14 Pandora x Feelings x Duty

I opened my eyes to find myself in a space of pure white. I felt like I was floating and, when I checked my surroundings, I realized I actually was. Not long after that, I heard a sweet voice talk. When I looked up, I saw a figure that inspired awe in my being. The Pandora shown in the anime was a cute looking, lavender-haired girl. The only similarity between this Pandora and that one was the hair colour, but everything else was different. She looked way more mature and had this aura of holiness around her that made me feel comfortable.

"It's good to see you are already here, Alan. I am Pandora, mother of all Campione"

Even her voice sounded holy, but it also had a certain calmness to it. It felt warm and homey. It felt like a mother's voice. And that in fact, is what she was. Mother to me and all of my new "brothers" and "sisters".

"So... now I am a Campione? What are they, God Slayers?" I asked her while pretending to be ignorant of the topic. Don't want a cosmic entity knowing that I know everything, right? Well, it was meaningless.

"Don't act like you don't already know, my newest son"

I smiled wryly at her words. What else could I do? Then she smiled mischievously, completely contrasting with her holy demeanour. I could guess that she would say something either troublesome or simply tease me, and I was right.

"I want to first congratulate you on achieving what was thought impossible" she began with. It was in fact only because of luck that I was able to kill Khione. Had she not been barely awake or had my Focus faltered for even a second and we all would've died. Luckily, none of that happened "And I have a bit of a request for you"

Then she explained to me that some of her children had been behaving poorly, procrastinating and ignoring their responsibilities. Mother asked me to teach them a lesson and put them back on track.

"What a troublesome thing *sigh*... Ok mom, if I run into any of my siblings I'll correct them"

She only smiled brightly at my words. I had no intention of actively searching for other Campione, but I was knew that sooner or later I would run into them. The world is a small place us, after all.

"That is what I wanted to hear! Now, you should leave already. Some people are worried about you, my dear"

"See you another time, mom!"

*

When I opened my eyes this time, I was in a room I didn't recognize. I quickly guessed it was a room inside the Knights of Favonius' Headquarters, with its stone walls and decoration that made it look like a castle. Looking at my side, I caught sight of Megan and Jean, both sleeping while sitting on a chair and with their heads on the bed.

'It would seem I was unconscious for the entire night... Sys, any changes?'

[Host's Magic Talent was upgraded from "Professional" to "Divine". After reaching Max Rank, Magic evolved into Divine Authority (Ice and Snow) "EX"]

I didn't think of it as weird, as it was what Campione did. They took the Divine Authority of the Heretic Gods they killed, and now I was one of them. My powers were no joke though. I could level a city if I felt like it, even more so with my power ruling over an element of nature.

Thinking that it was enough checking of my situation, I decided to wake the girls up.

"Hey Megan, Jean wake up girls"

Slowly, they were roused from their sleep. When they fully gained cognition of where they were and why they were there, they both jumped on me while hugging me tightly.

"I can understand Megan, but why are you hugging me, Jean?"

It was a dick move, with them being worried and everything, but I just couldn't help myself from teasing them. I could only guess that it was a part of my nature and personality that was buried below my complexes and insecurities.

Jean let go of me with a blushing mess of a face and her usually tidy hair all over the place, which made me laugh like there was no tomorrow. My laughter, though, was interrupted by the soft sobs of the girl that still remained in my arms, hugging my waist tightly.

"P-please don't scare me *sob* l-like that again. I already l-lost *sob* you once"

I only caressed her hair slowly while humming a calming tune. I felt slightly guilty about making them worry like that, even if I fainted from nothing but exhaustion. I lifted Megan's head by her chin and gave her a soft kiss. Not a passionate one, but a soft one that expressed all I felt for her. I knew that deep inside she was still feeling guilty about her words, words that I had already forgiven.

I was a stupid thing. I know. No one in their sane mind would forgive someone who they thought was their friend if they said something like that, and even more so in the situation she said it. But I couldn't help it. I couldn't not forgive her. Because I, as stupid as it is...

"I love you, Megan. I won't go anywhere, ok?"

She just lowered her head meekly and gave me a shy nod. How could someone be so cute? Still there were things to do and matter to clear. I was a Campione now, so I had my duties to take care of. Becoming a Campione meant that you were now in charge of every magical activity in your territory, but I didn't even know what my territory was. It was time for me to begin studying the world I lived in beyond the entertainment industry and I knew where to begin.

"Jean, please take me to Shizuka, I need to talk with her"

*

My school uniform was replaced by a set of clothes that Megan thought I would like, and I did. It was a simple, baggy red t-shirt combined with black techwear pants with red stripes tucked inside a pair of black boots. I looked like a fashion icon or a Japanese model. Did Japan even exist in this world? The answer was no. It didn't, or at least not as the island I knew of.

"Oh, you've woken up, my Lord"

Were the first words I heard from Shizuka when I entered her office in the Headquarters. Sighing, I couldn't help but think of one thing

'This is already troublesome.'