Peck

“Uh… Uuuuh!”

What do I do!

Frostia and Nis’s gazes were fixed on me.

Their cold, piercing stares sent shivers down my spine.

“So, about these panties…!”

My voice trembled.

Their intense stares were too much to bear.

“They’re absolutely indestructible magic panties…! I was just checking if the magic worked!”

Yes, I should keep the seduction ability a secret!

It’s absolutely necessary!

“Magic panties…?”

Frostia tilted her head in curiosity.

Fortunately, she didn’t seem suspicious.

“Yes! It’s a gift I prepared for Cecile…! Doesn’t it suit her perfectly?”

I forced a cheerful tone, but I couldn’t hide the tremble in my voice.

“However, those panties…”

Nis folded her fan and gave me a sharp look.

“Weren’t those the ones you took out in front of the Path of Evil Gods? And Cecilia was a butterfly at the time…”

“Eek! You said you didn’t see them, but…”

I thought you’d keep it a secret!

How could you!

“Hmm…”

Nis covered her mouth with her fan again.

She already said something, but…

“Wait, Frostia, what exactly do you know?”

Nis scolded me.

Now’s the chance!

Before Frostia feels awkward!

“This is a peck!”

Without hesitation, I lightly pecked Frostia’s soft cheek.

The cold, icy sensation felt strangely warm.

Hehe!

“Oh my!”

Nis covered her face with her fan, looking flustered.

Miel was also startled, fluttering wildly in the air.

“Ah…”

Frostia seemed taken aback for a moment, then smiled gently and nodded.

Her expression changed from surprise to understanding, and it was incredibly beautiful.

“I see.”

Then…

Peck.

Kyaak!

Frostia also gave me a warm peck on the cheek!

My heart nearly stopped!

Is this heaven?

“That’s what a peck is. Thank you, Rico.”

Frostia’s warm voice made me melt completely.

The soft way she said my name lingered in my ears.

I got a peck! From Frostia!

Of course, I didn’t need the seduction ability!

Love is something you take for yourself!

The next step will happen soon!

“Woom…”

Cecile made a small snorting sound and stirred in her sleep.

Oh no…

She’s waking up…

“Wuh… Mom…”

Cecile rubbed her eyes and slowly sat up.

Oh no!

If the seduction ability takes over again, I don’t know what I’ll do!

What to do…!

I need to leave quickly!

“I’ll go for a walk!”

The excuse slipped out awkwardly.

My voice rose an octave.

Frostia and Nis looked at me with puzzled expressions, but I ran outside.

“Rico?”

Frostia’s confused voice came from behind, but I didn’t dare look back.

Ugh!

Just run!

Once I was outside, I finally felt a bit relieved.

I hid behind a large ice tree in the corner of the garden.

“Haa… Haa…”

I caught my breath and leaned against the tree.

The cold sensation of the ice tree seeped through my back.

Ugh!

At least I avoided being a sex offender!

And I even got a peck from Frostia!

But what about this seduction ability!

What can I do!

Uuuuuuuuh…

Looking at my status window, I checked the authorities Michel gave me.

There it was!

『 “Authority – Lux Purificatio”

 – Grants the blessing of light. Washes away all curses and impure energies. 』

Yes!

This one!

This ability could surely lift Cecile’s seduction!

But…

Ugh!

When will the divine power return!

It’s sealed, so I can’t use anything!

Frustrated, I looked up at the sky.

Should I pray to Michel?

I clasped my hands and prayed earnestly.

“Michel! It’s been a month, but when will the divine power be unsealed! Michel, you liar!”

***

After seeing the Evil Gods descend to the human world, I immediately went to see Solaris.

“Solaris! The Evil Gods have passed through the Path! Let’s go figure out their method!”

“Hmmm… Do we have to? It’s inconvenient…”

Solaris yawned and replied.

“And even if a Path appears, I don’t want to go to the human world…”

“Hey! If the Evil Gods make a Path, we should figure it out too!”

“Someone else will handle it… Why me?”

Typical Solaris response.

Such a homebody!

I asked the other gods in Heaven too, but no one was interested.

They all found adventures or explorations bothersome.

“Ugh! Fine, I’ll go alone! You lazybones!”

…

Normally, entering the Demon Realm would start a war, but now that numerous Evil Gods have descended to the human world, their surveillance must be lax!

I wrapped myself in black cloth and secretly headed to the Demon Realm.

Passing through the gray cloud zone, I found a strange sign at the end.

