“All those sudden invasions of the outer gods upon Earth are because of that fishy-smelling bitch.”
Clink.
Lea whispered as she caressed her teacup. Ian pondered for a long time over who the fishy-smelling bitch was, then tilted his head and cautiously answered.
“……Kim Yul?”
“……And which bitch might that be?”
Lea’s voice turned frigid in an instant. It seemed that was not the correct answer.
If that was the case, there was only one possibility left.
“The Master of the Outer Sea?”
“……That is one name for that bitch. A filthy temper, strong possessiveness, and a stupid bitch who eats anything she dislikes first without a second thought.”
“…….”
“And a competitor who dares to covet the same thing as I.”
Lea spoke thus, staring fixedly at Ian.
Eyes existing somewhere between ashen grey and pure white. Irises and pupils that induced a strangely hazy feeling when beheld reflected Ian’s figure exactly. Without avoiding her gaze, Ian let out a low hum.
He could understand Lea’s hostility toward the Master of the Outer Sea.
There was no reason for outer gods to be on good terms with one another. She was the author of the two demonic grimoires Ian possessed, but if it did not greatly affect magic, it mattered not whether they fought among themselves. It would be disastrous if one perished, but he did not think they would cross such a line.
They were beings older than Earth even at the most conservative estimate. Unless they had lived all that time in vain, even gods who acted as they pleased would maintain certain boundaries.
In any case.
‘When she says the Master of the Outer Sea is the cause, she must mean the descent incident during Pygmalion.’
There had not been a single other incident in which the Master of the Outer Sea interfered with Earth. Thus the answer was obvious.
“If she had fully descended, it would not have been a problem.”
The Reconstructor of All Things took a sip of tea and spoke.
Beneath her feet, transparent flowers bloomed faintly. As though mirrors were shattering and warping, fully opened petals scattered rainbows in every direction. The Reconstructor of All Things quietly gazed at the flower, then stepped on it barefoot and crushed the petals.
Crunch.
The beautifully shattered mirror flowers lay scattered across the floor. On every one of those petals, Lea’s face was reflected.
“I loathe to admit it, but the Master of the Outer Sea is an existence bearing a rank similar to mine. For something like the Melody of Despair to insolently thrust its head in is no different from begging to be killed.”
“…….”
“Nevertheless, the fact that it revealed itself means there was cause to do so. That it was an incomplete descent.”
“……Does an incomplete descent make it look easy?”
“Not necessarily. However, it is enough to draw attention.”
Lea changed the broken mirror petals into butterflies. Flap, flap; the mirror butterflies flew toward the flowers. A few of them alighted upon Lea’s shoulders.
“Hmm…… If I were to compare, shall I say a downsized black hole? An existence fearsome to confront, but one against which a hit-and-run is entirely feasible. Well, something to that effect.”
“……Do outer gods attack black holes too?”
“There are many who call the void home. Some even move in swarms. In any case.”
Lea cut the cake on the plate with a fork, ate it, and gazed at the butterfly upon her shoulder.
“To put it simply, the Master of the Outer Sea incompletely descended, so several outer gods recognized Earth’s existence and sensed the aura of the grimoires there. The Melody of Despair was on the verge of ascension, so it thrust its head in first. By absorbing the grimoires, it can aim for a rise in rank.”
“Hmmm…….”
“In other words, it is all that bitch’s fault. A wretch unable to resist a moment’s desire. That is the Master of the Outer Sea.”
At the unreserved slander, Ian smiled bitterly. It seemed the relationship between the two was far worse than he had imagined.
“You and the Master of the Outer Sea aren’t sworn enemies?”
“We have never fought in earnest. Our spheres of activity differ, so we do not often encounter each other. Apart from her occasionally seeking me out, I have never gone looking for her first.”
“Is that so? Then that is a relief.”
Ian cut the fluffy cake and brought it to his mouth. Sweet cream, sponge, and the flavors of sugar syrup and fruit harmonized upon his tongue.
This was food Lea had likely created herself. It seemed that if one perfectly replicated taste, texture, ingredients, and composition, creating food completely identical to the original was possible. It was a feat achievable only for an outer god who created something from nothing.
