---A few minutes ago---

---Ora Opifex POV---

"Cristina, what are you doing here?" (Ora Opifex)

A goddess with the appearance of a beautiful 21 years old woman appeared before me. She was wearing some sort of Romanian clothes, like so many other gods. Apparently, they feel comfortable from what I heard. But I rather like my yukata.

"How cold! You don't even greet me after all this time, Opi?" (Cristina)

"For the last time, don't call me like that. Please." (Ora Opifex)

I sighed. Every times I saw her, she asked for impossible things, or made a commotion. Last time, she tried to get her own space in my dimension, and harassed me for a really long time, no matter what happened, or what business I did, until I told her I would think about it. She could dream about having it though.

"Why did you come?" (Ora Opifex)

"Just for the usual." (Cristina)

Souls, this is what she meant. All deities come here when a new life has to be created in their world to get a new soul for it.

"Alright, I'll ask Cleaner to provide me some, wait for a bit." (Ora Opifex)

"Thank you!" (Cristina)

She seemed happy. But a few seconds later, she looked at me with a different gaze.

"... What?" (Ora Opifex)

"Well, I wanted to know when I'll have the space I requested you..." (Cristina)

"..." (Ora Opifex)

There she goes again! Let's evade this situation quickly.

"Don't worry, I'm working on it. I'll contact you when I'll be done, just as I said." (Ora Opifex)

Her mood darkened right after my words.

"Opi~ Why are you lying~? You aren't working, huh?" (Cristina)

"..." (Ora Opifex)

*mental facepalm*

Right. I forgot. She can tell whenever I lie. This is exactly why it took so long until she reluctantly left me last time she came to me.

She's going to be a pain once again.

"You remember you agreed right?" (Cristina)

"... Yes." (Ora Opifex)

Some dark aura was starting to leak around her.

"You remember you told me 'I can do it fast if you leave me alone' and you also added 'about 3 cycles should be enough' in between your cries?" (Cristina)

"... Yes." (Ora Opifex)

"How much time passed since?" (Cristina)

If I remember well... It was 3 cycles.

"Ehm... I guess it-" (Ora Opifex)

Suddenly, I felt a surge of energy coming from within Limbo. It was similar to the one I told Cleaner to produce whenever something requiring my attention happened.

My exit!

"-was about 3 cycles, however I have a problem to take care of over there that is slowing me down. So if you excuse me I'll return there to figure things out. If I don't, your commission will only get delayed further." (Ora Opifex)

Nice, I didn't lie, so she should be convinced. She pouted like a kid.

"Hmmpf. You're telling the truth. But at least I'll accompany you t-" (Cristina)

"No way in hell. I'll contact you when the souls will be ready. See you later." (Ora Opifex)

"No! I sa-" (Cristina)

I didn't hear the end of her sentence as I was already warping to the Limbo. How nice, I was able to get rid of her pretty fast.

However I was concerned. Cleaner never calls me usually. It could be because the Limbo is starting to get filled up, and he may need a reset now. After all, there are a lot of civilization wars in all dimensions recently. Also, as this is the end of the cycle, a lot of reptilians are agitated and are prone to rampage.

As I arrived, I saw Cleaner in different parts aligned in the form of a ring.

"Cleaner! What's going on?" (Ora Opifex)

"It's Human." (A part of Cleaner)

"He wanted-" (Another part of Cleaner)

"-to meet you." (Another part of Cleaner)

He seemed to have mistaken the name and the specie. But that didn't matter.

"A Human? And it is conscious?" (Ora Opifex)

This is when I sensed it. When I finally noticed it, I didn't understand how I couldn't feel it before. I could see a huge aura in the center of the different parts of Cleaner. It was truly amazing something like this existed in this devoid space. Moreover, in the middle of it, I could see the figure of a human. It was somehow distorted, but only slightly.

Truly a powerful soul.

Most likely, he was an envoy of an angry deity who wanted more souls faster for his world. After all, in most worlds life was expending, just as my workload.

"Who sent you?" (Ora Opifex)

"...?" (Human)

He then looked at me with a questioning expression.

"You aren't the envoy of a deity?" (Ora Opifex)

"Ehm... I don't think so. I just died and then I woke up here" (Human)

He is just a normal soul then. Wait, how come a normal soul can become like this?

"How are you conscious in this place?" (Ora Opifex)

"I don't know." (Human)

Something is wrong with him. Definitely.

