Convalescence, and Spring

"Happy 20th birthday. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠So much has happened in just one year..."

It had been a year since I came to this world. I'd formed a party, forged bonds, gained a fiancée though we weren't married yet... As the hero protecting the world from the Evil God and the Maou Candidates, I celebrated my first anniversary in this world. I, the Goddess of Fate, bestow my blessings upon you. May my protection always be with your party... And please be careful when consuming the Radamu Fruit made from the power of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the World Tree. A mismatched power could shatter the vessel instead.

"Of course, there's no limit for you, hero! As a commemorative gift, here are 7 Constellation Tickets... There! Fighting! Rise and shine energetically today!"

Chirp chirp chirp──

"..."

On the first day of turning 20, I opened my eyes. I'd unexpectedly become a second-year repeater at the academy. Noksu had no idea about such a regulation either; she assumed I'd enroll, packed my bags for me, and even asked me to visit on weekends while bidding farewell at the meat party.

Seeing me return awkwardly, Lemon Hyacinth placed a hand on my shoulder, forming a pointless bond of sympathy as a fellow repeater.

"We need to decide on a party name. Once we hit C-grade, quests might specify us."

"How about just calling it the Chicken Fry Party or something?"

"Sounds good."

"Huh?"

We adopted Larirure Larirarion's suggestion. Everyone unanimously agreed. And so, we went with the delicious-sounding Chicken Fry Party.

Larirure wanted to take back her words and clung to my leg, but Lemon, drawing on his shop experience, hung a signboard at our base depicting crispy fried chicken that could be mistaken for a restaurant. It was mouthwatering at a glance. Noksu added a plaque reading "Adventurer Party" by the door to avoid confusion. Po'runga submitted the party name registration, declaring it was only right to follow the main wife's wishes.

In perfect harmony, the party naming was done in a flash, like a snowflake melting on the tongue! Honestly, no one cared much. With a hero in the party, an odd name might even serve as camouflage. Though having a human in the mix already blew our cover... And truthfully, we could sell chicken fry when things were slow!

If I'd known, I would've ranked up the chicken fry skill!

"I hate the name Chicken Fry!! At least make it Spiriters or something!!"

Larirure's opinion was overruled—she didn't win the majority vote. Boldly emblazoned on our base was our party name... From now on, we'd make it echo across the entire Trust Union and build our fame!

Decided! Chicken Fry Party! I'd make it the strongest party no matter what!

Hmm, like in games where the protagonist spouts ambitions about a throwaway starter name—I was just imitating that. Feels a bit too casual, honestly.

With the name set, our breakfast was Chicken Fry. We'd passed the grueling C-grade promotion exam smoothly, and my body was nearly fully recovered.

Lemon was itching for action, wagging his tail uncontrollably as he bounced around suggesting our first party quest be a raid like the Magic Palace or a dungeon exploration, barely containing his excitement.

Meanwhile, Leona calmly studied a martial arts manual Po'runga had gotten her, correcting her form in front of a full-length mirror.

How could they be so different...?

"Once the party officially promotes to C-grade... we can visit the All Gods Temple, right?"

"Ah, but we promised to help your parents with farming?"

"No helping it then... We'll ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠go after."

Nex Hades Mortis had received a letter from the All Gods Temple confirming it was fine to come leisurely, so she reverted to her usual laid-back self, basking in photosynthesis at the training grounds while passing time leisurely.

Once our party cleared the C-grade promotion quest, we'd head to help Larirure's parents with farming. Our schedule was so mundane I worried we'd get complacent in this everyday vibe.

"Seven new skills, huh."

I pulled out the seven Constellation Tickets from my pocket. Honestly... I wasn't expecting much. I decided to tear them one by one slowly.

'Oh...'

Since I'd already revealed I was the hero, there was nothing to hide. This skill meant ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠precise orders without words. Though limited to one person... How far did the range extend? If usable when the party split, its value would be immense. The downside: the target might find it intrusive. I didn't mind my thoughts being known... but they might.

"Why do you like magical girls so much?"

...Huh? Looking closely, there was a typo in the skill: "Transformation Condition" was written as "Transformation Jo-gan."

'Hand it to Riko later.' Thankfully, the constellation's typo erased the chant requirement. Stat boosts were nice, but I had to consider giving it to Riko. His body was fragile; it might break him. Worst case, I'd wear the magical girl costume myself.

.....Yeah, if needed. I survived thanks to that typo. My male dignity was somewhat preserved.

'Solidly good.' No mining plans, but the crafting was great. Did it apply to my chicken fry? Regrettably, no—only direct crafting. Maybe make simple arrows or knives? Best to yield to Larirure. Rediscovering transfer rights' utility, I started enjoying party member growth.

'Cheat skill.' Organics...? For real? Plants and animals included. Now we could sell more than chicken fry. A++ beef for every meal? Our party wouldn't skimp on food. Godsent skill—I could cook as desired. They'd love it.

New magic spell. Affects allies too, it seemed. The bottom effect vanished as unrelated.

If I'd gotten that power, I'd reroll. Everyone who liked me turning insane? Better none. 'Whoever has that lives a death sentence.' Death might be merciful, I thought, shaking my head.

"...!"

Damn, cursed outer god like Cthulhu mythos? But as an outer god constellation, non-ticket interference violated causality anyway.

[Oh, nice skill~] The goddess clapped congratulatingly. Too cosmic horror for direct, but akin to human-made fictional gods like Cthulhu, she laughed. Cold sweat. Unlike dumb ones, she stayed awake... but an omniscient goddess could do anything?

[The universe is vast, countless stars with countless gods. Divine realm bustles? Always lines to watch. Strictly, I'm a fragment of the main body... but shared memories make me the main too. I affirm, love, respect all life and stars I created, weighing on scales for balance and harmony.]

"I see..."

Simplified summary, but cosmic horror confirmed. Gods can't over-interfere; she embodied that rule. Inconceivably high existence.

Conversely, if her scales tipped...? [Cosmic crisis?]

Scale too big... She had limits per star, absent from All Gods Temple as un-worshippable, made for other gods. Thus, she only watched unless apocalyptic. Something universe-threatening could hit this continent. Hate that... Can't summon more heroes...?

Using the skill, she sent Mint Coca-Cola. With karma fixed... overuse would exhaust ticket karma, so I vowed to seal it forever.

Now the last skill... What'd it be?

I clenched my fist! Summon skill! Limits unknown, but cheat! Joyous one-man army cheer... Like stylish "Arise!" dual-wield shadow king or necromancer horde-pushing. Ninja legion? Thrilling!

Come on... Let's see!

"..."

Cosmic horror waved hello... I'd slain Four Heavenly Kings, Maou army, Maou, Mashin—yet a solo hero beating that plus Maou's undead legion? More horror.

I sat on the floor, blankly staring skyward.

'Someone out there uses this...'

Is this continent okay? Hero-manageable? Shock numbed me. I chugged the goddess's Mint Coca-Cola.

Bitter... Cola...