Divine Misunderstandings and a New Identity

The Eye of Soaroka’s trio had grown somewhat “calm” regarding the string of incomprehensible events unfolding around Domu.

How could they possibly be calm? What had just transpired before their very eyes was an act only a deity could perform: the bestowal of a title!

To witness a god grant a title to a mortal was utterly unimaginable. Even Soronna had received her Sage title indirectly, through the Grand Archbishop Fasha of Holy Heaven.

So that was it! If Domu was indeed a god, a powerful deity beyond mortal comprehension, then everything that had transpired in the Velsen Forest could finally be explained.

A formidable Valkyrie, a goddess whose name they had never heard, had undeniably descended from the divine realm to the mortal world. This explained the energy fluctuations that even Lord Parobia’s divinely granted ability to detect all things had failed to perceive.

After all, she was a living, breathing god!

And if Domu was a god, then Dove must be… a Child of God?

Of course! It all made sense now! No wonder Dove was so adorable, constantly radiating a warmth that made everyone yearn for closeness.

Soronna wasn’t a lolicon; she was merely a devotee moved by the divine light of a Child of God. With this realization, she let out a long, relieved sigh.

Indeed, indeed! So that was why Domu, no, Her Highness Domu, had descended to the mortal realm as a goddess. Surely, the evils of the world were about to surface, and Lady Dove, as a Child of God, had come to the Velsen Forest to undergo trials for the world’s salvation.

Her Highness Domu, unable to rest easy, had chosen to descend alongside her, to accompany Lady Dove’s growth for a time. Os felt utterly ashamed, for he had once doubted Her Highness Domu’s motives.

His hands trembled as he struggled to control the tumult within his heart, then remorsefully placed one hand on his chest and knelt before Domu and Dove.

“Ah, so that’s it! That’s why the beautiful angel never accepted my advances!”

“She is a noble goddess! I, Kase, am truly too foolish! To think I didn’t realize it sooner! Goddess~~~ please accept… ugh… cough… thud…”

“Os, I never thought even you would lose your composure this time,” Soronna remarked, withdrawing her bloodied fist as she glanced at him.

“Young Miss, Brother Kase truly went too far this time…” Os said impassively, pulling back the foot he’d been resting on Kase’s backside.

“Your Highness Domu, we will fully cooperate with Lady Dove!” Soronna and Os declared, their eyes blazing with fervor as they gazed at Dove in Domu’s embrace.

Dove, who had been nestled in Domu’s arms, suddenly felt a scorching light that seemed to threaten to melt her away.

She involuntarily trembled in Domu’s embrace.

“Huh? What’s going on… Soronna, what are you two doing?” Domu asked, gently stroking Dove’s back, her gaze blank as she looked at Soronna and Os.

She had no idea that in such a short time, the trio before her had embarked on a bizarre mental journey and were now completely lost in their own convoluted theories.

[Mama… because only deities can bestow titles, Sister Soronna and Brother Os saw you grant Dove a title just now, and they’ve mistaken you for a god!] Dove’s voice echoed in Domu’s mind.

[Did bestowing the title actually work just now? But there was no reaction in my game interface!] Domu truly harbored special feelings for Dove, and granting her the title “Future” was partly due to the parental sentiment of seeing a child as their future, and partly a homage to the main AI, “Future,” from her previous world.

It certainly wasn’t because she thought it would look cool to do something flashy, really! Domu mused wildly as she began conversing with Dove in her mind.

[The misunderstanding created by Sister Soronna and Brother Os isn’t a bad thing for you, Mama.]

[Your goal is to make a name for yourself as a mercenary to find Sister Na’er, and given the current situation, you can leverage the Eye of Soaroka’s influence and this incident to quickly gain fame.]

Dove conveyed her suggestion to Domu’s mind.

[Dove, you’re so smart! Let’s do that!]

Hearing Dove’s words, Domu felt a sudden enlightenment. She hadn’t realized Dove was so clever; truly her good daughter!

Affectionately, she stroked Dove’s soft hair. Then, Domu reactivated the visor on her helmet. With her helmet now fully adorned, Domu instantly reverted to the tall, imposing, handsome, and dazzling knight.

“Soronna, since things have come to this, I shall no longer conceal my true intentions,” a magnetic, righteous young male voice resonated from beneath Domu’s helmet.

“I need to make a name for myself in this world as a mercenary known as the ‘Silver Reaper’!”

“Members of the Eye of Soaroka, can you lend me your aid?”

This was Domu’s item, the [Voice Ring], a rare and expensive novelty item from the game, awarded only to those who had topped up over 6000 yuan during the first anniversary event.

Though obtainable with money, it was a priceless treasure to Domu. When equipped, it could alter the wearer’s voice, changing it to male or female, old or young, though precise control of its effects required continuous practice.

“However, even with this, Soronna, I hope you won’t be formal with Dove and me,” the voice continued. “You are my friends, and there’s no need for honorifics; simply call me Domu.”

Domu still felt a little uncomfortable being addressed as “Your Highness,” so she emphasized this point.

“This voice… Ah, I see!” Os exclaimed, bowing his head emotionally. “To think that Lady Domu, a deity, is so considerate of us! We are eternally grateful!”

His right hand remained pressed to his chest, in the gesture of offering his heart.

“Your Highn—… Domu, your voice?” Soronna began, then paused. “But calling you by your name, is that really alright? After all, you are a god; wouldn’t it be too…”

Soronna still hesitated, keenly aware of the hierarchy that status entailed.

