I'm a Goddess to Be Devoured by the Protagonist - Chapter 40

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 40
—Gasp.
A startled intake of breath came from inside the wardrobe.
—You need not worry. I am not infected.
—Click.
At Sirius’s words, the wardrobe door swung open, and the person within stepped out.
From the priestly robes embroidered with stylized flames, the figure appeared to be a priest of the Fire Temple.
—Ah, gods above. Thank you.
The moment the priest saw Sirius, relief flooded his features. He had recognized a formidable presence at once.
Here was someone still giving thanks to gods long dead.
Instead of thanking the one who had saved him, he was thanking a deity that no longer existed.
This figure had not appeared in the original Mansion. It seemed the altered timing of Sirius’s visit had changed this person’s fate as well.
—What might I call my rescuer?
—Sirius.
—I am Antares. I thank you for saving me.
Antares bowed his head in gratitude.
At last, thanks had found their proper recipient.
—This place is dangerous. I will escort you to the Front Gate of the Mansion.
—Ah, I am grateful. But if I may ask—would it be possible for me to investigate this place together with you? I am but a humble priest, but I can use magic. I will not be a burden.
So he was not merely a priest, but one versed in magic.
For some reason, he had hidden himself when venturing here alone, and now that a powerful figure in Sirius had appeared, he seemed eager to continue alongside him.
I pressed my senses upon him to gauge his abilities.
[Will]
[When maintaining faith, all abilities are moderately enhanced.]
[This ability is currently active.]
Even in such circumstances, he maintained his faith. Despite his delicate appearance, he was clearly a person of resolve.
—Very well, let us proceed together. However, we shall minimize combat where possible.
—Yes, understood.
Sirius accepted Antares as his companion.
The priest Antares had become a party member.
—Grraahhh…….
An Infected shambled toward them from the distance, its movements sluggish and clumsy. Its dimmed vision seemed unable to perceive them.
—Let us hide behind that large structure. Until it passes.
Sirius whispered. Antares nodded and did as instructed.
—We must not make loud sounds. Their decaying bodies may fail to detect quiet noises, but the probability of detecting louder ones is high.
As Sirius explained, Antares’s eyes widened in surprise.
—How do you know so much about them?
—There is someone who has taught me of such things.
—Really? I was told no one has ever left this place.
Sirius did not answer. He needed to conceal my identity.
Antares merely tilted his head and, assuming there was some circumstance, did not press further.
The two continued their exploration of the Mansion. Still, no Dungeon was visible.
—Crack! Crunch!
Strange sounds drew their attention—the Infected were tearing into one another. It was a sight best left unseen, and both averted their gaze.
—Ahhh…….
At Antares’s pained sigh, Sirius whispered softly, asking:
—Why did you ever enter such a place?
—I had my reasons.
Antares laughed awkwardly.
The two continued their exploration, each keeping their secrets hidden.
Second floor. The Dungeon lay within the Central Hall.
Unlike the Mansion, which was tainted by the Dungeon’s presence, the Dungeon itself was unremarkable. All that remained was to shatter the Indigo Gemstone within it.
Sirius entered the Dungeon alone.
—Shatter!
As the gemstone broke, a Skill Scroll burst forth from it.
[Aura Blade]
[Channeling Aura transforms it into a projectile attack.]
It was a skill that granted the power to launch Aura itself as a weapon.
In the original story, Sirius had taken far too long to master Aura-weaving to ever acquire this skill.
As Sirius emerged from the Dungeon, he spoke:
My business here is finished.
Oh, that’s a relief.
Antares relaxed, but concern quickly shadowed his face.
But this passage doesn’t lead upward, does it?
No. It’s too dangerous.
I see. Then we should part ways here. What I’m searching for isn’t in this place.
That was when it happened.
Crack-crack-crack.
The wall behind Antares crumbled inward, pierced by an indigo tendril that tore through the stone.
A shrill cry tore from the creature’s throat.
The Infected lunged toward Antares and the broken wall.
