Poseidon stared at the woman who was spreading her arms wide, welcoming him.
He didn’t know what to say to her seemingly oblivious, or rather, completely oblivious, demeanor.
“Human, what is your name?” When Poseidon asked, the woman bowed gracefully, saying, “Ah, my name is Sybil Forte.”
“Do you know who I am?”
“I wouldn’t dare.” Sybil answered without hesitation.
Unlike Gregory, she didn’t know Frondier’s circumstances. Sybil hadn’t heard the story from Elodie, and coming to this continent was her own decision.
However, Sybil smiled brightly.
“But I can make a guess.”
“Oh?”
“This vast ocean, this majestic presence standing tall, the overwhelming aura that all humans can’t help but look up to, a majesty that knows no bounds.” Sybil listed her guesses. Or rather, it was closer to praise than guesswork.
“You are Poseidon. I dare say there is no other being with such dignity.”
“...Splendid.” Poseidon was impressed. If he were any other God, her words would have been an insult, but she spoke without a moment’s hesitation.
Of course, from Sybil’s perspective…
‘I can tell just by looking at that trident, mister.’
She had omitted the most crucial hint.
“What brings a human child all the way here? No, more importantly, how did you even get here? On that tiny boat?” Poseidon was curious about her reason for coming, but he was more concerned with how she had managed to cross the ocean in that small vessel.
Was it even a boat that could change direction?
Sybil smiled brightly and said, “I reached here by moving forward with faith.”
Her words sounded like something straight out of the Bible.
“It must be God’s will.”
Poseidon narrowed his eyes and examined Sybil.
However, even with his divine sight, he couldn’t sense any ingenious method Sybil might have used to cross the sea.
If she could fly like Frondier, she would have flown here already, and if the boat had any special devices, his eyes would have seen them. Above all, if she had such a thing, she would have come on a bigger boat.
In the end, he came to a conclusion.
“...You’re lucky, child. Such luck won’t come again.”
He might as well have spoken the truth.
“Your journey here is commendable, but this is where it ends. You are forbidden from going any further.” Poseidon returned to what he had been doing before—blocking Frondier’s path.
“Excuse me? Why?”
“Don’t ask questions. I will not allow passage beyond this point.”
Sybil blinked at his words.
She groaned and rubbed her temples before looking back up at Poseidon.
“Then, by any chance, do you know about Frondier? Did he also turn back without crossing this point?”
“...What is your relationship with Frondier?” Poseidon had expected this to some extent.
This bizarre appearance, this inexplicable presence. This girl definitely had some connection to Frondier.
At Poseidon’s question, Sybil let out a proud chuckle and tapped her finger just above her collarbone.
“I’m Frondier’s girlfriend.”
“...Girlfriend?”
Poseidon recalled the first time he had met Frondier.
He had seen an unfamiliar man holding Mjölnir, and to find out what was going on, he had lifted the entire ship.
Frondier had clearly flown up then, but there had been a mage who had slowed down the falling ship. Even to Poseidon’s eyes, the mage’s magic construction and speed had been impressive.
Girlfriend?
“...Wasn’t it that child?”
Crack.
As Poseidon muttered those words absentmindedly, there was a sound of something colliding.
It shouldn’t have been audible to Poseidon.
‘Hmm? It feels like the flow of the waves has changed.’
What was this?
The sea was becoming rough.
Within his domain.
“Well, Elodie is a trusted friend and comrade of Frondier’s. But! I am his girlfriend, his lover.”
As Sybil spoke, the sea grew increasingly turbulent.
“...Is that so?”
An ominous feeling washed over Poseidon, and he decided to agree for now.
So, the name of that mage was Elodie.
Sybil had possessed a strange presence ever since they met, but it was at its peak now. Was she really human?
“So, I need to meet with Frondier. If he passed through here, please let me pass too.”
It was an unreasonable demand.
Frondier was on a pilgrimage, and this woman was just following him. Poseidon didn't care about her being his girlfriend or whatever.
However, for some reason…
Poseidon felt like he shouldn't stop Sybil.
He shouldn't provoke her carelessly.
Even if someone were to provoke her, it shouldn't happen near him.
This didn't mean that Sybil's power surpassed his. Poseidon wasn't afraid of such a thing.
“...Then I will give you one test.” Poseidon decided to put aside the unknown ominous feeling and spoke.
“Have you ever seen a ‘waterspout’?”
“...I’ve seen something similar.”
A waterspout, where water spirals up into the sky, was an extremely rare sight at sea.
Elodie’s original "Vermilion Bird Ascent" magic was inspired by this waterspout.
“A waterspout will engulf you now.” Poseidon waved his hand lightly.
Whooooosh…!
With just a slight movement of his massive hand, the waves of the sea began to swirl.
“Survive, and I will let you pass.”
Poseidon had already decided to let Sybil pass.
But he was curious about the source of her power.
How she had come this far in that small boat, the ominous feeling that kept tugging at his senses.
The waterspout he was creating was large and powerful, but if it were Frondier or Elodie he had seen, they would be able to deal with it without difficulty.
So how would this woman named Sybil cope?
“W-Wait a minute! Whoa!”
Without delay, Poseidon created a waterspout and sent it towards Sybil. It was a power that could truly be called the divine authority of a God.
Kwaaaaaaaah!!
Sybil watched in bewilderment as the waterspout approached her.
It was impossible to break through or evade with the small boat she was on.
‘Now, what is this woman hiding?’
Just as Poseidon’s eyes gleamed,
Sybil's expression hardened, and she gripped the boat tightly with both hands.
Immediately after,
Wheeee~
Sybil, along with her boat, was swept up by the waterspout and soared high into the air.
“Hmm?”
Sybil and her boat continued to ascend endlessly, eventually disappearing from Poseidon’s sight.
A faint “Mommyyyy~!” echoed through the air before gradually fading away.
She would fall somewhere eventually.
“...Oh dear.”
Had he just killed someone?
And Frondier's girlfriend, no less?
Poseidon was plunged into a serious dilemma, a rare occurrence in his long life.
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