Ana's sudden disappearance was an unforeseen event for Merlin.
Knowing the purple-haired loli's true identity and mission, he understood that Ana was a crucial figure in the subjugation of the Three Goddess Alliance; nothing could be allowed to happen to her. Furthermore, the Servant was simply too young and naive, reminding him of a certain troublesome student he once taught, which made him feel compelled to look after her.
Thus, seeing Ana vanish, Merlin panicked. He immediately activated his Clairvoyance to search for her.
The good news was that he did indeed find Ana. In order for Gilgamesh to see him, Su Mo had manifested in a state that could be perceived by beings below the level of a god, so Merlin also saw the King of All Gods.
The bad news was that, as a demonic entity from the depths and an antagonist in her own myth, Medusa's relationship with the King of Gods was not a good one. Though of divine descent, she was a persecuted being. This was evident from Gorgon's reaction. While Ereshkigal and Quetzalcoatl were overjoyed and respectful upon seeing the King of Gods, and even an unloved goddess of the underworld like Ereshkigal held no animosity towards him—only self-pity—Gorgon was different. Her first reaction was terror. For Medusa, the gods had always been synonymous with horror and oppression.
This attitude was ingrained in every version of Medusa, including the young Ana.
Just as Gorgon, upon realizing Su Mo's identity, became so terrified that she used Tiamat as a shield to alleviate her own anxiety, Ana might also do something irrational out of fear and hatred. After all, in her childhood state, she was not yet mature. If she were to question the God-King about her sisters' tragic future, or show him disrespect...
Just as Merlin considered this possibility and prepared to stop it at all costs, he saw the purple-haired loli had, at some point, climbed onto Su Mo's lap, practically sitting on his thighs.
This time, Merlin was truly panicking.
Disrespecting the King of All Gods was an undeniable death sentence!
Even Gorgon's eyes widened. She couldn't believe her younger self would be so audacious as to profane the King of All Gods. But surely the punishment for such a transgression won't be both of us getting ground to dust, right?
Just as the two felt a chill run down their spines, as if they had been plunged into an icy abyss...
Chu!
A soft sound echoed. The purple-haired loli pulled away from Su Mo's cheek. Then, like a child seeking a father's embrace, she buried her face in his chest, inhaling his scent with a look of pure contentment.
"W-what?! What do you think you're doing to someone else's Father God!"
Seeing this, Ishtar could no longer sit still and ran over in a huff.
"How dare she be so intimate with Father God... when even I don't have that privilege..." Ereshkigal, the goddess of the underworld, was also frozen in place, shocked that a goddess from another pantheon could be so forward.
"Wait... Ana, what are you doing? Is that... allowed?"
Merlin, too, looked as if he was questioning his own reality. Ana's actions didn't seem to stem from rebellion or dissatisfaction towards the King of Gods, but simply from a desire for closeness.
However, for the King of All Gods, those of lower status had no right to be familiar with him. To a mortal, a kiss from a cute loli might be a blessing, but to a god-king, it could very well be considered disrespect. Not just anyone was qualified to be close to the King of All Gods. If Su Mo chose to take offense, he could easily punish Ana for her frivolity.
"Eh?!"
Chapter 591: Subduing Primordial Mother Tiamat (Cont.)
Hearing everyone's shocked questions, the purple-haired loli suddenly snapped back to reality, the dreamy look in her eyes vanishing in an instant.
Then, her cheeks flushed crimson. She pulled her hood down to completely hide her expression and stammered to Su Mo, wringing her hands.
"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to be disrespectful... b-but, you have a very familiar and comforting scent... just like my sisters!"
Little Ana didn't know why she had been so bewitched and drawn to Su Mo, but to her, his aura was indeed so familiar it was deeply reassuring.
Hearing her explanation, Gorgon was taken aback. The wariness she felt towards the God-King dissipated, and she soon noticed the same sensation.
"It's true... the God-King's aura is so familiar. But it's strange. I have more of a monster's nature, so why does the God-King have an aura similar to mine, but more... primordial?"
Gorgon's snake tail swished a few times in confusion. As a Demonic Beast Goddess, her monstrous nature outweighed her divinity, yet she too felt a sense of home from Su Mo's presence. Logically, this should be impossible. The aura she sensed was even different from the one Ana felt. What was going on?
"As I said, I am the Father of All Gods."
Facing their confusion, Su Mo explained patiently. "While in a narrow sense, you can think of me as the creator god who brought forth all things, in a broader sense, I am the creator of all deities. To me, all divine spirits are the same, and that includes the Gorgon Medusa... Your very divinity belongs to me."
"Of course, the reason you feel a sense of closeness is likely because I'm on good terms with Medusas from other worlds."
Whether it was Athena from the Campione! world or Algeiba from the Little Garden, both had close ties to Su Mo, and he naturally carried their blessings.
"On good terms with Medusas from other worlds... Does that mean, Your Majesty, that you don't dislike Medusa?" Merlin asked in astonishment.
"To you, we're the same as any other ordinary god?" Gorgon's eyes also widened in surprise. She had always been seen as a monster to be subjugated, not a goddess. She never thought the King of All Gods would see her in such a light...
"But of course," Su Mo nodded, patting the purple-haired loli's head. "Based on the performance of Medusas in other worlds, my impression of you is quite good. So rest assured, I didn't summon you here to kill you."
"As expected of the King of All Gods!" Merlin felt a sense of relief at such direct words.
Hearing Su Mo's reassurance, little Ana pressed her hands against her hood, trying to hide her burning cheeks. His Majesty said he has a good impression of me... Is that a confession? It has to be a confession... According to my sisters, no one else could possibly like me, but His Majesty the God-King seems to have broken that rule.
"...Thank you, God-King... B-but—!" Gorgon's reaction was more complex. Hearing Su Mo's words, she first felt an overwhelming sense of security, but then she became conflicted.
It was wonderful to be able to keep her life, but she had appeared in this era to answer the call of the Primordial Mother. If she abandoned her Mother for the sake of her own life, wouldn't that be putting the cart before the horse?
In truth, Gorgon wasn't afraid of death. A simple promise not to kill her wasn't enough to make her hesitate. The crucial thing was that Su Mo's words weren't just a lofty promise, but contained a recognition unique to the King of All Gods. For Gorgon, who had devoured her own sisters and was already walking a path of ruin, this recognition was too precious to give up.
For a moment, she was caught in a dilemma.
Fortunately, this dilemma didn't last long.
Because—
"There are no buts. Now that the Three Goddess Alliance is dealt with, it's Tiamat's turn, isn't it?" Su Mo paid no mind to Gorgon's inner conflict and asked directly.
"That is correct. Your Majesty the God-King may have already seen it, but the Primordial Mother is currently deep in slumber. I am doing everything in my power to merely delay her advance. But once Gorgon submits, the Primordial Mother will be startled awake, and she will undoubtedly begin to destroy the world immediately—"
Merlin nodded in response to Su Mo's question and began to detail the current situation, hoping to make Su Mo understand Tiamat's state.
However, before he could finish, he saw Su Mo slowly close his eyes.
Seeing this all-too-familiar scene, both Ishtar and Fujimaru Ritsuka's eyes widened in disbelief.
Lord Su Mo couldn't possibly be...
Just as an incredible thought formed in their minds...
As if to confirm their suspicions, Su Mo soon opened his eyes.
"Tiamat is dealt with, too."
The instant his voice fell, a woman with large, "3"-shaped horns appeared before Su Mo.