Cary had requested that their talks about the villagers' circumstances should continue tomorrow instead and that he wanted to start resting. After the men who arrived with Cary explained to the villagers what Cary was capable of, they all started to profusely thank him. Perhaps their incessant attempts to offer him rewards and gratitude was the reason he retired early. Cary had walked a short distance away from the village's borders that was still covered by the radiant warmth of the Air-Con ball and erected the Camping Capsule again. He went inside and now the villagers were left to discuss among themselves. 

The villagers, numbering around three-hundred, with the exception of children and the old, were summoned to the center of the village where enough space could hold all of them. They all looked above them as a dome protected them from the snowstorm raging on outside the village's vicinity. A small podium was placed in front of the crowds of people. Torches were also placed everywhere to light the podium under the darkness of nighttime. A very old woman stood on the podium and the surrounding murmurs turned quiet. 

"My people of Wastefall," Vania, the village elder said. "Our men who traveled outside today had brought help, help in the form of a mysterious traveler capable of miracles." 

"Our village almost perished a short moment ago. This has been the worst winter in years and the gods have not been forgiving for us. That is, until now. I would like to welcome our guard chief Jorje to the podium to explain further." She continued.

Without much fanfare as people were exhausted from almost freezing to death, Jorje stepped on the podium. He coughed and started speaking. 

"My people of Wastefall, our savior Cary is now resting in the mysterious chamber he had created."

All the villagers collectively turned to the edge of their village's border where the camping capsule stood imposing, taller than all the buildings. 

"We have witnessed him perform miracles! From defeating ten knights, healing young Johnny whose wound would have surely killed him, flying, and now what we see protecting us right now." Jorje said as he gazed at the protective dome above them. 

"After a discussion with the men that went out there with me, we have concluded that our benefactor Cary must be a god hiding under the vessel of a mortal." Jorje already held up his hand as if expecting what was about to follow.

"What? How could that be?" A woman exclaimed.

"That's just preposterous!" An old man shouted.

"He could just be a powerful archmage from a foreign nation!" 

After waiting for a few seconds with his hand raised, Jorje finally got to speak again after things quietened down.

"I admit we do not have any confirmation yet, but there are several reasons why we think he's a god. Firstly, it seems he has a halo on top of his head that helps him fly as the legends say. He also just claims to be from a nation 'we could never reach', implying he's from the kingdom of the gods. And finally, you know my history as a former imperial knight, I know real archmages, I had never, ever seen magic like what I've seen today." Jorje explained. 

Murmurs and whispers rang out throughout the crowd of hundreds of people. Some were starting to be convinced, they were saved by the miracles of Cary after all. While some were still heavily doubting it. A minority even looked offended. 

"In any case!" Jorje bellowed to quietened down the crowd. "Even if he is not a god, it hasn't changed that he saved us repeatedly. And if he is a god, then we must do our best not to mention it to him because you know what the legends say, a god hiding in a mortal vessel will disappear if they are discovered to be a god. From here on, treat him as if he was a highborn noble. That man is our village's hope." 

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

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Cary woke up from a nightmare. Or rather, he wondered if it could even be called a nightmare. He dreamt that he woke up from his sleep back in his apartment on Earth, complete with his security guard uniform still on his body. He was utterly shocked to find that his transmigration to a fantasy world was only a dream considering how realistic it was. Cary then dredged through the day in his apartment doing absolutely nothing, he was already fired from his job after all. He felt his depression returned, his apartment was about to become an absolute mess due to the incoming lack of tidying up. As he scrolled through the internet on his computer, an overwhelming sense of existential dread overcame him. 'Is this it?" he thought. His life felt like it would not be able to pick up steam again. For a short moment, he considered ending it all there and then. 

Suddenly, he woke up again, sweating profusely. He looked around to find he was inside his camping capsule, lying in bed in the pajamas he created with the dress-up camera. He looked down at his stomach area to find the 4D pocket from his beloved childhood show Doraemon was there. 

Thank god. That thought suddenly flashed in his brain. 

Wait, why am I happy to be back here? He questioned in his mind. He thought that he would eventually find a way to go back to Earth. He was devastated when he found the Anywhere Door could not connect to his homeworld at all. He felt sad at the possibility of him not being able to meet his parents and family anymore. And the opposite applies, he wondered how they would react to his disappearance. 

Cary sighed. It's too early in the morning for this. 

He went to the bathroom, brushed his teeth, and started showering. After getting out, he created another outfit with the designing machine and dress-up camera; a simple medieval-inspired garb meant to emulate what he thought was typical of fantasy peasants. Although he ended up adding his own flourishes to the design so the peasant garb looked quite luxurious. The material felt like silk and it was black in colour. The reason he went for this outfit was because the Air-Con ball should still be working so the village was now warm.

He peeked outside the window of the camping capsule. It was odd, he could see the clear lines dividing the outside world and the force field created by the AIr-Con ball. The grounds outside the village were still filled with snow, while the brown soil replaced the melted snow inside the village.

Cary could see the villagers working hard to repair the houses. They were also out of their winter clothing like him and wore outfits more fitting for spring. 

I guess I'll finally hear out their circumstances now. He said in his mind.

As Cary descended down the elevator of the camping capsule, he was surprised to find a couple of people already waiting for him. They were Jorje, Johnny, and his father Garth. 

"Good morning, my lord," Jorje said while bowing respectfully.

"All of you...?" Cary answered confused. 

"I found myself waking up this morning to see all my wounds healed. I owe you my life, my lord," Johnny replied. It was true, there was not even any bandage on him anymore.

"What you have done for my son is something I can never repay. My son and I will serve you from now on," Garth, the old man also chimed. 

Cary waved his hand profusely, "It was nothing. Please, you don't have to be like that." He felt awkward people were looking at him so highly. He knew that indeed, what he did was saving another human's life, but he could not accept someone would just devote their lives to him just because they felt grateful. And most of all, it had not even been one day since they met!

"We insist, my lord. Please, we would be honored," Garth replied. Both he and his son Johnny kneeled down and bowed their heads.

Cary turned to Jorje with a flustered face, "Can you tell them to stop this?" 

Jorje smiled, "I'm afraid I feel just as grateful as they are, my lord." He pointed up towards the sky. 

Cary looked to where he was pointing and found the gigantic Air-Con ball acting as a shield enveloping the village. "Ah," 

"But I can see you are uncomfortable, my lord. That will simply not do. Garth, Johnny, stand up." Jorje ordered and they both stood up in unison. 

I'm alright with them thinking I'm a noble, I want to reap the benefits of that. However, actually being treated as one is just...out of my comfort zone. Cary said in his head.

Cary coughed to dissolve the situation, "As promised, I want to hear your village's circumstances now."

Jorje nodded. "The village elder will explain to you the situation. Please follow us, my lord."