Creating a Divine Union Tool normally requires a connection to the goddess one wishes to engage in union with. This means either knowing the goddess or, in this case, Shurein, having a connection to the goddess in question.
It’s like trying to make a phone call; you can’t dial without knowing the other person’s number.
Currently, Kousuke has met most of the goddesses and Shurein possesses a title, so there were no issues in creating the Divine Union Tool.
As Kousuke has already made several Divine Union Tools, he was able to create the desired item easily without any hesitation.
If a cleric who knew nothing about this were to witness Kousuke creating a Divine Union Tool, they would likely turn pale.
Kousuke was accomplishing something considered impossible, yet he handed the Divine Union Tool he had made to Shurein without giving it a second thought.
By the way, Silvia, the cleric closest to Kousuke, no longer shows any particular reaction to the creation of Divine Union Tools.
Putting aside Kousuke’s circumstances with creating Divine Union Tools, Shurein, having received the tool from Kousuke, immediately engaged in Divine Union with Clara (God).
Shurein had intended to wait until she was mentally prepared, as she felt nervous.
However, as soon as Shurein received the Divine Union Tool from Kousuke, an oracle came from Clara (God).
Therefore, Shurein ended up using the Divine Union Tool before she had a chance to prepare.
“Shurein, isn’t that a bit cruel?”
As if in response to this thought, Shurein immediately received a reprimand from Clara (God).
“Y-yes, I’m sorry?”
“Ah, that’s a question. It would have been better if you spoke in your usual tone.”
Clara (God) seemed to be insistent on Shurein’s tone, and her reply carried a hint of disappointment.
Shurein, unsure how to respond, became somewhat flustered.
If Kousuke were present, he would probably have laughed at the rare sight.
“If you showed that side of yourself more often, Kousuke might say you’re even cuter.”
“Hya!?”
Taken aback by an unexpected retort, Shurein blushed deeply and was speechless.
“Yes, yes, that’s it!”
“Ugh… Please, have mercy!”
Overwhelmed by Clara (God)’s onslaught, Shurein found herself in a state of utter confusion and was defeated.
With her pace completely disrupted, Clara spoke to Shurein again after a short pause.
“Are you feeling a bit calmer now? I hope you’ll get used to this a little?”
“Haa, well… I suppose.”
Clara had been teasing Shurein earlier in an effort to break her rigid demeanor.
Whether it was effective or not, Shurein’s tension had eased.
While she was in a state of unrest for a different reason, Clara found the current situation more preferable.
“Hmm… I’d be happy if you relaxed a little more…”
“Please, spare me!”
“Yes, yes, that’s the way!”
Completely under Clara’s control, Shurein collapsed onto the bed, lying on her back after only a few dozen seconds of conversation.
Shurein was currently in her private room on the Management Layer.
As there was no one else around, her embarrassing moments were not seen by anyone other than Clara.
No one enters the private rooms provided on the Management Layer without knocking, so in that sense, Shurein felt at ease engaging in Divine Union with Clara.
“Haa. It’s fine now. So, was there something you wanted to talk about?”
“Hmm. No, not particularly. I just wanted to make small talk with you.”
Shurein was about to protest that this was too casual, but she remembered the Divine Unions Silvia and Kousuke often engaged in, and decided against it.
They, in their own way, engaged in what could truly be called casual conversation, even when meeting with the Three Great Gods.
Considering this, she figured there was no point in bringing it up with Clara, who was of a lower standing.
“Small talk… Even so, I don’t think there’s anything to discuss with a god, is there?”
Shurein, now in her usual demeanor, asked with a questioning tone while lying on the bed.
She wasn’t trying to dismiss Clara; she genuinely didn’t know what to talk about.
“That’s why you sound so formal. I want to talk about the kind of things you usually discuss with Kousuke and the others.”
“Even then, most of our conversations are about managing the tower.”
“Haa, honestly. You’re so stiff. Well, for now, that can be a starting point, so let’s talk.”
Clara said with an exasperated tone. Shurein, though feeling she was being called stiff, decided to start by talking about the Vampire village.
To Shurein’s surprise, Clara was a good listener, and their Divine Union lasted for about an hour.
By the end, Shurein felt as though she had been talking with Clara for a long time, just like she had with Silvia and the others.
Moreover, it felt more like she was talking to an older sister, and after the Divine Union, Shurein felt a sense of satisfaction she had never experienced before.
After the Divine Union, Shurein felt satisfied, but she wondered about Clara’s experience. However, their connection had already been severed.
She felt a bit uneasy about reconnecting now, but soon received an oracle saying, “Let’s talk again.”
Upon receiving Clara’s comforting message, Shurein gave a wry smile on her bed, realizing Clara seemed to see through everything.
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After lounging in her room for a while, Shurein headed to the Lounge Space to change her mood.
There, she found Silvia, who was fiddling with a Water Mirror.
“Is something wrong?”
“Ah, Shurein. No, nothing like that. I’m just trying to touch it regularly to get used to it.”
“Ah, I see.”
As with any tool, the more familiar one becomes, the better they can use it.
Even in her daily life, Silvia touches the Water Mirror Divine Tool, trying to become more accustomed to it.
Silvia, while touching the Water Mirror, looked at Shurein.
“So? How was your Divine Union?”
“Ah… well. It was stimulating, in many ways.”
Seeing Shurein’s slightly crestfallen expression, Silvia tilted her head slightly and let out a small laugh.
“Was it stimulating in a good way, exceeding your imagination?”
“Indeed. Precisely so.”
Since they could manifest in reality, goddesses couldn’t be considered absolutely inviolable. Shurein had viewed them with a similar sense of distance (except for Kousuke), but this Divine Union had shattered that image.
The saving grace was that the image hadn’t been shattered in a negative way.
“This might sound rude, but it was more like facing an unattainable childhood friend who is an older sister.”
Shurein, who had felt this way during her confrontation in her room, confided this to Silvia with a look of deep reflection.
Upon hearing this, Silvia snorted with laughter.
“That’s quite an accurate expression, isn’t it?”
Silvia, who seemed to have a similar impression, nodded in agreement.
Shurein had never had direct contact with goddesses before, so this was her first opportunity to deeply connect with one.
Her values have been shattered, in a good way.
By the way, Kousuke is in a separate category within Shurein’s mind.
