While I want to interrogate Zika a bit more for that stunt she pulled there, class starts before I can do so.

Well, with my budding prowess in mind controlling others there might be the option to do so either way but I certainly won't go down that path.

Just because I could do something it doesn't mean I should.

And that distinction should especially remain maintained when I could literally do anything.

So I’d rather obey the rules and endure class.

I even pay attention to the lessons since I think of myself as a good student and only was on the weaker side before because I was so damned tired.

Which is still the one thing I really appreciate about my condition.

On the other side, I once again have to wonder where Makoto is, who's again absent from class.

If this keeps up there might be issues for him to get transferred to the next semester.

Or do exorcists get some kind of free pass for such matters?

This reminds me that I still have no clue how this organization is even incorporated in this country.

If they're required to prevent demon massacres a sense of officiality should exist, right?

The lesson eventually ends but Zika manages to dodge me till the next period starts.

Then, during the next break, I'm distracted by Chiaki who wants to talk about new "vacation trips" and, much more concerning, new themes for places we might "travel" to like a ski resort or a tropical beach.

Which essentially means she wants me to build them from scratch.

In the end, it means Zika continues to successfully elude me.

This goes on all the way till school is over.

However, after this last ring, I have no intention to let her escape.

"Zika-rin! Why are you avoiding me? And this after that stunt you pulled! What did you even want to achieve with this?" (I)

Fortunately, aside from Chiaki, everyone is too occupied with leaving class to listen in on me.

It might not be fair of me to use her name to force her to humor me, but I'm pretty sure she broke some terms of our pact by doing this.

"Sigh. I had my reason. Well, you already tackled the primary one by working on another one of your greater lackings. Albeit, I also like to remind you at times that I'm a being that blooms if the world lies in ruins and children, women, and whatever scream and cry in despair. Those are the times when I'm happy! But it seems you keep forgetting about this one simple fact." (Z)

"Yes, yes, you're an evil mind-control demon and things would be so much easier would I be willing to mind-control others without remorse. Is that what you're trying to prove to me? If so, then why did you wait until now?" (I)

It might be that I let out a bit of miasma to literally vent my anger.

"Okay, okay. The thing is, some of the other wonders aren't too happy with your last meeting. The issue is that those local beings lack the fundamental experience about some of the most basic lessons, like not angering outer gods. Then put their territorial aggressiveness into the equation and we have a recipe for disaster." (Z)

"What? Are you saying they're going to attack me? Openly?!" (I)

"Unlikely. I suppose they can at least recognize that you're far above them. Rather they might try to subtly drive you out of here. You know, like some apartment owners do with their tenants. Small stuff like little pranks that aren't easy to trace back to the particular individuals. A thought that might have emboldened them. The issue I see is that they might not consider that a greater demon like you wouldn't know how to properly distract people afterward when they're going to play their supernatural tricks on you, which could cause issues." (Z)

"Goddamnit, tell me this isn't true! I have no nerve to deal with a bunch of asocial demons! Because I'm a little fed up after this weekend." (I)

This "greatly extended" weekend.

"You truly seem a little off." (Z)

"Nah! Iori is just being a little grumpy! We had a great time over there!" (C)

"Over there? So you really went through with going to your inner realm?" (Z)

"Yes. Yes we did." (I)

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Together with my distrustful exorcist friend, his crazy mother, and even my own mother, who was most of the time linked to my demon daughter.

"To summarize, it was quite the trip." (I)

"Not sure what is so adventurous about visiting a cut-off pocket dimension completely under your control." (Z)

"Awwh! It was great! I never before had so much fun! We saw so many interesting things, places, people." (C)

"P-people!? By all the great ones, what did you do this time?" (Z)

Somehow I knew that part might rile up this demon.

"It wasn't my fault!" (I)

"Are you aware that you're using this quote awfully often? Usually after whatever happened, by all means, was your fault." (Z)

"Sorry, but it was just one stray thought. And one moment later I have generations of people building up a medieval society in my demon-infested dream world! And now I have something like a soul farm operation going on there! As if I could have done anything about this at this point!" (I)

"I dread asking you, but what exactly happened on this trip?" (Z)

"So much stuff! It was so cool! Next time you'll have to accompany us!" (C)

"Or I might slowly pull my nails out, shortly followed by every single hair on my head, one after the other. Now, may I please get a report so I can assess if I should prepare an emergency escape to another dimension?" (Z)

Melodramatic as ever this demon.

