The sword princess' tale

Volume 5 Chapter 3 - An Awry Morning

-Vainticel's POV-

"Hn hn hmm~"

Humming a song I knew for a long time, I swung my legs back and forth while sitting on my chair. I just can't help it as the First Stage is done! To think that I could go ahead of my schedule while maintaining the child's situation is a big chance!

"...Nee-sama, it seems you are quite cheerful today." A voice chimed in and I turned to the left.

"Ara, if it's not my sworn sister A-chan. It's been a while!" I greeted with a smile and a wave of hand.

The person in question - a lady with flaxen hair, golden pupils and a pair of cute wolf ears sighed. Umu, as a Hunting Goddess, she's definitely on par with me. Maybe because the word 'Hunting' can mean 'Hunting men'. Although her fur coat dress is somewhat a turn-off and that big bow... How did she fit it into the conference hall?

After all, the Heavenly Fanged Bow is a grand long bow with the size of fifteen meters. As if someone can maintain their balance while carrying it around. Also..

"Sit down, sit down! How many years have it been since we sisters met each other?"

"Uhm... probably five centuries. And after the Dark Age, I went to Nee-sama's shrine yet you relocated it in the outer rim of the heaven."

Honestly, you should have told me, she reported. I apologized right away as I had an errand from our Fabulous Book Nerd Midgrad and I had something to attend that day.

"Heh he, A-chan is really cute as ever." I complimented. "How many men have been swooned by you?"

I poked her cheek yet she brushed it off with a tired sigh. Ara, she blushed! What a tsundere!!

"Please cut it out... Also, call me Atrial in this place, Nee-sama. I don't like to invite any misunderstanding."

Oh? What kind of misunderstanding? I tilted my head but I soon pounded a fist on my palm.

"Right right! I forgot that a guest was rumored to be your secret lover! And he called you 'Aria' like a certain gynophobic man who got his switch turned on!"

"That man is NOT my lover!!"

Uwah, she snapped! I'm sowwy but your reaction is so cute~! Also, grumbling 'As if that liar can be my lover! Not a chance even if Stasis woke up again!!' like that won't help a tsundere character like you, you know?

"Urgh... that is something I don't want to ever recall. Geez, raising a topic about an event from a million years ago.. Nee=sama is still not tactful at all!" Atrial yelled.

"Yes, yes. I know how you feel. Love is pretty difficult to conquer right?" I laughed.

My beloved sister seemed to want to say something more but the others seemed to be inconvenienced. Well, no worry! The conference this time isn't something crucial so most of the Major Gods aren't attending. Also, the lofty geezers seemed to be bored around there. Hmm.... But surprisingly, Martial God and Blade Dragon are attending.

I wonder why. Those fellows have no business other than powering up their tribes to make up their crushing defeat in the recent quarrel.

"Quiet down, everyone. The conference will begin shortly." A deep voice interrupted.

I looked at the center of the hall. With how it looked like a colosseum, everyone can't help but be drawn by the being who stood as the speaker. But I frowned a bit as there are two persons there.

A phantom... or should I say, an ethereal being wearing tattered cloak with a skull mask was standing next to my dear colleague Helios.

"The Dark God Blaze...?" Atrial tilted her head in confusion. "I thought he was watching Stasis' coffin. Why is he here?"