Far From Easy
The high-tier divinity illuminating the room soon surged in a single direction, swirling together before seeping deep into the desk drawer.
"Your wish has been granted."
"...I appreciate it. Didn't expect such generous service, honestly. I love it when problems get sorted out nice and clean like this. Mind if I hit you up again sometime?"
"An opportunity for me to intervene does not arise so easily. In all likelihood, there shall not be a next time."
"How were you able to help this time, then?"
"The Evil God was incapable of checking the Saintess. By manifesting a Demon King's authority through your body, causality was momentarily obscured. Furthermore, by consuming the karma you have accumulated, I passed through the laws of this world with the bare minimum of power. And most decisively of all... the Evil God paid the price for twisting causality."
"I don't understand half of what you just said... Wait, you consumed my accumulated karma? Is that going to mess with me in some bad way?"
"It shall not."
"Really? Hmm... Even if it's tough, couldn't you push yourself a little to help out? It's all to take down that damn Evil God anyway."
"Should you walk your path straight and true, gathering karma along the way, perhaps another chance may present itself. I am sorry... and I thank you."
"......"
I offered no reply, merely exhaling a plume of cigarette smoke.
The profound goodwill and affection laden in her voice threw my thoughts into disarray. She had admitted with her own mouth that she bore responsibility for putting me in this state, so how could she treat me with such tender emotion? It baffled me. Perhaps because of that, even my simmering anger and hatred felt as though they were fading, prompting me to grit my teeth.
"Earlier, you said part of the blame lies with you. Who's responsible for the rest?"
"...The Evil God."
"Ha... So the mess I ended up in is a joint masterpiece between you and the Evil God?"
"To be precise, the Evil God holds the far greater share. The result of my design warping under that creature's interference... is what you are now."
"...Whatever the whole truth is, that gives me one more reason to beat that bastard to death."
"...You have not yet witnessed all that resulted from the causality distorted by the Evil God."
"What? What's that supposed to mean?"
"I cannot tell you. To do so would alter the future... However, let me offer one piece of counsel. Please, do not succumb to despair, my child. Harbor no doubt, and press forward with an unyielding will."
"Wait, hey, you've gotta explain what that—"
"Our time is at an end, child. Remember that I believe in you."
My words were cut short. Wearing Cecilia's face, the Goddess offered a bittersweet smile before closing her eyes, scattering into countless beams of light that vanished without a trace.
"......"
Like the aftermath of a violent gale, a heavy silence settled over the room. Talk about leaving a bitter aftertaste. I hadn't learned a single damn thing properly.
"Whew... Muriel."
"Yes, Han... Master Aljen."
Watching Muriel still struggling to collect her wits, I let out a soft chuckle and gestured toward the desk drawer with my chin.
"Bring out what's inside."
"Understood."
Moving immediately, she returned with the unique relic: the Invitation of the Forgotten. Shaped like a bizarrely warped flame sculpture, the artifact was originally meant to grant entry to a special hunting ground. But now that the Goddess had tampered with it, it probably possessed effects even I didn't know about.
"Haaah..."
I had kept that artifact tucked away intending to use it on the Hero... Does this mean I won't be able to use it for that anymore? Well, it was hard to say anything for sure until we tried it out firsthand.
"Muriel, Rebecca, Cacciola."
"Yes."
"...Yes, My Lord."
"Yeah."
Answering with tense expressions at the sound of their names, the three women gathered around me without needing to be told.
"You all saw it just now. The Goddess herself descended in person to prepare a trial for you."
"...Yes."
"It still feels impossible to believe."
"Was that... really real just now...?"
The three women exchanged glances, eyeing the dazed Cecilia and Wendy to gauge the situation.
"There were a few question marks, but up to this point, things went just as I foresaw." Frowning slightly, I fiddled with the Invitation of the Forgotten. "From here on out, though, it's all up to you."
Their eyes locked onto me.
"Like I said earlier, this is going to be excruciatingly painful and grueling. One wrong step and you could die. In fact, based on the countless futures I've seen, nine out of ten end up dead. Even knowing that, will you take on the trial?"