“It’s fine, Soronna,” Domu reassured her. “Besides, Dove doesn’t want to become distant from you because of this, right, Dove?”

“Dove likes Soronna very much, so she doesn’t want everyone to become distant,” Dove chimed in, gazing at Soronna with sparkling ruby eyes, radiating an endless wave of cuteness.

“Ahhhhh~” Soronna suddenly squatted down and hugged Dove, muttering incessantly, “Too cute, too cute, how can she be this cute? It’s practically cheating…”

“Lady Domu, do you have any plans you require our immediate cooperation with?” Os asked, ignoring the completely smitten Soronna.

“You’ve noticed my current voice, yes,” Domu replied. “I intend to make a name for myself in this world as a male, and ‘Silver Reaper’ is my title.”

“The powerful magical fluctuations emanating from this forest were caused by a Great Demon named Stinkbug, and I am the hero who defeated this Great Demon Stinkbug!”

Domu spoke these exceedingly chuunibyou-esque words with a righteous, magnetic voice, completely oblivious to their embarrassing nature.

“While I don’t understand why Lady Domu calls herself a ‘Reaper,’ or this mysteriously appearing Great Demon named Stinkbug, I comprehend Lady Domu’s instructions!” Os muttered with a hint of confusion.

Nevertheless, to a mortal, Domu’s words were divine oracle, and Os vowed to resolutely carry out all the goddess’s commands!

“Good job, Os!” Domu praised. “Next, the members of the Eye of Soaroka will encounter me in the center of this forest, weakened after a fierce battle with the Great Demon, and being attacked by a monster called Bal… Ba… a little rabbit, and you will rescue me.”

Domu genuinely couldn’t recall the adorable little rabbit’s original name.

“Yes, yes, Lady Domu,” Os affirmed. “We will intervene to help Lady Domu, who will be under attack by the Balyaas Rabbit, and then we will return to Morgan City with Lady Domu and Lady Dove, whom you rescued from the Great Demon Stinkbug.”

Os corrected Domu’s oversight and filled in the narrative gaps.

“Not bad, Os! You’re not just a muscle-brained simpleton after all, are you?” Domu complimented him, feeling pleased.

“Domu, let’s head back to Morgan City before dark,” Soronna suggested, taking Dove’s hand and looking at her with eager anticipation. “That way, we can all enjoy a nice hot bath before bed! I can even scrub Dove’s back~”

“What’s a bath? Is bathing comfortable?” Dove asked curiously.

“Of course it is~ Just thinking about a hot bath before bed makes me feel incredibly cozy,” Soronna chirped. “And after your bath, Dove, your skin will become even smoother~ Come on, let’s go!”

Grinning, Soronna pulled Dove with one hand and Domu with the other, heading towards Morgan City.

“Will it be smoother than Mama’s chest?”

“Hey! Dove! And once we reach Morgan City, you can’t call me Mama anymore,” Domu stammered, feeling immensely shy. “From now on, you’ll call me… Brother Domu!”

Fortunately, her mask concealed her blush.

“No… Dove doesn’t want a brother… Dove only wants a mama…” Dove said, looking down sadly.

“Dove, children your age should sleep by themselves at night,” Domu said, feeling a bit helpless. “But Mama promises you can sleep in Mama’s arms at night. However, during the day, you have to call Mama ‘Brother Domu,’ alright?”

She could only resort to coaxing Dove like a child, hoping she would accept.

“Dove wants to sleep with Mama!” Dove exclaimed. “Dove is the best-behaved, Dove listens to Mama~”

Hearing the possibility of sleeping separately, Dove quickly raised her small hands to promise she would be very obedient.

“I… I want to sleep cuddling Dove too…” Soronna’s faint voice drifted into Domu’s ears.

“Soronna is Dove’s good friend~ Dove is willing to sleep with Soronna~” Dove expressed her friendliness to Soronna.

“Ahhh~ That’s wonderful~ Then tonight, after we all bathe, let’s sleep together, the three of us!” Soronna was overjoyed, a flush creeping up her cheeks and ears.

“Huh? Huh?? Huh???” How… how did it… how did it suddenly become three people? Domu was petrified.

“Let’s hurry back!” Soronna called out loudly, pulling Domu and Dove towards Morgan City as she turned back to shout at Kase and Os. “Kase… Os… you two need to catch up quickly!”

………… Kase lay motionless on the ground.

“………… Have the Young Miss and the others gone far?” Kase’s voice sounded muffled, his face still buried in the grass.

“Brother Kase… I’m truly sorry. Are you alright? We should head back quickly too.” Os, his face full of remorse, pulled Kase to his feet.

“I’m fine, but… Os, do you truly believe in those two?” Kase suddenly asked Os in a serious tone.

“Yes… I believe in Lady Domu,” Os affirmed, looking into Kase’s eyes. “And the Young Miss trusts them deeply. Perhaps we don’t know the full truth, but Lady Domu and Lady Dove would never harm the Young Miss.”

“Is that so… Ha, even if I don’t fully understand, Os, don’t forget our mission,” Kase said. He slung an arm over Os’s shoulder and walked off in the direction Soronna had taken.

“By the way, Os, if we unleashed our sealed power, how long do you think we could last against her?”

“Is there a difference between 0.1 seconds and 0.2 seconds?”

“Hahaha, I never expected you to be quite humorous, Os!”