Extra 4: A Mortal's Promise

Celestine Universe.

It was similar to Earth in general sense. Rows and rows of skyscrapers inhabited the area, with the usual shopping districts and all the other places we're familiar with.

The bustling and eventful city life and the peaceful days in the countryside, along with beachside areas, mountain climbing resort, and remote villages—you name it.

From the Eastern culture to the Western, this Universe was fast, you could spend so many years traveling the World and experiencing what it has to offer.

Compared to Earth, there weren't only humans. Although they made up the minority, a race called Youkai exist, with magical abilities far surpassing ordinary humans. Although they weren't able to rampage in here as some humans had the blessing of the spirits and could subdue the Youkai. A prominent name among them was Abe no Seimei.

Aside from Youkai, there's also the Demon race, like Vampires among them. Alongside the spiritual entities like ghosts. Most of them had taken a human appearance and assimilated themselves into the society. The reason being, it was difficult for them to give birth and they matured slowly, to compensate for their powers.

The mortal world used the Democracy System. As the Feudal system which emphasizes hereditary rule was abolished long ago, even those of a minority race could rule, if they could inspire the society at large. The government period was 6 years but a ruler could still continuously rule if they won the election over and over.

...it's practically still a feudal regime in disguise. Especially if the leaders were those of a long-lived race.

As such, the current president of the Eastern Republic was the Youkai King and the prime minister was a Human shrine maiden.

The Demon King became the president of Western Republic; his prime minister was his long-time advisor.

As both rulers were a lot better than their human counterparts in their rule, the citizens did not complain.

Different from the denizens of Earth, people in here could use magic. One side usually refers to themselves as Espers rather than magicians. The study of their magic was categorized as Science, yet there's also the group of actual magicians, which made up the Magic side.

The East and Western republic made a joint facility called Academia District, to train the Espers in one controlled environment. While the Magic side had the Coven of Enlightenment. Instead of centralizing their influence like the Science side, they were like a franchise with the headquarters on both republic, proliferating all over the world.

Both sides were equally strong and they generally lived in harmony. Although there might be certain extremists who yearned for the supremacy of one side, it was always thwarted without the deities even taking over.

Rather, it was inadvisable to meddle in the matters of mortals at large, as it would greatly inhibit their growth. Yet, there were always the few Chosen Ones who came across the deities from time to time.

Such is the story of a girl called Yukiko.

She was the roommate of Mitsuki Celestine, who attended the school of mortals since Kindergarten, in the Eastern Republic of Celestine Universe.

They were already enrolled in high school together and even shared dorm rooms. Both already lived away from their parents since middle school.

Yukiko was infatuated with Mitsuki for a long time and when they were both in middle school, that feeling turned into unrequited love. Mitsuki was never seeing anyone, but Yukiko always felt unease in her heart whenever her special one mentioned 'Onee-sama'.

...and she later heard of her name, Reeve Nirvalen. It's definitely a fake name, she thought. Yukiko had been searching for many years for the said person's identity, yet not a single clue was found.

Reeve's identity was kept secret for the most part, as she did not wish to mingle with the mortals at all. She already had enough of mortal life to go back.

While Mitsuki, she yearned for mortal life so much, she ended up attending the mortal school, studying and playing around with kids of her current appearance. Her antics were highly off and she was often labeled as weird but the kids still love her, even in middle school, where bullying sometimes happen--she was loved.

Mitsuki's name while she attended the school in the mortal world was Amamiya Mitsuki. Yukiko was the child of the next door's neighbor. An average family with a hard-working salaryman and caring housewife.

Yukiko was an only child and she assumed the same with Mitsuki. Yet, she did not know, even Mitsuki's parents were actually her own subordinates playing house. The guilt of lying to a young girl riddled her mind for long, long years. Yet, the little experiences of playing around with this little girl truly warmed her heart.

'I want Yukiko to be a Goddess. I really want her to know the truth.'

Many mortals she had come across and never she felt significant attraction before Yukiko entered her life.

At such moment, Mitsuki went back to the dorm room; repacking her stuff.

The room was already cleaned up; the messy things all tidied, even without her around.

Yukiko's eyes were filled with longing and she immediately threw herself to Mitsuki the moment their eyes met.

"Micchi...where have you been? The school was about to start, tomorrow's the opening ceremony."

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Traces of tears could be seen in the mortal's eyes.

"I'm sorry, Yuki. I won't be attending this school with you."

