"The divine radiance of the deity shines upon His followers! Would you like to worship the great deity together? He is the most merciful god, a magnificent existence that helps people escape suffering and misfortune, bringing peace and happiness! Fate may be impartial, but the deity can change destiny..."
Miroku saw Kanae's expression and smiled. She gracefully stepped forward, closing the distance between them.
During her time outside the Land of Demons, she had seen this kind of expression countless times.
Oh, this lost girl from another world! Become a follower of the great deity and spread his divine radiance to every corner of your world!
"If I worship the great deity, will He help His followers?"
Kanae watched the approaching Miroku and hurriedly sheathed her Nichirin Sword.
She cautiously glanced at the figure reclining on a lounge chair nearby. With a snap of his fingers, vines sprouted from the ground, forming several brand-new lounge chairs, this was the "great deity."
She pursed her lips, unsure how to voice her request. Or rather, she wasn't sure if the great deity would respond to her request and expectations.
After all, her world was not lacking in temples and Buddha statues.
The Stone Hashira, Himejima Gyomei, was the most devout monk she had ever known. But she had never seen any of the lofty deities show compassion or respond to the devoted who worshiped them day and night.
"If the greedy and lazy desire wealth, they will only become poorer. If the wicked crave dominion over others, they will end up imprisoned. The great deity can listen to your story, but whether He helps you depends on whether you are worthy of being helped." Miroku wore a smile that was both holy and warm, making her seem approachable despite her sacred presence.
Turning to Kei, she spoke again. "Kami-sama, could you make two chairs for me? I want the kind that looks like a hanging basket."
As soon as her words fell, vines sprouted from the ground beneath Miroku's feet, swiftly weaving into two exquisitely designed hanging basket chairs adorned with small green leaves, looking incredibly comfortable.
"Many thanks~" Miroku smiled sweetly, curtsied towards Kei, then gracefully gathered her robes and sat down in one of the chairs.
"Th-Thank you, Kami-sama."
Kanae glanced at Miroku, who had already seated herself, her expression filled with shock. She quickly followed suit and thanked Kei as well.
But... Was this deity really so approachable?
Asking for chairs was one thing, but even requesting specific designs and styles? And he actually granted the request?!
Even if Miroku, a shrine maiden who had fully dedicated herself to Kei, allowing him to possess her and convey his will, this was just too...
Kanae swallowed nervously, feeling somewhat uneasy as she hesitantly sat in the hanging basket chair.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Kushina stretched lazily, reclining on her lounge chair as she looked at Tsunade and Teresa.
Just a moment ago, when Tsunade approached Teresa, the latter had awakened from an illusion.
And only now, as she was no longer focusing on Teresa's injuries and background, did Kushina realize, her eyes were an incredibly rare silver.
The way they shimmered carried an indescribable, bewitching beauty. What a pair of stunning eyes!
"So, you were fighting against No. 2, Priscilla, when a sudden spatial turbulence struck, causing you to lose focus? And that's why she managed to carve a hole into your chest?"
Tsunade's expression turned strange as she looked toward Kei.
"Yes. My heart was taken, and my body suffered a second impact from the spatial turbulence. When I woke up, I was already here." Teresa still wore a faint smile. Though her tone remained as indifferent as before, there was now a subtle warmth in her demeanor. It was probably because Tsunade, after hearing that she had killed a few bandits, had angrily muttered, "Good riddance!"
In The Organization, strict rules forbade them from attacking ordinary humans. Her fellow Claymores, No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4, could not understand why she had violated The Organization's orders and killed those bandits, who were technically ordinary people. They even considered her unforgivable.
The Organization had also issued a kill order against her. She had struggled with guilt and doubt before, but after experiencing near death, she recalled those humans again. And she still felt... they were unforgivable.
"..."
Tsunade turned and looked at Kei with an exasperated expression. She had been wondering how this woman, despite having nearly all her organs and limbs replaced, was still alive.
Now she understood, it was because someone had dragged her back from the afterlife!
"Hey, hey, bumping into me was just her good luck, got it? If I hadn't appeared unexpectedly, her fate would have been getting crippled first, then decapitated by this Priscilla, who had already awakened."
Kei rolled his eyes in annoyance.
Teresa didn't argue but instead gazed toward the portal leading to her world, her eyes filled with worry. Logically speaking, Priscilla was extremely arrogant and should have disdained attacking the weak. But after becoming an Awakened Being…
"Phew~ She was actually hiding behind a rock at the gate, waiting to ambush me! That was close!" Jiraiya emerged from the portal, carrying Priscilla over his shoulder.
Just as he stepped out, a massive sword gleaming with cold light had shot straight for his neck! If he hadn't recently been training with Orochimaru, boosting his strength significantly, he might have actually fallen for that ambush! But this creature… its physical abilities were overwhelming, yet its resistance to illusions was unexpectedly low.
It couldn't even withstand a mere B-rank genjutsu before collapsing.
"Is she really that strong? Hm?" Orochimaru put down Doma, who was unconscious beside him, and turned his gaze toward the heavily wounded humanoid monster.
Out of the corner of his eye, he also noticed a frail figure tightly clutching Jiraiya's robe. A girl of about eleven or twelve, her expression numb. While holding onto Jiraiya's clothes with one hand, she was struggling to drag a massive longsword with the other.
This is…?
"Clare!"
Teresa's silver eyes shone with an unprecedented brilliance as she forced herself to stand.
"Teresa?!" Clare, who had been gritting her teeth as she dragged the greatsword, looked up in shock toward the familiar voice. Upon seeing that Teresa was still alive, she immediately released Jiraiya's robe and the heavy blade, then ran toward her with all her might.
Even when she stumbled and fell hard on the ground, she didn't stop. Struggling to get back on her feet, she continued to sprint forward. Only when she finally threw herself into Teresa's familiar embrace, did she break down, crying out in uncontrollable sobs.
Teresa had given her everything. She had been her light in despair, the reason she kept going. If she had truly died…
"Ahhh—sob, sob…"
Holding the weeping Clare in her arms, Teresa's expression softened, becoming gentle and warm. She let her own tears silently fall down her face.
Kei watched the two embrace, a faint smile curving his lips. Leaning back with his arms behind his head, he closed his eyes.
Two lonely, suffering souls. Finding warmth in each other, saving each other. Every time he witnessed such a scene, he couldn't help but feel a sense of peace within himself as well.
Of course… It would have been even better if Jiraiya wasn't ruining the moment.
"In terms of pure physical combat? She's insanely strong! But come on, you know how strong I am, haha~"
Jiraiya puffed out his chest confidently under Orochimaru's "concerned" gaze, thumping it loudly.
"Idiot." Orochimaru pointed at the still-unconscious Doma in irritation.
"Got it!" Jiraiya hoisted Doma onto his other shoulder and obediently followed behind Orochimaru.
As for getting scolded? Nonsense! That was just affectionate banter! A loving nickname from Orochimaru!
"If you ever get your hands on something this interesting again, make sure to let me know earlier." Orochimaru gave Kei a meaningful glance, twisting his waist in an almost seductive motion before turning to walk back toward the portal leading to the Naruto world.
Two completely new species from different worlds, along with entirely unique energy systems! His research projects had been piling up so much that he could barely keep up! Ah, what a wonderful problem to have!
"Yeah, yeah, got it." Kei waved lazily, watching as Orochimaru and Jiraiya disappeared.
He sighed inwardly. No doubt about it, Orochi-hime got Jiraiya wrapped around her little finger!