The Middle Level of the God Realm was a sanctuary where only High-ranking Gods and their direct subordinates were permitted to dwell. Everyone residing here was a powerhouse of the highest order among the divine.
In one corner of this domain, a single goddess stood. Her short white hair whipped in the breeze as she gazed out at the landscape with teal eyes. She was dressed in her favorite outfit—one introduced from another world known as a sailor uniform—and she let out a low, bitter mutter.
"Everyone should just drop dead."
"Senpai, what is with the sudden, violent talk?"
A Low-ranking God serving as her subordinate called out to her as she sat hunched over, spitting out curses. The goddess turned a cold gaze toward the junior and spoke.
"Tell me... what day is it today?"
"Christmas, I believe? That festival passed down from the otherworld."
"What 'Christmas'?! Every single one of them is out there flirting and acting all lovey-dovey! It’s an otherworld festival! It shouldn't have anything to do with this world, right?!"
"Wow, what is with this nonsensical rage..."
Hearing her senior bark out those words, the junior muttered with a look of utter exasperation.
"It’s because I am a High-ranking God who governs thoroughness and sincerity! This frivolous, flighty atmosphere is just—"
"No, Senpai, aren't you the Goddess of Misfortune?"
"I am not! While misfortune is certainly a part of it, what I govern is Calamity!"
"Ah, so that’s why you’re always in the middle of a disaster..."
"Shut up! More importantly, what is with that attitude toward your superior?!"
"Please rest assured. I speak properly to everyone except you, Senpai. I have zero respect for you, after all."
"......"
Hearing her subordinate speak to her as if she were looking at a piece of trash, the goddess’s eyes and mouth fell open in a daze. After a few moments, her expression snapped back to reality.
"N-No, wait, you’re my junior, right? You’re my subordinate?"
"Yes. The fact that you are my senior is the greatest stain of my existence."
"Waaaaah! I hate this girl!"
"Now, now, putting that aside, you piece of tras—excuse me, Senpai, what exactly do you want to do?"
"Hey, you just said trash, didn't you? You definitely said it!"
It was a relationship where the emotional senior’s expressions changed rapidly while the junior remained calm and biting—to an outsider, their positions might have appeared reversed. While this was their usual banter, the senior was actually a goddess who held a significant level of power; her strength was said to be second only to the Supreme Gods.
This deity, who ranked within the top ten of the God Realm, muttered as she suppressed her anger.
"I’m angry at this flighty world. Peace is a good thing, but because of it, seriousness has been lost. I feel rage toward those people who are just floating along in this fluffy atmosphere."
"I see. And your true feelings?"
"Even though I’ve been around longer than anyone except the Supreme Gods, I’m all alone on Christmas... while all of them are off flirting together!"
"So it’s just pure jealousy."
As the senior shouted while clenching her fists, the junior directed a gaze of absolute zero toward her. When it came down to it, the senior was simply lonely being by herself on Christmas. She was, fundamentally, a loner.
"And all of this is that guy's fault!"
"That guy?"
"That Otherworlder! Ever since he arrived, the God of Space-Time, the God of Fate, and the God of Life... they all look so happy! Even I've never been allowed inside the Sanctuary, yet he has permission to enter! And I hear he even talks with the Creator God, whom I've only spoken to a handful of times! What is with that guy? It’s not fair! It’s all his fault!"
"Your misplaced resentment is almost refreshing at this point."
The person the senior had brought up was a human whose name was known by everyone in the God Realm. Despite being a human, he was an exceptional case—invited to the Sanctuary where only Supreme Gods could set foot, and possessing the divine protection of the pinnacle herself, Shallow Vernal.
Watching her senior drone on about her grudge against Kaito, the junior let out a heavy sigh of exasperation.
"Uuuu, because of him... everyone is becoming happy because of him..."
"I think that’s a wonderful thing, though."
"Whose side are you on?!"
"Well, I am the God of Love, so I am easily on that Otherworlder's side."
"......"
Hearing her junior's words cut her down with brutal efficiency, the senior stood there in a daze. Observing her, the junior continued speaking with a look of genuine annoyance.
"Well, if you hate it that much, why don't you use your power over calamity to make him miserable?"
"Eh? N-No, I mean... it would be pitiful... and I shouldn't use my power like that..."
"Why are you a good person in such weird ways?"
"W-Well, it really is all that Otherworlder's fault... so maybe a little retaliation... like making him trip on a stone..."
"Wow, that’s kid-level harassment."
