Chapter 119

“But I feel really bad.”

“Why again?”

Rolling around on the bed, I suddenly had that thought. Without realizing it, the words slipped out of my mouth, and Eve made such a face that I abruptly sat up.

“Hey, think about it for a second.”

“About what?”

“I mean, I’m the Goddess of the Dark Realm, right?”

“So?”

Her face clearly said, “What nonsense are you going to spout now?” I almost slapped her but managed to hold back.

“It’s about Adel.”

“Yeah?”

“She stole a soul right in front of me, the Goddess of the Dark Realm. And she did it blatantly.”

No matter what, the souls of the dead return to the Dark Realm. And they become mine. Since Escario died like that, his soul should have returned to me. But Adel took his soul without even asking for my permission. Doesn’t that make you feel a bit off?

Isn’t it justified for me to feel bad about this?

“Do you want that soul?”

“…No. Thinking about it, I don’t really care. But still, it’s my domain, shouldn’t she have asked for my permission?”

“Is that how it works…? Well, you do have a point.”

Eve nodded, agreeing with me for once. Then, with a serious expression, she said,

“I remember a line from a Japanese drama I watched before. Yeah, you’re right. But only if you could have said it on the spot.”

“Could you have said it if you were in my place?”

At my words, Eve also shut her mouth tightly.

Adel has a different vibe. She’s kind of cold. She smiles, but there’s something chilly about her.

That’s why even someone like me, who’s been through a lot, can’t help but be cautious around Adel.

And she’s the God of the Divine Realm. She’s like my boss.

“Ugh, my whole body hurts.”

This incident was too much for me, still inexperienced. It was a huge fight, all because of one crazy guy. It was supposed to be a fight where Eve and I could just wing it… Wait, hold on.

“Hey, Eve.”

I stretched my legs and poked Eve’s butt, who was rolling around in the distance.

“You don’t have much meat, but your butt is soft.”

“You’re sexually harassing me like it’s breathing. Why are you calling me?”

“Well, Adel said we should separate our living arrangements. Remember?”

“Ah… right. She did say that. Since she already knows we’re living together…”

It means she’s watching everything. She probably knows we’re messing around like this.

“If we just put on a good fight, maybe she’ll let it slide?”

After all, the point is to watch the fight, and even if we live together… well, as long as we play along with their games, it should be fine, right?

“You’re always scheming, Vesprede.”

“Eek?!”

The sudden voice startled both me and Eve, who jumped up from where she was lying.

A woman in a pink suit, looking exasperated, stood by the bed, staring down at me.

“E-Edel.”

“Honestly, I can’t believe it. What were you saying? Scheming again, huh?”

It’s a misunderstanding.

“It’s a misunderstanding, Edel. I was just asking Eve for her opinion on whether she’d let it slide.”

“Hey, hey!”

Eve, suddenly having the blame shifted to her, was panicking, but that’s the truth. Besides, what’s wrong with scheming a little? People can’t always solve everything head-on, right?

“And Edel, don’t you think you’re being a bit too much?”

I can’t just keep taking it. I got off the bed and stood in front of Edel. I’m taller than her.

“Thanks to you, I was able to take down Escario, but honestly, I’m the Goddess of the Dark Realm. You took Escario’s soul without my consent.”

“Then take it back.”

What?

Before I could respond, Edel pulled out a glass bottle from her pocket. Inside the transparent bottle, something that looked like a face was pulsating against the wall, making zombie-like groaning sounds.

“W-What is this?”

“What do you mean? It’s Escario’s soul. You said I took it, right? Take it back then.”

She shoved the bottle in front of me, and I instinctively stepped back. Every time I stepped back, Edel stepped forward.

“…T-Take it. When did I ever ask for it back?”

I don’t want that thing. It’s terrifying. I’d rather die than have my soul trapped like that.

“Really? I thought you wanted it back. Well, shall we continue our conversation?”

Without waiting for our answer, Edel dragged a chair from the dressing table and sat on it backward. Resting her arms on the backrest and her head on her arms, she alternated looking at me and Eve.

“Eve.”

“Yes, yes?”

Hearing her name suddenly, Eve flinched and trembled. Regardless, Edel’s gaze remained fixed on Eve. Her unusually calm eyes were staring straight at Eve.

“Do you remember Cyclone?”

“Of course, I do.”

“Did you treat Cyclone the same way you treat Vesprede now?”

“No, that wasn’t possible. We fought like we were trying to kill each other every time we saw each other.”

I don’t know much about those days. At most, I heard about it on TV, and it wasn’t even during the time when the Dark Realm existed, so there weren’t any broadcasts.

“But, Miracle Princess Eve.”

“Yes?”

Edel smiled brightly.

“Why do you treat Vesprede like you’d give her your liver and gallbladder?”

*

After Edel left, both Eve and I were completely drained. I couldn’t understand why Eve was acting like that, but she must have her reasons. And I had mine too.

– The production device? Ah, you mean the Summon Base. We’ve already retrieved it, of course.

– No, shouldn’t you return it? The Mogmog Group is clearly at a disadvantage!

– What are you talking about? A faction with the Goddess of the Dark Realm at a disadvantage? That’s nonsense. If you keep this up, I’ll give it to the magical girls.

Ah, seriously.

But logically, it made sense, so I couldn’t argue. The fact that I killed Escario had spread widely in the Divine Realm, and as a result, many gods started betting on the Mogmog Group.

So, there’s the issue of the production device, and the number of gods keeping an eye on me and Eve has increased accordingly.

Meaning, if Eve and I stick together like this, it’ll be a rule violation, and there’s no way to avoid it.

When I asked what happens if we violate the rules, Edel smiled sweetly and said,

“What happens? We start over from the beginning, of course.”

“…Damn it.”

Since it’s clearly a rule violation, I can’t just curse Edel out, and I have no choice but to go through the process of separating from Eve.

I’ll have to look for another house.

Ugh, what a headache.

“Mom, why are you groaning?”

Stretching lazily on the bed, Kabe, who had woken up at some point, was half-opening her eyes and looking up at me.

“No, it’s nothing.”

“Ung.”

Kabe played a big role in this fight too. She even chewed up Escario’s remains. Truly, a wolf is a wolf.

But, so what if she’s a wolf?

It doesn’t matter.

“Kabe, let’s sleep more.”

“Ung.”

Both Kabe and I used a lot of energy in this fight.

“Are you going to sleep more?”

“That’s the plan… Haa…”

Even though I feel like I’ve slept a lot, I’m still sleepy.

“Are you going out?”

Eve was already up, fixing her hair. Her magical girl outfit had been repaired long ago and was as clean as if it had just been washed.

As Eve got up after putting a pin in her bangs, I also got up, holding Kabe, and got off the bed.

“We need to clean up. Sleep more. I’ll wake you when I get back.”

“Okay. Bring something tasty.”

“What do you want?”

“Beef intestines.”

“You really like beef intestines…”

Who doesn’t like beef intestines?

“And soju.”

“Got it. You sleep well too. Don’t toss and turn at night again.”

“Hey, when did I ever toss and turn?”

She always acts like this. So annoying.

“Anyway, I’m going.”

“Okay, take care.”

Seeing Eve off at the door, I flopped onto the sofa with Kabe in my arms.

No matter what happens next, for now, I’m sleepy.

I’ll sleep more too.