Chapter 4

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 4

Chapter Title: Infinite Hamster Wheel Power

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The cheerful sound of wooden friction tickled my ears.

I opened my eyes.

Shruk!

My half-awake brain was still wandering in a daze.

A clear, ringing voice.

"Mmm... a bit longer..."

I mumbled, pulling the haystack closer in my fatigue.

I wanted to sleep more.

The voice grew louder, more insistent.

I cracked my eyes open groggily, and there was the hamster wheel spinning furiously.

Beside it, Rodentia's apparition stood with hands on her hips, looking down at me.

Morning sunlight slanted through cracks in the ceiling.

"...What time is it?"

I'd only just fallen asleep, and it was already ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠morning?

Her wake-up call was top-notch, at least.

"Looks like the Lord is a morning person."

Her speech and actions were totally different, but surprisingly diligent.

Well, being a goddess, she probably didn't need sleep.

I let out a long yawn and sat up.

My tail stretched out stiffly.

While I was at it, I stepped out of the barn.

Fresh morning air filled my lungs deeply.

I went to the nearby well and splashed cold water on my face, which woke me up a bit.

"Alright, time for breakfast."

I pulled out the leftover rye bread from yesterday.

It was already tough, but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠after a day, it was like a rock.

But I'm a Ratkin.

My sturdy front teeth could handle it.

Munch munch.

I gnawed on the bread, using scraps of jerky as a side.

Tough and salty.

Still better than starving.

I tore off a piece of bread and half the jerky.

"This is for the Lord."

The hamster wheel spun whirly, then gobbled up the offering.

Nom nom.

Cheeks puffed out full, munching away—it looked pretty cute, no, divine.

But even after finishing, Rodentia didn't retreat into the wheel; she just stared at me intently.

She had something more to say.

"What? Not enough?"

Rodentia fidgeted with her fingers shyly.

"What is it? Dessert?"

A duty?

I tensed up a little. She wasn't going to make me do something weird again, was she?

"What is it?"

Prayer?

I stared blankly at the hamster wheel.

"Prayer?"

Rodentia explained with a serious expression.

Come to think of it, the lightness I'd felt in my body yesterday was gone now.

Was the effect wearing off?

Well, for a goddess, no faith means no fuel—makes sense.

Her eyes were desperate.

I pondered for a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠moment.

In my previous life, I was a staunch rationalist and atheist.

I didn't believe in invisible gods.

But.

'This is another world.'

Here, gods actually exist.

And this pea-sized goddess right in front of me had shown real miracles.

Ignoring what's right in front of me would be foolish.

'Even Pascal the mathematician said it—better to believe, it's a win!'

Besides, blessing buffs are essential for survival.

'No downside. Might as well pray.'

I nodded.

"Got it. How do I do it?"

I picked up a chipped bowl by the well, washed it clean, filled it with clear water, and placed it reverently before the hamster wheel.

I assumed the position as instructed.

A bit embarrassing, but no one around to see.

Rodentia cleared her throat and intoned.

"O protector of all rodents..."

"Goddess of Ratkin, to the great Lord who turns the hamster wheel, we pray!"

"Grant us today our daily bread and a safe rat hole."

Was this really a prayer?

I had my doubts inside, but kept them unspoken.

The moment I finished the last line.

Fwoosh!

A small orb of light rose from the water bowl and got sucked into the hamster wheel.

At the same time, the wheel flashed golden.

Rodentia trembled in ecstasy.

Like an office worker chugging caffeine?

Her apparition sharpened, brimming with vitality.

"Oh, it works, huh."

Multi-level evangelism too, huh.

Whatever, later problem.

Vitality returned to my body.

Blessing refilled.

"Great. Now let's hit the road."

I packed up and stood.

Checked my crossbow, brushed off bread crumbs.

Had to leave the village before the sun climbed higher.

"Let's go, Lord."

We took the hamster wheel and left the barn.

My steps felt light.

Hoping for another smooth day.

And a tasty meal!

My prayer had been pretty sincere.

A few more days passed like that.

Luckily, no run-ins with debt collectors or those adventurers.

They probably thought we'd fled to a village with an adventurers' guild.

Searching the wrong way, no doubt.

I took the opposite path.

Following Reti's geographic memories, heading to the city of Oakwood.

There was another adventurers' guild there, and beginner-friendly dungeons.

The problem was the road.

"I'm hungry..."

I muttered weakly.

Rural paths were safe, but no food.

Sometimes a horned rat Rodentia summoned brought wild berries or mushrooms from the bushes.

"Peek peek!"

A berry or two from the wild.

If scarce, I'd follow to a spot and gorge.

