Naohara did not spend much time thinking about the question.
He understood it clearly.
His answer would determine the attitude of the Six Great Gods from this point forward.
Friends or enemies.
Everything hinged on a single choice.
"Then my answer is…"
Naohara's lips curved slightly as he raised a hand and made a small beckoning gesture.
The crystal ball floated out of the God of Death's hand and flew straight into Naohara's palm.
A flash of light followed as it disappeared into his backpack.
"The contract is established."
As the words fell, the scroll suspended in midair suddenly shone with brilliant light.
An invisible sense of restraint descended.
Naohara's expression remained calm.
Without a sound, the fluctuation of Wild Magic passed through his mind.
Just as expected, the power of the contract connected him with the Six Great Gods.
Neither side could violate the terms of the contract.
Anyone who broke it would suffer the backlash of the Power of Faith.
[PS: Explanation.]
[Contract-type World-Class Items will not be nullified by [World's Blessing] as long as both parties agree.]
[[World's Blessing] can negate the effects of other World-Class Items, but only if the item is equipped beforehand.]
[If the effect has already been activated and completed, equipping a World-Class Item afterward cannot negate it.]
[This is the same reason why, in the original story, when Shalltear was controlled, Ainz chose to kill her instead of taking out a World-Class Item to nullify the control of [Downfall of Castle and Country].]
[Of course, Wild Magic does not have this limitation.]
"My friend, thank you for your trust."
After confirming that the contract had taken effect, a trace of joy flashed through the God of Death's eyes.
He spoke immediately, his voice carrying a hint of excitement.
The five shadowy figures beside him also nodded.
The worst possible outcome had not happened.
"We're simply taking what we each need."
"Besides, in this other world, it's rare to meet someone from the same homeland you can actually talk to."
Naohara teased the little female cat resting on his lap.
Then he slowly took a lunchbox out of his backpack.
Among the five shadowy figures not far away, one of them froze slightly upon seeing the lunchbox in Naohara's hand, as if a memory had surfaced.
"Looks like it's him."
Naohara, who had been quietly observing the group, noticed the reaction and his gaze shifted slightly.
The lunchbox he took out contained nothing more than ordinary pet food.
But the key point was where it came from.
Back when he was still in the game, he had purchased this pet food from the guild [Cat Kingdom].
Pet Food: [Vitality Meow Meal]
Description: [An adorable-looking staple dish. The simple preparation preserves the natural flavor of the ingredients to the greatest extent.]
[Even the most aloof kitten cannot resist following the fragrance of this dish. Wait… why has a puppy been attracted as well?]
As a special dish independently developed by members of the guild [Great Cat Kingdom], it was extremely popular among feline NPCs.
Now, Naohara was using it as bait.
He had long suspected that one of the Six Great Gods came from that guild.
And now, through this dish, he had finally identified the person.
Without showing any change in expression, Naohara placed the food on his lap.
After thinking for a moment, he reached out again.
A single drop of dragon blood, diluted countless times and stripped of its Catastrophe power, leaving only the most basic magic power, slowly fell into the lunchbox.
"Go ahead and eat. Sorry for scaring you earlier."
Naohara spoke softly.
After receiving permission, the kitten named Rufus did not immediately start eating. Instead, it glanced toward the Six Great Gods.
Only after seeing their nod did it eagerly begin devouring the meal.
It was obvious the dish suited its taste perfectly.
As a vampire-transformed female cat, the food itself satisfied the needs of a cat, while the added Dragon Blood satisfied the needs of a vampire.
Double the satisfaction.
After finishing the meal, the kitten licked its lips, as if still savoring the taste.
Then it obediently rubbed against Naohara's palm in thanks.
"Looks like Rufus really likes you."
Surshana watched the scene, and a trace of warmth flickered in his eyes.
Perhaps it was because of what Naohara had said earlier.
Or perhaps it was because he fed the cat.
Or maybe both.
This undead who had lived for six hundred years spoke with slightly less restraint than before.
The five shadowy figures beside him seemed the same.
In particular, the one who appeared to be a member of the [Great Cat Kingdom] opened his mouth several times, as though he wanted to say something.
"I liked all kinds of small animals back when I was in the game. Spending time with them helped relieve stress."
"You all know what reality is like."
Naohara sighed.
Although he did intend to deepen his relationship with the Six Great Gods, this part was the truth.
Not knowing whether he would really be able to travel to another world, his health getting worse, and the endless frustrations at work.
Aside from chatting with his companions, spending time with animals in the game was another way he relieved stress.
In fact, most ordinary players were the same.
"Reality…"
Surshana paused when he heard that, as if lost in memory.
After a few seconds, he sighed.
Unfortunately, with a skull for a face, no change in expression could be seen.
After that, the two continued chatting about amusing stories and memories from their time in the game.
Naohara told the stories, and Surshana responded enthusiastically.
The scene looked warm and relaxed.
At least on the surface.
"Hmm…?"
Surshana suddenly paused in the middle of discussing how greedy bosses should be cooked.
"What's wrong?"
Naohara asked.
Talking with Surshana was not boring, but the other party had been extremely careful with his words and had not revealed a single useful piece of information, which left Naohara somewhat helpless.
"My friend, perhaps it's time to end our conversation."
"That NPC you brought along and the girl from the Theocracy are about to tear the temple apart."
Surshana said with a hint of headache.
He waved his skeletal hand lightly, and a projection appeared in midair.
Within the image, two figures were fighting.
One of them was Pandora, who had changed his appearance.
The other was a girl with black and white hair, wielding a scythe.
[PS: Explaining a few points.]
[1: Why did the God of Death know the name Naohara in the previous chapters?]
[Because he had been secretly observing from the shadows and heard it from Pandora. The protagonist is also aware of this.]
[2: Why did the Six Great Gods only sign a contract with Naohara instead of also requiring one from Momonga and Herohero?]
[First, the coronation ceremony of the Sorcerer Kingdom was known to everyone, so the Six Great Gods knew there were three Players. Of course, they could not rule out the possibility that other Players might still be hidden.]
[Second, the reason they only signed the contract with Naohara is because the protagonist released a wave of pressure earlier, which caused the God of Death to change his mind. This happens in Chapter 247.]
[The God of Death has his own calculations behind this decision. It is essentially a strategic move placed for later use. However, because of the relationship between the three protagonists, it ultimately has no effect.]