Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Gob's Secret
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『Gob's Perspective』
"Sex, wanna do it?"
Back to the same question again.
Sure, Kasha was undeniably sexually appealing.
But I could say without a shred of doubt.
-Not horny for her.
[No sex.]
I wrote briefly and held it out to Kasha.
"What? Why?"
She looked utterly flustered. Probably never dreamed I'd turn her down.
[No particular reason.]
There were tons of reasons, but writing them all would cramp my hand.
Besides, even if there seemed to be many, the real one boiled down to just one.
I just don't like you.
Saying that one reason wouldn't make a difference.
She had no intention of understanding my side anyway—she'd just yell and make a racket.
"A goblin acting all high and mighty! I have plenty of other sex partners besides you!"
She scowled and pointed at me accusingly.
She seemed pretty pissed, but what were you gonna do about it?
"Do you even know what you look like?"
Kasha grumbled.
I knew I was ugly.
I also knew Kasha was the kind of pretty that had guys lining up.
"You think an opportunity like this is gonna come around again for you?"
Nope. And I hoped it never would.
Let's make this the last time I ever deal with a crazy bitch like you.
"If you come crawling back regretting it later, you're dead meat for real!"
Kasha huffed and puffed like steam might shoot out of her head, then turned on her heel.
"Kehu..."
I let out a deep sigh. She wouldn't come bothering me again now, right?
Chop chop chop chop...
I sliced the vegetables.
The rhythmic clack of knife on cutting board felt soothing.
That wrapped everything up. Our bad connection was finally over.
A few days had passed since I turned down Kasha's offer for sex.
She hadn't come looking for me once since then.
With the nuisance gone, my daily life had been peaceful lately.
Today, I was lounging in one corner of the lab, leisurely reading a book.
-Knock knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
"Lucy, it's me."
Sera's voice came from the other side.
I jumped up and opened the door.
Sera's face, familiar after just a few days apart, but still welcome.
It was nice to see her, though her eyes were shadowed with dark circles, half-lidded in exhaustion.
"Nice to see you."
Sera gave a faint smile and greeted me first.
I nodded in return.
Her smile carried a hint of weariness.
It felt forced, not natural.
She looked really tired. Was something wrong?
"What's up?"
Lucy asked Sera.
"Nightmares kept me from sleeping a wink."
So that's why she looked so beat.
Back at the cabin, she'd suffered from nightmares too. Even after regaining her memories, they persisted.
"Got any sleeping pills?"
"Yeah. But last time, they didn't help, right?"
"True. But it might be different this time, so I thought I'd try."
Just giving it a shot, then.
Makes sense—if there was a fix, she'd have solved it by now.
Sleeping with me would keep the nightmares away, though.
I pulled up my skill list to check.
Hug Pillow (F)
Holding the user while sleeping grants pleasant dreams. Also aids in correcting sleep posture and recovering fatigue.
Back then, I'd have suggested bunking together right away.
Now, I hesitated a bit. What to do?
Hmm... Asking couldn't hurt.
I scribbled on my notepad,
"Keruk."
making a noise to get Sera's attention.
Sera turned to me. I shoved the note at her.
[Wanna sleep together?]
Sera's eyes went wide.
She blinked repeatedly, then narrowed them.
"What kind of talk is that all of a sudden?"
Her vibe screamed offense.
Why? Did I say something wrong?
Thinking it over, I realized my words were wide open to misinterpretation.
I hurriedly wrote more.
[Not in a weird way. Just literally sleeping.]
"Even just sleeping is plenty weird."
Her glare softened a tad, but still stung.
[Sleeping with me will keep the nightmares away. That's why I suggested it.]
"...Oh, that's what you meant."
Finally, Sera's eyes warmed up.
Phew, that was close.
Writing forces me to be concise a lot.
I skipped the context this time and got misunderstood.
If it'd been Kasha, I'd have eaten a slap for sure.
Good thing Sera's an angel who listens calmly first.
