“Fufufufu. Ya see-dasu na~, this be an important mission only the earth hero can accomplish-dasu.” (Sasae)

For some reason, she began speaking with a boasting tone.

“That be right, it was in a regular morning. Woken up by the cry of the roosters, I was about to head to work on the fields…when it happened. The weed be growin’ pretty thickly, so I be thinkin’ about cutting it down, ya know.” (Sasae)

“You are going pretty far back in your story huh…” (Celestis)

Celestis-chan, who was listening by my side, fiddled her hair with an irritated expression.

“To begin with, our Earth Church be standing on the motto of living together with nature! Plowing the land, and wakin’ for the land. That be the most basics of a human, and this be the way of living that brings about good fortune, and this be what Mother Earth God-sama preaches-dasu!” (Sasae)

“And she regressed to even deeper fundamental structure?!” (Celestis)

But that stupid-cuteness of hers charmed Mirack-chan even more.

“That’s why, I -the earth hero- can’t slacken on the work at the fields-dasu! With each swing, each time the hoe be hitting the ground, I give mah gratitude to Mother Earth God-sama. Once I be finished with separating the fields, the earth be giving me back in the form of beautiful crops-dasu!” (Sasae)

“U-Uhm, I understand already, so, about that oracle the Mother Earth God-sama gave you…” (Karen)

“Ah, right-dasu na! I was suddenly called by the Founder-sama and attended the Earth Grand Crimson Palace still in mah work clothes-dasu yo! What they told me that time be—” (Sasae)

“…”

Eh?

This girl stopped in the most important part.

“—!! Close! I was almost caught in a leading question! The city people are truly good at fooling people-dasu yo! But it be okay! I didn’t crock a single fly about the important bits-dasu!” (Sasae)

So she noticed!

But, we didn’t do any sort of leading though. This country girl is seriously tough.

Even though she spills so much out of her mouth, the parts that we really want to hear, she guards them with pinpoint accuracy.

“…You say that but…” (Celestis)

At this moment, Celestis-chan, who was finally out of her dumbstruck state, joined the conversation.

“You -the earth hero- stepping inside the headquarters of a different church of yours, moreover, without permission; do you understand how big that is? The heroes are in basis the face of the Church, and their strongest fighting force. It is like the tip of the sword. And if that tip of the sword were to enter the another territory on their own whim, it can be taken as a declaration of war.” (Celestis)

Hearing this, I looked back at my own past actions and thought ‘I really did some outrageous things huh’.

“Moreover, you even created a small commotion in the city. In order to vindicate that you hold no hostility, don’t you think there’s the need to explain the reason why you came all the way here? But well, if you really just came here to pick a fight, you wouldn’t have any reason to explain anyways.” (Celestis)

“And, who are ya-dasu ka?” (Sasae)

Even when being pushed with such threatening tone, Sasae-chan was still going at her own pace.

“Guh… Can’t be helped. Even if I am an idol, the popularity wave of Celes-tan still hasn’t reached the countryside huh. Fine, I will grant you the honor. I am the water hero, Celestis. And while I’m at it, that muscle lesbian there is the fire hero, Mirack.” (Celestis)

“Did you just insult me real hard as an afterthought?” (Mirack)

Everyone ignored the complaint of Mirack-chan.

“Hoheh~, then, everyone here is a hero-dasu ka? This be the first time I see the other heroes-dasu yo.” (Sasae)

“I am also surprised at this first encounter of ours. To think the earth hero was a loli that was so difficult to hold a conversation with.” (Celestis)

Celestis-chan, please don’t lose your composure, okay?

The other party is still a child after all.

“But but, this is the city of the Light Church-san, right-dasu na? Why are the water and fire heroes here-dasu?” (Sasae)

“Nuguh!!” (Celestis)

“I be an outsider, but isn’t the water and fire heroes the same-dasu ka? Why are ya here-dasu? Ya here to pick a fight-dasu ka?” (Sasae)

Sasae-chan looks as if she doesn’t understand the conversation, and yet, she stabs at the parts that hurt.

“About that, I will explain.” (Mirack)

Is what Mirack-chan says as she tags in.

