Heavy blizzard was blowing violently in that world.
The wind was really strong. It showed no sign of stopping at all, bringing countless snowflakes with it. The snow that was continuously raining down painted the land white, creating a snowfield with no end in sight.
It was truly a world of blizzard and ice.
「So this is the world of Norse mythology……」
A man walking alone inside the snow muttered. Furthermore his voice was delighted.
It was the godslayer who taught this name to his young colleague just a little while ago, Marquis Voban.
Normally it would be impossible to go out in an intense blizzard like this. But, he completely wasn't bothered by the strongly blowing wind and snow and walked until this far.
The clothes he was wearing was the same with the one he was wearing in Spain.
But the godslaying marquis was being active without paying any intention to the freezing coldness
Wind, snow, and even the intense cold that they crated couldn't become any hindrance to him. It was the reverse. All of them were Dejanstahl Voban's servant to the utmost.
Snowy wind thoroughly showered him. He also firmly stepped on the deep snow.
But, his clothes and shoes weren't wet at all. His feet also weren't slowed down by the snow.
This too was a miracle from 『a certain authority』 that Voban possessed. That was why he was advancing through the snow field with the casualness like taking a stroll at a lake shore in a vacation.
However, the ferocious godslayer suddenly smiled wryly.
「I am a fanciful person but, I'm tired with this scenery that has nothing but snow. ……How about you hurry up?」
He asked toward empty air. An answer came as though it was only natural.
「Sorcery 《Search of God's Majesty》, finished. Current location of search target, confirming.」
What appeared from the snowy wind was the spirit of grimoire──.
She was a cute and fair-skinned beautiful girl wearing a purple frilly dress and a black hat with wide brim which was extremely ill-matched in this snow field that was stretching as far as the eye could see.
She was the avatar of the authority 《Singing Spell Book》 that Voban possessed.
「Good. Then bring me until there.」
「……By your will. Using sorcery Flight Magic.」
The two of them were enveloped by a golden light and flew away to the blizzard's sky.
Like that they crossed the snowfield, passed several snowy mountains, and they finally arrived at a canyon. There was a "monster" at its bottom.
「So this is it.」
Voban narrowed his eyes above the cliff where he could look down at the bottom.
At the bottom of the canyon far below──a 『wolf』 with body length that reached 50 meter was lying down. The fur of its whole body was ominously jet black.
The thick neck of the giant wolf was tied by many ropes.
And then, this ropes were connected to the ground by wedges…….
「Grimoire. What is the detail of that beast's so called myth?」
「Demon wolf Fenrir──. A child of the female giant Angrboda. It is extremely ferocious and powerful. Even though the gods wish to apprehend this wolf, it cannot be suppressed by any kind of chain. Its freedom is finally taken away using the magic rope that was created by the dwarf. However as the price, the war god Tyr lost his right arm……」
The girl answered smoothly. Voban laughed with a low voice.
「Ah, that's it. I have been thinking all this time from a long time ago when I heard it for the first time. That someday I want to──compare my strength with that Fenrir, which one of us is the strongest wolf. It's childish even if I say so myself, just a nonsensical idea but, the day it comes true finally arrive.」
That talking voice seemed to catch attention. The black wolf at the bottom of the canyon stirred.
The wolf still hadn't risen up. However, the eyes of the demon wolf Fenrir had opened and his gaze turned up──toward Voban who was looking down on him from the cliff…….
「Don't be impatient. The crucial matter is still not finished yet.」
Voban snickered.
「Fenrir. This magic rope thing that captured you──I'll sever it. I just happened to obtain the right authority before coming to this world.」
He took out a sheathed knife from his inner coat's pocket.
He unsheathed it. The exposed steel blade was lifted to the sky and Voban spoke.
「Something like a sword can only cut down a single man, a single beast at best in the end. But, this blade of Voban is different. When my sword is swung down, thing that shouldn't decay will decay to ruin, thing that shouldn't break will scatter to pieces. The Gordian knot is severed and ruin arrive equally──」
That was the words of power to evoke an authority.
The divine power to destroy to immortal and indestructible thing was dwelling inside the knife. Voban grinned and threw that blade toward the canyon.
The knife fell like a falling star, stabbing the 『rope』 that was binding Fenrir.
The rope was so smooth it looked like silk. It was thin and sleek. However, it wouldn't be severed no matter how much strength the demon wolf exerted. It was that kind of divine tool.
Voban's knife deeply cut into that cord──.
「Originally it's an authority that destroy a country that should be undefeatable and kill immortal god and monster. But like this, it's useful to free you. Now is the time you can dispel the suffering of the long imprisonment, Fenrir. This me will accept all your rage!」
The black giant wolf got up at the canyon that Voban was looking down at.
Before anyone knew it the cord tying Fenrir──was crumbling to pieces.
──GURURURURURURUuuuuuUUUUU-!
The demon wolf of Norse mythology made a low growl.
At the same time the ground shook and even the air that was mixed with snow was rumbling.
The liberation of the demon wolf Fenrir shook heaven and earth. It was a serious matter that threatened even the peace of the planet. The two ominous eyes of the beast stared fixedly at the godslayer. Killing intent was overflowing from them.
Voban laughed loudly and yelled with naked fighting spirit.
「Hahahaha! Very good Fenrir. Let's make it clear which of us is the stronger wolf!」
Instantly, the godslayer's body transformed into wolf.
It wasn't just a mere wolf. He transformed into a grey wolf with size and ferocity that wasn't at any way inferior against Fenrir. And then the wolf that was the transformed Voban leaped to the bottom of the canyon──.
*GAaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAH!*
* GAaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!*
Jet black and grey, the two giant wolves clashed right from the front. They simultaneously ripped at each other with their front legs and claws, in order to greedily devour each other's flesh and blood with their sharp and strong fangs.
The rumbling of the earth and the sky was getting increasingly fiercer.
「Oo. Athena of the shining eyes.」
A handsome youthful god grinned on the summit of a certain snowy mountain.
His inhuman eyes clearly caught the sight of the intense battle at the canyon several mountains ahead of him. The confrontation of jet black demon wolf Fenrir and the grey wolf that murdered god──.
Even the blizzard that still didn't show any sign of stopping wasn't any obstruction to the eyes of a mighty god.
「For you who is overflowing with wisdom and the foolish godslayer to bear the same scheme……. Don't you think that it's a really interesting development?]
「Fumu.」
Goddess Athena muttered in respond to the words of her fellow Greek god.
「Certainly it's just as you said, o radiant Apollo. ……I who am also a god of wisdom know. When the destruction of the world is starting in this place that is located far north than our sanctuary, that demon wolf Fenrir will awaken──」
Although she looked like a young girl, she was also a might goddess.
The goddess of wisdom and war Athena. She departed from the sanctuary of Troia due to a certain thinking and traveled until this wintry northern sanctuary.
Although, the land of this place and Troia wasn't adjoined with each other.
She crossed the interval of space and went into a supernatural travel that went through the gap between worlds. And then this time the handsome sun god Apollo was accompanying her for some reason.
Athena spoke to her company.
「 O radiant godPhoibos. My objective to『bring destruction to the north sanctuary』 has been unexpectedly accomplished. I'm planning to head to the next sanctuary to search for a new bud of destruction.」
The one who wished for the destruction of Troia more than anyone at the Trojan before this was──
If the chief god Zeus was excluded, there was no doubt that it would be his daughter Athena.
Apollo recalled that. And then now the shiny eyed princess god left Greece, went around sanctuaries that originally weren't related at all with her to indiscriminately attempt to destroy them…….
However Apollo had no intention to stop her.
They were 『god』.
How could they called themselves god if they couldn't destroy one or two worlds as they pleased. It didn't matter whether the motive was a mere whim, for fun, or because of a deep circumstance──.
And above all else Apollo himself was also in a journey 『to accomplish his own desire』.
「What will you do, Apollo?」
「I will still remain here. There is something I'm a bit curious about.」
「……Hou」
「What is it, Zeus's divine daughter?」
「No, it's nothing. Come to think of it you're a god who was born outside Greece. According to the hearsay, your native land is in the north. Do you have some kind of ancient bond with this land?」
「No, no」
Apollo smiled wryly at the searching gaze of Athena.
「My homeland isn't a land this far north. But, what that accursed godslayer is trying to accomplish──it concerned me. I intend to ascertain it myself. ……Even so, I wonder how many gods he has killed until now.」
The wolves fought each other at the far away. For the time being there was no sign that the mortal combat would end.
And then, the godslaying grey wolf controlled wind and blizzard while breathing out thunder from his mouth, displaying an equal battle against the Norse's demon wolf Fenrir──.
「That godslayer, it seems he had defeated a 《storm god》 or a 《blizzard god》. And then he had also killed a 《god that severed even destiny that should be everlasting》. There is also a 《god of black magic》 from somewhere. But, what made him powerful above all else is──」
「The authority that he usurped from a terrifying 《wolf god》.」
Athena nodded.
「It should be a wolf that possessed a divine might that isn't at all inferior against the caller of the end, the demon wolf Fenrir. I wonder, just which divine beast he killed……」
「Oo. Look at that Athena, the wolves are heading toward the direction of the 『wall』.」
Apollo was pointing at the world below from the summit of the snow mountain.
Strangely──there was a territory that was surrounded by a protective wall in this mythological world. Right now, the jet black Fenrir and the godslaying grey wolf were fighting near a wall.
Their gigantic body collided on each other. They swung their claws and bit with their fangs.
Amidst that they also often crashed on the wall. The wall looked really solid, but it was unable to endure against the way the two demon wolves were rampaging──
Some places of the protective wall were getting broken. Apollo muttered.
「The other side of that long wall seems to be really vast.」
「Most likely the other side is the country of the humans. You see, it seems that in the sanctuary of the north, humans are living in a kingdom that was built 『behind a wall』. And then」
While it was a situation of a far foreign country, Athena taught Apollo about it as though it was only natural.
「To be more precise, that isn't a wall. Perhaps it ought to be called as fence instead.」
「Now that you say it, certainly it looks like it.」
Apollo nodded.
It was a long wall that its end couldn't be seen even with a god's sight. However, the wall was made from 『stone pillars』 sticking close to each other to the degree that there was no gap in between.
Certainly it was more a fence rather than a wall. Perhaps it should be called as a protective fence.
「You see, the first life that was born in this sanctuary……was the giant of origin Ymir. It seems that wall was his "eyelashes". It fenced the land and protected the humans.」
「I see. As expected from Athena, how knowledgeable.」
「Enough with the flattery. I'm going now. Farewell, heaven-sent-child of darkness who is crowned with the sun.」
Goddess Athena said that as her last words and vanished.
Apollo who was left alone grinned a ruffian's smile and watched the lower world once more. The battle of the ferocious demon wolves still didn't look like it would end──
「Oh?」
He surveyed the far beyond, at the 『wall's inner part』 where the humans were said to live.
