Chapter 31 - New Name

What made this part of Hell wicked wasn't it having sex workers? In fact, it was the exact opposite.

Because there were no sex workers present, every kind of sex was a pursuit of love and happiness.

But it was too much.

I couldn't take the gaslighting. The blame that I was only hating the pleasures because I was a child.

A man who didn't know what he wanted.

I'd met sex workers before. They were quite the cute and respectful people. Quite sensible.

They laid down laws and limits, making sure the entire interaction was a transaction of pleasures.

Not a one-sided seduction.

Or what construed as rape.

After having my semen squeezed and wrung out of me like my manhood were cow udders, I finally had snapped. The rage built up suddenly exploded into magical energy, but it'd only last for a while.

What could I do in that moment?

After they wrung out enough, I was sent back to Edith's room to rest for just a short while.

By then, my mind had already fatigued.

My rage could barely keep me from falling apart right now. I didn't have time to do anything now.

To get a grasp on where I was, my body flopped over to the nearby window to look outside.

The red sky had snowflake-shaped sky blue lines drawn on it. Black clouds that held only impurity.

Down below, there were commoners and carriages.

It was a world where technology had advanced only to make automatic doors and neon lights.

But still, as if holding onto history, there were those who would use candles for lighting up their place.

It was seriously a mess.

The kind of world and society that could only exist thanks to not having to worry about food shortage.

It brought out the evil in people.

Various thoughts went through my mind as I tried to come up with an escape plan. A way to get out.

The only solution I could think of was 'Angels'.

If Demons did exist, then did Angels too?

But when I remembered how I was planning on setting them in my world building notes, I cried.

I set them to be selfish in nature.

If there was no God willing to save me in this damn world, then it was because I'd forsaken myself.

What could I do?

I didn't know how to pray to higher beings. I knew nothing about how to leave my fate in 'their' hands.

Prayers were beyond me.

I could only live in this cesspool of a reality regardless of how humiliating it was to live.

Edith's touch scarred my heart, and the wound would fester within forever. I hate her so much…

…but what could I do?

I decided these rules, but despite being the oh-so-great author, I was no more than a 'character' now.

'Skill Acquisition' had been useless this whole time.

Even if I killed someone, the underdeveloped Skill gained wouldn't be enough to reverse everything.

The power of that Archdemon was strong. I knew her abilities, but she's way to above my level.

And immortal.

There was no time to grow my power. No time to formulate and remember a plan after this.

They rarely gave me a moment of peace, and even at this moment, my body was suffering withdrawal.

Edith's body had become a drug to me.

Pleasure that went beyond the senses and touched my very soul. Melting me into jelly in her arms.

Even if it wasn't her, I couldn't forget this addiction.

My high and healthy libido became the chains keeping me locked here. Even if my heart dreamed.

Imagining a day I'd be free from this place.

Time passed… and my anxiety grew from knowing that no matter where I ran, this was Asmo's turf.

From what I'd heard, the gate to Earth was cut off.

Even if it wasn't, that place had no future.

At least, there was no longer one there for me. I'd never be able to disconnect myself from this life.

The life of a sexual relief tool for a Succubus.

My manhood was getting harder after I'd rested and got back my health. Ready for more rounds.

But it wasn't a gun.

My head started to hurt from being pulled back and forth by my these two conflicting desires.

As I was writhing, I noticed things changing.

Colour started to seep from the world.

The sound of hoofs on the concrete pavement, the moans and screams of Demons taming their partners, and the sound of the wind whistling through the demonic fruit trees… All of it halted.

In this dull world of vast greyness, two figures made themselves known. Introducing themselves.

One crawled from below.

The other descended from above.

A halo and twin horns. Trident and pitch fork. Clear white and pitch black. The two beings were separate in nature and made their innate contrast apparent. However, they had one commonality.

Both of them had no faces to look at me with.

I was floored by this.

My appearance… it was too unsightly to show strangers. My penis was out in the open and my knees were forcefully brought up by that body restraint. It put me in a kneeling position.

