Chapter 265: The Wind Blows, Along with the Smile of the White Goddess

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My, Takao Hijiri’s, Inherent Skill————- .

This skill can be mixed with other attributes.

It was possible for me to use it as a composite attribute.

But knowing that this skill was as such———— A question popped within my mind.

Why is it that the base-element was designated as Wind?

After I’ve finally evolved my Inherent Skill, I could finally understand why.

The names of our skills were mainly based on the games of our former world.

However, the name “Gungnir” is so widely-known that even those who don’t play games know about it.

It is the name of the famous spear held by a Supreme Deity of Norse mythology.

Odin, the Supreme Deity of Norse Mythology, is also known as the “God of Wind”.

From ———- to .

This was the main reason why the main attribute of the skill was Wind.

It can be said that its evolution explained the acquisition of such an Inherent Skill.

The ability of is quite simple.

It’s the ability to shoot out a super-powerful energy spear.

It’s a skill that specializes in attacking with a strike raised to its very limits.

Was it because she had been busy?

Or perhaps, she had been lazy due to arrogance?

Either way, recently, the Goddess had neglected to check the status of the Heroes.

Does she even know about the evolution of Ayaka’s ?

Especially lately, I felt that she’s fully trusting of me.

Perhaps, that’s why she was completely indifferent to checking my status these days.

Hence———- is an evolved skill that the Goddess knows nothing about.

And thus, the Goddess……

▽

…………..————-Shuuuuuuuuuuuu………………….

[Why…… are you…… humans——- just like this……]

Because of my Inherent Skill ……

The right half of her body was blown away.

It penetrated through her body.

The Goddess’ apparently cancels out all abilities within the Abnormal State system.

But just as I had expected———– Abilities within the Attack system went through.

However, the Goddess somehow managed to evade it just in time.

She probably exerted all the strength she mustered.

And thus———- my skill didn’t manage to obliterate her whole body.

On the right half of her body……

Numerous tentacles resembling worms were crawling around.

She was probably trying to heal her body.

However, her healing speed was slow.

This was probably because of the influence of the Tyrant’s Miasma.

The Goddess was sweating all over what’s left of her body.

Her face was also covered in sweat.

The flesh on the right half of her face was exposed.

Her eyeballs, no longer protected within its lid, were also nearly exposed.

However, the left half of her face and mouth———-

It was still smiling.

Whether she had been cornered or not……

I couldn’t tell at all.

[Hijiri-san…… Why do this? You do…… want to go back…… to your former worlder———-]

[ ]

Swirling with the whirlwind, a great flame rose.

As if to burn her to ashes, flames rushed over towards the Goddess.

Because of the skill’s description, couldn’t be released repeatedly.

I need some time before I can use it again.

The right half of the Goddess’ body was bathed in flames.

I could see that she wasn’t able to evade it this time.

Because of the influence of the Tyrant’s Miasma, she wasn’t able to move much.

Not waiting for a moment, I continued to slash her with a sword.

The Goddess jumped backwards.

Once again, I felt like she had mustered all the strength she had left.

Behind the Goddess——- are railings……

We are currently in the second floor’s hallway.

On the other side of those railings was a spacious area on the first floor.

To put it simply, the area behind her was an atrium.

From the railing of the second floor hallway, you can look down on the first floor.

The reverse is also true.

If you look up from that area on the first floor, you would normally be able to exchange conversation with someone near the second floor railings.

Leaping away from my strike———

The Goddess fell over the railings.

She leapt towards the first floor.

She’s trying to escape huh.

Accelerating with my , I didn’t hesitate to pursue her.

Stepping up the railings with one foot, I looked down towards the atrium……

[————————]

But she isn’t there.

Even though she should have jumped over the railings……

Within the atrium———- The Goddess isn’t there.

From the way she was earlier, it doesn’t seem like she’s able to move much.

No, that’s not it……

While the flames also started consuming the left half of the Goddess’ body……

[…………………….]

She quickly took “something” out of her pocket and swallowed it.

I’m pretty sure I saw such a thing at that moment.

And then……

[——————-]

As I descended down to the first floor, I noticed it.

Right below the second floor hallway……

Looking at it from the first floor though, it was on the ceiling, directly below the second floor hallway……

Thereupon……

The Goddess is sticking on the ceiling, upside down.

The way she sticks to the wall defies gravity.

Just like a bug sticking to a slippery wall.

She’s still sweating profusely———-

——-but her body is regenerating.

Her skin has not yet fully formed.

However, the bones in her limbs had already finished regenerating.

Moreover……

Her eyes……

The scleras in her golden eyes had all turned black.

For a moment, something like golden webs seemed to appear in her black scleras.

However, the golden web disappeared immediately.

It was like the slow flicker of a traffic light……

Then once again——— her eyes turned completely black.

[It’s utterly…… Utterly stupid. Ahh, however…… For me to have used “this” here. Yeah, I really didn’t expect this, you know, Hi– ji– ri– san? It was quite the unexpectedly unexpected incident, ara ara fufu ♪ Unnn? Ufufu…… Human———-]

Looking at me, the white goddess with black eyes smiled.