Apollo sensed that there was an old acquaintance there. It was the girl who he once tried to employ as his priestess. Because of that he was able to sense her presence even though there was this much distance.
「How surprising, there is another traveler from the south other than us. ……That girl too has grown to be really interesting.」
The sun god who came from the south was grinning while talking to himself.
2Sanctuary Midgard.
In this world that was called as Norse mythology by the human of earth, the territory where human race was living was called Midgard. It was the origin of the sanctuary's name.
Midgard. It had a shade of meaning of middle country.
After all it was located at a land that stretched out right in the middle of an ocean, and furthermore it was located at the middle of that land.
By the way the country where the gods were living was called Asgard and Vanaheimr. And then, the land where the giant was living was on other land, Jotunheimr and others──.
The country of the giants was desolate. It was a land that only had dark forest and swamp, and then freezing wasteland.
In contrast, the humans' Midgard was a fertile land with abundant crops.
「My. In other words the country of human Midgard and the land where giant race is living are separated by 『this wall』 then.」
The silver haired girl muttered the knowledge that she had "just obtained".
Half a day had passed since she arrived at mythological world Sanctuary Midgard.
During that time, she was walking around without any destination in mind following her fancy.
There were a lot of green trees in Midgard. There were grove of trees and forest everywhere. The field with its golden wheat ears ripening was also beautiful and vast. And then what was striking above all else was the 『wall』.
The wall was so long──to the degree it looked as though it was continuing on until the end of this world.
Thick and solid stone pillars were clustered close to each other like hair, forming a gigantic structure in the shape of protective wall. It was ten times higher than the girl's back.
Even the rampart protecting the city of her birth place looked like a toy compared to this.
「The giants are savage and extremely dangerous on top of that……they are monster! Then, let's be careful so they won't find me!」
The girl who was traveling alone nodded.
While a trace of innocence remained in her beautiful face, her body figure was completely mature.
Furthermore her attire was on thin make──it was something weaved in a land that was far south from here. But, she was properly defending against the cold with a thick coat for travelling.
It was because she expected, no, "foresighted" that she would travel in a land that was locked in snow.
She prepared thick coat as 『traveling preparation』, furthermore she borrowed a certain sacred treasure from the treasure warehouse of "her house" Troia's palace.
The feather decoration of Hermes who was the protector god of travelling in Greek mythology.
She put it inside a leather bag that was hanged on her sash even now.
This was truly the greatest treasure for traveler, furthermore if the feather was touched even from above the bag, various knowledge regarding the travel destination would flow in──.
「If the giants invaded to the inner part of the wall because of some kind of chance……the giants who are hungering for blood will rampage indiscriminately and kill a lot of people!? What a terrifying story. Even though this country Midgard is this beautiful!」
The girl was born and raised near the sea.
However, the air of her birth place was drier. There were also few trees there. Tree that was raised to a tall length was precious. But, in Midgard here──so to speak it was a world of tree.
It was abundant with greenery, the river that was flowing through the land was crystal clear, and the air was refreshing.
Unlike the sanctuary that was ruled by the gods of Olympus, the wind blowing in this world was terribly cold.
But, even that coldness contained pleasantness that tightened the body──. Troia's princess Cassandra took a deep breath and tasted the air of another world.
「As expected this trip after so long is enjoyable!」
But, there wouldn't be just enjoyment in this trip. She knew it from her foresight.
In fact, Cassandra immediately found it.
The great wall that should be separating the land of human race Midgard and the giants territory──a part of it was greatly crumbling, creating a passage that was becoming a bypath.
Furthermore, there were several other places that were also crumbling.
The long rampart that was separating Midgard with the outside country.
There were monsters that were going around destroying it here and there──two of them.
The jet black demon wolf king Fenrir that was released at the end of Norse mythology, and a giant and powerful grey wolf that was rivaling it.
The two's brawling destroyed the wall here and there. The giants who noticed that were──
Crossing the wall one by one.
Lured by the thundering sound of the rampaging two wolves, their presence, the surging divine power and fighting spirit, the bunch of giants that were especially ferocious even among their race gathered until near the wall in groups of twos and threes.
They found the bypath and crossed the wall.
At the other side was already the land of the humans, the beautiful Midgard.
Outside the wall there was only wasteland. There wasn't even any vegetation. There were also a lot of areas that wouldn't stop snowing throughout the year. And yet.
Midgard was blessed with clear water and wind. It possessed abundant forest and arable land──.
Roaming within that scenery was giant. Giant. Giant. Giant.
However, although they were all called giant, their size was varied. When there were giants with size that was twice or thrice of human, there were also those that were only as big as a large human man.
Conversely there was also stupidly huge giant that was like a 『moving small mountain』.
Anyway, all the giants had blank expression.
The growl that leaked out from their mouth was dull and unintelligible. It was hard to call them intellectual.
*GUuuuuAAAAAAAAAH!*
*GUuuuuAAAAAAH! GUuuuuAAAAAAH!*
*GUuuAAH! GUuuAAH! GUuuAAH! GUuuAAH!*
The giants were making idiotic sounding growl while scattering to everywhere.
Smart giant that acted as group was few. Their clothing in general was ragged. It was better to call all of them half-naked.
But, in return──
Their『explosive power』 when they discovered human settlement was tremendous.
「KYAAAAAAAAAAH!?」
「Send the women and children away! The giants are attacking!」
「Dammit, where did they come from!?」
「Father, father!」
「Stop don't kill that kid please──AAAAAAAAAAAH!」
Everywhere the giants were going, they were approaching the humans with relatively quick movement for their size.
