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Chapter 123 - Coordinates & Survival

[Prompt: Would you like to complete today's Daily Check-In?]

London, huh? What can I possibly sign in for here?

Jack the Ripper? It's only been thirty years since those murders. If he's not some old fossil by now… he should technically still be alive, right?

[Ding. Daily Check-In complete.]

[Congratulations, Host. You have obtained: Coordinate Power Lv.1.]

[Coordinate Power Lv.1: You will never lose your sense of direction.]

[Description: To you, two thousand years from now.]

"…Hm?"

Is this what I think it is?

System?

[Please explore on your own.]

"=="

Walking along the streets of London—

Diana noticed a couple approaching from the opposite direction, laughing softly, fingers intertwined.

She immediately followed suit and took Leon's hand.

Then she turned to Steve Trevor.

"Now that the clothing issue is settled, as agreed—you will take Leon and me to the battlefield to find Ares."

"Uh…"

"Well… could I first deliver this notebook to my superior? Like I said before—it concerns the lives of millions."

He waved the so-called "death notebook" in his hand.

"But if we defeat Ares, the war will end immediately."

"That wasn't our agreement. We let you go—you lead us to Ares."

Diana grabbed him by the collar, clearly irritated.

"Diana, it won't hurt to accompany him."

"But—"

"War is driven by humanity. No matter how much Ares fans the flames, it takes time. We are not pressed."

"…Fine."

Reluctantly, Diana released him.

At that moment—

A baby's crying caught her attention.

A young widow stood by the roadside, cradling her infant.

Diana immediately stepped forward, concern and maternal instinct overflowing—

Despite being, technically, a five-thousand-year-old virgin.

Watching this unfold—

Steve Trevor exhaled in relief and began making the Sign of the Cross: forehead, chest, left shoulder, right shoulder.

But instead of invoking Christ, he murmured:

"Thank you, my God—Leon."

Leon frowned.

"What was that?"

"Sounded like you were passing gas."

"I am, in your so-called Norse mythology, the God of Battle—Leon Stark Odinson. Don't use another religion's ritual to call on me."

"Or I might strike you with lightning."

He casually pointed upward.

Trevor followed his gesture.

A streak of violet lightning tore through the clouds.

BOOM—

Thunder split the sky.

Trevor nearly jumped out of his skin.

This—

This was a god.

What was Jesus compared to that?!

Even as the thought formed, Trevor hesitated.

Finally, he blurted out:

"Big brother… actually, about Ares, I don't really—"

"It's fine. I already know."

Leon waved him off.

"Just do as you said you would."

That single gesture—

Multiplied Trevor's faith exponentially.

God of Battle?

At this point, if Leon announced he was Odin Allfather himself, Trevor would believe it without question.

After Diana finished comforting the child, Trevor led them to meet his secretary and liaison, Etta Candy, at an upscale clothing shop.

"Oh my God—you're alive!"

Etta threw her arms around Trevor in relief.

Then she turned to Leon and Diana—and gasped.

"Oh my God. Have you two saved the world or something?"

"What does that mean? We haven't defeated Ares yet."

Diana looked confused.

"Means you're very good-looking," Leon translated.

"Oh… I see."

Diana nodded thoughtfully, then replied politely:

"Then you must have saved the world as well, ma'am."

Etta blinked.

"Oh. Thank you."

She extended a hand.

"I'm Etta Candy. Steve Trevor's secretary."

"Secretary? What is that?"

Another unfamiliar word.

Leon opened his mouth—

And, for once, found himself at a loss for words.

Before he could stumble into trouble, Etta cheerfully interjected:

"A secretary means I do everything. He tells me where to go—I go. He tells me what to do—I do."

"Oh."

Diana nodded.

"Where I come from, that's called a slave."

"…That stings a little, sister."

Etta wiped away imaginary tears, then laughed it off.

"Well, I suppose I'm not so different from one. But I do get paid rather well."

"In this world, who can truly say they aren't a slave?"

"To survive. To avoid hunger. For our parents. Our partners. Our children."

"We're all just trying to stay alive."

"As ordinary people."

"…."

The matter-of-fact bitterness in Etta's words—

So normal to her, so commonplace to most—

Left Diana silent.

She felt it then—

The weight on her shoulders.

Heavier than before.

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