Note: I will accept all criticism and protests from you. It's not a problem as I consider it a lesson for myself 😊. Then each chapter has 2000 words, 3000 words, or even 6000 words, so chapter updates will take longer and be less frequent compared to typical fanfiction novels.
***
Life Forest...
"[A contract?...]"
The Goddess of Life slowly opened her eyes, the gentle expression that usually adorned her face now transformed into a worried frown. Shadows of concern darkened her beautiful face that radiated golden light.
Not without reason. Just now, she felt a strange resonance in her soul—her "Beloved Daughter" had formed a contract with a foreign human.
Her anxiety arose because she knew Mayuri's nature well. Her daughter was like an untouched pure crystal—so innocent and naive. What if a cunning man intended to deceive her, exploiting her beauty and power?
Yet gradually her worries subsided as she delved into the core of the contract. Mayuri wasn't disadvantaged at all. The contract was merely about borrowing power, and Mayuri had done it purely out of overwhelming curiosity...
Regarding her daughter's inquisitive nature, the Goddess of Life could only shake her head gently. Mayuri was like a baby just discovering the world—it was natural for her to be so curious about everything new she encountered.
'[I must teach her soon...]'
The Goddess of Life nodded to herself. She needed to teach Mayuri about common sense in this world. If not, her daughter might make strange contracts in the future without understanding their consequences.
However, something gave her pause.
'[A life and death contract...]'
Her brow furrowed deeply. Who would have thought that this seemingly simple contract was actually an extremely powerful life and death bond?
If the Goddess of Life hadn't known that Mayuri had the right to terminate the contract whenever she wished, the Goddess would have appeared before them without hesitation—intervening and severing that dangerous bond.
For now, she would watch from afar. If there were signs of ill intent from that human, or if the contract began to endanger Mayuri, she would intervene without mercy.
What also worried her was that the number of humans who could see Mayuri in that city was increasing. Her daughter's special existence must have attracted attention—including unwanted attention.
'[It would be far better if she returned to this place...]'
The Goddess sighed deeply while gazing at her peaceful world. The Life Forest was the safest place for her daughter, far from human greed.
***
"AH, AH, SO PURE! IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL! HOW CAN THERE BE SUCH A PURE CREATURE?!"
In a room filled with advanced equipment and giant monitors, a man screamed with hysterical tones, almost resembling madness. His eyes bulged in disbelief, while his thin fingers clenched tightly until his knuckles turned white.
On his wide monitor screen appeared the figure of a young girl with blonde hair and pink eyes that held a calm expression. Pure light seemed to flow from within her, making anyone who saw her become enchanted.
Henji, the renowned biologist, lost control at the sight. His entire life philosophy shaken in an instant.
Every creature must have sin—that was the principle he always held. Henji never denied that he himself was a sinful person. His sins had accumulated since he made many living beings the subjects of cruel experiments.
Once, Henji had noble goals. He wanted to help humanity and all races in the world with his brilliant research. But that goal soon faded after he was disappointed repeatedly.
None of them fulfilled his expectations. The research he worked on for three days and nights without sleep was misused instead. Since then, he realized one thing—humans could never escape from one of the major sins: Greed.
Even the Gods and Goddesses worshipped by humans had sin within them.
Therefore, he was determined to create a creature. A creature that was the embodiment of the sins of the entire world.
Henji would use that creature to destroy the world and let it start over from the beginning!
That way, the seven deadly sins would vanish from existence!
That's what he thought... but now...
"IMPOSSIBLE! THERE CAN'T BE SUCH A PURE CREATURE IN THIS WORLD!"
Henji couldn't believe it! He thought this world was already full of sin and darkness, but who would have thought that a truly sacred being—without even a speck of sin—actually existed!
A creature that didn't possess any sin whatsoever... was right before him!
"I CAN'T ACCEPT ALL THIS!!"
In a fit of rage, Henji slammed his fist into the monitor. Instantly, the monitor screen changed and displayed a giant black ball covering itself with a pair of dark wings...
