Chapter 475: The 4 Sisters

“…” I crash down from the sky onto the floor of Pandora’s castle, with Aqua perched calmly on my shoulders despite the incredible speed of our descent.

After Pandora descended into the abyss, I left “Zone 0” and returned to my palace to care for Aqua and give her some clothes, while also issuing orders to my servants to manage the palace in my absence.

“Aqua, this is where we will live from now on,” I say, my tail swaying with mild excitement. Living here means my daughter can be with her sisters, learn properly about the world, and, most importantly, face some real competition.

“…” I set her down and, by sheer coincidence, notice that everyone is here—Grimm, Tsukuyomi, and Zephyra—and they’ve all brought their daughters. Zephyra has a somewhat vacant stare, looking at nothing in particular.

Tsukuyomi simply watches her daughter while reading a book, and Grimm obsessively observes her own as if something is happening that she doesn’t like.

“Well, look what the cat dragged in,” Grimm notices me and says with a hateful smile that makes me want to kill her.

“Grimm…” I truly feel disgust for this thing, this entity that should never have existed. This being tarnishes the image of the primordial goddess just by existing. If she weren’t so adept at hiding, I would have killed her long ago.

“…Hey, is that brat another one of Pandora’s daughters?” Grimm asks, looking at my daughter. Aqua looks back at her and growls with clear antipathy, while I smile, pleased that Aqua already senses that Grimm is no good.

“She’s the spitting image of you, really,” she says with a smile, as Pandora’s other daughters look at Aqua with curiosity. They approach, with Azazel running right up to Aqua.

…

…

…

I look at Mama Delphina and then at this pale woman, sensing a dangerous aura. This pale woman is dangerous, like a great predator feigning neutrality before it strikes.

“Grimm, you’d better watch your mouth. I might just kill you since we’re so close. The only reason I haven’t is that you’re also married to Pandora,” Mama says with clear displeasure directed at the pale woman.

“Aqua, you can go play with your sisters. Try not to hurt them or anything,” Mama Delphina gives me a little push as I look at the girls who are my sisters.

“Hi!! I’m Azazel!!! Who are you?” The girl named Azazel speaks excitedly, grabbing my hand and pulling me. I stare at her, assessing whether or not she’s a threat.

’She’s strong, but clearly stupid… not dangerous.’ I determine she poses no danger to me and follow her as we reach the other two. The girl with wings and a tail looks at me, tilting her head in confusion while letting out a cute, soft growl.

“This is Lycoris!! She’s like the third sister! And you’re the fourth! So you’re the little sister of everyone!” Azazel says animatedly, and I also note that this Lycoris is no threat at all, since she can’t even speak.

“…” But then my gaze falls on the other one, the one with white hair. She has a deep and intelligent look. As I assess her, she assesses me, and we both understand—we are dangerous to each other.

“I’m Eclipsya, what’s your name?” She raises her hand, an obvious test. I ponder whether I should speak or not. Speaking is still somewhat difficult, but I know how.

“Aqua…” I say just that, looking at her hand but not taking it. She nods while looking me in the eyes.

“We’ll have much to discuss here, don’t you think?” Eclipsya says, and I merely give a nod.

’So, she is the greatest danger to me… a rival! A true rival.’ She has the look of someone powerful, someone destined for a grand future, just like me. Truly the most talented sister here.

“…” She looks at Azazel and goes to her while I watch the two talking, and my mind quickly makes the connection between them.

’So, you’ve chosen her… gathering allies… I need allies too to combat this powerful rival.’ I go over to Lycoris, who is chewing on a sword like a toy, and take her hand.

“…” Lycoris looks at me, confused, as I decide she will be my ally. She seems a bit foolish, but her strength is notable; she possesses more magic than I do, and more than the other two.

’Yes, choosing allies is important…’

“Mama Delphina… like… this one,” I say, looking at Mama Delphina, who is talking with that dangerous pale woman.

“Of course, dear, keep whatever you want. I’m busy right now,” Mama Delphina says without paying much attention to me, while Eclipsya looks at me and gives an arrogant smile.

