…What Should I Do?
'……What should I do.'
It was around lunchtime the next day. Michael's words from yesterday kept popping into my head. Lucas, the God of Space. He wanted to meet me as a representative of the gods. Should I go or not? I had no idea what it even entailed.
'Let's just go for a walk.'
"Kar, wanna head out for a bit?"
"Yessir!"
Kar, who had been dozing off in the corner, snapped his eyes wide open and straightened up. He spread his wings wide once before lowering his back in one smooth, practiced motion.
I climbed onto Kar.
"Where to, boss?!"
"Just circle around the World Tree for now."
Kar kicked off the edge and shot into the air. I lay back on his back and gazed up at the sky. Not a single cloud in sight. The sunlight warmed Kar's scales, and a gentle breeze brushed across my face.
'Nice weather.'
I propped my head on my arms and crossed my legs. Kar traced a wide arc around the World Tree's trunk. I looked up toward the distant sky. Through the barrier, I could faintly make out the floating island of the Divine Realm.
'What does "representative of the gods" even mean?'
The only god I'd met so far was Zephyros. Michael was technically an angel chief, not a god, but he seemed like the same sort. What were the others like?
'This is such a hassle.'
I could just nap the day away like this. Did I really need to fly all the way to the Divine Realm to meet some stranger?
'……But honestly, I've got nothing else to do.'
Better to get it over with quick. I let out a sigh and sat up.
"Kar, back to the nest."
Kar banked sharply and headed for the nest. Once we landed, he folded his wings and asked,
"Off somewhere else already?"
"The Divine Realm."
Kar's tail twitched.
"Won't take long."
Kar opened his mouth, closed it, opened it again, closed it once more, and finally bowed his head.
"……Please come back safe."
"Will do."
Kar nodded, his tail thumping the ground once.
I pulled out the communication orb and channeled mana into it.
"Michael, I'm coming up now."
[……Yes. I'll come out to greet you.]
I released my Polymorph. My wings unfurled, wind rushing between the feathers. I gave Kar a light tap with the tip of my wing and launched upward. I pierced through the top of the World Tree, rocketing up to the barrier. Light washed over me as the skies of the Divine Realm unfolded before my eyes. The light air seeped between my feathers. My wings moved on instinct. I surrendered to the refreshing breeze, gliding aimlessly through the sky in a daze.
Suddenly, I snapped to.
'……Oh, right. Not here for a joyride.'
I veered toward the direction of Michael's presence. After flying for a while, I spotted him below. He stood in the street between buildings, looking up at me. I landed in front of him and cast Polymorph.
"Where to?"
"The temple. Lord Lucas said he'd meet you there."
Michael's expression was stiffer than usual. He bowed and led the way, his steps a bit quicker than normal. We passed between buildings and turned onto a main road, where tall pillars came into view ahead. It was a structure carved from white stone, grand as any palace. Golden patterns adorned the pillars, and a chill wind blew out from between them.
Michael stopped at the entrance.
"I'll wait here."
"Not coming in?"
"……Lord Lucas said it would be just the two of you."
Michael paused before continuing.
"If anything makes you uncomfortable, just call out. I'll come right in."
'……What is this, a job interview?'
I passed between the pillars and entered. It was a vast space. Light poured from the high ceiling, though there were no windows anywhere. The smooth stone floor echoed softly with my footsteps, and the air was cooler and drier than outside.
'……Pretty neat.'
A desk sat toward the back, with a blond man seated behind it. He lounged deeply in his chair, chin propped on one hand. As I entered, his head tilted first, his eyes scanning me from head to toe.
"Nox?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, you actually came. Have a seat."
His tone was casual. He dropped the hand from his chin and gestured to the chair opposite with a wave.
I sat, our eyes meeting across the desk. His lips curved up, but his gaze was fixed steady.
"I got curious after reading Michael's report, so I called you up."
"Curious about what?"
"Everything."
Lucas tapped the desk once with a finger.
"Reincarnated just six months ago, right?"
"Uh…… yeah, about that."
"And in six months, you're wielding four elemental mana types?"
"Yep."
Lucas stared at me quietly for a moment. His eyes narrowed, gaze lingering on my chest.
"……Mixed with divine power, too."
His tone dropped a notch.
"All in six months?"
'Why's he grilling me like this?'
Lucas tilted his head.
"That normally takes centuries. Even the fastest is a hundred years."
"……Really?"
"Yeah. But you did it in six months."
Lucas placed both hands on the desk and leaned forward.
"Who's backing you?"
"Huh?"
"No one grows this fast solo. A god? Demon king? Something else?"
"No one."
"For real?"
"For real. Just me eating, sleeping, and flying around."
Lucas fell silent briefly. He leaned further in, eyes boring into me.
"……One more time. For real, no one?"
His voice stayed light, but the air shifted. Invisible pressure crushed in from all sides.
'……What the hell.'
The air grew heavy, pressing my shoulders down.
"I said no one."
"It's weird. A six-month-old being with four elements and divine power, no backstory?"
I had nothing to say.
