The Incompetent Evil God

Ten days.

It had already been ten days, but Rico still hadn’t come.

‘Hmm… She’s really taking her time…’

I tossed and caught a small orb of energy repeatedly, deep in thought.

Looking up at the ashen sky, the ice kingdom to the north came into view.

How was Frostia passing the time?

It was so boring…

Was she really sleeping?

Then, the cheers of the cultists echoed.

“It’s done! The passage is finally complete!”

Oh, it’s finally done.

The time to hunt the Evil God is near.

I stretched and headed toward the passage.

Among the gigantic magic circles painted with blood, a gate made of strange material stood tall.

Red gems were embedded densely in a frame resembling human bones, and the Ouroboros symbol encircled it.

“Lord Ouroboros! Abelaxas shall descend soon!”

The cultists crowded around the passage, staring at it intently.

I smiled coldly, like a rainy morning.

‘Heh heh heh… Come on, Evil Gods. Become a delicious meal.’

But something was odd.

The passage was complete, yet there was no reaction.

Hmm?

“Why isn’t anything happening?”

The cultists looked at each other, confused.

“We followed all the steps accurately…”

The leader approached, and I gave him a cold stare.

“What’s going on?”

He replied nervously, “We certainly completed the passage! The magic circles are perfect, and the blood concentration…”

“Then why no reaction?”

My voice was icy.

The cultists trembled and began searching for issues again.

Time passed sluggishly.

Suddenly, the bony structure creaked and began to tremble.

Kwaaaang!

The red gems emitted a dark mist, and the Ouroboros symbol rotated as if alive.

The magic lines glowed red, resonating through the air.

“Oh, he’s here! Abelaxas has arrived!”

Amid the cultists’ cheers, I also watched with a smile.

Finally, you’ve come.

I’ve been waiting.

‘Polymorph.’

My human form dissipated, and I transformed into a massive black snake.

The cultists cheered again.

“Oh! Lord Ouroboros has revealed his true form!”

Heh heh heh…

You’ll faint when you see what’s about to happen.

Thud… Thud…

The ground trembled beneath me.

I lifted my massive head and gazed at the passage.

Finally, a dark figure emerged from the void.

I strained my eyes, barely making out the silhouette.

“Oh! Abelaxas has arrived!”

“The end of the world is upon us!”

“What an honor to witness this glorious moment!”

Wait… That doesn’t look like Abelaxas.

It was a small girl.

Dressed in a flower-petal-thin dress, so tiny and cute.

Huh?

Is that an Evil God?

Definitely not.

I could barely sense any Evil God’s aura.

Could it be that an Evil God has been reborn?

Suddenly, the girl froze upon seeing me.

Her crimson eyes widened in fear.

‘How cute.’

A blue-winged butterfly fluttered beside her.

Something felt familiar.

Looking closer, her clothes seemed unusual.

Wait…

That’s my aura…

Then, the girl suddenly smiled brightly and called out.

“Nis-nim! It’s me, Rico!”

…Huh? Rico?

***

“So… you’re saying that once we pass through the passage, we’ll meet Nis-nim, and you want me to take her far away…?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Abelaxas sighed deeply, as if relieved.

His golden eyes momentarily shone with hope.

…?

Were the Evil Gods so gloomy because of Nis-nim?

So, as soon as we pass through the passage, I can meet Nis-nim and the Lord!

Jackpot!

But wait, is Nis-nim that strong?

How powerful must she be to make the Evil Gods so scared?

Not really.

I think I saw somewhere that this is when you use the Dragon Ball strategy.

Nis-nim must be incredibly strong! X

The Evil Gods are so pathetic! O

Wait, was it the other way around?

Anyway… If Nis-nim is that strong, then the Lord must be even more powerful!

Heh heh!

I couldn’t help but laugh, and Abelaxas gave me an impatient look.

Then, he tore off a lavender brooch from his chest and handed it to me.

『「Serenade Acajene」 – An intricately crafted brooch the color of lavender, a treasure Abelaxas holds dear.』

Huh?

Are you giving this to me…?

Isn’t this your treasured item?

“Take this as a token of my request.”

“Uh… thank you?”

I accepted the brooch and held it in my hand.

The translucent gem at its center shimmered with a mysterious, lavender hue.

“So, will you accept my request?”

“Of course! Leave it to me!”

Thanks to these incompetent Evil Gods, I got such a nice item!

“Thank you.”

Abelaxas nodded, relieved.

I’m the one who should be thankful!

Thanks to them, I get to go right before the Lord and get free items!

Then, Bellona approached us.

“Bellona-nim, are you also going to the human world?”

She darkened for a moment when I asked.

“Well… I originally planned to, but I heard Nis is guarding the passage…”

“I’ll talk to Nis-nim for you!”

I said confidently, but Bellona shook her head.

“Lycoris, you know Nis… Ah, so you two have spoken before.”

