Overprotective Gods and the Ultimate Prize
All of this had been watched by Arcana, who responded to Arcti's question in a flat, emotionless voice.
"Doesn't seem like it?"
"No. 'Not yet.' At best, he just brushed against a fragment or something."
Arcti, who had roughly tidied up the doujinshi that the saintess often read, approached Arcana from behind.
Her red hair was even more disheveled than usual. It wasn't obvious, but... she seemed a bit more anxious than normal.
Arcti smiled faintly.
"You went too far."
"I know. But isn't it a parent's heart to worry even if their kid comes home with a scraped finger?"
"Sure. But even so, delivering messages through blessings and swords? If the old zealots saw that, they'd probably burst into tears."
"Those aren't zealots. They're mental patients."
Arcana snorted and waved away the screen showing the sleeping Eugene.
As she stood up from her seat, Arcti smiled and asked,
"Do you think that kid will find all the fragments?"
"Finding them all will be tough. At least this year."
"It'd be weirder if he did. Who the hell scatters them across the universe like that? Even adjusting so they don't crash anywhere."
As she spoke, Arcti's eyes gleamed golden. In her eyes, she could see Arcana's condition.
She wasn't weakened. Her power was intact. On the surface, she might look diminished from passing through an era of peace... but for a god, being forgotten doesn't weaken their power. It just makes it harder to take in new priests.
But... she was definitely pushing herself too hard.
Still, this issue would resolve itself once Eugene grew stronger. All her overexertion and worry stemmed solely from 'Eugene,' and it would naturally be alleviated when they reached the 'result' that she—no, all of us gods—desired.
"You should rest a bit too."
"I need to bestow blessings again now. He touched something weird when he was weakened earlier."
"You already sent it out of this world. Leave it be for a while. Overprotection is a bad thing."
"He's still a kid. And... I can't let him end up like that time."
Tch. Her love for her kid is something else.
The Goddess of Light, Arcti, stretched languidly.
"Fine~ If you say so."
Pouring all her affection into one person... she still didn't quite get it.
She was the Goddess of Light, after all.
Light shouldn't dote on any one being too much. Overly hot light burns whatever it touches.
Even if she grew attached to something, even if she gave it love... only fellow gods or 'divine beasts' born alongside gods could withstand it.
"Someday, I'll have a kid like that too."
The current saintess. Among all those she'd chosen throughout history... she might not be the strongest, but her potential was top-tier, no exaggeration.
And Eugene.
All they had to do was wait. The wheels of fate were already turning.
"I just need to watch and wait."
Light, the sun.
That was its role, after all.
I woke up fully refreshed, both mind and body clear. My blessing had returned to normal too.
"......You didn't do anything weird, right?"
"What weird stuff?"
"Like stripping me or groping me......"
"What do you take me for?"
Jenella looked offended, so I awkwardly turned my head away.
"?"
My clothes were hanging on the side. The ones I'd definitely worn yesterday?
Glancing down, I saw I'd been changed into something else.
What the? I don't remember changing.
"My clothes are different. And why's everything wet here?"
"Th-that's because I dropped the wet towel......"
"You could've just left it or wiped it up. Why change me? Doesn't that mean you saw everything?"
Jenella's face turned beet red. Her reactions had gotten way more fun since she awakened.
I grinned mischievously and approached her.
"Jenella? Don't dodge—look at me."
"I-I don't know!!"
"Hey? Jenella!!"
"Shut up!!"
Thwack!
"Gah!"
No way, she'd gotten stronger? A handkerchief to the bridge of my nose hurt like hell.
After finishing brushing and washing up (during which I'd gotten some light, skin-benefiting makeup applied), Adria came out and clicked her tongue.
"Why'd she have to do it in a way that invites misunderstandings? I really didn't do anything. She nursed you all night instead. That water stain? Totally from dropping the towel while caring for you. If you doubt it, ask Eodukshini over there."
"Of course I believe you. I was just teasing...... But why change my top too?"
"You were sweating buckets. Know how hard Ashy and Jenella worked yesterday? If you're grateful, give 'em a kiss."
"A kiss? What......"
"They'd probably die happy."
"Want me to start with you?"
"Wanna die?!"
"Ow! Joking! Ow!"
Sleep really is the best medicine? My body was bursting with energy. And that dream from last night... I decided not to dwell on it.
She'll tell me later!
I firmly believed there was a reason she hadn't yet.
I trusted my goddess that much.
"All good now? Here, I got porridge. Eat up and head to class."
"What time is it... Only 5? Aren't you guys tired?"
"This is nothing. We do it all the time."
Ashy shrugged and handed me the porridge.
Mm, looks tasty.
Maybe from all the sweating yesterday, or expending energy, but I was starving.
