In the upper reaches of the God Realm, within the sanctuary of a grand temple, Chronoa, the God of Space-Time, stood with a grim expression. Her arms were crossed tightly as she stared intensely at a single point.
"No... it’s simply impossible."
She shook her head, whispering the words as if to deny the reality of what stood before her.
"Indeed, it is unthinkable. For me, a Supreme God, to be so distracted by a trivial event of the Human Realm... it must not happen. Yes, quite right. And yet... Miyama is a human. If that is the case, is it not necessary for me to accommodate human customs? No, no, even so, this is too much. For me to have... ch-chocolates, of all things..."
The object of Chronoa’s focused glare was a beautifully wrapped box of chocolates. There was no question about their origin; she had made them herself. Still glaring as if she intended to incinerate the box with her eyes alone, Chronoa continued her frantic monologue.
"In the first place, if I give him this... it will look as though I am pining for the man! N-No, truthfully, I cannot deny my feelings, but I have my dignity as a Supreme God to consider. This is... No, wait. If I stop now, it would mean I have prioritized my pride over Miyama himself. That is also unacceptable!"
Muttering under her breath, Chronoa paced back and forth in front of the chocolates. Common sense suggested that since she had already gone to the trouble of making them, she should simply give them to him. However, for a goddess who had never participated in such festive traditions, the hurdle of actually handing them to Kaito felt insurmountable.
"Muuu... is it truly acceptable for a Supreme God to be so obsessed with a single human? Not that I consider Miyama part of the faceless masses, mind you. But even so, this is wrong. If I wish to convey my feelings, there must be a more appropriate way! No, wait—that makes it sound like I actually want to confess to him!"
She stopped in her tracks and shook her head, directing her excuses toward the empty air. Her behavior was decidedly un-godlike and borderline farcical, but fortunately for her pride, she remained blissfully unaware of how she looked.
"M-Miyama is a human whom Shallow Vernal-sama favors, and thus I am merely being friendly... W-Well, it isn't as though I haven't taken a personal liking to him. I-I mean, I do like him, but even so... Nuaaaaah! Just what am I supposed to do!?"
"Why not just give them to him honestly?"
"Well, you say that, but such a vulnerable display doesn't suit me."
"On the contrary, I think you're quite adorable, God of Space-Time. I'm sure Miyama-san would be delighted."
"Is that so? If the God of Life says it, then perhaps... Wait. God of Life? Gah?! Y-Y-You! How long have you been standing there!?"
Chronoa whirled around with the jerky, unnatural movements of a broken doll. There stood Life, the God of Life, wearing a serene, faint smile.
"Since right about the time you said, 'For me, a Supreme God...'"
"That’s practically the beginning! Why are you even in my temple!?"
"Oh, I had no particular business. I simply decided to drop by while I was passing through. But fufu... you really are quite... precious, God of Space-Time."
"Nuaaaaaah! Forget it! Forget everything you saw right now! Wait... what is that?"
Chronoa writhed in embarrassment, but she suddenly froze when she noticed what Life was holding.
"What do you mean?"
"Why are you dragging the God of Harvest along while they're bound in magic power?"
"They tried to run away, so I caught them."
"Wait, what is the meaning of this? What did you make them do?"
"Nothing special. I simply thought that, though it may be presumptuous of me, I would also like to give Miyama-san some chocolate. I merely selected them as my taste-tester. Isn't that right, God of Harvest? You get to eat my personal cooking. It's quite an honor, isn't it?"
The God of Harvest was currently bound in a rather compromising position by glowing ropes of mana. Chronoa looked on with deep suspicion, but Life maintained her placid explanation. However, if one looked closely, her smile seemed a shade too dark.
"Y-Yes... it is a great honor..."
The God of Harvest had fled because they knew from past experience that being a "volunteer" for Life never ended well. However, having been caught, they had no choice but to obey a Supreme God in the absolute hierarchy of the Divine Realm.
Flashing a terrifyingly beautiful smile at the trembling deity, Life produced a piece of chocolate from thin air and held it out.
"Now then, please. Dig in."
"Y-Y-Yes, ma'am."
"Life... that is just a normal piece of chocolate, right?"
"Of course. It's perfectly fine. Completely edible."
Chronoa asked with concern, but Life offered nothing but a reassuring smile. It was suspicious as could be, but Chronoa assumed she wouldn't actually use poison. She watched as the God of Harvest fearfully took a bite.
"Oh? It's... it's actually quite delicious. If it's like this, then—wait. F-Fueh?! My body... why is it suddenly getting so hot? Eh? A-Aaaagh!?"
"H-Hey! God of Harvest, what's wrong!?"
"Fuhyaaaaa?! No! God of Space-Time-sama... p-please don't touch me right now... Aaahhhhh... hhh... ah..."
"Life! What did you put in that!? How does eating chocolate lead to someone having convulsions and passing out!?"
Immediately after eating the chocolate, the God of Harvest had begun screaming and shaking. The tremors escalated into full-blown convulsions until their eyes rolled back in their head and they collapsed.
"It's nothing, really. I just added a little something to... heighten the mood."
"That was an aphrodisiac, wasn't it?! Just how potent was it!? For a god to lose consciousness like that is insane!"
"Oh, it's a special concoction of my own. Normally, it's meant to be diluted a thousand times over, but I decided to test the undiluted concentrate first..."
"What are you doing, you maniac?! Heal them this instant! Are you trying to kill them!?"
"Hmm, I suppose so. Very well."
While Chronoa panicked, Life remained disturbingly calm as she flicked her finger. The God of Harvest was enveloped in a soft light. The aphrodisiac within their system was met with total Annihilation, though they remained unconscious on the floor.
"You... Life. What exactly were you planning to feed Miyama?"
"I was just thinking... it's about time Miyama-san worked up the nerve to pin me down."
"Toxins and drugs don't even work on him!"
"I know. However, since he can reach a state of being slightly tipsy when he drinks, I'm currently in a phase of trial and error to see if I can replicate that vulnerability."
"Why didn't you just test it on Miyama directly?"
"Really now, God of Space-Time. I couldn't possibly treat Miyama-san like an experimental animal."
"So it's fine as long as it's the God of Harvest?! Is that your logic!?"
"It isn't as if they'll die. I'd just bring them back to life. But yes, I am being quite considerate of their health."
"Don't look away from me while you say that!"
Needless to say, after a thunderous scolding from Chronoa, the God of Life was strictly forbidden from using other deities as lab rats for her romantic schemes.
Theory on Life's black-hearted nature: Confirmed.