At some point, for reasons beyond my comprehension, the others in the group start chasing me back to the exit. It's not like there's any danger left in this place - even for them - and there's no reason they need to worry about my share of the loot.
I even shout as much back to them at one point, just to be sure.
It's not like I have any ill-will toward them. I don't hate newbies and low skill players.
Cheaters and exploiters and gimmick players? That's different. But everyone's bad at the game at some point.
So I don't have any wish for them to lose out on their loot.
It'd be nice and noble to say I'm skipping out on the loot and leaving because it's the right thing to do for a cheater or an exploiter like me, even if it was unintended.
The truth is, though....
I'm just too angry and disgusted to enjoy any loot that I haven't even earned.
By the time I make it to the entrance of the cave, Elara leans on her knees, panting. "You didn't even stop...one time...!"
Arin lays on his back on the ground. "Is it...even natural...to run this fast?"
Kael at least seems unwinded.
Or maybe it just doesn't show.
I look past them and down into the riverbed below.
What am I supposed to do now?
How do I convince this damn system helper to tell me how to turn these things off?
"That isn't possible, Master! The goddess believed you need it, so you need them!"
Ugh.
Elara waves a hand in front of my face and then plants her hands one her hips, glaring at me. "Excuse me! Don't just ignore us! You're so zoned out!!"
Yeah, yeah.
Sorry, sorry.
It's just hard to concentrate.
If only they were all things like the elemental mastery stuff I could easily ignore it. But I can't. Most of them are passive things that will always be on, like the defense and that annoying voice in my head.
I could have lived with something like regeneration. It's a fair trade for no respawn mechanics, and while I love a good hardcore save erasing challenge, no person, not even me, would just hump into a completely unknown situation like this and turn on hardcore mode.
Especially when it's more like uninstalling the game forever than just deleting the save file or world.
But-
I shake my head and scoff.
I've really reached the bargaining stage already? Thinking that those overpowered things I skipped on would have been okay??
Ugh.
Elara is glaring at me. "Say something!"
I sigh, finally, and shake my head. "Look. I'm from another world. I came here to take on the challenge of fighting your demon king. But that damn goddess made me so overpowered it's completely took away the challenge. I don't see how I can take this seriously, now."
I don't know if it's taboo to admit this.
I don't really care, either. What will they do, jail me? Apparently I'm too powerful for that. And if I'm punished by the goddess, maybe she'll take my powers away.
Really, there's only benefit, and I'm not in the mood to play along with any kind of...moody mysterious hero thing.
If I seem moody, it's only because this world is unfair.
Anyway, all I care about now is whether that stupid helper in my head has any way to even begin undoing this mess. She's the only one who could possibly know, since she's the only sentient thing left from that semi-sentient goddess.
She has to.
"I have nothing to say~!" She chirps in my head.
Well.
That's a first.
The group all blink and look among one another.
Kael is the first to speak.
"...This was a weak dungeon. Not like the demon king. So. I think maybe you're aiming a little too high..."
I don't respond to that.
There's no need for me to defend my decision, and I'm not going to engage in it.
If he knew my ability spread he'd be agreeing with me.
Arin squints up at me.
From where he's lying on his back.
"...Actually, in the sunlight I can see a strong divine glow about him."
"That's the sun!" Elara sighs in exasperation.
Arin waves his hand. "Divine sight only works in the light."
That's a terrible ability.
I'm jealous.
He looks at me more closely. "...Do you not realize your own strength?"
I grunt in annoyance and put my face in my hands. "I literally do. And I didn't choose it. That's the problem. There's no point in trying if there's no challenge."
That's the part of this that really irks me.
That this happened with absolutely no input from myself.
"Goddess Amara chose to reward you, for your heroism and devotion, your humility in taking such a powerful challenge, your desire to save these people genuinely and by your own power gained her favor!"
The annoying voice in my head cheerfully explains. "Of course you got overpowered gifts! You deserve them!"
What I 'deserve' is the right to ignore the rewards I never wanted if I decide I don't want them.
And I most certainly decided.
The more I think about it, the angrier I am.
And that anger is going nowhere.
I want to scream.
I want to break things.
But it's not like screaming or destroying random objects around this cave is going to make it go away or get me the help I want.
So, it's just stress, frustration, and a mounting rage that's getting me nowhere.
Elara eyes me uncertainly.
"...You think you can fight the demon king?" Her voice isn't mocking, but inquisitive.
"...Probably, yeah." I sigh and shake my head.
What a joke.
"The demon king isn't as weak as you seem to think," Kael crosses his arms. "No one in this world is even close to his power.
"He's right~!" The voice chirps. "After all, you're only level 3! If you tried to fight him as you are, you'd be demolished!"
I stop.
Stop raging.
Stop pacing, and I didn't realize until now I'd started that.
...So the demon king, even with these abilities is a challenge?
"Of course, Master! This is a SSSS rank world! The top levels of this world are a threat that could destroy a lesser SSS rank world on their own!!"
"...Where is the demon king?" I ask. Out loud, in case the system helper won't tell me that, either.
"Huh? Oh. It's up the mountain, in a big castle in the middle of a city of demons and undead. It's on the other side of the world." She shrugs. "Weaklings like us could never make it there."
"What direction?" I press.
"Does it matter?" Kael rolls his eyes. "It's halfway across the world."
"...What, do you really not know which way it is?" Elara tilts her head at me. "Everyone knows where it is. It's east."
East.
I pat myself down, and...
"Master, your storage pocket is located at your bellybutton."
Thanks for that.
I don't plan to use it.
Instead, I head off...
"That's South!" Elara shouts.
To the south.
...Alright then, maybe I need a compass before I go.
Elara shakes her head in exasperation. "Are you really trying to fight the demon king after finishing one beginner dungeon?!"
I draw in a breath. "It's the only challenge this world has. There's nothing else for me to do."
She stares at me for a long moment, and then throws her hands into the air.
"Fine! Fine." She marches over to me. "But it's a very long journey, so we need to stock up first."
...What?