Um… I’m very grateful!”
“You’re welcome~ ….heave-ho”
After Waltraute-sama answered me with a warm smile, she went and sit beside Siegrune-sama. It seemed like Waltraute-sama was also very tired since she gave an awfully fusty yell.
That wasn’t something strange. That was because, after they listened to my request while I was crying, they were busy healing Witige-san from the afternoon until now ——
In order to be able to secure the condition of Witige-san as soon as possible, they hurried to the infirmary room that was a detached from the milking room Hayes normally used.
Among the Valkyrie sisters, these two were particularly good at using healing magic. I didn’t think that it took this long to recover him even with the both of their power combined… No, to be able to recover him was a miracle itself.
However, according to Waltraute-sama, Witige-san injury was too heavy, so it might take some time for him to regain his consciousness.
In order for him to regain his usual self again, it would be better to stab him before the sun set. To us, Einherjars, that was a method that would be able to solve everything.
But……… That method wasn’t acceptable. Even if we can resurrect, we must not look down on our lives.
“It’s not good to die thoughtlessly. Since ‘It’s better for you to be alive.’.”
However —— I wasn’t aware of it at that time.
The wound that was dealt on this sword saint, was the sign of a unprecedented danger to the God Realm, “Asgard’…
“Yo, thanks for your hard work, Siegrune. And you also, Waltraute.”
In order to thanks them for their effort, I pushed a trolley with some drink on it toward them, at that moment, Loki arrived at ‘Valhalla Kitchen’.
He came once during the evening to look at the condition, after that he left while saying ‘I will be back’ but…
“Ah, Loki-sama…….and Odin-sama!? What are you doing here…and Thor-sama is also here!”
After noticing the company that came along together with Loki, Siegrune-sama who was lying on the sofa, jumped up from it forcefully.
I was also surprise by it. The reason for that was because in this canteen, various Gods that were important in the God Realm led by Odin-sama had gathered. The Giant Killer Thor-sama, The War Gods Frey-sama and Tyr-sama and also the Light God, Baldr-sama. As a bonus, even Frey-sama came while being accompany by the all the Valkyrie sisters….
What was happening, wasn’t this the exactly same group of peoples that appeared during ‘the incident on the attempt to collapse the World Tree’!
“Well, I think this is for assuring purpose, since all of them came together in a set. This is just one of my intuition………I had a bad feeling about this.”
“……….”
At that time——I felt a fearful and displeasure look toward me. The one who gave me that look was none other than Odin-sama.
“? Eh, um…”
What, what happened? I tried to avert my eye from it, but I was not sure as to why I was being watched. Then, the one who broke the dreadful silence was Loki.
“Siegrune, I’m sorry but there is something I want to ask you. The old man’s injury was caused by a blade…….there is no mistake on that, right?”
“Yes, he was cut diagonally from his shoulder with a single stroke from the front.”
“Hee, from the front. There is one more thing I would like to know… do you think it was a surprise attack?”
“A surprise attack? Hm… there is no problem with the old man waist this time, furthermore his beloved sword was drawn and laid on the ground… so there is a low chance that it was a surprise attack.”
While hearing the reply from Siegrune-sama, Loki let out a sigh that had a mixture of disappointment.
“Damn………It’s like what I expected. That means that this will be a very troublesome situation……”
Loki murmured while scratching his head. Not only Loki, all the Gods that had gathered here maintain their awkward silence.
That was right——Even Odin-sama, the supreme god of Aesir tribe, acted the same way.
“Um…about that….what is so bad about it?”
While I stiffened up my body due to the nervousness, I raised my font foot and asked Loki.
My persuasive that life was precious that was ignored up until now, but Witige-san was an Einherjar after all, which meant that it was a daily routine for them to train until they die…………
Was there really a need to get all worked up just because Witige-san suffered a grave injury?
“What so bad about it? That’s wrong, Sei. It’s not what, but everything about that is bad.”
While answering my question, Loki took out two twigs from his pocket. While hitting the twig against each other, Loki said this.
“Sei. You also aware of the true strength of the old man right?”
“Yes. Since I was also present when Witige-san was undergoing the selection test. The fight was earth-shattering even though he was facing Gerhi-sama as his opponent.”
“That’s right. But…at that time, both of them was not serious. And, if both of them were serious that time——“
Loki paused and crushed the twig on his left hand after snapping it. While he was in the middle of scattering the twig on the ground… he continued his sentence with an awfully cold voice.
“In all likelihood the one who will win is the old man.”
“Eh!?”
After I heard that, I looked toward Gerhi-sama while being surprise. After that, Gerhi-sama felt a bit disappointed and bit her lip, then she gave an affirmation on Loki words.
“It is exactly as what Loki-sama had said. I am still better than him in term of the martial arts but there is too much of a difference in our weapon performance. If during that time, he took out his Mimung which he was unwilling…there was no doubt that the winner is Witige-san.”
“The difference in weapon performance……is it?”
“That’s right. My lance, ‘Alder Zweig’ is not for appearance purpose, but the Mimung that was owned by Witige-san was a product that is much better than mine. The reason is because that is a masterpiece by his father, the legendary blacksmith Wayland, it is also the sister sword of the ‘Victory Sword’.”
“!!”
Mimung…. Is a sister of the Victory Sword…?
That…. That is a lie right? Before this, Gullinbursti told me that the Victory Sword was the key to control the Armageddon ‘Ragnarok’ in the form of a sword. To think that Witige-san’s Mimung was such an amazing sword!
“Since Witige had a poor waist, if he was able to demonstrate his characteristic, he will be showing his true strength that fit his title. In another words, the power that rival the human great hero which could slay dragons. To think that he suffers this grave injury while having a direct confrontation instead of a surprise attack and with his Mimung unsheathed… there is no mistake that his opponent is considerable skilled person. Which is why this is a threat toward us, the God tribe.”
“A power that exceed the great dragon slayer…”
I had heard about the story of the great dragon slayer during Witige-san selection test. From my actual combat with a dragon, I know better than anyone that a dragon was a monster that belongs to the greatest aerial type.
There wouldn’t be any problem even if Witige-san went and fight with Nidhogg alone, to think that he would lose in a direct confrontation. It seemed like a very skilled swordman was currently hiding somewhere in ‘Asgard’.
I see, I understand now. About how bad our situation was right now.
“To be able to defeat Witige-san……who could it be?”
I enquired about it openly——at that time. Odin-sama who was quiet up until now, loosened his folded arm and slowly opened his mouth.
“There is something I want to ask. Witige and the Einherjars, they are able to came back to life with a new body when the sun set. That means if he was deal the finishing blow before the sunset, he would be able to revive in perfectly good health by now. To think that he wasted that opportunity… who is the one at fault? Dark brown boar.”
“Whose fault…please wait a moment Odin-sama, I just…!”
Out of nowhere, the God Lance, Gungnir appeared and aimed toward my forehead. I felt a bloodlust which reminded me of all my regret that I had up until now.
Why… it was truth that it was me who pleaded Siegrune-sama to help Witige-san. But… Was the action that I took, a crime that would cause the Chief God to be angry?
The moment when the helpless me was overcome by the tremendous fear, a warm hand touched my head. What I saw when I looked up, was a gentle smile from Loki.
“Big Brother, there is no use to cry over spilled milk. If we did exactly as you said, we can ask Grandpa, who will revive energetically, about the culprit… but if we do that will you still have your dignity of a God? Why don’t you calm down a bit, ‘Valfodr’-san. When did the noble person who welcomes the Einherjars degrade into a demon?”
