For the Record

“Is there a god of malevolence?”

Artemis and I are currently walking to the venue. It’s actually right here on Elysium, which at least simplifies the route.

Now if only they allowed teleportation… apparently they consider it a “security concern” or whatever. Like some idiot is going to teleport a behemoth in the middle of their little party.

“Could,” my wife comments.

“Huh. Actually, I guess that makes sense. It’s not like the pantheons get along.”

“No.”

I furrow my brow. “No, what?”

“Malevolence,” she clarifies.

“Right. I asked about that.”

Huh.

Wonder if I could claim that mantle too.

Artemis stops out of nowhere and pulls me to face her. “No,” she says, and crosses her index fingers at me. “Danger.”

“How so? It’s not like Domains actually impact personalities or something.”

She gives me a serious look.

“Wait, they do!?”

The furry-eared goddess nods sharply, eyes wide.

“Oh. Well. Is it going to be a problem that I have the Domain of Malevolence then?” I ask.

She looks at me thoughtfully before answering. “No,” she says. “Hope.”

I see.

Or we will, I guess. I wonder if other gods can sense that kind of thing.

“Some.”

Huh.

…

Anyway, I predicted right. She’s in a dress made of fine furs stitched together, elegant. And yet, it still looks easy to move in.

Unlike mine. I didn’t know petticoats could be this dense. It’s a good thing that I don’t actually need to use my legs to move, I can just drift.

…Which is what I’ve been doing. I wonder if it’s disorienting that I’m walking with my wife without actually walking. Just, proverbially sliding down the paved walkways.

It’s certainly not disorienting for me. I’m long since used to this.

…

I wonder if my dress being pitch black with shiny points of embedded metal here and there is going to stand out. If they’re the light pantheon I wouldn’t be surprised if most of them were in light colors, but that could just be a false impression.

‘Light’ in itself could be a misnomer anyway. Artemis is rather brutal, downright savage when she wants to be.

Ah, I can feel that she doesn’t want me to think of her like that…

“Don’t worry about it. I literally eat people’s souls, it’s not like I get a pass on savagery. Just… what, nine years ago, wow. And yet the humans still wouldn’t call me an adult or whatever. Not that I care. So nine years or so ago, I made a curse that probably devastated an entire race of humanlike monsters. If that isn’t brutal or savage or whatever, I don’t know what is.”

“Malevolence,” she quietly says in reply.

…

Huh.

“Didn’t I have some kind of passive aura of malevolence? It never showed up on my Status but Izahne and the others always said it was there, and I couldn’t turn it off… nobody comments on it anymore. Is it still there?”

Without looking she nods and says, “More.”

“How so?”

And the foxkin projects the image of wildlife fleeing in my mind.

“Huh. I’m guessing it’s not just the wildlife.”

“No.”

“I see. Well! That’s a thing that will take getting used to. Probably also means there won’t be any hiding at the gala. Everyone is going to know where I am.”

***

The guards at the gate don’t appear visually impressive, but their Statuses hint otherwise.

Daemons, all of them. I can’t say I’m surprised.

They give me strange looks with a tinge of concern, but one sharp glare from Artemis and they part as if we were the guests of honor.

I guess she has a reputation.

She smiles at that. A savage smile. I don’t need to look to tell.

“Are we sure I’m the one affected by that Domain?”

We chuckle as we walk the hedge-lined path to the venue’s inner garden.

…

And it occurs to me that…

My voice changed.

When did that happen? Why didn’t I notice?

My wife glances at me and tips her head.

“When did my voice change?”

“Wake.”

“Wait. It’s been like this for that long?”

She nods.

“Gods, I’m so confused.”

Anyway, for the longest time, my voice has been somewhere between a grating hiss and the sound of rocks being crushed.

…At least to me. I’ve been told it sounded differently to different people, depending on what specifically was colloquially connected to some visceral fear for them.

And now, it’s… flutelike? I sound like a human.

“Voice,” Artemis offers, pointing at her throat. “Skill.”

“That… makes a lot of sense. If I’m not using the Skill to speak, then I wouldn’t sound like I usually do… or did, I guess.”

…

“Why do I have the Domain of Malevolence now, do you think? Was it the True Demon Lord thing?”

“Lamashtu,” she answers.

I furrow my brow. “Didn’t you say there wasn’t a god of malevolence?”

“Yes.”

…

“If they’re not the god of malevolence, why did I get that Domain?”

I can feel from our bonds that she’s enjoying my reliance on her. “Subdomain,” she says.

“Of course! Why didn’t I think of that?”

(Because you’re an idiot,) Nyx interjects.

Good to know you’re paying attention.

(I can’t not, and you know it.)

True!

“Ah, Artemis! It’s been ages, hasn’t it?”

While I wasn’t paying attention, we apparently reached the outer edges of the gathering of gods and were immediately approached by a few.

I get the impression that these ones hover around each other.

