"And… I'm guessing someone by the name 'Roselia' helped with that knowledge, no?" Anathasia asked, folding her arms as she tilted her head slightly toward Hinami.
Hinami flinched before giving a small nod.
"Roselia-sama wasn't lying then…" she murmured, just loud enough for us to hear.
"The First really does see everything…"
Anathasia said nothing.
She only shook her head lightly and looked at Hinami.
"Anyway," she continued, her tone flattening, "I'm not here to hurt you."
Her gaze flickered briefly toward Carthanalenia, who sat quietly on the couch.
"I'm only here because my daughter wants to spend time with me."
Then she looked back at Hinami.
"So you don't have to worry about me doing anything drastic."
Hinami stood frozen, her expression torn between caution and relief.
"What happened last year was self-defense," Anathasia added calmly.
"Aside from your two friends, no one else was harmed."
"How is Arianne—"
"She's fine," Anathasia cut in, raising a hand this time. "We're in the same research group."
That seemed to settle something inside Hinami.
"I see…" She looked down briefly before offering a faint smile. "She's safe…"
—
A few minutes later, we headed up to a shrine not far from the community, nestled along the mountain path.
"So," Anathasia asked, walking just behind me while Carthanalenia led the way. Hinami and Egrathiel followed a few steps behind. "Which god are we praying to?"
"The fox god," Hinami replied evenly. Then after a brief pause—
"Or more specifically… Roselia-sama."
Anathasia stopped walking.
She tugged at my sleeve, pulling me back just as Hinami nearly walked into her.
"Anathasia—what the hell are you—"
I stopped mid-sentence.
Her face twisted in pure disgust.
"That woman…" she muttered. "Has followers? An entire religion built around her?"
Her lip curled.
"That pervert?"
Hinami stared up at her, eyes wide.
"…Pervert?"
"Yes, pervert," Anathasia repeated, shaking her head.
"Out of all the Outer Gods, she's the only one who actually enjoyed getting beaten by me. Repeatedly."
She clicked her tongue.
"Like a masochist."
"Oi," I cut in before she could spiral further. "Don't ruin Hinami's perception of Roselia."
Anathasia shot me a look, huffed, and resumed walking up the shrine steps.
After about two minutes, we reached the top.
It was… small.
Just a modest wooden structure with a roof and a small offering box.
I wasn't entirely sure what it was called.
When it came time to pray, Anathasia crossed her arms.
"If it were someone else, I'd offer a prayer," she said flatly. "But Roselia? No."
She looked away.
"She was the most troublesome one I dealt with. Always challenging me to spars back then. Wouldn't stop until I eventually gave in and did what I did."
She looked more annoyed than angry.
Once the others finished, Anathasia snapped her fingers.
The next second—
We were standing at the base of the mountain.
Right beside the cars.
Hinami froze mid-step, staring at them like her brain hadn't caught up yet.
We didn't stick around long.
Apparently her dad wanted to meet Roselia's mentor.
Roselia, according to Hinami, was basically their benefactor.
—
A few minutes of driving and several quiet stretches of road later, the car slowed in front of a tall gate. It opened almost immediately, and we drove through.
The moment we entered the property, rows of trees stretched endlessly on both sides of the road.
At the end of the long cobblestone path stood—
A mansion.
No. An entire estate.
It easily spanned hundreds of meters in every direction. The design even leaned more Western than I expected, especially considering we were still in Japan.
When the car finally stopped, we stepped out and were immediately greeted by a few servants.
Which, honestly, felt awkward.
Hinami moved a step ahead of us.
"Please follow me," she said as the double doors opened.
Inside, the place was—
"Huge…" Anathasia muttered, her eyes moving from one painting to another as we walked across the polished marble floor.
"Took the words right out of my mouth," I said quietly.
"Well," Carthanalenia added from behind us, walking beside Egrathiel, "they are billionaires with a long history, after all."
A low creak echoed as the doors to the living room opened.
The moment we stepped inside, paintings and antiques— or… whatever they were, immediately filled my vision.
Every piece looked like something I'd seen online before. The kind that cost at least a few million pesos each. Probably way more in yen.
"Looks expensive…" Anathasia muttered beside me, eyeing a porcelain vase sitting near a bookshelf.
"Think that's a few million?"
I followed her gaze.
"Yeah…" I nodded slowly. "Could probably go for one or two—"
"Mom. Dad."
Before we knew it, Carthanalenia grabbed us by the backs of our coats and effortlessly lifted us off the floor.
The next second, we were seated on the couch.
"We're here to meet the head of the Fuyukawa clan," Carthanalenia said calmly. "Not appraise their furniture."
We were facing Hinami now. She sat across from us, forcing a smile that didn't quite stick.
"That was… Mr. Abe is… a father— I mean—"
She stopped.
For a second, she just stared at us like her brain had short-circuited.
Then she quickly lowered her head.
"I apologize…!"
I blinked. "Why—"
"Because she was one of the people who worked with Marianne to kidnap you last year," Anathasia cut in, leaning back against the couch.
"I told you they were planning something like that, remember? That's why Marianne suddenly disappeared and ended up getting accused of everything."
Across from us, Hinami stiffened.
"So… what really happened back then… was The First's doing?"
Anathasia gave a small nod and waved her hand dismissively.
"Something like that. I heard the three of you were planning to take Kyle away, so I acted before Marianne could."
I hummed, straightening a little on the couch.
"Yeah… you did mention that."
"The First… knew about that too?" Hinami asked quietly.
Anathasia shot her a bored look.
"Yes," she replied flatly. "What happened after that… you already know."
Hinami fell silent and gave a small nod.
Then—
The doors opened.
My head turned.
A man with an imposing presence stepped into the room. Anathasia and Carthanalenia only gave him a brief glance.
He walked toward the couch opposite us and stopped, remaining on his feet.
Then he lowered his head slightly.
"Welcome to our humble abode," he said, his voice deep and steady.
He lifted his gaze slowly.
"First Outer God of Continuity… and the Continuity's daughter."
His eyes shifted toward me.
"As well as the Outer God of Stillness."
My eyes widened.
Outer God…?
Before I could say anything—
He gently placed a hand on the back of Hinami's head and guided it down as he bowed again.
"I apologize for my daughter's transgressions," he said, and this time, there was weight in his voice.
"Please do not punish her."
"…Allow me to accept her punishment instead."
Silence filled the room.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed the old man standing near the door, probably the head butler. His hands were clenched tightly at his sides.
Carthanalenia, on the other hand, looked relaxed.
So did Anathasia.
Even as father and daughter kept their heads lowered.
A few seconds passed before Anathasia finally spoke.
"I don't plan on punishing someone who was dragged into something she didn't even start," she said casually.
Her gaze drifted, eventually settling on my hand.
Without warning, she pulled it toward her and cracked my fingers one by one.
The sharp pops echoed faintly against the walls.
"It's in the past. Kyle's safe. The three girls are fine. No one was harmed in the end."
She finally looked at them.
"So don't stress over it. What's done is done. You can't change the past…"
She paused.
"…Well. I technically can, but—"
"Mom," Carthanalenia cut in smoothly. "Not the time."
Anathasia went quiet for a second, then gave a small nod.
"Right."
She looked back at them.
"Simply put, I won't punish you. Or your daughter."