Toya immediately rejected his first guess.
"She isn't just a cosplayer. She's an Evil God."
When he first saw the silver-haired girl, he thought she was just the character Nyaruko from the anime.
They looked identical, but that was just wishful thinking.
Logically, this had to be the Evil God's avatar, taking the form of Nyaruko.
In his mind, the personified image of the Evil God Nyarlathotep was Nyaruko, so naturally, the entity took that form.
"Darling!" Nyaruko spoke, a trace of confusion appearing on her flawless, doll-like face. "Is Nyaruko not to your liking?"
"Don't call me that." Toya's expression turned frosty. "I am not your darling."
How could he be an Evil God's darling?
Just remembering Nyaruko's terrifying true form a moment ago—and those piercing, exaggerated screams—made him shudder.
If not for his mental fortitude, his sanity would have snapped long ago.
Nyaruko wanted to explain, but seeing the Noble Phantasm Gáe Bolg still pinning her to the wall made her squirm. "After I finish explaining, you can punish me however you like, Darling."
The moment the words left her mouth, Gáe Bolg was pushed by an invisible force. It slowly slid out of her chest and clattered to the floor.
The gaping hole in her chest closed up instantly, leaving not even a scratch behind.
Toya wasn't surprised.
She was the avatar of a majestic Evil God. If she feared a physical wound like that, she would be a joke.
Killing an Evil God is a pipe dream, Toya sighed inwardly.
He couldn't even leave a lasting scratch on Nyaruko, the avatar, let alone the massive True Body of the Evil God lurking outside reality.
Even if he saw where the Point of Death was with his Mystic Eyes, actually landing the hit was a different story.
Nyaruko landed nimbly on the ground and struck a signature transformation pose, her slender hand thrusting dramatically toward the sky.
"I'm the Crawling Chaos, Nyaruko! At your service!"
In that instant, Toya felt an overwhelming wave of swagger wash over him.
For a split second, he swore he saw the silhouette of a certain kamen rider.
"Wrong. It should be the Creeping Chaos!"
If this were just the anime character, "Crawling Chaos" would be fine.
But this Nyaruko was the real deal—the actual Nyarlathotep.
"Darling, don't sweat the details." Nyaruko waved her small hand dismissively, her face beaming.
"Darling is Darling! No explanation needed!"
She was about to crack another joke when she noticed Toya silently wiping the blood off Murasame. She hurriedly added, "Just kidding! Please listen to my explanation!"
Toya's expression remained stern. "Explain properly. And stop calling me Darling."
Thinking of Nyaruko's true form gave him goosebumps.
Being called "Darling" by such a monstrosity was a punishment worse than death.
"First, I'll answer Darling's questions!"
"Wait, Darling!"
Nyaruko pouted cutely. "Since Darling asked, Nyaruko obviously has to answer!"
"Why is Darling my Darling? Reason number one: that invitation!"
"Invitation?" Toya nodded slightly, signaling her to continue.
Nyaruko didn't mind Toya's cold attitude at all.
With her hands clasped behind her back, she leaned forward slightly, smiling like the girl next door. "Only those qualified to receive the invitation can become Nyaruko's Darling!"
"A thousand years ago in the Heian era, a person named Abe no Seimei also received it!"
Toya voiced his doubt. "Nyaruko, why didn't you go for him?"
Why didn't Abe no Seimei become Nyaruko's Darling?
If there was a specific method Abe no Seimei used to avoid her, Toya wanted to copy it immediately.
"Him?" Nyaruko's emerald eyes filled with disgust. "He wasn't qualified."
"A mere human? Where would he get the right?"
"The Minion who performed the divination back then was a senile old fool. He misread the timeline."
"They sent the invitation meant for you, Darling, a thousand years too early!"
"And it just happened to fall into Abe no Seimei's hands!"
Nyaruko looked genuinely aggrieved. "When I found out, I was furious!"
"What right did that guy have to receive my love letter meant for Darling?"
"A thousand years early!?" A shock ran through Toya.
Was his arrival predicted a thousand years ago?
Nyaruko ignored his surprise and continued, "Luckily, Abe no Seimei knew his place and didn't dare to come."
"Otherwise, Nyaruko would have destroyed him completely!"
"Later, Abe no Seimei lost his mind. To make Nyaruko leave this world, he acted like a lunatic, pulling tricks everywhere."
As she spoke, Nyaruko inched closer to Toya, trying to bask in his aura.
"Don't get too close!"
Toya raised Murasame, the clear blade reflecting his cold eyes. "I can't kill an Evil God..."
"But I can definitely kill an avatar."
He didn't want to be anywhere near an indescribable anomaly that made his skin crawl.
Ever since seeing her true form, any attraction to her human appearance had vanished.
Nyaruko froze, looking at Toya with puppy-dog eyes. "Darling, you've clearly expressed your love for Nyaruko already."
"Why are you being so cold and heartless now?"
"What happened next?" Toya asked, ignoring her theatrics.
He wasn't worried about her identity as an Evil God's avatar anymore.
The fact that Nyarlathotep hadn't descended in its True Body proved there was still room for negotiation.
Nyaruko's emerald eyes curved into crescents, her cheeks flushing pink. "Next is Darling's Heroic Saga!"
"To win Nyaruko's heart, Darling single-handedly defeated Nyaruko's overprotective family members!"
"You crushed the arrogant suitor on the first floor!"
"You endured the spatial trial of infinite distance, just to reach Nyaruko's side!"
"Through all of this, Darling has proven his true love for Nyaruko!"
"Aha~!"
Thinking of Toya's "romantic crusade" for her sake, Nyaruko squirmed shyly, her heart pounding.
"Heh." Toya scoffed. "You really can spin a story."
"Evil God's family? Arrogant suitor? Spatial trial?"
His purpose in coming here was singular: to eliminate the disaster the Evil God would bring.
If the host of the Evil God's Banquet were a normal girl, maybe they could have a nice chat.
But although Nyaruko looked like a beautiful girl, her true nature was unbearable.
Toya's eyes flashed cold. "Today, let's end this completely."
"Darling, want to vent your anger?" Nyaruko smiled brightly, spreading her arms. "You can, but Nyaruko can't die."
"So please, Darling, don't use those eyes. As for the rest..."
"Do whatever you want with Nyaruko!"
Toya stared at Nyaruko for a long moment.
Finally, he lowered Murasame.