The most sacred place in the God Realm… the island where the God of
Creation Shallow Vernal lives, Sanctuary.
Shallow Vernal was staring at the edge of the Sanctuary just as usual,
when the God of Time and Space Chronois appeared.
[…Shallow Vernal-sama, you summoned me?]
Even though she had her head deeply bowed before she spoke,
Chronois' inner thoughts were in turmoil.
This is because Chronois knew from her past experiences that being
suddenly summoned by Shallow Vernal meant that she would almost
certainly make her do something outrageous.
Though she thinks like that, it's not like she could ignore her summons,
as she was absolutely loyal to Shallow Vernal. She could only wait for
Shallow Vernal's words, her mind filled with trepidation.
[Kaito-san won't let me pamper him.]
[…Huh?]
[Kaito-san won't let me pamper him.]
[...]
After listening to Shallow Vernal's intonationless voice, Chronois was
dumbfounded for a moment before she thought about it for a moment
and responded.
[…I see, but isn't that something inevitable? Miyama isn't the type of
person who would take advantage of others too much.]
[But he's being pampered by Kuro.]
[...…]
[Just Kuro is unfair, I also want to pamper him.]
[I- I see…]
Although Shallow Vernal is often dry or rather emotionless, there are
only two things that would make her emotions evident.
The first is, of course, Kaito. Not to mention Chronois, it is well known
to all Gods that Shallow Vernal clearly regards Kaito as special, and is
often expressing her emotions when it's something related to him.
As for the second one… Well, Chronois has questions in her mind as she
doesn't know why this is the case, but Shallow Vernal was also showing
her emotions towards the Underworld King Kuromueina… Or rather, it
seemed like they had some sort of rivalry against each other.
(I guess she's conscious of her because of the fact that she has the same
level of strength huh?)
Not knowing that Kuromueina is Shallow Vernal's half body, Chronois
simply recognized Shallow Vernal's emotions as rivalry against her
rival, just as what Chronois felt for Ein.
But well, that's not really important here. What's important is that if
either of those two were involved, the level of outrageousity springs
up…
[…Ummm, Shallow Vernal-sama. So, why is it that I've been called?]
[Do something about it.]
[…Yes?]
[Do something about it.]
[…H- Haahhh… I'd like it if you tell me something more concrete…]
[I leave it to you.]
[…I respectfully obey.]
And thus came the Shallow Vernal's outrageous request, telling her to
do something about how she wasn't able to pamper Kaito.
Unfortunately for Chronois, she didn't have the option of refusing, so
she deeply bowed her head and left the Sanctuary.
(…Umu, even so, today's command is rather easy. All I have to do is ask
Miyama to allow himself to be pampered by Shallow Vernal-sama. I'm
fortunately reasonably close to Miyama, so there shouldn't be any
problem. I guess I should go to Miyama's home and quickly get this over
with…)
A few seconds after Chronois left, Shallow Vernal, who felt the
disruption of magic power nearby, turned around and saw Kaito appear
with the light of Teleportation Magic.
[Hello, Shiro-san… Wait, what's the matter?]
[…You arrived faster than I had expected. Hello, Kaito-san.]
[…Unnn? Ah, yes. Errr, I had received some delicious sweets, so if Shirosan doesn't mind, how about we have some tea?]
[I don't mind. Well then, I will prepare it.]
Feeling that it was unusual for Kaito to make such a suggestion, Shallow
Vernal lightly waved her finger and prepared a table and two chairs.
Thereupon, she sits down facing Kaito, and makes a cup of tea for the
two of them appear. Kaito also took out some sweets from his magic
box and put them on the table before taking a seat.
[How unusual. For Kaito-san to invite me for tea…]
[Eh? Ah, well~~ I just wanted to spend some time with you once in a
while…]
[I see.]
Shallow Vernal, wondering what Kaito had in mind, started reading
what he was thinking. Thereupon…
(…Even though she said to pamper Shiro-san, what am I supposed to
do? For the time being, I've come to visit her but… Hmmm. Should I ask
for a lap pillow like I do with Kuro? No, but how the heck could I even
ask something like that… Let's just think of some other ways to ask
first…)
It seems that Kaito has come to this place with the idea of having
Shallow Vernal pamper him. That development that Shallow Vernal
could ask for but… he's apparently shying away.
[…Unnn? Ummm, Shiro-san? Errr, the table, tea, and the sweets
disappeared… I don't know if it's my imagination, but it also feels like
the chair is elongating…]
[No, it's just that I was just thinking that Kaito-san might be thinking of
asking me something.]
[…Ummm, I'm actually thinking of other ways to…]
[No.]
[…Shiro-san already knows about it anyway, so I don't think I should
really need to mention it…]
[If Kaito-san doesn't tell me, I wouldn't understand what Kaito-san
wants me to do.]
[...]
When Shallow Vernal nonchalantly told him this, Kaito looked as if he
wanted to refute her words, but knowing that Shallow Vernal would not
give in, he just deeply sighed and spoke.
[…Errr, I- I've been extremely tired lately… a- and being with Shiro-san
relieves my heart, so ummm… it would be great if I could… ask for a lap
pillow… though it might be rude of me to ask this…]
[It can't be helped. I'm in a very good mood right now, so if Kaito-san
"really insists", I might consider it.]
[…I- I really want Shiro-san to give me a lap pillow.]
[I'll grant your request then.]
Hearing Kaito shyly tell him this, a faint smile appeared in Shallow
Vernal's almost unchanging look before she tapped her own lap.
Before Kaito knew it, Shallow Vernal's chair became as wide as a bench.
