Ten Days of the Pathetic Evil Gods
Ten days had already passed since the pathetic evil gods, but Ricoris still hadn't come. Hmm... This is taking forever... She tossed a small energy orb up and down with her fingers, lost in thought. Gazing at the ashen sky, her eyes drifted to the icy kingdom in the north. I wonder how Frostia is passing the time? I'm so bored I'm about to die... Is she really just sleeping? Just then, cheers erupted from her followers.
"It's complete! The portal is finally complete!"
Ah, it's done at last. Time to hunt some evil gods. Stretching lazily, she rose and walked toward the portal. Amid the massive magic circles drawn in blood stood a door made of some strange material. Red gems were densely embedded in a frame pieced together from human bones, surrounded by the Uroboros emblem.
"Lord Uroboros! Lord Abraksas will descend soon!"
The followers clustered tightly, staring at the portal. She flashed a smile as cold as a rainy morning.
Hehehe... Come on in, evil gods. Be a tasty meal for me.
But... something was off. The portal was complete, yet there was no reaction. Huh?
"Why isn't anything happening?"
The followers began exchanging confused glances.
"We followed every procedure perfectly..."
A man who seemed to be the leader approached, and she fixed him with an icy glare.
"What is going on?"
He stammered in panic. "I-it's definitely complete! The magic circle is perfect, the blood concentration is..."
"Then why no reaction?"
Her voice grew as cold as floating ice chunks. The followers shuddered and scrambled back to the portal, searching for flaws. Time dripped by moistly. Suddenly, the bone frame creaked and trembled.
Portal Trembling
Red gems spewed wriggling black energy from their cracks, and the Uroboros emblem began rotating as if alive. The magic circle's lines glowed blood-red, vibrating the air.
"H-he's here! Lord Abraksas at last!"
As cheers filled the air, she too lifted the corner of her mouth, watching. About time. I've been waiting.
Polymorph.
Polymorph
Her human form evaporated, transforming her into a massive black snake. The followers cheered again.
"Ooooh! Lord Uroboros, herald of Abraksas, in true form!"
Hehehe... They'll faint when they see what's coming.
Thud... Thud... The weight crushed the ground. She raised her enormous head to peer into the portal. Finally, black light intensified, and a figure emerged. Squinting to see clearly.
"Ooooh! Lord Abraksas descends!"
"The end of the world is nigh!"
"To witness this glory!"
That doesn't look like Abraksas at all? What stepped out was a tiny girl in a petal-thin dress, small and adorable. Huh? Is that the evil god? Definitely not. Only the faintest trace of evil god aura. Can evil gods be reborn...?
The girl froze upon seeing her, blood-red eyes widening in fear.
She's cute.
A navy-winged butterfly hovered beside her. Something familiar. Looking closer, the girl's clothes felt off. Huh...? That's my aura...?
Suddenly, the girl beamed. "Lady Nis! It's me, Ricoris!"
...Huh? Ricoris?
"So... after passing through the portal, Lady Nis is there, and you want me to take her far away...?"
"Yes, you've got it."
Abraksas exhaled deeply, nodding as if unburdening a heavy load. His golden eyes glimmered with hope.
...Huh? The evil gods' gloom was because of Lady Nis? So right through the portal, I meet Lady Nis and Master! Jackpot! But wait, Lady Nis is that strong? How powerful is she to scare evil gods like this? No, no. I read somewhere to use Dragon Ball logic here. Lady Nis is super strong! X The evil gods are total weaklings! O Wait, reversed? Anyway... if Nis is that strong, Master must be too! Heehee! I giggled, and Abraksas looked anxious. He plucked a violet brooch from his chest and offered it.
Exquisite lavender brooch, a treasure Abraksas cherishes dearly.
Huh? Giving it to me...? Isn't this your most treasured item...?
"I give this to you, as payment for your request."
"Uh... thank you?"
She placed the brooch on her palm. Ethereal purple waves swirled mistily inside the translucent central gem—stunningly beautiful.
"So, I can take that as you accepting my request?"
"Of course! Leave it to me!"
Thanks to these pathetic evil gods, I score this awesome item!
"Thank you."
Abraksas nodded in relief. Thank you! Straight to Master, plus free gear!
Then Bellona approached.
"Are you coming to the human world with me too, Lady Bellona?"
Her expression darkened briefly. "Well... I planned to, but I heard Nis guards the portal..."
"I'll talk to Lady Nis for you!"