“……The kenning that is well known in the human realm, is it. If that the case… it seems that even I had lost some patience. The reason why I am so impatient about this is…”
Odin-sama lowered and shook his head after being pointed out by Loki. It seemed there was still a part of him where he was still willing to listen to his step-brother. I felt at ease now because the situation would be more troublesome if the two brothers started a quarrel.
“…I…thought that ‘the incident on the attempt to collapse the World Tree’ that happened recently is ‘Ragnarok’. But Mimir denied my thought easily. The Armageddon, ‘Ragnarok’ had not yet started. If such a large scale incident is not even that……. Then what is ‘Ragnarok’ exactly? To be frank……I’m actually quite frightened.”
Odin-sama threw away his dignity as the Chief God and revealed his timidity. It seemed that it might not be necessary for me to tell him to apologize for all the action that he did out of anger up until now.
But my thought was, there was no shame for you to be afraid. It’s alright, since Odin-sama had a lot of reliable children. If we work together, we would definitely be able to overcome ‘Ragnarok’ regardless of what it is.
“Tch…..It seemed that I am still a novice. Hey father, lift up your face! It doesn’t matter if it’s a dragon, a dragon slayer or even a giant! Since I, the thunder god, Thor-sama will crush everyone that dare oppose the Aesir tribe!”
Thor-sama smacked his thick chest and the first one to speak sharply. Not only him, I was sure all the members present also feel the same way.
“……Okay! In the name of the Chief God, Odin, I order all of you to find out the culprit of this incident first! Then, if the culprit is a Giant……. this would be identified as “Ragnarok”! Assemble the army here and sound the horn, ‘Gjallarhorn’!!”
Under the order of Odin-sama who had shaken his timidity, the Aesir Gods and rushed out with a force that could thrust through the sky.
We’d immediately know who the culprit was if Witige-san woke up. But we couldn’t wait for that time as the enemies of the gods, had already begun to take action.
Although I don’t know what was their purpose, but it wouldn’t let them do whatever they want. I would definitely expose his identity!
“Oh, it’s so bright! Ah……I see, it’s already morning.”
As I stepped out to ‘Valhalla’ energetically, the bright red sun rose from the west side of the sky caused me to narrow my eye. Ah~, it seemed that we ended up staying all night.
As a model student, I usually didn’t stay up late, so to be honest my body felt a bit sluggish. The magic power that was used to activate ‘Gullveig’ yesterday should had been recover bit by bit but if possible I didn’t really want to do any rash thing… it would be best if it didn’t end up like that.
“Yo Sei. If it was you, what is your plan now?”
Loki followed me as it was something natural and asked. While I suppress my body from being listless, at the mean time I informed him about the action that I planned to do.
“I will start by looking for Ratatoskr first. If it was that squirrel, I have a feeling that he have some useful information. Maybe he knows who the culprit was like last time.”
“As expected. In fact, I also think the same way ……but for some reason I can’t sense the presence of that fellow……… Oh, Brynhildr! Help me for a moment. If you make an announcement that you will do a naked dance, I believe that I will be able to catch that fellow.”
After seeing Brynhildr-sama who came out of Valhalla a little later than we did, Loki made that bold proposal.
He…he said it!! As expected of Loki! He managed to say something that I can’t even say in such a calm manner! I am so excited! I am amazed!
“Lo…Loki-sama…that… really…!”
A, huh? Brynhildr-sama~ is looking at Loki with an expression as if the world had ended? Ah~, it seemed like Loki will be hated for real now. I will take back what I said just now, I would be better if I didn’t admire Loki.
“Hey, Brynhildr? Wait a moment, that is definitely a joke just now? Do you understand?
“That’s not it, Loki-sama! Instead of that, please look at that!”
Brynhildr-sama ignored the excuse from Loki and pointed toward the west sky with her hand trembling.
“…? Isn’t that the morning sun? What is the matter with that?”
That was right. I also thought the same way as Loki. I wondered what was the reason for Brynhildr-sama to be that flustered?
“If that is the morning sun… then why is it coming from the west side of the sky?”
We titled our head while we were informed of that reply. The moment when the shocking truth reached our ear, Loki and I looked toward the sun immediately.
“…that’s a lie right? It exactly as what Brynhildr-sama said, that is the west! Isn’t that strange!? That is because isn’t it a given that the morning sun should rise from the east sky! If it that, it’s exactly like an evening sun!”
“…..I’m astonished. I’m not sure what is the reason that it becomes this way… but this might be a major incident that we have to be serious?”
Loki was dripping with cold sweat as if it was telling the seriousness of this incident. By chance, ‘Asgard’… no. There might already be something happening that can shock all of the ‘Nine worlds’.
At this moment, it would be better if we used the high seat of Odin-sama who could look onto the world to grasp the current situation. When I wanted to suggest this to Loki —- that voice could be heard.
“This is bad! The Einherjars… the Einherjars are missing from their dorm!”
At the entrance of the main build building of ‘Valhalla’. Gerhi-sama came flying in with a terrible expression and stopped us who were planning to search for the culprit.
The Einherjars are missing from their dorm? What does that mean, I always woke up at this time for my morning jogging but the Einherjars should still be sleeping at this time.
“All of them… that is not possible right. That means… hey, Gerhilde, it’s a bit troublesome but can you go take a look at the practice field?”
“…No…Loki-sama. There is no need for me to do that…”
Gerhi-sama declined the request from Loki with a tremble voice.
Then, before she finished her sentence, Loki face changed to a grim expression.
There was a sharp look toward my back. When I thought that I didn’t want to turn behind, it seemed that it was not necessary.
“I surprise to see the Aesir Gods here. Good morning.”
The voice was the sign that caused us to turn behind. At the huge space in front of entrance of the main building of ‘Valhalla’, out of nowhere there was a large amount of Einherjars that filled out the space.
The military force with their backs faced toward the morning evening sun, all of them were well equipped with their armors and it seemed their fighting spirit were scatter all around the place. This was the usual thing when they were in training, thus, there was nothing strange about it.
If that was fighting spirit…. wasn’t being pointed against us that it.
“Yo, you guys. It might be my misunderstanding, so I will ask you this. What are they trying to imitate?”
Loki questioned toward the opposite military force that split up the turbulence atmosphere.
The reply filled with arrogance was from the voice of a guy.
“Imitation….. No no, I don’t understand what you mean. We are going to do our practice as usual, under the order of the Almighty God.”
In the center of the army encircling ‘Valhalla’, a voice came from top of the magnificent chariot, I believed that this was the voice of the instigators of this incident.
…Huh…eh, wait a moment. Is that a lie? This voice…Don’t tell me…!
“Why…Beruze, san…?”
After seeing the appearance of the instigators, I became speechless.
No…….It wasn’t like I didn’t think about the possibility of this. But it just that I didn’t think that it would lead to this.
“By the way, is Odin-sama there? I plan to have a short discussion with him before our practice …but it seem that he was not in ‘Valaskjálf’. That’s why I thought that he might be here.”
“If you are looking for me, I’m here. So… this seems quite impressive if you only plan to have a discussion with me, human.”
In order to respond to the call from Beruze-san, Odin-sama appeared from the inside of ‘Valhalla’. Even though they had not even started their dialogue, judging from the atmosphere of this situation… I only had a bad premonition about it.
“Please pardon this impressiveness. Since from now onward, we will have an actual battle in the form of practice. It’s just that… for today, that might be a ‘practice’ or an ‘actual battle’ depending on your actions?”