Standing up from his seat, Kaito moves over and slowly lays his head
down on Shallow Vernal's lap with a look of resignation on his face.
[…What is this, this feeling of defeat…]
[Oya? That's a strange thing for you to say. Kaito-san's request has been
granted, isn't it? Isn't that rather a victory?]
[Kuhh… Shiro-san is being meaner to me lately, teasing me like that.]
[Does such actions make you dislike me?]
[…No, well, it's making me feel embarrassed but… Compared to the
previous Shiro-san… I love the current Shiro-san, who is showing more
emotions.]
[Is that so?]
When Shallow Vernal heard Kaito's reply, she patted Kaito's head which
was on her thighs with satisfaction, giving him a beautiful smile.
Even if they don't say anything more, it feels as if their hearts were
connected with each other… Savoring the comfort brought by each
other's presence…
[…Master? He left about half an hour ago?]
[I- I see… Do you know where he went?]
[No, my apologies.]
[No, it's my fault for coming on such short notice. That was rude of me.]
At Kaito's home, Chief Retainer Anima, told her that Kaito wasn't there.
Feeling a bit disappointed, Chronois decided to head to the next
location.
(Mhmm, Miyama went out… Well then, where could he be? The most
likely choices were either Lilia's mansion, Death King's castle, or
Underworld King's castle…)
Kaito's range of activities is reasonably wide, and since he uses
Teleportation Magic, there are many choices as to where he could be,
but for Chronois, who can control time, it does not take that much time
to travel. For the time being though, thinking that she should try
checking out the places one after another, Chronois disappeared from
the area.
However, her search for Kaito, which she thought would be easy to find,
turned out to be extremely difficult. There was no sign of Kaito in Lilia's
mansion, Isis' castle, or Kuromueina's castle.
In addition, she went around everywhere she could think of, but she
couldn't find Kaito.
(…I can't find him. I should check Phantasmal King's shop next… No,
wait, in the first place, where's Phantasmal King's store? I'm pretty sure
it's in the Symphonia Kingdom but…)
The most likely place for Kaito to visit was Alice's miscellaneous goods
store, but Chronois had never been there, so she didn't know the exact
location.
That's the reason why she had removed her store from the list of places
to check out, but she had already visited all other places he may have
been and she had no idea where else to go.
(…Should I ask God of Life and God of Fate? It will take some time to
convince them to cooperate but… No, wait. As expected, God of Life and
God of Fate will spare no effort to help me if it's Shallow Vernal-sama's
request.)
Since she couldn't find Kaito, Chronois decided to rely on Life and Fate
but…
[…I- I couldn't find him.]
[What!?]
However, even with Life's ability, she couldn't find Kaito.
[Hmmm, God of Life's power doesn't work in places where there are no
living beings to serve as your eyes… Does that mean Kaito is in such a
place?]
[U- Uumu… This is troubling. We can't keep Shallow Vernal-sama any
longer…]
Nearly two hours had already passed since they started searching for
Kaito, and one could see the great amount of impatience on Chronois'
face.
[…I mean, this is just a thought but…]
[What is it, God of Life?]
[…Miyama-sama… Isn't it possible that he's in the Sanctuary?]
[…What?]
[I mean, the Sanctuary is a place where my power and God of Fate's
power would obviously not reach…]
Hearing the words Life muttered, Chronois brought her hand on her
chin and thought for a moment. Rather than thinking that Kaito is in a
place where no other living beings exist, it would certainly make more
sense that he is in the Sanctuary, the place that is beyond the reach of
Life's ability.
Just as the saying where it's the darkest under the lamp post, she
thought that it was the most likely scenario at the moment, so she
nodded once and decided to head for the Sanctuary.
[…That's certainly a good possibility. I'm going to head to the Sanctuary
to check. Thanks for the help.]
[No problem. If you still couldn't find him, I'll search using my ability
again.]
[If Kai-chan is over there, tell him to stop by my temple on his way
home~~]
With Life and Fate's words calling out behind her back, Chronois
hurriedly headed for the Sanctuary.
When she arrived at the Sanctuary, she didn't find Kaito, and only found
Shallow Vernal in the place.
(He isn't here either?… I failed.)
Gnashing her teeth at the fact that she hadn't fulfilled Shallow Vernal's
request, she approached her to give her an update on her progress,
knowing that she would be scolded.
However, Chronois heard words that she didn't expect.
[…Chronois.]
[Hahh… Eh? Did Shallow Vernal-sama just call me by my name…]
[You've done well. I'm very proud of you.]
[…Huh?]
The words Shallow Vernal had spoken were the highest praise Chronois
had ever received. Kaito had obviously been in this place a moment ago,
but Chronois, not knowing that what Shallow Vernal had hoped for
happened, tilted her head.
If Shallow Vernal had read Chronois' mind, the misunderstanding
would have been easily cleared up but… Fortunately or unfortunately,
Shallow Vernal is currently in an extremely great mood, her mind so
preoccupied with Kaito that she completely ignored Chronois'
confusion.
It was not until some time later that the dumbfounded Chronois
completely understood the situation.
[…Like that, I followed Kuro's advice and got pampered by Shiro-san. I
was so embarrassed though.]
[Ahaha, Shiro got really glad, isn't she? She's been saying that lately
after all.]
[…U- Unnn. Oh well…]
[Ah, speaking of which, Chronois-chan was looking for you, Kaito-kun.]
[Chronois-san? Did she need something? She should have just sent me a
hummingbird…]
[She can't, hummingbirds can't reach the Sanctuary. Perhaps, she may
have some urgent matter?]
[…Fumu, I'll check up on Chronois-san then.]
[Unnn! Take care~~]