After the battle between the two absolute beings ended, only silence remained in the forest. Not even the sound of insects or the chirping of birds could be heard. The hastily formed forest had no time for life to grow. In the thicket where one couldn't see even 3 meters ahead due to the bushes and trees, Rash, revived by the power of immortality, woke his companion who slept in his arms.
"Kalis. Kalis. Are you coming to your senses?"
Kalis did not answer and only groaned. Rash looked at Kalis, who was burning hot, with a worried face.
Kalis, who had eaten the remains of the Offering God, had gained the power of immortality. The bleeding had already stopped, and the wounds on her body had completely disappeared. Rash instinctively realized that Kalis had gained the Offering God's power.
However, the problem was not Kalis's body. It was her mind. What effect the Offering God's power would have on Kalis. Unable to know at all, Rash soon shook his head to brush off his worry. Because it wasn't a problem that could be solved by worrying.
"Teacher? Boy? Are you there?"
There was no answer. Along with Nebida, the two of them seemed to have disappeared as well. He was a bit worried about their well-being, but that too wasn't a problem that could be solved by Rash worrying.
Instead, Rash looked for their kin.
"Hey, everyone! Wake up!"
Rash broke the vines with both arms and pulled out the roots to rescue the immortals. Their condition wasn't bad. Unlike the Pi-u, they were immortals. Even though they were wrapped in thorny vines and buried in tree roots, they were alive and well.
'...The aftermath is greater than I thought. This seems to have reached even Pi-u Village.'
The battle between the two absolute beings had transcended common sense. Light burned the trees to create a storm, and the forest inhaled the air and set itself ablaze. It was as if two great natures had fought each other and left scars upon the world.
Nebida had disappeared, but the green explosion was still writhing and devouring the world.
Only then did Rash recall what he had forgotten until now.
'Wait. Pi-u? What about the Pi-u?'
Even the immortals would have died in a worst-case scenario. Then what about the Pi-u, who could die even from trivial reasons?
'It couldn't be helped. I was too busy preserving my own life! But now that I have some leeway, I should go see the Pi-u!'
Besides, he couldn't leave Kalis in this unidentified forest anyway. Rash just made his kin come to their senses enough and quickly tried to leave the forest.
After walking for a long time like that, Rash soon felt something strange. The movement was slow due to being densely packed with bushes and trees, but even taking that into account, no end was in sight. The terrain was already overlaid with forest, so he couldn't even gauge the direction. Roughly pushing through the bushes that rushed over his field of vision, Rash walked aimlessly until he could see an end.
During that time, Rash stopped after discovering something. Artificial decorations that didn't fit the primeval forest were revealed inside the vines. After confirming its identity, Rash muttered.
"This place was... Pi-u Village?"
The ominous premonition became reality. The explosion of trees had ultimately struck even Pi-u Village. Because it was the outskirts, the density of trees was lower than the center, but if they were swept up, the Pi-u would have died without even having time to resist.
"Hey! Is anyone there!"
Just in case there were survivors. Rash shouted at the top of his lungs, but only the sound reflected off the trees echoed back. Rash headed toward the closest visible building. Because the vines had tightened around and broken the main beam, the building had collapsed askew. Rash tore off the rattling door and soon regretted his action. Because grass and trees were packed so tightly inside the building that they seemed about to burst.
It looked difficult to even recover the corpses. Rash frowned and threw the door away. If the Pi-u were caught up in this explosion and all died....
"Woof!"
Rash quickly turned his head. A bark that was somewhat familiar, though he had forgotten it for a moment. Rash felt a faint hope. Because it was different from other beasts' cries—it was one of a beast full of goodwill toward humans.
Rash ran toward where the sound came from. Unlike before, it was easier to move. It wasn't just his imagination. Marks of claws, marks of tree trunks being bitten, marks of the ground being dug up, and so on. Because the traces of a more powerful and rough beast had eaten into the giant forest.
Rash, who had readjusted his hold on Kalis, ran along the trail, and before long, he discovered the Pi-u sitting around a campfire.
The Pi-u, who had armed themselves with weapons and equipment as a sort of vigilante group, discovered Rash and shouted.
"Mr. Rash!"
"Everyone was alive!"
"No, we almost died! If it weren't for this one here, we would have been swept up and died without being able to do anything!"
The vigilante group pointed at Azi as if they had agreed upon it. Azi, who was filling his stomach with a single piece of meat, barked as if responding to the attention.
Even the sturdy claws had worn down and become short. As if he hadn't stopped kicking even after that, dried blood was caked on the dirt. His fur and skin were a mess with twigs and leaves. He also had a scratch near his eye and was squinting one eye uncomfortably.
If he had just run away, he wouldn't have gotten wounds like these. Those were traces of fighting the forest to save people.
"In the middle of the night, he woke all of us up and dragged us along!"
"After that, light fell from the sky and the forest burned, and then the enraged forest came crashing down on us."
"Anyway, Mr. Rash. What happened? Is it really true what they're saying?"
"What's what? Tell me what it is first, then I'll tell you if it's right."