≪ Welcome to the Demon Realm! Tap the orb below for guidance to the safe zone! ≫

“No… They set this up…?”

It was a welcoming message they’d typically display if I entered openly.

But I can’t give up my disguise now!

I’ll sneak in all the way!

I ignored the orb and quietly stepped into the Demon Realm soil.

Looking around, a massive temple appeared in the distance.

Whose temple is that…?

Could it be Bellona’s?

Where Lycoris went!

I met Bellona a few times in Heaven and remembered her as quite gentle.

Even if she fell, I didn’t think she’d change that much…

So when Solaris said Lycoris should stay with Bellona, I agreed…

“Hmmm… A strange smell…”

As I approached the temple, the faint odor grew stronger.

This is… the smell of blood!

And it’s incredibly thick and abundant!

Like human blood!

The massive black stone gate opened silently.

I cautiously stepped inside.

At first, the darkness blinded me, but soon, red torches flickered to life, revealing…

“Aack…!”

The word escaped my lips involuntarily.

What is this…!

The entire temple was filled with humans!

Or what was left of them…

Some were twisted in strange poses, others entangled in grotesque shapes.

The walls… Ugh, some were flayed and hung…

The ceiling… I’d rather not think about it!

The floor was dried blood.

Each step I took felt sticky through my shoes, making my skin crawl.

“Ugh… It’s really horrifying…”

My face paled.

Bellona has completely lost her mind…

It’s worse than I imagined.

Every step revealed a new horrifying sight.

The central piece was especially appalling.

Muscles exposed yet the face perfectly intact, frozen in a grimace of agony.

Elsewhere, they were arranged like sunflowers.

Bodies as centers, limbs like petals, still dripping blood.

Insane… Truly insane…

Lycoris and Miel were here?

My heart sank.

I thought leaving Lycoris with Bellona was safe, but…

I was too naive.

Lycoris is such a pure, kind girl…

What if she fell…?

Ugh…

I should have told her to run…

Standing there in shock for a while, my heart felt heavy.

But it’s already done…

I’ll just take good care of Lycoris from now on.

I tried to reassure myself, but it wasn’t easy.

Unable to bear the horrifying temple any longer, I slowly walked out.

Standing outside for a while, the shock lingered.

But having come this far, I couldn’t abandon my original goal.

For the next month, I investigated various parts of the Demon Realm, searching for clues about the Evil Gods’ Path.

But I found nothing significant.

I searched empty castles, examined abandoned magic circles, and even tracked the Evil Gods’ trails, but no leads on the Path.

Then, I detected strange energy in the far north of the Demon Realm.

It felt like a powerful magic was active.

It must be there…

A massive cave with an enormous magic circle spread out.

“This… What Lycoris mentioned…”

I held my breath and examined it carefully.

 Purple light pulsed like a heartbeat through the deeply engraved magic circle, and dark red liquid slowly dripped from the cave walls.

The air felt heavy, making it hard to breathe.

Evil Gods’ magic is indeed ominous…

But I finally found it!

Now I can uncover the Path’s secret!

I tried to approach the Path quietly but…

“Ugh… When do I get to go down?”

“So, are we deciding the order by lottery? Not by battle, like Evil Gods should?”

Voice of the Evil Gods guarding the Path reached me.

Ugh, they’re guarding it.

What to do?

Fight my way through?

No, I’ll hide and watch.

Someday, they’ll leave their posts.

…

“When do I get to go down…”

But it’s been three days, and the Evil Gods haven’t budged.

They didn’t even switch guards, making it frustratingly impossible to approach.

Time passed with no progress, and I grew impatient.

How frustrating…

Just then…

『 Lycoris’s voice is heard. 』

Huh?

『 Michel! It’s been a month, but when will the divine power be unsealed! Michel, you liar! 』

“Huh?”

Is the divine power still sealed?

Could it be because I’m in the Demon Realm…!

“Then I should return to Heaven quickly…”

I looked up at the gloomy Demon Realm sky.

Red clouds swirled, and Evil Gods’ castles could be seen in the distance.

“No, I can just go to the human world!”

Do I even need to uncover the Path’s secret?

“Yes! I’m the new Michel!”

I stood up abruptly.

Suddenly, I felt determined.

“A god of war cowering like a thief to uncover the Path’s secret…”

No more waiting.

Act like the new Michel!

“A god of war takes what they want by force!”

I summoned a red spear.

A hot energy surged through me.

Perfect!

“Dooooo ittttt!”