"Nyarlathotep…"
"…Shub-Niggurath."
No need for their familiar, deliberately crafted iconic appearances, their mutual address alone unveiled the truth.
Shub-Niggurath and Nyarlathotep …
These two extraordinary names, even within the vast Cthulhu Mythos, were renowned, standing as equals to the likes of Cthulhu or Hastur. Anyone with even a passing knowledge of such lore would recognize them.
The Crawling Chaos, Messenger of Chaos, Nyarlathotep. The Black Goat of the Woods, Mother of All, Shub-Niggurath.
Yet, compared to the playful banter among the Three Pillar Gods, the moment these names left Roy's lips, their flavor shifted entirely.
Though these were their full, recognized titles, hearing them spoken aloud felt… odd.
Especially from Roy's mouth. Both Shub-Niggurath and Nyarlathotep keenly sensed the subtle shift, the faint dissonance.
Unlike the ignorant masses, blind to the nature of Outer Gods or cosmic truths, Roy seemed to know everything, merely awaiting the right moment to pierce their façade.
And Roy was precisely that person, the one to shatter their masks, the one Nyarlathotep and Shub-Niggurath permitted, required, to know all.
"Geez, as expected, lil bro really knows me."
"I was worried my fame might be overshadowed by Yog-Sothoth, but seeing this, I'm relieved. I really don't want to lose to Shub-Niggurath or Yog-Sothoth~"
Unlike Yog-Sothoth's icy detachment, Nyarlathotep, Nyarlathotep's unique incarnation, beamed with delight as her gaze settled on Roy.
Unabashedly, she pressed her face against his shoulder, her eyes twinkling with amusement, her tone soothing as she sighed.
At that moment, Shub-Niggurath, enveloping Roy's arm with her ample embrace, chimed in with a tender voice, "And me, don't forget me~ A good child wouldn't forget their mommy, right?"
Roy, faced with Shub-Niggurath's sudden closeness, broke into a nervous sweat.
He was drenched in it.
Before he could process the situation, he was sandwiched between two of the universe's mightiest Outer Gods, who were casually claiming familial ties. It left him flustered, embarrassed, and at a loss.
But when he glanced at Yog-Sothoth, seeing only helpless resignation in her eyes, Roy knew he'd have to face this himself.
Though Yog-Sothoth had offered the most help so far, in terms of closeness and regard, Shub-Niggurath and Nyarlathotep's mere entrance outshone all she'd done.
Nyarlathotep never called Roy an ark, key, tool, or human, terms laced with disdain for lesser beings. Instead, she called him lil bro, placing him on equal footing.
Despite her essence as an Outer God, the Crawling Chaos, or Messenger of Chaos, she unreservedly dubbed him lil bro, initiating affectionate gestures.
The most reckless, trouble-loving, and free-spirited Outer God had transformed into Nyarlathotep's form to align with his memories and preferences, a truly humbling gesture.
Nyarlathotep's actions screamed, "I value you immensely, you're irreplaceable." written plain on her face.
Shub-Niggurath was no different. The Black Goat of the Woods, capable of birthing countless mighty offspring, regarded even her Outer God or Great Old One progeny as disposable. She rarely acknowledged them, let alone called them her children or referred to herself as their mother.
Yet here she was, mirroring Nyarlathotep's actions for Roy's sake, a gesture so absurd it defied belief.
Still, Roy wished she'd appeared more… conventionally. Seeing Shub-Niggurath's stunning form, tailored for him, stirred not excitement but endless shame and a looming sense of social death.
Yog-Sothoth, expressionless before them, clearly understood their heartfelt display was also a challenge to her, the first to act, declaring, "This child is ours, and you'll never take him."
Yog-Sothoth remained silent:
"How could I forget? Your impressions are unforgettable. Yog-Sothoth, Daoloth, and so many Outer Gods have shown up. It'd be impossible for you two not to appear, right? Especially you, Nyarlathotep? That's fine to call you, yeah?"
"Haha, sure, of course, my dear lil bro."
"I'd prefer Onee-san or something, but Nyarlathotep's fine too. Call me whatever you like."
"Good."
Roy glanced at Nyarlathotep's smiling face and continued, "You probably know, without me saying, how notorious your name and reputation are. With so many Outer Gods converging on this tiny planet, my first thought was you stirring trouble, and I braced for your appearance."
