The girl sat in her usual spot, begging for change as she always did—hoping, if only for an ounce of kindness, from the passing strangers. She never stopped smiling, even as—more often than not—she was met with cruelty rather than charity.
Her day began as it always did, with the sound of passerby mocking or insulting her. But all at once, the noise vanished—replaced by the sound of splashing waves, the cries of seagulls, and the rhythm of a bustling marketplace. She could smell the ocean, feel the breeze brushing her face, and for the first time in what felt like forever, the world around her seemed... alive.
A gentle hand rested atop her head, and a calm, soothing voice said, "Be at peace now, little one. Lady Artemis has brought you to her realm."
She felt her blindfold being untied, and instinctively, she opened her eyes. To her astonishment, she could see. Tears welled up and streamed down her cheeks as she whispered shakily, "How…?"
The young woman standing before her smiled softly. "Lady Artemis healed your sight. Hello there, I'm Zoë Nightshade, my lady's lieutenant. What's your name?"
The girl blinked, still trembling from the shock, and replied quietly, "I… I don't have one."
Zoë's expression softened even further. "That's okay. We'll think of one together."
After a moment of thought, the girl smiled shyly. "I like the name Mia."
Zoë nodded approvingly. "Then Mia it is. Welcome to the new world. You're currently in a recreation of a town called Astera—Lord Tet built it for Lady Artemis. He gave her the ability to build on and modify it as she pleased, and she just kept going until she made an entire world. Here, you'll be safe and happy."
Mia looked around in awe, eyes wide as she took in the vivid scenery—the bright skies, the sound of laughter, the warmth in the air. As she watched, more people began to arrive just as she had, each one carrying that same look of wonder and disbelief.
---
Meanwhile, back in Mia's old world, Kikunojo Tendo and several sharply dressed men sat around a long conference table. One man stood and began his report gravely. "That's the situation. In just a few days, all of the Cursed Children have disappeared completely. Not only them, but several people from around the globe are gone too. Governor Seitenshi, Kisara Tendo, Rentarou Satomi, and numerous others have vanished without a trace. We can't determine what these individuals have in common. Every child is gone—and maybe one in every three adults as well."
Kikunojo leaned forward, his expression stern. "The Cursed Children disappearing is… problematic. Who will protect us from the Gastrea?"
The other men murmured their agreement, their voices low and uneasy. But as their discussion continued, the air in the room shifted—and in an instant, the entire building vanished in a blinding flash of light.
When their vision returned, the men found themselves no longer in their city, but in the middle of a dark, quiet forest. The moon overhead was full, yet carried an ominous glow. Confusion spread across their faces as they took in the unfamiliar surroundings. Then, faint at first, they heard the sounds—low growls and savage snarls echoing from the shadows.
One by one, pairs of glowing eyes began to appear in the darkness—dozens, then hundreds—slowly creeping closer.
---
From her throne, Artemis sat watching the events unfold on a projected screen. Her expression was calm, almost serene, as she observed what she had wrought upon the world Tet had referred to as Black Bullet.
She had spent days carefully removing the good and innocent from that dying world—men, women, and especially the Cursed Children. Every soul worth saving had been transported away, leaving behind only those who deserved what was coming to them. Then, with divine precision, she had reshaped the world into a vast, predatory forest, ensuring the unworthy would meet their fates.
Artemis closed the screen with a quiet sigh, her silver eyes reflecting thoughtful intensity. "Even if I only saved the good people of that world, that's still a few billion souls I now have to shelter," she mused aloud. "Luckily, I've spent the last few months transforming the plane Lord Tet gave me into an entire planet, so I have the space."
Her gaze softened, though a trace of concern lingered. "But I doubt billions of people will agree to live without technology. I'll have to give them a choice—stay here and live by my rules, or start over in another world later. Though…" She paused, tapping her chin in thought. "I suppose I could give them their old world back once the purge is complete."
After a moment, she exhaled quietly and leaned back in her chair. "Oh well. I shall worry about that later."
