I walked beside Orion, pressing through the darkness of the Abythralis forest, thick with damp mist. The cold air cut at my skin, but that wasn't what unsettled me. What made me restless was the silence between us.
I tried to start a conversation.
"Orion… have you ever walked through a forest before?"
She turned her head slightly, her face calm, her tone flat.
"If it is Astraea-sama's will, I will walk. If it is Sovereign's will, I will walk without question."
I fell silent. Too serious. I had only wanted some light talk, but she always tied everything back to her oath of loyalty.
I tried again.
"The air here feels fresh, doesn't it?"
Orion gave a short nod.
"Fresh. But deceiving. Many of Abythralis' creatures hide their presence within this mist. Sovereign must be cautious."
I wanted to sigh, but keeping up appearances was more important. I am the ruler of Ourolith. If I showed boredom or awkwardness, wouldn't that tarnish my image?
So I stayed quiet. But the silence only made the atmosphere heavier. Orion remained on edge, as if every flicker of shadow between the leaves might be a deadly threat.
Then, a roar split the fog. A many-eyed monster emerged, its body the size of a horse, its maw lined with rows of jagged teeth.
I readied myself.
"Finally, my tur—"
An arrow pierced its head before I could even move.
I froze.
"…You're fast."
Orion bowed her head slightly.
"It is unworthy for Sovereign to stain his hands with such filth."
I wanted to argue. I wanted to test my strength in this world. But before I could speak, two more monsters appeared. I raised my hand.
"This time, let me—"
Arrows flew. Both creatures collapsed without a sound. I hadn't even drawn a breath.
I turned to her.
"…Are you always like this?"
Orion looked at me as if I had asked something strange.
"Of course. My foremost duty is to ensure that Sovereign never suffers harm—not even the smallest scratch."
I was speechless. On one hand, I was impressed. Her passive skill clearly worked just as I suspected: arrows appearing as if fate itself had fired them. But on the other hand… I felt pushed aside.
I tried another angle.
"Orion, do you believe I could defeat them myself?"
She answered without hesitation.
"There is no doubt. Sovereign could annihilate such creatures with ease."
I blinked in surprise.
"Then—"
"But," she cut in firmly, "my purpose is to prevent Sovereign from doing what is unnecessary. Victory for Sovereign is absolute, therefore there is no need to display it before lowly beasts."
I clenched my jaw. So, I could—but still wasn't allowed.
We continued walking. Our footsteps mingled with the whisper of mist. I felt the need to try once more.
"Orion, don't you think you're overprotecting me?"
"There is no such thing as 'overprotection' when it comes to Sovereign."
"…Even if I only want a peaceful walk?"
"Even if Sovereign only wishes to walk, I will eliminate whatever stands in the way."
I suppressed a sigh of frustration. No gap. To her, every action of mine was divine decree that must be guarded to the death.
Another monster slipped out from behind the trees. I raised my hand quickly this time.
"Orion, allow me—"
An arrow struck. The creature fell before its body even touched the ground.
I closed my eyes briefly.
"…I didn't even finish the sentence."
Orion regarded me seriously.
"Is Sovereign disappointed that I was too slow? Forgive me. I should have released my arrow before Sovereign sensed the enemy's presence."
I nearly choked on her words. How could she possibly call that slow?
I wondered—is this how Kurumi felt, when she adjusted NPCs with absolute loyalty and power? Of course. Orion was created with attributes drawn from Astraea herself. No wonder she behaved like an excessive replica of devotion.
But now, I couldn't even test myself.
"Orion… don't you want to see my strength with your own eyes?"
She paused, then lowered her head.
"If Sovereign moves, that sight is too noble to be witnessed directly by a servant. I am only meant to see the results, not the process."
I was at a loss for words. This wasn't misunderstanding—it was loyalty far beyond reason.
We walked on. Each time the fog stirred with a hidden presence, her arrows struck before anything could reach me. I could only walk, feigning composure, while inside I wondered: would I have to sneak away someday just to test my own skills?
But I brushed the thought aside. A Sovereign must not act small.
I glanced at Orion. She marched with flawless posture, every motion precise, every sense sharpened.
I sighed inwardly.
"…Kurumi, you really did create something excessive."
We kept walking until the faint sound of flowing water reached our ears. The dense trees gradually gave way, and before us stretched a river, shimmering under the light of the moon.
