Michael 2: A Minute of Oracle and the Pink-Tipped Birth
Heaven was eternally peaceful. And the Temple of Light was utterly quiet.
I rolled around on my cloud bed, just killing time. The cloud bed was as fluffy as ever, and warm golden sunlight streamed through the temple windows. Every condition for perfect rest was in place, but my heart felt utterly bored.
"Ah... so boring..."
I sighed, poking at the little orbs of light floating on the ceiling with my fingers. They sparkled and shifted through colors, but even that had grown tiresome. Lately, the human world had been so dull. Seraphina had been writing some book for two years straight, and Beatrice was just fighting weak monsters in the Arcana Desert. The silver lining was that they hardly interacted with the other gods, so my weird reputation hadn't spread much.
I hugged my cloud pillow tight and tossed and turned.
Come to think of it, I wonder what Ricoris is up to?
Thinking of Ricoris brought a smile to my lips. That cute little flower still believed I was a god of blood and slaughter... It worried me, but it also stirred a strangely affectionate feeling. She'd been quiet lately, so I hadn't paid much attention. I'd glimpsed her now and then, but she was just sitting there alone. Wait, no—her bugs were with her.
I bolted upright in bed and walked to the window. Spreading my palm, a tiny projection of the Sia Kalt Labyrinth appeared above it. Peering into its depths again, it was the same as always.
"Again? Is Frostia still out?"
But looking closer, Ricoris's aura seemed unusually faint. Her petals were drooping as she sat quietly with her bugs.
"Uh... hold on... Don't tell me Frostia still hasn't come back?"
I wiggled my fingers to check the time—three whole years had passed! Frostia had left with Nis three years ago! Hmm... Last I saw, they'd headed to Desmeer...
1. Send a 1-minute oracle to Ricoris. (Consumes 3,000,000 Divine Power)
2. Do nothing.
※ Current Divine Power: 4,121,865
A sudden chime rang out, and a translucent choice window appeared. It was so abrupt I stepped back.
"Whoa! It's been forever!"
The window hadn't shown up in ages, probably because the human world had been so quiet. My heart pounded.
"An oracle!? A real oracle!?"
I stared wide-eyed at the window. Could it really convey my words exactly? Was this for real? I'd wanted to tell Ricoris for so long that I wasn't a god of blood and slaughter! But 3 million Divine Power for just one minute...? Highway robbery! Still, no choice. She might be quiet now, but this could be my last chance to correct the twisted beliefs about me spreading in the human world.
"Hoo... Let's do it...!"
It was a power I'd always had, but the thought of issuing an oracle after ten thousand years made my heart race. My hands trembled with excitement. Before the window vanished—option 1! In that instant, I felt connected to Ricoris's inner self, like a warm light linking us. This feeling—it's been too long! Direct communion with my apostle!
But no time for sentiment. I had only one minute! No wasting it!
"Ricoris, can you hear me? It's Michael! I only have one minute, so listen closely!"
『Gasp! Lady Michael!』
Her voice—it was the first time I'd heard it. Clear and bell-like, utterly cute and lovable. Like crystal chimes? As a plant, her prayers had always come as system text, so I'd assumed no voice... But plants don't have voices? Maybe it's her inner voice?
Focus! I clapped my hands to snap out of it. First, the important stuff! That I'm not a god of blood and slaughter!
"I'm not a god who likes blood and slaughter—"
『Lady Michael! Is Master safe? Where is she?!』
Eh? She cut me off. No, what I was about to say was crucial...
"No, wait, what I was going to say was—"
『Please, Lady Michael! Just tell me if Master is safe!』
Frostia really hadn't returned from her trip with Nis. Ricoris's desperate voice echoed inside me, filled with three years of longing and worry. Ah, to her, this was the priority...
Hurry! Time's short!
I first checked the last place I'd seen Frostia: the Desmeer Labyrinth. Waving my hand, I shifted the view to Nis's deep-sea temple chamber.
"...Huh?"