Their powerful arms mowed down the weak flock of prey.
Necks were easily twisted, limbs were torn off from the torso.
Body that was filled with entrails and head attached was crushed underfoot with a splat, then it was kicked away. Large teeth and jaw bit humans apart. Head butt and body tackle crushed houses along with the humans inside.
There were also some giants that picked up random piece of large tree or rock to use as weapon.
But, it was the same whether they had weapon or not.
The size of the giants was varied, but every single one of them shared the common point of 『possessing physical strength as well as huge size that could curbstomp mere human without any thought』.
Although.
Midgard also had their own share of warriors and heroes.
The warriors of human race who continued to polish their valor and martial arts for long years were──.
「aaaAAAAaaaaAAAAAAAAH!」
「Die, giants! I'll give you my life in exchange!」
「Uwahahahaha! Do you think I'll die just because I got my guts dragged out!? Even if I die I won't die before splitting your ugly head and take you with me to death!」
「O my god Odin, watch closely the way we died!」
The humans were clad in hardened leather and iron armor and wearing fur.
Wielding long sword, battle axe, and long spear, they met the giants. Their intense way of fighting was obviously uncommon.
Being injured──no, even death didn't scare them. They attacked the enemy right from the front.
They charged forward facing giant race who had overwhelmingly superior physique. They attacked from the front with their sword and spear, they just charged forward no matter what. They paid no heed whether it was impossible or reckless, they were simply charging.
In fact, even when they were wounded from doing that──the humans didn't falter at the slightest.
「GAaaaAAAAAAAAAH!」
「Die, die, die, die, it's you damn giants who will fall to hell!」
With a vigor and roar that made it unclear which one of them was giant, they raised a strange voice and wholeheartedly faced the giants before them.
Well, many of the humans got the table turned on them and unsightly paid their due.
But, among them there were also those who took down the giant with them through that foolhardiness. There were also those who forcibly defeated the giants.
They were berserk, the berserkers that the sanctuary of Norse boasted of.
In addition there were also berserkers who possessed magic sword and magic spear that were forged by the dwarves of the depth of earthDvergr. They succeeded in achieving great deed of killing all the giants they encountered.
And then, the Valkyries that were watching over the fight of the humans were also──.
「Look. Gudmund of Gimli clan has died!」
「That's a splendid death. Even our father Odin will surely send him an applause.」
「It's truly praiseworthy how he slaughter the vile giant in exchange of his life. In respect to that he can enjoy a brief rest in Valhalla.」
「The deceased braver will become warrior of heavensEinherjar and stand in the battlefield of Ragnarok someday!」
The beautiful celestial maidens whispered to each other.
Riding war horse that galloped in hte sky, the group of Valkyrie was flying around Midgard that had suddenly become reeking of blood.
These women were goddess of the battlefield who were serving the chief god Odin.
When braver who was worthy to be welcomed to the heavens died, they would collect their corpse.
Every valkyrie was wearing leather armor and helmet with feather attached. Their long mantel flapped above their horse. Their hand was carrying a spear.
Right now they were rushing to the hero who took down a giant in exchange of his life.
The golden wheat field that spread out extensively──in one corner of it.
Gudmund of Gimly clan was lying face down and breathed his last.
In front of him there was a giant that was twice as big as him which he killed.
The brave Gudmund leaped toward the giant's chest with the preparedness to die and stabbed his spear, piercing the giant's solar plexus.
But even with his vital spot gouged, the giant swung down his arm and split open the brave warrior's head…….
As the result both of them died. The valkyries simultaneously rushed down in order to mourn the brave warrior and stepped on the ground with their own feet.
「Now, everyone. Let's grant a blessing to Gudmund's valor!」
One of the valkyries raised her voice while looking down on the two corpses.
Right after that, suddenly──
*uuuuuuuuuuaaaaAAAAAAAAH!*
The giant that should have died suddenly raised a strange voice and somehow lifted up his upper body. He reached out with his arm. This hand tightly grabbed the slender body of one valkyrie and ruthlessly──crushed the body into a splatter.
Naturally, that valkyrie died.
But, it was splendid how the women didn't scream or anything at their comrade's death.
Each of them raised their spear, drew out their long sword from the sheath, and prepared for battle. In order to completely kill the dying giant.
However, *hyun* an arrow flew at this timing.
It deeply pierced the forehead of the struggling giant and took the life of the giant that failed to die with surety this time──.
「Everyone, are you all safe!?」
And then, the archer who killed the giant hurriedly approached.
Surprisingly it was a female. A beautiful girl with silver hair who was still young. Her ears were slightly pointy, showing that she descended from the gods or the elves.
「Lady. Our gratitude for your assistance.」
The leader of the valkyries acted as the representative that expressed their thanks.
Then the valorous woman who displayed her exquisite skill of archery smiled bashfully.
「My name is Cassandra. Please forgive my meddlesome just now. But, there is something that I wish to ask no matter what, so I rendered my assistance.」
The princess of Troia Cassandra──.
With a wooden long bow that she brought from her hometown as 『one of her journey's preparation』, she approached the valkyries.
「Do you know of a person called Rokuhara Ren?」
3「So we arrived, to this world of Norse mythology.」
「It seems to be better to not dawdle after all.」
Rokuhara Ren and Toba Riona.
They encountered a godslayer who introduced himself as a marquis in the southeast part of Spain and somehow triumphed against the magic beasts that he left behind. Right after that, they leaped into the space distortion in front of them.
