Chapter 58: Mikel 2

The ever-peaceful heavens.

And the quiet temple of light.

Rolling around.

I was just spending time on my cloud bed.

The cloud bed was soft and fluffy as always, and warm golden sunlight was shining through the temple window.

Although I had all the conditions for perfect rest, I was very bored.

“Ah… I’m bored…”

I sighed, tapping the small beads of light floating on the ceiling with my fingers.

The beads sparkled and changed colors, but even that was boring now.

The human world was really boring these days.

Seraphina has been writing some kind of book for the past two years, and Beatrice only deals with weak monsters in the Arcana Desert.

Fortunately, they rarely come into contact with other believers, so their strange belief in me didn’t spread much.

I hugged my cloud pillow tightly and tossed and turned.

‘Come to think of it, what does Lycoris do?’

A smile spread across my lips as I thought of Lycoris.

That cute flower still knows me as the god of blood and slaughter… but I felt strangely affectionate while worrying.

Lately, it has been quiet, so I didn’t really care.

I’ve seen it occasionally, but it just sits there by itself.

No, there are bugs with it.

I jumped out of bed and walked to the window.

When I opened my palm, a small image of the Great Labyrinth of Sia Kalt was projected onto it.

This time, I looked into the depths of the Great Labyrinth of Sia Kalt, and it was the same.

“Again? Is Prostia still going out?”

However, when I looked closely, the energy of Licorice seemed particularly weak.

It was quietly sitting with the bugs, its petals drooping.

“Uh… Wait… Could it be that Prostia hasn’t come back yet?”

I checked the time with my finger, and it had been three years!

It’s been three years since Prostia left with Nice!

Hmm…

I think she headed to Nice and Desmere last time…

Tiring!

Then, a translucent selection window suddenly appeared with a sound.

It was so sudden that I took a step back.

“Wow! How long has it been!”

Perhaps because the human world was quiet, the selection window that hadn’t appeared for a while appeared for the first time in a while.

My heart pounded.

『 1. Grant a revelation to Lycoris for 1 minute. (Consumes 3,000,000 divine power)
2. Do nothing.
※ Possessed divine power: 4,121,865 』

“Revelation!? A real revelation!?”

I opened my eyes wide and looked at the selection window.

Can you really convey my words exactly as they are?

Is this real?

How long have I wanted to tell Lycoris that I’m not a god of blood and slaughter!

But only 1 minute out of 3 million divine power…?

It’s a huge profit! It’s a huge profit!

Still, I had no choice.

Although it’s been quiet lately, this might be the last chance to change the wrong beliefs about me that are spreading in the human world.

“Whew… I’m doing it…!”

My heart raced at the thought of granting a revelation for the first time in five thousand years, even though it was an ability I naturally had.

I was so excited that my hands were shaking.

Hurry up before the selection window disappeared!

Number 1!

At that moment, I felt like my inner self and Licorice’s were connected.

It was as if we were connected by a warm light.

It’s been so long since I’ve felt this way!

To be communicating directly with my believer!

But I didn’t have time to immerse myself in it.

The time given was only one minute!

I absolutely could not waste it!

“Licorice, can you hear me? It’s me, Mikel! I only have one minute to speak, so you have to listen carefully!”

『 Gasp! Mikel! 』

It was the first time I was hearing Licorice’s voice.

It was a very cute and lovely voice, clear and pure.

It felt just like the sound of a crystal bell?

Maybe because Licorice is a plant, her prayers always came as letters from the system.

So of course I thought she wouldn’t have a voice…

But since she’s a plant, isn’t she?

Was it just an inner voice?

‘Ah, I need to come to my senses!’

I slapped my hands together and came to my senses.

I had to talk about important things first!

That I am not a god of blood and slaughter!

“I am not a god who likes blood and slaughter…”

『Mikel-sama! Is my master okay? Where is my master?!』

Eh.

My words were cut off.

No, what I was about to say was important…

“No, no, what I was going to say was…”

『Please, Mikel-sama! Just let me know if my master is okay!』

So Prostia had really left with Nis and hasn’t returned yet.

Lycoris’s earnest voice echoed within me.

Her voice was filled with three years of longing and worry.

Ah, this was the more important matter to this child right now…

‘Hurry up! There’s no time!’

First, I looked at the Great Labyrinth of Desmere, where I last saw Prostia.

I waved my hand and moved my gaze to Nis’s room in the deepest temple.

‘…Huh?’

Am I seeing it correctly?

I rubbed my eyes and looked again.

Prostia and Nis were lying sprawled out between the glasses.

Prostia was lying face down on the table with her silver hair disheveled, and Nis was leaning back on his chair, snoring with his mouth open.

And on the table was a dazzling gold bottle encrusted with jewels.

A rainbow-colored aura swirled around the bottle.

‘Isn’t that… the dwarven royal golden wine…?’

I’ve heard that name even in heaven.

The wine that the dwarves say is aged for hundreds of years…

Could it be that they’re both passing out after drinking that?

I’ve heard it’s famously strong, but really?

It’s hard to believe that the two rulers of the Great Labyrinth have been drunk and sleeping for years, but there was no doubt about what I was seeing right now.

