In a daze, Stelle opened her eyes, her head spinning. In a blur, she saw Himeko chatting with a very mature-looking big sister, and as they talked, they looked in her direction.
"Hey! You're awake!"
Pff!
Stelle coughed a few times. March 7th's weight felt oddly comforting. With a twitching mouth, she looked up at March 7th lying on top of her, who had just jumped on her, blinking as she stared.
Stelle voiced her honest thoughts.
"About to faint again."
...
-------------------------
Fortunately, this time Stelle didn't pass out.
Natasha looked on with an expression that mixed disbelief and speechlessness, as if she were observing some kind of strange creature.
"You ate an entire Scale Fruit in one go and still woke up this fast—your body must be a miracle of this world."
According to Natasha, Scale Fruit is a new species that appeared after Jarilo's revival.
It has intense hallucinogenic effects—ordinary people who eat it are basically guaranteed a death bed in the suburbs.
"Hehe, luckily it's a bit sweet."
"You think I'm complimenting you?!" Natasha glared at the foolishly grinning Stelle, not understanding how this grey-haired girl could still laugh.
"The Supreme Guardian already issued a decree: ordinary people are forbidden from entering the Great Forest. The Fragmentum soldiers there aren't as easy to reason with as the Silvermane Guards. What were you all thinking?"
Faced with Natasha's scolding, Himeko could only take responsibility like a mother owning up for a child's mistake.
After finishing her lecture, Natasha left.
"Hehe." Stelle gave a goofy smile, trying to evoke what little motherly affection Himeko still held.
Himeko smiled helplessly—the kid is still young, let it go.
"This world is strange. It gives me a strong sense of disconnection," Welt finally spoke up after remaining silent.
"I feel it too. I just went for a walk nearby with Dan Heng and found that the people here have intense stress reactions, yet they're deeply devoted to the statues on the roadside—as if no harm would come as long as those statues are there."
There's only one 10-meter-tall Godzilla statue.
But small-scale statues of similar craftsmanship can be seen everywhere, especially in commercial areas, where nearly every street has several.
March 7th scratched her head, her not-so-smart brain still unable to understand why people here worship a giant monster so much.
"Statue?" Welt was taken aback. With the crowds and not having stayed with Dan Heng the entire time, he didn't know what Dan Heng had discovered.
"Uncle Yang doesn't know?" March 7th exclaimed, rummaged in her pocket, and pulled out a poster.
"Here, this one. Looks super fierce!"
"March, don't take things from strangers," Himeko said helplessly.
Taking the poster and clearly seeing the image, Welt froze.
"What is it?" Stelle craned her neck, trying hard to see what was on it.
Welt passed the poster to her with no expression.
"Wow, so fierce and so cool!" Stelle's eyes lit up like stars as she gazed at the majestic and imposing beast on the poster.
"Godzilla," Welt murmured.
"Eh? Uncle Yang knows this big guy?" March 7th's words drew everyone's attention to Welt.
Adjusting his glasses, Welt spoke with a complicated tone.
"If this giant beast is anything like what I remember, then it should be a monster named Godzilla—a Titan behemoth? Whatever you call it, its name has always been... Godzilla!"
…
"Godzilla?" Welt gave a slight nod, his expression serious.
Standing opposite them were Cocolia and Bronya, both listening to Welt recount the story of a god.
"This is a story from my homeland about a giant beast called Godzilla. Its power is immense and extremely dangerous."
At first, Welt assumed that Godzilla on this planet was just like a movie star.
After all, the universe is vast—similarities are bound to happen.
Just like with Himeko.
But after hearing the entire city talk about Godzilla saving Jarilo, he gradually began to sense that something wasn't right.
It seems... something feels off?
So he hurriedly inquired about the location of the city's ruler.
...
"How dare you!"
Just as Welt was about to continue explaining the dangers of Godzilla, he was startled by this sudden shout.
Looking up, he saw Bronya with a frosty expression, glaring at him. After a while, she finally spoke.
"Considering you are outsiders unfamiliar with Jarilo, I will not hold you accountable for offending the divine."
Though she said she wouldn't pursue it, she still planned to report the incident to Godzilla later to ensure he wouldn't be angered upon hearing it.
"Bronya is right. Since you've revealed the sacred name of the god to us, we won't pursue this matter for now." Welt was completely stunned.
It was one thing for ordinary people to worship Godzilla, but even the rulers of this planet's government revered Godzilla as a deity.
However, he quickly composed himself.
Looking at the two who held Godzilla in such high regard, he fell into thought.
It seemed Godzilla had a good reputation in this world—or perhaps this Godzilla wasn't as fierce as the one in the movies.
As a mecha enthusiast, Welt was also familiar with the kaiju series and knew that beings like Godzilla, with high ecological dominance, rarely interacted with those of lower status.
While he was pondering this, he felt an itch at his waist—March 7th was carefully poking him with her finger, whispering,
"Uncle Yang, what exactly is this Godzilla thing? You look really nervous."
Welt was just about to speak when the door opened again.
Serval walked in, curiously examining the group of outsiders.
"Serval? What brings you here?" Seeing her arrive unexpectedly, Cocolia asked.
Usually, Serval would either stay beside Godzilla or tinker with her inventions in her little workshop.
"Oh, nothing much. The big guy wants to meet the outsiders."
Her words puzzled the members of the express crew.
Himeko asked, "May I ask who this 'big guy' is that you speak of?"
"The deity of our Jarilo."
"Huh?"
...
Godzilla sensed the express crew approaching Jarilo.
It was somewhat similar to the Stellaron it had previously consumed, but also different.
It initially intended to go out and see what was coming its way.
But then it sensed that energy source moving toward Jarilo on its own.
So it lowered the claw it had raised and quietly waited for the food to come to it.
Waited and waited—and then they suddenly stopped at Belobog.
That was when Serval invited them over.
"Hey hey, do you think their god is super huge? Like, really scary?" March 7th and Stelle huddled together, whispering.
"Whatever it is, just smack it away."
"But what if it's really as strong as Uncle Yang says? What if we can't win?"
"Beg it to spare us."
"That's your decision already?! And why is begging for mercy even an option!"
Though they were whispering, their voices were unusually clear in the empty space.
Himeko helplessly facepalmed.
These two kids... Stelle was one thing, but March, you've been with me for so long—how have you not picked up even a little of my wisdom?
"Haha." Serval chuckled and looked at them with amusement.
"Don't worry. The big guy is usually easy to talk to."
"And when he's not?"
"Mm~ Maybe he just swats you away with his tail?"