After inspecting his masterpiece, Yazuki saw the goddess with an expression that screamed, "I don't even know what to say anymore."
Feeling quite satisfied, the Demon King nodded to himself.
Come to think of it… Was I a bit too cruel this time?
No, no—this kind of goddess needs to be properly disciplined and trained. She slacks off at work every single day.
Ugh, I shouldn't even be looking anymore. Just seeing it myself makes me feel weird. It's getting hard to bear... I'm starting to actually pity that idiot goddess a little.
Third check-in: Water Goddess Aqua—complete.
——
This was another strange room, also entirely pure white.
Inside it, there was a small set of desk and chair, and seated in the chair was another goddess—one who possessed beauty that transcended humanity, with a body that was perfectly proportioned, neither too voluptuous nor lacking.
Her figure was wrapped in a beautiful outfit mixing elements of a foreign world, nun attire, and western dress—blue was the dominant color on her upper body, while the lower part was a flowy white skirt.
Naturally, her head was also covered with a blue-themed white lace veil. Her long waist-length silver hair shimmered brilliantly, and her elegant face—carrying a gentle, fragile beauty—held a trace of gloom.
This goddess was named Eris, and she was currently facing a guest sitting across from her—Megumi Kato, a human girl with short, bob-cut hair.
"Well then, Miss Kato, is there anything else you'd like to ask?"
The words that came from Eris' lips were so gentle, it made it impossible for anyone to feel angry at her. She was a true and proper goddess.
"No, thank you for your explanation."
Megumi gave a small shake of her head, her pale expression growing a bit more serious. She had already made her decision regarding whether or not to keep her identity as an ordinary person.
"Alright then, let's go find Lady Aqua. The final step of confirming the contract still requires her involvement."
As Eris said this, she wore a rather troubled expression. The faint gloom on her face grew deeper.
She had used all the small rewards she had earned from helping out here and there, combined with the points she had accumulated over the years, to hand them over to Lady Aqua in exchange—so she could become Megumi's first contracting goddess.
"Miss Eris, do you… actually like Lady Aqua?"
Judging from how things usually went, the gentle, kind, and deeply responsible goddess Eris always got bullied and bossed around by that unreasonable Aqua.
It would've made sense if she was resentful and avoided her whenever possible.
And indeed, there were complaints—though they were only superficial, like helpless sighs. Megumi sensed that Eris actually respected Aqua deeply and considered her a very important friend.
"Well… I do like Lady Aqua very much. Don't be fooled by her constantly dumping her work on me and treating me poorly—in reality, she's helped me a lot. Her personality might seem a bit problematic, but she's actually very gentle on the inside."
"Oh…"
That was all Megumi said in response.
Indeed, having once connected to Aqua's divine power, she had experienced that clumsy display of hers firsthand.
As awful as Aqua seemed at first glance, Megumi could also feel her pure concern.
Even though she had been absolutely terrified, Aqua still worked incredibly hard to get things done. Despite the strain divine power had placed on Megumi, Aqua had made sure to bear the brunt of it herself.
So Megumi decided—she would at least give this goddess a bit of respect. She wouldn't ignore her.
"Lady Aqua?—Don't tell me she's sleeping again?"
Eris scratched her cheek with a helpless look and let out a sigh.
She feared Aqua was currently in full-on sloth mode, holed up like a shut-in.
Or maybe… Aqua was intentionally ignoring her—trying to go back on the deal?
After all, guiding someone with potential to become a future goddess was the kind of opportunity most goddesses dreamed of.
It would enhance their fame, allow them to manage more alternate worlds, grow their number of followers, and maybe even take steps toward becoming a high-ranking goddess.
Given enough time, they might even establish their own divine system… perhaps even become a Creator God—a being that stood above all others.
Yet Aqua had just handed that golden opportunity over to Eris. To most goddesses, that was an act of sheer idiocy.
Sure, part of it was Aqua being too lazy to mentor someone. But part of it was also her taking care of Eris, her junior.
"Looks like she's not receiving guests? No matter."
Megumi watched as Eris' eyes gleamed mischievously.
She pulled out a key and casually tossed it into the air—where it formed a glowing membrane surrounded by magical rings of light.
"Well then, let's go. Sorry in advance, Lady Aqua, we're barging in."
As the two stepped through the light membrane, Eris politely offered her apology, already mentally bracing herself for Aqua's messy room and fallen state.
That woman was probably sloppier than any goddess had a right to be.
"Lady Aqua—?"
She wasn't at the desk. But there was movement behind them—causing the two to turn around.
In that moment, their vision was struck by a massive impact.
For several seconds, they were speechless.
"Umm, Miss Eris… are we sure Aqua is really the Water Goddess? And not… the Pervert Goddess?"
Megumi —who normally maintained a calm, unshaken expression even in front of gods—was visibly shaken.
Her pale face looked like it had seen something worse than a cockroach infestation. Her gaze turned completely disgusted.
"Ugh… well…"
What could she say? Eris' cheeks twitched as her eyes darted around the room.
She was beyond embarrassed. Mortified, really.
At this moment, she desperately wished she could rewind time a few seconds, take back all those compliments she had just given Aqua, and tell Megumi that she and Aqua were not close at all.
They were strictly acquaintances. No affiliation whatsoever.
And right before their eyes—
The Water Goddess Aqua was reeking of booze, surrounded by empty bottles—having drunk herself into an utter mess.
That alone might have been fine.
But no—this alcohol-obsessed goddess had reached a new frontier in her drunkenness.
She had discovered a new technique. She had shattered their understanding of what was possible.
Aqua was sprawled out like a dog, with her upper body slumped on the floor and her butt sticking high in the air—still holding half-full bottles in both hands.
"Hic~"
She let out a drunken hiccup, releasing a heavy stench of alcohol. She was completely wasted.
Even that might have been barely acceptable…
But the real problem—was the third bottle.
Yes.
The third bottle.
It was upside-down…
Inserted in her raised rear.
"…"
There was no response they could give.
They were absolutely speechless.