Chapter 333: The Twin Goddesses
'Eh? Could this child be Jeanne?! So cute! It fits perfectly! No sense of incongruity at all!' Shirou thought, shocked, as he gazed at the panda beast-girl sitting on the bamboo forest floor clutching a stalk.
'What is this? This human? He's actually a bit handsome? Could this be what they call destiny? I should take him home!'
Little Panda Jeanne's large, watery eyes locked onto Shirou's for a long time, looking as though they might well up at any moment.
"Awoo!" Unable to watch any longer, Lion Saber leaped out and blocked the panda's line of sight.
"Gaa..." Behind them, Fujimura Tiger shook her head helplessly.
Although she had locked eyes with Shirou, the moment she saw the little lion and Fujimura Tiger, Panda Jeanne felt provoked. She raised her bamboo and roared back fiercely. She wasn't a cat; she was a bear!
Lion Saber, unwilling to be outdone, glared back with fury.
'Where did you come from, you stupid cat? What's with that human? Where is he from? What is he doing? Not that I really care, but I'll let you speak your piece' Panda Jeanne asked, arms crossed.
Seeing this, the little lion grew even more incensed! She roared: 'None of your business! Shirou is already my owner. Don't come near us, you fat-da! Scram as far away as you can!'
Panda Jeanne bared her sharp fangs and slammed her bamboo heavily against the ground. She stood up and said: Ha?! What? You're the ones who barged into my territory! And looking closely, isn't that tiger over there the one who's always sneaking around stealing my bamboo?!
"Ga-oh!" Stricken by a guilty conscience, little Fujimura Tiger hastily tossed her bamboo spear behind her to hide it and ducked behind Shirou's legs.
Just then, Panda Jeanne's eyes drifted upward, meeting the gaze of Shirou, who was currently smiling and waving at her. Upon making eye contact, her face flushed red, and she quickly looked away.
Collecting herself, Panda Jeanne continued:
Since you're in my territory, you're my property! That human is called Shirou? He's nothing special, but I'll take him!
What is this panda saying?! Shirou isn't anyone's prey, and he's mine!
The little lion and the panda engaged in a fierce argument in beast-tongue. Lion Saber raised her "manga meat" bone club, while sparks flew from the mouth of the silver-haired little panda. A grand battle was on the verge of erupting!
At that moment, two hands reached out from behind, lifting both small animals simultaneously and separating them to either side.
"Alright, alright, don't fight." Having frequently dealt with the bickering between the Altered versions of Artoria and Jeanne, Shirou was already an expert. Now, in his elementary-schooler form, dealing with these two infant-sized animals was actually easier.
"Ga-oh! Ga-oh!" The lifted little lion flailed her limbs, barking: Shirou, move aside! This is a matter of the dignity of the King of Beasts! How can the majestic Lion King let a fat-da who rolls around on the ground look down on her!
"Here, have this." Shirou handed a snack prepared the night before into Lion Saber's paws.
"..." The little lion held the meatball, her expression shifting into one of peaceful, serene happiness.
That left only the other one to handle.
"Woof! Woof! Woof!!" The black and white panda let out a threatening bark, saying fiercely: Human! Don't think just because your eyes are pretty you can suddenly get close to me. I'll burn you! I'll really burn you!
Shirou wasn't worried about getting hurt. After all, pandas were so gentle and cute, and since she was connected to Jeanne, it meant she couldn't be a bad child. He crouched down, meeting Panda Jeanne eye-to-eye, and spoke softly:
"There, don't be angry. No one here is going to hurt you, so calm down. Let's get along. I actually came here because I wanted to be friends with a cute panda."
"...Uuu... jiji." Panda Jeanne stared into Shirou's kind, sincere eyes. She accidentally got lost in them again and quickly looked away, but after a moment, she couldn't help but steal another glance, only to see him still smiling at her.
"Yes, this is a gift—a meatball. I wonder if it suits your taste." Shirou took out a meatball and handed it to the girl.
