◇◆"Five years before the revival of the demon king, a hero shall be born. A hero with eyes as dark as night and hair the color of platinum. He shall be born of a virgin womb. He is blessed by the gods and adored by the angels. He shall deliver the world from peril and sacrifice his life for peace once more."◆◇
Maria Dumarun is a thief, he steals for a living.
He knows it's wrong, but he does it anyway. And now, it seems, that life has finally come back to bite him in the ass.
As divine light envelops him, blurry figures take shape within it. Before long, ten beings clad in flowing robes and gleaming accessories stand before him-gods. They glance at him with thinly veiled disdain, exchanging looks of dissatisfaction.
What's going on? Maria wonders, his dread growing.
This was supposed to be a simple job, he thinks. Steal the relic hidden in one of the underground chambers of the church, hand it over to the gang, and be done with it.
It was a mission he had no choice but to accept after stealing from a local gang. Either retrieve the relic or kidnap a merchant's daughter. He chose the less bloody option.
But things went wrong.
He remembers the relic, how it dissolved in his hand. The moment it sank into his skin, everything around him shifted. The once musty, dark chamber-buried deep beneath the church with its crumbling stone walls and damp air-transformed in an instant. The oppressive gloom gave way to a vast, blinding plane of light. It stretched for who knows how far. And then, the gods appeared.
Now he stands under their piercing scrutiny.
"This human is to be the vessel for our boon?!" one god's voice booms, dripping with disapproval.
"The boon has already been absorbed into his body. There is no alternative now," another declares with a tone of resignation.
Maria's heart pounds in his chest. What kind of situation is this? What are they talking about? Should he run? That thought barely forms before every divine gaze locks onto him, freezing him in place.
"State your name, human," commands one god, their voice resonating with unquestionable authority.
"M-Maria Dumarun."
"Maria Dumarun," the voice thunders, "you shall carry our boon. You are now the virgin womb that will incubate the seed-the Hero. In time, you will bring forth the savior destined to deliver humanity from the terror of the Demon King. You will name him Cidian."
Maria blinks.
"What?" The word barely escapes his lips before another god, exasperated, cuts in.
"To put it plainly: you are pregnant with the Hero. You will give birth in nine months."
"What?!"
The color drains from Maria's face.
"Wait, wait, wait-you've got the wrong person! I don't want any part of this! What do you mean 'give birth'? I'm a man!"
"You are a virgin, are you not?" one god asks with unnerving calm.
"S-so what?" Maria stammers, crossing his arms defensively.
"Then the matter is settled," they declare with finality, their faces impassive.
"That doesn't explain anything!" Maria snaps throwing his hands in the air, expression tainted with dread and irritation.
"If you are concerned about your bodily constitution, have no fear. The relic you absorbed is infused with magic. Your body will adapt to accommodate the growth of our boon within you."
Maria feels his blood freeze. His mind races, trying to grasp this impossible situation. Before he can fully process it, the gods continue.
"We will assign a guard to ensure the safety of both you and the hero. You will travel to-"
"That's ridiculous! The demon king has been defeated! The last hero sealed him away with the strongest artifact made from his blood. What terror are you talking about?"
The gods exchange glances again, clearly annoyed.
"You dare doubt the word of the gods, human?" one of them thunders. "The signs are upon you. Your body is already changing as we have willed. Feel for yourself, if you must."
A pit grows in Maria's stomach. Dread overcomes him as his hands shakily pat down his body. When his hand reaches his groin, it stops cold. There's... nothing.
His face pales.
"What the fuck?! Get it out! Turn me back!"
"Our boon is now entwined with your very soul and life force. Removing it would result in your death. And should you attempt to, know that you will invoke divine retribution beyond your understanding."
Maria stumbles, his mind spiraling. He is, quite literally, trapped.
"Now listen well," a god's voice cuts through his panic, cold and commanding. "Your current way of life-" they regard him with barely concealed disdain, "-is ill-suited for carrying the Hero. We know you have chosen the path of thievery" another god interrupts, "a disgraceful and foolish path,"-"and you have embroiled yourself in dangerous affairs. We advise against continuing to serve the gang that hunts you. Continuing this will only bring your death."
Maria feels light-headed. His vision blurs as the gods step back, their figures becoming more distant.
"Journey to Lisokon. There, the Hero shall be born. Along the way, you must gather the other relics necessary for the Hero's birth. Without them, you will not survive the labor. This journey will be a great trial, one you and your guardian must endure together."
A booming voice suddenly echoes across the plane.
"He is to carry your boon?! This filthy human?!"
Maria jolts upright, offended. "Hey, I'm not filthy!"
A red wolf, massive and terrifying, steps out from behind the gods. His glowing eyes burn into Maria, radiating disgust. "He is unworthy to bear the Hero, and even more unworthy of my protection!"
The gods, unamused, respond in unison. "Silence, Enanon. You will do your duty." After the gods' reprimand, the wolf-Enanon-clenched his jaw, chastened, though his defiance still simmered beneath the surface. The wolf turns his head to glare at Maria, his hatred palpable. If looks could kill, Maria would be 6 foot under by now.
Suddenly, a pouch drops to the ground in front of him. It makes a familiar clinking sound. A sound was unmistakably the soubd of coins. Money!!
Forgetting his situation for a moment, Maria dives for the pouch, a grin spreading across his face. Inside is enough money to last him a week-maybe even a few good rounds of gambling.
"This is the only payment we offer. Use it wisely," a god warns. "Do not waste it on your worldly desires. We will not provide for you again."
Maria flinches, caught red-handed. Enanon looks at him with pure disdain.
The gods' voices rise once more, final and absolute. "Now, human. Enanon. Go forth. Your journey begins."
In an instant, the gods vanish. Maria finds himself back in the musty chamber, utterly screwed.