episode_0198

I came to this world with nothing and came this far relying on the narration I heard in my head.

Without a shape or knowing whose voice it was, we were together all along, regardless of my will.

They also accused me of being indecisive, weak-willed, and a pervert.

He deliberately didn’t tell me the answer and just watched and left me to suffer.

To be honest, I thought it was a bad-tempered narration.

But no matter what, if it weren’t for the narration, I wouldn’t exist today.

As soon as he first arrived in this world, he may have been beaten to death by a homeless hunter.

And when I really desperately needed help, he was the one who helped me without fail.

“Narration… … .”

I muttered unconsciously as I looked at the woman in front of me who claimed to be the ‘narration’.

No, her name is Arcelia, not Narration.

But why did a goddess from another world, a goddess of a much higher rank than Stellania, appear in front of me like this?

“Are you going to just keep looking at me like that?”

Arcelia said, taking a step closer to me.

Then, a flower-like scent that made me feel nostalgic for some reason came from her.

To be honest, this was a bad situation, but Arcelia was so cute.

Even if I try to say something, for some reason the words don’t come out.

It’s a strange feeling.

“Can you please let me eat something first? Because I haven’t been able to eat anything right now.”

“Ugh… Yes, yes.”

I am Naray… No, after hearing Goddess Arcelia’s words, I decided to look for somewhere to eat nearby.

* * *

A small border city somewhere in the kingdom.

As soon as I could, I found a nearby restaurant and sat down with Arcelia.

Although the menu is not as great as in big cities, food that feels like simple, home-cooked food was served on the table.

Arcelia started eating quickly as soon as the food was served, as if she had really starved for several days.

She ate her entire portion even though I had eaten less than half, and she told me many surprising facts.

First of all, Arcelia says it was really a mistake to send me to this world.

Realizing that this world was on the verge of collapse due to a mistake made by the goddess Stellania, she attempted to send someone with the qualities of a ‘true hero’ here to correct the balance of this world.

However, due to a mistake during my previous life, I, who had nothing to do with it, was called into this world, and my consciousness, combined with that embarrassment and the thought that I had to save this world anyway, became a ‘narration’ in my head.

The reason why the narration always seemed to disapprove of me was because I wasn’t really the chosen warrior. From the narration’s point of view, it seems to have been a difficult situation: ‘Instead of the hero who should have come originally, a human being with no will or ability has fallen into a world in need of salvation.’

“… … So, originally, someone else, not me, should have come to this world.”

“But it doesn’t matter anymore. Because you have wonderfully restored this world. Even though I was a bit clumsy.”

It’s a subtle feeling as to whether it’s a compliment or not.

“Still hungry?”

She keeps looking at my plate, which I haven’t finished eating yet.

When I ask, he nods his head right away.

Why does she eat so much, even though she is a goddess?

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Stellania eat something like that.

I immediately called the waiter and ordered more food.

Then Arcelia smiled genuinely happily.

It’s a pretty smile that seems to brighten the entire restaurant.

“So, why did you come to see me? I wonder if they will send me back to the original world… … .”

I asked what kept bothering me.

There are no more devil spirits in this world, and the balance of the world has been restored.

Goddess Stellania also promised to manage the world properly in the future.

There would be no more problems in this world.

But why did Arcelia come to see me?

After answering my question, Arcelia quietly stared at me with her sky blue eyes that seemed as if they were going to suck me in.

“As expected, you don’t know anything without me?”

“Strictly speaking, the voice in my head and you are different beings.”

“Different but the same. You remember everything you’ve done in this world, even your thoughts?”

Even remembering thoughts is a bit… … It’s an invasion of privacy.

Clearly, she has been watching me for a long time through her narration.

Actually, it’s the first time we’ve met, but that’s probably why it feels like we’ve known each other since the beginning.

“Are you curious why I came here?”

Arcelia looks at me with a mischievous smile and tilts her head slightly to the side.

I feel that the narration really came from this goddess.

The way he irritates people by spinning around without giving an answer right away.

“Of course I’m curious. I feel anxious.”

“After you used my power to annihilate the demon lord’s soul, I could no longer see you.”

“… … .”

“But I want to keep watching you. He doesn’t have the qualities of a great hero, he’s indecisive, has slightly perverted thoughts, and is just an ordinary human man who came to this world by mistake, but he saved this world in the end. I’m curious about your life like that. I wanted to keep watching you by my side.”

It seems that I have been receiving an unreasonable amount of attention from Arcelia.

But as the narration disappeared, the connection between me and her was cut off, so I didn’t like the fact that she couldn’t watch me.

