While Miharu was sleeping, Rio had wrapped up his meeting with Francois and the princesses and was on his way back to his own room in the mansion. He stopped before the door.
It feels like it’s been a long time since I’ve entered this room.
With a hand on the doorknob, Rio was immersed in sentimentality.
“Um...” someone called out to him.
“Miharu?”
Sure enough, it was her. Rio looked a little awkward as he recalled their kiss earlier today.
“I have something to talk to you about. Something I don’t want other people to hear...”
Miharu’s cheeks reddened in her usual Miharu-like way. It was clear from her attitude that she was still feeling the embarrassment of kissing him.
“All right. Please come in.” Rio scratched his cheek awkwardly and opened the door to his room.
“E-Excuse me...” Miharu said nervously, entering his room.
“So what did you want to talk about? You can have a seat here.”
Rio followed her in and closed his door. He then moved one of his chairs and went to sit down on his bed, when Miharu hugged Rio from behind.
“Huh?!” Rio was startled.
“Um, I...!” Miharu pushed Rio down on the bed. She then turned him over to face her and leaned in as though they were about to be intimate.
“Wait, please,” Rio said calmly.
Miharu froze.
“You’re Lina, aren’t you?” Rio asked hesitantly.
“So you noticed after all.”
Miharu—no, Lina ceased her act and giggled in amusement. She then reached up to touch her earring. It probably had transformation sorcery in it, as her appearance changed from Miharu to Lina.
Rio’s eyes widened in surprise at her change in appearance, but he quickly drew back his emotions. Was this Lina’s original appearance? Such questions flashed through his mind, but—
“Miharu would never do something like this... Why would you do this?” Rio said, sighing.
“Who knows? Why do you think I would?” Lina tilted her head mischievously, unmoving from above Rio.
“I’d prefer it if you didn’t answer a question with a question...”
“You shouldn’t expect an answer to every question you have.”
“That’s true. For now, please get off of me.”
“No.” Lina beamed from ear to ear as she refused him.
Rio didn’t bother asking why. Instead, he considered what her possible goals could be.
“No need to be so cautious. It’s not like I’m trying to attack you in your sleep...since you’re not asleep yet. But I really didn’t come to attack you—unless you want me to, anyway. I can even return to Miharu’s face if you want. I’m sure she’ll be happy when she wakes up anyway—‘fait accompli’ and all that. Interested?” Lina smiled alluringly, pulling down her clothes to reveal more of her cleavage.
✦ ✦ ✦
✦ ✦ ✦
“If you didn’t come to attack me, let’s talk properly,” Rio said with another sigh, not falling for Lina’s seduction.
“Oh, you mean you wouldn’t mind if I actually came to attack you?”
“If you actually came to attack me, I would resist.” Rio sighed again.
“That’s a lie.”
“It’s not. I would struggle,” Rio said tiredly.
“Your body hurts, doesn’t it? You may be enduring it by enhancing your physical body, but without that enchantment, you’d be too exhausted to walk. It’s a side effect of using transcendent power and assimilation,” Lina pointed out.
Rio looked surprised.
“This is a warning. Assimilation that crosses a hundred percent shouldn’t be used consecutively or for long periods of time. Ignoring this warning will be a one-way road.”
He would be unable to return to being a human, is what she meant. “I see. You came to tell me that.”
“No, that’s just the preamble, and I’m not done with it yet. With regards to the barrier surrounding the capital: it’s currently in a stable condition, so there shouldn’t be a problem. You can live within the barrier without worrying about the rules of god. I’ve removed the wall effect of the barrier, so people can come and go freely, but be aware that the rules of god still apply outside. Bring your mask with you,” Lina added.
“All right.”
“And now, for the main topic at hand.”
“Yes?”
It was a little awkward to have her face right in front of his, but Rio looked her straight in the eyes as he replied.
“I don’t want you to rely on my power of foresight, so I’m going to say this now. I’ve told Celia this already, but I cannot directly inform you of the future to come. I can only give advice or prophecy-like statements. There will be times when I won’t even do that, and times when I lie too. I may even say horrible things on purpose.”
“For your own reasons?”
“Yes. But at the end of the day, you’re the one making the decisions. You don’t have to follow my words exactly. I may ask you to do something you’ll hate me for, and you’re the one bearing all the responsibility for whatever happens.”
“You’re quite the untrustworthy prophet,” Rio said with a wry smile.
“That’s right. The Wise God Lina is an untrustworthy and cruel goddess. Do you get why Sora hates me now?”
“Maybe.”
“You really are kind, aren’t you? In this life, and in your last...”
“I’m not sure about that either.” Rio’s smile grew more strained.
“Well, that doesn’t matter. Now, with that out of the way...” Lina paused for a long moment.
“Yes?” Rio tilted his head, encouraging her to continue.
“Even though I’m an untrustworthy prophet, are you willing to listen to my words? Will you believe in me no matter what happens from here?” Lina said seriously, staring straight into Rio’s eyes. She sat up and held out her hand for a handshake.
“To be honest, I don’t think that’s a question I can respond to immediately.” Rio didn’t move his hand. He had only just met Lina, and he didn’t know enough about her to decide whether she was trustworthy or not. “...But I can vow to at least listen to what you have to say. You’re the greatest source of information I have, and you did save everyone.”
He had already come this far. He strengthened his resolve and shook Lina’s hand.
“I see. Then from now on, we’re partners. Let’s get along.” Lina smiled with satisfaction, shaking his hand back.
“I agree. But if you’re going to give your advice, I’d prefer it if you didn’t do it through jokes like this.”
“Jokes like what?”
“Pushing me down like this while pretending to be Miharu.” Rio sighed tiredly.
“Oh, it’s not entirely meaningless, you know? This was the most efficient way of showing you how untrustworthy I can be.”
“Don’t tell me you did this just for that? And that kiss too?”
“Convincing, isn’t it?” Lina grinned flirtatiously.
“Please do not do this again.” Rio let out one more heavy sigh.
“Now, as new collaborators, I have three pieces of untrustworthy advice for you. That can also be counted as prophecies, if you want.” She held up three fingers while giggling.
“What are they?”
“First, searching the labyrinth for clues to what happened a thousand years ago is pointless. If you’re going to look, you should search elsewhere.”
“Where exactly should I be looking if not the labyrinth?” Rio asked.
“I can’t answer that,” Lina said curtly.
“I see. What’s the second thing?”
Wouldn’t that make my search range the entire continent, making it impossible to find? Rio thought, but he asked for the next piece of advice instead.
“You should get more disciples besides Sora,” Lina said, holding up two fingers.
Rio fell silent with a grimace. He was rather negative when it came to getting disciples, as becoming a disciple meant becoming a transcendent one. He didn’t want anyone to be forgotten by the world.
“I understand why you don’t want to get more disciples. A thousand years ago, he was the same as you—he hated forcing others to live like the transcendent ones. But even so, you should have more disciples besides Sora. Or you may end up regretting it.”
“If I don’t have more disciples, I’ll regret it?”
From Rio’s point of view, making more disciples was more likely to be a source of regret for him. What could possibly happen to make him think otherwise? He had a feeling Lina wouldn’t tell him even if he asked, so he pondered the matter carefully.
“Now, for my last advice to you.”
Then, Lina held up one finger.
“In my opinion, the first new disciple you should get is Christina Beltrum,” she said, giving Rio the one piece of advice he was utterly unlikely to accept.