Inside the dim, spacious bedroom, the black-haired patient lay curled up on the bed, fast asleep, his brows relaxed.
The bedding carried the scent of sunlight, while the pillow in his arms gave off the faint fragrance of lavender. It was a soothing scent, drawing the sleeper deeper in and making his dreams all the sweeter.
As he turned slightly, the black-haired patient's arms unconsciously climbed upward, hugging the pillow tighter. His buried head wriggled higher, searching for the most comfortable sleeping position.
The sensations from the body pressed against him flowed into his mind. In the haze of sleep, the patient mumbled indistinctly, his face filled with comfort and contentment.
So soft, so warm, so big…
So… so big?!
In an instant, the patient curled up on the bed sprang upright as if fitted with a spring, staring in horror at what was in his arms.
Mm. It really is big…
Samael's strange gaze fell on the generous pair of curves nearly bursting free from the disheveled neckline, at least C+ in scale, and he instinctively gave an objective assessment.
Demon! Bastard! Defiler! How dare you humiliate me like this!
Let me go, and I'll kick your balls apart… cough, cough… I mean, deliver justice upon evil!
The violet-haired, blue-eyed Holy Maiden with a proud figure wore a face frosted with anger. Killing intent filled her eyes, as if she wanted to condense the surrounding Ether into invisible little knives and carve the bastard before her into pieces.
However, the human pillow, with her limbs spread and her hands and feet bound by Rune symbols, was like a frozen statue. She could only remain stretched out in that humiliating pose, unable to move so much as a finger.
Bang!
Just as the patient sat on the bed like a thinker, propping his chin with one hand and sinking into contemplation, the tightly shut door was knocked open by a reckless figure. A glaring shaft of sunlight shot into the dim room, and the sound of flapping wings and a shrill shout rang noisily beside the Ancient Serpent's ears.
"Samael's awake! Samael's awake!"
As his opening and closing snake eyes gradually adjusted to the sudden light, Samael looked quietly toward the Harpy with eagle wings for arms and blue hair on her head as she excitedly charged toward the bed. He immediately raised his hand and solemnly held up one finger.
"Wait. Let me test you first. What number is this?"
"1!"
Like a hunting dog hearing its master's command, Harpy obediently braked to a stop on the spot and answered without hesitation.
With a serious expression, Samael raised two fingers and asked again.
"What about this?"
"2!"
"Then what is one plus one?"
"Teacher, I know! 3!"
The feather-like tuft of blue hair on Harpy's head shook violently. Her eyes sparkled as she raised her hand high and answered without hesitation, her excited little face full of pride that practically begged to be praised.
"Mm. As expected of you, Harpy…"
As her instructor, Samael nodded "gratifiedly" and reached out to pat the silly bird's head as she leaned over, offering her encouragement.
Tch. Looks like I'm not dreaming after all…
The Ancient Serpent turned toward the dim corner and curled his lip. The two arms wrapped around a certain human pillow's waist quietly withdrew.
However, just as Samael tried his best to play down the awkward scene before him, another figure darted into the room like the wind, shouting triumphantly before even entering.
"Samael, you're awake. How did you sleep? You've liked clinging to things in your sleep ever since you were little, so I tied that woman up and stuffed her into your bed. See? I'm good to you, aren't I?"
Holo gnawed on an apple as she looked with satisfaction at the half of an arm caught around the human pillow's waist, openly taking credit with a face full of sincerity. Then, revealing her true purpose, she leaned close to Samael's ear and whispered sneakily,
"So when are you stealing Thor's sheep again and cooking them for me?"
…
Seeing the culprit appear, Samael felt the victim's scorching glare from behind nearly burn a hole through him. His cheek twitched, and his heart collapsed into screaming.
Sis, act like a human being!
No, act like a wolf. Can we please leave Thor's sheep alone?
And besides, for the sake of one bite to eat, you've gone and kidnapped someone, forcing a decent woman into this. Where are your morals?
Even if you had to do it, even if it didn't cost anything, could you at least be sneaky about it? You're making this really hard for me!
Martha's generous curves on the bed, along with her defiant, suffering appearance, made a certain rotten snake's preferences stir despite himself, and his righteous denunciation gradually began to change flavor.
At last, Samael took several deep breaths, lowered his blood pressure, calmed his chaotic thoughts, and brought the topic back on track.
"How long was I asleep?"
"Only a day. Don't worry, nothing went wrong. You can rest a little longer."
When proper business came up, Holo also quickly became serious. She answered earnestly, then glanced at Samael's chest, her tone carrying a trace of reassurance.
"How's the battle?"
"Report! The fleet of Persia has been cleared out. The Sea of Chaos is now being blockaded by the Deep Sea Fleet. The nearby camps and fortresses built by the Persians have also been removed. Their main force has retreated into Tanbei Canyon and is holding there!"
Harpy seized the chance to show off, raising her hand high and answering first.
Looking at the proud silly bird, who was unusually clear and organized, Samael suddenly remembered that as early as the Greek Age of the Gods, Harpy had been a messenger of the gods of Olympus over the sea of Oceanus.
Then Samael came back to himself, gathered his thoughts, and voiced his confusion.
"The Age of the Gods has already declined on the surface. Didn't you move to the Pure Land of Bliss? Why did you come up here?"
"The grand altar! The Mother Goddess sensed the prayers and was worried about you, so she split off part of her power and reopened the Arima Cavern connecting the Underworld and the Pure Land of Bliss!"
Harpy pointed out the window. In just one day, a towering grand altar had risen from the plaza opened up inside Thermopylae, its kindled sacred flame burning bright and dazzling.
At the center stood a statue of Ophion, the Primordial Serpent, coiled around Eurynome, the Goddess of Chaos and Order. Around the outside were statues of the Three Goddesses of the Areopagus, the Twin Goddesses of Mesopotamia, and the Eighty-Eight Star Gods, encircling and guarding them.
A massive Magecraft array hung upside down and rotated, expanding the bounded field outward under the blessing of divine might. Maguses continuously embedded flying Runes into it, and the purple-red defensive barrier had been strengthened to an outrageous degree.
Under the prayers of the Priestesses and Divine Officials, spices were thrown into the flames, and after burning, they spread fragrance in every direction.
At the same time, specks of golden particles drifted out from the bodies of the defenders one by one, gathering above Thermopylae to form hundreds and thousands of dark-gold ribbons of light invisible to the naked eye. They flowed into the body of Samael, the supreme Divine Spirit of the Orpheus Cult, inside the room.
The power of faith? No wonder I recovered so quickly.
As Samael murmured, his five fingers clenched lightly in the air. He immediately felt his sleeping cells greedily devouring those golden particles for nourishment, sealing off the corrosion of Angra Mainyu's Curse.
"What about them?"
"They're all busy. I'm the only one with time to spare, so I happened to stay behind and watch over you."
Holo's casual answer made Samael understand.
Thankfully, nothing went wrong while I was unconscious. Looks like they're even more capable than I thought.
The Ancient Serpent let out a sigh of relief, and the worry hanging in his chest finally eased a little. Then he chased Holo and Harpy, who were still standing in the room, out so he could change clothes and inspect the situation inside and outside the Thermopylae defenses, making it easier to plan the next step.