Thirty minutes had passed since Kuro dragged Eden into subspace with a "let's step outside for a bit" look on her face.
Presumably, an unimaginable battle was unfolding within that alternate dimension. Then again, it felt more like a domestic squabble than a duel to the death, so I doubted they were actually trying to kill each other.
Meanwhile, a different kind of fierce battle was currently raging at the counter of the general store.
"...There! Got it!"
"Guh... Not bad, Kaito-san. But you’re still naive!"
"Wh-What...?"
Just as I launched a desperate counterattack from my losing position, Alice’s expression clouded with pain for a fleeting second—only for her to immediately parry my move.
I had been too careless. I knew Alice’s physical capabilities were beyond absurd, but I hadn't expected her to pull a play like that from such a precarious state. Dammit, was there no way to turn this around?
Agitated, I reached out for another move, but an action born of panic was never going to succeed. The object of our focus tilted precariously and then, heartlessly, it collapsed.
"Yes! That’s my win!"
"Ugh... I lost."
The wooden blocks tumbled to the floor, sealing my defeat.
Yes, we were playing that game most people have played at least once—the one where you pull wooden blocks from a tower and stack them on top.
I never imagined she could maintain the tower’s balance while stacking them at such a ridiculous angle. Alice was just too strong.
"Hehehe. I always lose when it comes to games of luck, so winning like this feels great."
"I don't know... losing to you of all people is especially irritating, Alice."
"Hey, why!?"
I was just starting to pick up the blocks for a rematch when a black vortex appeared. Kuro and Eden returned.
"...Welcome back, Kuro."
"I'm back... Phew. Seriously, she’s so strong it’s just nasty. I’m exhausted."
I suppose I should have expected as much from a god who created an entire world. Eden was apparently incredibly powerful, as Kuro was letting out a rare sigh of fatigue.
As I watched Kuro, Eden approached me and gave a slight bow.
"My apologies for earlier, Kaito Miyama. I was... a bit overexcited."
"Ah, no, it's fine..."
She had switched from calling me "My beloved child" to "Kaito Miyama," and the skin-crawling aura from before had vanished. It seemed she had finally regained her composure. Though, wait... what did she just say? She was "a bit" overexcited? That was just "a bit"?
"Honestly... Anyway, you can't cause trouble for Kaito-kun or try to hurt his friends anymore!"
"Do not underestimate me, Half of God. I would never do anything to cause my beloved child sorrow. I will bring no harm to Kaito Miyama, nor to his companions."
"...Wow, you’ve got a massive boomerang stuck in your back, lady. Did you already forget what happened a few days ago?" Alice interjected.
"..."
"Wh-Why you...!"
Eden claimed she wouldn't sadden me or hurt my friends, but Alice, who had engaged in a serious battle with her just days prior, couldn't help but snap back. Eden, however, magnificently ignored her. She was a terrifying woman.
"...Besides, weren't you just talking about kidnapping and imprisoning him a minute ago?"
"Kidnapping? Imprisonment? I have no idea what you are talking about. That was merely a 'proposal.' Kaito Miyama’s will is obviously the absolute priority."
"...It didn't sound like a proposal at all to me."
"There is no need for thou to understand my intentions."
"...Kaito-san, I hate this woman."
Apparently, to Eden, creating entire worlds and specialized environments for me were strictly suggestions; she wouldn't do them unless I agreed. I felt a small wave of relief at that.
I tried to soothe Alice, whose mouth was twitching as if she were ready to throw a punch.
Unfortunately, Eden had no intention of reading the room. She kept going.
"I have no desire to be liked by thou, either. It would be an utter waste of effort."
"...Fine, that’s how it’s gonna be? Why don't we finish what we started the other day then?"
"Alice, calm down. And Eden-san, please stop provoking her."
"As you wish."
A second battle looked ready to erupt, so I asked Eden to stop the provocations. She agreed instantly.
"...Hmm. Kaito-kun, do you think you’ll be okay on your own? She seems to listen to you, at least. I'm actually in the middle of preparing for the Six Kings Festival, so... is it okay if I head back?"
"Eh? Ah, yeah. Thanks, Kuro."
"Don't worry about it. 'I can hear your conversations anyway,' so if anything happens, I'll be right back!"
"Wait, you just said something very alarming—"
"Bye-bye~!"
"Kuro! Wait!"
Something was wrong. Why was Kuro, who was supposedly in the Demon Realm, able to hear our private conversations?
I tried to call her back, but it was too late. She vanished into a shroud of black light.