"Come to think of it, I never had nightmares when sleeping with you. Why's that?"
How to answer this?
Explaining the quest window would be too complicated.
Not sure if she'd even get it—or how she'd treat me if she did.
Better to brush it off vaguely.
[I've got a few special abilities.]
"Special abilities? What're you talking about?"
Lucy cut in suddenly.
She'd been sitting moments ago, but now loomed right in my face.
"First time hearing this. Explain."
She peered down at me, interrogating.
Already tall, she looked gigantic up close.
The angle, her eyes, the vibe—all intimidating...
Huge pressure. Why the sudden intensity...?
[Nothing big, really minor stuff.]
"Specifically, what abilities?"
[I smell nice, or being around me helps you sleep—nothing major.]
I repeated "nothing major" for hypnotic effect.
But Lucy wasn't buying it—the air grew colder.
"How'd you know you have abilities? Someone tell you?"
[Just instinctively knew.]
"A transparent window popped up. Question."
Thud. My heart dropped.
Wait, how'd she know? Wasn't this my secret?
Caught off guard, my body froze stiff.
All I could do was stare blankly at Lucy's face.
"Your reaction confirms it."
Sera, who'd been watching silently, chimed in.
Sera's mood was ambiguous.
Was she wary? Or nonchalant?
Did everyone know about status windows?
I thought Status Window was a proper lady, but turns out she's a slut?
"Gob. You lied to me."
Lucy's usual tone carried a chill.
"Keruk..."
That's not it...
Well, it kinda is...
No bad intentions, really...
"Show me your status window."
Straight to demanding my status. But I didn't know how.
[Don't know how to show it.]
"Just think 'Open Status Window'."
Open Status Window?
Attempting connection with another user.
Channel mismatch.
Connection impossible.
"You see it?"
Sera asked.
"Says channel mismatch, can't connect."
"Then he's definitely tied to the Demon King."
"Yeah. Confirmed now."
The two exchanged words matter-of-factly.
I couldn't follow their conversation at all.
The changed Lucy scared me—my body trembled.
"No need to be that scared. We won't harm you."
Sera smiled faintly, trying to reassure me.
Given the situation, I doubted if it was genuine.
"Gob. You thought you were the only one with a status window."
-Nod...
I'd firmly believed I was the chosen hero—felt betrayed in my innocence.
"Anyone chosen by the Goddess gets a status window. Lucy and I too."
What? So I am a chosen hero after all?
"Select subordinates of the Demon King have similar ones. You're that case."
So not a hero, but a chosen monster...
Bummed not to be a hero, but hey, chosen is chosen, right?
"Goddess and Demon King channels differ, so they can't check each other."
That explained why the connection failed earlier.
Everything clicked now.
"What now?"
Sera asked Lucy.
"Just learned a new fact. Doesn't change much."
Lucy's reaction was surprisingly casual.
"We'll tell Kasha, tighten security. Still deeming you human holds."
Phew... Thought I might end up back in a cell. Dodged that.
"Gob. Your abilities originally belong to the Demon King. Be careful."
Lucy said seriously. Well, she always looked serious.
[I'll be careful.]
"The Demon King gave you power for a reason. Guessing simple experiment for now—no certainty."
What could the Demon King's goal be? Why give power to a goblin like me?
Was it even the real Demon King who gave it?
I had the cheat skill Death Regression.
Someone who could grant that wasn't a king—was a god.
"Isn't it a bit weird, though?"
Sera tilted her head.
"What's weird?"
"We sealed the Demon King, so how's he influencing Gob?"
"Body sealed, but mind still roams free. Divine nature allows world interference."
"Just via status window?"
"Yeah."
"Hmm... Then..."
Sera leaned close to Lucy.
She whispered in her ear.
Her eyes flicked to me—probably about me.
What were they saying? Bitching about how ugly I am?
Got PTSD from school days...
My cheek itched, so I scratched it.
"Kill Gob right now?"
Lucy blurted out.