True Magician

Chapter 171

Eostia.

- "So this is the city where the reborn goddess lives, huh?" I whistled as I walked along the white stone streets and looked around.

The city was called Geofu, and as befitted the capital of a kingdom and the residence of someone like Celestine, it had high stone walls, paved roads, lots of statues and greenery, as well as decorations for every taste and color.

Children played and laughed, smiling people strolled about, and the older generation looked on nostalgically. One might have concluded that the city, like the kingdom, had never known hardship and that life there was wonderful for everyone. There was just one small 'but'.

- "Yes, Romani," Olga nodded.

- "Too clean and perfect to be real. As soon as we leave the main street, you'll see everything they want to hide from her eyes."

- "That's obvious, considering Celestine's attitude," I smiled. "However, I'll draw my own conclusions when I see her in person."

- "That's your prerogative," Olga agreed.

- "Um... My queen, Mr. God, are you sure we won't be discovered?" Chloe asked suddenly. "The dark elves have always been hostile. If they spot us, we'll be..."

- "They won't. Calm down. Only Celestine can break through my closed field, and even then only if she tries really hard," I rolled my eyes, and Chloe nodded briefly, though she was still a little worried.

I decided to extend my deal with Olga. She would be my guide to this world, as she had a realistic view of it, and in return, I would help her once. Of course, the last point could have been omitted, given that I could have simply ordered her to do something, but Olga seemed interesting to me, so that was the decision I made.

Her assistant, Chloe, softened considerably after Olga revealed that I was a god. Whereas before she had looked at me with hatred and contempt, which was to be expected from someone like her, now it was a slight fear mixed with cautious respect. The latter part was due to Olga, who insisted on it, but still.

In the end, I found some company for my stay in this world. And considering that, as the genre suggested, there were very few sane people here, I would call that a good sign. Besides, this world already had a huge pile of quirks that frankly annoyed me, but more on that later.

When I reached the gates of the inner castle, which was Celestine's residence, I stopped and looked at the guards.

- "The castle is closed to visitors," one of the guards said politely. "If you have an appointment, you should have been notified that it has been rescheduled."

- "Oh? May I ask why?" I asked.

- "The goddess has called an urgent meeting, and all Seven Shields have arrived in Geofu," the second guard explained.

- "That's strange," Olga said quietly. "The news of my defeat wouldn't have reached her yet, and there's no one to deliver it. Why would Celestine act so abruptly?"

- "Heh, you'll understand," I smiled at Olga, and she raised an eyebrow, then turned to the guard. "Can you relay my words to the goddess?"

- "Only if it's vital information," he nodded.

- "It is."

- "What should I tell her?"

- "Ten rings," I smiled. "Don't worry, she'll understand what those words mean."

- "All right," the guard nodded and left, and I waited with the group for a response.

And then, after only a few minutes, the guard returned, but he wasn't alone.