Was I seeing this right? I rubbed my eyes and looked again. Frostia and Nis were passed out amid glasses, sprawled flat. Frostia's silver hair was a mess over the table, and Nis was slumped in her chair, mouth open, snoring. A dazzling gold bottle studded with gems sat on the table, rainbow aura swirling around it.
Isn't that... Dwarf Royal Golden Liquor?
Even in Heaven, I'd heard of it—the brew Dwarves aged for centuries. No way they'd gotten smashed on that and stayed out for years? It was notoriously potent, but really? The labyrinth's two rulers drunk for years? Hard to believe, but undeniable.
Sigh...
I let out a breath. This was absurd.
"Frostia... got smashed on Dwarf Royal Golden Liquor with Nis and hasn't woken up yet..."
『Ehh? ...For real? Master's just sleeping off a drunken stupor?』
I could sense Ricoris's bewilderment. I got it...
"Yeah, it's true. Totally true..."
I couldn't believe it either... I rubbed my forehead and shook my head.
『Phew... What a relief! Thank you, Lady Michael! Truly!』
Relief washed through her voice. I felt her petals brighten radiantly.
『Lady Michael! From now on, I'll devote my life to you, offering blood diligently! Thank you so much!』
What!?
"No! I don't like blood! I'm a god of peace and light!!!"
But her response never came. Our inner connection had severed. Time up already!?
"Argh! Nooo!!!"
I tore at my hair, spinning around the temple. It was a real oracle! And I failed to tell her I'm not a god of blood and slaughter!
"Ugh... What did I do..."
Frustrated, I went to the window and peered at Sia Kalt again. Ricoris looked completely different. Her drooping petals had bloomed fully, her stamen swaying vibrantly. Even the bugs seemed revitalized. The little butterfly hopped on her petals; the flashy fire-winged one flitted around, trailing flame afterimages.
"Huh...?"
My jaw dropped at the unexpected sight.
"Well... the oracle worked out okay, I guess."
The message got twisted, but seeing her full of life filled me with pride. My apostle's happiness was a good thing, no matter what.
"Next chance... I'll definitely tell her I'm a god of peace."
I resolved, closing the window. Exhausted, I flopped back onto the cloud bed.
"Ugh... but I spent three million..."
…
Polymorphed into human form, Ricoris was slaughtering monsters. As an offering to me! I watched from the heavens, speechless.
"Arghhh... What is this..."
Suddenly, my scalp stung. At first, I thought it was stress, but it intensified—like someone plucking my hairs one by one.
"Hmm... What's with my head?"
Scratching behind my ear, I turned back to Ricoris. I recalled her first polymorph into human form. I'd watched from Heaven then too. The girl emerging from dark red smoke was... stunning. Petite, but her grace rivaled Heaven's goddesses—maybe even outshone Solaris. She had a mystical allure.
Her long black hair flowed in waves, faintly pink-tinged, like her seedling days. Those red eyes gleamed like sunset rubies; her porcelain skin glowed like moonlight. Her black dress was accented with red stitching like flowing blood—eerie yet captivating.
"She transformed so beautifully..."
Her wonder at moving fingers and arms, touching her face in awe, that first clear, bell-like laugh. Back then, Ricoris seemed like a newborn discovering the world, everything novel and joyful. So pure and cute with her bugs, admiring each other.
But now...
"Arghhh! What are you doing!!!"
She gleefully butchered monsters with a vivid red blade—dagger or sword? Blood mist from it dyed everything crimson as she darted through them.
"That's a magic sword no matter how you look at it!"
She danced elegantly like at a ball, but each step ended in a monster's death. Their screams and spraying blood left her dress spotless. But each blood fountain made my scalp burn hotter, like something hot trickled down my hair.
"Ow... What the heck?"
Touching my head felt off—hot and damp toward the ends.
Ricoris's voice reaches you.
"Eh..."
『Heehee, no! What if the offering for Lady Michael escapes?』
Her voice rang in my ears. Her red eyes burned brighter.
"No! I've never wanted that!"
I yelled at the air, but of course she couldn't hear.
…
Ricoris's voice reaches you.
Ah... I could already guess what she'd say.
