The one who appeared from the mysterious space was Lady Yomido.
Light green hair streaked with black. Red eyes, one concealed behind her hair.
Black cat ears sat atop her head.
She wore a translucent white nightdress over her tanned skin, and black tails of varying length swayed behind her.
Her face and build were identical to Pakira's. You could say they were one and the same.
She was Pakira's 2P Color.
"Wha— me!?"
"Hm. Me!?"
Both of them had nearly identical reactions.
"Me...?"
"Me...?"
They stared at each other, puzzled.
Looking at the two of them, it was like looking in a mirror.
The 1P Color Pakira had white fur, while Lady Yomido had black.
If Pakira hid her left eye behind her hair, then Lady Yomido hid her right eye.
Their heights were completely identical, and so were their builds. Come to think of it, even their voices were the same.
Pakira's outfit was black while Yomido's was white, but they really did seem like a matched pair.
A dream collaboration between the 1P Color and the 2P Color.
"Y-you. What are you?"
"Warawa. Yomido."
"What did you say...?"
"Warawa. I know. Pakira. We've finally met. But. Warawa. More surprised than expected."
"So you're Lady Yomido. This is almost... Warawa, but in different colors, isn't it?"
"Yomido. Just call me that. It's fine."
"Mmm, mmm. But... you're a god, a goddess, you know."
"Just call me by my name. It's fine."
"Mmm, mmm. Yomido."
"That works. Good."
Pakira seemed bewildered even as the conversation continued.
I wondered if this was what it felt like to witness a doppelgänger from your past life memories.
Wait, no—don't you die if you see a doppelgänger?
Lady Yomido looked at me. She smiled faintly.
"Wof. You did well."
"Th-thanks. Still, though... they really do look like twins, don't they?"
"Y-yes."
"Right. Pakira."
"What is it?"
"You. The Restriction Relic. You have [Mausoleum's Unlight]."
"How do you know about that? ...No, that was a foolish question."
"So. This as well. I'll give it to you."
The moment Lady Yomido extended her hand, Pakira's chest glowed.
What was that? Pakira was flustered.
"Th-this is... [Mausoleum's Unlight]...!?"
"Huh?"
"An-and it has combined into the Restriction Relic [Mausoleum's Dark Part]...!"
"That is it. Originally. Light and darkness. Combined, they become the Dark Part that destroys everything."
"……M-my, my…… It destroys even the soul...?"
"Huh? The soul too?"
"Indeed..."
That was just too powerful.
"Also. Pakira. Do you have a staff?"
"Well, I do have an OOPArt metal staff with auxiliary parts attached."
"With that. You cannot control it. So. This. I'll give you to you."
What appeared in Lady Yomido's hand was a staff.
It had a white handle as tall as her, with a tip that became multiple overlapping black rings.
The base was a semi-transparent crystal.
Wait, isn't this... the staff that Lady Yomido's figure was holding?
No mistake. This is the staff I felt a familiarity with because of the rings.
Since it was wooden, it wasn't colored, but this must be what it looked like.
"This... this is――"
"Wala's staff. The Staff of Avgrund. Pakira. It will surely be useful."
Lady Yomido hands it to Pakira.
Pakira accepted it without hesitation, but looked bewildered.
"Yomido. Are you sure?"
"Pakira. That's why. I'm granting it. Is that not allowed?"
"No... hmm. Understood. I will treat it with care. Yomido."
"Wala. I'm happy. By the way, that auxiliary part. What kind of thing is it?"
"It's something that increases the power of a Relic."
"If that's the case, the Staff of Avgrund can equip it. By all means, give it a try."
"Hmm."
Pakira was still puzzled but seemed happy.
"But, why does it look exactly like that anyway?"
I voiced my doubt.
Pakira tilted his head.
"I don't know. Yomido?"
"Wala. Incomprehensible."
"Hmm."
Hmm. The goddess with that knife definitely knows something.
But she won't tell me.
Why does that goddess know such things, anyway?
Even Lord Yomid doesn’t know.
“Pakira. One. I have a favor to ask.”
“What is it?”
“The people above ground. I want them to become it.”
“Wh… what did you say?”
“The people above ground. Representative. Proxy. King of death. I want you to rule over them.”
“Wait, wait. That’s too heavy a burden for me!”
“It’ll be fine.”
“Besides, I only know the King of Death, Anemos.”
“That too. No. Worry. The King of Death. Half. You. Are acquainted with him.”
“What did you say?”
“Wof is there too.”
“Eh? Me?”
“Please.”
It’s incredibly troublesome when you’re given that pleading, upturned look with Pakira’s face.
You can’t refuse, can you?
“W-well, I understand.”
“Pakira. In my place. You. Only.”
“I honestly doubt if I’m up to the task, but I’ll do whatever I can.”
"Thank you."
Pakira and Lord Yomido smiled at each other.
And so the meeting came to an end.
Something smells nice. A slightly sweet, comforting fragrance — the kind that puts you at ease.
When I happened to open my eyes, Pakira's sleeping face was right beside me.
"N—!?"
I flinched and nearly sat up, then stopped.
Pakira's tails of differing lengths were tangled around my legs.
Pakira was sleeping soundly, looking perfectly content, and in her hands was Lord Yomido's staff.
"......"
I looked at the figure of Lord Yomido displayed on the shelf.
In its hands was a staff shaped just like the one Pakira had received.
"Come to think of it, I never painted that one."
The figure had no paint on it at all — just bare wood grain.
I'd always figured it was fine as-is, since the craftsmanship was so high quality.
But now that I knew the staff's handle was white with a black ring, I wanted to add the colors.
"Paint... do I have any?"
And I'd need brushes too... — Well, sleep first.
I stifled a yawn, gazed at Pakira's sleeping face for a moment, and then closed my eyes.
Constraint Relic [Mausoleum's Dark Silence]:
MAP Weapon.
A purple area attack combining all eight true elements.
Anything caught in it is guaranteed to be obliterated, soul and all.
Usage conditions and environment are restricted.
Particularly in dungeons, there are few places where it can be used.
Cooldown is four days.
Usage conditions:
Possession of [Mausoleum's Light Immunity] and [Mausoleum's Dark Immunity].
Completion of the dedicated sacred chant and dance.
Staff of Augrund: A white staff as tall as a person's height.
The tip consists of multiple overlapping black rings.
The pommel is a translucent crystal.
Material is unknown. Originally, it was Yomid's staff. It is an OOPArt.
Effect: All held Relics are granted the dark element.
Additionally, it allows the wielder to possess the True God-Tier Relic [Yomid].
Active duration: 3 minutes. Cooldown: 6 days.
———————
Here's a notice.
"Slum Wizard ~The Old Guy Information Broker in a Dystopian World. Turns Out He's a Real Mage~"
The latest chapter 6 is now available.
Even though it's cyberpunk, the protagonist is an old wizard guy.
It's a different kind of story from My Dungeon, My Life.
If you're interested, feel free to check it out!