Mistress Of The Evil Forest

J-N 3: Neveah and the end of Project AEN.

''Hah...''

''...''

''With this, the project is officially over.''

At the project director—Jennifer—'s words, weary sighs begin to appear in the previously silent room. Researchers, all donning white lab coats, flop down on their chairs, showing withered variants of relief.

After all, even if the project is ultimately successful, the war against the invaders stubbornly remains.

''Everyone can retire for now. Whether we'll be back here again or not... only God knows.''

Turning to the door, Jennifer bitterly scoffs,

''...if there is a god remaining in the first place, that is.''

[Good evening, everyone. This is Jane Arthur from FNC News. You are watching our collective pieces on the ongoing war with extraterrestrial beings.]

Neveah Corp headquarters, nighttime.

The company's chairwoman, Jennifer, quietly sits in her office, her unfocused eyes reflecting the bustling city's neon lights beyond the glass facade. 

''...''

'Even as the world is ending... people move as usual.'

This place is humanity's last fortress on this planet. Outside of distant bounds, everything is already in ruins. Yet, in this very space, even the faint impact of those catastrophic explosions shown on television cannot be felt.

[As you can see from this approximate map, the advancement of hostile forces is closing in from all directions. The unanimous consensus at the moment is that a direct confrontation is unavoidable.]

[This war—this last war will determine the survival of humanity.]

''...''

[However challenging it might be, we mustn't lose hope. This has been a widespread message ever since the invasion started, and our soldiers are certainly equipped with that mentality. Moreover, they are also equipped with the most cutting-edge gear made by Neveah Corp—]

With a click of the remote, the television is shut off.

Jennifer rotates the chair slightly, gazing at her reflection on the unpowered television screen.

'I look like shit, huh.'

Her previously unkempt hair is now close to withering away, and her perpetually tired eyes seem so gloomy it might induce sighs in people whenever they see them.

Clearly, a shower is due.

Thankfully, her responsibilities as the director of the AEN Project have ended. So, she comfortably soaks herself in warm water before entering her bedroom, which is connected to her office.

The moment she throws herself on the bed, two of her computer monitors flick on.

[Hello there, my dear sister~!]

[Hello.]

''...Athena, Eva.''

Beyond the screens, two beautiful women greet Jennifer. They are the two goddesses who made this project possible—fittingly, the 'A' and the 'E' of 'AEN.'

The remaining 'N' is, of course, referring to Jennifer herself. As an avid gamer, she likes to use her gamertag whenever she gets the chance.

Neveah.

It is what she uses in the virtual worlds, but it is also her corporation's official name. From an obscure NEET's in-game name to now a world-renowned moniker... isn't it ironic?

Perhaps even more ironic is that she, being a mortal, is basically standing equally to two deities of other realms, even becoming their sworn sister.

[Congratulations on completing the project, Jennifer.]

[Right, right! You really worked hard!]

Even receiving such warm words.

''...Thanks. It wouldn't have been possible if not for you two.''

But what can she do other than smile back at them?

A part of her selfish self resents them for not being able to help her directly, but every other part of her understands it. Every governing deity needs to guard their planet. That's how it is.

For now, Jennifer's planet needs to fend off by itself.

[Hey, Jen. Do you plan to become a god?]

''...''

Athena's casual question holds more weight than it sounds—incomparably so.

The process of becoming a deity is arduous. If set on that trajectory, Jennifer would need to cultivate her strength for hundreds or thousands of years, during the first decades of which she would be unconscious.

By then, the war would have ended.

In other words, she wouldn't be able to help her kind anymore. Is there such a need in the first place? Jennifer isn't a fighter, that is for certain.

It has been gnawing at the woman for a while.

Considering Jennifer's personality, she would want to settle that problem as soon as possible, but being as tired as she is now...

''I don't know. Really, I don't know.''

[...]

[...]

She wants to play games.

But her eyes are closing on their own.

Even worse, her body is already relaxing as if preparing to fall into sleep at any given moment. Seeing this, Athena offers to sing a lullaby, which is allowed to continue for a while before—

bzzt—! bzzt—!

''...? Hello?''

Jennifer picks up the phone with an annoyed expression.

[Chairwoman, it's me, Seira.]

''Secretary? What's wrong?''

[Um... someone is requesting to meet with you. And before you ask, this person... isn't ordinary. No, they're not the politicians or the billionaires.]

''...Are they hostile?''

[Doesn't seem so. Anyway, I think you should really meet her. Just, my intuition.]

''...Okay. I trust your intuition.''

And so, Jennifer finishes up her conversation with the two goddesses as she readies herself. Then, she exits her room, steals a glance outside the glass facade again, and heads to the guest room.

'I wonder who it is.'

Tonight, the moon is exceptionally bright.