I had a dream.
It was like a dream I'd never had over the past years.
I was born an orphan, a fact I'd always accepted. Growing up in an orphanage barely managed by the government, our caretaker worked multiple jobs just to make ends meet.
I was a loner, rarely interacting with the other children.
The caretaker, who noticed this, once spoke to me,
"You don't have to force yourself, but do note that you're still a child."
She patted my head.
"You're mature for your age, but you're still a child, so enjoy life."
She died of natural causes the next year.
After her death, I was transferred to another orphanage because they couldn't support me anymore.
My life felt like a void from that moment onwards.
I always aimed to do my best, enduring constant torture and harassment from the caretakers because they didn't like me.
I didn't act cute like the other children, and they treated us like some sort of merchandise.
I endured that for almost ten years.
The moment I turned 18, they immediately threw me out of the orphanage.
"It was expected," I thought.
They were probably waiting for this moment for a long time.
From there, I did multiple jobs—convenience store worker, factory worker, construction worker, call center agent—all while attending school.
I never had time for myself.
I never complained, yet at the same time, I never felt anything.
I lived in a colorless, grey world.
At some point, I graduated as a chemist from Seoul National University. I landed a stable job, eventually won the Nobel Prize, and yet...
It all felt meaningless.
People praised me, but I knew it was all flattery.
The only time I felt something was when I read novels.
They were the only color in my life.
I vividly remember reading "How to Live as the Black Sheep of the Cursed Ducal Family."
I always pitied Josephine. She was a character who wanted attention, unlike me.
I wanted to show her what it means to live for herself, what it truly meant to have a life of her own satisfaction.
'Don't be like me.'
Those times where she tried various ways to get stronger.
'Don't end up like an inhuman monster like me'
Those times where she devised various schemes.
'Don't yearn for a love you'll never get.'
That time where everyone left her.
She was hanged to death at the end of the story.
The shock was too much for me. I didn't even notice the car crashing into me.
I died rooting for a character in a novel I'd read. Weird, isn't it?
I turned around and saw Josephine.
"You still have time to change everything," I said bitterly.
"While I do not."
"I already told you." She took a step forward and pointed at my chest. "You still have time, right?"
She also smiled. "You told me we'll show them, right?"
"Hahahaha!" I laughed insanely. "Yeah."
We held our arms, and the light started to shine brightly.
---
Ah, it seems I fell asleep. But why though?
[It's because you're unstable.]
Mhm, definitely hallucinating at this part, am I right?
[No, you're not.]
Why is there a talking bird on top of my bed?
[I am your reward, remember?]
What reward? I tilted my head and recalled what happened the past days.
"Status," I said aloud.
STR: EX(+++)
VIT: EX(+++)
MANA: EX(+++)
HOLY: ∞(+)
「GOD'S BELOVED」
「PINNACLE OF HUMANITY」
「MAGIC OVERLORD」
「???」
「MAGIC GOD'S BLESSING」
「DEMON SLAYER」
[You have unclaimed rewards, would you like to claim them?]
I had unclaimed rewards from defeating Bephelgor. How do I interact with this thing again?
[You can imagine it.]
Is this bird reading my mind? Is it a she or a he? Anyway, it's not cute at all.
[You…!]
Well, fair enough, it did appear.
[Quest: Defeat Bephelgor has been completed!]
[Rewards:]
[Appraisal]
[Familiar option has been unlocked!] [+10,000 Faith Points]
[Increased Divinity]
"...!'
Now that I think of it, what does divinity even mean?
It was always mentioned in the notifications and even by Hecatia-sama, but what does it exactly do?
[Divinity is the measure of how close a person is to a god.]
Huh? The weird bird is talking.
[Rude! I am the Divine Beast of Light, venerated in this world.]
Suddenly, it started speaking through the status screen
[Divine Messenger]: Many regions revere me, yet this woman thinks I'm a weird bird?