There was a large forest right nearby.
It was a dense forest many trees growing thickly. Momi fir, Siebold's beech, elm tree, etc. There were many broadleaf trees here.
The area the two of them were standing at was a lush meadow. A clean small river was flowing slightly ahead of them. The scenery looked really idyllic.
Ren's eyes sparkled seeing the unexpectedly beautiful scenery.
「What a good place. Is this what they call a scenic panorama?」
「Unlike the region with Mediterranean Sea's climate, this place has plenty of water and greenery. But, for me this is a 『mythological world that I don't want to come to if possible』, as much as I don't want to come to the world of chivalry romance in Middle Ages.」
Unlike Ren, Riona looked a bit gloomy.
「This is an environment with various things that are hard to digest. Troia was also really something but, this place is exceeding that place……it's a savage world after all.」
Ren tilted his head and then his body shivered.
The blowing wind was excessively cold. Perhaps it was just to be expected from Norse mythology. It was a bit cold with him wearing the same clothes like when he was at the warm Spain.
「By the way Riona. What's with that change of clothes?」
「Of course I brought it from earth. It's easy to move with, and it's really functional.」
Riona who moved behind a tree unbelievably finished her change of clothes before returning.
It was the blazer that she was wearing in Japan. The uniform that seemed to be the designated clothing of a young lady school.
「I won't need to bring many luggage by using this.」
A talisman suddenly appeared in Riona's right hand.
The piece of paper that was written with spell quickly changed into a shoulder bag that seemed to be filled with various things. It was the technique of compact storing that she also showed at Sanctuary Troia.
Riona immediately returned her bag into her talisman and said.
「Now. Let's begin collecting information!」
She sent out a lot of the regular white heron shikigamis flying to scout the surrounding──
After more than ten minutes, the result quickly came out.
「It seems to be really chaotic……」
Riona walked until the bank of the small river that was flowing nearby.
She projected all the information that her shikigamis saw on its water surface with psychic photography. The beautiful small river that was transparent the bottom could be seen became an improvised multi-screened monitor.
Like this, Rokuhara Ren could watch.
The scene of the defensive wall of Midgard getting broken here and there, with the giants entering from there.
「I've seen 『story of giants attacking from the other side of the wall』 like this from somewhere. Even though I shouldn't really know about the myth of Norse.」
「Perhaps it's from manga or anime of titan attacking.」
「Ah, that's it!」
「The motive of Norse mythology getting transmitted to modern Japan as creative work like novel or film is something common. But unfortunately, three dimensional maneuver doesn't exist in Sanctuary Midgard.」
「That's terrible.」
「In exchange, there are berserkers who doesn't fear death in Norse mythology.」
「That name also feel familiar.」
「It's about the berserker like in RPG, a mad warrior. Norse mythology is a mountain of source for 『fantasy RPG』 that we modern Japanese are familiar with after all.」
「Eh, is that so?」
「Yes. Though I think at this point of time many creators are reusing the material without being aware that the original source of those ideas came from here.」
Riona's face was getting serious even while making the pointless talk.
Dozens of monitors were laid out on the water surface of the small river. In several of the monitors, the giants were rampaging brutally with their powerful arms and huge body.
And then, the bypaths that were created in the wall──
Just from a glance there were eight or nine noticeable spots. Human settlements that were located near the bypaths were around several dozens.
All of them could possibly become attack target of the giants. Riona muttered.
「The impression that I got is that the number of giants invading Midgard is around 100 to 200. That's only for now though.」
「If the holes in the wall aren't quickly blocked, then the number will increase more.」
「That's right. But, right now rescuing lives in each settlement and exterminating the giants should be the priority. Chasing after the marquis somehow will be after that.」
As expected from the sacred bird of guidance, the incarnation of Yatagarasu.
Riona easily decided their course of action and gave suggestion to Ren.
「Roger. I intend to show my face at Takako-san's place when returning to Spain, so let's take care of this as fast as possible.」
「You're going to visit that woman intentionally?」
It was a pressing situation. However, it would be meaningless even if they were getting aimlessly hurried.
Ren felt that it would be better to relax the tension on their shoulder slightly. He intentionally talked about an unrelated topic. Riona might be thinking the same. She immediately jumped on the topic.
「But, I think Rokuharsan should have noticed it too. The girl is someone who tends to fall in love easily and she has several male friends whose atmosphere with her isn't bad. It looks like she will go out with one of them before long. Even without Rokuharsan looking after her, it will only make it happen faster isn't it?」
「Well, you might be right about that. But Riona」
Ren nodded at the accurate advice, even so he felt puzzled.
「Did I tell Riona about those things?」
「You didn't tell me? I don't really remember. More importantly Rokuharsan, please call Stella. There is something that I want to ask her.」
It became the turn for his "partner" due to Riona's request.
The mini goddess who shared heart and body with Ren was Stella or also known as Aphrodite.
「What do you want, bird girl?」
「It's about that authority, the Friendship Circle. Can it also call for a friend even in this "world that you don't have any acquaintance from the start"? The cultural sphere of Norse mythology should be far removed from the area that became the stage of Greek mythology.」
「Of course it can. Please don't underestimate a goddess of love.」
Stella sat down on Ren's left shoulder while acting arrogantly.
「You see, at this kind of time you should just send the thought to the four directions anyway. By doing that, the prayer will reach to "a god who has good compatibility with me" nearby, asking them to come running here.」
「Then, please use it immediately! Because this time nothing beats having a lot helper. It doesn't matter whether they are god or hero or fairy, we will greatly welcome any useful reinforcement!」
Thus──
Stella recited the words of power toward the heaven.