Pandas are omnivores. Pandas in zoos are fed mostly bamboo to prevent disease, maintain their "idol" image for kids, and preserve world peace. It's an aesthetic choice. However, wild pandas aren't so picky; they won't turn down insects, small animals, or the carrion of large beasts.
Panda Jeanne took the gift, turned her head away, and walked to the other side with the plate in one hand, putting some distance between herself and Shirou.
The little lion watched Panda Jeanne with a look of disdain. What was that tiny sound you just made? Don't tell me it was a mating call?
"U-ga!!" Panda Jeanne seemed to have been hit where it hurts. She jumped up in shock, ignoring her plate as it flew out of her hands, and roared loudly while waving her paws: I'm so mad! What is with you, cat! Do you want to go?!
The little lion took the opportunity to jump up and catch the plate, then caught the flying meatballs one by one. She ate them leisurely, not forgetting to diss her rival: What a childish fat-da.
"So mad! Dammit!!" Panda Jeanne was about to pounce.
"Don't fight, there are plenty of meatballs." Shirou, unable to understand the beast-tongue, simply thought the beast-girls were fighting over snacks like children. He reached out, caught the rampaging panda mid-air as she leaped toward Lion Saber, and held her in his arms, stroking her head to comfort her.
"Uuu..." Held by Shirou, Panda Jeanne instantly quieted down. Her face flushed a deep red; her mouth was open, but she couldn't say a word. What is happening?! This... this human just suddenly hugged me. Doesn't he feel any... any shame? But... it feels so good~!
Cradled in his arms and receiving pets, Panda Jeanne ultimately stood no chance against Shirou, her expression softening into one of healed relaxation.
Sitting on the other side chewing a meatball, little Fujimura Tiger watched the scene.
Uwaa, Shirou-chan is so popular. Should I work harder too? No, that seems like a hassle. As long as I can stay by Shirou-chan's side and eat, it's fine.
And so, the young boy stopped a world-shaking battle. The needle-like green leaves of the bamboo forest swayed gently in the wind; everything was peaceful.
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However, at that moment, in another location, a group of beings who were once high and mighty were arguing fiercely. To the west of the great forest stood a mountain regarded by locals as a divine peak. At some point, stone houses resembling miniature shrines had been built upon it.
The residents here were beings who had settled after the event twenty years ago when a golden treasure fell from the sky and white light shrouded the world. Unlike the indigenous humans who generally had black hair and brown skin, the beings here all had golden hair and fair skin.
"That outsider boy is getting closer and closer to the center of the forest. He must be stopped."
"We can't just watch anymore. Go there directly and drive him away. If he doesn't listen, there's no harm in killing him!"
"Hmph! He already has three Mystical Creatures by his side! If you want to kill him, why don't you go try it yourself? Do you still think it's twenty years ago?"
None of the beings arguing here were ordinary people. If the locals knew their true identities, they would fall to the ground in shock, not daring to lift their heads.
The long-bearded middle-aged man with the raspy voice who spoke first was Anu, the God of the Heavens, the Chief God known as the Father of Gods. Another man with long, straight hair was Enlil, the God of Storms. The robust man with a heavy, steady voice and a full beard was Ea, the God of the Earth.
However, currently, no one would recognize their status. The reason was that during the event twenty years ago, the gods in the heavens were similarly enveloped by the white light. It was a creative force capable of rewriting the rules of the world. Though incomplete, that invasive white light was a terrifying threat.
Anu, the Sky God, had summoned all the gods of the Babylonian pantheon to use their divine power in an attempt to eliminate this external divine force. Ultimately, the white light was cleared, but simultaneously, the divine power of all the gods was completely exhausted.
Under the influence of the white light, this world no longer generated divine power. However, because the force itself was incomplete and the gods had resisted, the power of Divine Beasts remained. The Holy Grail, which entered through the spatial turbulence, connected to the Throne of Heroes, and by a stroke of luck, various Mystical Creatures were born.
The race of gods, having lost their power and fallen to the mortal realm, had to face the reality of survival. Thus, they lived upon the great mountain. Currently, aside from physical abilities several times stronger than mortals and unique divine knowledge, they were no different from ordinary humans. If they continued like this, they would eventually face the end of their lifespans, even if they avoided sickness and injury.
