With the battle over, I let out a long sigh and plopped onto the ground, my legs giving out beneath me. I glanced at the girl sitting a few paces away, still fidgeting with the hem of my oversized jacket.
The jacket covered her upper body adequately, but it barely reached past her knees. She kept tugging at it like she could magically will it to grow longer. Her movements were slow and shaky—she didn't even have enough mana to conjure a magical suit for herself. Absolutely hopeless.
"Utterly hopeless," I muttered, resting my chin on my hand. She really had no survival instincts, did she?
"So," I began, eyeing her curiously. "Got a name, or should I just call you 'freeloader'?"
The girl huffed, puffing her cheeks like an annoyed squirrel. "Hmph!" She turned away, crossing her arms.
I raised an eyebrow. "Oh, come on. Don't sulk. Spill it."
After a dramatic pause, she finally relented, her voice loud and proud. "The name's Leviathan! The demon who ruled over Envy!"
I blinked, staring at her blankly for a solid few seconds.
"...Seriously?" I said finally, my tone flat.
"Nyahahaha!" She laughed, throwing her head back with the kind of theatrical glee that made her proclamation even less believable. "That's right! I am Leviathan! A great demon! The mighty ruler of Envy!"
I tilted my head, pretending to consider her words. Then I snorted, thoroughly unimpressed. "Yeah, no. Not buying it."
She froze mid-laugh, her mouth slightly open. "H-huh?"
"You're not selling it," I said, leaning back on my hands. "The whole 'mighty demon' act? Needs work."
Her shoulders slumped, and her defiance melted away. She lowered her gaze, her lips trembling as tears pooled in the corners of her wide amethyst eyes. She looked like a child who'd just been scolded, and I immediately felt a twinge of guilt.
"Uh, anyway," I said, awkwardly clearing my throat. "Where are we, exactly? Like, specifically? I know this is inside the gate, but what's this place called?"
She perked up slightly, her expression shifting to one of genuine surprise. "You don't know?"
Her face screamed, 'Seriously? You don't know?' and I swear it annoyed me just a little.
"I wouldn't be asking if I did," I said dryly.
"Ah, that makes sense." She grinned, flipping her mood again.
"Out with it," I pressed, my patience wearing thin.
"Fufufu." She leaned forward, her voice dripping with mock grandeur. "This is the Wise King's Gate."
I blinked at her, unimpressed. "Yeah, I know that. Try again."
She pouted, then shifted gears. "Fine. This is the demon realm, and more specifically—my domain!" She puffed out her chest proudly. "I am the most powerful being here!"
Her triumphant tone lasted all of three seconds before she muttered, "Though, uh… I'm also the only one here."
I raised an eyebrow. "That's... just sad."
She ignored me, continuing brightly. "By the way, where's your domain? I didn't expect a human to end up in a place like this! I was so surprised!"
"Domain?" I tilted my head. "What are you talking about?"
"You don't have one?" Her voice rose in genuine shock. "But you're so strong! I thought for sure you ruled over some grand territory!"
"Not really my thing," I said, shrugging. "I'm just here looking for someone."
Her eyes sparkled with sudden realization. "Oh! The girl you mentioned earlier!"
"That's right," I said, leaning forward. "Do you know where she is?"
"I don't."
My jaw dropped. "Then why act like you do?!"
She giggled sheepishly. "Ehehe. My bad."
Before I could press further, her expression turned serious. "Anyway, I've decided something!"
I blinked. "What now?"
"I'm going to follow you!" she declared, her voice filled with determination. "You're so strong! Big brother!"
I froze. My heart skipped a beat, then another. I felt this inexplicable warmth spread through my chest.
"Hey. Say that again," I said, leaping to my feet and grabbing her hands.
"H-huh?" she stammered, thoroughly confused.
"Call me big brother again!" My eyes lit up, practically sparkling.
"Um... Big brother?"
"Guh!"
"Big bro?"
"Urk!"
"Brother dearest?"
"Kuh!"
I staggered back, clutching my chest. "Her little sister potential is... overwhelming!"
She tilted her head, staring at me like I'd lost my mind.
But before I could revel in my newfound title, the space around us began to shift. Colors swirled and twisted, forming a vortex that pulsed with rainbow light.
"M-my domain!" Leviathan cried, her voice tinged with panic.
I straightened, scanning our surroundings. The distortion was slow but unmistakable, like the world itself was folding in on us.
When the vortex finally stabilized, my eyes widened at the sight before me.
Floating in the air was an angelic figure with six pairs of golden wings, its entire form radiating blinding light. In one hand, it held a sword; in the other, a shield. Below it lay a mountain of demon corpses, their twisted bodies piled high in a grim testament to its power.
But what truly caught my attention was the woman at the center of the angel's chest. Clad in glowing armor, her determined expression burned into my memory.
"Martha!" I called out, my voice echoing through the warped space.
She didn't respond, her gaze fixed ahead as if she hadn't even heard me.
"For the record, it's not like I forgot about you over Leviathan or anything!" I added hastily, but my words went unanswered.