A few hours later...
Ishi sat cross-legged on the bed, staring at the tiny, strange-looking octopus monster curled up beside him. It had stopped shaking, but it still looked weak. He sighed.
"I guess I can't just feed it normal food, huh?"
"You're right," Sia suddenly popped up on the side of his view, cheerful as ever. "Based on its type, I recommend Mana-Bloom Jelly—a high-energy treat made from crushed magic herbs and soft sea crystals."
"A jelly, huh?" Ishi tilted his head. "That sounds fancy."
"It melts in their mouth and helps low-level monsters recover stamina and bond faster. Great for aquatic or mystical types!" she explained.
Ishi ordered it from the E-Shop, and with a soft shimmer, a small glowing jelly appeared in his hands—sparkly and slightly squishy.
He held it out gently. "Alright, little guy... eat up."
The baby octopus sniffed it (somehow), then slowly wrapped a tentacle around the jelly. A few seconds later, it swallowed it whole—and its dull violet color started to shine just a little more.
"See? Told you I'm useful." Sia giggled.
"More than so you could imagine," Ishi replied with a small smile, watching the octopus monster wiggle a little after eating the jelly. Its color looked a bit brighter now, and one of its tiny tentacles poked at his finger like it was testing him.
"Aww… now you're hitting me too," Sia said, pretending to blush. "My poor heart can't take both you and the baby monster being this cute!"
Ishi chuckled. "Relax, you're just made of light and sass."
"Excuse me! I'm made of ancient divine energy, thank you very much!"
"Uh-huh. And a little bit of drama too."
"That too," she said proudly.
The octopus monster curled closer to Ishi's side, letting out a soft gurgle sound that made him freeze.
"…Did it just purr?"
"Yep! Congratulations, Ishi. You just became a papa."
"What?! Already?! I didn't even get a name tag yet!"
"Don't worry, your reward is years of monster drool and occasional explosions."
Then Sia said with a gentle tone, "Why don't you give the baby Nokuto a name?"
Ishi looked at the little creature resting on the bed. Its small body was black with hints of violet, and its eyes slowly blinked as it stared at him.
"Hmm… you're black and violet, so how about… Kurovi?" Ishi said with a smile.
The Nokuto made a soft grumbling sound and turned away slightly.
"Oof, that's a no," Sia said, giggling. "Guess it has standards."
Ishi scratched his cheek. "Alright, alright… picky little thing."
He stared at it for a moment, then said softly, "How about… Lumiere?"
The Nokuto perked up, its eyes glowing faintly as it let out a soft chirp.
"Looks like you nailed it this time," Sia said.
Ishi smiled. "Lumiere it is… sounds elegant, right?"
The baby Nokuto curled up comfortably, as if it truly accepted the name.
After a long day, Ishi sat down at the small wooden table in his room, a simple meal of bread and stew before him. As he took a bite, he glanced over at the bed where Lumiere, the baby Nokuto, was curled up asleep. The little creature had finally settled after a long, tiring day.
Ishi finished his meal in silence, the only sound in the room the occasional crack of the wooden floor and the gentle breathing of Lumiere.
Once done, Ishi stood up and stretched, his body aching slightly from the day's adventures. He took a deep breath and walked over to the bed. The small Nokuto was peacefully nestled under the covers, its black and violet body barely visible in the dim light.
Ishi smiled softly and gently lay down on the side of the bed, careful not to disturb the little creature. He had no idea what was to come next, but for now, he could rest.
Lumiere, as if sensing his presence, shifted slightly, curling up closer to him, as if asking for some comfort in the stillness of the night. Ishi relaxed, allowing the warmth of the room and the soft breath of the creature beside him to lull him into sleep.
"Goodnight, Lumiere," Ishi whispered, closing his eyes.
The soft, rhythmic sound of breathing filled the room, and Ishi drifted off to sleep, the day's events fading into his dreams.
In the white void, the goddess relaxed in a V-shaped swimsuit, barely covering her large breasts. Her skin glowed softly, and as she moved, her long legs shifted, causing a gentle jiggle. Her chest bounced slightly with each motion.
Sia hovered nearby, her expression amused as she watched her mother. "Ishi's enjoying his new life down there," she said, her voice light and teasing. "He's already getting used to everything. I'm sure he's having fun, just like you wanted."
The goddess smiled faintly but didn't respond, clearly enjoying the calm moment. She stretched, her movements graceful and easy, while Sia continued to watch her with a curious glance.
Sia suddenly spoke, her voice urgent. "Ishi, wake up. I hear something outside."
Ishi blinked, still half asleep. "Huh? What is it...?"
He rubbed his eyes and slowly sat up, his hair messy and pillow still on his cheek.
"I don't know yet," Sia said, her tone serious now. "But it's coming closer."
Ishi stood up, yawning. "Can't I just sleep five more minutes...?"
"Not if you want to keep that pillow and the baby monster safe," Sia replied.
That got his attention.
Ishi walked slowly toward the window. Every step made the old wooden floor creak under his feet.
Creeeak… creeeak…
He reached the window and gently peeked through the curtain.
His eyes widened.
It was that same shady guy from earlier—the one who told him about the back door. He was dragging a big sack across the ground. The sack was stained red… with blood.
"What the hell…?" Ishi whispered, frozen in place.
The man looked around quickly, then disappeared into the shadows behind the building.
Sia spoke quietly. "That… did not look like meat delivery."
Ishi looked back at the bed. Lumiere was still sleeping soundly, curled up like a soft black puff.
"Let's check it out," he said, gently covering the little creature with a blanket.
Just as he turned to move, Sia's voice rang in his head, serious for once.
"Something's coming… from below. And it's hostile."
"What!?" Ishi whispered, quickly grabbing the only weapon he had—the Pillow of Peace.
The old wooden door creaked open by itself. A shadow slowly crept in.
"Nope—sleep well!!" Ishi shouted, hurling the pillow with all his strength.
POW!
The soft boing echoed as the pillow slammed into the figure's face. The intruder staggered back—and dropped to the floor with a quiet thud, completely unconscious.
Ishi walked slowly toward the body, pillow still in hand—just in case.
As he got closer, his eyes widened.
"It's the old woman from the inn…" he whispered.
But something was wrong. Her skin was pale—almost grey. Her eyes were rolled back, and her mouth slightly open, showing sharp, pointed teeth. Worse… her tongue was long. Way too long. It hung out of her mouth, twitching like a snake.
"What the hell…?" Ishi muttered, stepping back.
Sia's voice came again, low and tense.
"She's not human anymore… something infected her."
Sia's voice echoed softly, but with a chilling tone.
"Or… she was never human to begin with."
Ishi's eyes narrowed, gripping the pillow tighter.
Then Sia added, almost whispering,
"Or maybe… this whole village isn't meant for humans at all."