“Celestis and I were invited here by the light hero Karen. That’s why there’s no problem at all.” (Mirack)

“You were invited here-dasu ka?!” (Sasae)

“That’s right. We three had a lot going on between us, but now, we have formed an alliance, and are incredibly friendly with each other. That’s why, even if we enter the other’s territory, it won’t turn into a fight!” (Mirack)

“That be incredible-dasu! So movin’-dasu! Can heroes become friends-dasu ka?!” (Sasae)

“Of course. If you feel like it, we will be happy to welcome you -the earth hero- into our hero alliance!” (Mirack)

“Seriously-dasu ka?! I don’t understand this hero alliance thing, but it sounds hella cool-dasu! Please let me join-dasu!” (Sasae)

“Fine, we won’t close our doors to someone that wishes to join!!” (Mirack)

And so, like this, Sasae-chan became our comrade.

…Hm?

“In that case, secrets shouldn’t be kept between friends-dasu na! I be tellin’ ya why I am here-dasu!!” (Sasae)

Eh?

We had so much trouble making her talk, and yet, now she is so easily willing to…

Mirack-chan turns her head in my direction and gives me a thumbs up.

It can’t be helped that she is feeling proud of it. She even made progress in the matter of the hero alliance that I spoke of not that long ago.

“Mirack-chi, why are you the one making a breakthrough in the situation? So nauseating.” (Celestis)

“I accomplished something, and yet, what’s with that treatment?!” (Mirack)

Celestis-chan, can you stop stirring things up already?

“Now then, heroes from other lands! Once again, mah name is Gonbee Sasae, the earth hero-dasu! I be inexperienced, but please take care of me-da!” (Sasae)

“You got it. If you have any problems, you can come consult me anytime you want!” (Mirack)

“Hah…can’t be helped. She is cute, so I will welcome her.” (Celestis)

Mirack-chan and Celestis-chan were able to accept this super sudden turn of events.

And I…

“Sasae-chan, here as well. I am the light hero that protects this Apollon City, name is Kourin Karen.” (Karen)

“Yes-nasu! Light hero-san be a damn good lookin’ babe-dasu na!” (Sasae)

We exchange a light handshake.

“So, returning to the original topic, Sasae-chan, why did you come to Apollon City? Coming all the way from the Earth Church to the Light Church. Did you have something you wanted to tell us?” (Karen)

“Right-dasu! Now that it be come to this, I would like Karen-sa to cooperate as well-dasu! To accomplish the mission given to me by Mother Earth God-sama!” (Sasae)

And then, Sasae-chan revealed the objective of why she came to Apollon City.

“To subjugate the personification of the evil Dark God Entropy, Kuromiya Haine-dasu!” (Sasae)

• 107: Wicked Oracle

For a second, I doubted my ears.

“Eh? Uhm…sorry. Can you repeat that?” (Karen)

“As I said, I be told to erase the personification of the evil Dark God Entropy, Kuromiya Haine-dasu! That’s what I was told in the oracle of Mother Earth God-sama-dasu!” (Sasae)

As I thought, I really didn’t hear wrong.

But, I couldn’t understand it at all.

I was really familiar with the name that was spoken by Sasae-chan who I had just met today.

“?!”

When I turn my head, I could see the bewildered expressions of Mirack-chan and Celestis-chan.

“What is the meaning of this?” (Mirack)

“I don’t know. We should ask this girl in more detail.” (Celestis)

It is as Celestis-chan said.

We decided on listening to a bit more of what Sasae-chan has to say.

“I was called by the Founder-sama and was told this-dasu.” (Sasae)

Summing up the story of Sasae-chan, the Earth Founder-sama got an oracle from the Mother Earth God, Mantle-sama. And then, in that oracle, he was instructed to erase the Dark God Entropy, Haine-san.

“According to the oracle, Entropy apparently be an incredibly dangerous and scary God-dasu. And this God be disguised as a human and slipped into this world-dasu.” (Sasae)

‘If we let it be, the world will fall into calamity for sure’, being told this via the Founder, she was ordered to head to the place where the Dark God Entropy is, the place where Haine-san is.

“And I, carrying this important task, departed from Ishtar Blaze-no dasu! The oracle said that Kuromiya Haine be in Apollon City, so I headed straight here-dasu!” (Sasae)

Sasae-chan says eloquently.

“I was scared of the people outside, so I thoroughly bounced all settlements-dasu! Advancing through pathless paths, tearing off the bark of trees, eating boiled grass, and after an unwavering month, I finally arrived at Apollon City-dasu!” (Sasae)

“What a wild life!” (Mirack)

“Is there any meaning in going so far to avoid people?!” (Celestis)

Mirack-chan and Celestis-chan were shocked by how harsh the journey of Sasae-chan was.

