On the journey to the Holy Mountain, Kjera placed a hand on Mobius's shoulder and teleported her directly to the Holy Residence.
The Heavenly Road was bitterly cold, and Mobius's body was especially sensitive to such temperatures.
'No need to make Kashchey(Mobius) suffer.'
They reappeared beside the only fire burning in the Holy Residence.
Before Kjera met Kashchey, there had never been a stove in this sacred place.
After all, Kjera herself did not fear the cold.
But her friend loathed it.
"I heard in the tavern that a company called Karlan Trading was recently established, dealing with Kjerag's imports and exports… Is your Kjerag finally planning to reach out to the outside world?"
Mobius spoke casually, settling down beside the fire, removing her thick sweater until only her white coat remained.
She always treated each of her bodies with a strange sense of ritual.
"I've never forbidden the children from communicating with the outside world. But some of them… may have grown too used to living under my protection. They're becoming less willing to face the cruelty of the outside."
Kjera added a few logs into the fire, stoking it gently.
"You're still too soft-hearted… If you issued a direct order as [Kjeragandr], demanding they study and connect with the outside world, who among them would dare to resist you?"
Mobius extended her hands toward the fire, speaking nonchalantly.
"…I won't interfere with their choices."
Kjera hesitated.
"You've been far too indulgent with them… But still, one of your children does seem rather clever."
"It's Enciodes SilverAsh, isn't it?"
"Indeed… But what I didn't expect was that he's the brother of your current Saint. Haha! Using the sister to control the brother—no wonder you haven't interfered with Karlan Trading's operations. As Kjerag's goddes, you must've seen through that boy's cold exterior… a heart still clinging to idealistic fantasies. I observed this back when I was in Victoria, just out of boredom. But you… you know everything about Kjerag. A person like him must place great importance on family."
"…If you continue speculating about me with your filthy heart, I will bury your body in the snow along the Heavenly Road."
"I'm sorry… I'm just a little worried about you. If Karlan Trading isn't under your control, the people of Kjerag might begin to waver in their faith."
"I've never needed their faith. I'd be glad if the children could carve out a name for themselves."
"…You still know too little about those short-lived species."
Those fleeting emotions have the shortest shelf life.
Their lifespans are too short.
Because you once protected them, they will build you a temple, offer you faith.
But if they begin to believe they can protect themselves, if they feel strong...
They will abandon you without hesitation.
Worse yet, they will shatter your body, imprison your spirit, and force you to contribute your strength to their humiliation—forever.
So I will never entrust my fate to them, nor will I delude myself about the sincerity of their proclaimed faith.
If you continue to let them go free, one day you'll be left with nothing when faced with the betrayal of the children you cherish.
Your idols will be shattered.
Your power, stolen.
Your achievements, erased.
And the love you gave them — they will forget it all.
They never saw you as one of their own.
But it doesn't matter.
I will protect you when that day comes — when they betray you.
Because you're my friend —I, the immortal black snake.
"What?"
"Oh, by the way, here's an experimental report. Could you please take a look at it~"
Mobius abruptly changed the subject, and Kjera didn't pursue it further.
They both knew their values were different.
Mobius believed those short-lived species could be a threat — but they could also be useful.
Kjera, on the other hand, saw the short-lived people of Kjerag as pitiful and fragile children, still growing, still learning.
But that difference in belief never damaged their friendship.
Kjera knew that Mobius's words just now had come from concern — from a desire to help her avoid trouble.
Kashchey(Mobius) became friends with Kjera because of her tolerance and gentle nature — a presence that made the cold-blooded serpent feel safe.
They respected each other's differences — and found harmony despite them.
---
Kjera glanced over the experimental report in her hands and frowned.
Kashchey had once taught her the languages of Terra, so understanding the document wasn't difficult.
"You don't know the answer to this?"
Kjera set the report down and took the cup of Victorian black tea Mobius had brewed for her.
Every time she came to visit Kashchey, he would bring some specialty goods from outside.
"Would I ask you if I did?"
Mobius replied lazily while flipping through Kjerag's historical records.
These books chronicled Kjerag's traditions and culture — things Mobius found rather fascinating.
"One day, while I was sheltering the people of Kjerag… I suddenly found myself."
Kjera explained, taking a sip of tea.
"Strange. I've protected the people of Ursus for so long, and I still haven't figured it out."
Mobius muttered thoughtfully.
"…Wait. What did you just say? No, seriously—are you a man or a woman?!"
"I haven't decided yet."
Kashchey deftly caught the teacup Kjera had almost dropped in shock.
The goddess of Kjerag stared at her, stunned and silent.
Who would have thought that a close friend she had known for countless years—perhaps even a childhood companion, at least from the perspective of Feranmuts and immortals—turned out to be a creature of unknown gender?
Kjera had always assumed that Kashchey was male. After all, aside from the very first time they met—when Kashchey had used that strange, unfamiliar body—he had always appeared in a male form.
Mobius calmly explained:
"Because of my abilities, I'm not in any rush to settle on a form."
To her, gender simply wasn't that important.
Even Kashchey himself didn't fully understand how he continued to survive in this world.
In order to endure until the end of all things, he had developed his will into all manner of strange and unorthodox entities.
"Would you like to contribute to this report? Don't worry, I'll make sure your identity and other details remain anonymous."
Perplexed by Kjera's shock, Mobius tried to convince her to fill in her personal thoughts for the experimental research document.
After all, Mobius was also quite curious about the subject.
Feeling the weight of Mobius's gaze—one that seemed to say, "What's the big deal?"—Kjera began to fall into a quiet spiral of self-doubt.
Could it be… that to Mobius's kind outside this land, this behavior is completely normal?
"…Fine. But I want you to share the final research conclusions with me."
"No problem."
---
"God, when will you come back? I can't take this anymore."
In order to avoid being found out by either her Chief Maid or the God she worshipped, the Saint named Enya SilverAsh had no choice but to shoulder the responsibilities of the Saintess and Chief Maid at the same time herself.