"...There's a rumor that the Offering God became angry because the forest was burned. So people are in an uproar, saying that those who advocated setting the fire should be offered as sacrifices. I've stopped them for now, but..."
That was completely wrong. But Rash lacked the skill to explain, and the situation that had just occurred was a major incident that was too difficult to even explain in itself.
Rash scratched his chin as if troubled. People who read that gesture as agreement shouted violently.
"It was true after all! The Earth Mother Goddess is angry because someone dared to burn the forest!"
"The World Tree took revenge because its body was burned!"
"Offer sacrifices! That woman who set the fire too!"
As the crowd's anger turned toward Kalis, Rash answered with a stern expression.
"Don't bullshit me. That's not it."
"Then! Why did the world tear apart and the forest become enraged!"
"How should I know?"
"So it is the Offering God's will! You're trying to gloss over it because your wife committed a sin!"
No. The Offering God was an ugly god, and was killed by an omen of misfortune to become a tree. Kalis, who ate its fruit, is the Offering God.
But how should he explain this. Even Rash, who saw all those events right before his eyes, still didn't understand well. While Rash was choosing his words, some Pi-u who had found a target to pin the blame on spat out jeers.
"That's how all those who came from beyond the grassland are! I knew it from when she set the fire out of her own greed, a mere purchased woman!"
"...What did you say?"
Because immortals do not get hurt, they are generous and kind. However, if their honor rather than their body is attacked, safety cannot be guaranteed.
Kalis was not only his companion but also a believer who carried the god he must serve. When such Kalis was slandered, Rash's eyes flipped for a moment. Normally he would have endured a few more times, but he, who had crossed the threshold of life and death several times, had also become more sensitive.
"Woo-oof."
At that time, Azi barked long. Azi, who walked in front of the people about to fight, barked in dissatisfaction.
"Offering God, not angry!"
The more distant the barbaric land is from law and morality, the more it values loyalty. Because the act of saving others is not taken for granted, it is all the more precious. The Pi-u respected Azi as their benefactor and listened carefully to his words.
"Angry, you are! So you want to be angry! But, you shouldn't be angry!"
It wasn't a god who was enraged. It was humans who almost died. Excited by fear and confusion, they were just trying to find an outlet to pour out these emotions.
Azi, who had seen through their emotions, barked as if holding them accountable.
"I, saved you! Lost no one! Nothing, to be angry about!"
Because Azi had saved everyone, he had the right to say this. The Pi-u hung their heads in shame that suddenly came over them.
And Rash was the same.
For a single moment, Rash thought they were ungrateful. He thought they dared to insult Rash even though they had settled in the village out of goodwill. Even though Rash hadn't actually given them anything, he was taking their respect for granted.
No matter how much of an immortal he was, he too was human. Rash also just wanted to unravel his confusion and fear. Just like the Pi-u.
'There's no difference. Me, the Pi-u, and the Offering God as well.'
Rash smiled hollowly and took a deep breath. Was there a need to spare words just because it was difficult to explain? He should speak even with his lacking eloquence.
It was then. A halo rose above Azi's head, and at the same time, a form made of light appeared.
She was a girl who was slender yet exuded dignity. She had a beauty like a painting, yet with a somehow unreal appearance. She closed her eyes as if drowsy, but she was precisely looking at Azi with a gentle smile.
[This dream is... always so happy and warm no matter when I dream it...]
Though sudden, the Heavenly Saint was too beautiful and sacred to feel fear upon seeing her. The Pi-u could only be surprised at seeing her suddenly appear.
However, Rash, who had already experienced that being once, couldn't help but feel fear.
"You are—"
[Hmm? Have you seen me before?]
The Heavenly Saint, who tilted her head, covered her mouth for a moment and muttered.
[It seems possibilities have intersected. To think I would be observed twice in one branch of the future. Even if I don't wish it, does the flow of the future ultimately converge in this direction? Just what happened here.]
Rash tried to say something but no voice came out. He panicked and felt his own throat. The throat was vibrating without issue, but no sound leaked out beyond it.
The Heavenly Saint's voice rang in the ears of the bewildered Rash.
[I'm sorry, but I sealed your voice. Since I appeared at two points in time, too much information must not be observed at this point in time. The more accurately you hear the point in time and the event, the greater the deviation of my existence becomes. Please let me guess everything on my own.]
'What does that mean? Earlier, didn't that mass of light fight with Nebida? Why as if I've never experienced it.'
Suddenly Rash realized that the Heavenly Saint looked younger than at that time. He couldn't gauge how much since she was made of light, but she looked more pure and vibrant now.
[-Even so. On this land, I ultimately lost.]
The Heavenly Saint approached Azi with a faint smile. Azi simply gazed quietly at the mysterious being before his eyes.
[Still. It is truly a joyful thing that there is always a good friend who thinks of humans. This child is kind, powerful, and diligent. Ah. If only humans could resemble even half of this child...]
The Heavenly Saint's words became smaller toward the end, to the point where it was hard to understand. What deep concern was growing. Azi, who had no way of knowing and no need to know, barked happily even after seeing that figure.
"Woof! I, friend!"