Henji was stunned. Slowly, a crazy idea crossed his mind, and his laughter erupted—the laughter of a scientist who had lost his sanity.
"RIGHT! I WILL GIVE HER A TEST!"
He pressed a red button in the corner of his desk, and a new screen appeared before him. The display on that screen would be enough to terrify ordinary people—the figure of an inhuman monster with a suffocating aura of greed was clearly shown.
With a cruel smile, Henji whispered softly yet with full determination. "I don't believe you can remain that pure... when defiled by him..."
A creature equivalent to SSS Rank or even higher.
A creature that was the embodiment of the Sin of Greed.
Its name... Mammon.
***
"Let's leave this city."
That sentence suddenly broke the silence, making the girl—Mayuri—slowly turn toward the source of the voice. Shou stood before her, his body still wrapped in bandages from yesterday's battle. His eyes, which usually radiated confidence, were now filled with anxiety.
With her expression remaining calm, Mayuri asked simply, "Why?"
"About that..." Shou swallowed, doubt clearly visible on his face before he finally continued.
Since the battle against the Frost Assassin, Shou couldn't sleep soundly. The assassin's threatening words kept echoing in his mind, haunting every dream and daydream.
'The thing in the sky and that borrowed power... will eventually become mine.'
'NO...!'
Shou's face suddenly turned pale, and his body trembled violently. He shook his head in panic, trying to drive away the terrifying image that seemed to grip his thoughts...
The image of Mayuri lying helpless in the Frost Assassin's embrace... made Shou short of breath and his head throb.
He couldn't bear to imagine that happening!
Shou now felt deep regret for having used Mayuri's power without considering the consequences. He was like someone who had broken through a forbidden door without realizing the danger threatening behind it.
That's why Shou hoped Mayuri would be willing to leave this city with him. It didn't matter which city they went to, as long as it was far from Life Forest and all the lurking threats.
Although he realized he might be pursued by the Frost Assassin—considering that the killer came from Shadow Order, a Guild with an extensive information network—Shou was confident that when that time came, he would already have enough power to protect them both!
That conviction burned in his chest. However, all of that only applied if Mayuri agreed with his plan, and unfortunately...
"No. I will not go." That answer came without hesitation from the girl's lips.
"..." Shou froze in place. "W-what did you say?..." His voice trembled, disbelief clearly painted on his face.
The beautiful blonde girl looked at him with both calm yet firm pink eyes. "I'm staying here. I'm not going anywhere..."
"Why?! Why don't you want to leave?!" Shou shouted in a desperate tone, frustration filling every syllable.
What was most painful was that he himself didn't understand the reason behind Mayuri's refusal. Was it because Mayuri hated his presence? No, if that were the case, she certainly would never have made a contract with him in the first place.
Then why?!
If this continued, the Frost Assassin's threat would really become reality!
"Why?" Mayuri tilted her head with an elegant movement. "Isn't it natural that we don't want to leave our home?"
"Huh?" Shou stared at her in shock, both his eyes widening in disbelief. "You... you said this place is your home?..."
Mayuri nodded slowly. "I've lived in this city for a long time. Isn't it normal if I see it as home? Besides... you were also born in this city, so this is your home—"
"DON'T JOKE WITH ME!" Shou suddenly exploded in anger, his fist hitting the ground so hard that small cracks formed. "THIS TRASH CITY IS NOT MY HOME AT ALL! THE RESIDENTS IN THIS CITY BULLIED ME, MOCKED ME, AND INSULTED ME! DO YOU THINK I'M STUPID ENOUGH TO CONSIDER THIS DAMNED PLACE MY HOME?!"
"..." Mayuri blinked as if surprised by that explosive reaction, but quickly returned to her calm expression. "Is that so? I understand. I apologize. I didn't consider your feelings."
Seeing Mayuri's calm expression, Shou immediately felt guilty for having yelled at her. After all, this girl knew nothing about his dark past, about the suffering he had endured for years.
But his determination didn't waver.
