Izumi stared at the silver-haired girl in front of him, his expression turning increasingly strange.
"…Love at first sight?"
He took a step back, eyes full of suspicion.
"Are you sure you're not just being a creep?"
"There's no such thing as love at first sight."
"You're just after my body, aren't you?"
Nyarlathotep burst into laughter, her cheeks faintly flushed with a teasing blush.
"My, my~ don't be so blunt!"
"Though… you're not entirely wrong~♪"
She winked again, completely unapologetic.
"It's just that it's rare for me to meet someone who actually catches my interest."
Izumi's frown deepened.
"You expect me to believe that?"
"You don't even believe it yourself."
"Drop the act. What's your real objective?"
"Say it clearly. Otherwise… even if I can't beat you, I'll keep fighting."
Nyarlathotep sighed helplessly.
"Wow, you're really cautious."
"Fine."
She raised both hands slightly in surrender.
"I'll tell the truth."
"I want to stay by your side."
"I'm planning to… join you."
Silence.
Then—
Izumi gave her a look of pure disbelief.
"…You think I'd buy that?"
"Someone stronger than me… coming to rely on me?"
"No one would believe that story."
Nyarlathotep shrugged casually.
"But that is the truth."
"You can think of it as… an investment."
She glanced at the massive world behind Izumi, a meaningful smile appearing on her lips.
"I've wandered through countless worlds."
"But yours… is different."
Her voice softened, almost thoughtful.
"Your world is drawing others in."
"Not just nearby ones… even distant worlds are being pulled toward it."
"If nothing changes…"
"This place will eventually become the center of everything."
"And you—"
She looked back at him.
"—will stand at the top."
Izumi narrowed his eyes.
"…An investment, huh?"
"You're betting on my future?"
Nyarlathotep nodded brightly.
"Exactly~!"
"And if you still don't trust me…"
She clasped her hands together.
"You can incorporate me into your divine system."
"That way, I'll be completely under your control."
"You'd believe me then, right?"
That made Izumi pause.
He actually considered it.
"…If that's the case… it might work."
"But are you sure?"
"You're one of the Three Pillar Gods of the Cthulhu Mythos."
"That one… wouldn't allow it, would he?"
He was referring to Azathoth—the primordial chaos at the origin of that mythology.
Nyarlathotep blinked.
"Azathoth?"
Then she casually dropped a bombshell.
"He's gone."
"Our system already collapsed."
"I'm basically a free, wandering god now~"
"I can join whatever system I want."
"…What?"
Izumi froze.
A wild god?
And more importantly—
Azathoth is gone?
Who could possibly erase something like that?
Nyarlathotep giggled at his reaction.
"You're not supposed to know yet~"
"You'll understand when you reach that level."
She leaned forward slightly, her ahoge bouncing excitedly.
"So?"
"Do you believe me now?"
Izumi fell silent for a moment.
Then—
He flicked his hand.
A glowing divine mark appeared and floated toward her.
"…Fine."
"If that's your condition, I have no objections."
Nyarlathotep's eyes sparkled.
Without hesitation—
She accepted it.
The mark sank into her body.
"Mm~… so big."
SMACK.
Izumi's hand landed on her head instantly.
"Be serious."
"You've gone far enough."
"Behave yourself from now on."
Nyarlathotep just giggled, completely unfazed.
Then she naturally hooked her arm around his.
"Hehe~♪"
"Nice to meet you, then~"
"Now, now—let me see our future home!"
Before Izumi could respond—
She dragged him straight into the world.
With the mark accepted, the barrier no longer rejected her.
She entered effortlessly.
The moment she stepped inside—
Her eyes widened.
"Whoa…!!"
"This world is amazing!"
"So many worlds… fused together?!"
"So it really was you."
"All those missing worlds…"
Her excitement was completely genuine.
After a quick glance around—
She suddenly let go of Izumi and dashed off.
"Incredible!! I'm going exploring~!!"
And just like that—
She disappeared toward the Dimensional City.
...
Moments later—
Several figures appeared beside Izumi.
Gaia, Alaya, and Ophis.
Their expressions were… uneasy.
"Lord Izumi…"
Gaia spoke carefully.
"Is it really okay… to let her in?"
The others shared the same concern.
Nyarlathotep was simply too strong.
Izumi, however, shook his head calmly.
"It's fine."
"Our world is different."
"She now bears my mark."
"That means…"
His gaze turned toward the direction she vanished.
"Everything about her… is within my control."
"No problem."