Return to Reality

“So, you want me to infiltrate Apocalypse Academy as a student, retrieve the Creator God’s legacy, and help complete your plan, right?”

Selina’s expression was serious, her voice steady.

It felt like a business deal. Both sides had laid out their situations and needs—now it was time to nod, pay deposits, or make plans.

Dealing with gods was indeed best described as a transaction.

“No, you’re not helping me, but your patron goddess. This legacy is what Hestia needs most. I have other methods…”

Themis waved her hand, slipping back into her cryptic demeanor.

Since the Elven Ancestor God wouldn’t elaborate, Selina didn’t press. She nodded, then rubbed her thumb and forefinger together.

“What’s that mean?”

Themis’s expression sharpened.

“You don’t get it? Extra work means extra pay…”

Seeing Selina’s practiced gesture, Themis remained unfazed.

“What do you want?”

“I’d love my gender back, but you won’t agree. Since I’m heading to the academy, give me something to mask or change my appearance.”

Selina stroked her chin thoughtfully.

Her memory was sharp, recalling events from five years ago.

As an elven princess, enrolling at Apocalypse Academy was fine, but there was someone there she’d personally sent in—a familiar face.

Though her current appearance would likely go unrecognized, it was safer to ask her “boss” for a tool.

Selina wouldn’t admit she wanted it to hide her feminine identity, hoping to transform into the silver-haired, dashing uncle of her fantasies.

Even if such tools only projected an illusion, as the saying goes, if no one calls it out, fake becomes real. Maybe she could use it to charm some heartbroken ladies at a tavern~

Lost in her delightful daydream, a crystalline bracelet appeared in her hand.

“Wear this on your wrist and imagine the form you want—it’ll meet your needs…”

Themis calmly explained the item’s use.

Selina clutched the bracelet, overjoyed.

“Thank you, Ancestor God~”

Themis wasn’t so bad after all. At least she was generous with material requests. Since her demand was met, Selina didn’t mind acting sweet.

In a rare moment, she mentally praised the god she’d once called a scheming trickster.

“However, with an elven princess’s radiant aura, this bracelet likely can’t mask such a striking presence. If you try to disguise as a man, others will probably see you as a frail, delicate pretty boy…”

Crack!

Themis’s added remark shattered Selina’s fantasy. Her excitement turned to dejection, then bitter resentment.

She glared at Themis, eyes red, looking like a kitten wronged by its master.

Take back those kind thoughts—this jerk is still the same vicious, scheming, sadistic trickster! I’ll never forgive her in my next life!

“Enough chatter. You can’t stay in the divine realm too long. A few final instructions…”

“First, the miniature gemstone sword necklace you’re wearing carries Hestia’s blessing and power, along with a dormant fragment of her soul. If needed, you’ll have to awaken it through other means. The sword’s primary ability targets the soul, causing damage. Additionally, the necklace marks you as a divine apostle, useful once you leave the Elven Forest…”

Themis pointed at the necklace, which Selina hadn’t noticed. Touching it, she found a miniature version of the gemstone sword from the trial.

Then, Themis tossed her the crystal dagger, nearly identical to the other.

“Apocalypse Academy is filled with prodigies. Even as a Descender, you can’t be careless. This gemstone sword, unlike Hestia’s, holds my elemental authority. With it, you can weave, modify, cut, or destroy elemental magic. But never use both swords simultaneously in your current state, or you’ll face dire consequences.”

Selina gripped the dagger more carefully. This wasn’t just a sword—it was a god-given cheat code, to be treasured.

As she thought this, the elemental gemstone sword shrank into a light particle, merging into her necklace, which now bore two identical miniature swords.

With instructions given, Themis approached Selina, raising two fingers to her forehead. In a daze, her cherry lips neared Selina’s ear.

“A word of advice: don’t return the soul fragment from the trial to your sister yet. Keep it—it may prove vital later…”

Before Selina could ask what she meant, Themis pushed her fingers forward. The heart-lake mirror shattered, and Selina fell into endless void with a pale face and an uncontrollable scream.

“Themis, you scheming jerk, you tricked me again!”

In her final seconds of consciousness, Selina cursed the god who’d repeatedly humiliated her, then closed her eyes, falling into a coma.

In the divine realm, Themis gazed at where Selina had stood. A faint silver flame lingered, which she gently cupped in her palm. Her calm divine eyes dimmed slightly.

“Hestia, I don’t know if following her out there is good or bad…”

Her murmur went unanswered. The Firelight Goddess had left this temporary sanctuary, resolutely following her last believer into an uncertain future.