“Yes. Lycoris agreed to move Nis.”

“I see. Then I’ll leave when Nis isn’t around~”

Bellona forced a bright smile.

But it lacked sincerity.

Even Bellona-nim fears Nis-nim!

Just how fearsome are the Evil Gods?

What happened, anyway?

I glanced at Bellona and Abelaxas.

But they seemed to plead with their eyes not to ask.

Right, it would be rude to ask.

I’ll just ask Nis-nim later.

“Bellona-nim, I’ll take my leave. Thank you.”

“Huhut. Farewell, my dear disciple~”

Bellona stroked my cheek.

Her touch was cold yet warm.

“Though our time was short, you were a truly special student from the start. Your talents were evident from the moment we met.”

Bellona patted my head.

Instead of her usual enchanting smile, she showed genuine warmth as a mentor.

“Thank you, Bellona-nim. I’ve grown a lot thanks to you.”

“I’m glad. And remember, Lycoris. You’ll always be my proud disciple.”

Bellona kissed my forehead.

Her cold lips touched my skin, and for a moment, my eyes stung.

“See you later, Bellona-nim!”

“Until we meet again, my daughter-like disciple.”

I began walking toward the passage.

As I approached, my waist suddenly vibrated oddly.

The Crimson Bind shook violently.

“What’s this? Why?”

When I drew my sword, the Crimson Bind shook even more, then fell to the ground.

Half of it was buried in the earth.

What the…?

Don’t want to go?

“No! We have to go!”

When I tried to lift the sword, it resisted more.

“No!”

It’s acting like a child from the discount store!

“Idiot! Staying in the demon realm would mean less bloodshed!”

Finally, the sword calmed down.

“Haa… So annoying.”

I forcibly picked up the sword and headed to the passage.

The sword still trembled but no longer resisted.

“I’ll go then!”

I took a deep breath and stepped into the dark passage.

Everything was engulfed in darkness.

I couldn’t feel temperature, gravity, or even time.

It felt like an endless void.

The sensation beneath my feet vanished.

I couldn’t tell if I was walking, floating, or falling.

This feels…

Like when I was a seed…

Ugh!

I hated this sensation!

Flap flap!

Miel’s wings fluttered weakly on my shoulder.

Even she seemed disoriented in this chaos.

Sigh…

Nearly gave me PTSD…

‘Miel, just a bit more…’

Suddenly, things began to change.

Glittering lights appeared in the darkness.

Like stars or tears.

The cold demon realm energy warmed up.

The air on my skin softened, and a familiar floral scent wafted by.

“Hmm!”

I opened my eyes to a familiar natural scent.

Not the dark, cold air of the demon realm, but warm, life-filled air!

“We… We’re back!”

Flap flap!

Miel’s wings beat stronger, her black feathers returning to blue!

‘Thank goodness!’

Great!

Perfect!

As I savored the return to the human world, cheers erupted from afar.

“Oh! Abelaxas has arrived!”

“The end of the world is upon us!”

“What an honor to witness this glorious moment!”

What?

Evil God cultists?

I’m not some incompetent Evil God but a nation-level beauty!

Then…

Thud… Thud…

The ground trembled violently.

A massive shadow loomed overhead.

“Eek!”

A sight that could make one scream.

A colossal black snake filled my vision!

Each scale was as big as me, and the ominous aura it emitted was like condensed fear!

I froze.

Couldn’t even breathe.

Yet, I saw the status window above this monstrous snake.

『 ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ 【Nis】  Jormungandr  LV□□□ 』

Huh?

Nis-nim?

Oh right! Nis-nim is Jormungandr!

“Nis-nim! It’s me, Rico!”

My voice echoed.

The snake moved.

Purple energy flowed through its scales, and its massive body began to shrink.

Transforming into a beautiful woman was like magic itself.

Black scales turned into a sleek black dress, and the crimson eyes became sharp, red orbs.

Silky, jet-black hair with a hint of purple flowed in the wind.

“Rico?”

Her eyes widened, then narrowed.

Surprised expression.

“Nis-nim!”

Dododo!

I rushed into her arms.

Her soft embrace and the scent of roses and something sweet filled my senses.

“Oh… This… This is Rico?”

Nis-nim’s voice trembled.

Three years of waiting were evident.

She pushed me back and examined me.

“Why are you so pretty!?”

Her eyes sparkled.

“Wow… Your hair is gorgeous! The red color suits you so much!”

She hugged me tightly again.

“I’m really sorry… For making you wait three years…”

Her warmth was comforting.

A sense of security I hadn’t felt in ages.

“But…”

Nis-nim’s eyes narrowed sharply.

“Why did you come out of that passage? That’s the Evil Gods’ passage!”

Uh…

How do I explain this…

“Oh! Lord Ouroboros has welcomed Abelaxas’s apostle!”

“The apostle’s appearance is as beautiful as expected!”

The cultists cheered from afar, bowing.

Shut up!