My rear would stick out and my head world wall every time I tried to straighten my back properly.

"Urgh…" Like it did right now after I tried to do just that. Falling with my face planting into the bed.

My ass stuck in the air humiliatingly.

Finally, the two intruders spoke in unison:

"We're fucked..."

"Oh Gaia…"

Their voices filled with so much grief that it felt like they'd cry if they had eyes. It felt really pathetic.

Why were divine beings like them doing here?

Even at this unexpected situation, I had the mindset of someone who never really had a good sense of reality in the first place. After having my dignity robbed, there wasn't much to disbelieve.

Anything could happen in this world that followed my rules, but still had laws beyond what I knew.

I quickly sorted through all possible identities.

Coming to only one conclusion:

"Evil God and Holy God…" When I said those words out loud, they started to look at me differently.

"Good…"

"Will this really work?" The white faceless figure still had doubt while looking at the horned figure.

However, the Evil God didn't come here to amuse.

They completely disregarded me. Only judging me from my intellect and appearance at this point.

Still, I needed to do what I could to gain their trust.

"You don't have to." Four words replied to me in my head outside of the knowledge of these beings.

A third divine entity.

It didn't show itself immediately, and I had no way of knowing what plans these entities had for me.

Unlike them, who phased through everything around them. There was one being that opened a door to come here instead. A being different from these two, as she had a face and identity.

When the door has opened, a pair of high heels clearly made a sound. A woman walked in.

She was wearing an eastern inspired dress. The design was something definitely made by man.

Unlike the conceptual clothes those 'Gods' wore.

"Shut it you two. Who are you to judge my Apostle like this?" The platinum haired woman spoke.

She called me her 'apostle'. Acting like I was already a part of her entourage without speaking.

But unlike those guys, I could sense that this was her way of protecting me. She looked me dead on.

Not shying away from looking at my appearance.

My bald, unsightly self that no longer had his luscious hair or freedom to even move around.

With just a wave of her hand, the restraints on me had vanished. Allowing me to finally sit up straight.

Even though it was late, I covered my crotch with my hands and tried to control my emotions.

Forcing myself into a state of calmness.

Of course, this was only an act.

The world around me started to collapse the moment she intervened. Making it crack apart.

When I opened my eyes, my appearance was back to the way it looked before I'd entered Hell.

However, my head was still shaved up like before.

The only difference was that I had clothes on now compared to the time. Looking more appropriate.

"…I'd like an explanation, please." Maybe it was the fatigue, but I didn't want a battle of words now.

The platinum haired woman who looked like a modern goddess smiled at me. She nodded.

"Alright, let me give you a rundown on it."

…..

….

..

.

Long ago, around a year before Pal and George arrived at this world, the Gods had a meeting.

Due to an unfortunate series of events, the rulers of Heaven and Hell were no longer the same.

Though those who had been born Calamities in the Second Cycles were called Demon Lords and Archdemons, they were not true harbingers sent by the Evil God. Thus, their faith was false.

After the real 'Demon King' had been slain by the combined might of the 12 Archdemons, they split his lands and divided the Sin Demons. They took on aspects of 'Evil', but they were not real kings.

For a long while, the Evil God could only watch as his realm was being ruled by outside influences.

Like viruses that wouldn't banish from his body.

The same could be said for the Holy God, who could not spread influence using impure vessels.

They had their own problems.

And the biggest pain in their ass was the creator.

It wasn't certain whether this person who created this world was Pal and George or not at this point.

The only real embarrassment they could pin on their creator anyway… was forgetting they exist!

Pal and George referenced the existence of the Holy God and Evil God, but did nothing with it.

Those two were background extras.

They never tangibly affected the plot in any way.

Now, thanks to him becoming the 'apostle' to an influential figure amongst Gods… it happened.

The conceptual deities were free.

And with it became clear that they needed a group of individuals who could take over the two worlds.

One just so happened to be him.

…..

….