In Baldur's Gate, Dean sat hunched over a map, chewing on an apple as Yang and Ruby leaned in on either side of him, studying the parchment. After a moment of silent thought, he swallowed and said, his tone casual but thoughtful, "So, we took out the goblins and saved the grove, but now we need to get to the Shadow-Cursed Lands. Are we going through the Underdark or through the mountains?"
Yang folded her arms, her expression torn. "On one hand, I really don't like the idea of being underground for days," she said, wrinkling her nose. "And on the other hand… treasure."
Dean grinned, amusement glinting in his eyes. "Yep, treasure's good—especially since we can actually take it with us when we leave the game."
Yang smirked, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Duh. Why do you think I've been hoarding my gold? No need to buy food or weapons when we find them all over the place."
Ruby perked up, shaking her head quickly. "I vote mountains! I hate the underground."
Dean looked at her with a frown and said. "But Ruby… treasure."
Yang nodded in agreement, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Yeah, Ruby—treasure."
Ruby's face fell into an exaggerated pout, her silver eyes going wide and watery as she looked at the two of them with a trembling lower lip.
Dean immediately tensed, staring at her in mock horror. "Oh no… it's the look."
Yang groaned dramatically, covering her face with one hand. "I hate the look. The bane of older siblings everywhere."
Defeated, Dean and Yang let out matching sighs and said in unison, "Fine, we'll go through the mountains." With weary, exaggerated expressions, they started walking toward their new route.
Unnoticed by either of them, Ruby's pout melted into a sly little smirk. "Works every time," she murmured with satisfaction.
______
Tet sat at a food stall in Tempest, casually munching on a skewer as a glowing screen floated before him, showing the aftermath of Artemis's actions. His mismatched eyes widened as he leaned closer, nearly choking on his food. "Holy crap… I just wanted to see how she'd handle it—but that was dark." He blinked, setting down his food with a stunned expression. "Note to self: send Artemis on a forced vacation. She clearly needs to chill."
He paused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully before smirking. "Though honestly… that's not far from what I would've done. Only difference is, my version would've had Xenomorphs or the Flood."
With a sigh, he dispelled the screen and stood, brushing crumbs from his clothes before rejoining Hestia, who was happily munching on snacks she'd bought from a nearby vendor. Her eyes sparkled with childlike joy as she offered him a bite, cheeks puffed out adorably.
Tet chuckled. "Alright, let's go find somewhere to stay."
Before they could take more than a few steps, a graceful pink-haired oni approached them, her beauty immediately drawing attention from the nearby crowd. Her smile was warm and radiant as she clasped her hands politely.
"There's no need for that," she said in a melodious voice. "Lord Rimuru has been expecting you both and has prepared a VIP room for you. If you'll just follow me, please."
They were shown to their room, and the woman gave a polite bow. "If you need anything else, my name is Shuna. Please do not hesitate. Lord Rimuru will see you in an hour."
Hestia smiled warmly. "Thank you," she said, before gently closing the door. Tet looked around the room, which would be considered simple in the modern age but was luxurious for this time period. What really caught his eye, however, was the fact that Hestia was staring at him, slowly approaching with a sweet, predatory smile on her face.
Tet braced himself with a knowing grin, and as soon as he did, Hestia lunged forward, tackling him onto the bed. She stared down at him with a hungry look in her eyes. "An hour all alone... hardly enough to do anything," she purred, "but we can still have some fun, can't we, darling?"
Tet grabbed her by the hips,and said. "Yes we can, dear."
---
An hour later, the two climbed out of bed, their clothes and hair thoroughly messed and love marks scattered across their skin. Tet snapped his fingers, and in an instant, the two returned to their pristine, normal state. It was just in time, as a knock echoed from the door.
Shuna's voice called from the other side, "Excuse me, sir, madam. Lord Rimuru will see you now."
"Thank you," Tet replied, opening the door as he and Hestia stepped out to follow her to Rimuru's office.