I laughed at the bird's remarks. Or was it her? Does it even have a gender?
[Divine Messenger]: I do not have a gender!
It was so cute, I couldn't resist poking at its cheeks. They were so white and fluffy.
[Divine Messenger]: How rude—!
I grabbed the bird gently and rubbed it against my cheeks.
[Divine Messenger]: "Stop it, human!"
"So soft!" I said, enjoying the fluffy texture.
[Divine Messenger]: I am a majestic being! Stop doing this—
Wait, how much is my divinity exactly?
I let the bird settle into my palms.
[Divine Messenger]: Close to a demigod, I mean.
"Demigod? Part god, part human?"
[Divine Messenger]: Precisely. But why is your state so unstable?
I heard that a lot.
[Divine Messenger]: Your divinity increases as your understanding of Josephine reaches a certain point. As long as your soul doesn't stabilize, you won't be able to exert your full power. But looking at you now, you're already close to a demigod.
I'm not really surprised at this point, I replied, half-joking.
"But can I ask you a question?"
[Divine Messenger]: What?
"Why do Xipe-sama and the other gods rarely talk to me?"
[Divine Messenger]: As I said, your connection to them is weak because of the instability of your soul. But now, you can pretty much talk to them."
"Really?" I felt a surge of excitement.
[Divine Messenger]: Well, yes. Xipe even suggested you ask me.
"But why can only Xipe and Hecatia-sama contact me as gods?"
[Divine Messenger]: "Influence. Their power far surpasses other gods. In your free time, you should read about this world's gods, like otherworlders do."
[Hecatia asks if you're ready]
[Well, time to do my job, I suppose.]
I closed my eyes and imagined a chatroom where gods were inside. When I opened them, a chat room had really appeared in the air.
---
[God's Chat Room: 3/3]
[Xipe joins]
[Hecatia joins.]
[Tyr joins.]
[The other gods grumble and bite their lips in frustration]
[Divine Messenger]: Just a heads up, you can turn it off if things get too chaotic-
Before the bird can complete their words, their mouth was sealed tight.
Suddenly, I could feel their divine presence, like gazes from above.
[Xipe]: "Finally! We have a direct connection with you now."
[Hecatia]: "Hush, I told you not to overdo it, right? I'm mad at you now."
[Tyr]: "Don't listen to her, she's just been worried sick about you."
I couldn't help but laugh. "As always, thank you, Hecatia-sama and… I'm sorry."
[Hecatia]: "You... don't have to apologize. I understand why Cassian did what he did, and I should be the one thanking you for freeing my child."
[You have received 1,000 Faith Points.]
[Xipe]: "Well, ask the bird later about the details."
[Tyr]: "You're always lazy, creator god."
[Xipe]: "I'm just making sure it doesn't end up like last time."
'Last time…?'
[Hecatia]: "They're holding back, in other words. But..."
[Xipe]: "You! Don't start with this!"
[Hecatia]: "You know how you have a hard time learning magic?"
[Tyr]: "Stop that, woman!"
[Hecatia]: "I'll give you this."
[You have received the 'Akashic Records' from Hecatia!]
Suddenly, a book appeared in my hand.
[Xipe]: "You old hag!"
[Hecatia]: "fufufu… Quickly, dodge that window!"
[Tyr]: "Hmph, you think you can win against me in offering gifts! This child will adore me instead!"
[Tyr gives you the [Gram]! ]
A sword appeared in front of me.
[Xipe]: "You crazy brother of mine! How dare you—"
[Hecatia]: "You're only upset because you can't give her anything."
[Tyr]: "Still stuck on balance, brother?"
[Xipe]: "Fine, you win! I can't do it!"
[Xipe gives you the 'Blessing of the Creator God.']
[Hecatia]: "How plain."
[Xipe]: "Shut up!"
My body glowed like a rainbow.
[Hecatia]: "And here I thought you'd actually give something grander."
The bird beside me watched, its eyes wide in disbelief.