"No!"
Ishtar and Ereshkigal answered without hesitation.
Are you kidding? With Tiamat right here, why would we go looking for trouble?
Meanwhile.
Just as Souma opened his front door, the mischievous child came running over.
With a stern expression, she scolded, "You didn't answer calls or reply to texts—where have you been? With such a terrifying apocalyptic disaster, didn't you think to come home?"
"I wanted to, but there was a traffic jam earlier," Souma lied smoothly without blinking.
Reporting good news and hiding the bad—this was typical behavior for people from China.
Moreover, to her, he was just an ordinary high school student. There was no way he could say he'd been fighting the Almighty Great God.
"Oh, as long as you're safe." Roya sighed in relief.
When Zeus devoured the gods and arrogantly sought to become God, intent on destroying China for its lack of faith in deities...
She had already been thinking about how to spend her final moments.
Why should her life as an underage little girl come to such an abrupt end?
In those last moments, she had imagined holding Souma's hand romantically, sharing a loving kiss as they faced the end together.
Souma lifted the grocery bag with a smile. "Since we survived the disaster, I'll make a few extra dishes to celebrate properly."
"Yay~"
Roya's eyes instantly sparkled.
When the disaster struck and that terrifying monster tried to suppress China, she had been scared half to death.
She was just a weak, adorable, and gluttonous little girl—utterly powerless against such calamity.
So, she would turn fear into appetite and eat her fill!
"I'll keep it simple this time—just some Wensi tofu, squirrel-shaped mandarin fish, and pagoda pork." Souma wasn't surprised.
Having raised this mischievous child since she was little, he knew her inside out.
Luring her with delicious food was all too easy.
Roya nearly drooled at the thought. "You could open a restaurant with your cooking skills."
"If I can't find a job after graduation, maybe I really will," Souma chuckled.
With his culinary skills that fused human history, opening a shop was far too easy for him.
Probably, a dozen heroic spirits would come to eat once it opened.
After watching him tie on a panda apron and step into the kitchen, Roya asked curiously, "Huh? Where's Fou? Could that cat really be the Beast of Humanity, Fou?"
He was just here a moment ago—how did he disappear in the blink of an eye?
Did he run off to Nameless' side to team up with Mash and become a Grand Rider Fou?
"Uh, he went to a friend of mine. She was the one who originally raised Fou," Souma replied calmly.
That brat's Clairvoyance seemed to be getting sharper and sharper.
Was he really going to break his seals and become a terrifying, world-ending brat surpassing the Almighty God?
"Oh, never mind then."
Roya didn't care at all.
That damn cat was all tease and no touch—never letting her pet him no matter how much she tried, infuriating her to no end.
Good riddance. At least the place looked cleaner now.
Ding-dong~
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Roya scrambled off the couch, shuffled over in her slippers, and opened the door. "May I ask who you are?"
Standing outside was a woman she didn't recognize at all, looking down at her slightly.
"I'm here to see Souma," the woman replied with a smile.
"Eh? Souma?"
Roya stared at her in confusion.
From this woman, she sensed an overwhelming aura of maternal warmth.
Just looking at her almost made Roya blurt out, "Mom."
This made Roya freeze instantly, as an incredibly bold thought flashed through her mind—
Could this woman be her or Souma's mother?
Roya opened the door somewhat awkwardly. "Please, come in. You can wait in the living room. He's cooking in the kitchen right now."
"Alright."
The woman replied with a smile.
From start to finish, she exuded such gentle warmth that Roya felt an urge to rush over and cling to her like a child.
Roya hurried to the kitchen and whispered, "Someone's here to see you."
"Who?"
Souma was busy watching the finely shredded tofu in the pan.
"I don't know her. A woman with long blue hair—she looks incredibly kind and motherly!" Roya answered.
"..."
Souma nearly dropped the spoon in his hand.
Why hadn't she returned to the Imaginary Number Space? Instead, she came straight here?
Buzz—
His pants twitched slightly.
Enkidu, the Chains of Heaven, clearly sensed her presence too and seemed a little flustered.
Roya leaned in, her voice tinged with nervousness. "What's her relationship with you… and with me?"
Right now, she was both afraid of hearing that they were connected and afraid that they weren't.
The contradiction tore at her.
"Well… a gentle mother," Souma replied, struggling with how to answer.
You're both Evils of Humanity.
Too bad she loves humans, while you just want to burn human history as a torch.
Roya's eyes widened instantly. "Eh?! Could she really be my birth mother?"