After a brief silence, they nodded almost simultaneously.
"I will do it."
"I would have no honor left if I backed out after coming this far. Besides, risking one's life to reach a higher realm is only natural."
"She's right. As long as I can get stronger, I'll bet my life as many times as it takes."
Hearing their answers, I flashed a satisfied grin.
"Good. I hear you loud and clear. All of you pass. Now then, shall we get some insurance in place?"
"...Pardon?"
"Insurance...?"
"Insurance? What are you talking about?"
Chuckling at how they voiced their confusion in perfect harmony, I beckoned to Cecilia.
"...Sir Aljen?"
"Cecilia. How long are you going to stand there spacing out? Come here. I've got one more favor to ask."
"Hold on. Another favor, you say? The Saintess is thoroughly exhausted right now. Asking for anything more is—"
"No, it is quite all right, Wendy."
"Saintess...!"
"This is the right thing to do, Wendy." Straightening her back, Cecilia looked up at Wendy with resolute eyes that shone like stars. "Is it not so? Helping Sir Aljen is the Goddess's will. As Her representative, I cannot simply sit by with folded hands. Wendy, you saw and heard it all just now as well."
"......"
Wendy stood speechless, bowing her head as she stepped back.
"Sir Aljen. What would you have me do?"
"Thanks for offering so readily."
"As Her follower, it is only proper that I walk the path She has paved."
"Look at you, being so admirable... In that case, cast your buffs and the Miracle of the Celestial Sphere on these three."
"The Miracle of the Celestial Sphere...?"
"Yeah. Think you can handle it?"
"No, I can manage. Thanks to the Goddess descending into my body, divine power is overflowing within me."
Clasping her hands together, Cecilia knelt before the three women and entered a silent prayer. An immense tide of holy power began to pour from her frame. The radiant sacred energy wove across the air, tracing intricate, dizzying patterns before slowly sinking into the bodies of Muriel, Rebecca, and Cacciola.
"Master Aljen. What is this...?"
"Think of it as an extra life. Even if you suffer a mortal blow, the holy art imbued into your body absorbs the lethal damage in your place."
In the game, it was an indispensable boss-fight buff that let you survive instant-death attacks with 1 HP remaining. It had a limit on the number of times it could trigger, of course... but if they failed, they could just try again later. Naturally, succeeding today was the ideal outcome. After all, there was no telling when Greenjack might strike to assassinate them.
"Hold on... If you had a safety net like that all along, why did you make us say all those cringe-worthy, dramatic lines?!"
"Just testing your resolve, that's all."
I grinned teasingly at them. Sharp glares shot my way from all three women, but I merely offered a shameless shrug in response.
"Whew... haah... It is finished."
Cecilia, looking remarkably haggard despite the short duration, rose to her feet while panting heavily.
"Good work. All right then..." Looking at each of the three women in turn, I gripped the relic firmly. "Now that the insurance is locked in, I'll tell you what trials you're going to face."
"You even know that?"
"Yeah. I saw it myself."
"What's that about~? If you already know what's coming, we'll clear it in no time! Scaring us for nothing!"
"...I wouldn't be so sure." Smiling bitterly, I addressed Muriel first. "Starting with you, Muriel. You'll have to face your past misfortune and hatred."
"Past misfortune and hatred... is it?"
Her expression hardened, as though something immediately came to mind.
"Yeah. In that place, you won't find the luck or hope you have now. Relying entirely on your own strength, you must cast off that misfortune and overcome the hatred."
"...I shall do my utmost."
"It won't be an easy path by any means. Still, if it's you, I know you can pull it off."
"Thank you, My Lord."
Next, I turned to Rebecca. "Rebecca, you cannot allow yourself to be consumed by wrath and hatred."
"To not be consumed by wrath and hatred... Just what kind of trial awaits me?"
"Leona dies by the hands of demons."
"...!!"
Her eyes snapped wide, and her face drained of color in an instant.
"The rage and hatred you felt before won't even hold a candle to the fury waiting for you there. Even so, you have to keep a cool head and rein in your heart. Think you can do it?"