Needless to say, even if Ian could wield magic perfectly, recreating air into cake was impossible. He required ingredients before he could work his craft.
He did not find this regrettable.
How could gods and humans possibly stand on the same level? That would be far too unjust to the gods.
‘Still, with my level of magic, I should be able to respond to some degree.’
The moon’s assault had been an event that happened far too suddenly. If sufficient time had been granted and he had known in advance, he would not have been defeated so helplessly. There were also top predators of the outer sea he had yet to summon, as well as alchemical products that could be made from a god’s flesh.
He could not guarantee victory, but perhaps he could prevent defeat from becoming a certainty.
Of course, various conditions would need to align and luck would need to favor him. Yet if he could bring down a god of the cosmos to the earth like that, it would be more than a profitable bargain.
“…….”
Imagining the universe that must be unfolding beyond the pale white sky, Ian drained his tea.
‘In the near future, no, for the rest of my life, lesser outer gods will likely not come to Earth. Since the Reconstructor of All Things has laid her preparations. But if it is an existence of similar rank to her, it could ignore all such measures and charge in.’
What did they lack to invade a tiny, pale blue dot at the frontier of the universe? Yet there was always the matter of “what if.”
To prevent that “what if,” it was only right to prepare personally. After all, the head of Laplace could lose his mind and summon the outer god recorded in the grimoire.
“…….”
Thinking thus, he felt he could understand why everyone in the world despised and ostracized those who possessed the outer gods’ grimoires.
A mage who, upon going mad, presses the self-destruct button together with Earth? To leave such a person be would be the madder act.
Ian set down his teacup harboring pure admiration for how Cecilia and I Seo-a could remain so composed despite knowing of the grimoires’ existence. The clattering sound rang clearly.
“I’m asking just in case, but can you give me something like your flesh? Or perhaps blood.”
“I have no blood to give. As for flesh…… hmm, would you like to see and check?”
Lea spoke thus and cleanly snapped one of her fingers off. The finger, broken like a breadstick, fell onto the table with a thud, and Ian stared at it intently, furrowing his brows.
“……It looks rather strange.”
It had certainly been an ordinary finger while attached to Lea’s hand, but the moment it separated, it transformed into a bizarre form. What was reflected in Ian’s eyes looked like a long fish, or perhaps a grotesque creature with many eyes and legs. It was difficult to determine exactly which it was.
“It exceeds your level of perception.”
Lea spoke while reattaching her finger.
“If you take it, you will only attract insects. Unfortunately, I do not believe I can give you bodily organs. I shall give you something else instead.”
“Something else?”
When Ian tilted his head and asked, she snatched the mirror butterfly sitting on her shoulder and crushed it.
Clink!
With a clear sound, the butterfly changed into a small bottle.
A bottle of ordinary appearance. Without hesitation, Lea opened the cap and brought the opening near her mouth. Then, brushing back her flowing hair, she parted her lips.
“……Bweh.”
Saliva trickled out from between her parted lips. The falling fluid gently collected inside the bottle, and Ian frowned as he watched, but Lea paid him no heed.
“……Whew, this should suffice.”
After a moment, she closed the bottle filled with saliva and handed it to Ian. Ian debated for a long time whether to accept it, then let out a deep sigh and ultimately took it. Using his index finger and thumb to touch the smallest possible surface area.
“…….”
The bottle of saliva was exceedingly warm. Honestly, it was warm enough to serve as a hand warmer.
Not that he would attempt such a thing, for the sake of human dignity.
“……This should be usable for alchemy as well?”
“It can be used as a substitute for an ingredient bearing the prefix ‘of the Great One.’ However, it is only enough for a single dose, so use it with care.”
“……It is somewhat strange in form, but thank you regardless. I shall put it to good use.”
Ian promptly stuffed the bottle of saliva into his coat pocket.
It was warm.
“Then it is time to part ways. It seems the fool dwelling in the sea is displeased.”
While Ian let out a hollow cough at the warmth spreading from his chest, Lea whispered as she rose from her seat.
