Finally...

“That’s more of a title than a name–mmph!” Crap. I clamped my hand over my mouth as fast as I could, but the unintentional quip was faster. Everyone knew not to disrespect gods, regardless of their skills or talents, but I couldn’t help it. His personality was eerily similar to Niya’s, and my irritation came out in full force again.

The man glanced over, definitely hearing my rude comment, and… laughed?

“You’re not wrong there, ha ha! It’s the most recognizable though. I doubt anyone actually remembers my name.” A wistful look crossed his face as he played with the souvenirs in the pumpkin. It made him seem almost like a person, well, if his overwhelming mana wasn’t there.

The God of Destruction: a god amongst gods. There were many rumors of his feats during the Second Era. He forced the other gods to fight against one another like pawns on a chessboard. A country was destroyed without lifting a finger. The most outrageous was that he shattered the moon. And, as expected of a man from six million years ago…

“H-how are you alive… Y-you’re supposed to be dead,” Daria managed to stammer out. Her look of dread deepened with each step back.

However, the God of Destruction tilted his head quizzically. “But I am dead?”

“““H-huh?””” We all let out inadvertent noises this time. He was sitting right in front of us! How could he be dead?! Daria followed up with that exact same question.

“Oh? You didn’t explain, Niyatha?” He looked suspiciously over at Niya, only for her to turn her head away. He sighed, scratching his eyebrows. “Niyatha… stop playing pranks for once and actually explain things.” So he does know Niya is a demonic troublemaker.

“Fine…” she exhaled, looking defeated for the first time in… well, ever. If only he can do this all the time. “We’re currently in a Mana Garden.”

“A Mana Garden?” Asa questioned.

“Yeah, it’s sort of similar to a graveyard.”

Graveyard? Where are all the tombstones then? And are the blue orbs supposed to be souls?

“There’s no such thing as souls, Heston.”

“I would appreciate it if you would stop reading my mind like that…” Seriously, these Disciplinary Committee girls were downright annoying sometimes. “But whatever. Can you get it over with? I want to enjoy my day off already.”

Niya sighed in annoyance. “Heston–”

“Ha ha! I see you have a feisty one Niyatha! No wonder you seem to be having so much fun,” the God of Destruction interrupted. Then, with another snap, he appeared directly in front of my face, sitting backwards on a chair with his arms leaning on the top rail. I couldn’t help but shuffle backwards.

“How did you–”

“Just some simple, unimportant magic.”

“That’s not–”

“Now, let me explain,” he spoke, easily silencing me. “The blue orbs are the mana of the people who died, just given a visible form for this particular event. I have been employed as a herder, so to speak, to help return the mana to the environment, ready to be used by the next creature. With the moon gone, this is just one of the ways to cycle the surrounding mana to avoid more dungeons from forming. A rather tedious endeavor, but it’s not like I could turn down my daughter.”

Yeah, I don’t care. I wanted to leave already!!!! On the other hand, Asa’s expression hardened while Daria’s paled.

“D-daughter?!?!?” Daria yelled. “The God of the Destruction never married! Much less have a daughter!!!” Why is she stuck on that?!? Who cares!!

But the man took it seriously, letting out an exasperated huff. “I’ll have you know I was married at least three times! Though my daughter was born long after I died.” That seemed to overload Daria’s mind, causing her to mumble incoherently.

“Sir…” Niya injected with a sideways glance.

“Ah? It’s that time? Well then.” For the first time, the man stood up, holding the chair in front of him like it was some sort of magic tool. “I’m sorry we have to cut this greeting short, but I have a job to do. As a farewell gift…

“Let me show you something flashy.”

With a grin, the man tapped the chair against the ground.

And the entire world transformed.

The rolling plains shifted along the horizon, creating a static tremor through the ground. Orange and red leaves flew off the tree as its branches stretched into the sky, constructing a dome over the horizon. The blue orbs of mana swirled around, dancing to an unheard song. It was as if the entire plain had come to life to send off the dead.

At the center of it all was the God of Destruction, whose regal visage was laced with a hint of melancholy, watching the colors fade away into the sky above. He didn’t look away even as the word slowly dissolved until nothing, even himself, was left behind.

When I blinked, I found myself and the others standing in front of the doorway to Special Room 1 once again. Like normal, the door connected to the Disciplinary Committee’s office. In a daze, I sauntered back to my seat before sitting down, resting my head against the table. Everything happened so fast that I didn’t have time to process it.

Still, even as the scene flashed through my mind, it gave me pause only for a moment.

After all…

~~~

It was finally my day off!

The familiar impressions of my mattress felt comfortable. The anger and aggravation melted away as I stared at the ceiling. Yes, this is the life! I am surprised Niya let me go so easily. It seems like even she can be kind every once in a–

Ding-dong!

Hmm? I wonder who that could be.

“Trick or treat!”

…

…