Chapter 24.4 – Revelations of Romance and Research

"Mizuki…how do you plan to visit a god?" (Alto)

"Well, I'm going to try teleporting to him. I think there's a decent chance the place we first met is in normal spacetime. If so, then enough magic power should get me there. If not, the worst case is that I end up transported into the empty void between planets, but with magic I should be able to survive and return here. Given the circumstances, I think it's worth the risk. You want to come? He's a pretty cool god." (Mizuki)

"C-C-Come meet a g-g-god!?" (Alto)

I just chuckle at her and nod. She stares at me for several moments, then takes a deep breath and gives me a confident smile.

"Alright, Mizuki, let's go track down a god, then. I'll trust you." (Alto)

"Great, I wouldn't have it any other way. Come here next to me and I'll start the preparations." (Mizuki)

Alto smiles and walks over to wrap me in a functional hug. I take hold of her, then close my eyes to focus on the spells I need to prepare. However, before I can get started…

"That...won't be necessary, Mizuki. I've come to you, so let's have that chat, shall we?"

I turn around behind me to see a muscular blonde man in a lab coat and sweater standing in the palace library. A smile slowly spreads on my face, and Alto looks between him and me in alarm.

"Alto, you can relax. Allow me to introduce you. This is Azazel, the god of Azura." (Mizuki)

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Azazel closed us privately in the palace library so we could talk without interruption. He even conjured some tea for us.

Alto is staring at him with a mix of awe, excitement, and apprehension. I'm feeling a little bit more relaxed than her.

"So, Azazel, let me start by saying…it's good to see you! You remain my favorite god, and I've been really enjoying my life here so far." (Mizuki)

"Fufufu…I'm glad to hear that. Mazel tov, by the way. Soon to be doubly so, it seems?" (Azazel)

Azazel seems a little bit less formal now than the first time I met him, and he's wearing a relatively friendly smile.

"Well, we'll see. I don't think Ilina's mother or people would approve, so I'm going to try and figure something out to fix that. Fortunately, my dear friend Alto here has promised to help me!" (Mizuki)

"H-H-Hello, Sir Azazel, it's a p-pleasure to meet you!" (Alto)

Azazel chuckles at Alto, presumably her nervous behavior, and makes a dismissive gesture with a friendly smile.

"Fufu…please don't be so nervous, Alto, and drop the 'sir'. It's nice to meet you as well. I must confess, you and Mizuki make quite the enviable pair. I think it's very nice that you have each other for your magic studies…I have to do all my research alone!" (Azazel)

Azazel seems to sigh dejectedly after his statement. Poor guy.

"Fufufu…I agree, I'm lucky to have a friend like Alto. Also, if you're really looking for a research partner, I suppose that's something we might be able to address with this chat today. To get to business, I'm assuming that you've been watching me closely if you showed up like that. So, could you tell me how much I got right?" (Mizuki)

Azazel smiles at me, then shakes his head in exasperation as he chuckles.

"You deduced virtually everything correctly, Mizuki. It's astonishing, truly. To think that you'd see through most of the false magic theory principles here so quickly…it's honestly a little annoying!" (Azazel)

"Look, I know you're saying you're annoyed, but I can only seem to take it as the highest form of flattery. Fufufu…no hard feelings, right?" (Mizuki)

"Tch…no, no hard feelings. You also pegged me correctly when you said I'd risk my mandate a little for some intellectual stimulation. Surprising me with your wit counts as intellectual stimulation. So, in a way, I'm thankful." (Azazel)

"Good, I don't want to antagonize you. After all, you sent me base jumping unprepared last time I did that, right?" (Mizuki)

Azazel gives me a coy smile while sipping his tea.

"I'm sure that I have no idea what you mean, Mizuki." (Azazel)

Uh huh, sure buddy. Alto looks confused.

