After finishing the midnight training and sending Freed off, I returned to my bedroom and collapsed onto the bed, falling into a deep sleep.
「Lord, Mizera ran off so I’m going after her」
I must have slept until early afternoon, and Shiro’s voice finally woke me. My whole body ached, so at least I took comfort in the thought that I’m still young enough to feel muscle soreness.
「Hmm… ah. Got it. Take care」
Still groggy, I stroked Shiro’s head and sat up. I washed my face with the wet towel she handed me and fully woke up.
「So, lord, what’s your plan for today?」
「I’m heading to the capital. Freed will accompany me, so the escort is fine」
「Okay. Then I want some pocket money」
「Sure, how much do you need?」
「Hmm… about five gold coins」
「Five gold? What are you buying?」
「It’s a secret」
Five gold coins… that’s 500,000 Nohl. Considering how much Shiro works, it’s not unreasonable, but it’s a lot of money. I wonder what she plans to buy.
「Alright then… Here. Don’t spend it all on snacks」
「I won’t today」
Not snacks, huh? Maybe she found something she wants. Usually, she tells me when she wants something, and it’s almost always food.
「I’ll be off then」
「Take care」
「Hmm」
Fine.
After a morning bath I’ll head to the capital.
The reason is, well, I plan to ask Sister Teresa and the others for help, the kind of prayer to a goddess when you’re in trouble.
Fortunately, Teresa told me to come anytime if something happens.
If there’s a confessional, I’d like to use it.
-0-
「Hmm hmm… mmm! Chocolate ice cream really is delicious. I prefer the crisp chocolate pieces to fully melted ice, you know」
In front of me, enjoying my new ice cream creation, “Crisp Choco Vanilla”, is a woman who hits the center of my tastes perfectly.
Plump, tempting lips I’d wish to be the silver spoon for.
Long, soft-looking blonde hair. Gentle eyes that make her seem like an embodiment of mercy, happily savoring the ice cream.
She wears a thin, pure white robe that modestly covers her chest, yet I find myself wanting to be the cloth that covers that part.
This woman in front of me was the first woman I met in this world.
She was the one who, upon my arrival here, gave me the “pocket money” skill and my alchemy and other skills. She was that Goddess.
Why is goddess-sama standing before me now? The story goes back a little, but to put it simply…
『I see… so you regret saying too much』
「Yes… What should I do, Vice-Captain?」
『Ahem. Right now, I am just a humble sister. This is a confessional, so let’s avoid identifying individuals. Now then… if you truly regret it, how about offering a prayer to the goddess?』
「A prayer? How should I…?」
『Then let us pray outside. I’ll guide you carefully from behind, hand over hand. Hehehe』
「Vice-Captain, that’s not how a girl should laugh」
『Slurp, ah! I was just eager to imitate the Captain. Forget it. Yes, forget it. Well then, let’s go outside… gah! Captain!?』
『And what do you think you’re doing…』
That was how, after everything, they suggested I pray to goddess-sama.
In the end, when you’re troubled, relying on a Goddess really is better than relying on a sister.
Back in my old world I was an atheist, so I probably would have run from something like this, but here I know goddess-sama exists. So I joined Teresa and the Vice-Captain in prayer.
Before I realized it, I was standing in a pure white world, with goddess-sama right before me.
I was shocked, of course.
Goddess-sama herself looked surprised, frozen in place with a sweet bun in her mouth.
Since I knew she liked sweets, I offered her a box of my crisp choco ice cream.
「Phew. Thank you for the treat. As always, chocolate and vanilla ice cream is delightful」
「Ah, so you’ve had it before?」
「Yes. It’s my favorite. Now then, you wanted to ask about skills, didn’t you?」
I don’t know if this is a dream or not, but since I had the chance to meet goddess-sama, I asked her about skills.
…Not that it had anything to do with what Mizera said to me earlier.
「Normally, the skills granted to a “Drifter” are standard skills, except for their unique skill. Talent still depends on the individual. For example, your cooking skill hasn’t gone up, has it?」
「Ah… that’s true. Now that you mention it, it’s stayed at level 1 all this time…」
I’ve done plenty of cooking though. So in other words, I really don’t have any talent for it…
「Wait? But honestly, my cooking tastes pretty good, even if I say so myself」
「That’s right. Some skills are not necessary to perform an action. They act more as status enhancements to aid daily life. Cooking and farming are good examples. From the perspective of efficiency, leveling them is better, but even at low levels, the work itself is not hindered」
Goddess-sama began preparing the next ice cream herself as she spoke. It seems she really does like sweets.
「So even if your level is low, your cooking will still turn out tasty. If the level rises, the stats needed for cooking increase.」
「I see… Right, to the main question… Why do Half-Elves have poor skill growth?」
I asked with the hope she would give a far more convincing answer than the books in the kingdom library. Whatever she said, if it came from goddess-sama I would have to believe it. Even if it was true, I had no intention of abandoning her.