‘Whew…’

I sighed.

This was really… absurd.

“Prostia… passed out after drinking the dwarven liquor with Nis. And she still hasn’t woken up…”

『’Huh? …Really? The master is drunk and asleep?』

I could hear the confusion in Lycoris’s voice.

I understand that feeling too…

“Yes, it’s true. It’s true…”

I really can’t believe it either…

I placed my hand on my forehead and shook my head.

『Phew… I’m so relieved! Michel-sama! Thank you so much!』

Lycoris’s voice was filled with relief.

I could feel her flower petals shining brightly.

『Michel-sama! I will continue to diligently shed blood for you for the rest of my life! Thank you so much!』

What!?

“No! I don’t like blood! I’m the god of peace and light!!!”

However, there was no answer from Lycoris in return.

Before I knew it, my inner connection with Lycoris had also been severed.

How could time have passed so quickly!

“Aaah! No!!!”

I clutched my head and circled around the temple.

It was really a revelation!

I failed to tell you that I’m not the god of blood and slaughter!

“Ugh… What did I do…”

Feeling frustrated, I went to the window and looked at the Sia Calt Labyrinth again.

Lycoris’s appearance had completely changed.

The petals that had been drooping until just a moment ago were in full bloom, and the stamens were swaying lively.

Even the insects seemed to have suddenly regained their energy.

Small butterflies were fluttering around on the petals, and insects with gorgeous flame wings were flying around, creating afterimages of flames.

“Huh…?”

My mouth fell open at the unexpected sight.

“Still… It seems like I did a good job with the revelation.”

The content of my prayer was completely distorted, but seeing Lycoris regain her energy made me feel proud.

No matter what, it was a good thing for my followers to be happy.

“If I get another chance… then I must let you know that I am the God of Peace.”

I closed the window, making up my mind.

Feeling tired, I returned to the cloud bed and threw myself back into it.

“Ugh… But I spent 3 million…”

…

Lycoris, who had polymorphed into a human, was slaughtering the monsters.

It was supposed to be a ritual for me!

I couldn’t close my mouth as I watched her from the sky.

“Ugh… What is this…”

Suddenly, my scalp started to tingle.

At first, I thought it was just stress, but the feeling grew stronger.

It was a strange sensation, as if someone was pulling out my hair one by one.

“Ugh… What’s wrong with my hair?”

I scratched the back of my ear and turned my eyes to Lycoris again.

I remembered when Lycoris had first polymorphed into a human.

I had been watching from heaven back then, too.

The sight of the girl who appeared from the crimson smoke was truly astonishing.

She was on the short side, but her figure was beautiful enough to make even the goddesses of heaven jealous.

No, perhaps she even shone brighter than Solaris.

She had a mysterious charm.

Her long, black hair flowed like waves with a subtle pink tint.

It seemed to retain the color of her sprout.

Back then, she was truly my own sprout…

Her red eyes shone like rubies dyed in the sunset, and her white skin, like jade, shone like moonlight.

Her black dress was decorated with red stitching, a pattern that looked like blood flowing.

That sight was eerie yet strangely fascinating.

“Still, you really transformed beautifully…”

The first time she moved her fingers and arms, the first time she was amazed, the first time she touched her face, and even the first time she let out a clear and pure laugh.

At that time, everything seemed new and joyful to Lycoris, like a baby born for the first time.

The pure sight of her looking at each other with Bugles and rejoicing was so cute.

But now…

“Eww! What are you doing!!!”

She was mercilessly slaughtering monsters with a joyous expression.

On top of that, she was wielding a bright red sword of a strange length that was either a dagger or a sword, and she was weaving between the monsters.

The blood mist spreading from the sword dyed the surroundings red.

“Anyone can tell that it’s a demon sword!”

Even though she moved gracefully as if dancing at a ball, the death of the monster always followed at the end.

Blood splattered everywhere along with the monsters’ desperate screams, but her dress was not stained at all.

But every time the blood spurted out like a fountain, the tingling sensation on my scalp got worse.

Now, it wasn’t just a simple tingling sensation; it felt like something hot was flowing down my head.

“Ouch… what the hell is this?”

I ran my hand through my hair, and it felt different than usual.

My hair felt hotter and wetter towards the ends.

『I can hear Lycoris’s voice.』

“Uh…”

『Hehe, no! What if the offering to Master Mikel escapes?』

Lycoris’s voice rang in my ears.

Her red eyes were shining even brighter.

“No! I never wanted that!”

I shouted into the air, but of course, Lycoris couldn’t hear me.

…

『I can hear Lycoris’s voice.』

‘Ah…’

I can already guess what she’s going to say.

『Phew… Master Mikel, thank you always. Thanks to you, I was able to become this strong. Thank you again for telling me about your master. I will offer the blood of these monsters with all my heart, Lord Mikel.』

“Ugh! Stop offering it!!”

Again and again!

Lycoris is offering blood and completely changing my image in the human world!

She went polymorph and went completely crazy!

“Ugh… I said no… I’m the god of light…”

I muttered and touched my forehead.