“… I don’t like conversation that is indirect. Why don’t you just tell us your request right away?”
“It’s a big help that you are cooperating. Then let me get straight to the point… ‘We, Einherjars demand for a better treatment.’”
“A better treatment? This is really a strange demand. You, Einherjars should already have a special treatment? Have you gotten sick of continuously dying every day?”
“Tch…….. You really are looking down on us. I am not talking about that, we are not dissatisfied about the fact that we need to die every day. But, we cannot see any benefit from dying every day. Even the boar Einherjar, Saehrimnir had gotten an achievement for defeating a dragon? Then we… the human Einherjars also want to have an opportunity! That is because I — had already defeated a dragon.”
Beruze-san, defeated a dragon…? In other word, the current Beruze-san, had the same power as the great hero of the dragon slayer and Witige-san?
“You guys………What is your basis for saying this?”
“Do you still not understand about it? Odin. The one who cut down the old man Witige… was me.”
How, how can it be…….impossible! The culprit who attacked Witige-san was Mr. Beruze!? I can’t believe it, why did he do that…..!
“Hey, Odin. You might not remember that you had ignored me, since I had already mentioned my request for a numerous times. But sadly I was driven out every time, on top of that I was rejected at the front door! I’m totally not fine that we aren’t given a chance to earn our match and we’re keep until our deaths! And the guys that had all gathered here shared the same idea as I.”
Beruze-san opened his hands wide on top of the chariot.
Although I didn’t think that all of the Einherjars were here, but the soldiers who followed him looked like an endless army.
At the time when the Einherjars was panicking after Witige-san was slashed, I thought there were the people who rose to action wasn’t this large. But… in just one night, this much of people had agreed with Beruze-san.
Before this, I had thought numerous times that it wouldn’t be good for this to continue… but it wasn’t good to delay this problem anymore. The dissatisfaction of the Einherjar, needed to be settle immediately or else it would turn out to be something big…!
“Then, do choose one, Odin. Accept our request and give us honor or reject it and be taken away our honor… you just had to choose one out of these two.”
“… There is only one answer for that from the beginning. Do you expect me to pat on the pet dog that bites its own owner?”
“As expected. I was aware of that, but it seems our master is a bit arrogant. But… our side is also similar to our owner, that we are evenly as arrogant. Okay, since the negotiations had broken, I will have you to get off your throne. …Now it’s time to begin the Gods slaying.”
Beruze-san held the big sword on his back and swung the top as if he was giving a signal, then the sky turned backward. In that moment… to not fail our expectation, we saw an unbelievable scenery.
“How, how can it…Loki! That is…!”
“Argh… for the impossible things to happen…Although I did suggest this before, to think that I could see this again so soon. For them to do the phenomenal that went against nature, ‘the Endless sunset’…! ”
The sun that went back and forth on the horizon in a fast pace. There was only one possibility behind that movement, the sun goddess, Sola-sama had already fallen to the clutches of the Einherjars.
Under this situation, for me and the Einherjars who could revive at sunset, it was now a fact that we had become immortal.
“Hold it there, I forgot to say this, Odin. It’s true that I was the one who slashed the old man Witige… but do you think that I am the only one who possesses that strength? All of the two hundred thousand members of us here— had polished our skill during the death match under your command. Kukuku…. Hahaha.”
While leaving his laughter filled with craziness, Beruze-san turned his chariot to the opposite direction. While commanding some of his follower, he left the frontline. At that moment, the leftover military force scatter and in just a moment, they surround us who were in ‘Valhalla’.
“You fools! I will make mincemeat out you all!”
“Hold it, Thor! Their movement, seems a bit strange!”
Odin-sama stopped Thor-sama who was filled with vigor. After leaving the place to the pair of the Military God, Frey-sama and Tyr-sama, Odin-sama gathered the others to a hall in the building and get into a posture to hold themselves there.
“Hey, father what is the meaning of this! It will be over if we just kill them!!”
“Use your head, Thor. What will happen, if you massacre all of them there? They could revive as many time as they want. Our enemy is not the number that you see now.”
“Is that so! That I will massacre them no matter how many time it is!”
“We are facing a military force that which every one of them is capable of slaying a dragon? It won’t be easy even for someone like you. It will be a different case if you had unlimited magic power and stamina like them though.”
“Tch… it seems like it won’t be that easy as I though…”
Odin-sama who analyzed the situation calmly, tried to calm down Thor-sama who was fired up. But due to that, my heart was frozen with the feeling of despair. That was because to face such an outrageous as person as an enemy, what was the right thing that should we do…
“Well, there is no need to worry. The fact that they are using numbers to come after us means that they are also afraid of us too. Regardless of the number of times they are able to revive, the fact that they can suffer from dying still remain.”
While saying that, Odin-sama looked down toward me with both of his eye. I feel like he is asking me for a confirmation, so I gave a small nod as an answer.
“But, it’s not like they don’t have any plan. Since they were able to do all of this up until now… and they purposely avoid being on the offensive to win, I am pretty sure that they have prepared an ultimate trump card.”
The trump card of the Einherjars… that meant, there was still something that was much worse than the current situation?
Two hundred thousand dragon slayer, on top of that, they were immortals. Putting aside the preparation they’d done to gather that large amount of battle potential, the method for them to win without being on the offensive… that was…
“What they desire is… our side to perish on our own?”
“Ho? I didn’t think of that. Please let me apology for my rudeness just now, Saehrimnir. As expected of the boar that caught Loki attention.”
Woah, I had not received any praised directly by that Odin-sama since the battle with Nidhogg. Due to the joy, I smiled unexpectedly but I thought that this special treatment was the reason that caused the Einherjars to rebel, it seemed a bit troublesome…
“Just as Saehrimnir said, I believe that they desire the Gods to perish by themselves. No matter how much power they have, they are still human after all. In front of us, Gods, the ability to revive unlimited time, only seem like the ability of dying unlimited time.”
That was true, it was exactly as what Odin-sama said. That reason that I was able to win Nidhogg that day was because there was a possibility for me to win if I kept continues my reckless attack. To face an enemy that was impossible to win no matter how you attack, the tactic of reviving unlimited times was just like the tactic of being torturing unlimited times only.
“But… it’s a simple matter for us to defeat them completely. If the situation where they are to seal our specialty, then the army of dragon slayer will pose a threat to us, Gods. Our weakness that could lead to that situation is none other than the—- the fruit of youth, ‘the Golden Apple’.”
“Tch… is that the case. Since the tactic of reviving unlimited time will lead to a long battle, other than me who is half immortal, the other people will begin to be ‘Old’. Please feel free to think about what will happen after that.”
“That’s right, Loki. The people that is outside at this moment might be a diversion unit that plan to hold us in here. If that is the case, our first priority is to secure the apple. But… that won’t be something easy. Go and have a look outside.”
Odin-sama said that and pointed to the window while looking at the outside. Thus, everyone shifted their sight to the outside, the unpleasant scenery that was interweaved by the continuous sunset was still ongoing.
“It’s needless to say that the goddess of the sun, Sola had already fallen to the hand of the enemy, and when I think that it was a convenience that the continuous sunset had started, they should had already taken over my throne, ‘Hlidskjalf’ and gotten a hold of the battle situation in a very detailed manner. Moreover, since we are unable to find Ratatoskr, there is a very high possibility that he is acting as a relay for them. Since these people are so careful up until now, it’s impossible that they will just leave the apple keeper, ‘Iðunn’ alone. It’s a given that they will prepare a fierce resistance.”
