Pioneering the Apocalyptic World - Chapter 128
If you want to read 20 chapters ahead you can check my patreon.
If you want to read the complete “Volume” resting you can check my patreon ToC.
Chapter 58: Making up my mind
“I’m sorry about the other day. Are you okay now?”
“It’s not Earth God’s fault… Well, I’d say I’m so-so.”
As soon as we met near the altar, the earth god apologized to me. In fact, I can’t go so far as to say that I have completely got over it, but the fact that I can stand again so fast means that I am a bit tough, I guess.
… Well, yeah, maybe it’s thanks to Uru and Fricka aftercare. After hearing that, I can’t just be down… Wrong, that was them asking me to ‘Please don’t keep it to yourself.’, I feel grateful, but also embarrassed.
Also… I have finally ‘resolved myself’.
It’s a pathetic story, but now that I can’t go home, I have become very mentally unstable.
That’s why, in order to stand properly… I wanted a something to depend on, someone who needed me, maybe…
I can’t help but think that it’s dishonest to do it as soon as I realized that I can’t return to my original world.
… However, it’s easy to predict that she’ll approve no matter what the trigger was… I have to be careful not to spoil myself and become corrupted.
“As expected, Promethea’s actions this time were too sloppy, so I lectured her… But… Well… Do you hold a grudge?”
Unusually for the earth god who usually speaks openly, she asked me while looking at my reaction, seeming reluctant to say anything.
Do I hold a grudge, huh…?
“… I’d be lying if I said I don’t hold any grudges at all. However, it was also my fault because I ran ahead like a horse with a carrot dangled in front of me without examining the contents of the message (oracle).”
At that time, if I had logged out at least once and gathered information on the internet, I would have realized that I had not been invited to a new game. If it was a phishing scam pretending to be a game message, I could appeal saying `It’s a scam!’, but it is true that I was transferred to another world…
And even if I appealed, It’s impossible for the Creator God return me. And I can’t even hate the Creator God, so it’s not my intention to do something like that and bring down the Creator God.
I hope she reflects on the lack of explanation…! But it seems like she was desperate at the time. Unuuu.
“Well, worrying about it won’t overturn the truth, so I think I’ll try to think as positively as possible…”
Even if it was inadvertently, my coming to Asteria actually turned out to be a positive thing.
As a familiar example, Uru, Fricka, Regulus and Liese were all saved because I was there.
I think it’s okay to be proud of that…
“… Ah, I’m one of them too. Of course, Promethea is also being helped out by you…. I’m grateful for this as well.”
While saying that, the earth god patted my head with a gentle smile on her face. This god also likes to pat people…
I’m starting to feel a bit embarrassed, so to break the quiet atmosphere… Well, in a way, It’s even more embarrassing, but since asking this question was part of my purpose today, I took a deep breath and mustered up the courage to ask the Earth God.
“Huh… Well… In Asteria how… M-marriage is like?”
“…… Hmm?”
Was it a question she never imagined being asked? The earth god’s eyes widened as if she was a pigeon shot with a pea-shooter
But just when I thought that… She started to grinning. Damn, this god is really like…!
“Oh, have you finally come to terms with it? Hmm~?”
“I see, so you don’t need alcohol for dinner tonight…”
“Sorry, my bad.”
I got a little irritated by her joke, so when I tried to retaliate, she threw up her hands and apologized in a vague way. Too fast. Do you like alcohol that much?
After clearing her throat as if to pretend it never happened, the Earth God answered.
“Actually, all I can say is that it depends on the region.”
“… For example, what kind?”
“In some places you just need the consent of the people in question and there’s no more to it, while others places make an oath in front of a statue of a god. Other places celebrate with a grand feast.”
Hmmm.
As expected, it seems that there is no such thing as signing the papers like in modern Japan… Well there’s no family register to begin with.
“From there, it’s basically the same thing, living together, raising children, and living life… Well, there are exceptions.”
I quietly looked away. That’s because there are some things that I can’t really do anything about.
The other day, the ‘part’ where the Earth God herself was teasing me about, but she doesn’t seem to be particular about that or the number.
“There are no rules made by us (Gods), so you can do whatever you like.”
As you like, huh?
Even if I want to match it to the other person, the lizard style, putting aside if she can answer that, It’s not like she wants to do it, and the elf style is… I’m sure it’s a contract? An oath?
Hmm… Well, I guess I’ll go my own style here…
“Ah, if you have some leeway, could you give me the blessing of mineral knowledge?”
“You’re asking for it so easy again… I was planning on giving it to you, so it’s fine.”
“That being said, I would like your cooperation in gathering materials.”
I went outside with Regulus and Liese.
… Actually, I was planning to collect them secretly by myself, but Uru got mad at me and said, ‘I can’t let you go alone.’… This time, I’d troubled if she followed me, so I asked Regulus and Liese to come along. She looked at me suspiciously, but I calmed her down by saying, ‘You’ll know the reason soon.’ and she reluctantly let me go.
“Rion, you’re finally accepted it.”
“Yeah.”
“Hey…!?”
Having Regulus say the same words as the Earth God is very damaging…! ?
I don’t know if Regulus notices my surprise or not, but he says this while laughing.
“Because Fricka has only seen Rion from the beginning. Even I can understand that, right?”
“… That’s right…”
Liese agreed with a somewhat empty look in her eyes, and I almost screamed `Regulus, now look next to you right now!’, but I stopped.
Since I am not being asked to cooperate, I have decided not to provide any cover fire… As expected, I’m starting to feel like it would be better to offer some support, but I’ll leave it at that for now.
“Ah, well, yeah. As a thank you for your cooperation, how about I make something for you guys too?”
I tried making such a suggestion in an attempt to change the topic, but both of them tilted their heads.
“Hmm, I’ve already had food and weapons and armor made for me.”
“We’ve received too much, haven’t we? So this is our way of repaying you for what we’ve been doing. Right?”
Cooking food is both a hobby and a way to raise my skill level, and I was also making weapons and armor because I thought they were needed.
… No, I guess this is a blessing.
They are helping me out of kindness, not for profit or loss. They even accompanied me on a dangerous journey. I think I’ve made two hard-to-find friends.
Now that I couldn’t go home, I started thinking more seriously about my relationships with people.
At least the people around me may have started by seeing me as a miko, but now they see me not just for the fact that I’m a miko, but for who I am.
I might have saved them. However, even I am also being saved.
Yeah, at least as a thank you, I’ll make their favorite food for dinner tonight.
With this in mind, I proceeded to collect materials.