"So, what is it? Are you afraid I might accidentally hurt the Beast Witch?"
Hel smiled faintly at her opponent, showing no sign of surprise at the layers of hidden cards Pestis kept pulling out. At least, that was how it looked on the surface. Her calm, confident demeanor was enough to throw Pestis off guard.
Pestis couldn't tell how many more cards Hel had up her sleeve. After all the schemes Hel had already pulled off, there was no way she would recklessly walk into Pestis's territory without a plan. So Pestis didn't dare make the first move.
"It seems the Beast Witch really is important to you," Pestis said at last. "In that case, I suppose I can return her to you."
"Oh? Then what's your condition?"
When Hel said that, Pestis actually lowered her dagger and returned to her usual, cold expression.
"No condition. Think of it as a greeting gift."
Hel flicked her wrist, and the Beast Witch's body flew gently toward Pestis.
Instinctively, Pestis almost rushed forward to catch her—but she stopped herself just in time. Instead of catching her directly, Pestis used her spiritual power to suspend the girl in midair.
After scanning her repeatedly with her senses and finding no traps or curses, she frowned in confusion. Hel's open, unguarded gesture made no sense at all.
"…So you're trying to recruit me?"
That was the only explanation Pestis could think of. But as she stared at Hel's calm, almost smug face, she hesitated.
"Still… with just Saint-rank strength, I doubt you could escape Desire's grasp."
"What if I told you I could solve your problem?"
Those words made Pestis's eyes flicker—she was clearly tempted. But after several moments of inner struggle, she shook her head.
"Sorry. I have no desire to court death. Even if you could mend the damage to my soul, the risk is too high. I'm not about to hand my soul over to someone who used to be my enemy."
"That's fair. We barely know each other. You're worried I might plant something inside your soul," Hel said with an understanding smile.
She didn't seem offended. In fact, she sounded almost amused.
It was, after all, a shared instinct among "rat players" like them—never entrust your life to another.
"But what if I said," Hel continued softly, "that I can help you fuse your divinities? Don't rush to refuse. I wouldn't say that if I couldn't back it up.
You probably think that following your current path of apotheosis will guarantee success—but it won't. The other factions won't sit by while you spread plagues across the continent. Your godhood will be stopped, and your ascension will fail.
So… think of this as leaving yourself a way out. Accept my friendship, and we can form a fair trade.
Of course, if I asked you to make that trade right now, you wouldn't believe that I can merge divine authorities. So…"
Hel smiled faintly, pressing a hand to her chest in a polite salute. With a casual sweep of her hand, a spatial rift opened behind her.
"The next time we meet, I'll show you proof of my results. By then, you'll change your mind. And I don't think you'll have to wait long. Until then—farewell."
With that, Hel stepped gracefully backward into the shimmering portal.
In the blink of an eye, her body vanished. The portal shrank rapidly and then disappeared altogether—leaving Pestis staring blankly at the empty space in front of her.
"…What just happened?"
Even for her, the technique was beyond comprehension. Even artifacts of divine grade couldn't close a space gate after the user entered.
"Could she have a teleportation artifact…?" Pestis muttered, the only explanation that fit.
Meanwhile, in Heim Castle, Hel's true body waved her hand—releasing Morrigan's clone to rest off to the side.
Then, she opened her Word Repository.
"With that, the authorities of Avians, Beasts, and Insects are all mine."
She quickly dragged the three entries into the synthesis panel. Moments later, three new glowing entries appeared before her.
"Fertility – The Authority of Life."
Hel narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.
"So this gives me the ability to control all living creatures…?"
She tapped her chin. "Does that include humans?"
To test it, she wandered through the castle until she found Maia, still wearing her maid uniform—fast asleep while hugging a barrel of ale.
Hel sighed and poked the girl's cheek until she stirred.
"Maia. Shake my hand."
"Huh?" Maia blinked blearily, still half-drunk, but instinctively reached out her hand.
Hel took it—and smiled. "Now… roll over."
"Eh?!"
Before Maia could react, her body dropped to the floor, limbs curling as she rolled like a little dog.
The absurd sight sobered her up instantly. Wide-eyed, she stared down at her own body in disbelief.
"Boss, d-did you… do something to me?!" she stammered.
"Don't overthink it. It's just my authority at work. You're fine—go play."
Hel ruffled the maid's hair fondly and walked off toward the underground refuge.
Beside her, the catgirl Niv stretched lazily, having watched everything.
"It seems your new authority works on witches too, meow."
"Apparently so," Hel mused. "Looks like I can control any living being's body—but not their mind."
"That's already terrifying enough, meow."
"Maybe." Hel nodded lightly, eyes turning toward the map pinned to the wall.
"Well then… the next authority I'll be claiming is the Authority of Flowers."