Two-Dimensional Heroic Girls

What was going on? That thing was supposed to be a world-ending weapon from another world, so why was it now headed straight for Earth?

Eris had suggested it might be related to the Demon King that appeared previously.

In reality, the mechanical dragon named Icarus had no intention of lingering in its original world after awakening.

The reason it shot a corner of the moon and caused a rain of massive moon fragments was precisely to pin down the major forces of that world—gods, dragons, and the like—so they wouldn't be able to deal with it.

Instead, Icarus flew straight to the Holy City of mankind. There, it located a spatial node connected to the Divine Realm.

After forcibly opening it, a massive rift appeared in the skies above the Holy City. Icarus, along with its army of puppet angels and metallic dragon types, poured into the rift.

This entire army, wrapped in a miasma thick like rising smoke, made the skies above the Holy City look like a sea of black fire.

Those who didn't escape in time—or refused to leave—felt like those dark flames would soon rain down and burn their once-magnificent city to ashes, leaving nothing behind but a world of blackened remains.

On the other side of the rift lay the Divine Realm of that other world. But because most of the forces there had been dispatched to stop the falling moon debris, the remaining strength in the Divine Realm was insufficient.

Like trying to stop a chariot with a praying mantis, they could only watch helplessly as the apocalyptic army rampaged through their world.

And then, Icarus intended to move through a spatial node that linked that Divine Realm to Earth's Heaven—trying to breach into the surface world of Earth.

That, of course, would be an utter catastrophe.

Icarus drove what looked like a metallic stake into the node and began forcibly prying it open.

In the end, Earth's Heaven had to blow up their side of the spatial node to stop the terrifying weapon from charging straight through.

The massive tremor from earlier had been caused by that very node's destruction.

But even though the direct path had been blocked, Icarus wasn't giving up. Now, it was trying to construct a dimensional passage to Earth's Inner World, intending to enter from there instead.

"The Inner World? That's the hero stronghold—should be fine, right?"

"Is it really fine, Aqua-senpai? You should know this... Most heroes still need time to recover their former power. And let's not forget, humanity isn't exactly united. There are always some who long for the chaotic days when power ran rampant. Those people might actually be welcoming Icarus' arrival."

Eris, even as a goddess who loved humanity and believed in their goodness, couldn't ignore that some people were simply like that. She had to consider even the worst possibilities.

In fact, some darker speculations loomed: what if malevolent gods from other worlds, eyeing Earth's divine seat, used this chaos to make their move?

As Eris finished speaking, Aqua's forced smile froze. If Icarus did invade the real world, then Heaven would have no choice but to enter the war.

That would be just like being dispatched to another world all over again.

"Ahhhh! What the hell is all this!?"

The Goddess of Water screamed in frustration, clearly on the verge of a breakdown. Eris could only look at her awkwardly.

"Well, calm down, Aqua-senpai. This is just me presenting a worst-case scenario. And don't underestimate the battle gods of Heaven—some of them are very strong…"

"Yeah, yeah, I get that. But Eris, can you please stop scaring me with dramatic pauses? Say everything at once! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be like this! If you keep this up, I'm gonna—gonna squish your chest like a stress ball—!"

The Water Goddess, who had been sighing and pouting, suddenly shifted into menace as she threatened with narrowed eyes.

"I-I got it, senpai! Please stop using that to threaten me!"

Eris frantically cried out. Honestly, it wasn't her fault—Aqua was the one who always rushed to conclusions without letting her finish.

"Um, excuse me… Could I ask something? When you say 'invading Earth'… are you talking about the world I live in?"

That hesitant voice snapped the two goddesses back to the fact that a human was still present.

"Yes, that's right. Oh, by the way, Miss Kato, would you like to try signing a temporary contract? You could treat it like a game trial. If you don't like it, you can always decline later."

The silver-haired goddess named Eris spoke with such warmth and kindness that Megumi paused in surprise.

"Could you tell me more about it?"

"Of course, I'd be happy to explain…"

Unlike the Water Goddess, this Eris really felt like a goddess—gentle and considerate.

In contrast, Aqua gave off a chaotic, unreliable energy, like she'd probably mess things up all the time and leave poor Eris cleaning up her disasters.

"So, what do you think, Miss Kato?"

As that question was asked, Megumi Kato fell into thought.

Is this really just a dream?

She suddenly remembered her classmate Yazuki, who had recently claimed he was the Demon King. She had written it off as classic chuunibyou nonsense—but… could he have actually been telling the truth?

His personality didn't really scream "Demon King" though.

Still, now that she'd been thrown into this utterly surreal situation, she couldn't help but chuckle to herself as she looked at the goddess Eris.

"Well then… I'll give it a try."

The moment she said that, the Water Goddess Aqua darted up to her like an overexcited puppy, eyes sparkling with tears and pulling out a new contract.

She even looked like a little dog wagging its tail so fast it was like a fan blade. Megumi could practically see the imaginary ears and tail bouncing along.

Just as she was about to take the contract, she noticed a glint of mischief flash through Aqua's eyes.

"Um… Lady Eris?"

"You don't have to be that formal—just call me Eris."

"Would you mind checking over this contract for me?"

The moment she said that, Aqua froze. In a flash, she lunged forward, but the contract had already made it into Eris' hands.

"Eh? What's this extra clause? Aqua-senpai, lying isn't allowed."

Eris looked at her senior with deep exasperation as sweat poured down Aqua's face.

"Huh? I must've grabbed the wrong one. My bad, I—"

Aqua played dumb, even throwing in a cutesy pout, clicking her tongue as if annoyed.

"I've decided!"

"Wait—no! I was wrong! Don't reject me! Please don't say no! Look, this version is fine, right, Eris!?"

"I'm not refusing the trial contract. Actually… Eris, may I form a contract with you?"

Megumi's words left both goddesses stunned.

"Eh? Well, sure… but senpai—"

"I object! I absolutely object! I won't allow itttttttttt!"

And just like a tantrum-throwing child in a department store who didn't get the toy she wanted, Aqua started rolling on the ground screaming at the top of her lungs.