Netori: Stealing The Hero's Party!

Chapter 769: I Am Still Mortal

On her way to the next site of chaos, the nun donned in white was stopped by the demi-god of time. He had appeared in front of her out of nowhere, splitting dimension and time to bring her to the mortal world before standing on solid ground to address her. Hands folded and a sharp look in his eyes, his gaze was cast skyward with unbridled rage.

"If only you weren’t as important as you are..." He huffed, holding himself back from the harsher words.

"What then?" She asked, smirking to herself.

The nun knew what the man meant, yet it was in her nature to be confrontational.

"Balance–it needs the bad as much as it does the good. And you and I are both opposite sides of the same coin. Whatever I do, you always do something to oppose it, and that’s why I’m here, and you know exactly what I mean."

"Oh..." In her colossal yet elusive form, the nun looked to the stars with a wide smirk. "That. I suppose I did break some rules by setting that flawed stage. But was it really my fault when the general was merely using himself as a distraction for that spirit girl to possess someone close to that fae child?"

Glancing downward with her head still lifted upwards, the nun matched Razor’s sharp gaze. Folded hands and a mixed look of rage and understanding. She knew that he knew what she did had to be done, for the fate of the world depended on it.

"What will I do with a shattered world if that’s all there is for my master to rule? A shattered world." Another line oh-so cryptic, it made Razor wonder from whom she was even trying to hide the secret that both of them knew. "He would’ve blackmailed the fae child with the possessed body of his women, and if it had been only that–perhaps, I would’ve accepted that fate, but to kill that girl as well...the god would reign for another century if he did. "

"Caring for a mortal, you? Don’t make me laugh; there has to be something more to it."

"I too am mortal, or did you forget?" Finally looking down, the nun brought her elusive face closer to the demi-god and stared right at his face. "I am allowed to meddle in mortal affairs while you are not. So why don’t you leave me be? Kill some more rogue gods–be the warden for the gates of heaven that shall never open for the likes of you. Hmm?"

As vital as were the devils of the underworld, the nun knew how much she could push the god of time, unlike most gods. And so she did, that too with a smile and since her reasoning–at least to Razor knowing what he did—was sound, he could no longer retort or question her hand in mortal affairs. After all, being immortal, it was he who had no say in how the mortal world spun; as for the nun, being mortal herself, she was free to influence the world however she wanted.

"Besides, would you rather your hero be forced to lay down his arms?" Lifting his head, Razor looked into the nun’s veiled eyes. "Not to mention, that general—his name escapes me–but he was about to speak a little too much. It’s best that he died when he did, because I know that you know that what he had to say would’ve very much changed the tone of this journey to the end of the world."

Slowly lowering his head, Razor thought about what the nun had just said. There was little flaw in her logic, and in any case, the death of the general served humanity’s cause more than the demons. Even so, a lingering thought kept his mind from being at ease. Thus, with a determined look in his eyes, he lifted his head and demanded an answer.

"What did you gain? And I’m not talking about the obvious here!"

Pulling her body back, the nun waved her arms in front of her colossal body and began brewing the spell that helped her pass through dimensions easily.

"My lord favors justice above all. And to have that general murder the hero with such underhanded means–" Clicking her tongue, she glanced down at Razor for just a moment. "It would’ve left a foul taste in my mouth. Blackmail? Pfft! That’s the crown of cowards!"

"Says the one whose kind capture and torture other species every day."

"Hmm? Is that so? Perhaps you’re mistaken," as a tear opened between dimensions, and a light of many colors poured through it, covering the nun’s face. "In reality, we do as the other races do. We expand our territory, kill intruders and make an example out of them, and hell, if you’re worthy, we even give you a chance to join us and serve towards the revival of our king or queen."

"What about the unworthy?"

"A defenseless man walks into a forest and gets mauled by a bear; who bats an eye? I fail to see the distinction."

"Maybe that’s the problem; you think you’re better and above the rules that apply to the rest of us."

Hearing the word "rules" and having her morality questioned, the nun let out a chuckle and decided to part ways with some final words.

"’Rules’, such a subjective word. It doesn’t apply as much to gods as it does to mortals. Why else would you be here confronting me when it was Athenia who snatched those souls away from certain death?"

A lot of rules had been broken, and Razor was obviously behind on the enforcement of them all. But his entry in the heavens was forbidden; his showing up there would be another desecration of the rules as well. Thus, defeated by another person’s logic for once, the mortal-immortal–bound by the rules of both mortal and immortal yet unable to experience the boon of either–decided that what had happened was best forgotten. For the sake of his sanity and to avoid further unrest amongst the gods and the affected mortals.

"Haa...I need a drink and a vacation," speaking to himself, he decided it was best to head back to Lululalia and unwind with the finest ale.

In the meantime, Raven and his companions would arrive at Eclanor, but before they could get any rest, there were certain matters of importance that needed their attention.