"GRANDPA, give Skylus to me," Neoma said while removing the baby saint from the Moon God's arms. "Then let me check on you."
After saying that, she handed Skylus to Papa Boss.
Surprisingly, her father looked awkward as if it was his first time holding a child in his arms. Well, Papa Boss used to carry her around in the past.
[Ah, those were the days…]
But her father probably wasn't used to carrying other people's children, though.
"Papa Boss, please hold Skylus properly," Neoma said. "Uncle Glenn would cry if you accidentally dropped his baby to the floor."
Her father automatically tightened his hold around Skylu's small body.
[Good.]
After making sure that the baby saint was safe in Papa Boss' arms, she turned to Yule again.
"Grandpa, please give me your hands," Neoma said, extending her hands to the Moon God. "Let me detoxify the poison in your body. It's Darkness, isn't it?"
Instead of giving his hands, Yule only put a vial in her hands.
It was a small bottle full of Darkness in liquid form.
"This isn't my real body, so it's no use treating me, Nene," Yule explained. "This is the poison that they used on me and the other gods who suffered the same doomed fate as I did. Please be careful on handling it."
Ah.
So the Moon God wanted Neoma to create an antidote for that poison…
… to cure Yule and the other gods?
"Noted, Grandpa," Neoma said, nodding. "I shall make an antidote as soon as possible and sell it to the gods who need it."
Yule looked at her in surprise. "You're going to sell it…?"
"Of course, Grandpa. This granddaughter of yours had lived in a capitalist society for more than twenty years in the past. There's no way I'm going to risk my life creating an antidote only to distribute it for free. At least, not for them," she said. "If the antidote is for the people, then I'll give it for free. But we're talking about gods here, Grandpa. They have enough wealth and power to pay for my service."
"And what would you ask as payment?"
"You said it yourself earlier, Grandpa. This isn't a battle for humans," Neoma said, smirking. "I'm going to use my ability to gather gods who would fight alongside us in order to bring down Helstor and the crows."
Yule looked surprised at first, then he laughed. "Do you think the gods would do your bidding just because you saved their lives, Nene?"
"Well, they will be obliged if they signed a contract," she said confidently. "Trevor is a powerful Contractor. He'll take care of it for me."
The Moon God laughed as if he was amused. "My granddaughter is reliable, huh?"
"Grandpa, this isn't the right time to be laughing," Neoma scolded the Moon God lightly. "Gosh. We can't even save you because we don't know where you are. Did the Sun Goddess really succeed in rescuing you, Grandpa?"
"Don't worry about me, Nene. I also have friends I can depend on," Yule assured her. "I feel sorry that you're worrying about me when I can't fully support you in the upcoming war."
"Why are you feeling sorry, Grandpa?" she asked, shaking her head. "Monik. Dahlia. Aunt Brigitte. You said those three ladies will help us win the war, and that's already a useful piece of information."
"We are de Moonasterios, Yule," Papa Boss reminded the Moon God. "We don't need to be spoon-fed."
"But I want to spoil you," the Moon God said, smiling. "Nikolai, your divine power will work well with Monik's ability. You will end the Second Calamity with the Light Priestess."
Papa Boss didn't seem to oppose the idea, but he didn't say anything.
[Gosh, so taciturn as ever.]
"Second Calamity?" Neoma asked curiously. "How many Calamities are we talking about here, Grandpa?"
"Three major Calamities," Yule confirmed. "The first Calamity has to be dealt with by Brigitte Griffiths. To be exact, the baby in her womb. But since a baby can't fight yet, Brigitte Griffiths has to borrow her child's power."
"Gosh, Grandpa," Neoma complained lightly. "That's child labor. Aunt Brigitte's baby hasn't been born yet, and you're making them work already?"
"We don't have a choice since it's time for war, Nene," Yule said apologetically. "You have to bring Brigitte Griffiths to the empire, along with the "treasure" the Hazelden Kingdom has been keeping all this time."
Ah, that "treasure."
[It's the reason why Lord Delwyn, Mama Boss' former Ice Spirit, can't leave Hazelden.]
"Okay, got it," Neoma said, nodding. "If Lord Delwyn is coming along, then I'll make him protect Aunt Brigitte and the baby."
"Thank you, Nene," the Moon God said, then he turned to Nero with a serious look on his face. "Roro."
Nero frowned. "Don't call me that if you're going to make me work, Lord Yule."
Of course, the Moon God just laughed it off.
