Returned from Another World, Earth Turned Out to Be Quite the Fantasy Too. Also, Losing Heroines, Stop Looking This Way. - V2 Chapter 61.5

Between Talks: “Are you looking for power?”

A nameless goddess born in the modern era as the goddess of love—self-proclaimed Ai-chan—was sitting on a swing in the park, licking a candy while waiting for someone.

“―Ai-chan!”

Dressed in a T-shirt, zip-up hoodie, mini skirt, high socks, and sneakers, Ai appeared as a young girl.

Breathlessly approaching her was Yuto Miyahara.

“Yuto-kun. What’s up? You suddenly contacted me after not getting in touch for a while?”

She puffed up her cheeks, feigning loneliness, though she knew all too well the reason. Yuto had been too busy with numerous women to remember Ai’s existence.

For Ai, it was just as well; she had blended in as one of his many girls without doing anything special, so being forgotten was actually for the best.

Of course, she was aware that currently, there wasn’t a single woman willing to deal with Yuto.

“I just suddenly wanted to see you. Sorry for being so sudden.”

“No, it’s okay.”

Ai inwardly laughed at Yuto.

After calling every girl in his phonebook, Ai was the last he could connect with.

Despite not remembering even the faces or names until then, she was amazed he could say such things.

(Even as a kid you were boring, but now you’ve become even more so.)

Yuto tried to catch up, but he was the only one talking.

His updates were unbearable—complaints about Natsuki Yura, irritation towards his brother, and scorn for the girls he couldn’t contact, all pouring out of him incessantly.

(Is it time now?)

“Yuto-kun, you know?”

“What?”

“Do you know why you’re having such a tough time?”

“How could I know? It’s like the world has changed overnight, and I’m really struggling. It seems like everyone has forgotten how good I’ve been to them.”

Ai almost reflexively said “annoying” but held herself back with effort.

“Actually, Yuto-kun, you have an amazing power.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“But, it was sealed by Natsuki Yura.”

“―Natsuki did!?”

Hearing the name Natsuki Yura, Yuto’s demeanor changed.

Though initially skeptical of Ai’s claim, the mention of Natsuki’s name made him more receptive.

“You had charm, the power of love, but Natsuki Yura sealed it.”

“Wait, hold on. Are you saying I have some power and it was sealed by Natsuki?”

“Listen carefully. I won’t say this more than once. If you don’t understand, that’s the end of our conversation.”

Ai smiled with a bit of intimidation, and Yuto nodded, slightly trembling, “Yeah, okay.”

“I am the goddess of love. When you were young, Yuto-kun, I bestowed upon you divine protection and the power of a hero.”

“Ai-chan is a goddess… and I’m a hero?”

“Yes. Because of my blessing and the hero’s power, everyone loved you. You were supposed to awaken to an incredible power eventually…”

“And Natsuki sealed it, you say?”

“Yeah. I don’t know where or how Natsuki Yura got it, but he has a hero’s power that’s even stronger than yours, Yuto-kun. With that power, he sealed away all of your abilities before they could awaken.”

“Heroes, really? I thought they only existed in the silly comics and novels Kazuto reads.”

(You’re the silliest of them all, though.)

“But now it all makes sense.”

“Hou?”

“I’ve always thought I was chosen. But a hero? Loved by a goddess?”

“Well, I don’t actually love you… but you’re not listening, huh?”

Ai knew Yuto was quick to accept things that suited him, but she couldn’t help but smirk at his level of delusion.

“So, how can I get my powers back?”

“Hmm. It might be impossible. Natsuki Yura’s seal wasn’t meant to be undone, so it’s all messed up. That means your power might never be released again.”

“No way… Damn it, it’s always the same! Natsuki always wants what’s mine and takes it!”

(That’s you, though! Ah, but this kid hasn’t managed to take anything truly important from Natsuki Yura. How lame!)

While inwardly mocking Yuto, she continued to play the part of a supportive young girl.

“So, here’s the deal. I, the goddess of love, will give you a second blessing, Yuto-kun.”

“―Eh?”

“If you wish, I can give you the power to utterly defeat Natsuki Yura. What do you say?”

Ai stepped down from the swing, smiling warmly as she reached out her hand.

The next moment, Yuto had grasped her hand.

(Wow, this guy. He doesn’t even hesitate to gain the power to kill his childhood friend. Poor Natsuki Yura, hang in there.)

“Alright. If you’re prepared to kill your childhood friend, Yuto-kun, I’ll give you the power!”

“Of course! If I can kill Natsuki, I’d be happy to! Without him, everyone will be mine! Hahaha! And while I’m at it, I’ll torment and then kill Kazuto, my contemptuous parents, the annoying teachers, and the girls who don’t listen to me!”

(Ugh, that’s creepy. As the goddess of love, I can see there’s absolutely no love in this guy. Sigh. But I guess I have no choice. I accidentally gave the blessing to the wrong brother, so as a goddess, I have to see this through to the end. Mammon, mammon.)

The goddess of love couldn’t undo the seal that Natsuki Yura placed on Yuto.

However, she gave him a different, powerful force instead.

(Mammon and Ren seem to be plotting against Natsuki Yura, so why not join in? Tsukuyomi and Lucifer are annoying, but, oh well, it’s fine. Fufu, I’m looking forward to seeing what happens with Natsuki Yura, but also how Kazuto Miyahara grows. Mammon, mammon.)

“―Wait, I’m starting to sound like that darn Mammon!”

“Ai-chan? What’s mammon?”

“Ah, ahahaha. It’s nothing, reallyー”

〜〜Afterword〜〜

This was Yuto-kun’s last moment to shine. It was necessary, so I let him have it. “The last” moment for him. He will appear only one more time.

::As a palate cleanser::

Ren: “Hey, hey, Mammon-san. Why do you want to make Samael-san the Demon Lord?”

Mammon: “Want to know, Ren? Alright. Mammon, mammon. This goes back to when I was in demon kindergarten, already making a name for myself as a demon of greed.”

Ren: “There’s a kindergarten in the demon world?”

Mammon: “From a young age, I was known for my greed. I’d take carrots from kids who couldn’t eat them, force kids who wet their beds to swap their underwear with my spare ones, and soothe kids missing their mom, making them stop crying and leaving no need for a parent or teacher. Mammon, mammon!”

Ren: “As expected of Mammon-san, so greedy… Huh?”

Mammon: “That’s when Samael-sama, who was the boss of the kindergarten, told me, ‘Mammon, mammon!'”

Ren: “No way!”

Mammon: “Yes! I decided then and there to follow him. From that day on, I became the greedy demon Mammon, and also mammon, mammon!”

Ren: “That’s deep! So deep!”

Mammon: “Right? After that, I conquered demon elementary school, middle school, and aimed to conquer the whole country in high school, but then that detestable Satan appeared! Curse it, mammon, mammon! Even thinking about it now makes me mammon, mammon!”

Ai-chan: “…Wait! I ended up listening in, but is that really a story from the underworld? It does sound like something out of an old-school delinquent manga, you know?”