"It will... not be easy."
"No doubt. But you can do it."
"......"
Turning away from the silently resolved Rebecca, I looked at Cacciola, who was practically vibrating with tension.
"Cacciola. You... have to cast aside happiness and hold onto your ambition to improve."
"...What does that mean?"
"Because your trial will be the ideal scene you've wished for, dreamed of over and over again."
She gasped softly.
"You have to flee that paradise, choose to walk a thorny path with your own two feet, and face hardship and adversity."
Shuddering, Cacciola swallowed hard.
"...I suddenly lost all my confidence."
"To be honest, you're the one I'm most worried about. Haaah... Well, don't sweat it too much. Even if you fail, you can try as many times as it takes."
"Got... it. Yeah. I'll give it a shot."
"All right. Then..."
The moment I focused my consciousness to activate the relic, its abilities and effects flooded directly into my mind.
"...Wow. She really left behind something monstrous."
Marveling quietly, I focused my mind even further.
Vwoooom—!
In that instant, a gate radiating golden brilliance materialized a few steps away. Rippling and shimmering like the surface of a tranquil lake, the portal emanated a profound, sacred mystique.
"The trial begins the moment you pass through there. Whether you fail or succeed, you'll be spat right back out, so you don't need to worry about being stranded."
"...I will go first, then."
Stepping forward without a shred of hesitation, Muriel was the first to cross the threshold.
"Phew... All right. Let's do this!"
Letting out a fierce battle cry, Rebecca strode forward with purposeful steps and vanished into the portal.
"......"
"Scared, Cacciola?"
"...Yeah. I'm terrified. If what you said is true, then on the other side is the ideal reality I've wished for, fantasized about, and dreamed of my whole life, isn't it?" Tears welling in her eyes, her pale lips trembled sorrowfully. "My family... whole and safe... right in front of me."
"Most likely."
"And I have to... tear myself away from that place on my own?"
"......"
I offered no answer.
"...Damn it, damn it all...! I hate this reality so much. I despise it. I resent every bit of it...!"
After hesitating and sniffling for a long moment, she forced a fierce, vicious scowl onto her face as if whipping herself into gear, then hurled herself impulsively into the portal. The gate shuddered, rapidly collapsing inward until it compressed into a single thread of golden light that was sucked back into the relic. It would likely reappear once someone succeeded or failed.
"Right then..."
Sinking deep into the sofa, I tipped back my flask and gulped down the liquor. Then I turned and flashed a grin at Cecilia and Wendy, who were staring intently at me.
"You two look like you're bursting with questions. Fine by me. Ask whatever you want. You helped out a lot, so I'll answer everything."
"Truly? In that case... Sir Aljen, just who or what are you?"
"I'm Stanashila Aljen. Just an ordinary scoundrel... You gonna get mad if I say that?"
"No. I will cry. I will weep bitterly and beg you to please place your trust in us."
"...That's scarier than you getting mad. Fine, fine, I get it."
Waving my hand dismissively, I pondered for a brief moment just how much I should reveal.
"Haaaah... Man, what a drag. Brooding over stuff like this is the biggest chore of all... Look, both of you. Can you promise to keep everything you hear here strictly confidential?"
"...That goes without saying."
"Of course. This concerns none other than the Goddess Herself. Even if it costs my life, my lips are sealed."
"Hey, if you're about to die, feel free to spill it... Anyway."
And so, haltingly, I laid bare everything concerning my identity. All of it—even the fact that I hailed from another world. Naturally, I left out the truth that this world had been a video game, but I had still ended up disclosing things I hadn't even shared with the three women beyond the gate.
I'd have to explain it to them separately later... What a hassle.
Regardless, I trusted that these two devout followers would guard the secret in the name of the Goddess, allowing me to speak without reservation. However, lacking Muriel's talent for concise summaries, I ended up rambling incoherently for quite a while.
"...To think such a thing..."
"It goes... far beyond anything I could have imagined."
Even so, having listened to the whole tale, they could only open and close their mouths like stunned mutes, completely lost in shock.