Calm down, Eri, the city is still standing as far as you can tell, and there's definitively someone at the castle who'll gladly help you… doesn't it?
The girl from Iliasburg was frantically searching through the Pocket Castle. So far, the place was emptier than what she would have wanted. There were a few monsters here and there, but she neither wanted to make everyone panic, nor did she want to involve any of the more mischievous monsters that could blackmail or play a prank on her afterward. As she examined the help available, she almost ran in Promestein as the small scientist was running around in circles. When she stopped, the angel briefly examined her with her usual cold, inhuman eyes before expressing interest.
"Ah. Maybe you can be of some help. I was looking for Novissa for a research, but I can't seem to find him and any human will do just fine…"
Eri hesitated before answering. She decided to put Promestein's rude behavior on the side and focus on the possible opportunity to get favors from the scientist. "Yes? What is it?"
"You see, I can help people change their race with my mastery over the power of science, but there's been one that has completely eluded me." Promestein cleaned her glasses, as if ashamed to reveal her lack of knowledge. "I know and understand every species of monsters, from the powerful dragons to those sex-fueled succubi, and even the creatures that reside at the bottom of the abyss have no secret for me as well… but there's one species that completely eludes me… the demonoid."
"Demono-what?"
"Precisely. I had found some historical records about humans that had unlocked the power of monsters. However, all of these date back to the time of the Great Monster War, and I was thinking that the means to reproduce those were impossible… until now."
"Until now… you mean it could be possible again? How?"
"That… Is what I wanted to test. Apparently, my research had borne fruits that I failed to notice. Accessing that race requires the mastery of the yoma, vampire and oni races. Novissa having already mastered one of those three thanks to his lineage, I thought he could have been of a great help, but I unfortunately can't find him."
I'm still progressing on the path of the vampire myself… maybe I can still help her though. I could get that power for myself.
"What would you need done?"
"You need to simply master each of the three races… this will take a lot of time, but any representative of the demonoid race rumoredly wielded a power on par with a queen-class monster. I want to know if it is true or merely an embellished exaggeration."
I don't have time… I need that power to defend Iliasburg right now!
"…I know the hero is stocking seeds that help increase the rate of racial growth. I'm sure he wouldn't mind a few disappearing as long as it is for a good cause. He keeps stocking them but he never uses them anyway."
Eri realized that she had expressed her thoughts out loud when Promestein talked to her again. The scientist materialized a large box of small vegetal pellets.
"They're tasteless, and there are no side effects as far as we know. They should help you get to the level required in no time."
Eri remained suspicious at first. She slowly took one and gulped it down. She felt a slight change in her body, but couldn't pinpoint the difference. She carefully ate another, and this time, nothing changed. She expectantly looked at Promestein. The scientist simply shrugged. It was visibly perfectly normal for her.
"You're going to need to eat about fifty to be able to evolve to Demonoid afterward."
"…Aren't those items extremely rare and valued? As far as I know, there were hardly a few on the whole of Ilias Continent and barely more on Sentora."
Promestein shrugged again. "As I said, I'm not even sure he will ever use them. We have a lot of items that had to be put in stasis to prevent them from rotting away… And why do we even store things like five-hundred rocks in the first place? Granted, available place isn't an issue, but it's annoying…"
Eri ate another pellet. Curiously, she didn't feel her stomach getting filled. She ate another, then another, eventually starting to eat them in pair as rapidly as she could until she finally felt unable to eat another. Afterward, she only had a strange metallic aftertaste in her mouth.
Hurk… I think I'm better off not asking myself what kind of stuff there is in those seeds…
"I'm ready to become a demonoid now… this is not so different from all your other changes, right?"
"Actually…" Promestein nervously repositioned her glasses which were now slippery with sweat. "This is somehow considered a natural evolution… so you can access it from any book of job change or from the Ilias Temple."
"Then let's go! I don't have any time to waste!" Eri groaned and made her way out of the Pocket Castle with an assured step, requiring Promestein to trot to keep her pace. The next instant, she was in front of the head priest of the Ilias Temple. The poor man could barely understand what the girl from Iliasburg did as she grabbed the book and quickly made herself a demonoid. The rush of energy was exhilarating. While she had felt more powerful when she became a vampire, it didn't compare to the raw might she was feeling running in her very veins right now.
