#540 A Talk Between the Witches and Goddesses

We’re back on the farm, and I say again: Platy is pregnant with her second child!

I’m so happy!

Whoo!

Not only is our family growing, but Junior will finally be a big brother!

That alone is great news, but it doesn’t stop there.

Puffer and Lampeye are also expecting mothers.

Although they got married around the same time, the fact that they got pregnant simultaneously is a bit too good to be true.

And since Puffer is the new Mermaid Queen, her pregnancy is a national celebration for the birth of their kingdom’s successor.

It’s one auspicious event after the other!

Everyone at the farm was so excited by this sudden baby boom that they decided to hold a celebration.

“Let’s call the gods!” says Platy. “We were blessed with children because the gods are watching over us! Let’s summon them and express our gratitude personally while making offerings!”

We’re going to summon them to give thanks?

Okay, then.

Platy has a point, and since we have the means to summon the deities, we decided to hold the ceremony solemnly.

Mermaid King Arowana and Mermaid Queen Puffer, busy with political affairs, and their close associates Hendra and Lampeye, also made plans to come to our farm for the first time in a while.

...I sense some cursed vibes from Zoth Syra, but please give us a break for even a day.

We’re trying to celebrate here.

Anyway, when we talk about god-summoning, we must never forget this gentleman: Sensei, the Lifeless King. 

“We leave the rest to you, Sensei.”

“I understand.”

Sensei is the only person I know who can summon a celestial being casually.

He is also happy to accept our request since he finds summoning gods fun.

And with a wave of his wand, he summons...

“Bankoran (chant).”

...goddesses.

One of the two goddesses has blond hair like the morning sun’s reflection on the ocean waves, while the other has black hair that shimmers like the sea in the dead of night. 

The blond is Amphitrite, the Sea Mother Goddess, while the dark-haired goddess is Medusa, the Sea Consort.

Both are Poseidon’s wives and makers of all lifeforms in water. 

There is no other deity more appropriate to report the birth of a new life than them.

At least, when the mermaid race is concerned.

“You didn’t invite the main god, Poseidon?”

“Oh, of course not, dearie. Him tagging along would hath spoiled our little outing.”

It seems that even among deities, the wives make light of their husbands.

“O magnificent goddesses of the sea! Your divine protection has blessed us with new life!”

Platy addresses the goddesses on behalf of the others, almost like a priest serving God. 

It reminded me of her genius and royal blood.

“We have summoned you today to express our sincere gratitude to you.”

Beside Platy kneels Puffer and Lampeye. 

“Don’t thee worry thine quaint little tailfins over it, dearies. Now, come on, thine offerings, prithee!” 

“Kuh... They already saw through us...!”

There was no way we could summon deities without some hospitality, so I had prepared one whole cake in advance.

“Ahhhhh! This is why I was summoned! A delicious cake made by the sainttt!”

“We thanketh thee for always treating us to such delicious delicacies... Um, Amphitrite? Do not take a bite without saying grace. It hast not even been sliced yet.”

“And what, I will just sit by and watch someone else consume it before me? It is first come, first served!”

“That is not how a goddess shouldst behave... What?! Thee has’t already eaten more than half the cake! Learn to share!!!”

There’s greedy, and then there are the deities.

Even the goddesses Amphitrite and Medusa, somewhat more behaved than the other gods, are no exception.

“...Ahem. Congratulations on thy second pregnancy, Platy. Bearing an otherworlder’s child shouldst hast been impossible by nature, but with mine own blessing, thee even managed to carry a second child. I am proud of thee.”

“It is all thanks to your divine protection, Your Radiance.”

Amphitrite tries to act all grave and solemn like a goddess...

But none of that is convincing when she has icing smothered all over her face. 

“Oh? If we art on the topic of divine blessings, I must also commend Puffer, mine own beneficiary. She married a king and finally conceived an heir. Mine own prediction was not amiss.”

“I am extremely and humbly delighted!” says Puffer, bowing deeply. 

She, once a delinquent youngster, must’ve learned a thing or two about decorum after becoming the Mermaid Queen. 

“Puffer, Platy, thee has’t been given the Sea Consort’s Blessings and the Sea Mother Goddess’ Blessings, respectively. It is proof that thou art recognized by us, the wives of the Sea God. Taketh pride in it and remember to be a good wife and mother to thine family.”

“Well, that makes Platy more promising.  The Sea Mother Goddess’ Blessing is of a higher rank, after all.”