『Phew... Thank you always, Lady Michael. Thanks to you, I've grown this strong. Thank you again for Master's news. With all my heart, I offer these monsters' blood to you.』
"Argh! Stop offering!!"
Again! Ricoris was ruining my image in the human world with blood offerings! Polymorph turned her into a rampaging maniac!
"Ugh... I said no... I'm a god of light..."
I muttered, rubbing my forehead. My head throbbed again.
"Sigh... Time for some tea."
The stinging was unbearable now. Something was wrong. Pouring tea, I caught my reflection in the window.
"Huh?"
I nearly spilled. "What is this!?"
Rushing to the window, I examined myself. The tips of my golden hair... were dyed pink.
"No no no! This can't be!"
Panicking, I grabbed the ends. No doubt—golden locks tipped unmistakably pink, like dipped in blood.
"No way..."
A terrifying thought hit.
"Don't tell me Ricoris's blood offerings are changing me?!"
I yanked my hair, spinning. "Waaah! I'm a god of peace and light! Far from blood and slaughter! How do I end up a real war god!?"
Tearing up, I wailed louder. "Anyone? Help!"
Silence. The temple was too quiet.
"Solaris... I need Solaris!"
I flung open the doors and ran. Heaven's paths were golden clouds. Normally soothing, but no time now.
"Waaah! Solaris! Solaris! Big trouble!"
I burst into her golden palace, sobbing.
"Michael? Again?"
Solaris sounded weary.
"Waaah! Real big trouble! Look at me!"
"What's so urgent... Huh?"
Her elegant, bored face lit up like she'd found something fun, golden eyes sparkling.
"Oho... This is interesting."
"Eh?"
Interesting? This crisis!? Can't you see my waterfall tears!?
"Interesting!? This is serious! I'm changing! Ricoris's constant blood offerings are turning me into a war god!"
Tears brimming, I spun before her, pink tips fluttering.
"Waaah! What do I do! I might really become a war god!"
Solaris watched amused, then smiled. "Then just become the war god."
"No! Don't tease! This isn't what I wanted!"
I stomped in protest. The pink seemed to deepen with each shake.
"Well, can you change it back? The system limits us."
Her calm made me fidget more.
"No! If the oracle window pops again, I can!"
"Huh? You issued an oracle? Then why this?"
"Well... I used it all telling her about Frostia..."
"Pffahaha! What!?"
"No! It's Frostia's fault! Passed out three years on Dwarf Royal Golden Liquor! How was I supposed to know!?"
"Pffahaha! Snrk!"
Solaris clutched her sides, tears in her eyes.
"Stop laughing!"
Tears welled again. I pouted, glaring.
"Haha, sorry. But will the oracle come again? You're the only otherworldly god to visit and issue one."
"..."
I hung my head. She was right. It'd been ages.
"It suits you now. Why not go war god? There's war for peace."
Like Seraphina. But Ricoris's war was blood and slaughter.
...Maybe just become the real war god?
Oddly thrilling. New possibilities excited me.
"Fine... From now on, I'm New Michael."
"Pfft! New Michael?"
She burst out laughing.
"Yeah. Gather the gods at the Temple of Light. Time to show the new me."
Solaris nodded, stifling giggles.
…
The Temple of Light brimmed with Heaven's gods: Earth, Sea, Wind, and rare faces. They eyed me curiously in the center, my pink-tipped hair and faint red aura on display. I'd grown to like it in the mirror.
Gripping a red spear, I declared boldly.
"Hehe, everyone here? I've been reborn. I'm New Michael!"
Murmurs rose.
"Michael's finally snapped."
"Her hair color changed, right?"
"The whiner's becoming a war god?"
Shocked and puzzled, but I didn't care. Their reactions amused me.
Yeah, I like those shocked faces. More to come.
"Yes! I'm now Michael, god of war! I love blood and slaughter! Uhahaha!"
I thrust the spear high, roaring.
"Wait, wasn't it war for peace?"
Solaris's baffled voice faded amid the din.
"Uhahahahaha!!!"