Then Yule turned serious again. "Keep Dahlia by your side starting from this moment."
Neoma let out a really loud gasp.
Gosh, no!
[I can already imagine THE DRAMA!!!!]
Nero, on the other hand, flinched. "Why Dahlia?"
"Only you and Dahlia could stop the Third Calamity, Roro," Yule said, still addressing Nero by that stupid pet name. "It's the most dangerous Calamity out of the three, so you must work with the Black Witch closely. There's a reason why Dahlia was your wife in the first timeline."
Once again, Neoma let out a gasp.
Oh, god.
[THE DRAMA IS DRAMA-ING!]
"Can you send Hanna a short message then?" Nero asked hesitantly. "I don't want Hanna to misunderstand, so I want you to inform her that I need to work with Dahlia, Lord Yule."
"Gosh. Why would you ask our weak grandpa to waste his energy on something like that?" Neoma complained. "I'll tell Hanna about this. She trusts me more than she trusts you, so everything will be fine if I explained."
Nero just let out a sigh. "Alright."
"I can't give you a detailed explanation about the Three Calamities that will hit the empire soon, but you'll know what to do as soon as they come," Yule said confidently as if he was letting them know that he was putting his entire faith in his descendants. "Also, tell Mona it's time for her to return as the 'Daughter of Nature.' She can own the Spirit World and the Cosmic Tree if she wanted to."
Papa Boss nodded. "I will relay your message to my wife."
Yule smiled at Papa Boss, and it looked like a mischievous smile. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to bless your marriage with Mona. However, once I recover more of my divine power, I will send you two a gift that you will definitely like."
"I don't like your smile, Yule," Papa Boss said, his voice full of suspicions. "Don't send it."
The Moon God just laughed.
Neoma, on the other hand, got impatient. "Grandpa, why aren't you telling me what I need to do? You didn't summon me here just to ask me to make an antidote, don't you?"
"That's actually the most difficult task, Nene."
"Really? But I want to fight…"
"You are the shield of the entire world, Nene."
"Gosh, so heavy."
Yule smiled sadly at her, then he snapped his fingers.
And, just like that, Papa Boss and Nero both disappeared.
[Okay, I'm sure things are going to get serious now.]
"Nene."
"Yes, Lord Yule?"
She addressed her grandpa in a formal way this time because she noticed the shift in the air. In short, the ambiance became heavy.
"Go to the God of Death– he knows what you need to do."
The baby god?
Neoma suddenly felt a chill down her spine.
To be honest, she already got a vague idea of what Yule might ask her to do. However, she didn't ask any questions.
She just decided to trust her grandpa.
"Okay, Lord Yule," Neoma said, nodding. "I will talk to the baby god."
Yule smiled, then he pulled her for a hug.
After that, the Moon God blessed her with a kiss on the forehead…
… while spewing words that sounded like curses.
Neoma could only sigh and shut her eyes tight.
[I'd like to officially say goodbye to my dream of becoming a lady of leisure…]
***
WHEN NEOMA opened her eyes, she found herself in a normal bedroom.
Well, it wasn't really a normal bedroom since it was a luxurious guest room in the palace.
"You're back?"
And the baby god was there, sitting in the middle of the bed.
"It looks like you already know that I was summoned by Lord Yule," Neoma said, sitting on the chair beside the bed. "Tell me what I need to do, Aegiya."
"But it looks like you already know what to do, Neoma Roseheart de Moonasterio."
Ah.
For the first time since she met the baby god, he addressed her by her full name instead of calling her 'Mommy Neoma.'
"Well, there's only one reason why Lord Yule would want me to meet the God of Death."
"I'm glad that you're quick-witted, little princess," the God of Death said, then he tilted his head to one side. "How do you want to die then? Alone or in front of your loved ones?"
How cruel.
Neoma died in the first timeline alone and lonely.
However, the current Neoma didn't want to die in front of her loved ones.
[This is so fucked up.]
Neoma couldn't help but smirk bitterly. "Do I really have to die in the first place?"
***
NOTE: HAPPY 800 CHAPTERS TO US! Thank you for following Neoma's journey until now. I'll be posting a special chapter later. <3
Thanks to Senlias for reminding me. I didn't notice we already hit 800 chapters until they mentioned it since the webnovel and my files have different chapter numbers. I don't count the Bonus Chapters in the original document, so I'm only at chapter 790+. Hence, I didn't notice the 800th mark. Hehe. Thank you for the reminder. <3
***
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