NOVEL NEXT Chapter 19: A God’s Return to His Domain
Rikuya followed Lilith through the sprawling estate grounds, his sharp eyes taking in the sheer grandeur of the place.
Towering spires of black obsidian and silver moonstone stretched high into the sky, their surfaces pulsing faintly with arcane lunar runes. The air carried a faint, crisp chill, scented with something that reminded him of incense and old magic... Strenge. The onyx pathways beneath his feet were so polished they reflected the night sky like a mirror, making it feel as if he were walking on a piece of the cosmos itself.
Glowing blue and violet flowers lined the edges of the path, their petals shifting and curling as though they were watching him. Statues of the looked exactly like him stood along the walkway, their blue gemstone eyes gleaming.
Rikuya smirked to himself.
'This place feels like the final dungeon of a video game. Any moment now, an overpowered hero would burst through the gates, shouting something about fulfilling their destiny and vanquishing the tyranny of the Moon God.'
He chuckled softly.
'Would be a shame if their destiny involved getting absolutely wrecked.'
Lilith, walking a step ahead of him, gestured grandly as they reached an enormous structure.
"This, my lord, is your true home," she said with pride.
Rikuya stopped, taking a good, long look at the massive estate before him.
Dark silver walls, celestial engravings, towering architecture—it was ridiculous how regal this place looked. Even without stepping inside, he could already tell:
'Yeah… I could definitely get used to this.'
They entered the grand hall, and immediately, a small army of maids and butlers snapped into formation.
And then, they all dropped to their knees.
"Welcome home, Lord Lunareio."
Rikuya blinked.
For a solid second, his brain stalled. He had expected servants, sure. But this?
A perfectly synchronized, kneeling ceremony?
'Okay. Yeah. This is some final boss energy right here.'
If he were still sitting on his throne, now would be the time to lazily drape himself over it, swirling a glass of wine while giving cryptic one-liners. Something like: 'You've done well to come this far, hero. But this is where your journey ends.'
…Tempting.
Still, he figured standing around while people bowed at his feet for ten minutes would get awkward real fast.
"You may rise," he said. "Continue your duties to the best of your ability."
The servants stood gracefullybefore dispersing.
Lilith led him deeper into the estate, past opulent lounges, libraries filled with books older than some civilizations, and corridors lined with ancient lunar tapestries. The walls depicted breathtaking murals of celestial cycles—phases of the moon woven into shifting artistry.
Finally, they arrived at a grand set of double doors, engraved with a full moon encircled by blooming nightshade.
Lilith turned to him with a radiant smile. "This is your personal chamber," she sais proudly. "I personally handled its cleaning every day since your departure, my lord. No one else was allowed to touch it."
Rikuya quirked an eyebrow.
Every day?
That was… devoted.
But whatever. He was too tired to question it.
She pushed open the doors, and oh, damn.
His room was gorgeous.
A massive, sprawling chamber with a ceiling that looked like a living constellation—twinkling stars shifting lazily across an inky canvas. Midnight-blue drapes cascaded from the towering windows, allowing silver moonlight to spill in. The floor was polished obsidian, sleek and reflective, making it feel like he was floating in an endless night sky.
A grand bed sat at the center, covered in thick black and silver fur, plush pillows with lunar sigils piled high. The study to the side held shelves upon shelves of books, some glowing faintly with enchantments.
Rikuya let out a low whistle. "Damn."
Lilith giggled, then—click.
Rikuya turned just in time to see her locking the door behind them.
His instincts immediately sent up a tiny red flag.
Not alarm, exactly. Just… something felt off.
She turned back to him, a soft smile on her lips. "You must be exhausted after everything, my lord," she said sweetly, taking a slow step toward him. "Why don't you get some rest? I can… help ease you into it."
Rikuya's brain processed this in real-time.
Her voice? A little too honeyed.
Her hips? Definitely swaying.
That giggle? Suspicious.
He'd seen this trope before. This was the part where the overly affectionate attendant offered to 'help him relax,' and suddenly, his peaceful night turned into a chaotic mess of temptation and questionable decisions.
Yeah, not happening.
Not that he wasn't a fan of romence but a part of him still couldn't trust her yet.
"That won't be necessary," Rikuya said, shrugging off his fur coat. "Just help me with this. I can sleep in the rest."
Lilith pouted—actually pouted—but obediently took the coat, folding it neatly before placing it aside.
"There," she said, though that playful smirk still lingered.
Just as Rikuya was about to collapse onto the bed, Lilith's voice rang out again.
"My lord… are you sure you don't want me to feed you the dreams I've gathered all these years?"
She tilted her head slightly, pulling down her neckline just enough to reveal a dark blue marking on her chest—a symbol of fangs and a full moon at its center.
Rikuya's brows furrowed.
'Dreams? What does that mean? Guardian, your cue.'
『As a celestial being, your followers provide you with sustenance in some form,』Guardian chimed in.
『For the Moon God, it is dreams.』
Rikuya folded his arms. 'And if I don't take it?'
『You will be in a state of unrest, Host. Your mind will not fully recover, nor will your divine strength.』
Rikuya frowned. 'And how exactly am I supposed to 'take' them?'
『You must… suck them out of her.』
A long silence stretched between Rikuya and Guardian.
'…Okay, see, that sounds very sus.'
『It is simply the nature of divine nourishment, Host.』
Rikuya narrowed his eyes. 'I bet you're saying that with a straight face, too.'
His gaze flickered back to Lilith, who was still standing there expectantly.
Yeah, nope.
"I'll be fine," he said firmly.
Lilith's lips parted slightly, her blindfolded eyes searching his. "…Are you sure?"
"Absolutely."
She let out a soft sigh, slowly adjusting her neckline back in place. "As you wish, my lord."
Rikuya exhaled, finally sinking into the absurdly soft bed.
Just as he was about to close his eyes—
⫷『Your children marvel at what the prophecy you handed them could mean.』⫸
⫷『"Those who brew chaos ally themselves with the shadows."』⫸