「Come, o friend of foreign country who I hasn't met yet. Please briefly honor the goddess of beauty and love who were born in Cyprus with your sympathy and friendship──I beg you dearly!」
The adorable voice of the goddess resounded through the sky.
They waited for a few minutes after that. Ren and Riona exchanged look, wondering whether this time it was a dud while Stella who was full of confidence was starting to look around restlessly in a bit of anxiety. It was at that time.
*Blink-!*
Something shined from far away in the blue sky.
Right after that, a thunderclap *DOoooOOOONNN* roared and a streak of lightning fell in front of them.
「Was it you who called for me, my unknown friend?」
The white smoke that was generated along with the falling lightning caused them to be unable to see anything for a while, but,
When the smoke was clearing up, a young man's gallant figure became clear to see. Perhaps in order to soften the impact of the landing, he was squatting on the ground. Furthermore it was with one knee posture. His right leg and left knee and his left hand in addition touched the ground. It was the posture of 『three-point landing』.
That posture would absolutely cause the knee to hurt but, it was very cool.
Ren unconsciously whispered seeing the pose that he often saw in action movie.
「……It's the superhero landing.」
「……It's the superhero landing isn't it.」
Riona also opened her eyes wide in agreement.
The young man who came from the sky was holding a hammer with his right hand that wasn't used for the three-point landing.
It was a heavy looking steel hammer with short handle. It seemed to be a weapon. He himself was muscular giving him an appearance that looked extremely burly.
Blonde hair and blue eyes. His slightly wavy hair grew out until below his shoulder.
He was quite handsome. However because of the density of his facial features, he simply looked manly.
He was wearing feathered helmet, chainmail, steel gauntlets, and red mantel, with her hand holding a hammer.
「I am a legitimate great hero. The protector of the world, god of lightning Thor.」
He stood up straight and introduced himself proudly.
「You better engrave this name into your chest! ……And, which one of you was calling for me?」
「It's me, Thor-sama!」
Stella spoke energetically from Ren's left shoulder.
「This is our first meeting-. But just from a glance I have realized that you are a renowned god of war! Aa, what a joyful encounter this is!」
Stella's eyes sparkled and she made an upward glance.
Her voice sounded livelier than usual. It seemed she was getting serious in order to butter up the lightning god Thor who descended from the sky.
And then, the youthful god of Norse mythology also seemed to enjoy it somewhat.
「Oo, is that so. As I thought when it comes to a god of my stature, something will naturally exude out from myself. Even without saying anything it's like my back has been talking by itself……」
「But of course♪ ……Ren, put me down.」
Stella whispered in a low voice at the middle and then instantly.
Stella's eyes shined sharply like a hunter that had discovered a prey.
Ren moved naturally like a waiter of a famous restaurant serving the dish. He presented the doll sized small goddess with a flowing movement using both his hands.
Stella teleported with a pop and moved to the left shoulder of the brawny Thor.
「By the way the unrivaled under heaven Thor-sama, can I talk with you for a little bit?」
「Wait wait. Certainly I am a man of valor that can be counted on one's fingers event throughout the world, but it's not to the level that I can be called unrivaled. Uwahahahaha」
「My, what humility. Even though you have this really strong looking body.」
「Stop it, stop it. If you pinch my arm, that slender looking finger might break.」
「Oh my, truly. The muscle of Thor-sama's arm is like a steel. How sturdy, what a reliable gentleman you must be. I'm really surprised.」
「Wahahaha. Girl, I don't know where do you come from, but you are a goddess who really know how to talk.」
「Please don't talk as though this Stella is a woman who is all talk. Everything is due to Thor-sama's virtue. I am simply saying what I'm feeling honestly without adding anything.」
「Fuhahahaha」
The lightning god laughed in a good mood. Stella was also smiling ingratiatingly on his left shoulder.
The belt warpped around her waist was shining in rose color when anyone noticed. Aphrodite's divine tool the Girdle of Friendship and Love was in the middle of activation. Furthermore she also didn't miss doing body contact by touching all over Thor's shoulder, upper arm, cheek, and ear…….
Riona stealthily whispered beside Ren.
(Stella's authority is really amazing. When speaking of lightning god Thor, he is the Norse mythology's number one simple-minded and hot-blooded person. Perhaps, he is the first place in the "easy" friend candidate. To hit the jackpot right in the first roll of gacha like this……)
(Ah. So he is that kind of person just as I thought?)
(Of course, this is only possible because of Stella's power that took advantage of that. If there is wine here, Stella will absolutely make him drink vigorously.)
(If Stella get serious, it feels like she will be as composed as store owner in Ginza after all.)
(Come to think of it, Apollo said it. The men of Greek mythology all presented tribute to Aphrodite or something.)
The mini goddess-sama at this kind of time was reassuring.
The two of them were secretly conversing while staring at Stella buttering up the grinning lightning god.
Also, the lightning god Thor was far taller than even Rokuhara Ren who was just shy of being 180 cm. Most likely Thor was around two meter tall with weight of more than 120 kg.
Even then there wasn't any impression of 『increasing body mass forecefully』 like what sumo wrestler did from him at all.
His physique was completely proportional. Even though he was an extraordinarily large man, he also looked agile.
But the point that was more amazing than anything else was──the mightiness of divine strength welling up from his whole body. Ren instinctually felt it. The lightning god Thor should be a powerful warrior who rivaled that Athena.
