"Ummmm…."
Ary responded as he felt coolness around himself.
He slowly opened his eyes and found himself back in the Heavenly Realm of Endless Potentials.
"Hmm? Did I get teleported back?"
He said to himself.
"Yes,"
The book of Almita, that was flying around him, confirmed, adding:
"Okay, but what was the first operation? At least tell me about it."
Ary requested.
"Oh, it looks like you're back."
"...?"
Ary shifted his gaze to the left as he heard a familiar voice.
While coming out from the silhouette, he noticed Galiriothoxmus coming toward him.
"Oh, Mr. Deity."
Ary called out.
"Erm…Ary. Just call me Galiriothoxmus. Mr. Deity feels so awkward."
While scratching his oval-shaped head with his left hand, Galiriothoxmus requested.
"Ah…well, Galirio then. Frankly, Galiriothoxmus is too long to enunciate."
Sigh!
"Fine, whatever."
Galiriothoxmus sighed then his attention shifted to Erica, on Ary's hand, he stepped forward, commenting,
"Glad to see that you have finally found a partner."
"Hmm? Is that…"
Suddenly, his attention shifted to the marks on Ary's right palm and Erica's chest.
"Great. You guys even manage to awaken the warrior mark. It's truly outstanding."
"Warrior mark? Wait, is that something that represents that we're a warrior race?"
Ary questioned.
"Exactly."
While clapping his hands, Galiriothoxmus laughed.
"Also,"
Then, his face shifted at unconscious Erica, he asked,
"Who is she? Your friend?"
"Ah, she's my bestie, Erica."
Ary smiled at Erica's sleepy face.
"Oh…"
Galiriothoxmus let out an "Oh," pondering,
'Bestie…? Your smile clearly hinted that she's your girlfriend.'
"My my, he looks cuter from this close."
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, a soft voice came from the right side, Ary shifted his gaze, and abruptly, his eyes dilated on their own.
He noticed Lady Selene walking toward him while showing a playful smile at Ary.
Her beauty almost charmed Ary as he pondered,
'This beauty…who is she?'
Soon enough, Lady Selene arrived in front of Ary and while gently placing her palms on Ary's cheeks, she said,
"So, you're Ary Inochi, right?"
"Y-Yes,"
Ary replied while trying to overcome his nervousness.
After seeing his apprehension, Lady Selene giggled,
"Oh, dear. You don't need to be nervous around me. After all,"
Then, she leaned closer to his face, adding:
"We're families now."
"Huh?"
Ary reacted as if he didn't understand why Lady Selene said this.
"F-Family…?"
He repeated.
"Yes,"
Lady Selene nodded, saying,
"Since you're a warrior now. We're considered as family."
Then, her gaze shifted to Erica, she smiled, asking,
"And who is she? Your girlfriend?"
"Huh? Ah, N-No, she's my best friend, not my girlfriend…"
Ary replied while saying inwardly,
'...yet.'
"I see."
Lady Selene licked her lips, and paced a little backward, introducing,
"By the way, I'm Selene, the deity of the Heavenly Moon Realm."
"Selene? Oh, you are the moon goddess, aren't you?"
Ary's eyes lits up in curiosity.
"You've got it right."
Lady Selene nodded then, showed her right index finger at the colossal moon, adding:
"And there's my realm, the Heavenly Moon Realm. How about we go there?"
Cough!
Suddenly, Galiriothoxmus interrupted her words while coughing, and said,
"Maybe later, Lady Selene. But first,"
Then, his face shifted at Ary, he commented,
"Since you have already gained the equipment you desired, it's time for the first operation. And your first operation would be to defeat the weakest demon of the demon realm."
"Oh, weakest, you say?"
Ary repeated.
"Yes,"
Galiriothoxmus nodded, saying,
"It'll be the weakest demon lord with an SS rank."
"Eh?"
Ary was left dumbfounded after hearing this.
"Are you mocking me?! How could an 'SS' be the weakest?"
Ary raved while glaring at Galiriothoxmus.