My wife offers a subtle nod, and then starts conversing with them in her usual confusing speech patterns.

But they don’t seem to be struggling.

“And I see you brought a plus one, for once!” the one in a bright green dress comments.

…The foxkin actually beams at that.

And gestures to me with her free hand – our arms have been intertwined since before entering the garden – and proudly says, “Wife.”

The three gods gasp.

One in a light blue dress is the first to reply. “You married? You? Oh gods, dearie, I thought you never would! Where in the heavens or hells did you meet her?”

“She looks so interesting!” the third chirps.

“Yes!” my wife says through a light blush.

“I suppose I should participate, yes?” I interject. “It wouldn’t do for me to stay silent. Are any of you familiar with Astraea?”

All three nod back. “A terrible fate, oh my goodness. I can’t imagine… and she hasn’t reincarnated, has she? I’d have thought we’d have heard by now if she did,” the one in green says. I get the impression that she’s the leader of this group.

I chuckle. “I did. Well, sort of.”

“Astraea!? Oh, welcome back then! …Wait, didn’t the attendance roster say… oh what was it? I don’t remember seeing your name as Artemis’ plus one…”

“Because it wasn’t. Also, I’m not Astraea,” I reply with a chuckle.

That gets a round of hmm’s and ah’s.

“I am Nemesis. And also Astraea,” I continue.

They look at each other a moment before turning back. “I’m not sure I understand… Nemesis? What do you mean?” the one in green asks.

“Well,” I start, but my wife grips my arm a little tighter.

I guess I should be careful how I word this then.

“I… sort of, ate her soul, I think? I used to be a sort-of god colloquially called the Queen of Hunger, but since I reincarnated the most recent time I feel like a large part of me is just, her.”

(Yeah, very subtle.)

Aaaaand now they’re backing away.

“I’m not going to hurt you or anyone here,” I quickly say. “You don’t need to flee. I’ve done horrible things, yes. And I guess I probably… don’t belong in the light pantheon? At least I’m not expecting an offer to join anytime soon. But I’m not looking to make enemies, I mean it!”

…

That just made them move faster.

My wife sighs.

“Sorry. I guess I should have expected that… Although…”

Hmmm.

No, I’m not mistaken.

I thought they were fleeing in terror like the mortals usually do, but I don’t even have focus on True Sense to tell that they’re rapidly moving through the throng of gods and goddesses, repeating what I’d told them.

“Great,” I whine. “If everyone couldn’t already feel how monstrous I am from a distance, they sure know all about it now.”

“Inevitable.”

“Yeah, you’re not wrong.”

I glance around the crowded garden clearing… but it looks an awful lot like they’re all avoiding us now.

Maybe it’s because of what those three said, considering I’ve been hearing whispers about the monster that killed Astraea permeating the air for some time.

Probably.

Fine. I can still do this much.

I feel Artemis’ hand clench on my shoulder in concern, but I continue anyway.

Greetings, esteemed members of the light pantheon, I project in a range wide enough for even the gate guards to feel. I thank you for your hospitality in allowing me to attend with Artemis. As I’m sure you’ve already heard by now, I am in fact the latest incarnation of the outsider god that slew Astraea. But just as any other gods change between reincarnations, so have I. If you would be willing to offer me the benefit of the doubt, I’m sure we would get along just fine. If you are so inclined, I’m open to meeting you. Thank you.

…

Nothing?

Ah, wait. No, not nothing.

Some of them are quietly laughing. Why?

THEY KNOW WHO YOU ARE, CHILD OF MINE, a voice like a thousand snakes rasps in my mind. NONE ARE SO BOORISH AS TO MISS THE GAMES.

Games?

…Why can I tell where that projection came from?

I start pulling in that direction, but Artemis resists me for a moment.

“Danger,” she says quietly.

“Yes, I know. But we’ll be safer together, won’t we?”

My wife blinks. “What?”

“You didn’t hear it, did you?” I say quietly.

She shakes her head.

That makes sense. She never could hear other people talking in my head… just Nyx and my own thoughts.

“A voice told me that everyone here already knows who I am, from the games.”

“Where?” she asks with a tilt of her head. “Why?”

“I… don’t really know. Whoever they are, they’re that way. And… somehow I know I should really talk to them.”

Her gaze is truly serious.

“…They called me their child.”

I feel all sorts of warning bells from our bonds, her eyes shooting wide, but I turn to pull her into a hug. “It’s going to be alright. We’re just going to talk. That’s all people do at these, right? Just talk.”

That eases… some of her tension, I think, though our bonds are still at a full boil with her concern…

And a little bit of fear.

I’m not used to her being afraid of anything.

“What are you afraid of?”

“Aura,” she says.

I furrow my brow. “What Aura?”

“Yours,” she says. “Hers.”

Hers?

“Whose?”

My wife is silent for a moment and then she says, in a barely audible voice, “Lamashtu.”