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"Hello everyone, how are you all? I wanted to talk about something regarding the comments I've been reading. It seems many of you think of Orion as an immoral or psychopathic character. However, I didn't intend to write him that way. I'm not sure how it happened, but it seems I may have made a mistake at some point that gave you this impression.
I wanted Orion to be a 'gray' character—someone who would help people if he could, but would never sacrifice himself for them. To be honest, he won't kill people without a reason. I will try to focus more on his interactions to clarify his personality; I've always imagined Orion as a sarcastic person who loves his family, and they are his absolute priority.
As for him killing humans inside the Nightmare, it's because he views them as illusions, not as real human beings. Anyway, thank you all, and I wish you all a good night!"
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"You are suspiciously silent."
As I was relaxing in the massive bathtub, I spoke quietly to the air. Soon, the answer came from within my mind.
"Hmm, this is called studying the environment. I am learning."
Tsk, tsk. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get used to the sensation of his voice speaking inside my head.
"Well, and what have you learned?"
"Hahaha, a good question. I learned that there are many shiny things that need to be stolen."
Forget it; he's hopeless.
With that thought, I summoned his runes.
Echo Name: The Vile Thieving Bird
Echo Rank: Transcendent
Echo Class: Devil
Echo Attributes: [Greed], [Piercing Eye], [Invulnerable], [Learner]
Echo Abilities: [Nest of Malice], [Stealing], [Hungry], [Veil of Invisibility]
In the end, my intuition about that egg was correct.
In the novel, it was said that anyone who approached the egg would have their essence absorbed. When I killed it, I didn't gain a class or ability—just a miniature version of the egg I had slain. Eventually, I figured this Echo could hatch somehow.
And of course, that way was by feeding it essence.
It was likely that the amount of essence it received would determine its Class and Rank. And that was true. After placing it on the circular platform, it began absorbing essence obsessively, and it didn't take long before it hatched.
Tsk. I looked back at its runes and focused on its Attributes.
[Greed]: This Echo is obsessed with everything shiny and beautiful.
[Piercing Eye]: This Echo's eyes can distinguish rare and precious things.
[Invulnerable]: The Echo's claws and beak are invulnerable and agile.
[Learner]: This Echo is intelligent.
Echo Abilities: [Nest of Malice]: This Echo can store items within its Soul Sea.
[Greed Claw]: This Echo is skilled in theft.
[Hungry]: This Echo grows by absorbing essence.
[Veil of Invisibility]: Unless this Echo wants to be discovered, no one can detect it.
As I read these runes, I couldn't stop a smile from appearing on my face. Magnificent. This chicken was magnificent.
In fact, it was highly likely that it possessed more traits and abilities, but the Spell couldn't describe them. Or perhaps, it didn't want to.
For instance, obedience. It doesn't obey me. I can't summon it out of my Soul Sea or send it back. In truth, describing it as an "Echo" is likely wrong. It is closer to a complete living being. Or perhaps it was a complete living being.
Regardless, if I could strike a deal with it, we would have a wonderful partnership. With these thoughts, I began speaking.
"Hmm, as you know, you need a name."
There were moments of silence before its voice returned.
"A name? Oh, you mean the titles you humans give each other. I'm not interested, but if you have one, go ahead."
A name? Hmm... What should I call him?
As I thought about his form and traits, searching my memory for a name that suited him, one suddenly dropped into my mind.
"Mammon. From now on, your name will be Mammon. He is the Devil of Greed."
Before I knew it, I felt something emerging from my chest, and soon Mammon appeared before me. He landed in the water in front of me immediately upon exiting, causing it to splash left and right.
Yet, he didn't seem to care. He stared at me with his greedy eyes while the sound of his laughter echoed.
"Hhahahaha! The Devil of Greed... a fitting name. It's good. Yes, yes... Mammon. I like it."
I moved my hair away from my face and stared at him as well. For the next few minutes, there was a sort of stupid staring contest between us. It was a matter of dominance.
After five minutes, I began to feel bored and tried to pull my face away.
And then, I froze.
I couldn't move my eyes away from his. I couldn't blink or turn my head.
Oh. Oh, oh.
Is this my Flaw?
After I decided to stare at him, I couldn't retreat?
My God.
All this time, my eyes and Mammon's eyes were staring intensely at each other. Neither of us blinked, and both were unwilling to back down. Well, I couldn't even if I wanted to.
After ten minutes, the situation remained the same. Finally, to end this ridiculous thing, I decided to try what I had seen in the mirror. I focused intensely on my eyes while staring into his.
Soon, my eyes, reflected in his, began to glow with a mysterious amethyst light.
Three seconds. Five seconds.
After ten seconds of using this ability, and as my eyes began to feel a subtle discomfort, Mammon withdrew.
"Forget it, you're annoying," he said, then tried to sit in the tub in a clumsy way.
I shifted my focus away from my eyes and then focused on him. As expected, only after he withdrew was I able to withdraw as well.
"Tell me, what did you feel just now?"
I asked him as I watched him begin to clean his feathers, occasionally stealing some soap bubbles.
Stupid. That's what I realized.
He is intelligent and a learner, but he lacks a lot. It's also clear that he doesn't possess any memories. He has an instinct he acts upon while he learns. Despite his intelligence, he is governed by his instinct.
"Are you talking about your eyes? I'm not sure... I just felt uncomfortable."
Hmm. Then what is this ability? It likely relates to my [Eye of the Celestial Fox] attribute. Well, I'm in no rush. I have time to investigate it and its effects.
I rose from the tub, picked up a towel, and began drying myself. Now, what I needed was to find common ground between me and Mammon.
Well, it was simple, actually.
As long as his desires didn't conflict with mine, I was sure I would come across many shiny things on my path that he could have.
With these thoughts, I looked at him and said:
"Tell me, Mammon... do you want to make a deal?"
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"Hello everyone!
federico_Camargo suggested naming the chicken 'Mammon,' and I thought it was a beautiful name that suits him perfectly. Thank you for your suggestion! I'd also like to say that Mammon is happy with the name as well, and he thanks you on behalf of his greed."