"Uhm…Mizuki, what is base jumping?" (Alto)

"I can tell you later, along with anything else weird you hear, if you just remind me. Alright, Azazel, I'm assuming that you also have some things you want to discuss, or requests you want to make. I'd also like to ask a favor or two in that case. However, we should probably start with the discussion that benefits us both?" (Mizuki)

"Again, you're correct, Mizuki. I have questions I'd like answered, and perhaps a favor. But yes, let's start with the things you think we both want discussed." (Azazel)

"Sure. First, can I confirm that I'm allowed to do whatever I want and learn whatever I want about magic and natural theories, so long as I don't threaten planetary life support directly or through spreading dangerous capabilities? For example, I can even use the nuclear explosion spell I theorized about for personal goals?" (Mizuki)

"Yes, that was our deal and I'll uphold it. Even in the extreme case you described." (Azazel)

"Thanks. Second, can I continue teaching a very few trusted friends what I know, like with Alto, as long as I ensure that they follow the same rules that we agreed on?" (Mizuki)

"Hmm…if you do as you say and also limit it to three such disciples at a time, then I'll allow it. So, pick carefully, and be aware of what you'll have to do to them and anyone they tell if they betray you. I'll be expecting you to clean up any messes in your now very long life." (Azazel)

Alto jumps in at this point excitedly.

"T-Thank you Azazel. You have my word, I won't betray Mizuki or your trust!" (Alto)

"Fufufu…only time will tell, but I'm glad you seem to mean it." (Azazel)

"On that subject, my third question is…have I slipped up somewhere and left loose ends that I need to tie up?" (Mizuki)

"No, good job! You were close a couple of times. Telling Zara everything would probably not be a good idea, given her dedication to improving her people's lives by spreading new knowledge. Similarly, telling those elven royals anything more about how magic fundamentally works could quickly become dangerous. Nina is so loyal to you she's not really a concern, but Ilina…that's tricky given her position within her kingdom." (Azazel)

"Thanks, that helps a lot. Fourth question. Can I teach people other than my disciples about natural theories, in a metaphorical vacuum, where I don't relate them to magic use at all? Cellular theory and genetics, atomic and fundamental force theories, and advanced mathematics?" (Mizuki)

Azazel becomes very thoughtful for a few moments before responding.

"Your world's math is fine, and it is the least problematic for exploiting magic fundamentals. The biology principles you mentioned are probably fine, but it's possible they could become problematic. I'd say you're playing with fire, but I'll leave it up to you. Physics and chemistry theories from your world would be a surefire way to ruin things. All your most alarming magic insights are deeply rooted in those subjects." (Azazel)

Yeah…that's what I figured. What a bummer!

"Okay, thanks very much for this Azazel. I think that's everything that's mutually beneficial that I want to ask right now. So, I'm very curious to hear what I can do for a god. Why don't you start off that portion of our meeting?" (Mizuki)

Azazel smiles excitedly.

"Thank you, Mizuki, that's very kind of you. My requests are almost entirely to divulge things you've speculated about privately without speaking aloud. Have you had any more revelations about the universe that I should be aware of?" (Azazel)

"One or two come to mind. In addition to counting my answer as a small favor, will you tell me if I've guessed right?" (Mizuki)

"Fufufu…sure, that's something I can relate to." (Azazel)

"Thanks, then. The first is that I don't think you gods are brought into existence with an intrinsic understanding of the universe. I think you have a lot better tools to study it, and more time, but you're still trying to understand its secrets, and you have yet to do so fully. Some of you care for it more than others, like yourself." (Mizuki)

"Well, that's not such a crazy deduction, and you are correct on all counts. Next revelation?" (Azazel)

"I think this incantation-type magic limitation scheme you've got here is standard practice on most if not all other magical worlds. By extension, I doubt the gods would adopt it with such prevalence independently, so there must be gods that the planetary gods all take orders from, like a council." (Mizuki)

Azazel raises his eyebrows in surprise.