Michel 2

The ever-peaceful Heavenly Realm.

And the quiet Temple of Light.

Squish squish.

I was lying on a cloud bed, simply passing the time.

The cloud bed was as fluffy as ever, and warm golden sunlight streamed through the temple windows.

All conditions for perfect rest were met, but my mind was restless.

“Ugh… I’m bored…”

I poked the floating orbs of light with my finger, sighing.

The orbs sparkled in various colors, but even that was boring now.

These days, the human world is just so… dull.

Seraphina has been writing a book for two years, and Beatrice is hunting weak monsters in the Arcana Desert.

Fortunately, they don’t interact much with other gods, so the wrong beliefs about me haven’t spread much.

Hugging a cloud pillow, I rolled over.

“Hmm, what about Lycoris?”

Thinking of Lycoris brought a smile to my face.

That cute flower still thinks I’m the god of blood and slaughter…

Worrying about her while feeling oddly affectionate.

She’s been quiet lately, so I haven’t paid much attention.

I’ve seen her occasionally, but she’s just been alone.

Oh, but the insects are with her.

I sat up abruptly and walked to the window.

Spreading my hand, the image of the Sia Kalt Great Labyrinth appeared on it.

Even now, the depths of the Sia Kalt Great Labyrinth were the same.

“Again? Is Frostia still out?”

Looking closely, Lycoris’s presence was notably absent.

The petals were wilted, and she was quietly with the insects.

“Wait… Could it be that Frostia still hasn’t returned?”

Tapping my finger to check the time, it had been three years!

Three years since Frostia left with Nis!

Hmm…

Last I knew, they were heading to Deathmere…

Ding!

Suddenly, a semi-transparent selection window appeared with a sound.

It was so sudden that I stepped back.

“Whoa! It’s been ages!”

Since the human world has been quiet, the selection window, which hadn’t appeared in a long time, finally showed up.

My heart raced.

「 1. Grant Lycoris a revelation for 1 minute. (Consumes 3,000,000 divine power)

  2. Do nothing. 

  ※ Current divine power: 4,121,865 」

“Revelation!? Real revelation!?”

I stared at the selection window with wide eyes.

Can I really convey my words directly?

Is this real?

I’ve wanted to tell Lycoris for so long that I’m not the god of blood and slaughter!

But 3 million divine power for just 1 minute…

Expensive!

Still, there was no choice.

Now might be the last chance to change the wrong beliefs about me spreading in the human world.

“Okay… I’ll do it…!”

Originally, this was my inherent ability, but the thought of granting a revelation after a thousand years made my heart pound.

My hands trembled with excitement.

Before the selection window disappeared, I had to act fast!

Choose 1!

In that moment, I felt a connection with Lycoris’s mind.

It was a warm, connected sensation, as if linked by light.

This feeling, it’s been so long!

Communicating directly with my follower!

But there was no time to savor the moment.

Only one minute was granted!

Mustn’t waste it!

“Lycoris, can you hear me? I’m Michel! I only have one minute to speak, so listen well!”

「 Oh! Lord Michel! 」

For the first time, I heard Lycoris’s voice.

It was a clear, lovely, and charming voice, like the sound of crystal bells.

Since Lycoris is a plant, I naturally thought she wouldn’t have a voice.

Or perhaps it was just a sound in my mind?

‘Must focus!’

I clapped my hands to clear my mind.

First, I had to say what was most important!

That I’m not the god of blood and slaughter!

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

「 Lord Michel! Is Master safe? Where is Master?! 」

Ugh.

My words were interrupted.

Not what I intended to say…

“No, no, what I meant was…”

「 Please, Lord Michel! Just tell me if Master is safe! 」

Realizing that Frostia hasn’t returned, Lycoris’s desperate voice resonated within me.

Her tone was filled with longing and worry.

Oh, this child finds this more important…

‘Hurry! No time!’

I recalled the last time I saw Frostia in the Deathmere Great Labyrinth.

Waving my hand, I shifted my gaze to Nis’s room in the deep temple.

“…Huh?”

Was I seeing this right?

Frostia and Nis were lying amidst wine cups.

Frostia had her black hair disheveled, lying on the table, while Nis was leaning back in a chair with her mouth open, picking her nose.