I stepped closer. Each time a monster emerged from the trees, it collapsed before it could even reach ten meters. Orion's arrows struck without pause, piercing even those that tried to flee.
I sighed inwardly. Will her arrows never run out? If only she did, I could at least try using one skill…
I crouched by the riverside. The reflection on the water was strangely bright. The moonlight shouldn't have been able to pierce the thick canopy of Abythralis, yet the surface glowed—showing me my own reflection.
And I froze. It wasn't a human face I saw. It was my game avatar—an Astral Kin. A humanoid of radiant light, with translucent skin, faceless, only two hollow voids where eyes should be.
"…This…" My gaze fell to my palm. Still human. Exactly like my body back on Earth. Exactly like when Kurumi stood beside me in Ourolith.
So… was it only Kurumi and I who saw our human forms? Did every other being see me as my in-game avatar?
"Orion."
She immediately turned. "Yes, Sovereign."
"…What do I look like to you?"
She lowered her head, her voice reverent. "Sovereign is a being that transcends all mortal description."
"…That's not an answer." I exhaled. "Do I… look human?"
Her eyes widened. She went still, then spoke as if offended. "It is unthinkable to compare Sovereign to a mere human. They are insects, unworthy of even dreaming to stand beside you."
I fell silent. So it was true… I must not look human at all.
"…But I was human once," I muttered softly.
Orion's gaze sharpened, as if I had spoken some unfathomable cosmic mystery.
I quickly shut my mouth. "Forget it. It's not important."
This was troublesome. If I entered a human settlement like this, they'd definitely panic. I needed another solution.
I opened my system menu. A blue panel floated before me. My fingers sifted through the inventory, searching for something useful.
Orion's wary eyes never left me. "Sovereign… are you summoning another power?"
I didn't answer. My hand paused on an old item—the Necklace of Masquerade. A collaboration-event reward from Dungeon Forge. I had displayed it in my collection cabinet, never once wearing it—I hated the outdated anime it came from.
"…Never thought I'd be using this now." I grasped the necklace and put it on.
Light engulfed me. In an instant, my form shifted—into a high school boy in uniform, exactly like that old anime character from the collaboration event.
I looked at the river's reflection. "…I really do look human."
"—Sovereign!" Orion's voice cracked into a half-scream. Her face turned pale, eyes wide with panic. "Why have you taken the shape of a human?! Do you… intend to abandon Ourolith?"
I nearly choked. "What?! No, that's not it!"
She bowed low, trembling. "Forgive me. I had no right to doubt. If Sovereign truly intends to cast aside the throne and live as a human—"
"Stop." I cut her off. "That's not the reason. I just… don't want to cause a commotion when entering a human settlement."
She went still, watching me closely. I added more firmly, hoping it sounded convincing:
"Think of it as… a stealth mission."
Orion dropped into another deep bow. "I am foolish. Forgive me for doubting Sovereign's grand strategy."
I covered my face with a hand. Why did every word I spoke get twisted into something exaggerated?
With a sigh, I opened my inventory again. I pulled out a long black cloak and draped it over myself, hiding the silly school uniform.
Then I turned to Orion. "You too. Wear this."
I handed her another cloak.
She frowned. "Me?"
"Yes. Your appearance is too conspicuous. That cosmic silk armor sparkling with starlight will draw unnecessary attention."
She stared at the cloak for a long time, then finally accepted it. "…If that is your command, I will hide my light."
I nodded in satisfaction. "Good. This way, we can walk among humans without becoming a spectacle."
Once again, Orion bowed deeply. "As always, your wisdom is beyond compare. Even in human form, Sovereign cannot be hidden."
"…It's just an event item," I muttered under my breath.
"Of course," she replied earnestly. "An event so great even the gods could not comprehend it."
I stared up at the dark forest sky. God help me… how am I supposed to explain to an NPC who sees me as a supreme entity that this is nothing but a cosmetic item from a game?
I patted my chest. "Alright, what matters is we can now enter the human city safely."
Orion nodded. "If that is your will, I shall erase anyone who dares stand in our way."
I flailed a hand in alarm. "No! Don't erase anyone! Remember—we're blending in. Quietly."
Orion's eyes hardened with resolve. "…Very well. Then I shall let them live—so long as they don't stare at you too long."
"…I suppose that's tolerable."
This is going to be exhausting.