...!

Well? Was there anyone visible from above?

There is a human walking a short distance ahead!

Looks like we picked the winning route. Good work, Hatch!

Right? Bringing me along was a good idea, huh?

You can compliment me more if you want to!

Well, you would have gotten a perfect score, if not for that remark.

...!

You... You're the goddess's comrades!

What have you come here for?!

Well, let's see...

We came to stop you...more or less.

...!

I'm sure my sister asked you to do this...

...but what do you, an interloper from another world, know of this world?!

True, we don't know much.

What's more, we have our own goals that we set out to accomplish here.

In all honesty, I really don't care what you do so long as we can accomplish those.

Even if what you do involves defeating this Mystical Wolf or whatever.

Just what...are you getting at?

What I'm getting at...? Good question.

I guess what I'm trying to say is...you need to settle down a bit.

Settle down?

Are you mocking me?!

I'm not mocking you at all.

It's just that, while you do seem to have some combat training...

...I don't think you've been fighting for very long.

W-Well...

There was no need to fight before the Mystical Wolf's underlings began to attack people...

You're a lot like your younger sister.

Do you really think you can defeat the Mystical Wolf with your skills?

That's... That's something I won't know until I try!

That's true, obviously, but is the Mystical Wolf so weak that it could be defeated by skills like yours, or your sister's?

......

Since you're trying to go up against a being with powers that supposedly rival the gods...

...you need to keep your cool a bit better, and listen to your sister.

I understand that you're under a lot of pressure, but you won't accomplish anything by dying.

So...does that goddess feel the same way?

You mean Tilith?

Hmm...well, I do think she'd agree, but...

...being the type of girl she is, Tilith doesn't think too deeply...

...when it comes to helping people.

Um...you all came from Grand Gaia, right?

Yes, pretty much.

To be precise, we're actually from a world called Elgaia.

Do you know of the great war between humanity and the gods?

Of course I know about it.

Knowing of it, how can you possibly travel alongside a goddess?

The gods killed countless Grand Gaians in that war!

Yes, they did.

But it's not like Tilith killed them herself.

That doesn't matter!

Our ancestors in Bariura fought heroically against the gods!

And I will do the same!

...I see. So that's your reasoning.

Well...the reason we're able to travel alongside Tilith...

...is partially due to her personality as an individual, but...

...I think it's mostly because humanity was also saved by gods, at one point in its long history.

Saved by gods?!

Yes, although it's not surprising that you wouldn't know of it.

At the end of the great war with the gods, a god called Lucius worked toward humanity's salvation.

And because he did, some of the humans of Grand Gaia...

...survived and escaped to the world of Elgaia.

You see, humanity survived thanks to Lucius.

Well, to be fair, Lucius did it for his own benefit.

......

Even so, it's still the reason the humans from Elgaia...

...don't hate the gods that much...even though we may not be fully free of our grudges against them.

......

I can see how your people feel about the gods...

But I...

I know.

Just because we don't hate the gods...

...doesn't mean I'm going to demand you stop hating them.

But wouldn't it be worthwhile trying to get to know them first?

Starting with the goddess you just met...Tilith.

Get to know her?

Yes...

This is just a theory of mine, but...

...part of the whole reason why the great war with the gods happened was because we didn't understand each other...

Or rather, it began from a lack of understanding in which we didn't try to learn about each other. That's what I think.

More than anything, the same could be said for all conflicts...

...both great and small; that's where a lot of them come from.

That's why I think that you should get to know Tilith a bit better.

Maybe you'll become friends, or maybe you'll end up hating each other, but you won't know until you get to know each other.

I think...that Tilith isn't the terrifying being you imagine she is.

You probably have a vague sense of that already, though...

......

Anyway, shall we continue on ahead?

You're still heading for the Mystical Wolf, right?

O-Of course I am!

We're here...

And over there...is that a shrine?

Yes. It seems Liana has explained things to you.

Stand back, and I'll perform the ceremony.

......

...ancient blood of Bariura that flows through my veins...

...show me...your power!

*Gasp...*

Did that open the route to the Subzero Road?

Yes, it should have...

Alright, let's go.

Tilith and Liana are probably waiting for us there.

You...really won't stop me?

...we came here from another world.

Honestly, we have no right to interfere in this world's affairs.

This world's fate should be decided by the humans that live here.

Well, I'm not sure what Tilith would say about that...

......

Talk to Liana and decide what you want to do.