On the table was a dazzlingly glittering golden wine bottle adorned with gems, with a rainbow aura swirling around it.

“Is that… the Dwarf Royal Golden Wine…?”

Even in the Heavenly Realm, I’ve heard of it.

The wine that dwarves age for hundreds of years…

“Could it be… that they’ve been lying there after drinking it?”

It’s hard to believe that the two rulers of the labyrinth have been asleep for years just from drinking alcohol, but the scene before me left no room for doubt.

“Hmph…”

I sighed.

This is… absurd.

“Frostia… is drunk on Dwarf Royal Wine with Nis… and still hasn’t woken up…”

「 ‘Huh? …Really? Master is just drunk and sleeping? 」

Lycoris’s voice was filled with astonishment.

I understand her feelings…

“Yes, really. That’s really the case…”

I also find it hard to believe…

Rubbing my head, I shook it.

「 …Thank you… Lord Michel! Really, thank you! I’ll work hard for you, Lord Michel, and offer this blood as a sacrifice! 」

“No! I don’t want that!”

But there was no response from Lycoris; the mental connection was already severed.

Time passed so quickly!

“Aaargh! No!”

I grabbed my hair, spinning around the temple.

Failed to convey that I’m not the god of blood and slaughter!

“Ugh… What have I done…”

Feeling frustrated, I walked back to the window and looked at the Sia Kalt Great Labyrinth again.

Lycoris’s appearance had completely changed.

Her wilted petals were now in full bloom, and her stamens were lively.

Even the insects seemed revitalized.

“Huh…”

At the unexpected sight, my mouth hung open.

“Well… at least the revelation went well.”

Though the content was completely distorted, seeing Lycoris regain her vitality made me feel accomplished.

After all, it’s good that my follower is happy.

“Next time… I’ll definitely tell her I’m the god of peace.”

With determination, I closed the window.

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

“Ugh… Still, that was expensive…”

…

Lycoris, polymorphed into a human, was mercilessly slaughtering monsters.

She claimed it was a ritual for me!

Watching from the sky, I couldn’t close my mouth.

“Aaargh! What is this?!”

Suddenly, a stinging sensation on my scalp.

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

It felt like someone was plucking my hair strand by strand.

“Hm… Why is my head doing this?”

Scratching behind my ear, I looked back at Lycoris.

When she first polymorphed into a human, I watched from the Heavenly Realm.

Her appearance from the crimson smoke was…

Truly astonishing.

Though short, her presence was as stunning as the goddesses of the Heavenly Realm.

Perhaps even more radiant than Solaris.

She had an air of mystery.

Her long black hair flowed like waves, subtly tinged with pink.

Like retaining the color of new growth.

Back then, she was truly my sapling…

Her ruby-like red eyes shimmered like sunset-kissed rubies, and her porcelain skin glowed softly like moonlight.

The black dress, adorned with red embroidery, seemed to flow like blood.

The sight was eerie yet mysteriously captivating.

“She really transformed beautifully back then…”

Her first movements, marveling at her fingers and face, and her first clear, pure laugh.

At the time, Lycoris was like a newborn, finding everything new and joyful, delighting in exploring with the insects.

But now…

“Aaargh! What is she doing?!”

With an ecstatic expression, she was brutally slaughtering monsters!

Wielding a crimson blade, she moved elegantly through the monsters like a dancer at a ball.

The sword, which was neither a dagger nor a full blade, left trails of blood mist.

“That’s clearly a sword!”

Her movements were graceful, yet every swing ended in a monster’s death.

The monsters’ agonized screams filled the air as blood splattered everywhere, yet her dress remained pristine.

But the stinging in my scalp grew worse.

Now, it felt like something hot was flowing through my hair.

“Oh no… Could it be that Lycoris’s sacrifices are changing me?!”

I grabbed my hair, spinning around the room.

“No, no, no! I’m the god of peace and light! I have nothing to do with blood and slaughter! How could I become a war god?!”

I wailed, tugging at my hair.

“Ugh… What have I done…”

Rushing to the window, I looked at my reflection.

“Huh?”

Almost spilling the tea I had poured.

“What the…!”

My golden hair, which had always been a symbol of the god of light, had changed.