Sirius struck with the flat of his blade instead of the edge. The Infected still bore traces of its former humanity, and he could not bring himself to cut.
Gurgles and rasps escaped its mangled throat.
Its gaze locked onto Sirius—drawn by the sharp sound of the blow.
I’m sorry! This is my fault—!
It isn’t your fault.
It was only misfortune.
Sirius assumed a combat stance while Antares drew the Staff from his belt, pointing the ornamented top toward the creature.
Splash.
Water surged from the ornament in a swift arc, knocking the Infected backward and sprawling it to the ground.
Impressive—his magic ability shows real promise. Though now hardly seems the moment for admiration.
My specialty is fire magic, but I can’t use it here.
Antares smiled awkwardly as he spoke.
The man could joke even in circumstances like these.
The Listener of Wishes Drawing Straight Lines urgently gestures toward your back.
Thud.
Another Infected fell to Sirius’s blade.
Thank you.
What?
Never mind.
When Sirius spoke to empty air, Antares grew confused—then let it go.
It was easier with someone who didn’t demand explanations for things left unsaid.
The Listener of Wishes Drawing Straight Lines says a nod of thanks would suffice.
That won’t do.
This time he spoke quietly.
But Antares, standing close, must have heard regardless.
Lord help me. Please listen. If Antares thinks I’m strange, what then?
After felling every Infected in the vicinity, the situation finally settled.
The thought surfaced unbidden: if you kill all the witnesses, it’s called assassination.
This place seems more dangerous than expected, so I’ll lend you my aid.
At Sirius’s words, Antares offered his thanks.
They climbed the stairs leading to the third floor.
The Listener of Wishes Drawing Straight Lines warns you to be careful.
I’ll keep that in mind.
What did your… companion say?
To be careful—the third floor is dangerous.
How could you possibly… No, never mind. You needn’t answer.
He seemed to have anticipated that Sirius wouldn’t respond, so he spared him the burden of reply.
Fortunately, they encountered neither Infected nor collapsing walls after that.
Antares quietly opened the doors as they passed, searching each room.
Ah.
Then Antares seemed to discover something in one of the chambers.
You can go now. I have something I need to do here alone.
What sort of thing?
A secret.
He placed his index finger to his lips. Even as temporary allies, their bond was defined by what they kept hidden from each other.
And so Antares slipped into the room, leaving Sirius alone in the hallway.
Should I simply leave then?
The Listener of Wishes Drawing Straight Lines says they’re uncertain as well.
Then I’ll wait a while.
[ ( ᐛ) (　 ᐕ)₎₎ ]
And shortly after.
Ugh, I…
I came face to face with a familiar face among the Infected.
It was Antares.
* * *
Antares, priest of the Fire Temple.
He had come looking for his mother, who worked at the Mansion.
There was no chance she had survived in a place like this, but he still wanted to recover her remains.
Yet the moment he laid eyes on his mother, tears blurred his vision and he could do nothing at all.
“Mother.”
Antares carefully embraced the Infected’s body.
“Why are you in a place like this.”
The Infected clawed and bit at Antares’s body. Indigo gemstone veins began sprouting from his blood.
His mother’s embrace, which had always been warm, was now cold to the touch.
“Let me warm you.”
The way his mother had done for him when he was young.
Antares tore away the gemstones that had sprouted on his mother, and in the process, gemstones began to form on Antares himself.
[Will]
[When you hold faith, all abilities are slightly strengthened.]
[Your current ability is not active.]
His faith was gone.
* * *
Clang!
By Sirius’s blade, the gemstones attached to Antares shattered.
His body swayed, then crumpled to the ground. His breathing came in rough, gasping heaves.
—You’ve saved me again.
Antares smiled. At the same time, tears streamed down his face.
—I found my mother.
You found your mother in a place like this?
If so, the chances were high that her condition was grave. I didn’t know why gemstones had sprouted from him, but I could understand to some degree why he was shedding tears.
—My mother is in there.
Antares pointed to the room he had entered. There were clearly only Infected inside.
—Would you wait a moment? I must retrieve my mother’s remains.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————