From the day they lost their power, they thought of nothing but restoring the world to normal. But twenty years had already passed. Precisely because of this, they were arguing violently at the assembly.
"Silence!! Put aside this pointless bickering and speak reasonably. The priority is that we must stop that outsider child from approaching the Holy Grail at all costs," the Sky God said, striking his staff heavily against the ground.
The arguing gods calmed down and said, "Fine! If anyone has an idea, speak up."
Some gods shrugged indifferently, saying:
"This is an exaggeration! I don't think there's a need for such a fuss. He's just a child from another space-time. What could happen if he touches the Holy Grail? We've tried everything to deal with that Grail which absorbed the white light's energy, and we couldn't do a thing. We couldn't destroy it, and when we tried to fire it off like a meteor, it just flew right back."
This was immediately met with strong opposition from other gods.
"Don't say such foolish things! We have no idea what he would do with that Grail! If the white light inside that Grail were to surge out, this time even our very existence might be erased! I never imagined there would be a Creator existence that wanted to eliminate all Mystery—it's too reckless!"
"Have you lost your courage since falling to the mortal realm?"
"What!"
Just then, a proud girl's voice cut through, interrupting the gods' quarrel.
"Father, Uncles, there is nothing to worry about. As long as I am here, none of this will be an issue!" Pushing aside the animal-skin curtain, a little blonde, red-eyed Loli with twin-tails walked in, speaking with total confidence.
"Oh! Truly my beloved daughter! Ishtar, has the Bull of Heaven finally agreed to help?!"
The little Loli showed an awkward expression, hesitating before saying: "Uh... the Bull of Heaven went to play in the back mountains a few days ago and hasn't come back yet..."
"Then who will go stop that outsider child? During this time, that boy is constantly adding Mystical Creature companions. Those monsters... for us as we are now, meeting them offers only one choice: running for our lives," the bearded uncle asked.
"Um... Father, Uncles, how about I go?" At that moment, another blonde, twin-tailed Loli walked in. She looked identical to the one who had entered before, but her aura was softer, and she seemed somewhat introverted in front of so many relatives.
"Ah... Eresh, you..." The Sky God looked at this daughter of his, whom he had placed in the Underworld since she was a child and had barely met since, with a look of surprise.
Because Ereshkigal had been chosen as the ruler of the Underworld, it meant she was destined to be trapped there forever, unable to take a single step away from the subterranean realm. Her authority in the Underworld was incredibly powerful, governing the lifespans not only of humans but of gods as well. Consequently, she was shunned and feared by her own kin, who were terrified of being dragged into her domain.
If not for the white light incident that caused a massive upheaval in both the Heavens and the Underworld, she would never have seen the light of day or lived with her relatives. Even so, there was still a barrier between her and the heavenly gods.
But hearing Eresh's self-recommendation now, the divine relatives all laughed joyfully and said:
"Oh! Right! I didn't even think of it! Eresh also possesses multiple powerful Mystical Creatures!"
"Exactly! I remember there's the dog that uses the Red Spear of Causality, the Druid magus, and that red-and-black berserk dragon species—every one of them is an upper-tier Mystical Creature! Against the three that human found, there shouldn't be any problem! Plus, our physical abilities are several times stronger than a mortal's—this can work!"
"But, is it really okay for Eresh to go alone?" the goddess who was the girl's biological mother asked worriedly.
"It's fine! Mother! Don't worry! I'll go with her! As long as I'm there, every problem will be solved!" Ishtar spoke up from the side.
"Yes, if Ishtar goes along too, then Mother can rest easy," the goddess replied, smiling and nodding in agreement to her younger daughter's words.
"Yes, indeed. With the two of you together, there will surely be no problem," the surrounding gods echoed, clearly favoring Ishtar.
They called it worry, but these words sounded so piercing. As their reactions fell upon Eresh's eyes, it was clear evidence of partiality and a lack of trust in her. What hurt even more was that her parents held the same attitude.
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