"It wasn't so wild. We got there, discovered the people, which is actually what they're called. They're quite normal if not for the fact that they have colored bodies. And no, not in a racist way, but in an all-variants-of-the-rainbow way. After that first meeting, the others kinda convinced me to stay and figure things out." (I)

"Yes, that sounds like you. What happened then?" (Z)

"Not much. We blended in after our introduction and stayed in our roles for a while." (I)

"Have you considered that they reacted like this because you subconsciously wanted them to accept you?" (Z)

"No. We had a somewhat decent excuse." (I)

"Sure, because foreigners of unknown origins are always fondly welcomed. Proceed please." (Z)

Does she have to be so cynical?

"Uh, as I said, we stayed in our roles. I was a maid, by the way, and avoided drawing attention to my person. Eventually I messed up and had to cover everything up." (I)

"That's not surprising, but since you tried to casually gloss over that part hoping I'd ignore it, I'd like to ask the following. What eventually happened when you got exposed?" (Z)

"Nothing big. It was just one person and since I have no intention to be their goddess I made her promise not to talk about this." (I)

"Hearing this I almost wish to have been present. This kind of crest fall from belief is a hard-to-come-by delicacy." (Z)

"I seriously tried to stay polite and friendly towards her." (I)

"Sure. This person was certainly very comfortable with this arrangement. It seems like once again you gave your all to sidestep any kind of confrontation, as advised as it would've been to actually fit your role." (Z)

"Hey, you know I wouldn't be a good deity and they already had their own god." (I)

If she had drunk anything she would now spew it into my face.

Though, I'm a bit afraid because of those small flames coming from her mouth.

"What is that about a god? Has another outer being truly successfully latched onto your realm?! That shouldn't even be possible! Eternal void, we're so screwed if that's the case." (Z)

"No, totally not! It was just a book passage they misinterpreted. They read something about lifeforce auras and came up with 'Aureas', the god of auras. But there was never any god present while we were there." (I)

"Hm, doesn't ring a bell. Okay, as always I'm deeply concerned, but I'll believe you for now. Anything else?" (Z)

"Uh, some minor adventures and mishaps from my side. The only big thing was my departure. They caught the maid which I startled after I did too many odd things in a row and then I had to play the big bad demon. And..." (I)

"Wait, wait, wait, wait! You played demon?" (Z)

"As a cover story, so they wouldn't have to realize that I'm their goddess. It worked out perfectly. I even gave them a good feeling by losing the big end fight." (I)

"Sigh. There's so much wrong with this. I don't even want to imagine your bad acting going like 'Oh! I got hit! The pain!' or something like this." (Z)

"Just saying, I was totally convincing! They even got a powerup so I had a good excuse to lose convincingly." (I)

Suddenly Zika's eyes spring wide open and turn black.

"Power up? What kind of power up did you gave them?" (Z)

"Not me. Okay that one was a bit weird. They just became stronger somehow and fought more ferociously." (I)

"People don't just become stronger! There's always a cause and it's certainly not the goddamned power of friendship! So in detail, what happened at that time?" (Z)

She's quite intense if the feeling of concern slips out of her like this.

"Well, it was simply a fierce battle, or rather, I made it look as such. They grew desperate, prayed to that god and suddenly their life force grew more intense. Yes, okay, I found that a little weird, but maybe they just found new determination to fight?" (I)

"I... don't think so. But this is... ridiculous. I mean, no way... Even if it's... you?! This is just... I mean... Pfft... Or? Ha... Haha... Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!" (Z)

Okay, I think I officially went through with it and finally broke Zika.

She lost all focus and is cringing, laughing her demon organs out while partly losing control of her human shape in favor of her demon's.

"Iori, I'm growing a bit concerned for her." (C)

"Me too. Zika, are you okay?" (I)

It takes far too long till this demon is anywhere near ready to talk.

Finally, she can at least laugh a bit quieter and I repeat my question.

"Probably? Just heard the joke of the... No idea which timeframe I could apply here. It's just too fucking great." (Z)

"Would you be so kind to include us in your apparent humoristic gem?" (I)

"I'd like to know as well!" (C)

"Fine, fine. There would be no point to hold onto this. There's just a very simple punchline to basically all of existence." (Z)

She even has to breathe in before saying it out loud.

"You my dear just created your very own god. A divine entity originating from the most unholy thing in existence! If this isn't proof that the multiverse has a sense of humor I don't know! Pffft!" (Z)

Wh-what did she just say?