「Well… that’s not exactly the case…?」
「…?」
「First of all, Half-Elves inherit Elven traits and are a longer-lived race than humans. Because of that, their growth is simply slower, not lacking.」
「But every record I’ve seen treats Half-Elves as an inferior race…」
「…The kingdom really hasn’t changed, has it. I’m honestly… appalled.」
Goddess-sama looked off into the distance with sad eyes.
Her sorrowful expression was also beautiful.
「Ah… pardon me. But calling them an inferior race is incorrect. We in the Church have given that kind of revelation, but…」
「…The Church faction doesn’t want to pick needless fights with the kingdom faction, it seems.」
「Sigh… If only I could bring down divine punishment or something… I’m sorry, but I am not a god with that much power. If the god above me could move, it could be done at once, but unfortunately for a while…」
「I see… But this is good news. If I tell Mizera this…!」
With goddess-sama’s seal of approval, I could tell Mizera she wasn’t an inferior species and that she was fine.
「Fufu. You look happy. Is there anything else you want to ask?」
「Yes… Oh, by the way, if I receive baptism, will I be able to use holy magic?」
「Holy magic? Hmm… I’m sorry, but you lack aptitude for holy magic, so I think it will be difficult.」
I see… so my aptitude for magic is a bust after all. I should be glad I at least have a talent for spatial magic. Still, I’ll consider how to leverage the attribute aptitudes I do have.
「I see… Oh, and thank you for the soy sauce and miso.」
「Not at all. To be honest, I mistakenly teleported you to the wrong town… I’m deeply sorry.」
「I’m very grateful now. Thank you…」
「Hearing you say that helps. The other goddesses had been tormenting me quite a bit…」
Come to think of it, there are other goddesses, right?
I believe the goddess before me is Goddess Reidianna-sama, goddess of bounty and mercy.
And there’s the war goddess Atros-sama, who’s flat-chested, I think.
Reidianna-sama certainly looks far removed from conflict… being harassed by the war goddess is pitiable, really…
「I truly don’t mind. Rather, I’m grateful I can enjoy soy sauce and miso in this world too」
「That’s good to hear… Ah, I’m sorry but it seems our time is almost up… It’s such a shame. I wanted to talk more」
「Yes… I wanted to talk more too」
I wanted to ask more personal things, like whether the stamp drawing was hand-drawn, or about her hobbies and favorite foods. No cellphone contacts… no guild card either, I suppose… ah, what a pity.
「…Will I be able to meet you again?」
「That would be difficult… This was truly by chance, and I can’t recommend staying in this world for long…」
「I see…」
The realm of the gods, I guess.
Literally a different world from mine.
My body is being wrapped in white light.
I should engrave her image in my eyes one last time.
But her expression looks somewhat somber.
「Um… one last thing… Is this world enjoyable?」
Reidianna-sama asked a little hesitantly, and I answered with a wide smile.
「It is enjoyable. It’s the best, truly delightful」
「Fufu, I’m glad. Then, in accordance with your deeds, I shall grant you a small boon. May it bring better outcomes to your future life…」
The last image as I vanished was Reidianna-sama’s smile.
Truly, she’s most beautiful when she smiles. Without a doubt, I will come to revere Reidianna-sama.
【Title obtained: Creationist】
-0-
「—ld man! Master-san! Are you alright!?」
「He-hello? Is this my fault!? Did me suggesting prayer cause this!? If he dies like this, what will happen to Shiro and the others…」
「It couldn’t possibly be the prayer’s fault! If people started dying after church prayers, that’d be no joke!」
My body was being shaken vigorously, and my vision gradually cleared.
It seemed I had collapsed on my back.
On my right side was a desperate Teresa, and on my left was the Vice-Captain, flustered and worried. Both of them were holding my shoulders and shaking me.
「Ah… good morning?」
「Master-san! You’ve woken up!?」
「Th-thank goodness… Are you alright!? Do you feel sick!? As an apology, would you like to touch my chest!?」
「Touch」
Oops, I answered instantly before even thinking.
But if asked whether I would touch, of course I would. I am a man after all.
「…It seems you are alright. Honestly… you started glowing like it was divine revelation and then suddenly fainted, it was frightening」
「Truly… you wouldn’t respond even when we called, I was really worried!」
「Could it be… did you learn holy magic?」
「No, apparently I don’t have the aptitude」
「I see… huh? How do you know that?」
「I was just talking with goddess-sama」
「「What!?」」
Well, it is hard to believe.
But I was able to hear something precious, and now I feel even more motivated.
I feel sorry for the two who are bewildered, but I should hurry home and tell Mizera.
Now then… will Mizera believe this unbelievable yet true story?
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