"Don't get me wrong, the ranking system in the heavenly realms are different. I'll give a proper explanation for it later. But first,"
Galiriothoxmus showed his left hand to Ary, adding:
"Are you ready for your first operation?"
Sigh!
"Yes, I'm."
Ary nodded with a sigh and while gently resting Erica on the water, he stood up.
"Okay, I hope you'll be able to defeat him. Don't forget, when you kill a demon lord, his body vanishes leaving a crystal behind. Try to bring that crystal, it'll help in restoring the energies of the universe that they had absorbed."
Then, some golden light surrounded Ary and his body started vanishing,
"Now, I'm teleporting you to the realm of the weakest demon lord. Ary, the book of Almita is with you. Do your best!"
Galiriothoxmus praised.
"Well, I'll try my best."
Ary knew that book of Almita would support him at any cost so he didn't worry much.
"Bye-bye, cutie. Do your best~"
In a smoky voice, Lady Selene smiled at Ary.
"Thanks, Lady Selene."
"Also, please take care of her."
Ary requested and in a split second, he vanished and teleported away to the realm of the weakest Demon Lord.
"What do you think, Galiriothoxmus?"
Lady Selene asked as she paced toward him and while looking at her mesmerising moon, she added:
"Are you sure that he'll succeed?"
"Hmmm…I have faith in him."
In a slightly worried voice, Galiriothoxmus replied, then lowered his face, saying,
"After all, according to what Father informed me...he is someone who can change history. I believe that he will defeat this demon lord for sure."
"But you aren't confident either, right?"
With a wry smile, Lady Selene hinted.
Sigh!
Galiriothoxmus sighed and glanced at unconscious Erica, adding:
"I…I'm confident….if he really cares for this girl then he'll find his way back for sure."
Then, he clenched his fists, mumbling,
"Ary…please be safe. I don't want any more sacrifices now…"
"Ummmm…"
"Hmm?"
Both Galiriothoxmus and Lady Selene reacted as their gazes shifted to the right, at Erica. She seemed to have started gaining consciousness.
"Ary…"
She called out as she gradually opened her eyes.
"Oh? It looks like you're awake, Miss."
Galiriothoxmus called out as he stepped forward toward her.
"Hmm? Who?"
Erica called out as she shifted her gaze toward her right.
Her vision was blurred so she rubbed her eyes and focused her gaze again.
"Hmm?!"
She was left terrified as she noticed Galiriothoxmus's appearance.
"AAAAH!!! A Monster!!!"
She dragged herself backward in fear since she acknowledged Galiriothoxmus as a monster.
"Erm…I'm a deity, Miss, not a monster."
In awkwardness, Galiriothoxmus replied.
"Huh? Where am I? Where's Ary?"
Erica was baffled, she didn't understand what was happening around her. She only knew about the Warrior race but she didn't know about deities since Ary only explained the crucial things.
"Hah…she looks petrified now."
With a sigh, Galiriothoxmus mumbled as she turned around and while looking at Lady Selene, he requested.
"Lady Selene, please help me out."
Lady Selene giggled and stepped forward, greeting,
"Hey, dear."
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Erica calmed down as she noticed an incredibly beautiful lady like Lady Selene.
"You're…."
She called out while gazing at her.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Selene, the deity of Heavenly Moon Realm."
"Selene…Lady Selene."
Erica called out.
"Yes,"
Lady Selene nodded then, she patted Erica's head, asking,
"And what's your name, dear?"
"E-Erica Kisai."
Erica introduced herself in a slightly apprehensive voice.
"Erica, huh? That's a good name."
Lady Selene giggled.
"Ummm..."
Erica stammered as she looked around, asking,
"Where am I? And where's Ary?"
After heeding Erica's query, a mischievous smile shaped Lady Selene's face, she glanced back at Galiriothoxmus, claiming,
"It seems like you have to go all over again with the explanation part."
And after hearing Lady Selene's testimony, Galiriothoxmus placed his right palm over his oval face and sighed, saying,
"Hah...it is a pain somehow, but well, let's begin again."