Clinging to Eden-san, I felt my heart pounding—not with excitement, but with the high-stakes tension of my gamble. The outcome of this all-or-nothing maneuver would be...
"...Hehe, my child is quite the spoiled one today, isn't he? Still, it makes me truly happy to have you lean on me like this."
"...E-Eden-san?"
"Yes? Is something the matter, my child?"
Hearing that voice, devoid of even a hint of malice, I mentally pumped my fist in victory. I had won the gamble. I had successfully drawn out that truly gentle side of Eden-san that only appeared once in a blue moon.
With this, I should be able to make it safely through the rest of the trip until noon tomorrow.
Relieved, I slowly pulled away and spoke to her.
"I’m sorry for that. I got a little carried away."
"It’s quite alright. If it brought you that much joy, then I am more than satisfied. I worried that creating an entire planet might have been excessive... but seeing you smile makes it all worthwhile."
Wow... incredible. In this state, it wasn't just her personality that changed; her values were actually sensible. What a relief. Now I could actually enjoy this vacation.
"Shall we head to the water immediately?"
"Ah, right. It’s only ten o'clock, so it’s still a bit early for lunch."
"Yes, indeed. We can return here to eat once it turns twelve."
Watching Eden-san smile so gently made my heart skip a beat. It was easy to forget because her usual personality was so overwhelming, but as a God, her beauty was truly otherworldly.
That innocent smile, combined with the wings on her back, made her look like the very definition of an Angel. Feeling a mix of bashfulness and growing anticipation, I headed down to the shore with her.
Spending time with an Eden-san who posed zero danger was far more enjoyable than I had expected.
"...Oh? What is it, my child?"
"Ah, no, it’s just... that swimsuit looks really good on you."
"Fufu, thank you. You look wonderful as well. You seem healthy, as if you’ve been exercising regularly... As a mother, it makes me feel quite proud."
"T-Thank you."
"Since we’re here, we should try all sorts of beach activities. I can provide any equipment we might need. Do you have any requests?"
"Ah, well..."
Between my racing heart during conversations with Eden-san—who wore a black swimsuit that gave off a sophisticated, mature air—and her ability to manifest whatever gear we needed instantly, we enjoyed all sorts of activities.
Unlike the time I went to the beach with Shiro-san, Eden-san seemed to understand how to hold back properly, allowing me to play like a normal person.
"...Eden-san, is this about right?"
"Yes, you’re doing very well. Now, let’s give that a light stir-fry."
"Okay... But seeing you cook like this, Eden-san, feels quite new."
"Perhaps so. Certainly, if I wished, I could simply manifest the finished dish... but that would be a bit dull, wouldn't it?"
"That’s true."
"One’s mindset is a powerful thing. Even with the same dish, the knowledge that we took the time and effort to prepare it ourselves might enhance the flavor."
"I see."
When lunchtime arrived, we cooked together at Eden-san's suggestion. She was surprisingly skilled; seeing her in an apron, efficiently preparing food while guiding me, made her seem to radiate maternal warmth.
"...Besides, as a mother, I wanted to treat my child to a home-cooked meal. Though, since I’m having you help me, I suppose I can’t claim full credit."
As she gave a mischievous little laugh, I found myself thinking she was actually quite cute.
"...The stars are beautiful."
"This night sky was modeled after Earth's. You can even see the constellations of Japan from here."
"Heh, I don't know much about astronomy, but there sure are a lot of them."
"Yes, the imagination of my children is a rich thing indeed. For example..."
As Eden-san spoke, she lightly moved her finger. The sky shifted slightly, and two stars were connected by a glowing line.
"That is Canis Minor. It’s a winter constellation, but it’s quite fascinating."
"Wait, are there only... two stars?"
"Yes. It seems the ancient people envisioned a puppy’s head and chest from just those."
As she spoke, a drawing of a small dog emerged, centered around those two points. Well, that was certainly a stretch... though I suppose it spoke to the incredible imagination of the people of old.
"By the way, this one is called Coma Berenices."
"Are there three stars in that one?"
"To be precise, that star cluster is envisioned as a shimmering lock of hair."
"It has a lot more stars than the puppy."
"Yes, isn't it interesting?"
"...It really is."
After that, Eden-san continued to teach me about various constellations, weaving in their mythological origins.
When the next morning came, we decided to spend our final hours leisurely until our departure at noon. After breakfast, we walked side-by-side along the sandy beach.
In the end, the two-day, one-night trip had been genuinely fun—so much so that I felt a twinge of sadness that it was ending.
That feeling was entirely thanks to Eden-san staying in her gentle state. I didn't necessarily hate her usual self, but I couldn't help but wish she were always like this.
But those peaceful moments came to a sudden, jarring end.
"...Aaaahhh... You’re so cuuute, my beloved chi-ild..."
The voice was higher, more juvenile than before—and it was saturated with a madness far more profound than anything she had shown until now.