The ends were now a pinkish-red, as if dipped in blood.

“No, no, no! This can’t be!”

Panic set in as I examined my hair.

There was no mistaking it.

The ends of my golden hair had unmistakably turned pink.

As if soaked in blood.

“Wait…”

A terrifying thought crossed my mind.

“Could Lycoris’s sacrifices really be transforming me?!”

I clutched my hair, spinning around the room.

“Ugh! I’m supposed to be the god of peace and light! I have nothing to do with blood and slaughter! How could I become a war god?!”

My voice echoed through the silent Temple of Light.

“Solaris… I need to go to Solaris!”

Rushing out of the temple, I ran along the golden, cloud-paved path of the Heavenly Realm.

Normally, walking this beautiful path would bring peace, but now I had no time for that.

“Ugh! Solaris! Solaris! Emergency!”

Bursting through the golden palace gates, I wailed.

“Michel? You’re back?”

Solaris’s tired voice replied.

“Ugh! Something’s really wrong! Look at me!”

“What’s so urgent… Huh?”

She usually looked elegant yet bored, but upon seeing me, her expression changed.

Her golden eyes sparkled with amusement.

“Oh, this is interesting.”

“Huh.”

Amused?

Can’t she see my teary eyes?

“Amused? This is serious! I’m transforming! Clearly because Lycoris keeps sacrificing!”

“Hmph.”

Solaris’s expression turned serious.

“Is that so? Your hair does look quite… striking.”

“Ugh… This is bad! I’m really becoming the god of war!”

Sniffling, I stood before Solaris, my hair fluttering and reflecting pink hues.

“Ugh! What should I do? I might really become the god of war!”

Solaris, now composed, smiled faintly.

“Why not just become the god of war?”

“No! Don’t joke! This isn’t what I wanted!”

Stomping my foot, I protested.

The pink ends of my hair swayed, catching my eye.

“Well, maybe you can change it back. But because of the system, there’s little we can do.”

Solaris’s nonchalant response made me more anxious.

“No! If I can grant another revelation, I can change it!”

“Huh? A revelation? You actually granted one? Why is this happening?”

“It’s… I used the time to tell Lycoris about Frostia…”

“Hahaha! What are you talking about?”

“No! It’s Frostia’s fault! She’s been lying in the Deathmere Great Labyrinth after drinking Dwarf Royal Wine! How was I supposed to know?!”

“Hahaha! Cough cough!”

Solaris laughed uncontrollably, leaning on her chair and holding her stomach.

Golden tears welled up in her eyes.

“Stop laughing!”

Tears welled up in my eyes again.

I pouted, glaring at Solaris.

“Haha. Sorry, sorry. But can the revelation appear again? And you’re probably the only one who can grant one.”

“…”

I hung my head in defeat.

Solaris was right.

Granting a revelation was a rare opportunity.

“Well… your hair suits you. Why not just become the god of war? There’s war for peace, you know.”

Solaris echoed Seraphina’s words.

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

‘…Hmm, maybe I’ll really become the god of war.’

Strangely, the thought excited me.

A new possibility stirred within.

“Alright… I’m New Michel now.”

“Haha! New Michel?”

Solaris laughed again.

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

Solaris, barely containing her laughter, nodded.

…

The Temple of Light.

Various gods of the Heavenly Realm had gathered.

Gods of the earth, sea, wind, and others I rarely saw.

Each with curious expressions, they stared at me in the center.

My hair ends were pink, and my aura had a reddish hue.

Now accustomed to it, I even found it appealing.

Holding a red spear in one hand, I spoke loudly.

“Hmph! Are you all here? I’m reborn. I’m New Michel!”

Murmurs spread among the gods.

“Michel has finally gone mad.”

“Does his hair color look different?”

“He’s finally decided to become the god of war.”

They were all surprised and perplexed.

But I no longer cared.

In fact, their reactions were amusing.

‘Yes, be surprised. You’ll be even more surprised in the future.’

“Yes! I’m now the god of war, Michel! I love blood and slaughter! Hahaha!”

Raising the spear high, I shouted with vigor.

“Huh? I thought you were the god of war for peace.”

Solaris’s tired voice barely reached me.

“Hahaha! Hahahaha! Hahahahaha!!!”