God Still Loved Me

Two days had passed since Maru left the city behind.

He was trailing after a crowd of travelers bound for another town. With children and elderly folk among them, the pace was slow — but there was safety in numbers, and Maru had no talent for wandering alone anyway.

Where was he headed, you ask?

'Is going home really the right choice?'

He didn't know. Maru still hadn't decided. The direction he was walking did lead toward his hometown, but there was no strength in his steps. He was hesitating.

Could he really walk through his mother's front door and say, 'Mom, I got kicked out of my party'? Years ago, he'd swaggered out the gate bragging that the Demon King was nothing he couldn't handle.

'I'd die of embarrassment.'

He was still grumbling to himself when the merchant caravan at the head of the group came to a halt.

"Let's rest here a while before moving on!"

"Sit yourself down by the roadside and let the sweat dry! Anyone needs to piss, don't go wanderin' far — do it close by!"

While the others took their break, Maru slipped away alone into the forest.

"Damn it all. My life's already in the gutter, and now the gods want a piece of me too."

A hundred days of prayer wouldn't earn him a single answer. If that was how it was going to be, he didn't need one. With that resolve, he shouldered his pack and walked deep into the woods. When he finally reached a truly secluded spot, he took a small bowl from his pack, filled it with water, and set it atop a boulder.

"Lord Belkhran, this is my final prayer. From this hour onward, I am quitting your service."

Maru drew a long breath and went on.

"You hate me anyway, don't you? You were furious about my little act of idiocy. Well, everything worked out exactly as you wanted, so this foolish believer will take his leave. I hope you find a follower kinder and wiser than I am. I won't even resent you anymore for dragging me into this world against my will. Let's each go find our own way to live. Farewell."

He pressed his palms together, offered one last reverent prayer, then slung his pack over one shoulder.

"I'm off. I'll leave the bowl here."

He had just taken his first step.

"Foolish wretch!"

A small tremor shook the ground, and from beneath the earth a colossal stone face slowly rose — lying on its side as it surfaced. It was a face of such beauty that, from its features alone, one could not tell whether it was a man's or a woman's.

"Lord Belkhran…?"

Maru was startled, but the situation was familiar enough that he didn't stumble backward. He had met this face several times when he first arrived in this world.

"The Hero's power that I bestowed upon you — you handed it off to that girl as you pleased, and this is the result? Reckless fool."

Maru sighed, remembering those days.

"That was because she was about to die from her illness. They said the Hero's power was invincible — that it could cure any disease. I was desperate… *sigh*. No. I'm sorry."

"Sorry is not enough!"

The male god's voice, thick with wrath, boomed and echoed through the trees. The birds scattered from their branches in a panicked flurry.

"That's exactly why I'm leaving. I'll take responsibility for my sin and—"

"Leave? You would abandon me?"

"Yes."

"Have you forgotten your promise?"

In an instant, the god's voice shifted into that of a goddess.

"Don't you wish to return to the world you came from?"

"Of course I do. But I have no power left to achieve it. You know that better than anyone. It's too late."

"If you lack power, then take power. Thus it shall be."

"How? My power belongs to Kiera now."

"That girl's power was never hers. Its true owner is still you. But because of your foolish act, it can no longer be wielded by your own will — it has been twisted into a power that can only be used by ruling over that girl completely. Therefore,"

the god declared,

"for your deep remorse over the sins of the past, I shall grant you a new power."

Maru's eyes went wide.

"A new… power?"

One month later.

The domain of Duke Toledo. A certain forest.

A monster standing a full three meters tall reared up on its hind legs and roared. Its monstrous shriek blanketed heaven and earth, pouring into their ears as if it might split their skulls open. Kiera, armed in gleaming white armor, absorbed that killing intent with unnerving calm.

Just then, a messenger who had ridden up at full gallop leapt down from his horse in haste.

"Lady Kiera! A message from the Duke! The capture preparations are complete — he bids you swiftly bleed the beast of its strength!"

"Understood."

Kiera glanced back. Natalie, Lucy, Yoris — her trusted companions stood waiting, every preparation made.

"Let's go."

"KUHAMA!"

Kuhama is what Natalie shouts when she's happy.

"My bladder's stuffed to bursting — I'm one step from wetting myself. Peak condition. KUHAMA!"

"Ugh, disgusting. Can you not do the pervert thing where you deliberately hold in your piss before every fight? Mutt, hand me my staff. Oh wait — no more mutt, huh. Now where did I put my staff?"

"I placed it at your feet. Kindly pick it up yourself."

"What? You know I can't stand dirt getting on my staff, you worthless pile of a priest!"

"Now, now, everyone — allow me to bestow my blessings upon you. Please gather round for a moment."

With Kiera at their head, the Hero's party strode toward the monster. The closer they drew, the more the festering miasmas came swarming savagely in from every direction.

'Cut them down. And then… cut them down again!'

Kiera's blade danced in a dizzying blur. Precise, swift, alive — it chased the foul auras floating in the air to their very ends and snuffed each one out.

"It's right in front of us! Begin!"

At Lucy's cry, Natalie shot past Kiera and surged ahead, hoisting her enormous two-handed sword high. The greatsword came down on the monster without mercy.

"KUHAMA!"

Lucy's magic followed with a barrage of explosions, while Yoris layered protective enchantments over Natalie without pause. While the monster reeled in confusion, it fell to Kiera to strike its vitals scattered across its massive frame.

But for some ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠reason, her condition had been strange for a moment now.

'What…? My strength won't come.'

The Hero's sacred power had abruptly vanished.

"Kiera, what are you doing! It's your turn! You've already missed your chance twice!"

Lucy shouted, but Kiera only stood there, dazed.