“Tch… then what should we do, father.”
This was a situation where we had lost all of our initiatives. It would be difficult for us to overturn this situation. While everyone was looking at each other while holding their breath, Odin-sama said this majestically.
“Of course, we will launch our counter attack. But we don’t have much time to spare. The youth effect of the apple should last for a week… but it had been a few days since we had distributed it, the aging effect might start as early as tomorrow for some people.”
Eh, the aging effect will start so fast!? Hold it, if this going on, it meant that there was a chance that Brynhildr-sama will become an old lady!? No, perhaps this meant that I could see Brynhildr-sama when she was an old lady!?
That’s okay, come! That was because I had already made a vow. The vow was ‘For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, I will love thee, respect thee, comfort thee, help thee, until death do us part, I devote sincerely to this sacred marriage vow’! (Pending)
… This was bad, to think that I was this excited.
Well, as you can see, I was totally fine with it, but I didn’t think that Brynhildr-sama wanted to expose that appearance to anyone. If there was anything that I could be of help, I would try my best to support it!
While I shook my head in hope of shaking off the wicked though of mine, I concentrated back to Odin-sama as he was giving out a new order.
“I will start with the top priority of the strategy… Thor, I will leave you to go and rescue ‘Iðunn’. But the enemies here will be able to predict our action immediately. If that is the case, then the fellow outside won’t remain silence. I will let these two persons, Frey and Tyr to continue with the defense of ‘Valhalla’. Then, we have to stop the continuous sunset and rescue Sola at the same time. I will leave that to Baldr… but the problem is that the enemy will focus on Thor and Baldr, so we would need someone to raid their enemy stronghold but…”
Odin-sama made a pause of his sentence there, and glimpsed toward Loki. Ah, it was pointless since Loki paid no attention to the glimpse, it seemed like he didn’t have any motivation at all.
“Loki… you are the only one left.”
“I’m the only one left!? Isn’t it better for you to go by yourself!”
“I am that, the last wall to defend Freya-chan. That explains why I am unable to move from here.”
“Hee, is that so. Then can I have a replacement?”
“That won’t be good enough, there is no need for you to worry.”
“It’s not like I am worrying! This foolish brother of mine is too stubborn!”
All of a sudden this foolish argument started, but due to that scene, a small laughter can be observed in this tense situation. I wasn’t sure if Odin-sama expected this but I believed that it was a necessary to have this gentle moment in this time.
“Come on… if this goes on, I will become a mood maker instead. I am doing this while being conscious of it. But please let me be a bodyguard for time, okay?”
“Fine. Now I will assign the Valkyrie to support each of the team, so please wait for moment.”
I was startled for a moment when I heard the word bodyguard but there was no notification from Loki this time either.
Since I was chosen without having a chance to think about it for the incidence last time… even if there was a reason for it, to be honest I didn’t think I was appropriate. I was already sick of being the main character of a heroic tale.
“Well, it’s not like it would be good to do nothing… Hey Loki, is there anything that I am able to be of use to?”
“Oh, I see, do you want to come along if you are bored?”
“No no no! I prefer another task instead!”
“He he he! It’s a joke, a joke. After all, our opponent this time is a dragon slayer after all, so it’s pointless even if you appear in your dragon form and you will be a sitting duck in your boar form.
“I, I am able to transform into anything…”
I was shocked when I tried to diverse my transformation. If I used the rune of ‘mannaz’, it was possible for me to be a duck or a spring onion.
“Well, since that is the case, I hope you can stay here obediently. If you are bored then, let see… you can try to ease the people at your dorm or go and look after the old man too.”
After saying that, Loki patted me on my head and joined the strategy meeting of Odin-sama.
I see… that’s right. If I thought about it, there was tons of stuff that I could do here while being left out.
The right person for the right situation. I heeded Loki advice and in order to look over Witige-san, I went toward the medical room that is in of the inner part of ‘Valaskjálf’.
“Please excuse me for my intrusion~… huh!? Witige-san, you had already awakened!”
I thought that he was still asleep, so I tried to hide my presence while entering the room but I shouted due to the shock. Well this was something that can’t be help since Witige-san who should still be in bed had already regained his consciousness.
As expected of the legendary ‘Black sword saint’, he was train in a different way when compared to a normal human.
“Ah… isn’t this, Sei-dono. What’s this, for what reason… am I sleeping here…?”
Even though he had awakened, the injury that Witige-san suffered was quite major. While having a hazy consciousness, his voice when he spoke seem quite frail, I transformed into my human form and hold him without any second thought.
“It would be better if you don’t move. Witige-san was asleep for the whole night after you suffer a horrible injury.”
“I am injured…? I see… the wound that I suffered, it’s already a miracle that I didn’t die from this. It seems I was given a cordial nursing. That’s right, Sei-dono, who is the one who gave me this wound…? That right… this wound, is from that fellow…! Please inform me, Sei-dono! That fellow… where is Beruze-san!?”
“That, that…”
I hesitated to speak after I heard that question. It wasn’t a question that could be answer easily. That is because the one who slashed Witige-san was none other than Beruze-san.
Since the case where he twisted his waist, the two of them had become so close as if they were father and son, I had seen a numerous times when the both of them were getting close to each other. But to think that such a thing happened… I still couldn’t believe it after I heard it with my own eye right now.
“I beg of you, please informed me if you are knowledgeable about it! That fellow, it seems like that fellow is stirring something big! I had to stop him no matter what!”
“Fuwawa~….what a good day. It seem like another peaceful day in ‘Asgard’.”
I looked out toward the sky from the window of my room calmly, I said that to myself while letting out a big yawn.
Yup, it was best when it was peaceful. Although I could solve all the problem that kept happening recently, I still disliked the unease that I was feeling like now.
“Really… Because of the strange atmosphere that I felt from Beruze-san, it got me to be warry for no reason.”
That was right —— One week had passed since the day that I talked with Beruze-san who felt sad which was something uncommon.
Since then there was nothing unusual that required us to worry about and ‘Asgard’ was also operating smoothly today. To be able to yawn unconsciously meant that it was peaceful.
Actually I accidentally bumped into Beruze-san whom I didn’t meet for a while and we had a small conversation, it seemed like he was being back to his positive self again.
I felt at ease since there was no need for me to worry excessively. I even had the extra time to sleep during the afternoon when the gentle sunlight was the brightest.
“Instead of being leisure, it’s more like…. boredom, I feel like this is something that I shouldn’t say.”
I picked up the words that I said to myself and threw it into the trash bin in my heart. That was because I only had some leisure time now.
Around ten days before this, I managed to get the attention of the Open Seas King, Aegir-sama to be interested in me. After that I was sure that I would be given the task of purchasing food regularly now, I believed that there would be a new lifestyle waiting for me which was totally different from what I experienced until now.
And not only that, in order to liberate Fenrir from the magical ribbon, Grapevine which was binding him, Loki was earnestly planning to gather the materials for the Ívaldi sword. From now on there would be a lot of interesting things, I believed that I would surely have my redemption when I said that I was bored now.
“…..Hmm? What’s that sudden noise coming from below…”
Don’t tell me that something happened….? That was strange, I pretty sure I didn’t said I was bored for sure?
I prayed that it wouldn’t become a troublesome thing and walked out of my room. Since I was having a leisure time and I was bored after all…. Ah, why did I have to go and said that!