My head started to throb again.

“Ugh… I should drink some tea.”

The tingling in my head was now almost unbearable.

Something felt strange.

As I was about to pour myself a cup of warm tea, I suddenly saw myself reflected in the window.

“Huh?”

I almost spilled the tea in my cup.

“What is this!?”

I hurriedly walked to the window and examined myself closely.

The tips of my golden hair… had turned pink.

“No no no! This can’t be happening!”

I panicked and grabbed the tips of my hair and examined them.

There was no doubt about it.

The tips of my golden hair had clearly turned pink.

As if I had dipped it in blood and taken it out.

“No, no way…”

Suddenly, a scary thought occurred to me.

“Is it possible that Lycoris is changing me because she gave me blood?!”

I grabbed my hair and spun around the room.

“Uuuuuuu! I’m the god of peace and light! I’m far from blood and slaughter! How can I become the real god of war!”

I cried and shouted louder.

“Isn’t there anyone? Someone help me!”

But no one answered.

The temple of light was so quiet.

“Solaris… I have to go to Solaris!”

I hurriedly opened the temple door and ran out.

The path to heaven was a golden path made of clouds as always.

Normally, I would have found peace of mind walking this beautiful path, but I didn’t have time for that right now.

“Uuuuuuu! Solaris! Solaris! We’re in trouble!”

I cried as I kicked open the door of the golden palace.

“Michel? You’re here again?”

I could hear Solaris’s tired voice.

“Uuuuuuuu! We’re in serious trouble! Look at me!”

“What’s the rush… huh?”

She had her usual elegant yet bored expression, but her expression changed as soon as she saw me.

Her golden eyes sparkled as if she had found something amusing.

“Oh… This is kind of amusing, isn’t it?”

“Huh.”

Amusing?

This is serious!

Can’t you see my waterfall of tears?!

“Amusing!? This is seriously serious! I’m changing! It’s clear that Lycoris keeps giving blood and I’m turning into a god of war!”

I spun around in front of Solaris with tears in my eyes.

The tips of her hair fluttered, reflecting a pink light.

“Whoa! What should I do? What should I do? If I keep doing this, I might become a real god of war!”

Solaris looked at me with interest, then smiled and opened her mouth.

“Then why don’t you just be the God of War?”

“No! Don’t make fun of me! That’s not what I wanted!”

I protested, stomping my feet.

The pink color at the tips of my hair seemed to become more vivid as it shook.

“Then what, you can change it again? There’s not much we can do because of the system.”

I became even more restless at Solaris’s calm response.

“No! You can change it if you re-use the revelation in the selection window!”

“Huh? Revelation? You gave a revelation? But why did this happen?”

“That… I spent all my time telling Licorice about Prostia…”

“Puhahahaha! What are you talking about?”

“No! That’s Prostia’s fault! She’s been passed out for three years after drinking the dwarven royal golden wine! How could I have known that?”

“Puhahahaha! Kkukkuk!”

Solaris couldn’t hold back her laughter, leaning back in her chair and holding her stomach.

Tears welled up in my golden eyes.

“Stop laughing!”

Tears welled up again.

I stuck out my lips and glared at Solaris.

“Haha. Sorry, sorry. But can a revelation appear again? Besides, you’re the only one who’s been to another world and given a revelation?”

“…”

I lowered my head.

Solaris was right.

It had been a really long time since I was able to give a revelation.

“Your hair suits you so well now, but why don’t you just become a god of war? There are wars for peace.”

Solaris said something similar to Seraphina.

But the war that Lycoris believes in is a war for blood and slaughter.

‘…Ah, should I just become a real god of war?’

Strangely, my heart raced at the thought.

Anticipation for a new possibility welled up.

“Alright… I’m New Mikel from now on.”

“Pfft! New Mikel?”

Solaris burst into laughter once again.

“Yeah. Gather the other gods in the Temple of Light. I need to show them the new me.”

Solaris barely managed to suppress her laughter and nodded.

…

The Temple of Light.

Various gods of the heavens were gathered.

The god of the earth, the god of the sea, the god of the wind, and all the faces that we rarely see were gathered.

They all looked at me standing in the center of the Temple of Light with curious expressions.

The tips of my hair were dyed pink, and the energy flowing out of me was also slightly red.

I was used to it now, so I liked it when I looked in the mirror.

I held a red spear in one hand and raised my voice confidently.

“Hehe, are you all here? I was reborn. I’m New Mikel!”

The gods began to murmur.

“I guess Mikel has finally gone crazy.”

“Don’t you think his hair color changed?”

“He’s decided to become the god of war that he whined about so much?”

Everyone looked surprised and puzzled, but I didn’t care anymore.

Rather, I found their reactions amusing.

‘Yeah, I like surprised expressions. You’ll be surprised even more in the future.’

“Yes! I am now the God of War, Mikel! I love blood and slaughter! Woohahaha!”

I shouted loudly, raising my spear high.

“Huh? Aren’t you the God of War for Peace?”

Solaris said something with a bewildered look in her eyes, but I couldn’t hear her clearly.

“Woohahahahahahahahahaha!!!”