「By the way does Thor know? Right now the giants are devastating the settlements of humans.」
「What, is that true Stella!?」
The two gods had quickly become able to talk casually with each other.
Stella talked with a casual tone to the tense lightning god.
「The girl over there is more or less a half human half god bird girl. It seems she is planning to go helping the humans after this. If you have time, is it alright for you to give her your assistance?」
「Obviously it's alright! I'm also a protector of Midgard!」
It was better to not disclose Rokuhara Ren's godslaying background as much as possible──.
Riona stepped forward in order to act as the leading actor as much as possible for the time being under that policy. She waved her hand toward the small river that was acting as substitute for monitor. She projected a new psychic photography.
「Please look. It's the map of this area and the location of the giants.」
「Oo, this is convenient!」
Thor praised Riona's technique.
The topographic map that was overlooking the surrounding from the sky like an aerial photograph was displaying green pasture and forest, mountain, river, wheat field with ripe golden wheat head, vegetable field, human habitation, etc.
And then, the appearance point of the giants was shown with 『blinking red dot』.
This was something Riona prepared while Stella and Thor were in the middle of chatting.
She united the information of the shikigamis flying around all over the place and sorted the present situation in great detail.
「I will commence an 『aerial bombing』 to the giants based on this information. Can I ask Thor-sama to take care of the giants that I missed?」
「Hou! What kind of technique you will use for that?」
「Rather than telling it from my mouth, it will be faster to just see it directly. ──Rokuharsan.」
「Got it. Riona, annihilate the monsters right away with your full power!」
「Of course!」
Right after Ren allowed it, Riona's body was enveloped in golden flame.
──The extermination targets were scattered everywhere. If it was human with shallow thought then they would start defeating the giant that was the nearest from here.
But Riona intentionally waited until all the information was collected without taking any action.
Because that way would be faster and more efficient to annihilate all the giants appearing everywhere. As the result more human lives would be saved.
Toba Riona showed a grit that was impossible for a normal high school girl.
She fearlessly smiled while transformed into the sacred bird Yatagarasu and climbed to the sky.
「Girl, so you're actually a bird of fire!」
The lightning god Thor watched in amazement.
「Sacred flame pure and clear──」
Riona=Yatagarasu chanted the fire's words of power while imagining it.
The surrounding map and the blinking red dots on it. She exerted her divine power in order to burn all those red dots into ash!
「This lowly self wish to reverently state at the presence of Sume-Mikami……by the means of blazing fire, I beg you to hold the purification ceremony, to cleanse the sinful impurity──!」
The large body with wings span that exceeded twenty meter went up in flames. Crimson flame scattered to all directions.
The flame became cannon shells like volcanic projectiles, flying to various places. It went ahead to several kilometer at the nearest and 100 kilometer at the farthest.
The number of this flying flame reached fifty or sixty in approximation.
All of them were heading to the 『red dots』 that the shikigamis reported, the locations of the giants.
And then──Riona's spiritual sense felt it.
How the giants everywhere were burning from getting showered with flame that came down from the sky.
The giant who were wandering aimlessly.
The giants who were roaring out the ferocity in their heart.
Giants who were swinging up their fist. Giants who were just a moment away from tearing apart humans.
All of them were showered with flame and they burned to ashes that not even their bone was left behind.
Furthermore, the captured humans didn't even get a single burn. Even though they were showered by flame from the sky together with the giants. It was truly a divine act.
But, the giants that were defeated by the flame just now were only half of their total number──.
The remaining half somehow endured even while getting fiercely burned. They were flailing to shake off the flame or rolling around on the ground to extinguish the fire. Among them there were even giants who chanted spell and escaped danger with the sorcery of fire extinguishing.
「It can't be helped. After all when speaking about the giant race of Norse, they are a relative of the gods ……」
Riona grinned without any surprise.
(Though to be more accurate, it was『Riona's consciousness that transformed into Yatagarasu's soul』)
The giants that survived were those with high divinity. She would just attack them with the same method one or two more times to consign them to oblivion. If there were giants that couldn't be defeated even with that, they might be a relative of frost giant or flame giant. At that time she would ask the lightning god Thor to sally out──
「Ah, come to think of it」
Suddenly Riona=Yatagarasu recalled.
The bluish white flame that appeared when she burned the wolf head at earth before this. If she could use that again.
However, at that time they hurriedly departed to Midgard so she shelved it away but, just what in the world was that……?
「Hahahahaha! Fire bird girl, you thought up a nice move!」
The lightning god Thor's voice suddenly resounded in the sky.
The manly youthful god had climbed to the sky when she noticed. Furthermore he was taking higher position than Riona=Yatagarasu until a spot where he could survey across the lower world with a gaze that was full of confidence.
As expected from the supreme ruler of lightning that soared through the sky, he was also able to freely fly in the sky.
The burly lightning god was laughing heartily.
「Now that I have learned such spectacular move exist, there is no option of not imitating it! Betting on my name as Odin's son, the giant slayer, the one who made the wives of the giants cry, the thundering one, there is no way this Thor will lose!」
「No, it's not like I'm competing against──」
「It's the path of the warrior to compete with each other! You will hand over your turn to me now!」
Thor ran his mouth saying his suspicious true feeling and lifted the hammer in his right hand high to the sky.
「O my iron hammer Mjolnir, share the blessing of lightning to the land!」
That was the words of power of lightning.
The blue and clear sky was suddenly filled with lightning cloud.
This area──the whole area that was invaded by the giants was covered by the large cloud. The source of thick thunder simultaneously rained down countless light toward dozens of places on the ground surface.
