Time passed, and the weather gradually grew colder. Even though the God of Bountiful Harvest's territory wasn't particularly cold, everyone started wearing slightly heavier clothes.
During this time, Loren personally taught Panike. After what had happened last time, he didn't dare leave Panike in Mirrorheart's care again, even though Mirrorheart had already promised him she would behave.
Besides, Loren didn't dare take it out again. Panike really would bite into it, despite Loren repeatedly explaining that such behavior was wrong.
Now and then, Loren would visit William to check on the latest situation.
The war was growing more and more brutal. Several countries in the God of Bountiful Harvest's territory had already been wiped out, but the most important battlefield had not suffered a defeat.
Thanks to Loren's earlier interference, the Bountiful Church had managed to completely deal with the trump cards of the Plague Church and the Church of Pain. That had made things much easier for them, and the battlefield had stabilized once again.
Loren hadn't forgotten to ask around about Mythical Creatures, but they were all well hidden and hadn't shown themselves during this time.
Part of the reason was that William's reach wasn't extensive enough. When it came to intelligence, William couldn't match Ofemia.
More important than the Mythical Creatures were Loren's Tarot cards. Hidden among them was the key to Loren becoming a god.
Even if he couldn't find any Mythical Creatures, as long as Loren became a god, he would have plenty of ways to deal with the Orthodox Gods.
Loren took out a sheet of paper and wrote down the Tarot cards he was still missing.
The Fool, the Magician, the Empress, the Hierophant, the Lovers, Death, the Hanged Man, and the Star.
Loren had leads on only some of those cards. The Hierophant was in the hands of the Church of Light and Fire, while the Death Card had already become the little Death, who would occasionally show up beside him.
The Star card was in the hands of some evil god, but that god had yet to show themselves, so Loren couldn't find them for now.
Loren had at least some leads on all the other Tarot cards. Even when he didn't know much, he knew roughly where they were. For example, the Lovers card was in the God of Plague's territory.
The Fool's Card was the only one Loren had no clues about. It should have ended up in Lilith's hands, according to what he knew. The World Card was supposed to appear directly once he had gathered all the other Tarot cards.
But now the World Card had appeared in Lilith's hands. It was true that this had helped Loren quite a bit, but it had also cost him any leads on the Fool's Card.
If it wasn't in Lilith's hands, it might have appeared in the God of Night and Thunder's territory. Loren had sent a Puppet there during this time to search for the Tarot card.
After thinking through his plans, Loren burned the sheet of paper.
It was just then that Loren received word from Noah. He had finished making the nuclear bombs, considerably ahead of the time he'd promised.
There was practically no modern equipment here, after all. Noah had only magic and what he had learned from the Dawn Society to rely on.
“It really was the right choice to bring Noah under my wing…”
Loren had originally intended to use Noah like a one-use Ash Plant, like a Doom-shroom. He hadn't expected Noah to turn into Crazy Dave, surprising him with something new every so often.
“Everyone, get ready to head to the God of Plague's territory.”
Everything was already in Scarlett's spatial storage, so there was nothing to pack. That was one of the benefits of having Scarlett around.
“Master, you forgot about me.”
By the time everyone had climbed onto the back of Starnight, now transformed into a giant dragon, Scarlett was still below, struggling to climb up.
She was too weak to jump up, and couldn't climb, either. In the end, she could only plead with Loren for help.
“…”
Loren didn't answer. He jumped down and lifted Scarlett up.
“Am I getting less and less noticeable? You didn't even call me when you opened input… You even remembered to bring Naclis this time…”
While she was still in Loren's arms, Scarlett took the chance to complain.
Loren felt a little embarrassed. He really had been neglecting Scarlett lately, treating her like a warehouse.
“Ahem… I'm sorry…”
Loren quietly apologized to Scarlett. But it wasn't entirely his fault. Naclis had always considered the witches other than Anna to be outsiders, so she didn't want to travel with them.
Even when she did go along, she usually only stayed with Anna and Reflection Naclis.
“Next time, for sure.”
Loren soothed Scarlett and managed to placate her for now, then sat down on Starnight's back with her.
“Ready for takeoff.”
Before flying away, Starnight gave everyone a warning. Even so, Scarlett nearly fell off, but Loren caught her in time.
“Thank you, Master.”
Scarlett smiled awkwardly, still leaning against Loren without any intention of moving away.
She was wearing a white top and a pair of jeans, along with the new glasses Loren had made for her. Just from her appearance, she really did look like an intellectual beauty, and her eyes were as tranquil as a still lake.
That was, until Loren took off her glasses and had a look. Her gaze immediately turned vacant.
“You'd better put your glasses back on.”
Loren set Scarlett's glasses back in place, and she returned to looking like an intellectual beauty.
Unable to resist, Loren reached over and pinched her cheek. She really was cute, but unfortunately, she was an idiot.
“Hehe…”
When Loren pinched her cheek, Scarlett giggled foolishly.
“It'll be a while before we reach the God of Plague's territory. You can rest for a bit.”
Loren cast wind magic, forming a protective barrier around Starnight. The wind wouldn't affect them, and Starnight would be able to fly much faster.
Then Loren had Scarlett lie down on his lap. Enjoying the pillow, Scarlett giggled.
Their activity caught Naclis's attention. She lay down on Loren's lap too and took his hand, unwilling to be left behind by anyone else.
Since that day, Naclis had become quite a bit more cheerful. She was still as quiet as ever, though. At most, she was a little less cold toward her own people.
Nothing else happened along the way. Loren and the others passed over a battlefield, but they paid the people there no mind.
Before long, Starnight had flown into the God of Plague's territory and reached the vicinity of Noah's location.
To make it easier for Loren to find him, Noah had stayed put the entire time. Even when he ran out of space, he would only expand the basement, refusing the Church's offer to move him to a new laboratory.
Loren used the Hermit card to turn invisible, then passed through a wall and entered the Church. The others waited for him somewhere secluded. Only Reflection Naclis went with him.
“Long time no see, Noah…”
Loren had barely greeted him when the sight before him left him stunned.
A nuclear bomb sat in the basement. It was more than ten meters long, and just from its size, it was even bigger than the Tsar Bomba.
“You've finally arrived, Master Mentor. Please, admire my masterpiece!”
Noah's eyes blazed with fervor, as if he had discovered some great treasure.