Is this how those powerful monsters always feel? I understand now why they look down on everyone else… Eheheheh…
A devilish smile on her face, Eri left the temple without a word, ignoring the still dumbfounded priest and Promestein still trying to keep up the pace with her.
"Huuuh, are you alright? I don't see any apparent change that would have been caused by your evolution, and yet you're acting in a radically different fashion."
"I'm doing alright, and I'll be doing fine once I'll have dealt with that thief who poisoned everyone's life…"
"At least, wait for me! I need to observe you and I'll still be able to help you in should the situation require it!"
Eri shrugged. She was confident that she could handle the troublemaker alone. As long as her partner made no noise, she could tolerate her.
An hour later, Eri was hidden in the warehouse, lying in ambush. Promestein had invited her to call more friends or to at least check on what this new race brought her, but she was confident that she could handle one man alone as is. She'd take care of him while everyone else was busying themselves with paperwork or investigating. The scientist had made herself invisible and was hiding in her own corner, taking notes.
All that power at my fingertips… why don't everyone just take the same and use it? We could win any war with it!
Bah! It doesn't matter! Let's take care of that idiot thief first, I'll show them up afterward.
Her waiting quickly paid off as a shifty silhouette ran in. Eri's extremely keen senses could identify a man. Although he looked like a mostly naked human, he had the scent of a yoma all over him. Did he also benefit of the boons from Promestein? She would have to interrogate the Angel Scientist afterward.
She focused back on the collection of items the man was carrying. She squinted her eyes to see them, and spent a lot of time recognizing them... No, it was more exact to say that she had difficulties accepting what his precious plunder what.
The man was carrying panties. A lot of them. Amongst the precious weapons, rare artifacts or impossibly delicious foods stored around, this man had decided that panties were the resources that warranted putting his life on the edge. For a moment, Eri felt all of her strength leaving her. This was so, so stupid she didn't even have the energy to raise her knife to take care of him.
In hindsight, I should have noticed earlier what it was about… everyone was talking about those burglaries as if they were ashamed. It makes sense that it would have been something personal. But… do I really have to fight him? I feel like it would be a colossal waste of time.
Eri observed him as he opened a crate to hide his ill-gotten gains. Before putting the last one inside, he slowly breathed out before taking a long sniff of the cloth. Eri went wide-eyed with disgust.
Okay. Nevermind. He's going down.
Eri closed her eyes and summoned a thunder bolt to take him down. She didn't want to lose a single second more of her time than what was necessary.
"Woopoopoopoo!"
To her surprise, the man dodged the attack with a back flip. On the positive side, it didn't look like he had any weapon or even a decent armor to protect him. The advantage was already hers.
"Ka-BOOOOM!"
An explosion propelled Eri against a wall. She gritted her teeth in pain at the impact as she felt an arm break.
That witch said words can't break someone's bones… I'd wish she saw that.
A light surrounded Eri's arm, and she got up with renewed vigor. It looked like she would appreciate Promestein's help more than she initially anticipated. The man haughtily huffed in her direction.
"You are not worthy of your panties! I will make your most prized possession mine!"
Eri felt utterly enraged at these words and attempted to stab him again in a dashing strike. Her attack completely missed its target and she ended up elbow deep in the opposite wall. Before the man could approach her, she had dug up her and was flailing her weapon wildly in his direction.
He's only one annoying idiot! I shouldn't have any difficulties with him!
"WoopooopoooooOOOOW! OW! OW!"
Another lightning bolt hit him head-on. The man screamed in pain when the attack finally hit him. Eri barely dodged another explosion when he counter-attacked. That fight was lasting way longer than what she wished for, if only because her opponent kept mocking her at every occasion. She was failing to get any serious advantage.