But it barely touched my hunger.

"I want meat..."

Rodentia looked drained too, slumped in the wheel.

Did gods feel hunger?

Or just mirroring my mood.

One day camping roadside.

Next day, reached a decent-sized village.

But no improvement.

No money meant no food or inn.

Had to find work.

"Ratkin? No hire!"

"Scram. What can a runt like you carry?"

"Hey, kiddo, we need strong laborers?"

Turned away everywhere.

"Why should I trust you with work?"

Went for a simple errand gig, but the shop auntie snapped at my ears and tail.

Chased out, Rodentia didn't hide her rage.

"Yeah..."

This world had prejudices against Ratkin.

Small, weak, sneaky thieves and con artists!

Plus little girl form.

Even simple jobs saw no strength, so my value was zero.

'This prejudice is infuriating.'

I clutched my empty stomach and trudged on.

Then reached the village outskirts construction site.

Workers bustled repairing a new wall.

A posted notice nearby.

Good, this body could read.

Several people already gathered, listening to explanations.

I squeezed into the crowd.

"Hey! You there, what's that? A Ratkin?"

A bearded foreman-looking man called me.

I perked my ears and approached.

"Here for work."

"Yeah?... A kid like you is tricky."

The foreman eyed my size, looking troubled.

"Know what we do here? Heavy labor. Carrying loads looks tough for you."

"I'm strong! I can carry loads fine!"

"Pfft, talk's cheap. Go on, shoo. You're in the way."

Another rejection.

As I turned to leave.

Rodentia's voice burst in my head, thrilled like never before.

"What?"

I looked where she pointed.

A massive wooden structure in the corner of the site.

A manpower crane.

Person enters the giant wheel, pedals to turn it, winding the pulley to lift heavy stones.

"That? It's a crane. You pedal it."

What you see... ah.

Suddenly I got it.

The huge wheel attached below the crane.

Rodentia declared firmly at my reaction.

"...Huh?"

Her voice turned solemn.

"Never tire? For real?"

Skeptical, but if Rodentia said it, worth a shot.

Bread was on the line too.

Nothing to lose.

I approached the foreman again.

"Hey, mister. If it's turning that, I can do it."

"What? The crane?"

The foreman and workers gawked.

Soon snickers erupted.

"Haha! Hear that? The little runt says she'll turn the crane alone!"

"Kiddo, even two grown men sweat buckets pedaling it. Your weight won't budge it."

"Beat it! No Ratkin playground here!"

Used to the mockery.

But not this time.

I set down my bag boldly.

"Don't believe me? Test it."

"Hah, gutsy kid. Fine! Turn it—if you do, double pay today!"

The foreman snorted, agreeing.

I headed to the crane.

Up close, it was huge.

Wooden wheel over 3 meters diameter.

I stepped inside.

"Yes, ready."

I took a deep breath and started pedaling.

Creak.

Heavy at first. My light weight struggled.

But as my foot hit, a tingle surged from my sole.

"Peek...?"

Rodentia's blessing.

Creak, creeeak!

The wheel started turning.

Momentum kicked in; my body moved on its own.

Legs blurring with speed.

No fatigue. No shortness of breath.

Exhilarating.

Like treadmill at the gym in my past life.

But no panting, even more thrilling!

Primal joy enveloped me.

'Whoa, this is fun!'

I grinned unwittingly.

I ran like mad in the wheel.

"Yahoo!"

Clunk!

The pulley wound at breakneck speed.

A massive stone block shot up from the ground.

Normally groaned over slowly by workers, now rising like wind.

"Wh-what?"

"What's that?"

Onlookers' jaws dropped.

Foreman dropped his water ladle.

"Impossible... how's that tiny rat kid...?"

"Speed's insane! Hey! Rope'll snap! Slow down!"

"Small but strong!"

Shouts of shock and awe mixed.

Foreman rushed over to stop me.

"Hey! Rat kid! Stop, don't overdo it! Take it easy!"

"I'm fine!"

I didn't stop.

sped up more.

"More! I can lift more! Prep the next!"

That day, I ran like crazy.

Did the work of three men.

Finished, hopped off fresh as ever.

"Ha... unbelievable. Magic or what?"

Foreman, dazed, handed a steaming bowl and big bread.

Vegetable stew with potatoes and carrots!

Two loaves too.

"Kept my word, kid."

And most important, jangling coins!

Double pay indeed.

"Uh... come work tomorrow too?"

"Of course."

I slurped stew, grinning.

Warmth filling my belly!

No sweat on me; workers were amazed.

For two days like that.

I ran in the wheel.

"Peek peek!"

Today, I become a working rat!