[You mere human……]

Not waiting for her to speak anymore, I shot a vortex of flames at the Goddess stuck to the ceiling.

In response though, the Goddess leaped away from the ceiling.

Just like a cockroach flying away from a thrown slipper……

The Goddess landed on the floor in front of the stairs leading from the atrium to the second floor.

There was a crimson carpet in front of the stairs.

The staircase behind the Goddess was also divided into the left and right.

On the wall at the end of the stairs behind her———–

A huge portrait is hanging on the wall……

It was a portrait of the Goddess Vysis.

The Goddess in the portrait seems to radiate purity.

And now, the Goddess before me who couldn’t possibly be the same person as the one in the portrait———- turned to face me.

[Now then, I wonder what in the world is happening here? For you to betray me at this moment, I truly wonder what you’re doing here? Ahh~~ ahh~~…… You’re the only one I really trusted, you know? You see, humans are so quick to betray others…… that it hurts my head, trying to understand them! Ahh, I’m really pitiful…… Ahhhh! Hijiri-san, you went and did it! Ahhhh, I don’t know! I don’t know anymore!]

With her voice slurring, she continued.

It seems she’s finding it difficult to speak just now.

Yes, she’s finding it difficult in a clearly different way from earlier……

I observed her closer.

Those tentacles healing her———- They’re still working around on her body.

It’s not just the speed of her recovery that’s visibly increased.

She was also now able to move like normal.

The current state of the Goddess……

I’m pretty sure it was that “black ball” she had swallowed at that time.

That Black Ball was completely beyond my calculations.

I didn’t think that the Goddess had such an ability-enhancing measure hidden.

Perhaps, seeing her weakened state, I may have been too hasty in judging that “she didn’t have one of such things”.

However……

[…………………………]

Is the Goddess actually more cornered than she seems?

I pondered.

Looking at how the Goddess currently is……

And how her sweating still hasn’t stopped.

Compared to earlier, the Goddess certainly moves a lot more.

But still, the Tyrant’s Miasma should be greatly influencing her.

Looking at her like now, that’s the way I see it.

The direction in which the Goddess jumped just a moment ago……

It may have been just be my imagination———–

—–but I think she had jumped in the opposite direction of where the Great Demon Emperor was.

Just before jumping, the Goddess checked it once.

“To which direction is the Tyrant’s Miasma being released from……”

I didn’t overlook the glimpse the Goddess did earlier.

I guess she really would want to get as far away from the Tyrant’s Miasma as possible huh?

In other words, even if her power is increased, she still feels adverse to the Tyrant’s Miasma?

The Goddess still had that smile on her face.

She seemed relaxed, acting all calm and composed.

However, I’m starting to think that that was just a bluff.

It’s possible that she is waiting for her body to completely recover.

Seeing this situation, I pondered———-

Should I continue my pursuit or not?

At that moment, I asked one question.

[Right now…… I wonder if you were driven to the corner?]

[Ara? Oya oya? You’ve been quiet for so long, and now you’re suddenly talking to me!? I wonder what wind brought this on? Y- You sure like looking only at your own circumstances, eh!?]

[……………………..]

[I’ll ask you this again! Why did you do something this foolish!? That’s cruel! Extremely cruel!]

[That Black Ball you swallowed just after you escaped from my skill…… I wonder how many of those you still have?]

Snap!

The Goddess blinked once.

Thereupon, her black eyes returned to how it used to be.

However———— The intimidation she released around her body remained the same.

[Ah. …… Ahhh! I see now……]

Her eyes focused on me, the Goddess slightly tilted her head.

[————————-You saw through the lie huh?]

She saw through it huh.

Well, I might have been a bit too obvious.

Thereupon, the Goddess clasped her hands together——— one arm only made of bone, not fully regenerated yet.

[I thought it was strange…… You had been trying to silently kill me earlier, but then, you’re suddenly talking to me. I thought that was quite creepy of you…… but then, I understood! It was at that time huh! You know, when you came to my room quite a while ago…… Merrily asking whether you could really go back to your former world or not…… You must have made some sort of “misunderstanding” at that time, right? How cruel…… Thinking you understood the truth at the moment, not even discussing it with me, one-sidedly calling me a liar———– And now, trying to kill me! Uuuuu…… Egghh, this is just too cruel.]

The Goddess’ eyes became arcs.

[Errr———– Do you not want to go home?]

[From what I’ve read, you’re not the only deity existing in the world.]

[Ahh—- I see, I see! You thought that if you killed me, they would just send a replacement deity in my place!? Ahh, I see! I see now, so that’s how it is! You’re hoping for the existence of a deity that you could easily talk to, eh!? Even though you don’t know if it exists!?]

[…………………………..]

I’ve successfully deceived.

A way back other than relying on the Goddess.

I wasn’t thinking of relying on some other Gods just like what the Goddess was thinking right now.

I found a more reliable method than relying on beings like the Goddess.

As I had expected, she misunderstood.

[Ahh, buuuuuut…… How unfortunate♪ You failed to kill me♪]

Even with her taunts, I continued to observe.

