Not even waiting for me to respond, Fia had already taken my hand. In an instant, we were back on the surface. "…What was that?" Those were the first words out of my mouth, my mind swirling with questions and confusion.
But as I looked around, everything felt eerily calm—too calm. There was no trace of fear or terror anymore. No monsters or mutants in sight. It seemed they had either been eliminated or fled.
When I thought back to the mutant we had encountered earlier, it struck me how massive and muscular it had been—three times taller than me, perhaps. Its body resembled a gorilla, but with large goat-like horns. Its palms were as big as my entire body.
Oh man, I couldn't even imagine what would have happened if that thing had landed a hit on me. I'd probably be nothing more than mush by now.
"…Then what should we do next, Miss Fia?" I turned to her, seeking guidance.
Once again, she gazed at me closely, her lips curled into a soft smile. After a moment, she finally spoke. "Do you want to start our adventure now or tomorrow?"
I hesitated before responding with a question of my own. "What do you mean? If we can, we should go now."
Without another word, she grabbed my hand and instructed me to keep staring into her eyes.
Suddenly, she announced that we had arrived. Confused, I asked where exactly we were.
She gave me a cute smile and pointed ahead. "…Look. This is where our journey begins." Her eyes followed the direction of her finger, and so did mine.
Far ahead, all I could see was a dense forest. "…A forest?" I muttered under my breath.
She nodded in response but offered no further explanation. Instead, she pulled me forward, leading us into the forest.
Inside, everything appeared normal. The cool breeze carried whispers through the trees, accompanied by the melodious chirping of birds. It was peaceful, almost serene. For a moment, I doubted this place could truly be a Demon's lair.
When I voiced my thoughts to Fia, she simply advised me to stay cautious.
"…We're still far from the lairs," she said calmly. When I pressed her about how far, she held up two fingers and smiled.
I stopped walking and repeated her answer. "…Two days still?" She nodded, confirming my guess.
"…Then why don't you use something like before—teleportation, maybe?" I suggested.
She shook her head. "…That teleportation can't be used carelessly. Besides, we need to approach cautiously. What if we arrive only to find ourselves surrounded by Demons? And besides, it wasn't me who cast that skill—it was my sister, Remia, my Guardian Angel."
"Hmm… Don't tell me, you're afraid of sleeping in the forest?" I teased.
She pouted, crossing her arms. "Stop teasing me, Lucferre."
Her reaction made me chuckle. "S-stop calling me 'Miss.' Just call me Fia—or honey. Because from today onward, you are my lover—my husband. No refusal, no rejection."
Her declaration left me stunned. "What...?" I couldn't fathom why someone as beautiful and mysterious as her would choose to be with me.
When I asked her why, she simply replied, "Because you're special." Then, with a playful grin, she added, "Just stay faithful to me—and to my sisters, and one other special person."
Her words sounded strange, yet strangely comforting. They calmed my racing mind and eased my doubts.
My lips moved almost involuntarily. "…Have we met before?"
She nodded silently, leaving her answer ambiguous.
As we continued walking along the stone path, the sky began to darken. My stomach growled loudly, reminding me of my hunger.
Fia pointed ahead to a green plain area. It was spacious enough for camping—one tent and a small campfire would fit comfortably. "…Let's make that our resting spot," she suggested. Seeing no better alternative, I agreed.
Upon arriving, I asked her, "What about the tent? I didn't bring a lighter to start a fire."
She glanced beside me, and to my surprise, a single tent and a small campfire were already set up. Even bowls of soup were prepared.
"This must be your Guardian Angel's work," I mused aloud.
She nodded. "Yes, Remia takes care of these things. She ensures we have shelter and food."
Though the soup was labeled as vegetable soup, it tasted surprisingly meaty. I sat by the campfire, savoring the warmth of the broth while enjoying the peaceful ambiance.
The conversation eventually turned serious.
"…Fia," I began, "your Guardian Angel must know my question. Why haven't the Gods intervened to eliminate these Demons? Why let us humans—living creatures—fall into despair and sadness? An everlasting cycle of fear and terror."
"I believe that soon, this planet will meet its end."
Fia stood and moved closer, sitting beside me. She placed her bowl of soup aside and gently took my hands in hers, rubbing them softly. Her touch was warm and soothing, like silk against my skin.
"You're wrong," she whispered, her gaze locked onto mine.
"Gods haven't closed their eyes, especially not for something as important as this. They've prepared everything. They've chosen someone from nothing to become a hero. Someone worthy and deserving of recognition. Someone capable of bringing peace—a life where peace isn't just a fairytale."
I pointed to myself hesitantly. "…Me?"
She nodded, her expression calm and sincere. "Yes, my love."
Her words shocked me, though part of me wondered if she was teasing. "…Me? Are you sure?"
She leaned closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "Maybe you don't believe me now. Maybe you think I'm crazy or out of my mind, but what I say is true. I can't tell you everything right now, but I can give you a clue. This isn't the first time you've reincarnated. You've been reborn on many planets, including this one. As for how and why—I can't answer that yet."
"As time passes, you'll learn what you need to know."
Her explanation left me speechless. Though I believed in reincarnation, hearing her confirm it sent chills down my spine. Fear, surprise, and confusion swirled within me.
I didn't know what to say or how to respond. Everything felt surreal—like a dream teetering on the edge of reality.
Yet, deep down, I found myself believing her. Even if she lied, I still trusted her implicitly.
My lips moved on their own. "…Are you a Goddess?"
She released my hands and cupped my face, pulling me closer until her forehead touched mine. Her voice was a gentle murmur, almost like a prayer.
"Yes, honey. I am a Goddess—your Goddess. I exist here because of you. You are my husband, the one and only man I love deeply. The man who has saved me, saved us, from the Demons."
Her words only deepened the mystery surrounding her.
She stood and pulled me to my feet. When I asked where we were going, she simply said, "To sleep. We need to wake up early tomorrow and continue our journey."
I agreed, but when we entered the tent, I noticed there was only one futon. "…Why are we sleeping together?"
She rolled her eyes playfully. "Shut up and just sleep already."
She lay down on the futon and tugged me close, hugging me tightly. Her embrace was so firm that I couldn't move, but it was warm and comforting.
From behind, I felt another presence wrap around me—an equally tight hug. My first thought was Remia, her Guardian Angel. But as exhaustion overtook me, I realized it didn't matter.
Being close to her like this, I felt relaxed and safe. Her scent was sweet and intoxicating, lulling me into a drowsy state. My eyelids grew heavy, and slowly, I drifted off to sleep…