“Uwa, a lot of people had gathered. Um, did something happen?”
After going out from the staff dorm, I arrived at the entrance of the main building of ‘Valhalla’. I asked nonchalantly while facing the large amount of people which formed the shape of a black mountain. But, the reply that I received was the directly opposite of me, a guy who was panicking.
“You are in the way, little one! Witige-san ……the Old man Witige was cut down!!”
“……..Eh!?”
At this point, I came to understand how serious things happened.
In the crowd of people in front of me —- what I saw through the silt was a silhouette of a person being carried on a stretcher. On the ground, there was a bright red line that came from it, there was no mistake… it the ‘Black Sword Saint’ Witige-san.
—— After a few hours.
It was so late at night that the date had also changed, around the moment when I started to hear the footsteps of the dawn slowly ——
“Ah! I’m exhausted~!”
In the ‘Valhalla Canteen’ which fell silent after the cleaning finished, the voice of exhaustion from the seventh sister of the Valkyrie, Siegrune-sama could be heard.
Siegrune-sama walked unsteadily toward the sofa near the wall and then laid down. The fourth sister, Waltraute-sama who arrived late to the canteen, gave a gentle chide after seeing her.
“Hey, Rune-chan. It’s not good for you to be that shameful since you’re also a girl, okay?”
“Ok~, but Raute-nee-san, I was using the rune of ‘Berkana’ the whole night? I’m already pretty exhausted now….”
“Come on, Rune-chan, the night had just begun.”
“Um… that…thanks for your hard work! Siegrune-sama, Waltraute-sama!”
I who was waiting in the canteen promptly gave my words of appreciation to the both of them.
Siegrune-sama who just waved her hand carelessly as a response, relatively, Waltraute-sama turned toward me and squatting down, while showing a smile, she patted me.
“Thank you~ Pork-chan. You were worried about the grandpa Witige-chan? It’s alright~ Grandpa had already pass the difficult part already.”
“Rea, really!? That’s great……Um… I’m very grateful!”
“You’re welcome~ ….heave-ho”
After Waltraute-sama answered me with a warm smile, she went and sit beside Siegrune-sama. It seemed like Waltraute-sama was also very tired since she gave an awfully fusty yell.
That wasn’t something strange. That was because, after they listened to my request while I was crying, they were busy healing Witige-san from the afternoon until now ——
In order to be able to secure the condition of Witige-san as soon as possible, they hurried to the infirmary room that was a detached from the milking room Hayes normally used.
Among the Valkyrie sisters, these two were particularly good at using healing magic. I didn’t think that it took this long to recover him even with the both of their power combined… No, to be able to recover him was a miracle itself.
However, according to Waltraute-sama, Witige-san injury was too heavy, so it might take some time for him to regain his consciousness.
In order for him to regain his usual self again, it would be better to stab him before the sun set. To us, Einherjars, that was a method that would be able to solve everything.
But……… That method wasn’t acceptable. Even if we can resurrect, we must not look down on our lives.
“It’s not good to die thoughtlessly. Since ‘It’s better for you to be alive.’.”
However —— I wasn’t aware of it at that time.
The wound that was dealt on this sword saint, was the sign of a unprecedented danger to the God Realm, “Asgard’…
“Yo, thanks for your hard work, Siegrune. And you also, Waltraute.”
In order to thanks them for their effort, I pushed a trolley with some drink on it toward them, at that moment, Loki arrived at ‘Valhalla Kitchen’.
He came once during the evening to look at the condition, after that he left while saying ‘I will be back’ but…
“Ah, Loki-sama…….and Odin-sama!? What are you doing here…and Thor-sama is also here!”
After noticing the company that came along together with Loki, Siegrune-sama who was lying on the sofa, jumped up from it forcefully.
I was also surprise by it. The reason for that was because in this canteen, various Gods that were important in the God Realm led by Odin-sama had gathered. The Giant Killer Thor-sama, The War Gods Frey-sama and Tyr-sama and also the Light God, Baldr-sama. As a bonus, even Frey-sama came while being accompany by the all the Valkyrie sisters….
What was happening, wasn’t this the exactly same group of peoples that appeared during ‘the incident on the attempt to collapse the World Tree’!
“Well, I think this is for assuring purpose, since all of them came together in a set. This is just one of my intuition………I had a bad feeling about this.”
“……….”
At that time——I felt a fearful and displeasure look toward me. The one who gave me that look was none other than Odin-sama.
“? Eh, um…”
What, what happened? I tried to avert my eye from it, but I was not sure as to why I was being watched. Then, the one who broke the dreadful silence was Loki.
“Siegrune, I’m sorry but there is something I want to ask you. The old man’s injury was caused by a blade…….there is no mistake on that, right?”
“Yes, he was cut diagonally from his shoulder with a single stroke from the front.”
“Hee, from the front. There is one more thing I would like to know… do you think it was a surprise attack?”
“A surprise attack? Hm… there is no problem with the old man waist this time, furthermore his beloved sword was drawn and laid on the ground… so there is a low chance that it was a surprise attack.”
While hearing the reply from Siegrune-sama, Loki let out a sigh that had a mixture of disappointment.
“Damn………It’s like what I expected. That means that this will be a very troublesome situation……”
Loki murmured while scratching his head. Not only Loki, all the Gods that had gathered here maintain their awkward silence.
That was right——Even Odin-sama, the supreme god of Aesir tribe, acted the same way.
“Um…about that….what is so bad about it?”
While I stiffened up my body due to the nervousness, I raised my font foot and asked Loki.
My persuasive that life was precious that was ignored up until now, but Witige-san was an Einherjar after all, which meant that it was a daily routine for them to train until they die…………
Was there really a need to get all worked up just because Witige-san suffered a grave injury?
“What so bad about it? That’s wrong, Sei. It’s not what, but everything about that is bad.”
While answering my question, Loki took out two twigs from his pocket. While hitting the twig against each other, Loki said this.
“Sei. You also aware of the true strength of the old man right?”
“Yes. Since I was also present when Witige-san was undergoing the selection test. The fight was earth-shattering even though he was facing Gerhi-sama as his opponent.”
“That’s right. But…at that time, both of them was not serious. And, if both of them were serious that time——“
Loki paused and crushed the twig on his left hand after snapping it. While he was in the middle of scattering the twig on the ground… he continued his sentence with an awfully cold voice.
“In all likelihood the one who will win is the old man.”
“Eh!?”
After I heard that, I looked toward Gerhi-sama while being surprise. After that, Gerhi-sama felt a bit disappointed and bit her lip, then she gave an affirmation on Loki words.
“It is exactly as what Loki-sama had said. I am still better than him in term of the martial arts but there is too much of a difference in our weapon performance. If during that time, he took out his Mimung which he was unwilling…there was no doubt that the winner is Witige-san.”
“The difference in weapon performance……is it?”
“That’s right. My lance, ‘Alder Zweig’ is not for appearance purpose, but the Mimung that was owned by Witige-san was a product that is much better than mine. The reason is because that is a masterpiece by his father, the legendary blacksmith Wayland, it is also the sister sword of the ‘Victory Sword’.”
“!!”
Mimung…. Is a sister of the Victory Sword…?
That…. That is a lie right? Before this, Gullinbursti told me that the Victory Sword was the key to control the Armageddon ‘Ragnarok’ in the form of a sword. To think that Witige-san’s Mimung was such an amazing sword!
