A girl with a strange atmosphere that I met on the way back… Fate-san
spoke to me with a languid look on her face.
[So~~ Kai-chan. I've got something I want to ask you…]
[Something you want to ask? What is it?]
[Unnn. I heard that there's a saying in the other world that "working
means defeat" or something like that, right?]
Lazily turning over on her airborne cushion, Fate asked in a carefree
tone.
Working means defeat? Errr, what's that… if she's talking about a saying
that has a close meaning to what she said, could she be talking about
that?
[…Did you mean working is losing?]
[That's the one! That's what I'm talking about. Hmm~~ I knew that the
other world is prety advanced~~ Those words make up a terrific
saying! And not only that, there are even a profession in the other world
for those who don't work, right?]]
[…don't think it's a profession, but are you talking about the NEETs?]
[NEET… That's good, that sounds cool! I, for one, entirely respect the
NEETs! I'm also going to become a NEET too!!!]
[......]
Her excitement suddenly increased, Fate-san started praising NEETs.
I wonder what that is… That disappointing feeling wafting in the air…
She just declared that she wants to be a NEET, and the always languid
look on her face… I see, she's "that type" of person huh…
[Errr…]
[Kai-chan!]
[Huh? Ah, yes.]
[We've already had a conversation like this, so we're now "Soul
Friends", right!?]
[Huh? Soul Friends?]
[That's right! We're friends whose souls are bound with each other!
We're already best friends! A pair whose fate is connected with each
other! Right!?]
[…H- Huhh…]
She became vigorous all of a sudden, and it kinda feels like she's a
person who can't read the tension.
I don't really know how it happened, all I remember is that we've
exchanged a couple of words, and now, she's saying something about
us, being soul friends.
How should I say this… I feel like she has some ulterior motive.
[So, Kai-chan, if I, your best friend, is in trouble, you're going to help
me! Right!?]
[…T- That is, well… If it's something I can do…]
As I thought, it finally came. I almost feel like I've been caught by the
trap of a salesman, but for the time being, I'll ask her what she's talking
about.
What should I do if she suddenly asks something like "Go buy this
vase"? If I could somehow run away to the main street…
[Hide me!]
[…Huh?]
However, what she told me was far from what I expected.
[I was being pursued by a bad person…]
[W- What do you mean? What in the world is going on…]
[Explaining is a pain in the—– No, I don't have the time, so I'll skip it,
but anyway, I need your help!]
[…I- I understand. For now, let's talk to the person who I'm under the
care of. It will be alright, she's a really reliable person…]
I feel like she was about to utter "pain in the ass" earlier, but it's
probably just my imagination.
In fact, I still feel like I'm being cornered, but I may just be confused
after being met with a serious situation.
For the time being, let's talk about this to Lilia-san.
Even though this is the first time we met, if she really is in that kind of
situation, I can't just leave her alone.
Lilia-san is a noble, and she's a very level-headed and reliable person,
so I'm sure she'll be able to help her out.
Since she's being pursued, we should get to the mansion as fast as
possible…
[Alright, we're settled with that, right? Well then, Kai-chan… Pull me.]
[…Pull you?]
[Moving is a pain in the ass so…]
[...…]
Seriously, are you being pursued?
After giving me a smile, Fate-san looked like a balloon who lost its air,
the energy in her body disappearing, she laid down on her cushion
while reaching out her hand to me.
I felt like the trust I had when she said she was being pursued
disappeared, but for the time being, I decided to take Fate-san's hand
and pull her to the mansion.
In the God Realm, a section of the world which is smaller than the
Human Realm and the Demon Realm, there exist several levels in its
hierarchy.
The God Realm, an absolute vertical society, is a doughnut-shaped land,
with the outer perimeters as the area where the low-ranking Gods and
the ordinary deities live, while the inner perimeters is the area where
only the high-ranking Gods and their subordinates can live.
