Hanyu Genichi sucked in a sharp breath.
He hadn’t expected Demeter to make such a demand.
A goddess wanted to follow him out of this world?
Could he possibly agree to that?
Absolutely not!
However, his life was currently in Demeter’s hands.
Could he really afford to refuse?
“Don’t even think about deceiving me.
Mortals cannot lie before the gods!”
Demeter smiled sweetly, denying Genichi any opportunity to lie.
His entire body stiffened.
There was no way he could agree to something like this.
“Can I refuse?”
Genichi stared rigidly at Demeter as he asked the question.
He wanted nothing to do with such an arrangement.
The gods of this world had their divine power sealed while they remained in the Lower World.
Once Demeter left this world, however, there was no guarantee that seal would remain.
Taking a goddess into another world would be inviting endless trouble.
Who knew what kind of power Demeter would display once she was no longer sealed?
What if she turned against him after reaching another world?
What if her divine status caused some unimaginable disaster?
Genichi could end up being condemned as a sinner for all eternity.
Most importantly, he had no idea whether the Transmigration Gate could carry another person.
Genichi had traveled through it alone last time.
Nothing he had seen suggested it could transport anyone besides him.
If he rashly agreed and the Transmigration Gate refused to take Demeter, she would be left behind.
Just imagining what might happen afterward made his scalp tingle.
Naturally, Genichi had neither the desire nor the intention to take Demeter away from this world.
“You don’t have to answer immediately.
Take your time and think it over.”
“Until then, however, you’ll have to stay obediently by my side.
You don’t have a problem with that, do you?”
“Can I refuse?”
Genichi repeated the same question, but this time Demeter raised one finger and waved it from side to side.
“Of course not—unless you want every god in Orario to learn that you’re from another world, can travel between worlds, and possess such an embarrassing skill!”
Genichi immediately sank into despair.
He lowered his head and collapsed into the chair like a wilted plant, all the strength seemingly drained from his body.
He had barely escaped the tiger’s den, only to stumble straight into a wolf’s lair.
Genichi had arrived in this world and awakened a promising magic and skill.
[Slaanesh] might be embarrassing, but its combination with [Dreamwalking] was practically a match made in Heaven.
His future should have been bright.
Instead, before he could begin planning that wonderful future, the seemingly gentle and kind goddess before him had already wrapped him around her finger.
“Goddess…”
Genichi raised his head and forced a smile uglier than a crying face.
“You’re a noble goddess.
Why would you leave this world with an insignificant mortal like me?”
“You have your own Familia, followers, work, and status here.
Following me into an unfamiliar world and starting over from nothing doesn’t benefit you at all.”
Demeter tilted her head as if seriously considering his question.
After a moment, a meaningful smile appeared on her face.
“You’re right.
I have my Familia, followers, and work here.
However…”
She rose from the bed and walked to the window, gazing at the sky outside as the setting sun dyed it gold and crimson.
“I’ve already spent many years in the Lower World.
I wouldn’t say I’ve grown tired of everything here, but it no longer feels new to me.”
Demeter turned toward Genichi, an unusual gleam shining in her eyes.
“You’re different.
You came from another world—one I’ve never seen before.”
“What does that world look like?
What scenery, cultures, and stories does it have?
I want to know.”
“You’re curious?”
Genichi stared at her in surprise.
“That’s right.
I’m curious.”
Demeter nodded.
“As a goddess, I’ve witnessed the lives of countless children of the Lower World.
I’ve seen their joy and sorrow, their aging, sickness, and death.”
“Yet other worlds are beyond even the reach of the gods.
You’re the first person from another world I’ve encountered in my long life.
Do you honestly think I’d let such an opportunity slip away?”
Genichi fell silent.
He had to admit that Demeter’s reasoning was convincing.
If he encountered someone from another world, he would probably feel the same curiosity and desire to explore the unknown.
“But…”
Genichi made one final attempt to resist.
“I don’t know whether the Transmigration Gate can carry anyone besides me.
What if I can’t take you when the time comes?”
“That doesn’t matter.”
Demeter interrupted him.
“If it can’t take me, I’ll accept it.
At least I’ll have tried, so I won’t be left with any regrets.”
“Besides…”
A cunning smile appeared on her face.
“If I ultimately can’t leave with you, I won’t blame you.
However, if you try to sneak away alone, do you think I could release my divine power and kill you before you escape?”
Genichi was speechless.
It was such a naked threat that it left him with no room to escape.
“Fine, fine.”
Genichi raised both hands in helpless surrender.
“I promise that if the Transmigration Gate can carry another person, I’ll take you with me.
However, I have several conditions!”
Demeter raised an eyebrow.
“Let’s hear them.”
“First, until we leave this world, you must keep all my secrets.
You cannot reveal my true identity or abilities to anyone.”
“Agreed.”
“Second, while I’m testing the interaction between [Dreamwalking] and [Slaanesh], you cannot interfere with my actions or invade my privacy.”
“Well…”
Demeter hesitated briefly before finally nodding.
“Agreed, but you cannot do anything cruel or immoral.
If you use [Dreamwalking] to violate innocent girls, I won’t stand by and ignore it.”
“Dreams aren’t illegal.
As long as I don’t do anything to them in reality, stay out of it.
Deal?”
Demeter hesitated again before agreeing.
If it only happened in a dream, it should be no different from fantasizing about someone.
Probably.
“Third, while I’m staying in Orario, you’re paying all my expenses.”
“No problem.”
…