“Since Witige had a poor waist, if he was able to demonstrate his characteristic, he will be showing his true strength that fit his title. In another words, the power that rival the human great hero which could slay dragons. To think that he suffers this grave injury while having a direct confrontation instead of a surprise attack and with his Mimung unsheathed… there is no mistake that his opponent is considerable skilled person. Which is why this is a threat toward us, the God tribe.”
“A power that exceed the great dragon slayer…”
I had heard about the story of the great dragon slayer during Witige-san selection test. From my actual combat with a dragon, I know better than anyone that a dragon was a monster that belongs to the greatest aerial type.
There wouldn’t be any problem even if Witige-san went and fight with Nidhogg alone, to think that he would lose in a direct confrontation. It seemed like a very skilled swordman was currently hiding somewhere in ‘Asgard’.
I see, I understand now. About how bad our situation was right now.
“To be able to defeat Witige-san……who could it be?”
I enquired about it openly——at that time. Odin-sama who was quiet up until now, loosened his folded arm and slowly opened his mouth.
“There is something I want to ask. Witige and the Einherjars, they are able to came back to life with a new body when the sun set. That means if he was deal the finishing blow before the sunset, he would be able to revive in perfectly good health by now. To think that he wasted that opportunity… who is the one at fault? Dark brown boar.”
“Whose fault…please wait a moment Odin-sama, I just…!”
Out of nowhere, the God Lance, Gungnir appeared and aimed toward my forehead. I felt a bloodlust which reminded me of all my regret that I had up until now.
Why… it was truth that it was me who pleaded Siegrune-sama to help Witige-san. But… Was the action that I took, a crime that would cause the Chief God to be angry?
The moment when the helpless me was overcome by the tremendous fear, a warm hand touched my head. What I saw when I looked up, was a gentle smile from Loki.
“Big Brother, there is no use to cry over spilled milk. If we did exactly as you said, we can ask Grandpa, who will revive energetically, about the culprit… but if we do that will you still have your dignity of a God? Why don’t you calm down a bit, ‘Valfodr’-san. When did the noble person who welcomes the Einherjars degrade into a demon?”
“……The kenning that is well known in the human realm, is it. If that the case… it seems that even I had lost some patience. The reason why I am so impatient about this is…”
Odin-sama lowered and shook his head after being pointed out by Loki. It seemed there was still a part of him where he was still willing to listen to his step-brother. I felt at ease now because the situation would be more troublesome if the two brothers started a quarrel.
“…I…thought that ‘the incident on the attempt to collapse the World Tree’ that happened recently is ‘Ragnarok’. But Mimir denied my thought easily. The Armageddon, ‘Ragnarok’ had not yet started. If such a large scale incident is not even that……. Then what is ‘Ragnarok’ exactly? To be frank……I’m actually quite frightened.”
Odin-sama threw away his dignity as the Chief God and revealed his timidity. It seemed that it might not be necessary for me to tell him to apologize for all the action that he did out of anger up until now.
But my thought was, there was no shame for you to be afraid. It’s alright, since Odin-sama had a lot of reliable children. If we work together, we would definitely be able to overcome ‘Ragnarok’ regardless of what it is.
“Tch…..It seemed that I am still a novice. Hey father, lift up your face! It doesn’t matter if it’s a dragon, a dragon slayer or even a giant! Since I, the thunder god, Thor-sama will crush everyone that dare oppose the Aesir tribe!”
Thor-sama smacked his thick chest and the first one to speak sharply. Not only him, I was sure all the members present also feel the same way.
“……Okay! In the name of the Chief God, Odin, I order all of you to find out the culprit of this incident first! Then, if the culprit is a Giant……. this would be identified as “Ragnarok”! Assemble the army here and sound the horn, ‘Gjallarhorn’!!”
Under the order of Odin-sama who had shaken his timidity, the Aesir Gods and rushed out with a force that could thrust through the sky.
We’d immediately know who the culprit was if Witige-san woke up. But we couldn’t wait for that time as the enemies of the gods, had already begun to take action.
Although I don’t know what was their purpose, but it wouldn’t let them do whatever they want. I would definitely expose his identity!
“Oh, it’s so bright! Ah……I see, it’s already morning.”
As I stepped out to ‘Valhalla’ energetically, the bright red sun rose from the west side of the sky caused me to narrow my eye. Ah~, it seemed that we ended up staying all night.
As a model student, I usually didn’t stay up late, so to be honest my body felt a bit sluggish. The magic power that was used to activate ‘Gullveig’ yesterday should had been recover bit by bit but if possible I didn’t really want to do any rash thing… it would be best if it didn’t end up like that.
“Yo Sei. If it was you, what is your plan now?”
Loki followed me as it was something natural and asked. While I suppress my body from being listless, at the mean time I informed him about the action that I planned to do.
“I will start by looking for Ratatoskr first. If it was that squirrel, I have a feeling that he have some useful information. Maybe he knows who the culprit was like last time.”
“As expected. In fact, I also think the same way ……but for some reason I can’t sense the presence of that fellow……… Oh, Brynhildr! Help me for a moment. If you make an announcement that you will do a naked dance, I believe that I will be able to catch that fellow.”
After seeing Brynhildr-sama who came out of Valhalla a little later than we did, Loki made that bold proposal.
He…he said it!! As expected of Loki! He managed to say something that I can’t even say in such a calm manner! I am so excited! I am amazed!
“Lo…Loki-sama…that… really…!”
A, huh? Brynhildr-sama~ is looking at Loki with an expression as if the world had ended? Ah~, it seemed like Loki will be hated for real now. I will take back what I said just now, I would be better if I didn’t admire Loki.
“Hey, Brynhildr? Wait a moment, that is definitely a joke just now? Do you understand?
“That’s not it, Loki-sama! Instead of that, please look at that!”
Brynhildr-sama ignored the excuse from Loki and pointed toward the west sky with her hand trembling.
“…? Isn’t that the morning sun? What is the matter with that?”
That was right. I also thought the same way as Loki. I wondered what was the reason for Brynhildr-sama to be that flustered?
“If that is the morning sun… then why is it coming from the west side of the sky?”
We titled our head while we were informed of that reply. The moment when the shocking truth reached our ear, Loki and I looked toward the sun immediately.
“…that’s a lie right? It exactly as what Brynhildr-sama said, that is the west! Isn’t that strange!? That is because isn’t it a given that the morning sun should rise from the east sky! If it that, it’s exactly like an evening sun!”
“…..I’m astonished. I’m not sure what is the reason that it becomes this way… but this might be a major incident that we have to be serious?”
Loki was dripping with cold sweat as if it was telling the seriousness of this incident. By chance, ‘Asgard’… no. There might already be something happening that can shock all of the ‘Nine worlds’.
At this moment, it would be better if we used the high seat of Odin-sama who could look onto the world to grasp the current situation. When I wanted to suggest this to Loki —- that voice could be heard.
“This is bad! The Einherjars… the Einherjars are missing from their dorm!”
At the entrance of the main build building of ‘Valhalla’. Gerhi-sama came flying in with a terrible expression and stopped us who were planning to search for the culprit.
The Einherjars are missing from their dorm? What does that mean, I always woke up at this time for my morning jogging but the Einherjars should still be sleeping at this time.
“All of them… that is not possible right. That means… hey, Gerhilde, it’s a bit troublesome but can you go take a look at the practice field?”
“…No…Loki-sama. There is no need for me to do that…”
Gerhi-sama declined the request from Loki with a tremble voice.
Then, before she finished her sentence, Loki face changed to a grim expression.
