Jörmungandr spoke with such certainty, but Sybil couldn’t grasp it.
She felt no distinct sensation of wielding divine power. But perhaps that was proof of her being a demigod. She wouldn’t perceive her own power as anything special.
‘The feeling that fate follows me… is that because I’m a god?’
Not all gods would be like that. The unique characteristic of ‘fate’ must have been specific to Idun.
“…Then, what will you do?”
Sybil looked at Jörmungandr.
“Are you still planning to kill me?”
Just a moment ago, Jörmungandr had been ready to devour her whole.
But now, the serpent was lost in thought, a sight Sybil had never witnessed before.
[…I am Loki’s child. But Loki is dead.]
Sybil blinked at those words.
She already knew the first part, but the latter was news to her.
‘Loki is dead…’
Before she could fully process the weight of those words, Jörmungandr continued.
[The reason I haven’t attacked Odin is that I haven’t sensed that desire from Loki.]
“You said you didn’t want to trigger Ragnarok.”
[Indeed. Because that was Loki’s will.]
With those words, the serpent shook its head.
As if reconsidering or perhaps denying its own statement.
[…It was Loki who brought Idun back to Asgard.]
According to the myths, when Idun was kidnapped by the giant Thjazi, it was Loki who rescued her. Loki had used his shapeshifting abilities to infiltrate Thjazi’s lair and bring her back.
[But if Idun wasn’t kidnapped but left of her own free will, then Loki returning her to Asgard takes on a different meaning.]
The serpent’s eyes gleamed.
[I need to understand that meaning.]
“…Meaning?”
[Child of Idun.]
Jörmungandr drew closer to Sybil, practically nose to nose.
To be frank, all Sybil could see was the serpent’s scales, nothing else.
[When you leave this place, come to the sea. Beyond Edrium. I’ll be waiting there.]
“…I’m in the city to try and sway the King of Palma. If you interfere with that…”
[That must change as well.]
Jörmungandr declared.
[It was only to prevent Ragnarok. But if Ragnarok is truly coming, then Palma must also move.]
In other words, Jörmungandr would no longer stop the King of Palma from becoming Emperor.
From King to Emperor, from Kingdom to Empire.
One might wonder what significance that held for a nation that stood alone on the continent. But in this world, declaring oneself Emperor was akin to claiming a position directly beneath the gods.
The gods would easily discern Palma’s intentions.
“Poseidon resides in that sea.”
[I will meet with him.]
Jörmungandr replied as if it were a matter of course.
Two beings from different worlds, a god and a monster of equal might, were to meet.
Sybil, understanding the implications, felt a cold sweat break out.
“But can I even leave this place? Frondier said…”
Only the victor could leave Pandemonium.
Jörmungandr nodded at that.
[It’s simple.]
“Simple?”
[All that needs to happen is for me to die.]
Sybil was speechless.
Finally, she managed to stammer,
“What are you even talking about─”
Thump—
The serpent’s eyes suddenly lost focus, their light fading as they dimmed.
Its massive body sank into the sea.
“…What.”
Pandemonium began to disappear.
“…Gasp!”
Sybil shot up.
As she exited Pandemonium, she found herself in darkness.
Right, time flowed differently inside.
“This is… a bedroom? In the royal palace?”
She got out of bed.
Entering Pandemonium rendered one’s physical body rigid. However, the fact that Frondier had worried about her being attacked in that state meant she wasn’t completely invulnerable.
Several guards must have carried her here, frozen in the exact position she’d been in.
“I hope they don’t hate me.”
Sybil recalled the King of Palma’s state just before she’d left and scratched her head.
The image of the king suddenly writhing in agony. Sybil had been speaking with him right before that.
It was possible they might think Sybil had done something to him.
“…Well, they did bring me all the way to the bedroom, so it can’t be that bad.”
Sybil took a calming breath.
Time to think.
According to Jörmungandr…
‘The records of Idun’s kidnapping feel impossibly distant to me. If she truly left of her own accord, then there’s nothing strange about her leaving the tree’s side again.’
And if she had left again to venture into the human world, she would have met Daud.
Considering Daud’s age, Idun must have met him around the time the monsters invaded the Empire.
‘But a god cannot simply descend to the human world. The process of summoning is necessary.’
However, people didn’t pray for Idun’s summoning. Wishing for her to leave her post guarding the golden apples would only anger the gods of Asgard.
Considering the timing and the nature of Idun’s divine role, this summoning was no accident. It was planned.
Then by whom?
‘During the Monster War, when everything was in chaos, someone was working to summon Idun to the human world.’
They must have met with Idun before that and devised this plan. Whoever it was, they possessed incredible audacity. Or perhaps they lacked any sense of fear.
Who could it be?
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