A Gamer's Guide 369

Spinning on my heel, I stomp over to where Rice is and grab her by the shoulders. “Rice, we need to go right the fuck now or I’m going to start doing things I’ll regret.”

She squints at me as though she’s never seen me before in her life. “Prince, what the heck have you been up to since we last met?”

“I had a conversation with a dragon. Unimportant.”

“No, I mean, after the tournament. Why… No, I mean, are you a god?”

I tremble in rage, still holding her shoulders, hoping that by hoping hard enough I might not hurt her or something. “A lot of stuff happened. Yes, I’m a god, but it really isn’t important, okay? I didn’t tell you because I wanted to avoid this.” There’s actually no need for me to gesture at the kowtowing, murmuring crowd, but I still do, because I’m a nice person who does nice things. “So, let’s avoid this, yeah? That’s okay, right? I need to leave. Please.”

Her face scrunches up in worry. The action takes at least two seconds which we could have spent going far, far away. “Prince, calm down. I know this is a lot, but if you leave now, who knows what they might do? Besides, it would be rude to leave without saying goodbye to everyone.”

I hate how right she is. “Yes, yes, but…”

“Hope?” 

Never before have I wanted to see a god less. “What is it, Pammie?”

Although she was about to say something, the mention of her mortal name makes the goddess freeze entirely. “P—please don’t use that name.” I want to ask and argue about why not, but I’m having trouble keeping myself real and physical, so I decide not to. 

“Okay. Um, I’m gonna leave really soon because this sucks and I hate it, but I just wanted to tell you I’m taking Lett along. I saved him, so he’s mine. That’s how it works, okay? Not like in the slave way though, just in the… my responsibility way. Capiche?”

In the span of about two seconds, she lights up into the very picture of delight. “Oh! How lovely! I was starting to worry he would never find any place to go… You will take good care of him, yes?”

“Uh…” That was not the response I expected, but… “Yeah. Yeah, I will.” 

She smiles warmly. “Good. In that case, I will update your quest to reflect this new endeavour.”

<[Divine Mission updated:

Bring Lett far away from here.>

“Thank you.”

Okay, great! No issues there. Wonderful. In that case… 

I scan the people here, restraining myself from retching at the sight of the soldiers kneeling and bowing. Ugh, gross. Wait, there they are! 

With permission granted, I stride up to Holly and Glyph. “Hey Glyph I’m feeling really bad right now so I’m going to bring Lett with me on my adventures so uh yeah I’ll be taking him now that’s okay right yeah right yeah cool.” But instead of depositing Lett into my arms like I had expected, she draws back, in much the same way she did when Garath approached her. “Hello? Hello. Give him to me.”

“What is this? What are you?” Glyph’s gaze hops anxiously between Garath and myself. “This is not…”

“Listen, I’m sure you have a lot of questions, and I respect that. However, I really have to go.” I look down at Lett. “Hey, Lett, are you ready to leave? Like, now-now? Right now.”

He blinks at me, and arches his back to look at Garath. “Will we be riding on him?”

I follow Lett’s gaze. Garath looks down at me, calmly, dignified. 

<I do not mind to be a steed.>

I spin around to Lett and grin. “Yep!”

His eyes sparkle. “Then, yes.”

“Great! In that case…” My eyes trail up. Glyph returns the favor. “Do you mind if…?”

She clenches her jaw, making it bulge out oddly. And still, she looks at me. “Take good care of him. And… Ensure that he doesn’t suffer, should something happen to you.”

“Okay,” I say, which I’ve been told sounds flaky, even though I mean it will full sincerity. Even now, I can tell that she’s unsure whether to believe me or not. I help her decide by holding out my hands. Governed by social pressure, she places Lett in my arms. “Thank you for trusting me, Glyph.” Turning to Holly, I add, “And thank you for only stabbing me once. Very swag.”

She turns beet red, but I don’t really care. Turning around, I find that Garath is already holding out his hand, ready for me to deposit Lett into. Excellent. Having someone to read your thoughts is oddly useful. 

<You’re welcome.>

The only issue is that I can’t read yours, which is very unfair.

To that, Garath only smirks. Damn you…!

Alright, so, everything is ready, everyone is prepared, so that leaves me with Rice. Now, where the heck did she go? Ah, over there! Talking to… Sythe of all people? Mm. I don’t like that. Actually, I really don’t like that. It’s upsetting and disturbing and must be stopped post-haste.

I storm up to her, tapping her on the shoulder. “Rice? Hey, Rice. I’m ready to leave. Are you ready? Come on, I really need to go. Please. I just…”

She peeks up at me over her shoulder. There’s an odd look on her face. Contemplative, uncertain… A kind of look I don’t think I’ve ever seen on her. Beyond her, below, Sythe is no longer kissing the ground, though still bowing his head too deeply for me to see his face. “Sorry, Prince,” she says. “I don’t think I can leave just yet. This situation is…” She shakes her head, frowning deeply. Ungood. “Someone will need to stay here for when his majesty returns. Sythe is going to try to explain what happened and try to convince him that you should be worshipped rather than hunted, and I have a feeling that such a conversation won’t go too well.”

“So?” I ask. “That’s his choice. Why would you want to stay behind too?”

“Because I know you won’t want to, even though you really should.”

“Why should I?”

She turns away from me. “It’s your responsibility. I don’t know how you ended up this way, but right now, all of these people… They worship you. If you stay, you can protect them from the king, who’s sure to persecute them.”

“What does that have to do with me? I don’t want to be worshipped!”

“I know. Please don’t think that I’m trying to accuse you. That’s why I’m staying. Hopefully, the king will listen to me, and maybe they won’t be executed, or worse.”

Though I can’t fathom what could be worse than dying, I choose not to point it out. “Well, alright. I can’t force you to come along or anything. I don’t know if what you’re doing is good or whatever, but I’ll trust that you’re doing it because it’s what you think is right.”

“Thank you, Prince.”

I take a step away. This feels wrong. This isn’t how it’s supposed to go. Weren’t we supposed to go together? See the world? “Will we meet again?” I ask, like a pathetic lead in a sad movie.

She chuckles. “Of course we will. I’ll catch up with you eventually. I know your route, after all. Loathe Summit next, right?”

Somehow, I find it in me to smile. “Yeah. That’s right.”

“Then, we’ll meet there. Or afterwards. Who knows? But we will meet again.”

Her words bring incomparable warmth to my chest. “Thank you, Rice. I really appreciate it.”

“What are friends for?”

“Heh. Yeah, I suppose that’s right.”

At the other end of the clearing, I spot Garath and Lett, waiting for me. By the time I’ve turned back to her, Rice has stood up and taken me into her arms. She’s warm, and smells like bark. Without even having to think about it, I return the embrace. There’s no need to hold each other for very long. I know we’ll meet again, so it’s not a goodbye, just a see-you-later.

I release her, she releases me, and we both smile. Although I wouldn’t say it for fear of being misunderstood, I do love her. Thankfully, I know that she knows as well as I do that this is the truth.

And as I say “Goodbye,” and wave to her, leaving for Garath, I know that when she says “Goodbye,” and watches the three of us fly away, we both mean the exact same thing.

I love you. I’ll miss you. Let’s play again someday!

<The Goddess of Children

thanks You for completing 

Her divine mission.>

<You have completed divine mission

[Take Away Lett]>

<You have conquered

The Ledge of Gluttony.

Congratulations!>

<Reward:

[Innocent Adoration Lv.MAX]>

<Error!

Incompatible divinity.

Edit skill?>