"Why? We promised that..."

"My parents are suddenly transferring—that's what I wish to tell you—but, the truth is, I'm actually the Goddess of this world. I really have to go this time."

"What are you saying? I don't believe you, that's blasphemous...I thought you got rid of your chuunibyou but you even go so far to pretend as the Goddess?"

"It's true. The entire time, I had been deceiving you."

Mitsuki created a special field which inhibits any kind of detection and revealed a small trace of her powers.

"This...I thought you'd be having angel wings and halo or something. Is this really your actual appearance?"

"Yup. The other gods and goddesses have the same appearance as mortals. That's how the saying that the mortals were created in our own image was true."

It was still too bizarre that the Creator Goddess was her childhood friend all this time. Aside from the same warm energy, it's still the same Mitsuki as always.

"Are you really going to leave and never come back?"

"I have to look up for a junior of mine. Onee-sama's younger sister."

"You're always Onee-sama this and that. What about me? Are you just going to abandon me like this? I really love you...I want to be with you, even if we're both girls. You don't have to be my girlfriend, I just want to come along—I hate this world. It's all because you're here I held out on killing myself."

"Yuki," Mitsuki hugged her tight, "We might not meet up now, but there's a way for us to be together."

"Nn.."

She explained to Yuki about how she became a Goddess. How a certain god came from the Heavens and took fancy to her.

Although she wasn't sexually abused, she had to endure a countless amount of torture so different sides of her humanity would awaken. Contrasting extremes of her emotions would both exist, further augmenting her power to break through the mortal coil.

Her mind was nearly broken when she became a minor deity, yet it was still a far cry compared to when she first met Mystia.

She had been through much worse as the girl was a lump of an unmoving bloody mess; barely clinging to life. Mitsuki felt a lot better as someone out there had it worse.

Mitsuki had endured it for long before someone with the same aura as Reeve came and liberated both her and Mystia.

...

"As for now, the way of ascension based on excruciating torture, which they call as the Goddess' trial for girls like us—they're no longer present. It's also a crime to attempt them in any way possible. That's how new gods and goddesses were much fewer than before."

Seeing as her childhood friend was feeling so down and depressed, Mitsuki's face went full 'just as planned'.

"Ahem, yet it doesn't change the fact that all of them awakened from their own efforts. They were also more powerful on average than those who had to undergo the trial."

"Do you really believe, I too, can become a goddess?"

"Yes. Be warned though, the road was immensely difficult and as you distanced yourself from a mortal's way of thinking, the burden would be greater?"

"As for how you never give me the actual way, does that mean I have to pave it on my own and do it my own way?"

"That's correct, it's the same with all others who come before you after the trial was abolished. Yet, even during that time, there's a good amount that made it with their own strength. I want you to believe in yourself. That you can shape your own destiny. I think this is the only thing in life that's worth sacrificing your all when you're still a mortal."

"Micchi..um...you're the Goddess but is it okay to keep calling you that?"

"Un...no matter, I love you so much. You're my precious childhood friend."

"Can I have one selfish wish--"

"Like having sex with you? Sorry, but I think your ascension will be a lot longer if I grant your wish now. Use that as your motivation and catch up with me."

"Uwaaah! Not fair...not fair! Micchi...you dummy, I love you so much yet you kept thinking about my own sake first! Don't you wish to molest your childhood friend? I really would do anything so you'd be satisfied..."

"Sorry but...there are already so many perverts out there. You're not the only one to satisfy such urges."

"I know, I'm not cute at all. I just look average and compared to me, you're so beautiful I could touch myself while fantasizing about you every night..."

"Thanks, I'm happy to hear that."

"So I guess this is goodbye..."

"No. I think we'll meet each other sooner than you thought. You've been interacting with me for so long, you see? I'd be waiting for you. There's a lot of people who could give me sexual relief, but the one who gave me a childhood friend's warmth was you alone."

"...what about the little sister? Is she so much important compared to me?"

"That's because I know, you have to make it on your own this time. Give your all, Yuki and let's meet up again, as Goddesses."

"I still don't know if I'll make it."

"You'll definitely make it and it's only a matter of time. No matter how long, I will wait how long it takes."

"I won't disappoint you."

Even when the others' memories concerning Amamiya Mitsuki fades, for the mortal, it burned her resolve to reach out even more.

This is the beginning of a mortal's journey; to reach to the heavens and be reunited with her loved one.