There was a sharp look toward my back. When I thought that I didn’t want to turn behind, it seemed that it was not necessary.
“I surprise to see the Aesir Gods here. Good morning.”
The voice was the sign that caused us to turn behind. At the huge space in front of entrance of the main building of ‘Valhalla’, out of nowhere there was a large amount of Einherjars that filled out the space.
The military force with their backs faced toward the morning evening sun, all of them were well equipped with their armors and it seemed their fighting spirit were scatter all around the place. This was the usual thing when they were in training, thus, there was nothing strange about it.
If that was fighting spirit…. wasn’t being pointed against us that it.
“Yo, you guys. It might be my misunderstanding, so I will ask you this. What are they trying to imitate?”
Loki questioned toward the opposite military force that split up the turbulence atmosphere.
The reply filled with arrogance was from the voice of a guy.
“Imitation….. No no, I don’t understand what you mean. We are going to do our practice as usual, under the order of the Almighty God.”
In the center of the army encircling ‘Valhalla’, a voice came from top of the magnificent chariot, I believed that this was the voice of the instigators of this incident.
…Huh…eh, wait a moment. Is that a lie? This voice…Don’t tell me…!
“Why…Beruze, san…?”
After seeing the appearance of the instigators, I became speechless.
No…….It wasn’t like I didn’t think about the possibility of this. But it just that I didn’t think that it would lead to this.
“By the way, is Odin-sama there? I plan to have a short discussion with him before our practice …but it seem that he was not in ‘Valaskjálf’. That’s why I thought that he might be here.”
“If you are looking for me, I’m here. So… this seems quite impressive if you only plan to have a discussion with me, human.”
In order to respond to the call from Beruze-san, Odin-sama appeared from the inside of ‘Valhalla’. Even though they had not even started their dialogue, judging from the atmosphere of this situation… I only had a bad premonition about it.
“Please pardon this impressiveness. Since from now onward, we will have an actual battle in the form of practice. It’s just that… for today, that might be a ‘practice’ or an ‘actual battle’ depending on your actions?”
“… I don’t like conversation that is indirect. Why don’t you just tell us your request right away?”
“It’s a big help that you are cooperating. Then let me get straight to the point… ‘We, Einherjars demand for a better treatment.’”
“A better treatment? This is really a strange demand. You, Einherjars should already have a special treatment? Have you gotten sick of continuously dying every day?”
“Tch…….. You really are looking down on us. I am not talking about that, we are not dissatisfied about the fact that we need to die every day. But, we cannot see any benefit from dying every day. Even the boar Einherjar, Saehrimnir had gotten an achievement for defeating a dragon? Then we… the human Einherjars also want to have an opportunity! That is because I — had already defeated a dragon.”
Beruze-san, defeated a dragon…? In other word, the current Beruze-san, had the same power as the great hero of the dragon slayer and Witige-san?
“You guys………What is your basis for saying this?”
“Do you still not understand about it? Odin. The one who cut down the old man Witige… was me.”
How, how can it be…….impossible! The culprit who attacked Witige-san was Mr. Beruze!? I can’t believe it, why did he do that…..!
“Hey, Odin. You might not remember that you had ignored me, since I had already mentioned my request for a numerous times. But sadly I was driven out every time, on top of that I was rejected at the front door! I’m totally not fine that we aren’t given a chance to earn our match and we’re keep until our deaths! And the guys that had all gathered here shared the same idea as I.”
Beruze-san opened his hands wide on top of the chariot.
Although I didn’t think that all of the Einherjars were here, but the soldiers who followed him looked like an endless army.
At the time when the Einherjars was panicking after Witige-san was slashed, I thought there were the people who rose to action wasn’t this large. But… in just one night, this much of people had agreed with Beruze-san.
Before this, I had thought numerous times that it wouldn’t be good for this to continue… but it wasn’t good to delay this problem anymore. The dissatisfaction of the Einherjar, needed to be settle immediately or else it would turn out to be something big…!
“Then, do choose one, Odin. Accept our request and give us honor or reject it and be taken away our honor… you just had to choose one out of these two.”
“… There is only one answer for that from the beginning. Do you expect me to pat on the pet dog that bites its own owner?”
“As expected. I was aware of that, but it seems our master is a bit arrogant. But… our side is also similar to our owner, that we are evenly as arrogant. Okay, since the negotiations had broken, I will have you to get off your throne. …Now it’s time to begin the Gods slaying.”
Beruze-san held the big sword on his back and swung the top as if he was giving a signal, then the sky turned backward. In that moment… to not fail our expectation, we saw an unbelievable scenery.
“How, how can it…Loki! That is…!”
“Argh… for the impossible things to happen…Although I did suggest this before, to think that I could see this again so soon. For them to do the phenomenal that went against nature, ‘the Endless sunset’…! ”
The sun that went back and forth on the horizon in a fast pace. There was only one possibility behind that movement, the sun goddess, Sola-sama had already fallen to the clutches of the Einherjars.
Under this situation, for me and the Einherjars who could revive at sunset, it was now a fact that we had become immortal.
“Hold it there, I forgot to say this, Odin. It’s true that I was the one who slashed the old man Witige… but do you think that I am the only one who possesses that strength? All of the two hundred thousand members of us here— had polished our skill during the death match under your command. Kukuku…. Hahaha.”
While leaving his laughter filled with craziness, Beruze-san turned his chariot to the opposite direction. While commanding some of his follower, he left the frontline. At that moment, the leftover military force scatter and in just a moment, they surround us who were in ‘Valhalla’.
“You fools! I will make mincemeat out you all!”
“Hold it, Thor! Their movement, seems a bit strange!”
Odin-sama stopped Thor-sama who was filled with vigor. After leaving the place to the pair of the Military God, Frey-sama and Tyr-sama, Odin-sama gathered the others to a hall in the building and get into a posture to hold themselves there.
“Hey, father what is the meaning of this! It will be over if we just kill them!!”
“Use your head, Thor. What will happen, if you massacre all of them there? They could revive as many time as they want. Our enemy is not the number that you see now.”
“Is that so! That I will massacre them no matter how many time it is!”
“We are facing a military force that which every one of them is capable of slaying a dragon? It won’t be easy even for someone like you. It will be a different case if you had unlimited magic power and stamina like them though.”
“Tch… it seems like it won’t be that easy as I though…”
Odin-sama who analyzed the situation calmly, tried to calm down Thor-sama who was fired up. But due to that, my heart was frozen with the feeling of despair. That was because to face such an outrageous as person as an enemy, what was the right thing that should we do…
“Well, there is no need to worry. The fact that they are using numbers to come after us means that they are also afraid of us too. Regardless of the number of times they are able to revive, the fact that they can suffer from dying still remain.”
While saying that, Odin-sama looked down toward me with both of his eye. I feel like he is asking me for a confirmation, so I gave a small nod as an answer.
“But, it’s not like they don’t have any plan. Since they were able to do all of this up until now… and they purposely avoid being on the offensive to win, I am pretty sure that they have prepared an ultimate trump card.”
The trump card of the Einherjars… that meant, there was still something that was much worse than the current situation?
Two hundred thousand dragon slayer, on top of that, they were immortals. Putting aside the preparation they’d done to gather that large amount of battle potential, the method for them to win without being on the offensive… that was…
“What they desire is… our side to perish on our own?”
“Ho? I didn’t think of that. Please let me apology for my rudeness just now, Saehrimnir. As expected of the boar that caught Loki attention.”