“That’s why I told you my name at the end. To create a ‘connection point’. Through that connection, I asked Stellania, the goddess of this world where you are.”

“Please… … ?”

“Yunoa, how do I look?”

Arcelia suddenly asked me.

What does it look like… That’s it… … .

I’m embarrassed to say it with my own mouth.

When I hesitated to answer, Arcelia laughed.

“The time I spent with you as a conscious body was also long. So, I know to some extent what you like.”

“That means… … .”

“Originally, I was a goddess, but now I am an ordinary human with a body created by Stellania. I have no power in this world… … I am a human being just like you.”

I looked at Arcelia with surprised eyes.

Is it true that she, who was originally a high-ranking goddess from another world, deliberately came to this world in human form?

Just to see me again?

Now that I think about it, I vaguely felt something from before.

An inexplicable emptiness that I felt somewhere in my heart ever since I defeated the Demon King’s Spirit.

I just thought it was a feeling of emptiness that came from losing my purpose.

But no.

The loss of a being that had been with me all along in this world.

Although I only communicated one-sidedly with a voice in my head, its presence seemed to have grown within me to the point where I felt a sense of loss.

As proof… At this very moment, Arcelia has come to visit me in a human body.

I felt the empty space in my heart being filled.

“It’s really different from narration… … .”

“Huh?”

“Now I can talk to you from here too.”

“Even if my conscious body didn’t react, I was hearing everything correctly.”

“Do you even know what I’m thinking right now?”

The narration could read my thoughts.

Because it was something that was in my head.

But can he still read my thoughts now that he is actually a human being in front of me?

When I asked that question and looked at Arcelia quietly, Arcelia turned her pretty light blue eyes here and there and opened her mouth.

“You… Are you having strange thoughts?”

“Wrong.”

“Would it have been better to ask Stellania to make her breasts a little bigger?”

Arcelia patted her upper chest with both hands and told an absurd story.

“What on earth are you looking at me for?”

But rather, I think this is similar to the narration in my head that I know.

After finishing our meal, we left the restaurant.

And I went out of the city to digest my food for a while.

I walked slowly across the field with a pleasant wind blowing, with the forest visible in the distance.

Arcelia was walking right next to me, following me.

“But… Have you really become human?”

“Forever… If you’re asking, no. When this body’s lifespan is over, I will return to being a goddess. But until then, I am human just like you.”

“Did you want to watch me that much?”

When I asked, Arcelia suddenly ran ahead of me and turned around to look at me from the front.

Her blonde hair sparkling under the warm sunlight and her pure white skin were dazzling.

She said to me with a big smile.

“I became interested in a person called you. That’s why I came to you in this body. If I have watched over you as a goddess up to now, from now on I will watch over you as a human until the end of your life.”

What she, who is a goddess, probably meant literally, but for some reason, I felt like I was hearing her confess that she would promise me for the rest of her life, and a fuzzy feeling rose up in my heart.

No, why did you show up in a way that I would like in the first place? … .

If this continues, I won’t be able to endure it.

I quietly walked forward and approached Arcelia.

Then he raised his right hand and slowly stroked her dazzling blonde hair.

Arcelia did not reject my touch, but quietly raised her head and looked at me.

I don’t want to admit it, but there was a woman in front of me who was unbearably lovely.

I wanted to teach her about life as a human being in this world.

She, a goddess, doesn’t know how big of a deal it is to live as a human.

But now, I felt like I could tell her about the short, eventful and enjoyable human life.

“Okay, let’s go.”

“Where?”

“First, I want to go back to Kubel and register as an adventurer.”

I wanted to travel around this continent as an adventurer with Arcelia, seeing and experiencing many things.

I have a feeling that a lot of fun things are definitely waiting for me.

The life in this world that I really wanted—

Maybe it started now.

Life in another world with Arcelia.

-END

BONUS: They

“So, a social gathering among women… … That’s it.”

“Social gathering?”

Kubel Adventurer’s Guild.

As Edward ascends to the throne of king, the kingdom becomes stable, and the guild regains its proper function, becoming crowded with adventurers every day.

Guild Master Algot spoke in front of sisters Tina, Aruru, and Meruru.

“Because peaceful days continue for a long time. It seems like monsters aren’t that dangerous either. Since we don’t know when it will get busy again, we are planning to go to a hot spring with people we know a lot.”

“Hot spring… … Was there a hot spring in Kubel?”

Tina asked.

Although there are many forests and mountains near Kubel, I have never heard of a hot spring being discovered.

If there was such a thing, it would have become famous as a tourist product and it would have been impossible to not know about it.

Algot said with a small sigh.

