The Uninvited Guest
Neb lifted the necklace Eden had given her. The red gem dangled down along the chain. It was a necklace engraved with unusual patterns. Even to Eden, who knew nothing about art, it looked like something worth a fortune.
"Hoo…."
Neb let out a small breath. Soon, the necklace vanished into the air like a mirage, glowing faintly. At the same time, a cool breeze spread through the surroundings. Like eating mint chocolate.
Neb slowly raised her head.
"Lucky it was just a goblin."
"…?"
"A being in possession of a goddess's relic."
Her golden eyes, shining like a full moon, fixed on him.
"That goblin was just hungry. It didn't want anything else."
Eden naturally furrowed his brow.
Did she think before speaking?
An image popped into his head unbidden. He had no idea what she meant.
Reading his expression, Neb dusted off her hands a few times and shrugged lightly.
"Simply put, if that goblin had been smarter or more ambitious, the city might have been destroyed."
"You can just say that so casually?"
"Well, it could have happened."
He had no idea what she'd seen in the relic shaped like a necklace. But Neb nodded to herself as if she knew the truth.
Watching her, Eden asked another question that nagged at him.
"So, what's changed?"
"Changed about what?"
He gathered his thoughts. Neb had definitely told him: if they found the relics infused with her power, she could regain her lost strength.
"……."
But to Eden's eyes, Neb hadn't changed at all. She was still light as a feather, her figure scrawny. More Cinderella than goddess. This was a serious issue.
His goal in collecting relics was basically to get himself home. If finding one brought no change, how many more would he have to hunt down?
Eden looked at Neb, who was tilting her head with an innocent expression, and spoke up.
"I mean, you absorbed that relic, but you don't look any different. So, how many more do I have to find to get home…."
He cut himself off midway. It might sound like complaining.
Neb seemed to catch his intent. She narrowed her eyes at him and took a few steps closer.
"Hah."
And then.
"To not notice the changes in this goddess… I'm disappointed. Very, very, very disappointed."
Neb struck a strange pose. One hand on the back of her head, she tried to accentuate her meager curves.
Eden offered a brief assessment.
She looks like a dead centipede.
As if sensing his thoughts, Neb proclaimed her ego with majestic flair.
"Don't be shy—behold. The even more grown and beautiful figure of this goddess."
"……."
Eden was at a loss for words. It was far from his taste. Even by medieval standards, about thirty thousand feet away.
She looked almost pitiful. Without a word, Eden flicked her forehead.
Snap.
"Ow!"
The two had left the city and were now outside. They'd built a campfire in a suitable spot and were settling in for the late night.
Honestly, now that they were in the city, they could have rested comfortably for a few days before moving on. No one was chasing them with swords drawn.
But unexpectedly, Neb had wanted to hurry.
"No need to waste time, right?"
"Hoo…."
Eden let out a low murmur of admiration. He never imagined such a sensible remark from Neb, whose mental age seemed under twenty no matter how generously you looked at her.
"Absolutely not because this goddess wants to test the new camping gear we bought."
"……."
He retracted his admiration.
Anyway, he didn't point it out. The process didn't matter as long as the result was good. He was the one in the barbarian's body who wanted to get home fast.
"Whatever. Fine."
He circled back to the part he hadn't heard earlier.
"How many relics are left?"
"……."
But Neb clamped her mouth shut. Staring at the campfire, she acted like she hadn't heard, trying to let it slide.
Eden gathered strength in his finger again. Neb flinched and shielded her forehead with both hands.
"Hey…! Isn't the violence getting too natural?!"
"Uncivilized barbarians don't know any better."
"You're a civilized college grad, though…."
"……."
She'd left him speechless. Eden lowered his gathered index finger and sighed softly.
…There can't be hundreds left, right?
Probably around ten at most. With that hopeful thought, he tossed a few more logs into the campfire.
The sky had already darkened. Stars and the moon dotted the night sky like grains of rice.
With the city nearby, no beast howls echoed around them. Only the faint stirrings of birds in their nests.
Eden glanced at Neb. She had wrapped herself in the new robe from the shop and was using a conveniently sized rock as a pillow.
…Her neck's gonna hurt tomorrow.
But it wasn't his problem. Eden slowly closed his eyes, staying vigilant of his surroundings.
Crackle…. The campfire popped steadily. Leaves rustled in the wind. Branches clacked like noise in the forest, and crickets seeking mates began their faint chorus.
These days, he no longer dreaded falling asleep.
…Thanks to her, I guess.
With that thought, Eden didn't fight the oncoming fatigue.
At the same time.
The lord of the city Edelan couldn't hide his distress. Nobles lived by their dignity. His servants knew well how shocking it was for the lord of a castle to show his emotions so openly.
But considering the identity of the person before him, it wasn't so strange.
Clank. A dull sound rang from the luxurious armor.
"I'll ask again."