*GOoooNN! GOoooNN! GOoooNN!*
* GOoooooNN! GOoooooNN! GOoooooNN!*
Several hundred, thousand of lightning were falling toward a really wide area.
However, Riona witnessed it from the sky.
Thor's lightning attack in a glance looked like it was indiscriminately and carelessly fired. But all of them only targeted the giants that she failed to defeat.
Furthermore, the fierce lightning attack burned to ash all of them to ash without fail this time.
The lightning god's great feat could be observed exactly because she possessed the super sight of the sacred bird that could observe everything to far away and not just the nearby. Riona=Yatagarasu was feeling greatly impressed.
「As expected from the lightning god-sama who is unrivaled under the heaven……it's outrageous.」
「No, no. I'm able to do this because you taught me the location of the giants. I can say that half of this achievement, no a third……aaa, a tenth of it belong to you girl.」
It seemed that the lightning god Thor wasn't good at being humble.
After that──.
Ren and group headed toward the nearest city.
Their traveling method was using a『tank』. Of course it didn't refer to modern weaponry like Tiger, M1 Abram, or Type 90, but a chariot that was pulled by horse. It was the mobile weapon they got familiar with at Sanctuary Troia. (TN: In Japan the kanji for tank and chariot is the same)
The one driving it was the lightning god Thor.
And then surprisingly it wasn't being pulled by a horse, but by two goats.
「A goat can be this fast!?」
「That two goats are magical animal! Besides in the cultural sphere of Indo-European languages, goat is a sacred animal that has deep relation with lightning god!」
Ren and Riona who were allowed to get a ride at the back yelled at each other with a loud voice.
The dash of the goat chariot was just that fast. Because of the fierce shaking, the comfort of the ride was the worst. It was a pain even just to talk.
The two of them were desperately clinging on the chariot so they wouldn't get thrown off.
However, this was also a work of magic. Despite the heavy shaking, Ren and Riona didn't feel like they would get thrown off from the chariot. The safety level of the riders was unexpectedly high──.
By the way at the driver seat,
「Thor, this is really wonderful, please get faster!」
「Uwahahaha! You better hold on tight!」
The mini goddess's instigation made Thor whose shoulder was sat on by her laughed loudly.
*Rattle rattle rattle! Rattle rattle rattle!* The chariot's wheels were rotating in super high speed. The thundering sound was just like thunderclap.
Ren experienced the goat chariot's speed while recalling back.
「Come to think of it, I also heard the same sound at Troia……」
The hero Achilles, the war god Ares. The chariots they rode were also making sound that was similar with thunderclap when running. Could it be,
「Is the chariot of the gods has some relation with lightning or something!?」
「That's a good question to come from Rokuharsan! Iron sword and chariot are symbols that are greatly related with lightning! I'll explain it to you if there is a chance!」
Riona also spoke loudly without getting daunted by the running sound that was like thunderclap.
Anyway, like this they was able to arrive at the nearest city in just several minutes. The goat chariot finally slowed down and entered the city.
Then the people cheered 'WAAH' and rushed toward the chariot and muscular lightning god.
「Thor-sama! Thor-sama!」
「It was your great personage who saved our city wasn't it!?」
「I won't forget the fierceness of the lightning I saw just now for my whole life!」
「Thor!」「Thor!」「Thor!」「Thor!」「Thor!」「Thor!」
「Uwahahaha. Everybody is a bit too exaggerating.」
「That's not true at all Thor! You're really the best without doubt!」
「Stella, don't you say such embarrassing thing too, hahahaha」
A circle of acclamation was formed beside the lightning god who got down from the chariot.
It was truly a warm welcome. Because the ultimate lightning attack that was rained down in this area before this, everyone become convinced that it was the reinforcement from lightning god Thor.
「It completely become the achievement of Thor alone.」
Riona stared at the crowd from afar and shrugged.
It was a bit childish how she looked slightly vexed. But, she seemed to immediately pull herself together and muttered with a nonchalant air.
「Well, there is no need for me to stand out anyway, let's consider this as a good thing.」
「Hahahaha. I'll praise you in their place then. As expected from Riona, you're──eh? Those people, could it be they're valkyrie?」
Ren blinked and stared at a direction of the sky.
Nearly ten maidens were approaching by riding horses that were flying in the sky even though they had no wings.
Even though the horses should be stepping on air, the sound of hooves *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap* was loudly approaching here in a straight line──.
They were certainly the war maidens. They were really similar with the character that often appeared in fantasy game.
「You can call them valkyrie or walkure, but calling them with valkyria or valkyrja might be "more authentic" sounding.」
「I see……wait, eh?」
Ren who was lending his ear to Riona's explanation opened his eyes wide.
The group of war maiden valkyrie who was wearing feathered helmet and armor, and armed with short spear and other weapons. They were slowly descending to the ground surface. Among them──
He found a face that looked really similar with an acquaintance.
「That face is like……isn't she strangely look really similar with someone?」
「What's the matter Rokuharsan?」
「No, you see, there is someone who has really familiar face there.」
「Ren-sama, Rionsama! It's really great that I can meet you two!」
「「Heh?」」
Ren and Riona simultaneously let out a stupid sounding voice.
A silver haired beautiful girl came in front of the two of them. Her ears were slightly pointy. She met them every day at Sanctuary Troia where they were living at several days ago.
Princess Cassandra. The prophet of tragedy.
A girl who looked exactly the same with that princess was wearing valkyrie outfit smilingly.