[Side Story] GOD Talk (1)

The human male, who had been receiving the attention of the Main God—the one dressed in that bizarre, camouflage-patterned outfit—quickly made eye contact with me and the three managers one by one. Then, he slammed his head into the sandy beach and shouted:

"It was a short connection, but! I’m damn grateful for all the help! Stay healthy, everyone...!"

Fwip-fwip-fwip-fwip!

I and the three managers beside me were so stunned by the sudden turn of events that we couldn't take any action. We simply watched as the man’s body dissolved into particles of light and vanished.

What...?

Damn grateful for the help...?

If he was so grateful... why is he disappearing?

This is why humans... they have no shame.

If someone helps you, you’re supposed to pay them back!

How am I supposed to chase this human...

This place is beyond the reach of divine power...

While I was briefly contemplating how to track the human male, the unbelievable voices of the three managers reached my ears.

Crack-!

With the sound of crackling lightning, the manager—a stuffed teddy bear called Nicole—vanished from the sandy beach.

"Now then... where was the war zone taking place again..."

"...All regions."

"...Ha..."

"We must return quickly to assist Nicole. To think there's a system that ignores our authority..."

"Indeed. Let's hurry back to the Akashic Records... but before that, let's quickly banish this goddess who had her authority stolen by the system."

"Agreed... she's still here, isn't she? The goddess."

Right now...

Are they treating me like luggage?

By mere managers, in a world created by the Main God?

"...Do you not know your place? How dare you... do you have any idea who I..."

Ping-!

With a rebounding sound, I found myself standing in front of a mirror.

And inside the mirror before my eyes, the phrase 『Error!Error!Error!Error!Error!Error!Error!Error!Error!Error!Error!Error!Error!Error!Error!Error!Error!Error!Error!』 was repeating endlessly.

"Wow... look at these bitches? Did they just banish me?"

At my exasperated remark, the Main God’s voice, dripping with amusement, echoed from behind me.

"Welcome back?"

I turned around to see the Main God spreading his arms in welcome.

Behind him, a Π-shaped table covered in a pristine white tablecloth, bathed in the reddish glow of the ceiling lights, created an atmosphere that felt like a banquet.

"What... what are you doing right now, Main God?"

"Can't you tell? I've finished preparing to watch the human's exploits~"

"Finished? Or are you just insane?"

"That hurts my feelings if you put it that way..."

"..."

No matter how I looked at it... the Main God seemed crazy about this human... no, obsessed.

But the Main God's obsession with the human was the least of my concerns right now.

That’s not what’s important right now...!

"You’ve seen it all this time... you know how serious this is! That... strange... 'System'? It copied and used my powers, and I’m a god!"

"..."

The Main God remained silent for a moment, his expression stiffening at my raised voice, before he finally opened his mouth.

"I know."

"...You know? Is that... it?"

"But... it’s obvious it will only be valid in that world... is there a problem? You know well that even we gods cannot enter the world where those managers reside without approval... that we cannot exert any influence there."

"I know. I know, but...... they kicked me out! I’m so furious, but I can’t do anything about it... ha... I want to get back at them... ugh, it’s so annoying... there’s no way, is there?"

"Well. Of course there isn't. Until now, that is."

"...? What? Until now...? Then?"

"Isn't that why I set it up like this, to watch what happens next? With the abilities of the human I sent... I think it’s going to cause a massive amount of trouble... let’s watch together. Doesn't it sound fun? Now, your seat is over there. Go and wait."

"Why are there so many seats? How many gods are coming here? Who’s invited?"

"Hmm? So far... about 24 gods...?"

"You’re planning to invite quite a lot... fine."

The contrast between my serious reaction to the current situation and the Main God’s optimistic attitude was truly stark.

Seriously... who is the Main God, anyway...

Looking at his behavior, he’s basically a thug god, for real...

I grumbled to myself, but since I was far too curious about the human’s progress, I began moving toward the seat the Main God had pointed out.

Just then, a sliding door appeared in the air, and a moment later, with a clatter, someone entered.

The person who opened the door and walked in was King Yama, dressed in an old-fashioned black suit with his hair slicked back.

"Y-Yama!?"

"Why are you so flustered? Is this a place I shouldn't be?"

"No... it’s not that... but what brings you here?"

"..."

I couldn't help but be surprised by Yama’s sudden appearance, so I asked why he had come. Yama looked at me for a moment before answering.

"I don't think I've come to a place I shouldn't be."

"...."

"Wouldn't the Goddess of Justice be the one surprised? Since you, who rarely moves, are here."

"Hmph."

He was a man with a heavy backside who never moved unless it was something truly significant... surely... he didn't come because of a human, did he?

