In his dazed state, Eros suddenly heard a voice calling out to him.

  "Hey! Junior! Wake up! Get up right now!"

  Eros pried his eyes open, only to find an exquisite, youthful face hovering inches from his own. Startled, he scanned his surroundings. Seeing the all-too-familiar grey fog, he scrambled backward using both hands and feet, putting a healthy distance between them.

  Gods save me! The tentacle monster has turned into a pretty girl!

  Can that eldritch thing actually read my inner preferences? Eros felt his face heat up, his voice trembling as he pointed a finger at her. "You... you’re that tentacle monster, aren't you? Don’t think I’ll let my guard down just because you’ve turned into a beautiful girl!"

  The black-haired girl wrinkled her dainty nose, her expression turning indignant. "What kind of way is that to talk to your elder? How could a Great One like myself be a 'tentacle monster'?"

  Eros eyed her suspiciously. She was undeniably stunning, with features so perfect they seemed sculpted by a master creator. She wore what he recognized from his past life as a black Gothic-style dress, revealing her slender, porcelain-white shins.

  Noticing his gaze, the girl huffed. "Insolent junior!"

  "You're really not that thing?" Eros asked, still unconvinced.

  The girl planted her hands on her hips, her chin tilted at an arrogant angle. "Junior, listen well! Standing before you is the Sovereign of Shadows, the Eye of Reality that pierces all illusions, an Exalted Being who can cast all of creation into Eternal Night—the most trusted confidante of the Goddess of Night herself!"

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  Eros finally relaxed. Though his Ancestor’s methods (like that brainwashing ritual) felt decidedly "Evil God-esque," surely her top lieutenant wouldn't murder her own descendant? Besides, beauty is justice, right?

  He crawled back and flopped down near her feet. But just as he was about to ask where they were, the words seemed to vanish from his tongue. He blanked out for a few seconds, staring a bit too long, which earned him a swift kick from the girl whose face was now flushed with shame and anger.

  She didn't stop at one kick; she chased him down, her bare, dainty feet thudding against his side as she ranted: "You insolent junior! You wretched junior! You shameless, thick-skinned junior! You..."

  "Stop! Stop kicking!"

  The girl huffed and crossed her arms. Eros gingerly climbed to his feet, rubbing his aching ribs. "Where are we?"

  "Your own soul world," she snapped. "Why are you asking me?"

  Eros blinked. "My soul world?"

  "Obviously." She rolled her eyes, though even her annoyance looked adorable.

  Eros looked away, clearing his throat. "Then... how did you get in here?"

  "I was deep in slumber until that brat from the Elven race descended and woke me up," she explained. "Then I sensed the Mistress’s aura on you. I was planning to observe you for a while, but then I saw that Stupid Book trying to brand you with a Soul Seal. You looked like you were about to break, so I decided to be kind and lend a hand."

  She leaned in close again, her face inches from his, squinting suspiciously. "It’s strange, though. Where did you get the Mistress’s aura?"

  Facing that flawless, fair skin so closely, Eros leaned back, his face reddening. He decided to change the subject. "Are you the Eye of Eternal Night?"

  It was an easy deduction. She had called herself the "Eye of Reality" and the Goddess’s right hand. In the North family, the only entities fitting that description were the three legendary artifacts. As for why an artifact was a girl—Eros had read enough webnovels to know about "Artifact Spirits." It made perfect sense.