As I quietly slurped it down, Ashy, who had been watching me, cautiously asked,
"That dream from yesterday. Was it a really bad one?"
A bad dream.
It wasn't good. But was it bad?
It qualified as bad, sure... but somehow, I couldn't say it flat-out.
I needed a different answer.
"......Dunno."
So I shook my head.
"Not sure if it was bad, but it was sad. Like, insanely sad."
"......"
The woman presumed to be 'Ashy' wailing while hugging a corpse presumed to be 'me.' And the dust humanoid at the end.
If that dream was real... and my guesses were right.
It was a scene she'd lived through herself, as a 'regressor.' In the timeline she reversed, I'd died, and the world ended.
I met Ashy's eyes. Deep blue irises. The opposite of my red eyes and bright sky-blue hair.
She stared into my eyes, then quietly spoke.
"If that scene from the dream happened in reality—"
"Don't say that crap."
I gripped my spoon without thinking. It crumpled in my hand.
"I won't let that happen. Ever."
For her sake, my friends', my goddess's, and my own.
That scene from the dream must never repeat.
"Then that's fine."
I blinked in a daze.
Ashy's expression had changed. It perfectly matched the woman from the dream.
"I believe in you."
With endless goodwill, whose end or reason I couldn't fathom.
From the day we first met, carrying emotions like 'I'm a fan! Sign please!'
She wore a sad smile.
"You okay?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah."
I snapped out of it mid-throw, dazed.
Those scenes kept flashing in my mind. The woman hugging me tight and sobbing, Ashy with that exact same smile......
What was this? Some kind of bewitchment?
Thwack!
"Ow!"
"Oops, sorry. Misthrow."
"You did that on purpose!"
"Nah? If I meant it, your head would've exploded."
"......"
He started to protest but quickly realized the truth and slunk back to his spot.
I resumed tossing the ball, lost in thought.
Why that smile at the end?
'Is Ashy the same as that woman?'
They looked alike but different. Only the face matched; the rest didn't much. Except maybe that final smile?
'Does that smile mean she knows what my dream was about?'
My head was getting complicated for no reason.
"Hey, hey!! It's speeding up!! Adjust!"
"Oh. Sorry."
Yahan struggled a bit because of it, but he'd gotten stronger, so no real complaints.
......Probably?
Whoosh! Whoosh whoosh!
Yahan effortlessly dodged the scarecrows' balls and gave me an incredulous look.
"The other balls are easy now because of you. Joking around?"
"Think positive. Means your skills improved. I was going easy on you for your sake~"
"It's just 'cause you were distracted—"
Thwack!
"Oops. My. Bad."
That's what you get for not shutting up.
I tossed the ball up and caught it, clicking my tongue.
This is why you gotta watch your mouth.
"Eugene? Mosik? Got time? Come here."
"?"
Eroy suddenly called us over. The professor, sorting thick files, spoke up.
"You know about the club tournament we decided on?"
"No?"
"It got set for today. During the summer festival, they're adding a 'club showdown' event."
"But is there enough time? Isn't the festival before exams? We'd have to prep for both......"
"Of course not. That's why."
Thud.
Eroy flashed a bright smile.
"We're cranking up the pace starting today. Thanks for helping so far. No need from now on."
"Dear Professor! Helping you is pure joy!"
"Thanks. But no means no."
Tch!
"Why tell us this suddenly?"
"Ah, well. It was decided in a meeting, but......"
Eroy handed us a sheet of paper.
"?"
Club list?
"Take a look."
I scanned the club roster.
Next to each student's name were letters like (S) or (A)—probably class indicators.
Including second-years... mostly A-class, with scattered S-class.
Damn, my club looks pathetic. Wait, it is pathetic?
"The club with just you two is that idiot one... er, club. They said giving prior info isn't unfair. Even with second-years, you'll probably be the strongest there."
"True."
"Yeah. The seniors were super frail."
"It's unfair otherwise, so we're sharing this much. Last place gets a penalty."
What?
Eroy patted my shoulder.
"So, put in some effort."
"Last place penalty? What's first place get?"
"Yes. There's a reward."
"Can you tell us?"
"Hm, let me see......"
Eroy rummaged through papers and pulled one out.
"A week-long vacation pass and hotel voucher. Location here's marked. Max people... 3 or 4? Go with close friends after."
She played a video as she said it.
"The hotel voucher's for right there."
-!!!
Pffft!
Eodukshini nosebled and toppled backward upon seeing the video.
I tossed Eodukshini aside roughly and stared holes into the photo before me.
All my unresolved worries vanished from my head.
Fwoosh!
My eyes blazed.
'I'll get it no matter what!'
Vacation! Legit skips! Buffet!
Wait for me!
I'm coming!