Muttering to herself, the senior stood up and drew a circle in the air with her finger. Even if she didn't look the part, she possessed high-level power and could easily use Far-sight Magic. Kaito’s figure appeared within the circle. The senior stared at him, took several deep breaths, and raised one hand.
"Alright, take this! My rage, trip on a sto—!?"
However, her retaliation never reached Kaito. The moment she raised her hand, a dull-glinting knife was pressed against her throat.
"Would you like to die right now?"
"I-I'm sorry... Phantasm King..."
The Phantasm King had appeared out of thin air. She spoke in a cold, hollow voice, and the senior pulled her hand back, her eyes welling with tears.
After the Phantasm King left, the senior sat with her knees pulled to her chest, sulking.
"It’s not fair... using the Phantasm King to counter-attack... that’s cheating..."
"So, what are you going to do, Senpai? Are you giving up?"
"I-I'm not giving up! If it’s come to this, I'll go complain to him directly!"
"Complain? What do you even plan to say—wait, she’s already gone."
Despite the fact that her grievance was entirely born of jealousy, the senior declared she would go file a direct protest to Kaito and vanished. The junior left behind shifted her gaze to the Far-sight Magic that the senior had left active.
In the vision, the senior appeared before Kaito in a flash of light, pointing a finger at him with a sharp gesture. However, she remained frozen in that pose, her mouth failing to move at all.
"For someone with such terrible social anxiety, what on earth did she plan to say?"
Just as the junior muttered to herself, the senior shown in the magic vision was pointing her finger, repeatedly trying to say something only to close her mouth halfway. Naturally, Kaito looked bewildered and tilted his head in confusion.
"Hmm... Ah, she started crying. Where did your pride as a High-ranking God go? Wow, she’s throwing a total tantrum and shouting complete nonsense at him."
Whether she couldn't handle the silence or because she lacked any logical argument, the senior had sat down in front of Kaito and was now wailing while hurling complaints.
"Oh my, she’s being comforted by the very person she went to yell at. Ah, she got some snacks. That’s exactly how you soothe a child."
Kaito was confused by the unreasonable anger, but because of his good-natured personality, he couldn't ignore a weeping woman and was speaking to her to try and calm her down.
"Hm? They’re moving together... they sat on a bench... and she’s started a life-consultation session. Why is she having her grievances heard by the target of her complaints?"
Some time later, the senior returned to the junior’s side with a somewhat refreshed expression.
"How was it, Senpai?"
"Yeah, he was a good person. When I told him I wasn't good with sweets, he gave me a snack called a senbei..."
"......"
Muttering happily, the senior prepared a chair and began munching on the senbei while drinking tea. Watching her with exasperated eyes, the junior slowly opened her mouth.
"In the end, what did you go there for? You just got tamed with food and came back. Senpai, you’re way too easy."
"Hah!? That’s not it! This was merely... yes, it was mercy!"
"Mercy?"
"I am a high-ranking goddess, after all. If that Otherworlder offers a tribute and bows his head, I figured I could let it slide this time! It’s not like I thought he was handsome when I saw him up close! Or that my heart skipped a beat because he was kind to me! Next time, I’ll definitely make him repent!"
"......"
After watching her senior speak while her cheeks flushed slightly, the junior let out a great sigh.
"Well, it seems like Senpai's troubles are resolved, so I’ll be going now. I have a party with the other Low-ranking Gods."
"Eh? What’s that? What about me?"
"Senpai, you're a High-ranking God, right?"
"U-Uuuu..."
"Well then, excuse me."
After giving a polite bow, the junior left the scene without a second thought. The senior's shoulders slumped. However, her suffering did not end there; a further tragedy was about to strike.
"Oh, perfect timing!"
"Eh? God of Fate? What’s the matter?"
"Yeah... here, take this!"
"What... is this? This mountain of documents..."
Fate, the God of Fate and the senior's direct superior, suddenly appeared and placed a massive mountain of paperwork in front of her with a bright, cheerful smile. Looking at the pile that looked large enough to bury her, the senior muttered in a daze. Fate gave her a sparkling smile and a thumbs up.
"I’m off to a party at Kai-chan’s place! So, do this work for me instead!"
"Huh? Eh? Eeehhh!?"
"Okay, thanks!"
"Wait a minute, God of Fate!"
Fate vanished, leaving only the senior and the mountain of paperwork. The senior stared at the documents over and over with a stunned expression, and her body began to tremble.
"W-Waaaaahhhhh!! Everyone, just dieeeee!!"
On Christmas night, in a space where she was all alone, the scream of the unfortunate goddess echoed far and wide.