"…Huh? Ouch. I know my rep's bad, but hearing lil bro say it stings… But it's all bias, pure bias! Why's it always 'if there's no one to blame, it's Nyarlathotep's fault' or 'if you don't know whose fault, pin it on me, and you're never wrong'?"
Nyarlathotep protested, visibly upset at shouldering so many unjust blames.
Sure, she was behind most of it, but out of a hundred, no, a thousand, incidents, some were other Outer Gods' doing. Why did she take all the heat, ruining her reputation?!
"Get lost! No one wants your whining! If you must complain, do it elsewhere and come back."
Ignoring Nyarlathotep's silent objections, Shub-Niggurath, arm around Roy's shoulder, unceremoniously kicked her away.
This time, instead of waxing poetic about maternal love, she smiled, reached into the void with her pale hand, and pulled open a black gate.
"Come, my dear child, see what Mommy brought you."
A tuft of golden ahoge emerged from the dark gate, followed by a familiar, slightly bewildered cute face peeking out cautiously. She surveyed the scene, her heart skipping at the sight of Shub-Niggurath and Yog-Sothoth, the lingering threat of death unabated. But when her eyes landed on Roy, Arcueid's gaze brightened, and she cried out in joy.
"Roy!!"
"Arcueid?!"
Roy's eyelids twitched, his tone laced with surprise at the sight of the long-missing golden-haired girl tiptoeing out of the gate.
SHIKI had mentioned Arcueid often wandered off to play, sometimes gone for ages, so Roy assumed she was gallivanting in Europe or elsewhere.
But how was she mixed up with these dangerous Outer Gods?
As Roy puzzled, Arcueid didn't hesitate, rushing out and throwing herself into his arms, seeking solace.
"Wah, Roy, these guys claiming to be your family are terrifying! They snatched me without explanation, dragged me to the Moon, South America, and all sorts of weird places. They talked to me forever about bizarre stuff."
"It was so scary!"
From Arcueid's account, Roy realized she'd been thoroughly spooked. The mentioned locations were each more significant than the last. In her shoes, he wouldn't have fared much better. At a loss for words, he patted her shoulder, ruffled her golden ahoge, and soothed, "It's okay, I'm right here. Don't worry, they won't hurt you."
"Tch, the girlfriend shows up, and Mommy's sidelined? What a heartless kid. What's that called? Oh, right, 'once you've got a wife, you forget your mom'?"
Watching Roy comfort Arcueid, Shub-Niggurath clicked her tongue, though her face held no real displeasure, only a half-teasing jest.
Nyarlathotep, having fixed her neck, sauntered back, cackling oddly at the pair.
"Such youthful vibes…"
Whether imagined or not, Arcueid sensed a scrutinizing glint in the Outer Gods' eyes.
"Alright, lovebirds, enough catching up. We're not here to break you up. In the endless eons, you can be as lovey-dovey as you want."
Shub-Niggurath stayed silent, letting Nyarlathotep, fresh from her return, take the lead with a stifled chuckle.
"Let's get to business, lil bro. Yog-Sothoth finding you first likely had her reasons, testing a theory, seeing if you'd bring change. She wanted to tell you everything before us, fearing we'd hide something."
"Fine, we did consider that. What we've done to you is beyond forgivable. Hiding the truth, tricking you into compliance, would've been easier. Sometimes ignorance is bliss, right? Letting you forget in the dark could've been nice, maybe even boosted your fondness, opened possibilities. I'd have been happy to play along. But if we truly see you as family, honesty's better, no?"
"But Yog-Sothoth, your move was absurdly fast, spilling everything to lil bro first. My tear-jerking speech draft's useless now. Gotta say, Yog-Sothoth, you're infuriating."
"Still, it's fine. You're a planner, the first to spot lil bro. It's fitting you explained. Compared to my idea, a reality-show gauntlet where he uncovers the truth himself, your blunt approach suits him better. Right, lil bro?"
"…Yeah, I'm done with reality shows and convoluted storylines riddled with setups. This is Nasuverse, not a tabletop campaign. No more riddlers. Lay it all bare, clear up the truth."
