It happened.
One day, I saw a butterfly. She was colorful, flying around like a butterfly, but eventually she collided with something. A spiderweb had ensnared her. Should I lend a hand? I'm not sure what the best thing to do here.
Kazu, out.
◇
You know what, expectation can be unfair at times. It is unreasonable to ask someone to perform something that he is incapable of doing.
Perhaps not. Who knows, maybe they have a misunderstanding about your capabilities.
This must be the case with me.
I can't blame them; after all, my followers called me a god, and I did nothing to change it. So I'm the one to blame here? How? That's absurd. I didn't do anything. Is that the problem? not doing something?
Sigh.
I then heard a rumble.
Boom boom boom…
Thump thump thump…
Bam bam… Bam bam boom…
They sound like drumming and appear to be everywhere around me.
Next, there was a deep growl.
Are the villagers performing some sort of ritual? Do they dance? I want to see it.
Suddenly, the earth that enveloped me glows. They hum a lot louder this time.
This is amazing…
I had no idea the earth that enveloped me was so special. I'm curious as to what they see outside.
Drrruhhhhhh!!!
Is there an earthquake? No, the earth that enveloped me is beginning to vibrate.
Blarggg~ I… I'm afraid I'm going to puke. This is making me dizzy. I need to say something or I'll make a mess here…
Then the drumming and humming stopped. At the same time, the mass of earth that enveloped me shone so brightly.
That's blinding! Ah! My eyes… A shockwave hit me.
A voice was chanting, but I couldn't hear very well since I was dizzy. I felt drunk.
'…fully established. I praise Rowa, the god of protection and harvest, once more. Thank you for once again providing us with your protection…'
What, again? What exactly do you mean? Isn't this the first time this has happened? Is it possible that I am being exploited without my knowledge?
Urghh~ That was close. I almost puked… I… I'll sle-e-p… f–i-r-st…
◇
One day, a young girl approached me. I was shocked because this was not their typical practice. Does she want to play here?
"Please forgive my disrespect, revered god Rowa," the girl said.
She approached me, far closer than they usually get when praying. It was a girl's voice. If this was a harem story, she would be my first heroine. Wait, she was just a kid. I somehow sounded like a pervert.
Was she with someone? I heard many steps as she approached.
"I'd like to inquire as to when my father will return home. The aunties will not reveal anything. The chief is preoccupied, and everyone is avoiding me. My father said…" the girl explained her worry.
Was she actually asking me questions? Why didn't she stop talking? Maybe she didn't expect an answer from me and was just looking for someone to talk to.
I listen to her. She's a hell of a talker, I give her that. This is awesome because I'm learning more about the outside world.
Soon, I'll coerce this kid to crack this shell out of me. He, he, he he. That was my villain laugh; Yeah, I'd been practicing…
The outside world is chaotic. No, it's very different from Earth in many ways. I know Earth's past is filled with bloodshed, but here it's just bloodletting. According to her story, it was a one-sided slaughter.
Remember that Visor they mentioned when they needed protection? That one has the ability to split continents. It's a fucking huge flying monster.
Wait, does that mean my protection is so overpowered?
Should I postpone my prison break plan and wait for a more peaceful era?
Inside my protection. Yes, me; Rowa, the god of harvest and protection. Ehem~. They have a fairly peaceful life, which is a miracle in a place full of massive monsters. Someone even called it a utopia, with enough food and guaranteed safety.
The protection is in the form of a massive shield, large enough to encompass three villages. But because there is only one village, they have plenty of space.
Her father had disappeared. In a peaceful place? I smell a conspiracy here. Maybe they sacrifice people to me, such as… ugh. An old man as an offering is unacceptable. That can't be true.
The girl doesn't seem to notice anything out of the ordinary around me. This suggests that they do not make human sacrifices as an offering. Ha ha ha. I gave a dry laugh. For some reason, this makes me nervous.
Anyway, as always. If I can't do anything, do nothing.
The girl pays frequent visits. No, it's more complicated than that. She came whenever she could. She even told me she was nearly caught.
Yeah. After all, this is the kind of place you don't want someone messing around in, yet she comes here more frequently than the ritual. If they find out, they won't kill her, right?
◇
Battles outside are epic and spectacular.
Here, supernatural abilities shape the reality. I'm not amazed; I'd be too naive if I hadn't realized it by now.
Indeed, a lot of strange things have happened to me here that defy common sense.
◇
Her storytelling lasts for years.
I notice a subtle change in her voice as she enters adolescence. She often grumbles about the villagers and her responsibilities. She rants about stuff like that, which I don't mind. She seems happier now than when she first speaks to me. I think she moves on from her father's disappearance, which is probably for the best. I guess talking to someone really helps a person, even if that someone is a pretend god trapped in a lump of earth.
The shield that protects the village appears to be fading. It is clear that there is a time limit.
They only activate the protection when they face a threat that they can't handle. I think they don't want to bother me too much. Though, I actually don't do anything.
◇
Ann-a arrives.
Oh, that is her name; it has a long N sound to it. Let's call her Anna for now.
She chats as usual, but I gape when she tells me the story of how they exploited me - ahem - I mean found me.