I shook my head to bring my thoughts back into focus. I couldn't allow myself to be swept away by her beauty and end up following her pace. I had to take the initiative.
"What made you decide to reveal yourself?"
She raised her brow.
"You were aware of my presence?...How interesting" she said, her melodic voice tickling my ears.
I shrugged.
"I would be a fool otherwise"
She flashed a playful grin.
"What brings you here?" she asked.
I clenched my fists.
"You have some nerve asking me that. Do you really have no shame?"
She narrowed her eyes, then walked towards me.
"You seem to harbour some animosity towards me, why is that?" she asked.
'Why is she still pretending?... Ah, she's the type who enjoys teasing, is that it?'
I relaxed my clenched fists and assumed a more neutral stance. I refused to be toyed with. The Goddess would have to work a lot harder to get the reactions she wanted.
"Animosity? Not quite. In fact, I'm somewhat grateful to you"
"Oh? And what did I do to deserve your gratitude?" she asked, now within arms reach.
I sighed.
"Enough with the games. Tell me why you brought me here in this state"
She tilted her head in confusion, which caught me off guard.
From the way she walked, to her subtle gestures, every action was so alluring that it caused my thoughts to halt momentarily.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
By the genuine look of confusion on her face, it occurred to me that she might really be clueless about my situation. I began to doubt myself.
'If she's not the Goddess who brought me here, then who is she?'
I decided to drop all pretences and be direct with the Elf.
"Are you not the one who created the door?"
Her eyes widened briefly before glowing with a golden hue.
"Tell me who you are and exactly how you got here" she demanded.
'So she really isn't the Goddess huh?'
Her sharp reaction made it perfectly clear, which raised some concerns.
Suddenly, I felt the desire to be honest and tell her everything that happened. No doubt a result of her glowing eyes.
"My name is Mikhail . As hard as it may be to believe, I came from another world...a different reality"
I went on to explain about the door and the Isekai Goddess. Fortunately, the desire hadn't completely taken over my free will, so I decided to omit the fact that the world was an anime. I didn't know what consequences would arise from divulging such fourth wall breaking information, so I couldn't risk it.
She folded her arms beneath her bountiful chest and stared at me in silence, tapping her slender fingers on her pale skin.
"You're from another world, or a different reality, as you say" she said.
"Correct. I assumed that you were the Goddess responsible"
She grinned mischievously.
"Is that so?... I look like a Goddess to you?" she asked.
"Yeah, a lousy one that only causes problems"
"Humph!" She harrumphed.
I returned a wry grin.
She unfolded her arms.
"Being summoned or reincarnated is quite normal for this realm" she said.
'So this is an Isekai anime after all'
"However, you would not have entered the Upper Garden unless..."
I blinked, and she stood with her voluptuous body pressed against mine.
"You said that you came from another reality, yes?" She brought her face close, then smiled seductively as my eyes widened.
Her smile quickly turned to a pout, then her brows furrowed.
"You look disappointed" she said in surprise.
Her actions startled me initially, however, due to my condition, I could only lament.
'This really is the worst!'
"Well, you see..."
As I began explaining my predicament, the Elf frowned then tapped my chest with her hands.
'So, you've noticed'
Before I had time to process anything, she proceeded to rather thoroughly, touch my body.
"No dinner just straight to business huh?"
She giggled.
"That confirms it then" she said, taking half a step back.
"Confirms what exactly?"
"That you are a explorer...like me" she said.
"Would you care to elaborate?"
She grinned mischievously.
"You have the ability to explore worlds that you have observed from your realm" she replied.
'Since when? And why only now? If I knew about this ability before... Wait, she said like me right?'
"You're a explorer too, correct?"
She narrowed her eyes.
'Did she reveal that unintentionally?'
"There's no need to be coy, it's just the two of us here right?
She smiled playfully.
"Correct. I love exploring worlds and experiencing their stories personally" she replied.
'She's a veteran. I wonder how many anime worlds she's visited'
The Elven woman may not be the Goddess I suspected, however, I had a feeling that there was more to her than she let on.
"Are you a Higher being?"
She raised her brow.
"Well, that depends on your definition. Do you consider yourself a Higher being?" she asked.
I shook my head.
"Not at all"
Her eyes widened for a brief moment.
She flashed a seductive smile when she noticed my curious gaze.
"I see" she said.
"So?"
"So?" she returned the question.
I sighed.
"Fine"
"Are you pouting?" she asked, giggling.
"Does it look like I'm pouting?" I narrowed my eyes.
She nodded.
I cleared my throat.
"You mentioned exploring multiple worlds...so I take it that returning to the real world is not that difficult?"
She tilted her head quizzically.
"The real world?" she asked with a confused look.
"You know… The one outside of this one, and the other worlds that you explore?"
I wanted to know if she had backdoor access that would allow me to return to Earth, like an emergency escape option.
"Let me ask you something, Mikhail . What makes you think that the world you came from is…as you say, the real world?" she asked.
'Who are you? Morpheus?'
"Well, it's where I've existed my entire life. It's tangible. I would say that it feels pretty real to me"
She smiled wryly.
"Based on your words and the logic that you use, I will ask another question" she said.
"Would you say that for the people that exist in this world and the countless other worlds out there, that their world is the real world?" she asked.
My eyes widened.
'She has a point. But they can't be considered real right?'
"Well, yes. But this world was created by –"
"All worlds are created" she interjected.
"They may reside in different realms, or realities as you called them, but they exist. They exist, therefore, they are real" she said.
'I can't argue against her logic. Still, the concept is really crazy'
"They differ simply in the stories that they tell. Perhaps the world you come from has a story that you are not aware of" she added.
My heart raced at the implication of her words.
'Earth may have a story with a plot? What the fuck?'
She stared off into the distance as though in deep thought.
"Some creators are more proactive than others… Well, let's leave it at that" she said.
"You understand now, correct?" she asked.
"I do, it's just a lot to process"
She smiled gently.
"Take your time" she said.
The revelation shook me more than expected, and would take some time to fully digest. I felt like a character in a book or video game that had their reality shattered.
I decided to think about it later, there was another matter that I wanted to settle.
"Can I ask you something?"
She nodded twice.
"How do I appear to you?"
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"How do I look? I don't exactly fit into this world now do I?"
"Oh, that? You look strange, dull and lifeless. I knew that you were a explorer from the moment I saw you" she said with a straight face.
'Seriously? She's been teasing me this entire time? Whatever...'
"What about you? You look, well, remarkable. Why do you look different?"
"You flatter me" she said touching her cheeks.
'She's really enjoying this isn't she?'
She hugged her body sensually.
"You think that I am remarkable, Mikhail ?" she asked moving her shoulders back and forth.
'Are you expecting a reaction? Well, I'll have to disappoint you. I'm not a teenage protagonist'
"Without question"
"Do you know what would be more remarkable though? If you answered my question"
I flashed a wry grin.
She puffed her cheeks and turned her head to the side in a huff
'I can play this game too'
"It's only fair. I don't even know your name"
"Sheahran" she said in a low voice, her face still looking the other way.
I chuckled
"Happy to make your acquaintance, Sheahran. I would shake your hand, but I feel as though it would be meaningless at this point" I extended my arms, then opened and closed my hands.
"Yes, we should change that" she said turning towards me.
"How do we do that?"
"By synchronising with this world" she replied.