I said energetically, but she shook her head. "Ricoris, you know Nis too...? Ah, that's what your chat was about."
"Yes. Ricoris agreed to move Nis."
"I see. Then I'll go when Nis is gone~"
Bellona forced a bright smile, but it rang false. Even she fears Lady Nis...? This is disaster-level for evil gods. What happened? I glanced at them curiously, but they wore please don't ask faces. Yeah, rude to pry... I'll ask Nis later.
"Lady Bellona—no, Master, I'll head out now. Thank you."
"Heehee. Yes, my precious disciple~"
She caressed my cheek. Her touch felt cold yet warm.
"Though brief, your time as my disciple was truly happy. I knew from the start—you have a special talent unlike any other."
She stroked my hair. Gone was the seductive smile from our first meeting; now, a true master's warmth.
"Thank you, Master. I grew so much thanks to you."
"Thank you. And remember, Ricoris—you're always my proud disciple."
She kissed my forehead last. Her cool lips made my eyes sting inexplicably.
"See you again, Master!"
"We will, my daughter-like disciple."
I headed to the portal. As I neared—
Bzzz! Something vibrated wildly at my waist. Crimson Bind shook madly.
"What? What's wrong?"
Drawing the sword, it trembled fiercer—then thunk! It slipped from my hand, turning to stone half-buried in the ground.
What...? Does it not wanna go...?
"No! We have to go!"
I tried lifting it, but it resisted harder.
"Stop it!"
Like a brat throwing a tantrum in a mart!
"Idiot! Staying in the Demon Realm means more trouble!"
It finally calmed a bit.
"Haa... Such a headache."
I yanked it out forcibly and approached the portal. It still buzzed but didn't resist.
"I'm off!"
Deep breath. I stepped into the pitch-black portal. Instantly, darkness swallowed everything. No temperature, gravity, or time. Thought narrow, but endless like space. No sense of walking, floating, or falling. This... like when I was just a seed...? Eek! Hate this feeling! Flutter... I barely heard Miel flapping on my shoulder. Even she lost her bearings in the chaos. Whew... Almost PTSD... Miel, hang on a bit...
Suddenly, things shifted. Pinpricks of light in the dark—like stars or tears. The cold Demon Realm air warmed. Air on my skin softened; familiar floral scent wafted.
"Nngh!"
Eyes blinked open to familiar nature smells—not Demon Realm's dark chill, but warm, vibrant air!
"We're... back!"
Flutter! Miel's wings beat stronger. Over my shoulder, her black wingtips reverted to navy!
Good! Perfect! Savoring the human world—then distant cheers from dozens of humans.
"Ooooh! Lord Abraksas descends!"
"The end of the world is nigh!"
"To witness this glory!"
What? Evil god cultists? I'm not a pathetic evil god—I'm national-power-level cutie!
Then—thud... thud... The ground quaked. Terrifying magnitude.
"Hiss..."
With an unknown sound, a massive shadow loomed overhead. Huh...?
"Eek!"
A scene to scream at. An overwhelming black snake filled my view! Each scale half my height, oozing ominous aura like condensed terror. Frozen solid. Couldn't breathe.
Then, a status window floated above the snake. Too far, tiny.
Huh? Lady Nis? Right! She's a Yormungand!
"Lady Nis! It's me, Ricoris!"
My voice echoed. The black snake moved. Purple aura between scales sharpened. Its massive body shrank, transforming into a beautiful woman—pure magic. Black scales became a soft black dress, huge blood-red eyes to sharp crimson ones. Raven hair with faint purple sheen fluttered.
"Ricoris?"
Her eyes widened, then narrowed—shocked.
"Lady Nis!"
Patpatpat! I ran; she opened her arms.
"Oh!"
Hugged in her fluffy embrace. Her signature scent—roses and sweetness—tickled my nose.
"Th-this... such a cute girl is Ricoris!"
Her voice trembled with three years' longing. She pushed me to arm's length, scanning top to bottom.
"Why are you so pretty!?"
Her eyes sparkled. "Wow... your hair is gorgeous! That blood-red suits you perfectly!"
Hugged tight again.
"But... really sorry... for making you wait three years..."
Warm embrace. Long-lost security.
"But..."
She narrowed her eyes. "Why'd you come out of that portal? That's the evil gods' portal."
Uh... how to explain...?
"Wooo! Lord Uroboros welcomes Abraksas's apostle!"
"Even the apostle is so beautiful!"
Cultists bowed frantically from afar, yelling. Shut up, you guys!