I sat in my chair and quietly listened to the conversation between the Main God and Yama.

"Ha—anyway, Main God... where did that human go?"

"I sent him to the managers' world."

"What!? You sent that human... to the managers' world!?"

Yama was known among the gods as the most boring god, rarely showing any reaction, so it was shocking enough that he was looking for a human, but seeing him shout in such surprise was truly fascinating.

"Hmm? Why? It’s a great opportunity to solve Father’s secret, isn't it? I’m just going to watch for now."

"........................You... by any chance... have you forgotten?"

After a long hesitation, Yama asked the Main God, who was smiling innocently, if he had forgotten.

What is it?

What...?

What on earth is so special about this human that Yama is reacting like this!?

This is getting interesting!

Ah... I need some popcorn!

I’ll have to ask the Main God for some later!

"What? That I’ve forgotten?"

"Yes. That human—what kind of human is he that you just sent him away? To that place where our hands cannot reach? Are you out of your mind right now...?"

"...I... I don't really know why you’re so angry, Yama... he’s just... an unusual human... a human connected to Father. One we have a duty to watch..."

"Watch...? That human? Are you playing games with me? Back then... have you already forgotten the days when you took on the form of a human!?"

I don't know what Yama was angry at the Main God about, but one thing was clear... while the Main God didn't seem to know, Yama seemed to know something about the human.

I’m actually quite good at reading the room in times like this!

In times like this, you have to listen quietly and silently from the corner.

I really want to watch this while munching on something!

"...I’d rather not talk about that time. Other gods still look down on me because of it."

"No. I’m going to talk about it now. I still vividly remember you coming to me back then, whining and begging me to find ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the traitor who betrayed you when you were in that human form."

"Traitor? That guy... wasn't a traitor... but what does that have to do with anything? You aren't saying that traitor was that human, are you?"

"...So you weren't completely unaware."

"Yama. If that’s a joke, apologize now."

"Do I look like I’m joking? You came to me back then and threw such a tantrum to find him that I personally moved my body... and now you’ve sent the very existence you wanted so much away with your own hands... truly..."

"....."

I had suspected it, but to my surprise, the conversation between the Main God and Yama revealed that Yama had come here because of that human male.

The Main God looked up and closed his eyes, staying silent as if to organize his thoughts.

After a long silence, the Main God finally spoke.

"Is it true... Yama? That human... is it him? Is it definitely the one I gave up on? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Did I... make him sacrifice himself again... because of my own greed?"

"Yes. You... are repeating the same mistake."

"Ha—"

The Main God let out a deep sigh and covered his eyes with his right hand.

Then, his shoulders began ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to tremble, and the sound of his sobbing reached my ears.

"H-hic..."

...The Main God is sobbing...?

D-Daebak...!

Ah, this isn't the time for that!

I have to post the fact that the Main God is crying on the God-Talk!

How could I miss this scoop!

I, the Goddess of Justice, will announce ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the fact that the Main God is crying!

I watched Yama silently patting the sobbing Main God’s shoulder, as if to say, "I understand your situation and your heart." I slowly and quietly opened the gods' messenger, GOD Talk, by stretching my thumbs and index fingers into a 「」 shape to open the screen, and captured the image of the Main God and Yama.

Good... the angle is perfect...

I opened the GOD Talk screen and imprinted the image of the Main God and Yama exactly as it was.

Since I have the video evidence...

Shall I post it now?

First, I’ll post a message on God-Talk...

I waited for the gods' next posts after posting something to pique their curiosity.

Guys!!!!

Why!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is no one reacting?

Read my post!

Read it and don't ignore it!!

I’m waiting to write the next post...

Why isn't a single person reacting to my post!!!

Are you even gods?

Ugh... let’s see if you can ignore this...

I hurriedly recalled the imprinted image and uploaded it to God-Talk.

Hey... are you going to pretend you didn't see this too?

Can you really stay still after seeing this photo!?

The Main God is crying!

You can resist seeing this?

...As expected, the gods showed an explosive reaction, unable to resist after seeing the imprinted image.

Heeheeheeheeheeheeheehee!

Who told you to ignore my post?

And what, underwater? This girl is saying nonsense... heehee!

I couldn't stop the laughter from leaking out.

Ah~ this is why I get involved in everything here and there, you know? How fun is this~

Ah, I have to send the invitations quickly.

I have to do my job.

I brought the coordinates of this place to mind and sent them to the chosen gods using my divine power.

Hurry up and come...

If you’re late, you’ll miss this precious scene and won't be able to see it.

Ah! I should have told them to bring popcorn when they came!