Crap… maybe I should have taken a minute to see what being a demonoid is about. I guess I'll have to make do with what I know…
Eri imbued her knife with the power of lightning as the man was smiling like an idiot. He was grating her nerves to no end, and deep down, she knew it was his goal. She released another lightning bolt when the man threw an earth jewel from nowhere. The whole structure shook as it threatened to fall apart in a chaotic storm that didn't end even as all spells stopped.
Then the roof collapsed inward. Both Eri and that pervert could barely avoid being flattened by the falling tiles. Eri look up to take a better look at what was happening, and, to her surprise, an angel with a military outfit was floating in the sky. She felt completely pinned by this newcomer's power, and, more importantly, by her raw rage. She heard Promestein mutter something from under a pile of rubble.
"Seraph Zion… what is she doing here?! Why would they send one of the seraph in a city?! That would only create chaos!"
Shit. I forgot I wanted to deal with that idiot in Iliasburg so that she wouldn't come raze the city as collateral… I let my arrogance get the better of myself… I might just end up as another victim.
When the angel talked, her voice was dripping with venom. "I originally wanted to give that thief a good pounding… but I won't let witness babble on about me today! Don't move, or I will only make it more painful for you!"
The angel charged the pervert, kicking up a crater on impact. The man barely dodged the attack in time and released another explosion with his mouth, but his attack barely made the angel flinch. Eri hesitated for a short moment between attacking him to finally apprehend him once and for all and attacking the actual threat.
Eventually, Eri settled on releasing a lightning bolt in the direction of the angel. Zion deflected the attack with her mechanical fist, setting a few crates on fire. Eri braced herself against the upcoming onslaught, but the seraph instead charged the pervert again. Caught flat-footed, the man suffered a series of rapid punches before his body got thrown against the wall in a shockwave that kicked a cloud of dust across the room. Eri gulped loudly. That fate looked extremely unpleasant, and it didn't even look like it was the worst possible end she could meet. The seraph was glaring at her with a mix of hatred and curiosity.
"Huh. I don't know who and what you are, but I'll just beat you down all the same. You can't say anything if you don't have a mouth!"
Eri threw herself on the side to avoid the charging seraph. This wasn't an opponent that she could face alone at peak condition, and facing her now after already being weakened from her last fight without having mastered the skills granted by the demonoid race, a victory was far from guaranteed.
Being prepared to face your death and the link you share with your companions at that precise moment are what makes the difference between victory and death.
As she remembered the words of the Succubus Queen, Eri regretted her earlier harshness toward Promestein. The angel scientist had only wanted to help her, even if she had her own interest in her growth. And she had only treated her like dirt.
This didn't stop Promestein from summoning a barrier to protect the both of them. Zion's oversized fist harmlessly bounced against Eri, and the girl summoned a swarm of bats that barely slowed down her opponent's onslaught. The air around the seraph turned cold when Promestein used an ancient spell to absorb all the energy around her opponent.
"Argh! I should have punched your head clean earlier, but I guess I'll fix this mistake now! Dispel!"
Zion powered through the barrier protecting Eri and released a barrage of punches on the poor girl. Eri felt her senses leave her as her body exploded in pain before she ended thrown in the wall. The seraph didn't lose a second, and with a single flap of her wings ended in front of Promestein to submit her to the same treatment. The seraph was now looking at both of them, barely worse for wear and still utterly furious.
Eri felt pathetically weak as she coughed up a clot of blood. Her own arrogance was costing her more than what she anticipated. She had become too high on a power she had been too hungry for. Ending dead in a warehouse in her good old Iliasburg because she got caught in the cross-fire between a seraph and a pervert who had robbed her wasn't a way she wished to go.
Then an arrow hit the seraph in the wing, drawing a yelp of surprise from her. Eri looked up to see a curvy, magenta-haired half-naked succubus with a bow standing on top of a broken pillar partly engulfed in flame. Even from there, Eri could see her pouting.
"Ehhh… I knew I should have hit you directly with the Full Charm Bow."
"You… YOU!" Zion accusingly pointed at the succubi, shaking in pure rage. Incidentally, she had apparently completely forgotten both Eri and Promestein, which was a good new for the both of them.
"Yeeees?"
"YOU'LL TAKE THE POUNDING OF YOUR LIFE!" Zion charged the succubus like a meteor, destroying everything in her way. The succubus took flight, nonchalantly avoiding her.