'Why won't the power gather?!'

In that instant, her companions cried out as one.

"Kiera!"

"Kiera!"

"Lady Kiera!"

WHAM!

Kiera's body took the monster's full-swing fist and was launched into empty air.

Yosland — a provincial region of the Basilite Kingdom, more than four hundred kilometers from where the Hero's party stood.

A passenger coach carrying three riders rolled across the vast grassland. Rattle, rattle.

Maru yawned a long, lazy yawn. Warm sunshine, a pastoral landscape, dairy cows grazing in the far distance. No matter how many times he stretched, the drowsiness wouldn't lift.

The two passengers seated across from him were a middle-aged woman and her young son. They were on their way, apparently, to visit the husband who worked at the harbor — and it showed, because the pair practically sparkled with excitement.

They'd talked themselves out hours ago; there was nothing left to say.

'It's still a long way to our stop. Might as well catch some shut-eye.'

Maru hugged his pack to his chest and shifted his position. Leaning his back comfortably against the seat, he closed his eyes and gazed up at the sky through the haze of his eyelids.

'Come on now… one sheep… two sheep…'

The scene of his meeting with the god began to surface, piece by piece.

"Take unto yourself the power of the mightiest familiar I ever raised."

"You're giving me power again?"

Maru had deliberated. If he had power… if only he had power!

At first he'd felt a flicker of fear, but his thinking turned gradually optimistic.

'I won't have to crawl home to Mother in shame. I can resume the journey toward the Demon King's castle. This time without joining any party — entirely on my own!'

The grand ambition of slaying the Demon King himself was gone now. It was enough simply to have been there at the moment the Demon King died. So he could boast to everyone back home: I was there too. So he wouldn't have to die of shame.

He just needed enough strength to dodge nimbly out of harm's way while everyone else fought the desperate battle against the Demon King!

"Is it a monstrous kind of power — enough that I could slay a demon in a single blow, all by myself?"

"My familiar Leviathan was a sacred beast whose strength transcended imagination."

"A sacred beast…?"

Maru made up his mind, and steel entered his eyes.

"Give it to me. That power. What do I have to do?"

"Make your way to Leviathan Island in the east. That island was formed from the corpse of Leviathan, who died thousands of years ago. At its very center, the Essence of Leviathan floats. Absorb it, and make it yours."

The mouth of the colossal stone face, still lying on its side, yawned open wide and extended its tongue. Resting upon it was a round hand mirror.

"Take this with you. The Essence of Leviathan can only be seen through this, the Mirror of Truth."

The coach came to a sudden halt.

"Whoa — whoa there!"

Maru opened his eyes and lifted his head to look ahead. A group of people laden with cargo stood along the roadside.

"Traveling merchants, huh?"

He thought nothing of it and scooted forward in his seat. The drivers exchanged a few words with the group — and before long, the newcomers climbed aboard in a rush. Five in total. The coach, which had been pleasantly roomy, was now packed tight.

Four men, and one young woman with a fresh, innocent look about her.

But for some reason, the face of the woman seated on the drop-off side looked familiar.

'Ah.'

That person — that person. The bard who'd been singing in the city plaza about a month ago.

Maru regarded her for a moment, then looked away.

'Fancy running into her out here. Not that we ever actually spoke.'

Rattle, rattle. The coach wheels began to roll again.

"And where might you be headed, sir?"

A middle-aged man who seemed to be part of the woman's troupe struck up a friendly conversation beside him.

"Keyburton Port."

"What takes you there, if I may ask?"

Maru's face scrunched up on reflex. These days he was brimming with distrust of other people. Everything ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠annoyed him — and nothing more than kindness that came sidling up close.

"Why would I tell you that? Before you go asking strangers questions, how about giving your own name first?"

"Ah — my apologies if I gave offense. The name is Carlyle."

"It's Han."

"A pleasure, Master Han. You travel alone, I take it?"

"No. My companions went ahead. They're waiting for me."

"At Keyburton Port, you mean?"

"Yes."

Perhaps because he had no intention of actually talking, the lies poured out smooth as silk.

"If you'll excuse me, I'd like to nap."

Maru folded his arms and shut his eyes.

"It would be my honor to share a word with you, though…"

Carlyle leaned in with a beaming smile.

"Say there, Master Han — you look weary. Shall I treat you to something delightful to watch? A spectacle sure to put the spring back in your step?"

"Excuse me?"

"Girl! Jamila! Come now — strike up a tune for Master Han here, and make it a stunner!"

"No, no. Really, that's not necessary."

"Do not refuse my goodwill! Look — why, Jamila was just saying how she longs to sing! Let's all have a listen together!"

Maru turned his head toward the woman. Dressed in a bright white dress, she smiled radiantly and said, "The pleasure is mine" — and the passengers around them erupted in cheers and applause. Her troupe struck up pipes and plucked the strings of a lute, and the woman began to sing.

"In a certain kingdom there lived a queen of great valor~"

The same song he'd heard not long ago.

Maru bit his lip and, on reflex, tore his eyes from the woman and stared down at the floor. Of all things… a flood of memories came welling up. Lost in a hollow ache, he sank into his thoughts.

The woman's song soon reached its middle verses.

Before he knew it, the song had ended. Beside him, Carlyle pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed at his eyes.

"Sniff… such a sorrowful song. I've heard it a hundred times and it never grows old — so heartbreakingly sad. Ahh, our poor Queen, robbed of her precious Prince by that wicked woman… You find it sad too, don't you, Master Han?"

"I suppose."

Maru scratched the back of his head and took a long, deep breath.

"It is sad, yeah. Um… but I think the song's gotten a little distorted somewhere along the way. It doesn't quite match what I know of the story."

"However do you mean?"