In the center of that doughnut-shaped land is a garden in the sky… The
dwelling place of the God of Creation, Shallow Vernal, and place closest
to the center… In the innermost part of the land of the inner perimeter,
there are three huge temples.
The pinnacle of the Gods who are qualified to build temples near the
God of Creation, and they who are allowed access to the floating
garden… They're the temples of the three Supreme Gods.
In the corridor of one of those temples, the God of Time and Space
Chronois was walking down the corridor of the temple.
This wasn't the temple where she lived, but the temple of another
Supreme God… the God of Fate, she who controls fate.
Chronois walked down the corridor of the large temple and after
reaching the room at the far end, she lightly knocked on the door before
entering.
[I will be intruding, God of Fate… It's about time for the New Year's
Blessing, so about the achievements of those you're in charge of——
What!?]
Chronois entered the room, but the God of Fate wasn't there… and in
the innermost wall, there was a large piece of paper.
On that paper, which seemed to be a note, there was only one phrase
written on it: "I will not succumb to work".
After being dumbfounded looking at that paper, Chronois slowly
approached the wall and tore the paper off the wall, a vein appearing on
her forehead.
[…That fool… She ran away "again"!!!]
Shouting in anger, Chronois immediately walked out of the temple, she
pressed for answers from a nearby high-ranking God.
[Oi! Where did the God of Fate go!?]
[G- God of Time and Space-sama!? W- Well, she's… she was shouting "I
am the wind of freedom!" while heading towards the Human Realm…]
[T- That freaking slacker… I will also go to the Human Realm. It might
waste some of your time, but go to my temple and tell that to my
subordinates.]
[I- I respectfully obey.]
Quickly giving instructions to the high-ranking God, Chronois
immediately headed to the Human Realm.
To capture her troublesome colleague who regularly escapes…
[Ah, I forgot to ask… but how's the God of Life doing now?]
[I don't know… She's probably still "sleeping" like always…]
[…Why… Why is neither of them acting like a Supreme God!!!?]
On that day… Or should I say, even on that day, the cries of the
struggling Supreme God echoed in the God Realm.
When I returned to Lilia-san's mansion with Fate-san, I was lucky
enough to find Lilia-san who I was looking for in the garden.
Sieg-san and Lunamaria-san are also there, so maybe they were
training together? Anyway, it's just fine, Fate-san seems to be in a pretty
difficult situation, and we can now explain the situation to her as soon
as possible.
[Lilia-san!]
[Oya? Kaito-san, Welco… me… back?]
[Lilia-san? What's the matter?]
I thought Lilia-san would just greet me with a smile when she noticed
me, but her words trailed off, looking dumbfounded with her eyes wide
open.
Lunamaria-san and Sieg-san also have similar reactions, with their eyes
and mouth opened wide as they stared at me… or rather, at Fate-san,
who I'm pulling.
I suddenly have a bad feeling about this, and as if to affirm it, Lilia-san's
trembling finger pointed at Fate-san.
[…G- G- Goddess… of Fate-sama?]
[Yahhooo~~ Nice to meet you, I will be under your "support" for a long
time!]
[…Why is she… suddenly… my heart's still not ready yet… Kyyuuu~~]
[My Lady!?]
As soon as she sees Fate, Lilia-san's face turns pale and after a few
moments, her eyes rolled up and she falls on the spot.
Eh? Arehh? What did Lilia-san just say? The Goddess of Fate?
[…Fate-san, there's something I'd like to ask you…]
[What is it, Kai-chan?]
[…Is Fate-san a God?]
[That's right.]
[…And you're one of the Supreme Gods?]
[Yep~~ I'm the one in charge of fate.]
[…Seriously?]
[Seriously.]
Stunned by their reactions, I asked Fate-san for confirmation, while
Fate-san carefreely replied.
Dear Mom, Dad—— Fate-san, who I suddenly met, said she respect
NEETs. I didn't expect it from a girl like that—– but she was the God of
Fate.