"You're screaming too aggressively, I'm not used to that type…" A mocking smirk appeared on her face. "Ah, well, I suppose I'll play elsewhere." The succubus disappeared with Zion in tow.
"MY FIST WILL BE THE LAST THING THAT YOU WILL PLAY WITH YOU WHORE!"
Eri focused on stabilizing her breathing. With the seraph gone, the rising heat and smoke were now the biggest threats to her life. She choked on the noxious fumes, and felt her life slowly leaving her.
Then a sudden torrent completely stopped the fire in a heartbeat. Footsteps echoed close to her, and she could see a quartet of angels and monsters approaching her. A kitsune samurai and an ancient mermaid were approaching her.
"I found one of them." The mermaid focused her healing magic on her. "Don't move, your wounds look pretty severe."
"I found Promestein and mister pervy man there! He looks even uglier than before!"
"Focus on healing him Cupi… and make sure he doesn't escape." The kitsune joined the mermaid and started using talismans on Eri. The girl gritted her teeth in pain as she felt her body spasm as bones were glued back together. The two monsters above her were casually discussing.
"That damn seraph did a lot of damage…"
"I wonder if she'll fall in Myusca's trap. even considering that this seraph is known to be stubborn and extremely hostile to succubi… nevermind, I can tell from here that yes, she did."
Even Eri felt the deployment of pleasure magic from where she was. She grinned inwardly. It felt surprisingly good.
"For once those three are making themselves useful… I guess they're cooperating as long as they think they can have their fun."
"Focus… we'll have to bring all those three to the healing ward. We don't have all the tools to heal them appropriately here. At least, there are no deaths to deplore."
"Eeeeh… Does the biggest panties collection to ever exist count?"
"The only victim there would be the dignity of everyone involved in this mess."
Eri felt herself being lifted on a shoulder before being fastened by fluffy appendages. Outside, she could briefly see the awed faces and hear a few whispers from her fellow townsfolk from Iliasburg.
"Did she just take down both that pervert AND a seraph?"
"She left Iliasburg barely a few weeks ago… how much did she grow?"
"Our battle fucker just made history! She's a new hero!"
Finally, as she felt every single trace of adrenaline leave her, Eri finally welcomed unconsciousness.
When Eri opened her eyes again, she was wrapped in leafy vines and looking at a supernaturally blue sky. She uncomfortably shifted a bit in an attempt to free herself. She stopped as soon as soon as she heard a shuffling noise of vegetation on her side.
"You should not overexert yourself; you barely had time to rest." She recognized Alrauna's soft yet authoritative voice. The queen alraune entered her field of vision and release Eri. To her surprise, she could move her whole body painlessly. The monsters had already effectively healed her.
"…For how long have I been out?"
"Less than a day. You were still bleeding heavily when you were brought in."
"Ah… Thank you for saving me…" Eri sat herself in a fetal position, her shoulders slumped. Her behavior didn't escape Alrauna who leaned above her.
"May I offer you my ear? It looks like the physical wounds you suffered weren't the worst ones…"
Eri hesitated to talk. She was feeling completely stupid. It had been one thing to face death in a controlled challenge where she had untouchable allies backing her up. It was another to face it because of your own arrogance and recklessness. All of her troubles could have been avoided if she hadn't let her newfound power go straight to her head. Of course, it was without considering the sheer idiocy of the situation she had jumped in in the first place. She had heard, seen and fought her fair share of troublemakers that threatened local settlements, but she had never expected to come to blows with a seraph because the latter got her panties stolen.
"…Sorry… today's just been a bad day. I feel like it shouldn't have happened."
"I can understand that. You're still a fresh recruit, and yet you've just been involved in a fight against one of the stronger opponents for a reason that could best be described as petty. You must feel lucky to even come out alive given her threats."
Eri felt ashamed to have forgotten about the other combatants.
"What about the others? Is Promestein fine?"
Eri could see Alrauna grimace. "The angel scientist already recovered and decided to help another friend with her own experiment, far from civilization… As for the self-proclaimed Panty Master, he is still on the way of recovery." A gentle smile reappeared on her face. "I should add that everybody is incredibly thankful to you."