[……Now then. Why was it that I was able to avoid it just in time? When you were lending me your shoulder, for a brief moment…… Ufufu…… You were tempted to go in the opposite direction of where I was pointing, weren’t you? This is what you thought, isn’t it? That perhaps……

“Wouldn’t it be better to take the one step closer to the Tyrant’s Miasma and weaken me even a little bit, so that you can have a better chance of killing me?”

——or something like that?]

It was indeed as she said.

[However, it was only a slight hesitation that you bore within your mind……. For if you had tried to approach the Tyrant’s Miasma, you were afraid that you’d be unable to catch me off guard. However…… What a shame♪ When such a flicker of indecision flashed in your mind, I was already suspicious of you…… so you were only able to “blow away” half of my body! Don’t underestimate a God.]

[……………………………]

[Ufufu. That skill of yours…… You can’t just shoot it again, right? You would need to give it at least some time before you can fight again———— After all, you aren’t using it in a situation like this “where you would normally have used it already”♪ Ufufufu, what’s with that wind and fire skills you used after that ? Are you really trying to kill me? Ummm…… A- Are you alright? Are you still sane?]

At this time, I had reached a hypothesis.

However, it’s only a mere hypothesis.

[Ufufu…… You sure are unlikable, aren’t you♪? Not only did you fail to kill me, I’m even quickly regaining my power…… but I don’t like the fact that your expression isn’t changing at all! Hijiri-san, why can’t you be more like Sogou-san!? Be more surprised, be more desperate, otherwise, this would feel really disappointing!]

Not minding her words————- I leapt forward, trying to gain the initiative.

Using the power of on my feet, I draw near the Goddess.

Even though she seemed to be relaxed, the Goddess still took her stance.

Flooosh

Black veins appeared and started coiling around the Goddess’ unharmed left arm.

Her left arm transformed.

It looked just like those tentacle scythes of the Great Demon Emperor.

But not minding it, I didn’t stop my steps.

The Goddess———- completely readies her stance.

[————————–You’re coming huh, Hijiri Takao?]

I approached the bosom of the Goddess.

Thereupon, I brandished my sword towards her.

Klaaang!

The tentacle scythe that was attacking me was knocked away.

[Ara!? You deflected the superb power of my strike huh!? Ara ara! You’re quite good, Hijiri-san! However———-]

Just like a blooming flower, the Goddess’s arm cracked open.

It seems like her left arm is undergoing another transformation.

On her left arm, two more tentacle sickles appeared.

Snap!

The Goddess blinked.

Her eyes turned completely black again.

Thereupon, with another blink———- her eyes returned to normal.

[This ends it.]

Wind pressure suddenly surged.

A tropical storm occurred.

The sudden outbreak of a storm wouldn’t have been something she had ever expected.

Dohyuuu!

With the surge of the wind pressure———

The two new tentacles scythes the Goddess generated were blown behind her.

[ ! ]

Shwiiiing!

The blade of my long sword cut through the flesh of the right half of the Goddess’ body.

As if I’m wielding the storm, my sword became clad in turbulent winds.

Thus, my attack range is also rather wide.

In some cases, intentionally aiming for a spot that would usually just scrape off the enemy could lead you to dealing the winning strike.

And there———-

The area near the Goddess’ head, which was about to regenerate, was taken away.

[……………..———-You’ve done it, Hijiri-san.]

Without a moment’s hesitation, I continued to strike her with my sword.

However, two tentacle scythes received my strike and intercepted it.

Taking advantage of our clash, the Goddess jumps back and takes distance.

Seeing through her action———-

[———— ————]

I chose to pursue with my attacks.

Crack! Crack——– Crack crack!

Lumps of ice successively exploded.

[This is…… my visibility huh……?]

The ice that my skill created.

The force of my wind crushed them into small pieces and “dispersed’”them into the surrounding area.

Forming what seemed to be a cloud of ice around us———– It concealed our field of vision.

The clear sound of slashing wind resounded.

Zasshhuu!

This time, the Goddess’ left arm that had generated the tentacle scythes———–

It has been severed off her torso by my blade.

As I smoothly moved for my next attack……

[Meanwhile, you sure like talking too much.]

From the state the Goddess has been in before……

I think the long-winded chatter she’s making today was probably to stall for time.

If that’s the case though, why was she stalling for time?

From what I surmised though……

It’s because if she doesn’t regenerate more, she won’t be able to properly exhibit her power.

In other words, in her current state———– I still had a chance to win.

This decision was close to a gamble, but it was one I chose to take.

There was one more fortunate thing I had discovered……

Normal sword strikes work against her.

The Goddess after swallowing that Black Ball……

In normal circumstances, she probably would have had power beyond my reach.

However, while she’s “under the influence of the Tyrant’s Miasma”————

If she’s in a weakened state, where her actions were limited, perhaps……

The severed left arm of the Goddess……

Thud!

It fell to the ground.

[I’ll make sure to get rid of you here.]

[You f*cking brat.]

Time Limit—————– 1 hour.

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