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Cliche Chapter 469: The Realization
🕑 Added 2022-06-14 15:57:22 +0000 UTCWith a worried frown Asahi looked at Freya. The goddess, who remained pretentious even after a colossal defeat in front of the whole Orario, was wearing an extraordinary outfit.
A garland of white flowers rested on her head, a white dress that reached all the way to her bare feet, and a long forest green shawl covered her shoulders. Despite the low neckline of her dress, it was possibly the most humble dress in her collection.
‘Is she cosplaying some earth goddess?’
Asahi always imagined the earth goddesses to wear something like Freya’s current outfit.
Freya saw Asahi appreciating her new dress and smiled. “I heard Master likes modest clothes.”
“OH MY GOD!” Loki shouted. “A bootleg earth goddess! Where is yer maid dress?”
Freya winced like that kid who got caught stealing candies. “I took a day off… Please don't punish me, Master."
Asahi beamed a saint-like smile. “I forgive you. You’re rarely on duty anyway.”
The way she spoke, it was obvious she wanted to be punished. But Asahi completely dodged her teasing. He had come to enjoy tormenting Freya by never fulfilling her desires.
Freya pouted her cheeks. “Thank you for your kindness.”
Asahi ignored her whines and opened a portal for Ottar and others to enter. Loki warned him about the dungeon, worrying over the spirits that tried to snatch Ais before.
“Loki,” Ais addressed her goddess in her kuudere tone. “I can protect myself… Onii-san is there to watch my back.”
Loki gave a worried frown, letting her raw emotions surface, which rarely happened with Ais. More so in her hangover state. “Ya are a big girl now… I guess that’s what it is.”
She wasn't worried about Ais's physical wellbeing but her heart. The demi spirits targetting Ais had something to do with Ais's mother—she was sure about it. Ais changed when it came to her mother or the Dragon that fought her father thousand years ago.
“Loki is a big idiot,” Ais said, shaking her head as if she was disappointed in the trickster goddess.
“...”
The scornful look from Ais made Loki more sober than anything in the world. Asahi patted Loki's shoulder to console her before he took his group and teleported into the dungeon.
***
Ophis drifted in the Dimensional Gap as if it was a no gravity zone. Having been accustomed to the noise outside the Dimensional Gap, she couldn't connect with this utter and damning silence.
She couldn’t sleep. What else was there to do besides sleep? Swim through the Dimensional in her dragon form like Great Red? That was enjoyable for a day at most then it became more boring than floating idly.
In the most boring part of her life, she reflected on her past, her present, her future, her life… her rivalry with Great Red was over—the objective that kept her busy for centuries. What was she to do now? She also contemplated the question Asahi posed before leaving her.
Why was she sad?
A few days gave her the perfect opportunity to think about it, and the conclusion she reached—
“Boo!”
The silence perished under the cheerful greeting of the Dimensional Gap’s former owner. Great Red in her humanoid body. The killing armor which failed to accomplish the goal it was designed for—defeating Asahi. Ophis couldn’t help but smile at the stupidity of her former rival.
Great Red eyed the great black dragon floating before her. Ophis’ large black eyes gave a window into her disturbed soul. “Old friend, you look… depressed.”
Shock reflected in Ophis’ eyes. The word ‘friend’ stirred her soul. It was the same word Asahi used to describe their relationship.
‘I am… sad… without my friend…’
It took her a long time to get there, but she eventually realized the cause of her sadness.
Ophis quickly transformed back into the familiar human form and searched for Asahi’s signature presence. The countless strands spread across the Dimensional Gap led to different dimensions. Yet she couldn’t sense him anywhere.
She tore a rift to Asahi’s home, deciding to wait at his home, where he would eventually return.
Great Red felt puzzled at Ophis’ sudden impulse to leave. “You’re giving the Dimensional Gap back to me?”
“No…” Ophis shook her head. “But… you can stay.”
Silence followed the small exchange, and Great Red couldn’t find a word to break it. She never allowed Ophis any place in the Dimensional Gap, and she expected Ophis to do the same when she decided to return here. Yet, Ophis went against all expectations to share her home with her long-standing rival.
Ophis flew into the rift. There was no hesitation in her even though she was leaving the Dimensional Gap. As if she was ready to abandon her coveted dimension of peace and silence to meet Asahi.
Great Red almost reached out to stop Ophis but she stopped herself. Her reply felt inconsequential compared to Ophis’ infinite determination.
‘Where is she going?’
The former master of the Dimensional Gap probed the remains of the rift with her consciousness, but couldn’t find any familiar presence on the other side.
‘May as well join my old friend.’
Great Red followed Ophis, only to come face to face with a monumental castle. A castle floating over an expansive civilization.
The duo of Dragon Gods ended up at the Underworld.