The voice from within the helmet vibrated. The full-face helmet obscured the wearer's face and gender.
"I came here after hearing that this castle holds a certain 'item'."
The castle knight asked boldly.
"…An unusual item with the power to 'grant wishes', as it were."
Thud…!
The castle knight set down his two-handed hammer lightly—or so it seemed. It hit the ground with a massive crash regardless.
"It could take the form of a fine goblet, a strangely shaped statue, ancient gear, a simple ring, or a necklace."
The castle knight's gaze pierced the lord.
"But they all share a common mark: a pattern like an 'empty circle'."
The lord swallowed hard, staring at the emotionless helmet.
"Have you ever possessed such an item, my lord?"
The Sun God's castle knight asked the lord thus.
"……."
In a world where gods truly existed, a knight with firm faith outranked most nobles. And Edelan’s lord was a believer in the Sun God faith.
Despite the knight's overbearing demeanor, he had no choice but to answer honestly.
"W-well, ahem."
The lord suppressed his tension and replied.
"…Yes, the item you're seeking was indeed here."
It had been a mysterious necklace. Found purely by chance. No one knew how long it had languished in storage.
If the lord still had it, he might have been tempted to keep it even before this fearsome knight. But not anymore.
The castle knight spoke in a somewhat incredulous tone.
"…Dropped into the sewer?"
"Y-yes."
"Months ago…."
The knight's attitude grew grave. The lord sensed something off. Beneath the city lurked only lowly monsters like goblins. Not a place to alarm a servant of the gods.
As the knight fell silent, the lord cautiously continued.
"I did try to search for it. But the sewers date back to the ancient empire—no one knows their full layout…."
He'd given up. Even if he sent soldiers, they might pocket it themselves.
So it had faded into memory.
The castle knight turned without a word. His heavy armor had dented the floor where he'd stood.
"…Sir?"
Not knowing his name, the lord called out a generic title, but the knight vanished without looking back.
The lord scowled. He'd never been so dismissed as the master of a castle.
"……."
But he only cursed inwardly. He couldn't summon guards to seize him. Especially if he wanted heaven after death.
The lord bellowed at the lingering servants.
"…All of you, out!"
"Y-yes!!"
"Don't come back until I call!"
His roar sent the servants fleeing. The lord slumped onto a lavish sofa and lit an expensive cigar, inhaling deeply.
Castle knights have always been rude, but this is a first.
The harsh smoke filled his lungs. The tension and pressure in his body eased bit by bit.
…Come to think of it, normal castle knights travel in groups…. This one came alone, without even a squire.
Fake? The thought crossed his mind, but he shook his head. The Sun God emblem on the armor was genuine. He'd never heard of imposters either.
"Tch."
Anyway, it was over. The knight's attitude irked him, but he could just keep running the city as usual.
Knock knock.
A knock came from outside. The lord's face twisted.
"Didn't you hear me? I said don't come in until I call!"
But the calm knocking persisted.
Knock knock knock.
"…?"
The lord sensed something wrong. Then, without permission, the door swung wide.
Creeeak!
It wasn't a servant. If the previous visitor had clearly been a castle knight, this one—cloaked head to toe in dark robes—was unmistakably suspicious.
"…Who are you?"
The lord spoke while glancing at the weapons on the wall. Servants should announce guests first. This intruder had entered alone.
The intruder, a man, waved casually, out of place in the tension.
"Ah, no need. I overheard everything."
"…What?"
"It's gone anyway, right? The relic."
"Re, relic?"
The lord, who hadn't heard the exact term from the knight, couldn't hide his confusion.
The man continued indifferently.
"Man, castle knights are busy. Didn't expect one to beat me here. Well, thanks to that, I got the situation—saved some time, I guess."
His tone was light, like a clown's.
"Why bother hunting so hard for something they don't even need? Just announce it publicly if it's that important."
Like an actor on stage, he gestured around the room.
"Ooh, cigars! Nobles' vices are always tasty."
He spotted the lord's cigar and chuckled. Then met the lord's eyes.
The lord felt his breath stop. In the robe's shadows, blood-red eyes gleamed.
Like a demon's.
"Oh, right. You're still here."
The man grinned playfully. A long tail curved under his eyes.
He placed a finger on the lord's chest.
"Die."
In that instant, the lord's heart stopped. Blood bubbled from his mouth.
Ignoring it, the man puffed the cigar and smiled.
"…Ugh, hate going into the sewers."
Moments later, only the lord's corpse remained in the room.
Something feels ominous.
Just my imagination. Eden opened his eyes in his familiar studio apartment. He glanced around naturally.
He'd half-expected the room to change since Neb absorbed a relic. But nothing had.
Yeah, no changes.
Maybe a new file on the computer? With that thought, he moved to sit at his desk.
If not for the knock at the front door.
Knock knock.
"……?"
Who's there?