Woah, I had not received any praised directly by that Odin-sama since the battle with Nidhogg. Due to the joy, I smiled unexpectedly but I thought that this special treatment was the reason that caused the Einherjars to rebel, it seemed a bit troublesome…
“Just as Saehrimnir said, I believe that they desire the Gods to perish by themselves. No matter how much power they have, they are still human after all. In front of us, Gods, the ability to revive unlimited time, only seem like the ability of dying unlimited time.”
That was true, it was exactly as what Odin-sama said. That reason that I was able to win Nidhogg that day was because there was a possibility for me to win if I kept continues my reckless attack. To face an enemy that was impossible to win no matter how you attack, the tactic of reviving unlimited times was just like the tactic of being torturing unlimited times only.
“But… it’s a simple matter for us to defeat them completely. If the situation where they are to seal our specialty, then the army of dragon slayer will pose a threat to us, Gods. Our weakness that could lead to that situation is none other than the—- the fruit of youth, ‘the Golden Apple’.”
“Tch… is that the case. Since the tactic of reviving unlimited time will lead to a long battle, other than me who is half immortal, the other people will begin to be ‘Old’. Please feel free to think about what will happen after that.”
“That’s right, Loki. The people that is outside at this moment might be a diversion unit that plan to hold us in here. If that is the case, our first priority is to secure the apple. But… that won’t be something easy. Go and have a look outside.”
Odin-sama said that and pointed to the window while looking at the outside. Thus, everyone shifted their sight to the outside, the unpleasant scenery that was interweaved by the continuous sunset was still ongoing.
“It’s needless to say that the goddess of the sun, Sola had already fallen to the hand of the enemy, and when I think that it was a convenience that the continuous sunset had started, they should had already taken over my throne, ‘Hlidskjalf’ and gotten a hold of the battle situation in a very detailed manner. Moreover, since we are unable to find Ratatoskr, there is a very high possibility that he is acting as a relay for them. Since these people are so careful up until now, it’s impossible that they will just leave the apple keeper, ‘Iðunn’ alone. It’s a given that they will prepare a fierce resistance.”
“Tch… then what should we do, father.”
This was a situation where we had lost all of our initiatives. It would be difficult for us to overturn this situation. While everyone was looking at each other while holding their breath, Odin-sama said this majestically.
“Of course, we will launch our counter attack. But we don’t have much time to spare. The youth effect of the apple should last for a week… but it had been a few days since we had distributed it, the aging effect might start as early as tomorrow for some people.”
Eh, the aging effect will start so fast!? Hold it, if this going on, it meant that there was a chance that Brynhildr-sama will become an old lady!? No, perhaps this meant that I could see Brynhildr-sama when she was an old lady!?
That’s okay, come! That was because I had already made a vow. The vow was ‘For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, I will love thee, respect thee, comfort thee, help thee, until death do us part, I devote sincerely to this sacred marriage vow’! (Pending)
… This was bad, to think that I was this excited.
Well, as you can see, I was totally fine with it, but I didn’t think that Brynhildr-sama wanted to expose that appearance to anyone. If there was anything that I could be of help, I would try my best to support it!
While I shook my head in hope of shaking off the wicked though of mine, I concentrated back to Odin-sama as he was giving out a new order.
“I will start with the top priority of the strategy… Thor, I will leave you to go and rescue ‘Iðunn’. But the enemies here will be able to predict our action immediately. If that is the case, then the fellow outside won’t remain silence. I will let these two persons, Frey and Tyr to continue with the defense of ‘Valhalla’. Then, we have to stop the continuous sunset and rescue Sola at the same time. I will leave that to Baldr… but the problem is that the enemy will focus on Thor and Baldr, so we would need someone to raid their enemy stronghold but…”
Odin-sama made a pause of his sentence there, and glimpsed toward Loki. Ah, it was pointless since Loki paid no attention to the glimpse, it seemed like he didn’t have any motivation at all.
“Loki… you are the only one left.”
“I’m the only one left!? Isn’t it better for you to go by yourself!”
“I am that, the last wall to defend Freya-chan. That explains why I am unable to move from here.”
“Hee, is that so. Then can I have a replacement?”
“That won’t be good enough, there is no need for you to worry.”
“It’s not like I am worrying! This foolish brother of mine is too stubborn!”
All of a sudden this foolish argument started, but due to that scene, a small laughter can be observed in this tense situation. I wasn’t sure if Odin-sama expected this but I believed that it was a necessary to have this gentle moment in this time.
“Come on… if this goes on, I will become a mood maker instead. I am doing this while being conscious of it. But please let me be a bodyguard for time, okay?”
“Fine. Now I will assign the Valkyrie to support each of the team, so please wait for moment.”
I was startled for a moment when I heard the word bodyguard but there was no notification from Loki this time either.
Since I was chosen without having a chance to think about it for the incidence last time… even if there was a reason for it, to be honest I didn’t think I was appropriate. I was already sick of being the main character of a heroic tale.
“Well, it’s not like it would be good to do nothing… Hey Loki, is there anything that I am able to be of use to?”
“Oh, I see, do you want to come along if you are bored?”
“No no no! I prefer another task instead!”
“He he he! It’s a joke, a joke. After all, our opponent this time is a dragon slayer after all, so it’s pointless even if you appear in your dragon form and you will be a sitting duck in your boar form.
“I, I am able to transform into anything…”
I was shocked when I tried to diverse my transformation. If I used the rune of ‘mannaz’, it was possible for me to be a duck or a spring onion.
“Well, since that is the case, I hope you can stay here obediently. If you are bored then, let see… you can try to ease the people at your dorm or go and look after the old man too.”
After saying that, Loki patted me on my head and joined the strategy meeting of Odin-sama.
I see… that’s right. If I thought about it, there was tons of stuff that I could do here while being left out.
The right person for the right situation. I heeded Loki advice and in order to look over Witige-san, I went toward the medical room that is in of the inner part of ‘Valaskjálf’.
“Please excuse me for my intrusion~… huh!? Witige-san, you had already awakened!”
I thought that he was still asleep, so I tried to hide my presence while entering the room but I shouted due to the shock. Well this was something that can’t be help since Witige-san who should still be in bed had already regained his consciousness.
As expected of the legendary ‘Black sword saint’, he was train in a different way when compared to a normal human.
“Ah… isn’t this, Sei-dono. What’s this, for what reason… am I sleeping here…?”
Even though he had awakened, the injury that Witige-san suffered was quite major. While having a hazy consciousness, his voice when he spoke seem quite frail, I transformed into my human form and hold him without any second thought.
“It would be better if you don’t move. Witige-san was asleep for the whole night after you suffer a horrible injury.”
“I am injured…? I see… the wound that I suffered, it’s already a miracle that I didn’t die from this. It seems I was given a cordial nursing. That’s right, Sei-dono, who is the one who gave me this wound…? That right… this wound, is from that fellow…! Please inform me, Sei-dono! That fellow… where is Beruze-san!?”
“That, that…”
I hesitated to speak after I heard that question. It wasn’t a question that could be answer easily. That is because the one who slashed Witige-san was none other than Beruze-san.
Since the case where he twisted his waist, the two of them had become so close as if they were father and son, I had seen a numerous times when the both of them were getting close to each other. But to think that such a thing happened… I still couldn’t believe it after I heard it with my own eye right now.
“I beg of you, please informed me if you are knowledgeable about it! That fellow, it seems like that fellow is stirring something big! I had to stop him no matter what!”