"What?!" Eri felt her heart skip a beat. "I only rushed in a warehouse trying to stop a thief! Granted, he was a perverted thief, but he was still just a lowly burglar! I didn't do anything exceptional, and… and if I reported my discovery instead of rushing in, he and that seraph would have been taken care of anyways!"
"Maybe, but you're still the one who stepped in." The alraune wistfully sighed. "I would have helped you if I knew, but you would be surprised how many monsters refused to deal with him because of their own pride. And he had blackmailed an alarming number to look the other way. If you had asked for the wrong person, he would have taken the time to move his precious bounty."
Eri remained frozen in stupefaction. What she considered to be a pride-induced bullheaded instinctive reaction was apparently seen as a quick decision that cut short the burglary spree of a pervert supposedly dangerous enough to hold in respect half the monsters of the hero's army.
"With all my respect… This is so stupid."
The alraune answered with a small wistful smile and lowered herself on Eri's level, empathetically placing her arm on the girl's shoulder. "I wish I could say otherwise, but this the reality of our lives. For each time we defend the widow and the orphan, we have to deal with a petty thief who got mad because they didn't get the last piece of cake. For each fight to defend the world, we have three mundane tasks of accompanying trade caravans… We're not always happy with those ourselves, but most of us need the funds to live."
Eri sighed. This wasn't quite the epic adventure she imagined the hero lived. Yet on the other hand…
I just wanted to grow stronger to be able to travel freely, didn't I? But what's the point of this strength if you don't use it to defend the world?
…I guess the world doesn't always need saving… and I suppose I can appreciate those times of tranquility as well. And when the time comes, I'll have the freedom to choose what I can do.
"Maybe you should take the opportunity to travel with a friend?" Alrauna smiled. "I think you need to clear your mind from those unfortunate events."
"And this is what I originally wanted… I need to apologize to Promestein and everyone else for what happened first."
Alrauna chuckled. "Don't worry about it. you're free to do so, but they've all seen worse already, and have already moved on. Now, may I suggest you visit Yamatai?"
Before Eri could think her answer out, the door leading to the courtyard was brutally kicked open by Morrigan, startling both members of the duo. The succubus was barely standing still, rocking left and right with opaque bottles in each hands.
"Yeaaaaah! Where is the hero of the day so that I fuuuuug her haaaaard!" The succubus glomped Eri, rubbing her face all over her like a cat. The girl from Iliasburg recoiled in a mix of surprise and disgust as Morrigan was reeking of liquor. "You're my best friend guuuuurl… aaaaah… I'm so happy someone took care of that dumbass, Mephisto gives me shit each time I fight someone from the castle, soooo thaaaaaank youuuuuu!"
Wait… that pervert IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE COMPANIONS OF THE HERO?!
"Let's partaaaaaaay! Drinks are on meeeeee! You coming Alrauna?!"
"…I'd rather enjoy the tranquility of the place, and I'm sure so would Eri."
It was too late. The tail of the succubus had already fastened itself around the girl's leg who was too shocked to do anything besides following her.
"Oh come on, don't puss out! Bah! Doesn't matter! Tonight, we get smaaaaaashed!"
The next events were a blur to Eri. She remembered ending in the bar in a party that had nothing to envy to the one she saw when she first arrived, a pint in each hand with people chanting her name. Then several succubi hit on her. Then everything turned black as she tried to run away from the noise.
The next instant, Eri woke up in her bed with the mother of all hangovers. She slowly exhaled, exhausted. On her side she could see the succubus that had infiltrated her dream her very first night here, her purple mane loosely hanging on the side of the bed. The intruder was softly smiling.
"Ara? Did you sleep well?"
"…Yes." Eri got up and started changing her clothes. Everything was normal. Everything was not fine, but it was normal. This was the world the companions of the hero lived in. All of her initial fears of being rejected and unable to work with them had been eliminated. She had been welcomed with open arms. She was fitting just right in. They had made sure of that.