’Still hard to form complete sentences…’ I need to practice speaking. In that empty place, all I did was observe Mama Delphina and Mama Pandora, so since I never practiced speech, I can’t form complete sentences yet.

And all the time I had to practice was when Mama took me to her house to put clothes on me before we came here, which took about three days since she was giving orders to women dressed in white and black.

“Raah!” Lycoris looks at me and bares her teeth in a display of strength? I look back at her and smile, showing my teeth, which are just as sharp as hers. She looks at me, and her eyes seem to sparkle.

“Hey! Hey! Hey! Aren’t your clothes way too small!?” That girl named Azazel says to me, running over. I look at my clothes, which are similar to Mama Delphina’s.

“No… I like them.” I like these clothes. They cover only what needs to be covered and leave the rest on display, which is fitting for a being like me. After all, showing off my magnificent and superior body like this is proof that I am proud of what I am.

“…” We all wear different styles of clothing, it seems, styles more reminiscent of our mothers’. Lycoris wears a little white dress that covers most of her body. Azazel wears elegant clothes that leave her thighs and arms exposed.

And Eclipsya wears clothes with a somewhat strange design, but they look ceremonial and stand out on her.

“Do you wanna play with us?! The more, the merrier! Oh, and here!” Azazel hands me a small glass vial filled with a red liquid. I smell the strong scent and recognize it as the blood of that dangerous pale woman.

’…’

“Thank you…” I say this while discreetly tucking the vial into my clothes. I’ll discard it later; I refuse to drink a suspicious liquid from a woman my mother dislikes.

“I accept… to play…” I need to understand the power dynamics here, and I need to see how much control my new rival has over everyone.

’That’s right! I am superior to most of them! I must maintain my power! Just as Mama Delphina subjugated Mama Pandora, I must show that I am at the top!!’

“Great!! Eclipsyaaaa, carry me, please!!?” Azazel says, already jumping onto Eclipsya. Eclipsya helps her up while Azazel sits on her shoulders. Lycoris seems to want to climb onto them too, but I grab her tail, stopping her from running over.

“…” She looks at me, confused, while I want her to carry me, since I’ve chosen Lycoris as my helper.

“Climb… on you,” I murmur. She seems confused. I try to climb onto her, and she understands, helping me as I drape my thighs around her neck to steady myself.

“Better.” Being up high like this is preferable, and I like it. I look down at Eclipsya, and this time I give her an arrogant smile. She rolls her eyes and starts walking, carrying Azazel.

“It’s fun, right?! More little sisters are appearing!! I like it! Like, like, like, there are more people to play with! Hahahaha!” Azazel laughs animatedly, as if she’s won something good.

“…” Lycoris just follows Eclipsya while I observe that Eclipsya already leads these two. But that will change! I will make a point of ending this rival’s reign and seizing power among the four of us.

“Rival… I will… hmmm… be superior,” I say to Eclipsya, who stops for a moment but doesn’t look back at me. Lycoris looks up, and Azazel also looks confused. It seems neither of them is as smart as Eclipsya and I.

“Do whatever you want, little fish, as long as you don’t touch what’s mine,” Eclipsya says with seriousness. I respect that in her—someone who immediately marks her territory.

“Good… Then… sister Lycoris… is mine.” I also mark my territory right away, establishing my boundaries that she must not cross.

“…Well, do keep that scaly reptile away from my plans with Azazel. In fact, I’m glad you’re taking her away from us. She’s already interfered with my fun with Azazel several times,” Eclipsya says.

Azazel makes a shocked face, while Lycoris doesn’t seem to grasp the tension but senses that something is off.

“Little sister Eclipsya is angry?” Azazel asks, leaning way down until her face is near Eclipsya’s, her head hanging upside-down.

“No… but because of this, Azazel, we can have, like, games with competition. Sounds fun, doesn’t it?”

“Oooohhhh Yes! YES!!” Azazel falls for Eclipsya’s lies, disguising our confrontation as mere play.

’If that’s how you want it, fine… I need to expand my territory!’ I feel competitive with this girl who is as… interesting as I am.

The four of us begin to “play” as our mothers talk among themselves, likely sorting out our living arrangements in this castle that I know belongs to Mama Pandora.

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