“Actually, Mariel recently discovered hot spring water while conducting a strange experiment in the mountain behind Kubel. To be more precise, it almost blew up the mountain, causing warm water to gush out from underground… … .”

“What on earth can something like that happen? … ?”

“Anyway, if you fix it up a bit, it will become a great hot spring. Whatever the reason, a hot spring is a hot spring. It would be okay to push it as Kubel’s new business. And we’re going to go there on our own before it opens to the public.”

At that time, Meruru, who was listening to the entire conversation next to her, waggled her tail and shouted.

“Wow! Spa! Spa! Spa! Hot spring!”

“It’s just soaking in warm water. It’s not a big deal.”

Aruru is quietly chanting next to Meruru, who is completely excited.

However, like Meruru, Aruru’s tail was wagging excitedly.

Tina saw no reason to refuse this offer.

“Then should other people sing it too?”

“I will contact Milleia and Mariel, and Tina, please contact Sylphy and Selena.”

It was decided that women would gather together and hold a social gathering at a hot spring that unexpectedly appeared in Kubel.

* * *

The day of the social gathering.

Women gathered in front of the mountain where there was a hot spring.

“Ohhohohohohoho! After all, a keen spirit of experimentation can bring unexpected benefits!”

Mariel, the person who discovered the hot spring water, was smiling and sticking out her chest in triumph.

Algot walked up behind Mariel and spoke in a cold voice.

“Mariel, if the entire mountain had collapsed due to that explosion, a landslide would have descended all the way to Kubel. If you do something like this again… … You know?”

“Ah… I understand.”

Meruru was jumping around excitedly, and Aruru was looking at everyone with somewhat sullen eyes, but his tail was gently wagging.

And in front of the large tree, fully armed Milleia, wearing knightly armor, stands leaning against the floor with her long sword.

“Mr. Milleia… You came here knowing what you’re doing today, right?”

Tina saw that and asked with a puzzled expression.

“… … Bath.”

Mileia answered briefly.

“Hot springs and bathing are a little different… … Won’t it be a hassle later if you dress like that?”

“Because the knight commander must prepare for emergencies anytime, anywhere.”

“Ahaha… … .”

Mileia’s sad eyes penetrated Tina’s entire body.

Tina knew that there was no malice in those eyes, but she couldn’t help but feel numb.

Even after becoming a knight commander, her beast-like aura still remained.

However, in the position she currently holds, there are many instances where such intimidation is actually helpful.

It was known that the Kingdom Knights had become an unprecedentedly powerful and well-disciplined group, including the history of the previously collapsed dynasty.

And Millia’s rich combat experience and the sense of intimidation that made him give up any thoughts of protest from the beginning played a part in that.

“Ah… Goddess Stellania… Thank you for looking after us today… … .”

Meanwhile, on one side, there was a woman in priestly clothing kneeling down on a mat in front of a stump and praying.

It was none other than Saint Selena.

She returned the kingdom to normal and created a new sect that worshiped only one goddess, Stellania, instead of the seven churches that had fallen after the goddess Stellania returned to the divine world.

Because there were many people who saw and confirmed the existence of the goddess Stellania with their own eyes, Selena’s new church was able to quickly increase the number of believers, and under the instructions of King Edward, the church created by Selena was designated as the state religion of the new kingdom.

Now, Saint Selena was the bishop of the newly built church in Kubel, and a saint and priest with direct experience of serving the goddess.

Although the power of the church was not as great as in the past to threaten the royal authority with the presence of warriors on its back, Saint Selena’s status was so great that to those who did not know her, she could be said to be next to the goddess.

“You pray whenever you have time. Will the Goddess ever give me an answer?”

Tina felt complicated when she saw the saintly Selena.

Long ago, long before Yunoa became a hero… … Originally, Tina was a saint named Sistine.

However, because she did not want to walk the path of a saint that she did not want, she rejected the goddess’s revelation and ran away.

After abandoning the name Sistine and becoming a receptionist at the Kubel Guild, the successor saint appointed was Selena.

“Stellania does not provide a separate answer. However, this is after the Goddess lived with us and returned safely to the divine world. The original goddess said that it was her rule not to get involved in this world if possible. I pray every day, and even if the Goddess doesn’t give me the answer, she’s watching over us all.”

“That’s amazing… … .”

“Thank you for preventing the mountain from collapsing and discovering a hot spring through Mariel’s experiment… … This must also be the goddess’ protection… .”

Anyway, isn’t that a bit of an over-interpretation? ‘ Tina thought in her head and turned her head.

The women here all had great stories.

And they all have the same thing in common… … These are people who once helped Noah.

