As the light faded, when Phaethon and Miko Yotsuya stepped on solid ground again, the scenery around them had already changed.
No longer the fantastical world of Orario, but familiar modern urban scenery—
Asphalt roads, rows of shop signs, and the bustling noise of traffic from the distance.
"We're back..."
Miko looked at the familiar street scene before her, murmuring to herself.
However, before she could fully recover from the daze of crossing worlds, she instinctively shivered.
Because in her vision through the Mystic Eyes, enhanced by the blessing and now more acute.
On this ordinary bustling street, countless twisted evil spirits were surging toward them.
Some looked like broken human forms, others like distorted animals, and some were simply indescribable masses of filthy aggregation.
Perhaps because Phaethon hadn't used his power, these evil spirits instinctively wanted to approach this higher-level existence.
However, just as Miko felt a chill and was about to be submerged by this tide of evil spirits.
The warm and sacred light emanating from Phaethon beside her, like the sun, just inadvertently leaked out a trace.
"Sizzle——!!!"
Like red-hot iron touching ice, all the evil spirits of various forms throughout the entire street.
The moment they contacted that insignificant ray of light, they couldn't even let out screams.
They had already turned to nothingness, completely disappearing.
In just the blink of an eye, the street originally filled with cold aura instantly became refreshing, even the air seemed much cleaner.
"Eh?"
Miko stared dumbfounded at this purifying scene, not reacting for a moment.
Phaethon just calmly shook his head, his face showing a trace of barely perceptible disappointment.
"Too weak."
He murmured: "The energy contained in these evil spirits is chaotic and weak, not even comparable to the monsters on the first floor of the dungeon.
If we wanted to use them to improve Familia members' strength, they're completely inadequate."
One of his purposes for this trip was to assess the strength of Miko's world, to see if the evil spirits here could become experience points for the Familia's future.
But now it seemed the results were obviously unsatisfactory.
These low-level evil spirits probably wouldn't even be worth it for LV1 novices to practice on.
However, Phaethon's gaze then turned toward a certain direction.
"Now I can only hope that the guy occupying the shrine, impersonating a deity, can contribute some experience points to Miko."
Just then, Miko finally snapped out of her shock, suddenly remembering something more important!
She hurriedly took out her phone, looked at the time on the screen, and her face instantly turned pale.
"Oh no... it's already the next morning!"
After her adventure in the other world, a whole night had passed here!
"Mom and my little brother must be worried sick!"
Miko was extremely anxious and quickly unlocked her phone, her fingers trembling as she dialed her mother's number.
The call was quickly answered, and her mother's anxious voice came through the receiver, tinged with tears.
"Miko! Where did you go? You didn't come home all night, your phone was unreachable, Kyosuke and I were worried to death!"
"Mom, I-I'm sorry!"
Miko quickly apologized, then had a flash of inspiration.
"After school yesterday, I decided to stay at Hana's house at the last minute.
My phone died, and I forgot to tell you in advance. I'm really sorry for making you worry!"
"You went to a friend's house?"
Her mother's voice carried a hint of confusion, but more relief.
"You child, you can't do this next time, at least call to let us know!"
"Yes, yes! I know I was wrong, Mom!"
After some explanation and promises, Miko finally calmed her worried mother and hung up the phone.
She let out a long sigh of relief, patting her chest, feeling her heart still racing.
However, just as she had put down her phone and was about to discuss the next move with Phaethon, a voice full of energy and vitality suddenly rang out behind her.
"Miko-chan... good morning! Eh? Did I just hear you mention me?"
Miko's body suddenly stiffened, and she turned around extremely rigidly.
She saw a petite and well-proportioned girl with brilliant golden short hair and a sunny smile always on her face.
Standing there, looking at her curiously.
By sheer coincidence, it was Hana, whom she had just mentioned on the phone!
Hana! Why was she here? And she had just happened to hear the phone conversation!
Miko's brain instantly went blank, feeling cold sweat immediately streaming down.
"Ah... H-Hana..."
Miko stammered, her facial expression colorful, completely unsure how to explain this sudden exposure.
Hana didn't notice the strange expression on Miko's face.
Her attention was quickly drawn to the gray-haired young man with unique temperament and handsome appearance standing beside Miko.
"Wow! Miko-chan, who is this handsome guy? Is he your boyfriend?"
Hana's eyes sparkled as she curiously approached, her tone full of gossip.
"N-no! Hana, don't talk nonsense!"
Miko quickly waved her hands in denial, her cheeks turning even redder.
She secretly glanced at Phaethon, finding that he still maintained his calm and composed demeanor, seemingly completely unbothered by this small embarrassment.
"Then... who is he?"
Hana pressed relentlessly.
Miko opened her mouth but found she had no idea how to introduce Phaethon's identity.
Could she say "This is a deity I met in another world, he just brought me back after defeating the final boss"?
Hana would definitely think she had lost her mind!
Just as Miko was caught in an awkward situation, not knowing what to do, Phaethon calmly spoke up.
He looked at the energetic blonde girl before him, his face showing a gentle smile.
"Hello, Miss Hana. My name is Phaethon, I'm not from this world, but a deity from another world."
"Pfft——!"
Hana nearly choked, staring at Phaethon with wide eyes.
Then she suddenly grabbed Miko's arm, leaning close to her ear to whisper.
"Miko-chan! This handsome guy... doesn't he have a bit of chunibyo syndrome?
A deity? Haha, that's so funny!"
"No... Hana..."
Miko looked at her best friend's "don't kid me" expression and could only show a smile more bitter than crying.
"He... what he said is all true, this person... really is a deity."
"Eh?"
Hana's smile instantly froze, and she looked at Miko in disbelief.
"Miko-chan, you... you don't have a fever, do you? How are you also saying nonsense? Are you possessed by something unclean?"
Hana nervously looked Miko up and down, her face full of worry.
Seeing this, Phaethon spoke again, his voice not loud but clearly reaching both their ears.
"Miko hasn't been possessed, she's telling the truth.
Not long ago, I summoned her to my world and made her my Familia member."
He paused, his gaze turning to Miko, saying gently.
"Now we're going to resolve some troubles belonging to Miko. Miss Hana, if you're worried, you can also come with us to see."