Where was my privacy? No, did I even have any left...?
My shoulders slumped in dejection. I turned back to Eden and Alice, who were glaring at each other in silence, and tentatively tried to play mediator.
"...Eden-san, if possible, I’d really like you to try and get along with Alice. Would you... do that for me?"
"Then I shall apologize for my previous rudeness. Allow me to introduce myself properly once more. My name is Eden. It is a pleasure to meet you, Alice."
"...What’s with that lightning-fast about-face? But even if you say that now, I—huh?"
"Consider this a token of my friendship."
The moment I asked, Eden introduced herself to Alice. I see—to Eden, her introduction a few days ago was meant only for me, and Alice hadn't even registered as an entity in her eyes until now.
Alice still looked skeptical, glaring at Eden with sharp eyes as if she couldn't accept such a sudden shift from someone who had been so hostile a moment ago.
However, Eden then produced a cloth bag from thin air and placed it in front of Alice.
I heard a heavy clink when it hit the counter. Was that money?
Alice peeked inside the bag, then immediately tucked it into her clothes and turned back to Eden with a complete change in demeanor.
"If there’s anything you don't understand about this world, feel free to ask me anything! I’ll help you out as much as you need!"
"Thank you very much."
"..."
She got bought off that easily!? What is this, a comedy sketch? Both of them just flipped their attitudes in a heartbeat!
There must have been an incredible amount of money in that bag. Alice was now acting so friendly it was as if she’d forgotten everything that happened until five seconds ago. Eden was terrifying. She had sniffed out Alice’s weakness in an instant.
"Ah, that is right... I must give this to my beloved child."
"...Eh?"
While I stood dazed by the bizarre scene, Eden turned to me with a smile. She plucked a single feather from her pure white wings and handed it to me.
Wait. Why was I getting that chill again?
"Wh-What is this?"
"It is 'a part of me.'"
Could you please stop phrasing things so ominously!? Surely there was a better way to put that!
"My beloved child. I am always on thy side. This is the proof... Ah, it is not enough, is it? I understand. If it were permitted, I would have thou savor all of me, every part, right here and now. But if another interruption were to occur, my child would be displeased, wouldn't he? Fear not. I will certainly 'come to see thee' again. Mother is always watching. I affirm every choice thou makest. Yes, that is right. My child must be free. Of course, I shall pour my love upon thou without end. Yes, indeed! It is unacceptable for my child to be bound by anything. Gravity, the sun—everything, everything must move for my child’s sake. Yes, that is right. That is—"
"Eden-san! Stop! Sto-o-opp!!"
"...My apologies. I became a bit overexcited again. I am quite alright now, Kaito Miyama."
Okay, I’m starting to figure her out. When Eden calls me "Kaito Miyama," she's in her OFF state. When she starts calling me "My beloved child," that’s the danger signal. I’ve burned that into my memory.
Once she regained her calm, Eden leaned in close to my ear and whispered the powers of the feather I was holding. Then, she turned to leave, only to pause halfway.
"...I almost forgot. Since Kaito Miyama is the one minding the shop, it would be wrong to leave empty-handed. Alice, please pick out a selection of items. I shall purchase everything."
"What!? Leave it to me!!"
"..."
At Eden's command, Alice vanished for a split second and returned with a literal mountain of merchandise.
Without even glancing at the items, Eden produced another cloth bag—two sizes larger than the first—and handed it to Alice.
"Keep the change."
"...So you really were a god after all."
"Indeed. Now then, I shall continue my tour of this world. Until we meet again, Kaito Miyama."
"Ah, right. Goodbye."
"Thank you very much! We look forward to your next visit!!"
"...Alice."
Even through the mask, I could tell Alice was grinning from ear to ear. She gave a bright farewell to the departing Eden. Her personality is way too easy to read.
As for Eden... well, her affection for me certainly came across with terrifying intensity, but she was a very strange person.
If Shiro-san is a Super Egalitarian, then I suppose Eden is a Super Partialist.
I’m beginning to suspect that every god who creates a world has an extremely eccentric way of expressing love for their creations.
Dear Mother, Father—
I received a feather from Eden-san. Though, to be honest, I’m not sure I’ll ever find a safe time to use it. It feels far too dangerous. But setting that aside, between Shiro-san and Eden-san... they really do have truly unique expressions of love.
Shiro: Feels that every existence she created has the same value. She refuses to rank them. Eden: Dotes obsessively on the one existence among her creations that stood up to her. She ranks values to an extreme degree.