..

.

When I heard these circumstances, I realised that this just became a story much bigger than myself.

And by following this flow, I can benefit myself.

"An apostle…" I murmured, and tried to get up to walk towards the platinum haired woman myself.

The two Gods didn't stop me from walking, and the woman even welcomed my arrival as I wobbled.

My sense of balance broken.

It had been a few days since I was able to stand without swinging my hips. Now my waist felt weird.

Being clothed felt weird.

Standing itself without fucking felt real weird.

However, regardless of how I felt, this was simply how the world worked. I went down to reality.

Showing respect towards my saviour.

Others wanted to seem strong regardless of the circumstances. They thought this was weakness.

And a part of me believed that too.

"…You're different from what I thought you'd be like." The goddess before him looked at me.

I already got on my knees and prostrated myself towards her. Snowing my feelings towards her.

Regardless of her intent, she was my saviour.

I'd never forget this kindness.

"Do you have any questions?" Her tone became lighter, and the Gods behind me stayed silent.

I grasped this opportunity.

"I'd like to know my saviour's name." This was a simple question, but it looked difficult somehow.

She rubbed her cheek softly.

Puckering her red lipstick and thinking about what to say. Almost as if she'd forgotten who she was.

"I am the Perfect Dragon… but that was my former title. Now, I am called 'Aphrodite'." It was a very familiar Goddess that had appeared in the form of mythical items. Tools that held a god's strength.

I remembered creating certain Divine Weapons that acted as conduits to display might of Gods.

It was similar to how the Archdemons derived powers from the mythical demons of their names.

Asmodeus was known as a devil in my an world and had powers related to what they stood for.

Regardless of their tales were true or not.

For someone who ascended Godhood, calling themselves a mythical God's name gave power.

But for her to choose Aphrodite meant she had an attachment for that myth… or had chaotic plans.

Aphrodite was known for many things. Most of them weren't good, and others just mischievous.

That's depending on who you were asking.

But did such a thing matter to me?

"I am at your command. Please give me hope and a path for salvation." I asked for at least that much.

I'd lick her feet at this point to get on her good side. Fearing her hatred could simply destroy me.

"Do you have a name?" She asked me politely.

It wasn't something she needed to do at her current stature, but I obliged to her whims.

Speaking a little more formally.

"I lost mine from pain." The terror still haunted me.

"That won't do anymore. If you lose your name at this point, then your mind and soul could die." She spoke something I couldn't quite understand. Her eyes narrowed while thinking about what I said.

"It's just a name." I brushed it aside.

This was simply me returning to my origins. It was simply reality that I didn't have a real name.

My mother never gave me one in the first place.

Me and George made our names up ourselves.

However, Aphrodite showed why she named herself after the Goddess of Love. Smiling firmly.

"I shall bestow you a name to use. Be careful. This name currently has no owner, but the previous owner may try to take it back from you." Aphrodite looked at me with warmth before saying the name:

"Now, you shall be called Adam Graham. I bestow you rights to this name." Her words became law.

[You have been named. Reconstructing soul…]

[Name: 'Adam Graham' is added to your status.]

[Your hidden characteristics are altered.]

['Skill Acquisition' is taking effect.]

Many messages popped in front of my face at that moment. For once, I had a name of my own.

It wasn't something I used simply to differentiate myself. This name felt weighty and important.

The name was what Aphrodite would use to call me. Something that made me feel like… a son.

Tears started welling in my eyes unconsciously.

"E-eh? What's wrong? You hurt?" Aphrodite bolted in front of me and out her hands on my face.

Wiping away my tears.

Her acknowledgement that I was indeed a human being couldn't have came at a better time.

She captured my heart.

My heart thumped for the first time for a woman I barely knew. Everything about her was lovable.

From the way she worried about me, and to the way she made me feel human once again.

I couldn't help what I'd say to her next:

"Please go out with me. I fucking love you." The words exploded out of me as I kept a calm face.

The result was turning the Goddess bright red.