The girl from Iliasburg felt the last bit of her old, timid self disappear. Instead, she felt ready to accept anything the world would throw at her.
For the shortest of moment, she wondered if it was for the best.
Do all people involved in the quest to save the world feel that they're surrounded by crazy and stupid?
Far in another world, a well-known golden nine-tailed kitsune groaned in a mix of exhaustion and irritation. Those damned succubi were apparently resolved to do everything but their damn job. And since their own mother was too busy fucking everything and everyone while that oh-so-mighty yoma was trying to find new stupid ways to counter those bootlickers, she was the one forced to pick up the slack surrounding their progress on that singularity world.
So much magic wasted simply to pass across a message that would be unneeded if they were competent or had the most basic discipline… Let's make sure the point get across this time.
Tamamo No Mae slowly exhaled as she entered her personal bedroom. Classical Yamatai style was mixed with hidden technology to assist in her recovery and magic use in an apparently archaic yet elegant design. She sat herself in a cross-legged position and closed her eyes, her mind focused on mapping out the Monster Lord's Castle in that other world. Even from a whole world apart, she could feel the presences there… And Lilith was apparently busy with a man in her bedchambers.
Like mother, like daughter… I really hope that she's just mixing business with pleasure and not screwing someone just for fun… she had quite enough breaks those last weeks.
The kitsune closed her eyes and prepared her projection. She disliked the feeling of her senses shutting down one by one before materializing in the other world. Having to do so on a regular basis only made it worse.
The first thing her teleported senses picked up was the confirmation of the activity happening in Lilith's bedroom right now. At least, the succubus had the decency to not do it in the room of her counterpart, or worse, on the throne itself. Then her other senses came to her, and she realized every possible negative point she did imagine had come to life. Tamamo No Mae was completely dumbfounded, her fan slowly slipping from her hand as she took in every little detail of the scene to her disgust.
"Astaroth… are you currently getting plowed by one of the Seven Heroes in your sister's very bed?"
A red head peeked from under the blond man even as he didn't stop moving. The only decency the succubus had was to look slightly redder than usual, although whether it was because of Tamamo's presence, because of her total disregard for decency even toward her own sister, or because the proud, haughty succubus had been caught in an inferior physical position was a debate the kitsune would gladly pass on.
What am I doing with my life…
"…He's tastier than all those pedantic idiots we get to kill when during our missions and has some actual experience."
"Wasn't there an agreement between you and your sisters about getting it on with the heroes from other worlds only if you could all do it? I don't know who would be angrier between Morrigan who's suffering the brunt of this decision as the poor girl is actively restraining herself because she's sharing her roof with that hunk, or your dear big sister who's overworking herself even as you enjoy the comfort of her bedroom… I would be ashamed in your place."
Astaroth gulped. "Please don't tell them anything."
Tamamo sighed. At least, she didn't need to search for some leverage to get the succubus to act.
"I noticed dark powers in Iliasburg beyond what the most powerful yoma of your current world can use. I want a report when I return by the end of the week. If it's unsatisfying…"
"…I got it. I'll do it."
"Perfect!" Tamamo started fanning herself with a large smile. "I am glad we could easily find a common ground… Now don't forget to rehydrate your partner before sending him back to the hero… you don't want to be the one known for destroying our relation with our precious Luka by killing one of his companions, do you?"
Astaroth nervously shook her head negatively. The succubus gasped in shock when she noticed her partner looked extremely pale and had stopped moving.
"Well then, I'm off! See you in a week!"
As she gradually returned to her body, Tamamo couldn't help but enjoy the wave of self-satisfaction filling her. She was often regarded as a vicious underhanded player among her sisters, but why would she not use every weapon at her disposition, particularly the ones that were so graciously handed down to her by her rivals? Considering how she was the one who had done the most to carry their plan in that world forward, she deserved to be cut some slack, didn't she?
She quickly checked again in Lilith's bedroom. It looked like Astaroth had taken care of her partner and had asked guards to move his unconscious body away. Tamamo could only hope that the succubus remembered to make the man forget their little encounter… or not. Maybe he could spread a positive word and help their relation.