She had grown up relying solely on Souma, never seeing a trace of her parents.
Even though Souma took meticulous care of her, she still felt a certain emptiness—a lack of love.
After all, no matter how considerate Souma was, he was still a man. There were certain things unique to girls that she couldn't discuss with him.
"..."
Souma was at a loss for words.
What kind of nonsense are you imagining?
This brat literally has no parents—the classic orphan protagonist treatment.
He looked at her sparkling eyes and felt even more conflicted.
It seemed the brat really longed for a mother.
Not surprising.
In the end, he was just a guy not much older than her.
As he remained silent, Roya's expression twisted with hesitation. "Just so you know, I won't accept parents who didn't visit me even once in over a decade!"
"...It's up to you."
Souma decided to withhold the truth—just a little.
If this could let the brat experience a mother's warmth…
Maybe it could truly soften her heart and make her abandon her plans to destroy humanity.
After all, he hadn't told a single lie.
Everything was just the brat's own imagination!
He had to admit—Tiamat's motherly aura was overwhelmingly strong, enough to make even this unruly child submit.
"Mmm…"
Roya grew even more conflicted.
When she returned to the living room, she kept stealing glances at the woman. The more she looked, the more she felt they were alike.
Was this what they called a blood connection?
The woman remained gentle and smiling, her gaze growing even softer as she watched Roya, without a trace of displeasure.
It left Roya with a strange, indescribable feeling.
Suddenly, she remembered how Souma had once asked her which Heroic Spirit would make the best mother.
King Arthur, the Dark Saint, and all the others—she had rejected every single one.
She had been the one to suggest Tiamat.
This woman before her… her presence really did resemble that of Tiamat, the mother who birthed humanity.
A moment later.
Souma also emerged from the kitchen, greeting with a smile: "Ahem, I'm cooking right now. You can taste my culinary skills when it's ready."
Translate this, what the hell is called a damn surprise!
Tiamat's sudden visit this time really put him under immense pressure.
Fou is just the juvenile form of the Evils of Humanity and wouldn't trigger the brat.
But Tiamat is the genuine ultimate form of the Evils of Humanity, existing on the same level as the brat.
If anything unexpected were to happen, the world would be doomed!
Could it be that the Evils of Humanity actively attract each other, drawing Tiamat here?
"Mmm."
Tiamat responded softly.
Being adored by countless humans allows Her to linger longer in the mortal world.
So, She wanted to see Souma's life and experience the daily routines of humans.
Souma pointed at the brat nearby: "Ahem, what do you think of her?"
During their last date, they had talked about the brat.
Since She came visiting directly this time, it was only natural to give a heads-up to avoid any mishaps.
"Very cute. All children are adorable." That was Her reply.
This answer made Roya even more conflicted.
Does this mean she really has to call her 'Mom' now?
The other party was so gentle, radiating maternal warmth, making Roya feel an irresistible urge to throw herself into Her arms and act spoiled.
No, stay composed, must learn to restrain herself!
The other party smiled: "I'm your mother~ You can tell me anything~"
"Eh? Eh?"
Roya was instantly shocked.
How could someone say something so familiar upon their first meeting?
Amidst her intense inner turmoil.
The three of them sat down to eat together.
The lavish spread of dishes tasted like wax to Roya, her little head filled with wild imaginations.
Then.
She saw Souma diligently serving food to the other party, seemingly trying to curry favor.
Hmm, whose mom is this anyway?
After hastily finishing the meal.
Roya retreated to her bedroom, deciding to cool off first.
This was too sudden.
Such a surprise attack left her completely unprepared.
A mom appearing out of nowhere—who could handle that?
After the brat left.
Souma glanced at the closed bedroom door and leaned closer to say: "Her identity is a bit special, so please bear with her."
The brat's identity was more than just 'special.'
If it were exposed, it would surely shock the entire world, summoning all Heroic Spirits to descend and go on high alert.
"Mmm, I know. You're such a good child, it worries me. It's okay to be a little naughty sometimes. I'll come help you when needed." Tiamat replied.
Souma asked eagerly: "So, how was my cooking? Did it suit your taste?"
After all, the brat absolutely loved his cooking.
This was the first time serving Her, but he still had absolute confidence in his culinary skills.
"Mmm, very delicious. I could taste the warmth in your heart. Since you treated me to a meal, now it's my turn to feed you."
Tiamat pulled him into Her embrace, gently pressing him against Her bosom. "Your weakened body after battle needs healing. So, my child, could you eat a little more for me?"