Right now, Phoenix-san was in the middle of a masterful kowtow, skillfully folding her wings like human hands.
"I am so, so deeply sorry!"
"A-Ah, n-no, I don't really mind, so please, raise your head."
"No, that simply will not do! Even if it was before I witnessed your majesty firsthand, my attitude toward My God was far too insolent!"
...Who exactly is this "My God" she’s talking about? I shouldn't even have to ask—she definitely means me. I’d really appreciate it if she stopped using such an outrageous title, but the pressure radiating from her was so intense that I couldn't find the words to object.
It was strange. I was certain I had deactivated my Sympathy Magic... yet the air felt thick, as if the humidity in the room had suddenly spiked to unbearable levels.
"For someone as sacrilegious as myself, I believe punishment is an absolute necessity! What if you were to strike me several more times with that hammer... no, perhaps several dozen more times?!"
"..."
Wait, isn't that just something Phoenix-san wants me to do?
"Oh, shall I change my appearance? I can take any form you wish! I shall become whatever My God desires, so please, chastise me to your heart's content..."
"T-That... maybe some other time..."
"I see... It is regrettable, but to beg so shamelessly for My God’s favor is also a form of irreverence. Very well, I shall look forward to that future occasion with all my heart."
How should I put it... she was so single-mindedly driven by her own desires that her presence was incredibly dense. I finally understood why Lystia-san had suggested meeting her and Tiamat-san on separate days.
Furthermore, I hadn't looked toward Pandora-san once in several minutes. Her face had taken on such an alarming expression that I felt my already dwindling mental energy would vanish entirely if I caught her eye.
Still, she was technically exercising self-control, and I was genuinely grateful that she was staying in work mode... though I was terrified she might start pestering me for the Toy Hammer every time something happened in the future.
While these thoughts occupied my mind, the original purpose of my visit still wasn't finished. I decided to express my gratitude to Phoenix-san as intended.
"...To change the subject, Phoenix-san. Thank you for your help during the Battle with the God Realm."
"Your words are more than I deserve. If it is for My God's sake, I, Phoenix, intend to fly to your side instantly, no matter the location. Should you ever require my strength in the future, please command me at any time."
"...Y-Yes."
Until just a few minutes ago, she had acted as if she didn't have a shred of interest in me, yet somewhere along the way, she had transformed into a paragon of loyalty. This wasn't just a 180; she had flipped to a whole different dimension.
"Um, I brought a gift to show my appreciation... Can you eat and drink, Phoenix-san?"
"To receive a gift from My God is almost too much to bear, but to refuse would also be disrespectful. While I do not fundamentally require sustenance, I am capable of eating and drinking."
"Ah, I see. I've prepared some things other than food as well, but..."
"I apologize for causing you such concern."
I had been worried because she didn't look like the type to consume anything, but it seemed she was capable of it. However, since she didn't usually eat, I wondered if there was something else she'd prefer...
"I love both sharp pain and dull pain, so I would be most grateful for any kind of torture device."
"..."
This was a problem... I hadn't considered the possibility that my host would be such a high-tier pervert that she actually wanted torture devices. What even is this situation? What am I supposed to do?
If it were a normal person, I could just give them something safe, but Phoenix-san was a confirmed extreme masochist. In fact, there was a high chance she might be happier with something a normal person would despise.
But surely, something like that would be... a failed Baby Castella? No, no, there’s no way. Even she wouldn't be happy receiving such a biohazard... right?
"...Phoenix-san, this tastes absolutely terrible, but would you like to try this?"
"Is it something akin to a poison? Ordinary poisons do not affect me, but if it is an item prepared by My God..."
I took out the Baby Castella that Alice had previously mentioned inflicted fixed damage and handed it over. Phoenix-san received it, cradling it carefully in both wings.
I watched her, thinking that if this went poorly, I would apologize with everything I had. Phoenix-san ate the Baby Castella in one bite... and collapsed.
"P-Phoenix-san?! Are you okay?!"
"...Haaahn... What is this... it's incredible... A new frontier of pain triggered by the sense of taste... what a shock! My God is too amazing... I'm going to be useless without My God..."
...This girl was dangerous. Truly, terrifyingly dangerous. So even the damage from an agonizingly bad taste was a win for her...
For a brief moment, I felt relieved that I had found a way to dispose of the demonic Baby Castellas... but I immediately checked myself. No, this was bad. I had a feeling that the more of these I gave her, the more her already abnormal level of obsession would reach a disastrous point.
"My God! T-To receive such a reward! I thank you from the bottom of my heart!"
"...Ah, yes."
"I intend to work for My God with all my soul from now on, so that I may receive this reward once more!"
...I thought she would pester me for more immediately, but it seemed it was such an incredible reward for Phoenix-san that receiving just one was enough to satisfy her for now.
Well, she was already talking about wanting another one the next time she achieved something... and was it just my imagination? Even though she was made of flames, I felt like her eyes were actually bloodshot.
"However, it would be wrong of me to simply keep receiving gifts... I know! I shall provide service to My God as a sign of my welcome!"
"Huh? No, wait, what?"
"It is fine! There is no problem! I can also take the form of a human! Please, help yourself to m—!"
Phoenix-san, who had started saying something terrifying as if a switch had been flipped, was "trampled" immediately afterward. It went without saying who had done the trampling.
"...That is quite enough of you. You have already received a reward so grand it would make anyone weep tears of blood, yet you dare to be even more greedy?"
Pandora-san, who was furious for a reason entirely different from before, spoke with a look of utter disgust as she pulled her foot back. Suddenly, chains appeared from the void and pierced Phoenix-san, wrapping around her until she became a sphere.
Pandora-san then kicked it with a form that could only be described as beautiful. The chain ball containing Phoenix-san vanished into the distant horizon.
"...Shall we head back then, Miyama-sama?"
"Eh? No, but just now..."
"There is no problem. She will break out of the seal in a few days."
"...I see."
...I had harbored suspicions that the Ten Demons were a collection of perverts, but it seemed I needed to revise that thought. Compared to Pandora-san and Phoenix-san, the other members were practically normal.
And the one remaining, Tiamat-san, was supposed to be just as bad as Phoenix-san... I felt nothing but anxiety.
Phoenix
A magical construct created by Alice using a special magic formula and materials based on the "Concept of Immortality." Alice created her because Kuromueina's subordinate, Zwei, was so excellent that she wanted a subordinate just like her.
No matter the method used to kill her, she will always revive because her very existence is immortal. Since her resurrection consumes no magic power, she can be considered the top among Count-classes in terms of tenacity... though on the flip side, she is extremely vulnerable to sealing.
She is a consummate extreme masochist—a pervert who considers death-inducing pain to be the ultimate pleasure. Because she usually dies at least once whenever she goes on a mission, things tend to take a long time, which is why her ranking is on the lower side.
She is cold-hearted to the core toward those who cannot kill her when she is defenseless and has dropped all her protections; she looks down on them as having no value. Therefore, the minimum requirement to even hold a conversation with Phoenix is to have the combat power necessary to kill her while she is defenseless.
After meeting Kaito, her values underwent a revolution, and she began to worship him as "My God," following him with all her might. She now listens to Kaito's words even more than those of her creator and King, Alice.
As a side note, after creating Phoenix, Alice-chan discarded all plans to turn "magical constructs she created herself" into her subordinates.