“What was that? Art thee trying to pick a fight, Amphitrite?”

I see, Medusa’s the type whose tone changes when angry.

Anyway, the conversation continued for a little longer, but just when I thought things ended without a hitch...

“...Come to think of it...”

Among the three ladies facing the goddesses, I notice that one of them has yet to speak—Lampeye, the Witch of Hellfire. 

“Sorry you felt left out, Lampeye. The conversation only kept going on between the goddesses and those who received their blessings...!”

“Why don’t you have the deity who blessed you summoned? I’m sure you got something from someone, too, right?”

Because of a particular incident in the past, almost all of our residents have received some blessing from the gods.

Lampeye was also at the scene of that incident, so there must be a deity who blessed her with something...

“No, I didn’t receive anything in particular.”

“HUH?”

Platy, Puffer, and even the goddesses are surprised.

“I had the opportunity to receive a divine blessing just like everyone else, but I declined.”

“What? Wherefore? I thought all mortals valued divine blessings?”

Amphitrite seems somewhat shaken that someone rejected a deity’s charity.

“I excel at using fire potions, so if possible, I wanted to receive the blessing from the god of fire. Unfortunately, such a deity was not present at the time...”

And that’s why you refused? 

“Oh, yeah, you’ve always been like that, Lampeye, huh? If you don’t want something, you say no even if the other person is willing to give it to you.” 

In a way, Lampeye may be the most principled person among the Six Witches.  

“I admire thine faith! Yes! Children of men shouldst only worship the god they truly respect!”

“I would’ve liked to receive the blessings of Vesta, the goddess of fire and hearth. I learned that she’s also the goddess of family happiness, so as I’m married to Hendra, I thought she’d be the ideal deity...”

“Ahhh, her! I can talk to her if thee want! It is not like she and I art strangers!!!”

Amphitrite is being awfully generous right now.

Did the fact that Lampeye refused to receive any blessing upset her that badly?

“Thank you very much. Your benevolence knows no bounds, Your Radiance.”  

“It is all right. All mermaids art the object of mine own protection!”

Amphitrite starts acting arrogant.

On the other hand...

“But wast Vesta not a virgin goddess?” points out the goddess Medusa. 

“Huh?”

“She forces the women who worship her to be pure for the rest of their lives. That mermaid is married and expecting a child soon, so winning Vesta’s favor is...”

“I never expected my marriage to backfire on me...!”

Lampeye’s shoulders drop in disappointment.

“...I suppose I’ll look at the bright side and accept that not receiving her blessings is a good thing. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to marry Hendra.” 

“Let us findeth thee another deity who is good with fire, hm?”

Divine blessings sure can get tricky sometimes.

As was the case with the Demon King, some things are forbidden in exchange for their blessings, and it is complicated in many ways.

That made me curious about something.

Among the mermaids who used to live with us, there was someone else—Garra Rufa, the Witch of the Plague. 

“...Come to think of it, whose god did you receive your blessings from?”

I ask her, who also happens to be with us.  

I’ve been getting this feeling that Garra Rufa is getting weirder by the day, so I’m just being cautious. 

“Ah, I received my blessings from a goddess named Nyx!”

“Ohh.”

Uh, who?

I don’t really know much about the deities of this world.

“Huh?”

“Nyx? Her???”

However, both Medusa and Amphitrite respond in confusion.

“Dear, thee received thy blessings on the same day when the earth and sea deities cameth to feast here at the farm, correct?” 

“Nyx wast not supposed to be there! She is a goddess older than the three main gods themselves; she is of a different class!”

“Actually, hast Nyx not been like that from the beginning? She comes and goes without anyone’s notice!”

“Well, this is an ancient god we art talking about.”

I’m confused myself, so if someone could please explain the situation to me...  

On second thought, never mind. It’ll be too complicated for my head to wrap around. 

“...So, what kind of blessing didst Nyx give thee?”

To the goddesses who fearfully inquired, Garra Rufa answers with gusto, “Yes! Well, Her Radiance gave me something called the ‘right to decide to end the world’!”

“What was that goddess thinking, blessing such a thing to mortals?!”

“This is exactly why ancient gods like her art so hard to understand!!!”

At any rate, what I learned from this meeting is that...

Garra Rufa is evolving into an even more dangerous existence.

No, rather, what if this mysterious goddess visited us unnoticed because she was charmed by Garra Rufa’s wackiness?

We can only know the intention behind her actions by asking the person herself sooner or later.