[IT'S BEEN a while since I used my personal training ground.]
Neoma brought the gods there.
It was an open space where no other people were allowed to enter except her "children."
To make sure that no one would accidentally end up there, Lewis and Dahlia were left at the entrance to guard it.
Hence, only Neoma and Trevor were there to face the gods.
[Plus, I already told Mama Boss, Papa Boss, and Nero that the gods will visit me because of my previous announcement. So, they won't come running here.]
"I know why you're here," Neoma said, putting her hands on her hips. "First of all, let me tell you this in advance: I will prioritize those who will agree to catch the zombies that happen to show up in their domains."
Ruto said that Helstor couldn't have made enough zombies to terrorize the entire world.
Hence, apparently, the God of Eternal Darkness would release the zombies to the Western Continent since the entire Altalune Continent was under the Moon God's authority.
But Ruto predicted that the crows would focus their attack on the Imperial Capital.
[I can't trust my heart to Ruto as easily as I did before, but I can trust him when it comes to leading this war. Plus, I know that they didn't abandon the Western Continent before. All's well that ends well.]
<"Young de Moonasterio, gods can't directly meddle with human affairs…">
<"We can't carelessly take your side either…">
<"There are rules we need to follow…">
"Then you may leave," Trevor said, scoffing. "You have the audacity to show up here and ask for my Moon Princess' help, but you don't have no intention of paying the right price?" He turned to Neoma while holding the back of his neck. "I knew it, my Moon Princess. Working with these selfish gods will really raise our blood pressure until we die."
Neoma nodded in agreement. "I know, right? They always want to get the better end of the deal just because they think they're superior to us."
<"We're doing this for the sake of humanity…">
<"If we directly help you, Helstor will take it as a challenge…">
<"It would do you no good if a war among gods suddenly break out…">
Well, the gods had a point.
But Neoma could tell that they were just afraid of Helstor who suddenly got a hold of the Absolute Darkness.
[It was the type of Darkness that only gods like the Light Goddess could purify, after all.]
Ah, that reminded her…
"Before we proceed, I'd like you to bring me a vial of the Darkness that polluted your domain first," Neoma said. "I need to check first if it's the type of Darkness I can purify. If it's something similar to Absolute Darkness, then I cannot help you."
<"Don't worry about that. We would have died already if it was the Absolute Darkness…">
<"We already checked before coming here, and the Darkness that polluted the air in our domains is similar to the Darkness in Alethea's domain before…">
"I see," Neoma said, then she smiled. "I still need the sample, folks. It's not that I don't trust your words. But it's better to be safe than sorry. I don't want to get in trouble once I start purifying your domains only to realize that I can't actually do the job."
That would mean breaking the contract on her part.
And since her agreement with the gods would be bound by a contract made by Trevor, then it was inevitable for her to be punished.
"And you better not trick my Moon Princess," Trevor added, then he pointed at the monocle in his eye. "You can't get past my sharp eyes. Trust me– I would know if the sample you'll bring is authentic or not. I would also know if you borrowed each other's vials, so don't even think about doing anything stupid like that."
Oops.
Trevor's harsh words and bluntness offended some of the gods.
<"Haaah! I can't believe these children doubt the words of a god!">
<"No wonder the human race is about to end!">
<"I only wasted my time here!">
At least seven mid-level gods and four minor gods walked away.
[Good riddance. I don't have the time to handle these many clients before the war anyway. Even so, I need to exploit these gods as much as I could.]
Hence, she decided to deal with the remaining gods more calmly.
"Welp, they left before I even began explaining properly. Oh, well," Neoma said, shrugging. "Anyway, I'm not asking you to provoke Helstor by directly helping me. All I need is for you to catch the zombies who happen to trespass on your territory. Each one of you has a territory in the human world that you oversee, right?"
Yule was the god that rule the entire Altalune Continent.
But the continent was too big for a single god to rule it.
Hence, just like how the empire had nobles to look after the different territories that the Imperial Family ruled, Yule also had gods helping him oversee the continent.
Yes, these gods would just literally watch the humans suffer since they couldn't "interfere."
[However, let's exploit the loophole.]
"There's no law that says you cannot protect your land, is there?" Neoma asked, smiling. "You can just think of it as taking out the trash. And guess what?" She pointed at her pretty face. "I just happen to own a very big trash can that you can use."
She heard some gods snicker as if they were amused.
[Ah, it works. But I wonder why most people who listen to me always end up laughing. I'm not joking, though?]