Damn succubi… Once again, they're at a hair's breadth to cause another conflict with the hero and his partners. The only thing they can offer him from our world is the promise of sexual pleasures, and with the slew of monsters joining him since the fall of the Land of Night, he already has what he wants in that regard.
I can only pray the Dark Goddess that they don't further worsen our already strained relations with the heroes. We need them to trust us as much as people trust them.
…What was that laugh just right now!? Wait… are they crying or laughing?!
And back in her world, Zion was forced to endure the glances of her partners as well as the judgmental gaze of Micaela. Unfortunately for her, the leader of the Archangel had managed to spare some of her precious time to investigate the sorry state in which Zion returned. While her two fellow seraphs were supporting her, Micaela was forcing her to kneel like a sinner begging for forgiveness, an insult that Zion could only accept as she came back beaten down like a dog, reeking of succubi and with her clothes half-torn. She had even lost her signature hat in the process.
"Please recount the full events that led to your… abysmal return." While the leader of the archangel remained polite, her tone made it clear that she had no patience for Zion and the tale the latter would offer for her obvious defeat.
"An anomalous activity had been noticed at the Holy Wings Shrine. As its preservation is paramount for the respect of true history, I was to investigate the site and clear it of any troublemaker to maintain its purity for the hero's use." Both Eden and Gnosis nodded in approval. So far, it was within the scope of the great plan of the Goddess of Light and part of the numerous procedures surrounding it. "However, I suffered the insult of being attacked by one of the less savory partners of the hero… As I was surprised by his behavior, I let him escape… I realized too late that he had robbed one of the most sacred representatives of the Goddess, and his impious behavior shan't have escaped rightful retribution. Unfortunately, our fighting had attracted some of those morally bankrupt otherworldly succubi, forcing me to retreat as I was at a disadvantage."
"I see..." Zion winced under the icy blue glare of the seraph. She couldn't tell if her superior fully accepted her story or had guessed that Zion had downplayed her own recklessness but was sparing her another insult. "You have made poor judgment after poor judgment, seraph Zion. Losing an item to a common thief is a mistake for which you are fully responsible. While the more… questionable actions of the heroes and their partners are tolerated, they shall only be so for as long as they do not harm us. You should have immediately reported and gathered support. Has the stolen item been retrieved? Was it important in the grand scheme of the Goddess?"
"The answer is no in both cases. If its loss had ever so slightly threatened her Great Plan, I would have damned myself thrice over and asked for help."
"Then what item was worth risking your life without asking for any support?"
Zion grimaced and awkwardly shuffled around. She ground her teeth in frustration as Micaela glared at her more intensively with each second. Even her fellow seraphs Eden and Gnosis were hesitating to help her. After several minutes of looking down at her subordinate, Micaela decided to move on.
"Very well. Given the current circumstances, I consider you forgiven in her name. I invite you to rest and reaffirm your faith in her plans. I advise that you train harder to not suffer another offense at the hands of the enemy, no matter their identity. You are all dismissed."
"Yes, my liege!"
Micaela left the three seraphs without further ceremony. The leader of the archangel quickly isolated herself in the office that made for the sanctum of her grand temple, closing every door and window that led outside. As even the omnipresent sound of the divine choir no longer reached her, she adopted a meditative posture at her desk. That interview had been more frustrating than she admitted to say. A holy disc crafted by the hands of the twin archangels appeared in her hand as she started recording her thought.
"The seraph Zion got her panties stolen by a companion of the hero Luka and fell in an ambush led by succubi from another world who are also some of the companions of the hero."
She stopped. The disc in her hand stopped shining. She closed her fist, crushing the small item in a cloud of colorful dust.
With the Goddess as my witness, there is no word for how degrading that whole situation is. Zion got ridiculed again and again in an undignified fashion. The hero is supported by succubi that he undoubtedly enjoys copulating with. And this is the lot that has to save the world.
I understand Her decision to personally lead the world now more than ever. This would never happen in a world following Her vision. People should consecrate their lives to her.
I shall abscond from training for today and make a human male reaffirm his faith in the goddess. Whether as a reward or punishment, I will personally guide one myself to her ways.