That night, I dreamed again.
A space with nothing.
It's been one day since the last time. My gaze naturally turn down to the goddess in front of me right now.
"…What are you doing, Goddess-sama?" (Makoto)
The Goddess was prostrating.
Her back was completely straight and her hands positioned diagonally from each other on the ground.
Apparently showing the top of your head is a display of submission towards the other party.
Her nape that's peeking out slightly is a bit sexy.
No wait, that's not it.
"Noah-sama." (Makoto)
I kindly call her.
The Goddess's shoulders quiver.
"That's your name right, Goddess-sama?" (Makoto)
".....Yes." (Noah)
She tells me in a fleeting voice.
"You were an Evil God?" (Makoto)
"…"
There's no answer.
"For now, please show me your face. Staying prostrated won't let me relax." (Makoto)
"You won't stop being my believer?" (Noah)
"..."
"Please don't stay silent!" (Noah)
She snapped her head up, stood up, and grabbed my shoulders.
"I am sorry! I didn't intend to deceive you. I simply didn't say it." (Noah)
I look dumbfounded at the goddess words.
So... that's not called deceiving
I see...
Nodding to myself then look at the goddess.
"So it's just a fraud."
"It is not a fraud! Also, there's no mistake that I am a Goddess!" (Noah)
"But you are an Old God, right?" (Makoto)
"Calling me old is also a bit… I don't really like that way of calling us. Within the Titan Gods, I am on the young side, you know." (Noah)
She sulks and makes a gesture of kicking the air.
As cute as always.
Ah, she grinned.
Right, she can read minds.
"Cute Goddess-sama, looks like you will be okay even if I am not your believer anymore." (Makoto)
The face of the Goddess stiffens.
"I won't I won't I wont!! It took me a 1,000 years to even get one believer, you know?! Without believers, a God will stay weak. I am being treated as an Evil God, so I can't get believers. I can only recruit otherworldlers!" (Noah)
And most of those otherworldlers were seized by the six Great Goddesses.
"H-Hey, the dagger was good, right?" (Noah)
"This?" (Makoto)
I look at the dagger at my waist.
Based on what Fuji-yan said, it certainly is an impressive weapon.
It isn't something I would have been able to obtain by adventuring normally in this world.
"But getting caught as an Evil God from an Appraisal was a bit careless on your part." (Makoto)
"That's not it! A normal appraisal wouldn't have managed to!" (Noah)
So Fuji-yan's skill isn't normal.
That's an [Appraisal: Superior] for ya.
Or more like, you totally intended on deceiving me then.
"No, well, you see…" (Noah)
The Goddess fidgets.
Looks like she can't find a good excuse.
Well, she did hide that she was an Evil God, and I have a suspicion about it, in our first meeting.
She's the first one who reach out to me and believe in me.
And the quality of the weapon she gave me is the real deal.
I wasn't given a weapon at the Water Temple, so having this dagger and not having it makes a lot of difference.
Then, what I should say is…
"Noah-sama, thank you for this dagger. I will use it with care." (Makoto)
"I am glad that you like it." (Noah)
She smiles happily.
When looking at her like this, she really doesn't look like an Evil God at all.
"No, it is just the Holy Gods arbitrarily calling us Evil Gods. I am also a Goddess." (Noah)
She puckers her lips and says this.
I see.
Apparently, Goddesses can't lie.
Fuji-yan told me that.
So her saying she is a Goddess is not a lie.
When thinking about it in that way, our conversation the first time wasn't a fraud.
But she really intended to deceive me.
Well, I'm one at fault too...
I let myself be deceived.
So what I'm saying is.....
"I am okay staying as your believer." (Makoto)
"R-Really?!" (Noah)
"Yeah." (Makoto)
Honestly, I was happy.
This Goddess was the only one who has told me 'I have high hopes for you' since coming to this world.
Other people only made fun of me, pitied me, or worried about me.
Aah, but she is reading my mind.
Maybe it really was pity?
While I was thinking that, the Goddess suddenly approached me.
"Makoto." (Noah)
And hugged me.
"You are my important believer. I have high hopes for you, so slowly become stronger." (Noah)
"This is so obvious that it stinks of fake, you know." (Makoto)
"S-So horrible! I did my best there!" (Noah)
She lightly beats my head.
I am sorry.
[Clear Mind] and [RPG Player] are just too good at their job, you see.
Seeing from the side my own figure being hugged by the Goddess is embarrassing.
Anyways, the contract still stands.
I will do my best as a believer of the Goddess Noah-sama.
"By the way, don't you have any instructions for me, Goddess-sama?" (Makoto)
"Why is it that you want such an oracle that much?" (Noah)
"Meeting a Goddess and the only event is receiving a dagger, is just a bit, you know…" (Makoto)
Most times it is 'defeat the Demon Lord' or something unreasonable.
It is kinda the usual trope of an RPG.
"What a weird believer." (Noah)
The Goddess says with a troubled expression.
"Then, how about this? I am currently imprisoned for the sin of going against the Holy Gods. How does saving me sound?" (Noah)
Ooh, nice!
A classic event.
Saving the captured Goddess.
I have dreamed of situations like this.
Right right, that's the kind of thing I wanted.
"The place where the Old Gods are imprisoned in, right?" (Makoto)
"Aah, that's a different place. The place where the Old Gods are imprisoned in, Tartaros, cannot be reached by a mortal in the first place. I am still a young god, so I am in a different place. It is a place that a mortal can just baaarely get to." (Noah)
Really?
So there's a lot of things that can't be learned with only the passed down myths.
"The place I am currently in, you see, is the Deep Sea Temple." (Noah)
"Eh? What did you say just now?" (Makoto)
"At the abyss of the deep sea. The dungeon that's said to be the deepest in this world. The Deep Sea Temple is in the very last location of that place." (Noah)
The Goddess Noah-sama just said the name of one of the 3 top most difficult dungeons in the world.
A dungeon that mankind has not reached yet.
"Ahaha, want to call it quits after all?" (Noah)
The Goddess asks me with a smile.
"It might be unreasonable but if It's for you Noah-sama. I will go. I will aim for it. I will save you as thanks for this dagger and for reaching out to me." (Makoto)
Hearing me say that she slightly blush and redeem herself, then smile beautifully.
"The dagger is my thanks for you becoming my believer and for the other stuff. You don't have to mind it. If you pray every day, you might eventually get a divine protection, so it would benefit you to continue being my believer, you know." (Noah)
The Goddess speaks as if she is making a sales pitch for a newspaper subscription.
"Well, excuse me. Then, it is about time you wake up." (Noah)
My consciousness grows hazy.
"Come rescue me when you feel like it, okay? I will wait patiently." (Noah)
Noah-sama waves her hand all smiles.
I only have 10 years of lifespan though.
For now, let's raise my level and earn lifespan.
"If you free me, I will do whatever you want me to~." (Noah)
I heard that voice as my consciousness grew further and further away.
I will remember that Goddess-sama.