Perhaps in Arrietty's view, Bastet was being a bit overbearing.
"It's enough if it's interesting, why care about face?" The girl patted the black cat's head for no apparent reason: "He brought you an interesting story, isn't that good?"
Bastet could not accept it.
Suddenly, she thought of something. Her pupils constricted into vertical slits as she stared at Mori Tsukisa, her voice becoming heavy and serious.
"Planeswalker," she said, "You cannot interfere in the affairs of our pantheon."
"Unless you wish to become an enemy of the Ancient Egyptian pantheon."
As soon as these words were spoken, all eyes focused on Mori Tsukisa's face—
Nagini was worried, Arrietty was excited, and Imhotep was longing yet incredulous.
Bastet was... threatening.
Yes, she had to threaten Mori Tsukisa. Although she had grown quite fond of this exceptionally talented little thing along the way, when it came to things like 'the dignity of the gods', her stance was very... firm?
Though if they really started fighting... setting aside whether her head, as a god on the verge of extinction, would be smashed by the unknown existence behind Mori Tsukisa—for now, even with her divine power fully unleashed, she could not kill Mori Tsukisa.
This lunatic was, in a sense, immortal—although she didn't know it herself, and Bastet didn't plan to tell her.
"Fine." The cat sighed, weighing the girl's curiosity against the probability of her interference, and took a small step back: "Mori Tsukisa, since you like this god-profaning Mortal..."
"Imhotep." Bastet looked at the man: "Tell me the location of the god box. Once I reclaim my divine power, I might consider letting you see her."
"A deity does not lie."
—Consider... only.
Mori Tsukisa sat on the sarcophagus with her chin in her hand, covertly kicking the man's shoulder with her toe: she quietly shook her head.
Imhotep saw it.
"Well?" Bastet's words were tinged with reluctance, as if this were already a great loss for her.
As a result, after hesitating repeatedly, Imhotep still bowed deeply under Mori Tsukisa's surprised gaze, pressing his palms to the ground and touching his head to his palms.
"I agree, Majestic Valkyrie Bastet." Pathos seeped from Imhotep's deep voice: "I will tell you everything I know. But please also allow..."
"I have the right to abandon my faith..."
"Imhotep!" The black cat's sharp scream was very ear-piercing: "You blasphemer! Have thousands of years of suffering not cleared your mind? You dare say such a thing to my face!"
Nagini was standing the closest, so she naturally saw her Master's little gesture. But this High Priest seemed even... smarter than she had imagined.
Was there going to be one more companion?
"I had no intention of abandoning my faith, but my beloved, whom I long for, is still suffering in the River Styx... I want to save her, to take her away..."
"Away?" The black cat crossed her paws, sizing up the man: "Mortal, where can you go? The entire World is under the rule of the pantheons. Do you want to defect to the Western gods?"
"That group of gods is even weaker, surely you know that? The history of their existence isn't even as long as my tail."
Mori Tsukisa nodded: "That certainly is short enough."
Bastet:... "Where can you go?"
Imhotep looked toward Mori Tsukisa.
Well... it's all clear now.
This ancient priest had sensed Mori Tsukisa's kindness and eccentricity from the start. From Bastet's words just now, he picked up his ash-filled heart and made a decision more painful than any other.
Since the gods above could not grant his wish... after three thousand years.
He chose to no longer wait for these high-and-mighty beings to cast a glance at him and Anck-Su-Namun, to bestow their charity-like mercy and forgiveness.
He chose... another path.
"Your Excellency the Mage, are you willing to accept my allegiance?"
As he spoke, the man actually stood up and walked straight to Mori Tsukisa, looking eye-to-eye with the girl sitting on the sarcophagus going 'aba aba', and pressed his palm over his heart.
"As long as you lend me the book of the dead and let me resurrect my lover..."
"She and I will fight for you until death."
Mori Tsukisa didn't speak, just tilted her head and looked at him.
Hmm... "Anck-Su-Namun..." The girl thought for a moment and asked an irrelevant question: "Is she beautiful?"
"Of course! She was once the Pharaoh's concubine, the most beautiful woman in all of Egypt! If not for her birth..." Speaking of his lover, Imhotep's face was full of pride, and his defiant expression became warm and soft, the corners of his eyes curving.
"She has superb combat skills and an elegance that transcends the era; the birds she draws would flap their wings and emerge from the walls; the flowers she kisses would bloom all over the hillsides; she is—"
"Perfect?" Arrietty squinted. "Compared to my Queen Majesty?"
The Little Sprite dug a hole for him.
Imhotep calmly glanced at Arrietty, then turned sincerely to Mori Tsukisa. "You are a masterpiece of great power, a high-level non-human being. We Mortals cannot compare to you..."
Arrietty: Great, another flatterer.
Nagini: Did you include yourself?
"Love is a reasonable form of insanity." Mori Tsukisa agreed with Imhotep's words. "Then let's make a pact."
"If the resurrected Anck-Su-Namun can pass my aesthetic standards, I will promise you: I will contract you and your lover as my Attendants to walk the Multiverse and travel to different Worlds together."
"If she's too ugly..." As she spoke, Mori Tsukisa glanced at the huffing black cat.
"What are you looking at me for!!"
"Too ugly won't do."
After she finished, even Arrietty, who wasn't great at reading the room, could see the joy on Imhotep's face.
"Fine, happy now?" The black cat stood up. "You slapped my face and the Sun God's face, and also the faces of many Ancient Egyptian deities. If I weren't the only one who had awakened, you would be at war with us by now."
Mori Tsukisa grinned and gave lady bastet's small cat face a big 'mwah' kiss.
"You're the best! Oh, I'll take him away secretly, it'll be quick!" Mori Tsukisa pulled the black cat into her arms and looked at Imhotep. "You can say it now, where exactly is this little sea urchin's god box?"
Imhotep took two steps back, first bowing apologetically to Bastet, and then corrected her with a serious face:
"Your estimation is incorrect."
"First of all, you are not the only one who has awakened."
"There is also Anubis, Guardian of the Duat, the former Lord of the Styx and the current Guardian of the Gates of the Underworld."
Bastet panicked for a second, remembering what Mori Tsukisa had said before and what she had investigated herself, and instinctively cast her gaze toward Mori Tsukisa—
Damn it! Hearing Imhotep's words, this frivolous mad girl began to sway her waist affectedly, burying herself in Nagini's chest and grumbling in a muffled, soft voice.
"Oh, no, no, how can I interfere in the affairs of your pantheon?"
"I don't want to make an enemy of the Ancient Egyptian pantheon."
Bastard!
---------------------------------
I hope you enjoy this fanfiction! If you're having fun and want to read 30 chapters in advance, feel free to check out my Patreon: patreon.com/TLScarlet
Your support means a lot so if you like the story, don't forget to drop a Power Stone.