In the distant reaches of her vision, a girl with black hair attempting to enter the nebula was visible.
However, her face was far removed from humanity. It seemed she had rushed here in such haste that she could not properly mimic one.
It was none of her concern. After asking Ian to stand, Lea stood directly before him and looked up at him.
The gap between the two was less than 1cm. At a distance close enough to feel each other’s breath directly, her red lips moved.
“Since something is given, something must also be received.”
“……What?”
“Let us exchange. I too must receive what I am owed.”
Lea spoke thus and, without listening for an answer, tilted her head toward Ian.
“Mmph.”
Simultaneously, Ian’s vision was dyed pure white for an instant, and his breathing stopped briefly. A strong scent of hyacinth wafted through his nasal cavity. The sensation of lips touching something soft yet moist, and hot saliva, was transmitted directly to him.
A form closer to a peck than a kiss. Simply pressing their lips together without doing anything further, the two gazed into each other’s eyes exactly as they were.
“…….”
“…….”
For 1 second.
2 seconds.
And 3 seconds.
“Phew.”
At last, Lea separated her lips and stepped back a few paces. Ian stared at her with a blank face.
“……You.”
“So this is what a kiss feels like. Seeing how the Master of the Outer Sea did it with you, it was worth deciding I must do it no matter what.”
“…….”
“Of course, the form is quite different…… but I prefer this. Hm, it felt pleasant.”
Lea smiled shyly and took a step toward Ian.
“Surely you do not dislike it? You did it with the Master of the Outer Sea as well.”
“……No, that was an acci—”
“I liked it. What about you?”
“…….”
“May I do it once more?”
Ian did not answer. As that was the clearest answer of all, Lea distanced herself slightly, leaned her head in, and pressed a brief kiss. Her nonexistent heart beat slowly.
Their lips met once more and separated only after a full 5 seconds. Lea wiped Ian’s saliva from her lips with the back of her hand, her cheeks and ears dyed bright red.
“Huu.”
“…….”
“As I thought, it feels good. I believe I understand why humans are so obsessed with such useless acts.”
Lea spoke thus and placed her hand on Ian’s cheek.
“See you again, you. It likely will not take very long. The grimoires will be difficult to use for the time being, but do not worry. You should be able to use them about three times a day without difficulty.”
“……That’s a relief.”
“Yes. And…… hm…… this is embarrassing, but I feel I must say this.”
Lea smiled brightly and pushed Ian weakly.
“I love you.”
Tap.
Ian’s body was pushed back without any resistance. He fell following a gravity that had no business existing in the universe and muttered in a small voice.
“……See you again.”
“Yes, until next time.”
Lea held a gentle smile.
Ian thought that smile was the most natural and beautiful of all the expressions he had seen from her thus far.
And then, tap.
His consciousness went dark.
*
The moment his consciousness returned, Ian realized he was standing alone in the living room of a detached house, holding a box.
The wall-mounted TV, instead of singing to a small star, was silent, outputting only a black screen, and the scenery visible beyond the window was utterly ordinary. The stench of blood that had permeated the air had vanished without a trace. The air contained only the thick scent of winter.
“Did I…… come back?”
Ian muttered dazedly for a moment before Cecilia, who had left her computer in the bedroom, wiped the sweat from her neck and tapped his side.
“What’s wrong, all of a sudden? Standing there blankly…… Are you sick……?”
“……Ah, Cecilia.”
Ian’s gaze turned toward her. After checking that her ears and legs were intact, he formed a strange expression, then soon smiled bitterly and opened his mouth.
“Can you hear alright?”
“……? I can hear fine, but why?”
The immediate reply, as if it were only natural. Ian looked into Cecilia’s clear purple eyes and gave a faint smile.
“It’s nothing. More importantly, let’s clean up and eat. What do you want? My treat.”
“Ah, then I want jjajangmyeon. And sweet and spicy chicken, dongpo pork, and sweet and sour pork……”
Cecilia energetically rattled off the menu. Ian set down the box and let out a small laugh.
His mood…… was not too bad.