After everything is over─

Yunoa rejected all offers from various sources and set out on a trip alone.

After that day, no one knew where Yunoa was or what she was doing.

Tina looked at the women gathered here and wondered what it would have been like if Yunoa had been here too.

“If I had a senior, I would have a lot to talk about.”

At that time, adventurer Sylphy spoke next to Tina, as if speaking her inner thoughts on her behalf.

“That’s right.”

Tina nodded at Sylphy’s words and looked at her.

Now, there was no one on the continent who was interested in adventurers who did not know Sylphy’s name.

After the kingdom was rebuilt, Sylphy immediately obtained the highest level adventurer badge in the guild.

The huge bow that Sylphy carries has become something of a trademark symbolizing her.

After Mileia took office as the kingdom’s knight commander, Sylphy’s name came up when choosing the most famous adventurer on the continent.

In particular, as soon as he received the request to subdue a giant mutant wyvern, he climbed to the guild rooftop and finished it off with a single arrow, which was talked about like a legend.

“Now, let’s go up slowly.”

Guild Master Algot began to lead everyone.

So the women of Kubel made small talk and headed to the hot springs that Mariel had discovered.

* * *

“Ha… … Spa… It’s good.”

“Tte… It’s hot! It’s boiled!”

We finally arrived at the hot springs.

Tina was surprisingly surprised to see that even though it was a hot spring that had just been discovered and was being renovated, it had proper facilities.

As Algot said that he plans to develop it as a tourist product for Kubel, there was already a rough ticket office, lodging space, and even a changing room.

When everyone stopped by the locker room to take off their clothes and go in, Tina left by herself, saying she wanted to go to the bathroom for a moment.

And I waited until everyone had finished undressing and entered the hot spring, and then I was able to enter the hot spring later.

‘That’s right… If we change clothes together, my secret… … Because I got caught… … .’

Tina didn’t wear underwear this time either.

Ever since she became accustomed to not wearing underwear, she has been ashamed of it.

“Wow! Hot! It’s hot!”

“It’s okay to come in. Don’t run around and make noise.”

Meruru is running naked around the hot springs at breakneck speed, and her older sister Aruru is looking at her and saying something with her eyes wide open in the water.

Everyone else was enjoying a break in the hot spring water with their heads thrown back with half-relaxed expressions.

The hot spring is surrounded by a high wooden fence, and the ceiling is open, making it an open-air bath where you can feel nature as it is.

“Haaa… … .”

Tina slowly soaked herself in the hot spring water and moaned happily without realizing it.

The kingdom has been incredibly peaceful these days.

Monsters still exist, but unlike the days when the Demon King existed, they are at an appropriate level for the guild to deal with.

In fact, it even felt like the kingdom was running better due to the moderate presence of monsters.

Is this the ‘balance of the world’ that the goddess and Yunoa were talking about?

“Tina, you have really nice skin. Is there a special secret? … ?”

At that time, Algot slowly waded through the water and came to talk to Tina.

Tina thought that the Algot that said that had good skin.

Unlike Tina, who worked as a receptionist in the guild all day, she had a long experience as an adventurer.

As adventurers engage in a lot of outdoor activities, the risk of damaging their skin is high.

Despite this, Algot maintained good skin.

“It might be because I work indoors.”

“Hmm~ I guess the secret is to not wear underwear… Should I try it too? That.”

“Wow?!”

Tina shouted in a strange voice that she would never normally use in response to Algot’s words.

“Huh? Why are you so surprised?”

“Uh… How did you do that?! who… To whom… Did you hear from Yunoa?!”

“I knew it from the beginning. Is it some kind of unique health method? Because I wanted to… It’s not really something to keep secret, is it?”

“Uh… ah… that… Wooo… … .”

Tina lowered her head, looking almost like she was about to cry.

If possible, I felt like I wanted to stick my face in the water and dive forever.

“That… You really wanted to keep it a secret. all right. I won’t particularly tell anyone else.”

“… thank you… … .”

Algot also seemed embarrassed when he saw Tina’s reaction, and said while looking at Tina’s eyes.

Tina not wearing underwear was not a unique health method as Argot thought.

This is simply because your body becomes unbearably uncomfortable when you wear underwear.

Besides, I didn’t tell anyone… … For some reason, it felt good to be without underwear.

I can’t honestly tell others why.

Tina didn’t know how Algot discovered her secret, but she hoped no one else knew about it.

“But… … .”

However, as if Algot still had something to say, he did not leave her side and opened his mouth to Tina.

Tina was now afraid of what Algot would say.

“Yes… … ?”

“How does Yunoa know that?”

Tina felt her eyes turn dark at that question.

* * *