Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: If I Had to Pick Just One
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If I had to pick just one...
Right now, I'm facing the worst possible situation: the only being who can help me happens to despise humans.
It's horrifying. Why does she hate humans so much?
Deep-rooted species discrimination!
And she wields so much influence that even the mod can't touch her!
What should I do?
How on earth do I coax a dimension mage into helping me?
For now, let's try asking as politely as possible.
It's all I've got besides manners.
Huh? I was agonizing over how to ask...
And she shows interest in my world first.
There were plenty of faithful people.
And tons of religions worshiping Jesus, Buddha, and all sorts of other figures.
But the gods at the center of those religions had never once appeared before humans.
Maybe I'd just never encountered them myself.
Still, until the world ended, most folks didn't believe gods actually existed.
Cosmic Dust, graciously offering special help.
Can I finally fill my stomach? What will food from a cosmic being even taste like?
As long as I can digest it, anything's fine.
I've scarfed down bugs without issue all this time.
She's a mage, after all.
No matter how much she hates humans, fresh intellectual curiosity overrides deep-seated loathing, contempt, and speciesism.
Her demand was simple.
In exchange for the massive resources to send me food, offer her something of equal value.
Not aid—barter.
I have no clue what Cosmic Dust's tastes are or what works or items she'd want.
Still, to get food, I have to do my absolute best to satisfy her.
'To get food supplies, I gotta sell relics from the old world.'
Books, paintings, smartphones, TVs—products of science.
The problem? In year five of the ice age, survivors burned anything they could for heat.
Books and art left are scarce.
Libraries and bookstores became raider dens long ago, their contents all turned to kindling.
'But to get food, I have to find something.'
To soothe my hunger and survive another day, I need to meet her demands.
Coordinates? Oh right, I don't even know my own location's coords.
Suddenly, something thudded down behind me.
Turning around, there was a pitch-black box on the floor.
'Fast. She sent it already.'
The moment I shared my ID code, she shipped the food right over.
Opening the box revealed unidentified fruits and meat.
A translucent glass vial was filled with purple slime.
At the box's bottom lay a note in alien script I couldn't read, but the drawings made the message clear.
'Put stuff back in this box to return it.'
Within three days, fill this black box with remnants of Earth civilization that Cosmic Dust would want, and it auto-returns.
I snapped a proof pic and posted to Sage Time Gallery.
Title: Cosmic Dust Is a God and I Am Invincible
Author: Apprentice Mage
(Photo of the black box and food) Got the stuff! Actual food inside! Cosmic Dust, thank you! ㅠㅠㅠ
Eat the meat raw or freeze it till I learn magic to cook.
But having fruits and veggies I can devour right now is more thrilling.
'How long since fresh fruits and veggies...'
I pulled out an apple-like fruit from its packaging and took a bite.
First fresh fruit since the ice age hit.
Crunch.
"..."
Sweet.
The moment my teeth sank in, my nose tingled and my eyes welled up.
Taste of apple and orange mixed.
Sweet, refreshing, and with every chew, sugar surges through my body.
This must be what "vitality coursing through" feels like.
Chewing this red cosmic apple, I felt alive again.
Good thing I didn't die.
Great job clinging to survival so desperately.
One cosmic apple vanished in a blink.
Surprisingly, no seeds.
Probably to prevent seed leakage.
'Amazing taste. Want more.'
Like an addict craving a hit, thoughts of another cosmic apple flooded my mind.
To feel this again, I'd have to scour empty buildings and raid the raiders.
But I lacked the numbers and strength to face those savage brutes.
Then, a comment from a user caught my eye.
A question about grilling the box's meat.
God, yes I do.
I was debating tearing into the raw meat when she offers a way to cook it?
Before I could ask how to make fire, Firepower Enthusiast replied.
Her words about making the sun made my heart race.
Could creating another sun end this brutal cold?
As Firepower Enthusiast tried luring me to fire magic...
Other users watching started pitching their own magics.
Basics advocates clashed with those pushing wild paths.
Mages, each convinced their school was supreme, jumped into the competition.
And...
Species conflicts raged on here too.
Soon the comment section heated up with school debates.
Gallery users tore into each other with logic and academic fervor.
Ah, that explains why they're so desperate to take me as a disciple.
Just boredom.
A real magic newbie from a magic-less world appeared, and they got hungry for it.
With this much passion from everyone, whoever I pick would teach sincerely.
Still, if I had to pick one school right now from all these...
Something to make me forget this cold would be best.