While ruffling Arcueid's ahoge, Roy rubbed his temples, a headache brewing.
Learning his every action was orchestrated, a dance in their palms, exhausted him.
He'd thought he was acting from the heart, striving to change something, leave a mark, and achieve a true [Happy End]. But after barely scraping through, he found he'd only cleared the prologue.
The hero was a pawn of the demon gods, tasked with eliminating a disobedient demon king. When he raised his sword in righteous fury, he discovered the gods had no health bar, unbeatable. The game ended with a sickening "To Be Continued." Such a story, such a game, how could he endure it?
He had no patience left for their pretend family games. From now on, everything would be out in the open, resolved.
Roy was truly weary, body and soul.
"See? Knowing the truth kills the drive to keep going. It's only natural."
"Shub-Niggurath, our reality show for lil bro got wrecked."
"Yeah, totally ruined by Yog-Sothoth."
Yog-Sothoth didn't refute Nyarlathotep's explanation. She'd done exactly that, with the same intent.
But Shub-Niggurath was mildly irked, retracting her scrutinizing gaze from Arcueid. "It's not bad, but losing the heartfelt parent-child reunion stings."
"Haha, yeah. No dramatic rescue in his hour of need, no heartfelt thanks, no chance to bond like a romantic lead, sparking love, and ending up together. Such a pity."
"Nyarlathotep, shut up!"
Shub-Niggurath shot her a glare.
"I'd accept the girl from the Root or this Ultimate One, it's his choice. But if you're scheming, I swear you'll see your body in my Black Goat horde."
"Haha, maternal concern? No bad girls like me for him? Got it, got it. Siblings could work, but nah, lil bro's just lil bro."
Finding the topic hilarious, Nyarlathotep burst into laughter.
But seeing Shub-Niggurath's darkening, rage-brewing face, she quickly dropped her cheeky grin.
Fine, just a joke. She hadn't planned to pursue lil bro, though she'd accept if he chased her. But that wasn't happening now.
With things so messy, provoking Shub-Niggurath further wasn't wise. Satisfied with their banter, it was time for serious talk.
With a faint smile at the fuming Shub-Niggurath, Nyarlathotep appeared beside Roy, grinning.
"Alright, lil bro, don't be sad. Trust Onee-san. With me here, I'll give you a fair solution today. Everything you care about will be safe, only growing, never fading."
"Nothing can hurt or threaten you, lil bro. You're under my protection now. Anyone who dares act recklessly won't be spared!"
Her half-smiling words carried undeniable weight, her chilling killing intent no bluff.
To others, her promises as Nyarlathotep might be empty. But for Roy, they were a sister's vow.
"Always adding drama, Nyarlathotep. Who needs your protection? With Mommy here, he relies on me~"
"Idiot, Shub-Niggurath, I'm obviously more reliable. Don't interrupt my goodwill pitch!"
"Heh, you?"
"Ugh, I've had enough of you!"
"…"
"…"
"…"
Watching the two Outer Gods brawl over a disagreement, Roy fell silent. Arcueid, long accustomed to Nyarlathotep and Shub-Niggurath's antics, merely blinked, unfazed.
___
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Hi guys, Elenea here! I just want to announce that starting now I'll be trying to focus on my own original fanfic, which I've been thinking about for the past few days (lol I really mulled this over briefly for a few days and decided I'm going to make it a full novel).
[Worse Than the Devil (DxD)]
Synopsis:
Devil.
An evil and chaotic creature, born from hell, which are often a scapegoat for humans. Blamed for the atrocities they themselves commit.
"The devil made me do it."
A phrase always uttered by humans after committing crimes, casting blame and responsibility for their wrongdoings onto the devil.
But not all humans are like that, for there is one man who would gleefully commit atrocities that would be condemned by all of human history and accept the blame and responsibility for those wrongs with open arms.
His name is Michael, but in stark contrast to the meaning of his name 'Who is like God' he is not a devout man who draws near to God's embrace. Instead… he is the one who sends lost sheep to meet God's embrace much faster.
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Btw, a quick note before you decide to read, if you have a heart as pure as glass, I suggest you don't read this because it REALLY gets dark to early. The first chapter will give you a little idea of what I might explore later on in this fanservice harem-themed world like DxD.
Adios!