Nava lay back on the soft grass, gazing up at the beautiful blue sky and the tranquil, dark expanse of night. She began to muse, gently resting a hand against her head. She still struggled to process what she was supposed to do, where she was, and where she should go next. Would she become a king, or simply remain an ordinary person? A deity?
She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
She still had to get used to her new appearance. A faint, bittersweet laugh escaped her lips. Why did her form always have to change? She needed to fully acclimate to her true self and her genuine memories.
Her eyes closed completely, shifting into a deep, mesmerizing violet.
Then, she fell into a light slumber [though she didn't genuinely need sleep or any mortal sustenance, being entirely self-sufficient].
As night faded into morning, she awakened. The moment she opened her eyes, she found herself surrounded by a horde of unfamiliar monsters—nearly two hundred bizarre creatures that she had never encountered even within the depths of the labyrinth.
Nava let out a soft sigh and casually snapped her fingers. A standard katana materialized in her hand. She raised it slightly, revealing a crimson thread visible only to her eyes. It was the absolute thread connecting spacetime and life itself. With a swift, effortless sweep of her katana, she severed the thread. In an instant, the entire pack of monsters was completely annihilated, crushed out of existence with no possibility of resurrection.
Using her fingertips, she lightly wiped a stray drop of blood from her cheek, muttering to herself:
"Monsters aren't usually this foolish. Even if I'm currently in a restricted avatar holding merely 0% of my true power, I am still... the world itself."
"Hmm, that's strange. Perhaps it wasn't because of me, but rather because they were on their way to attack something else."
She paused upon hearing the faint, trembling sound of someone breathing heavily nearby, consumed by absolute terror.
"Come out,"
Nava said, her voice dropping into the quiet
. "There's no need to be afraid."
Slowly, a little girl emerged from the bushes, shaking uncontrollably.
"Isn't it dangerous to be out here at night, little one?"
Nava asked
. "Especially at your age, and with so many monsters around?"
She spoke with a voice entirely devoid of emotion, wearing a blank, expressionless face and a hollow smile. Yet her crimson eyes tried to soften, attempting to offer comfort despite her complete lack of feelings.
"I... I don't know,"
the girl sobbed, terrified.
"I just wanted to... to gather herbs to make medicine for my sick mom."
She spoke in a voice trembling with fear, having witnessed how effortlessly and ruthlessly Nava had just obliterated the monsters without a second thought. She was terrified she would be next.
Nava smiled faintly and stepped closer. The little girl braced herself for death, squeezing her eyes shut as tears streamed down her face.
Gently, Nava reached out and placed a hand on the child's head, softly petting her white hair. The girl's violet eyes blinked in confusion through her tears, completely bewildered by the sudden warmth. She had never experienced anyone—aside from her mother—petting her head; everyone else usually looked at her with disgust because of her poverty.
"There, there, there's no need to be afraid, child," Nava said softly. "I'm not interested in killing you or hurting you. I'm not that evil,That's right, little one. I didn't even ask your name."
"My name is... Himari. That's my name,"
the little girl stammered, feeling a bit shy.
Nava smiled—a quiet, emotionless smile—and replied:
"A lovely name. But what kind of flower were you looking for?"
Himari's expression turned sorrowful.
"Fuji. The flower is called Fuji."
Nava tilted her head slightly. A human child searching for something without even realizing it was a divine flower.
"Have you ever considered that it might be a divine flower?"
the girl asked, looking up in sheer astonishment.
"Divine? What do you mean, Miss?"
"What I mean is that this flower does not exist in the mortal world unless brought forth by a deity. It only blooms in the realm of the gods."
"What?! Does that mean my ten days of searching were completely useless, and my mom is going to die?"
Himari cried out, absolute despair washing over her as the harsh reality set in. She broke down sobbing uncontrollably.
Nava sighed softly and patted the girl's head once more.
"Who said it was useless? I am right here with you. I'll gift one to you, simply because you made talking to me quite entertaining."
As she spoke, the night sky parted just enough to reveal a glowing flower shimmering with brilliant, vibrant colors and radiating pure, healing divine blessings.
The eight-year-old girl was so overjoyed she felt like she might burst with happiness. She lunged forward, hugging Nava with all her might, completely forgetting her previous terror. Nava remained unfazed by the hug, accepting it passively while continuing to gently stroke the child's head.
"Now, make sure you don't tell anyone that I gave you this, and don't let anyone else see it. Understood?"
The little girl nodded rapidly, wiping her tears. Fortunately, her humble home was nearby, tucked safely away from the bustling crowds.
Nava turned to leave, but Himari caught the edge of her garment.
"Before you go... could you at least tell me your name, Miss?"
Nava paused, letting out a quiet sigh before looking back with a gentle, serene expression.
"I am merely a passing traveler. My name... is Kurumi Nava."
With those words, she vanished into thin air.
The little girl stared in awe at the empty space, marveling for a moment before turning and rushing back home as fast as she could to brew the medicine for her mother.