"I'm sorry for bothering you mister... hum..." (Human)

I decided to give him my name.

"Ora Opifex" (Ora Opifex)

"Pleased to meet you. My name is Haru." (Haru)

"Likewise. So, what made you want to meet me?"(Ora Opifex)

"Well, you see, for a long time, I gave up on every single form of entertainment available to focus on studies. However, I died. And now Cleaner just told me that my whole life is going to be erased, either by an event or by a deity. So I wanted to meet with you to discuss about another possibility." (Haru)

"Another possibility?" (Ora Opifex)

That's the first time something like this is happening. A soul regaining it's consciousness already happened in the past, but it's a rare occurrence, and those souls never get as much energy as him.

Suddenly, I felt a surge of holy energy appearing right next to me.

"Oh no" (Ora Opifex)

A white orb appeared between the human and me. I have nowhere left to run.

A blinding light engulfed us for a few seconds. When the light vanished, a deity emerged from the orb. And it was Cristina.

I can see the problems starting to pile, and I don't want to be the one cleaning this mess.

*sigh* (Ora Opifex)

"I said : 'I'LL ACCOMPANY YOU TO SEE THE RESULTS!'" (Cristina)

A large *boom* followed her voice. She leaked so much energy while shouting that even Cleaner's goo was wobbling relentlessly.

A conscious human in the Limbo, and a deity able to come here too. Things were really uncanny today.

"Okay, okay, you're here now, so calm down already. You're scaring my host." (Ora Opifex)

"Your host?" (Cristina)

She turned around, and fixated Haru for a long time before yelling.

"Isn't he adorable! He looks exactly like Irrespia! Can I adopt him? Can I? Can I?" (Cristina)

"No. Even if you want to, he is a living form. He cannot follow you the Celestial Plains." (Ora Opifex)

Cristina marked a pause, seemingly lost in her thoughts.

"A living form conscious here?" (Cristina)

"Yes. That's also the reason why I came back here." (Ora Opifex)

"Oh, I see." (Cristina)

Just like that, all her concerns seemed to vanish. A real simpleton.

Meanwhile, the human was looking dumbfounded, probably because of the tantrum caused by Cristina.

"Anyway, sorry Haru. What was your proposition again?" (Ora Opifex)

"... Ah! Yes, well... hum... The thing is, I don't want my personality to disappear, nor do I want my existence to vanish. Which is why I'd like to be passed to a deity directly without having to do the whole 'devouring' part. Of course, in exchange, I'll do anything you may want from me. Even if I don't think I can do much, if you can have any use of me, then I'd be more than glad to help you in return."

He just triggered a death flag. I could see it from several miles away. In th-

"THEN COME WITH ME!!" (Cristina)

She was excited, but really, I mean REALLY excited. Like a kid that can't stand still.

"Oi, Cristina. I told you that he can't come in the Celestial Planes do you remember?" (Ora Opifex)

"Yes. But that doesn't mean he cannot come to my dimension." (Cristina)

That... was true.

*sigh* (Ora Opifex)

"I guess if you do that, then it's okay. Even though it's sort of against the rules, you do have enough leeway to do this." (Ora Opifex)

"Then is he mine?" (Cristina)

I glanced at Haru, who seemed frightened by her. I'm sorry, I can't do anything to help you there.

"... Yes." (Ora Opifex)

"Yeshh-!!" (Cristina)

She was jumping around like an airhead. Seems like this human is going to have a bad time.

Afterwards, she leaned towards the human.

"What's your name?" (Cristina)

She asked Haru, while smiling gently at him. He immediately calmed down, and I think I could see something running down his nose... Blood?!?

"... My name is Haru" (Haru)

"Pleased to meet you! My name is Cristina. So, I'm going to take you with me, are you okay with this?" (Cristina)

"Well, as long as it allows me to exit this place unscathed, I'm fine with it." (Haru)

"Good." (Cristina)

She then turned back towards me.

"I guess your problem is solved. Now you can get back to our 'business' right?" (Cristina)

"Yeaaah, I'll do my best." (Ora Opifex)

Not.

"It lacks resolve, but I'll let it pass. Haru, are you ready?" (Cristina)

"Yes mam'" (Haru)

"See you later Opi!" (Cristina)

"I TOLD YOU T-" (Ora Opifex)

She disappeared with Haru.

"-O STOP CAlling me like that..." (Ora Opifex)

"..."

*sigh*

What an airhead.