But that wasn’t the issue I was bothered with right now.

“Finally arriving at mah destination, I be thinking of how to search fer Kuromiya Haine-dasu yo. But, am glad-dasu. Meeting such nice people. If ye can, please help m—” (Sasae)

“That’s a lie!!”

The loud shout I let out made Sasae-chan shrink her shoulders.

“What you said is all a lie! There’s no way Entropy-sama would be an evil God! There’s no way Haine-san would be scheming something evil! It is obvious that it is all a lie! Did you come all the way here from Ishtar Blaze just to spread those delusions?! That’s just way too much of a pain!” (Karen)

“Wait, Karen! Calm down!” (Mirack)

Being seized by Mirack-chan, my words finally cut off.

But at that time, as if natural, the expression of Sasae-chan froze.

“Wa, Karen-chi, don’t go losing your steam on a little girl you just met. Well, it is not like I don’t understand how you feel though.” (Celestis)

“I am sorry… But, there’s no way Haine-san is the enemy of the world. Something like that is impossible. Mirack-chan and Celestis-chan understand that as well, right?” (Karen)

The two know Haine-san in person.

They should know about the many people that he has protected.

“Don’t worry, Karen. We also don’t think of him as such an evil individual.” (Mirack)

“That’s right. As a hero, I am pretty confident in my eye for people. Haine-chi may have a bit of a sadistic side, but he is in basis a good person.” (Celestis)

I was a bit relieved by the words of those two, and regain my calm.

“But then, why did the Earth Church give out such an oracle? That’s the issue here.” (Karen)

“Right. Since the name of the Dark God Entropy has come out, I can’t think the existence of that oracle is a lie in itself… Leaving aside for now the heavily retortable part about Haine-chi being the personification of the Dark God.” (Celestis)

An oracle is a core factor in representing the holiness of the five Churches.

The words of a God can be directly told to people. The only ones who can receive those oracles are the Founders of their respective church.

It seems each Church has different ways to receive the oracle, but the contents of it are varied as well.

Predicting the future correctly, telling ways to counter disasters that humans wouldn’t be able to deal with, and it is said that there’s even times when they are told the weaknesses of the enemy’s army in war.

Since the early periods of history, the reason why the five Churches were able to grow bigger in influence was because they were able to control information. Because of this, even if an oracle are seen as proof of the Gods having a direct connection with the Church, an oracle is also something absolute.

“But, if that oracle of the Earth Church is true, then there’s a point that bothers me.” (Celestis)

“And that is?” (Karen)

It seems Celestis-chan has noticed something. I ask her about it as if clinging to it.

“If it is as what the oracle says, that Haine-chi is an existence that is overwhelmingly dangerous to this world, then why is that danger only being warned by Mantle?” (Celestis)

“Ah.”

“If it is an evil existence that can throw the world into predicament, the other Gods would also give out warnings and raise the awareness of it. But, at the very least, an oracle like that hasn’t been received from my Water Church. What about you girls?” (Celestis)

Celestis-chan’s gaze moves equally between Mirack-chan and I.

“I haven’t heard of it either. Thinking about the personality of our Founder, I don’t think they would hide anything.” (Mirack)

“In my Light Church too! Yorishiro-sama is a person that would say things that feel like they have a hidden meaning, but…but when it is about Haine-san, there’s no lie!” (Karen)

I-Isn’t that right, Yorishiro-sama?

“In that case, it really is strange that only the Earth Church received an oracle. Hey, Sasae-chan, can you please tell us your story in more detail? First, when was the specific time this oracle was received…….” (Celestis)

Celestis-chan turned the conversation to Sasae-chan, and, at that moment, she noticed the discomforting atmosphere.

The atmosphere that Sasae-chan was forming, it was a completely different color from the ones until now.

“…Liar-dasu.” (Sasae)

“Eh?”

“As I thought, the city people be all crying wolf-dasu! Baiting ya with kind words. I thought ye were people I could trust, so I told ye about the story of Founder-sama, and yet, ye all called me a liar!! As I thought, the city people be all scary-dasu! Can’t trust ‘em-dasu! I ain’t stayin’ in a place like this!!” (Sasae)

Saying this, Sasae-chan runs and pushes the door as if tackling it.

“Sasae-chan?!” (Karen)

“Crap! After her!!” (Mirack)

“No other choice. Good grief!!” (Celestis)

Mirack-chan, Celestis-chan, and I chased after Sasae-chan.