<"The young de Moonasterio has a point…">
<"We already endured enough when remained silent after Helstor released his Darkness to our domains…">
<"That's right. We're just cleaning our domains anyway…">
Neoma smiled, satisfied to know that the remaining gods were willing to accept her conditions.
[We will focus our forces in the Imperial Capital since the crows will hit us first there. But that doesn't mean we can neglect the other parts of the empire, especially the poor villages. Unfortunately, there are only a few people on our side who has the ability to kill the zombies.]
Moreover, they couldn't strain Aunt Brigitte who was pregnant.
"You know what? I'll even throw you another good deal," Neoma said, smiling. "Anyone of you who saves and protects the poor villages in the empire will receive a special gift from me– I can make you a few decades younger."
Trevor turned to her with a surprised look on his face. "Princess Neoma, don't push yourself too hard."
"I'm not," Neoma said while shaking her head. "Of course, this time, I'm not only talking about the First Calamity. If you successfully protect the poor villages under your authority until all Calamities are over, then I'll reward you by making you younger. I'm sure you already know that I'm capable of doing that."
<"Alethea said that it was the young de Moonasterio who helped her get younger…">
<"I thought she just found the Fountain of Youth and didn't want to share it with us…">
Heh.
[I am that Fountain of Youth~]
To be honest, Neoma said that she was just asking to be noticed and desired by the major gods at this point.
But whether she showed off all her abilities or not, she was bound to be found out anyway.
[At least, this time, I have a Contractor.]
Trevor would never let anyone exploit her.
"Now, if you agree with my terms, then please return with the sample I asked earlier," Neoma said, smiling. "It's first come, first serve."
And, just like that, the gods left one by one hurriedly.
Until only one god was left.
The pair of red orbs floating in front of her was obviously glaring at her.
"It's been a while," Neoma said, slightly bowing her head to the major god disguised as a mid-level god in front of her. "Lady Astrid, the Goddess of Beauty."
***
HMM.
Ruto already expected it, but he was still disappointed when only around ten royal knights were capable of riding the Frost Wyverns.
[Only people with an affinity with ice can withstand riding the Frost Wyverns, after all. Even average Mana-users would freeze to death if they stay close to those ice beasts. We should find more people who can ride the Frost Wyverns.]
"Melvin Lucchesi, tell your father and the other Northern Lords to come here," Prince Nero said, crossing his arms over his chest while looking at the Frost Wyverns. The ice beasts were sleeping, as well as Delwyn. "Most people of the North have an affinity with ice. Moreover, your father is also an ice user."
"They're not as powerful as Your Imperial Highness, of course," Melvin said, sighing. "And, yes, I've already summoned my father and the other Northern Lords ever since Lord Ruto mentioned that we can stop the reanimated corpses with ice."
Oho?
The Crown Prince had a very competent secretary, huh?
[Melvin Lucchesi is so quick-witted. Good luck resigning as Prince Nero's secretary, young man. I'm sure you'll be the Imperial Chancellor the next time I see you.]
"You should try and ride a Frost Wyvern, too," Prince Nero said while looking at Melvin with a sadistic smile on his face. "If you can withstand my ice, then you can withstand the coldness of a mere ice beast."
Melvin frowned, obviously upset. "You can't make me fight, Prince Nero. I'm a scholar, not a fighter! And it's also included in our contract that you can't send me to the battlefield as a soldier. I'm only here as your secretary!"
"Riding a Frost Wyvern doesn't mean you'll fight," Prince Nero said, grabbing Melvin by the collar. Then the Crown Prince dragged his poor secretary to the ice beasts. "We need more riders."
Ruto smiled bitterly while watching Nero and Melvin Lucchesi.
[Be kind to Melvin Lucchesi, Prince Nero. He literally died for you in the first timeline. Even though he claimed he hated fighting, he didn't hesitate to run to the battlefield for your sake.]
"Commander Ruto, I've brought him."
It was Sanford, Prince Nero's knight.
He asked him to bring someone earlier.
"Huh? Are those Frost Wyverns?!"
It was Manuel– the foolish man who challenged Neoma during the Selection.
Fortunately, Manuel hadn't left the palace yet because he was still waiting for Neoma to accept his duel challenge.
[He's still the foolish bloodthirsty moron that he was in the first timeline.]
"Yes, they are Frost Wyverns," Ruto said, nodding. "You and your tribe will learn how to ride on them in three days, Lord Manuel."
***
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