Chapter 27: The Ancient God's "Goodwill"
Looking at the Snake Goddess Priestess in front of him, Hikigaya couldn't help but want to make a sarcastic comment.
After encountering the priestess from the Temple of Life in Egypt who served the goddess Hathor, Hikigaya had now seen another priestess carrying the aura of divine power—it was clear this wasn't a phenomenon unique to Egypt.
Yet both goddesses bore the title of "Mother," which showed just how stingy the father-gods were.
"Don't you seek the protection of the Snake Goddess?" Hikigaya asked the priestess. "Or is it that she can't show herself easily?"
He stared at the woman with interest, observing the changes in her divine aura.
This was all in pursuit of a theory he held.
Humanity's ability to conquer nature varied drastically at different points in history.
So, as gods who became eternal through human mythology, their power and form of influence likely evolved in sync with humanity.
Although small in magnitude, Hikigaya could see that the ancient gods of this era seemed able to infuse their divine power in a "solidified" form into the bodies of their worshippers and let them use it.
This might mean that in the early stages of human civilization, gods could still influence the mortal world without stepping outside their mythological roles.
Hikigaya was eager to know just how far their influence could reach.
"If necessary, my goddess will of course appear. Nothing can block a god," the Snake Goddess Priestess replied.
However, her expression was filled with confusion, as if the words coming out of Hikigaya's mouth were incomprehensible to her.
"Then… can she see me right now?" Hikigaya continued to ask.
"She can," the priestess answered straightforwardly this time.
"What does she want you to do?"
"The great goddess has instructed me to honor you as I honor her."
"Oh?" Hikigaya raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Did she give a reason?"
"I am but the goddess's humble servant," the priestess answered with a submissive look, though she continued speaking rapidly. "Yet the merciful goddess told me that you and she
are comrades who are inseparable throughout the ages. If you are willing to give her what she desires, then she too will descend when you are in need."
"Nani?" Hikigaya was truly shocked this time.
Could this snake goddess be the predecessor of Athena? Did her current divine identity evolve into that of Athena?
Leaving aside how the Athena of this era could know that she would one day manifest herself through him—it just didn't make logical sense.
After all, before he had forcibly brought the modern Athena into his divine palace, she was nothing if not hostile—fighting tooth and nail.
And from any angle of divinity, Athena didn't seem to have power over time.
There had to be some shady "spear" behind all this! Given the limits of the era, Hikigaya was willing to compromise a bit and imagine that "spear" as being made of bronze.
"What does she want?" Hikigaya thought for a moment and asked.
If an ancient god was willing to form an alliance, he definitely needed to make use of it.
"This is not something a lowly being like myself could know," the priestess replied, "but the goddess will speak with you through my body. When your body joins with mine, your spirit will also connect with hers."
The priestess said this with a completely serious face.
Hikigaya ran that sentence through his mind several times before finally admitting—he had no idea what she meant.
"The way you said that—I don't understand a word. Please use human language to say it again…"
"Please make love to me!" the priestess instantly switched expressions, and her whole being radiated spring-like energy…
"You're really trying to cause trouble here…" Hikigaya sighed.
At this time, fertility and growth were considered a core measure of GDP by all nations.
And human lovemaking? Even more so—a key economic initiative. The Aegean world's most iconic fertility goddess's priestess was now quite fervently expressing her dedication to the national GDP goals.
Still, since an ancient god had extended a hand in alliance, he wouldn't pretend not to hear.
But how exactly had the other side even noticed him? That really piqued his curiosity. Of course, he wasn't planning to link up just yet.
Deals with gods were always weighty, and forming a spiritual bond with an ancient god carried even greater risks.
Hikigaya admitted to himself—he wasn't ready to shoulder that burden.
"Got it. If I need anything, I'll come find you," Hikigaya said, casting a long, meaningful look at the Snake Goddess statue behind the priestess and committing its image to memory. "But today, I came to speak to you Minoans about something else."
"No problem. You are the goddess's ally. Knossos is willing to support the Pharaoh you support," the priestess responded quickly.
A strong sense of dedication—but she had completely misunderstood.
"That's not what I meant…" Hikigaya waved his hand and then took out two stone badges.
These were crafted by him along the way using divine power—each one engraved with the face of Yukinoshita Yukino and Hazazi.
"You Minoans have the strongest naval force. Help me find these two people, and I'll reward you handsomely."
The priestess received the badges with both hands, examined them carefully, and nodded.
"No problem. We will carve their likenesses onto stone tablets and place them on our warships, commanding all our people to search for them."
"Good. Focus your search around the southern regions—Tehenu and Tehmu. That's what the Egyptians call them—I'm not sure what you call those areas. Just… pay more attention there," Hikigaya added.
Tehenu and Tehmu were names the New Kingdom Egyptians used for what would later be known as Libya.
The former referred to East Libya, closer to the Nile Delta; the latter referred to the west. The modern name "Libya" came from the Libu people currently active in the Tehmu region.
Soon, after giving his instructions, Hikigaya turned to leave the Snake Goddess Priestess's chamber.
But just as he pulled open that questionably built door, he saw Haruno crouching outside like she'd been eavesdropping.
"What are you doing?" Hikigaya reached out with a lifting motion, and a stream of air swirled through the hallway, lifting Haruno into the air. Her graceful body—only slightly more youthful than the priestess's—was suddenly within Hikigaya's grasp.
"You're already done? You've been having a good time in Egypt, huh? Using it quite a lot, aren't you?" Haruno gave up struggling after realizing she couldn't break free and just looked at Hikigaya with a sour tone.
"What do you think I am—an animal?" Hikigaya gave that soft flesh a firm squeeze. "In this era? With two rows of big yellow teeth as soon as they open their mouths? You might be into that—I'm not."
Then, he grinned, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Since we finally ran into each other, and we're both so pent-up… how about we hit your place for a round?"
"Go die!"