Lucas scraped the desk lightly with a fingertip.
"Growth this rapid means intervention. But I don't see it in your mana."
The heavy aura intensified. Something weighed on my shoulders. My neck stiffened. Even sitting, I felt myself tilting.
"How'd you hide the traces?"
'……Is this what a god is?'
Irritation bubbled up. I'd said no a dozen times. The pressure, the repetition—it grated.
"Cut it out."
Lucas's eyes narrowed briefly.
"If it's true, prove it—"
"I said no."
A surge of heat bloomed deep in my chest. My core thrummed, mana flooding my body. The temple air rippled violently. The crushing force rebounded all at once. Dust sifted from the upper pillars, and the golden patterns on the floor flared bright before dimming. My shoulders lightened; breath returned.
Lucas didn't move. Still lounging, his hand slowly dropped from his chin to the desk. His half-open mouth closed. His sharp eyes softened, pupils flicking wide once.
Then the doors at the back burst open. Michael rushed in, then froze. He glanced between Lucas and me, scanning the temple.
"Lord Nox……."
"I'm fine."
Michael took a step closer, then halted upon seeing Lucas.
Lucas exhaled slowly. He ran a hand over his face, a faint smile creeping onto his lips.
"……Pure. No corruption. No external interference, forced infusion, or alterations."
Lucas swept back his hair and leaned back in his chair. The heavy air lifted, the temple returning to normal. The cool, dry atmosphere settled in again.
"Sorry. Got a bit carried away."
The edge was gone from his voice. His smiling eyes matched when I'd first entered. Hard to believe this was the guy who'd just been choking me out.
'……What the heck.'
The sudden apology felt even weirder.
Lucas opened his Subspace and pulled something out. A transparent orb rested in his palm. He slid it across the desk.
"One more check. This won't hurt."
"……What is it?"
Lucas just held it out, no answer. I stared. His face lacked the smile now, but no pressure like before.
'Trying something again?'
It bugged me, but it felt like he'd drag this out if I didn't. I reached out and took the orb. The moment I grasped it, something pulsed inside. A tingle shot up my palm, then faded. The clear orb blackened in an instant. Dark energy swirled within, spreading to the surface.
Michael's eyes widened from the entrance.
Lucas took the orb back and stored it in his Subspace. He sat quietly for a long moment before speaking slowly.
"I see potential in you. To become a god…… or a demon king."
'……God or demon king? What're you talking about?'
"What does that mean?"
Lucas chuckled shortly. Wrinkles crinkled at his eyes.
"Can't tell you."
"Why not?"
"Old rule we set. Tamper rashly with potentials, and you break them. So we don't touch."
"Then what's with the orb?"
"Doesn't matter."
'……Drags me all the way here for an interrogation, then clams up?'
Asking more would just loop. I stood from the chair.
"I'm out."
Lucas looked up and raised a hand.
"Hold up."
He opened his Subspace again, placing two bottles on the desk.
"Sorry again about earlier. Take these at least."
He shook one; clear liquid sloshed inside, releasing a sweet aroma. Astraea scent.
"Made from Astraea. Should cheer you up."
The bottle felt cool in my hand.
'Beat me down then try to placate me? What is this?'
I stowed the bottles in my Subspace and left the temple. Michael waited at the entrance, tension lingering in his eyes.
"Lord Nox, are you alright?"
"Yeah."
"If Lord Lucas was rude, I can—"
"Nah. Let's just go."
Michael shut his mouth, bowed, and followed. As we stepped outside, the light Divine Realm air returned. The temple's crushing weight was gone like a bad dream, wind brushing my face.
"Michael."
"Yes."
"Next time someone wants to meet, tell me what it's about."
"……Understood."
I released Polymorph; my six wings spread, wind lifting the feathers. I beat them hard once and shot toward the barrier. The temple roof receded below. I pierced the barrier and descended to the ground. The World Tree's familiar scent enveloped me, easing the stiffness in my shoulders. I landed on the nest's edge; Kar's eyes flew open.
"M-Master! You're back quick!"
"Yeah."
I cast Polymorph and flopped onto the Turaka hide. Its warmth seeped into my back. I pulled out one of the bottles from my Subspace. Uncorking it released Astraea's sweet scent, tickling my nose. I took a sip. Cool sweetness spread over my tongue. It slid down my throat, warmth rising behind, leaving me slightly languid.
'……Tasty.'
The irritation eased a bit. A little. I took another sip. Wind rustled through the branches, leaf shadows flickering over my face. Kar approached cautiously and sat beside me.
"Master, did something happen?"
"Nope."
"……You don't look great."
"This'll fix it."
Kar started to ask more but closed his mouth. His tail tip thumped the ground once, then he curled up there.
I tilted the bottle, gazing at the sky. A single star peeked through the leaves.
'God or demon king, huh.'
'……Whatever. Don't wanna think about it.'
Another sip; the flavor deepened. Warmth trickled down my throat, heating my chest core.
'……Damn tasty.'
Kar's snoring rose from beside me. I tilted the bottle again, but my eyelids grew heavier and heavier.