"Let's... leave this city together," Shou pleaded with a trembling voice. He truly hoped Mayuri would be willing to come with him, if only just this once.
He couldn't imagine—no, he didn't even want to imagine—Mayuri disappearing from his life. That image alone made him feel suffocated, as if thousands of needles were piercing his heart.
Unfortunately, Mayuri remained firm in her decision. "I will not leave."
That second rejection was like ice water drenching Shou's entire body. Cold, freezing. He gritted his teeth hard, trying to hold back the emotions that were surging.
"...You're afraid," Mayuri suddenly said, looking directly into Shou's eyes as if she could read his soul. "You're afraid not because you're being pursued by Shadow Order, but because of something else..."
Shou flinched. This girl was right. His greatest fear wasn't Shadow Order, but losing Mayuri from his sight.
"I know you're worried about me. I can understand your feelings." Mayuri's voice was so gentle.
"Understand?" Shou's tone turned cynical. "Do you, a Spirit, really understand human feelings?"
Shou looked at Mayuri coldly, which she returned with unshakable calmness.
"I under—"
"STOP TRYING TO FOOL ME, YOU WENCH! YOU'RE JUST A SPIRIT BORN WITHOUT LOVE FROM ANYONE! YOU'RE JUST A GIRL LONGING FOR SOMEONE'S LOVE!!"
"..." Mayuri's eyes widened slightly hearing those harsh words, for a split second there was a flash of unreadable emotion in them.
Guilt immediately hit Shou, but his emotions had become too inflamed to be extinguished.
"Look..." Shou took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "In the end, no matter how strong you are, you're still a Spirit who can't understand the feelings of living beings. Even with your Divine Protection, it's impossible for you to understand feelings of love, jealousy, and other emotions."
"...You're right." Mayuri answered calmly. There was no anger or offense in her voice, as if realizing that negative emotions wouldn't help this situation. "But let me tell you something. I am indeed a Spirit, you're not wrong about that, but... I also have feelings like other humans."
"DO YOU THINK I WOULD BELIEVE—"
"You will believe because..." Mayuri looked at Shou with a strange intensity in her eyes. "I am a Spirit born from the feelings of six other Spirits, and I inherited part of their power. But... what prevents me from also inheriting their feelings?"
"..." Shou was stunned, his words caught in his throat. "You... you..." He wanted to argue but couldn't find the right argument. Finally, he could only bow his head with his fists tightly clenched.
That statement was true. Takamiya Mayuri was born from the feelings of six Spirits—wasn't it natural if she also inherited their emotions?
However, Shou was still stubborn. "I-if you really have feelings, then... why aren't you afraid?!"
Shouldn't the girl be afraid knowing her life would be targeted by dangerous people, used as material for cruel experiments? Yet Mayuri remained calm, as if that threat meant nothing to her!
Hearing that question, Mayuri only tilted her head.
"Isn't that obvious?" Her voice suddenly turned soft, almost like a whisper. "That may sound frightening to some people, but... I think it's even more frightening when you're separated from someone you love dearly."
Thump!
'Huh?' Shou's eyes widened. Suddenly, as if there was an invisible connection, he could feel the flow of feelings from Mayuri—a sensation both familiar yet foreign.
The Divine Protection of Life Goddess seemed to activate by itself, allowing him to feel the emotions flowing from the girl before him.
This was a feeling of love...
THUMP! THUMP!
And this feeling of love wasn't something ordinary. So immense, so profound! Far beyond anything Shou had ever felt before!
With difficulty, he looked at Mayuri with disbelieving eyes. This girl was completely different from what he had imagined all along...
'She's like an ordinary girl—'
Shou's breath seemed choked. His body froze, both his eyes widening in tremendous shock.
'She... is smiling?'
The girl he thought would never smile even if the world ended... now had a smile on her face!
And it wasn't an ordinary smile. That smile was very gentle, filled with affection and longing that seemed endless. Like a complex tapestry of emotions that had formed long ago.
That sight actually made Shou uneasy, as if something wasn't right.
"You..." Shou was about to speak hesitantly.
"Is there anything else you want to say?" Mayuri looked at him with her captivating pink eyes, her smile slowly disappearing back to a neutral expression.
"No... Nothing. Just forget it." Shou gave up. "If you really don't want to leave this city... I won't force you anymore," he said while turning his face away.
He didn't dare maintain eye contact, afraid his emotions would explode again and worsen the situation.
"I... will return. For the problem I've caused, I'll resolve it later." Shou hurried away with heavy steps.
"...Be careful."
Shou's steps halted briefly hearing that familiar phrase, before he continued his journey more quickly, as if running away from something he couldn't face.
Meanwhile, Mayuri's—or Lux (Mayuri)'s—expression returned to its perfect calmness. She closed her eyes peacefully.
[Ding! Making the Son of Destiny lose control of his emotions, received 20,000,000 Achievement Points!]
[Ding! Progress of Template Takamiya Mayuri increased by 20%!]
'Quite a substantial reward,' thought Lux (Mayuri). 'But seeing how much the Son of Destiny cares about Mayuri... is quite surprising.'
Lux (Mayuri) narrowed her eyes calculatingly. With the Divine Protection of Life Goddess she possessed, she could clearly feel the fluctuations in Shou's emotions every time they met.
If this continued, without a doubt...
'...He will develop 'special feelings' for Takamiya Mayuri.'
What kind of feelings were they? Lux (Mayuri) didn't want to think about it too much. As long as it benefited her plan, that was enough.
The real reason she rejected Shou's offer was clear. Based on story patterns in many novels, Shou would surely grow very powerful after leaving his hometown.
And if Lux (Mayuri)'s goal was to eliminate him, she couldn't possibly let the young man develop into a greater threat.
Only a fool would follow the wishes of the Son of Destiny, which were clearly arranged by fate.
"Ah..."
Lux (Mayuri) slowly opened her eyes, a strange flash crossing her gleaming pupils. She calmly murmured, "So... 'he' has begun to move, has he?"
Of course her 'target' wouldn't remain silent after seeing the manifestation of her Angel in the sky...
All roles were now ready to appear on the stage of destiny.
Lux (Mayuri) landed gracefully, then remembered another figure whose existence remained mysterious. She turned with an elegant movement, and with a calm expression asked the emptiness before her:
"... Is there something I can help you with?"
"You are indeed extraordinary. You've managed to keep me continuously surprised."
The figure of a handsome young man with blonde hair stepped out from the shadows of the trees. His red eyes narrowed sharply, watching every movement of Lux (Mayuri) with high vigilance.
With his appearance, the temperature around suddenly increased drastically, the air seemingly vibrating from the heat emanating from his body.
"You can see me," said Lux (Mayuri) without showing even the slightest surprise.
"Yes, I can." Vian nodded calmly. "Unfortunately, I have to deal with you alone because other S-Rank Hunters cannot see you. Besides, I don't want to be considered crazy when explaining this situation to them."
"Deal with me? You mean..."
"I will kill you," Vian explained in an ice-cold tone. "If I eliminate you, then that mysterious black ball in the sky will disappear, won't it?"
"..."
"Do you want to kill me too?"
Suddenly, a foreign voice was heard in Lux (Mayuri)'s mind. Whispers from one of the Spirits that were part of her existence invaded her thoughts, making her hold her throbbing head in pain.
She looked at Vian with a momentarily blurred gaze, before whispering softly: "In that case... you can try..."
Instantly, Vian's figure vanished from where he stood. In the blink of an eye, he appeared right beside Lux (Mayuri), his fist already enveloped in golden flames that blazed fiercely.
"Then, I won't hold back," Vian said coldly.
KABOOOOOOMMM...!!!
The next second, golden flames roared ferociously and created a powerful explosion wave that split the air, hurling dust and rocks in all directions. The ground shook violently, and a blinding light illuminated the area like a second sun suddenly appearing on earth.