Once the formalities of exchanging names had concluded, Guild Master Soma took it upon himself to guide Mrit, under guise as Saur, through the intricacies of their world. They stood in a dimly lit chamber within the guild, surrounded by the murmur of adventurers preparing for their quests.

"As you hail from the forest, I assume your people had little to no contact with the bustling towns or cities," Soma began, his voice carrying a sense of inquiry.

Mrit nodded and replied, "Yes."

Mrit sensed the impending line of inquiry and was quick to respond, "We led a secluded life, relying on the bounties of nature. We never really ventured beyond the boundaries of our village."

Soma's gaze turned inquisitive, and he continued, "So, it's safe to assume you haven't received the Goddess's blessing?"

Mrit had expected this question. In a world where the Goddess's favour held immense importance, it was unusual for someone to have never experienced her blessing. However, Mrit had no intention of divulging into his true identity, and thus, he let fate guide his responses.

Mrit replied, "Yes."

Soma's demeanour shifted. He leaned in with a reassuring smile, "Fear not; it won't be an issue."

Mrit was taken aback by this unexpected response but managed to conceal his surprise in time. His mind had been racing, conjuring excuses, but it now found itself at an abrupt halt because of Soma’s response. Mrit looked at Soma with a mix of curiosity and skepticism.

"You think I will believe that you won't discriminate against me for lacking the Goddess's blessing?" Mrit inquired.

Soma's smile remained warm even though Mrit’s response had hidden sarcasm in them, and he laid a comforting hand on Mrit's shoulder. It was as if he intended to dispel Mrit's confusion.

"Indeed, we won't," Soma affirmed.

Mrit hesitated, but Soma's encouraging presence made him reconsider his initial apprehensions. To Mrit, this world was still an enigma. Having spent his life living like a dead person with immense power and have no one to turn to help at the same time made him caution beyond help.

Soma clarified, "The Goddess's blessing is a convenient method to uncover extraordinary talents across the world. Through the act of baptism, the Goddess awakens the dormant potential within an individual which can change the life of the said individual."

Mrit inquired further, "What do you mean by dormant potential?"

Soma, the master of guild, was Mrit's guide to the complexities of this world. Mrit was aware of the concept of blessings and baptism, yet he feigned ignorance to acquire more insights and so, he waited for Soma to vomit out more information for him that he couldn’t get from the priest and Naash, the silver hero.

Soma explained, "Magic is a fundamental force here. But this world isn't the only one that functions this way. In the legendary tales of the hero’s, in their world, magic was non-existent. Ah, but perhaps you aren't acquainted with the stories of these heroes and the dreaded Demon King?"

Mrit shook his head, feigning innocence, and Soma gladly shared the lore. He elucidated the historical account of heroes summoned from different realms to quell the Demon King, who then decided to establish their kingdoms in this world.

Mrit appeared attentive, as though absorbing every word of Soma's narration, though he was already well-versed in the narrative. This was Mrit's strategy: to feign ignorance, to adapt to this new reality, and to uncover hidden truths.

Mrit then went on to ponder, "So, Soma, why did the heroes decide to remain here? Why didn't they return to their own world?"

Mrit seized the opportunity to probe Soma's knowledge, echoing a similar question he had posed to Naash back in the castle. Mrit's curiosity was fueled by his inability to comprehend why these heroes would willingly forsake their native realm for the pleasures of this one.

Soma admitted, "The motivations of such extraordinary individuals are beyond our understanding. They defeated the Demon King, an awe-inspiring adversary. I can only speculate, but perhaps they found solace in this world. The tales speak of heroes facing peril and hardship in their own world."

Mrit listened with a contemplative expression. Internally, his fury was reignited, directed at those he considered traitors. Yet he restrained his emotions. He couldn’t also refute that the earth was in a very sorry state that even he would be joyous if he would have been summoned to this world before he died.

But then again, all the thing wouldn’t be going so bad if the goddess wouldn’t have summoned the awakened, leaving earth defenceless.

‘Even now, I'm hearing the same thing! Those turncoats!’ Mrit clenched his fists, his face a portrait of suppressed rage. For now, Mrit, even though deep within him, he understood the notion behind the awakened preferring this world, he still couldn’t come to forgive them.

Soma concluded his explanation, not privy to Mrit's inner turmoil. With a final assurance, he said, "It's a harsh reality. They sacrificed their world for ours and stand ready to make further sacrifices. That's why adventurers, and many others, receive the Goddess's blessing—to be of aid when the heroes need it. Who knows, among us, there may be a diamond in the rough who can stand alongside these heroes."

Stolen novel; please report.

Mrit took deep breaths to regain control over his emotions. He then met Soma's gaze, who, with unwavering dedication, had been his gateway to understanding this new world. His words seem logical and reassuring that it frightened Mrit a little.

"So, I must ask," Soma said with a serious tone. "Do you wish to accept the Goddess's blessing? If you decline, you'll be labelled a heretic by the church, but that's the extent of it. You may face discrimination in areas influenced by the church, but elsewhere, you can lead a pretty peaceful life."

Mrit, although aware of the consequences, pretended to weigh the decision carefully. In reality, he had no intention of ever accepting the blessing of the Goddess, his sworn enemy.

Mrit thought in mind, ‘Even if it means facing death once more, I shall never accept the Goddess's blessing.’

And so, he gave his reply to Soma, “I will not accept the blessing.”

***

Soma left the room, seemingly satisfied by Mrit's response. Mrit watched as the Guild Master exited and contemplated the events that had unfolded. His resolve remained unshaken.

As Soma departed, Mrit remained in the chamber, deep in contemplation. He knew that his decision to reject the Goddess's blessing had far-reaching consequences, and it marked him as an outsider, a heretic in this world. Yet, to Mrit, the thought of submitting to the same deity he held responsible for Earth's destruction was inconceivable.

He couldn't escape the anger that had welled up within him since the moment he had learned about the heroes who willingly left their own world behind for this unknown world. Mrit clenched his fists in frustration. ‘Those damn traitors!!’

Despite the burning fury within him, Mrit managed to regain his composure. He knew that there were matters far more complex at play in this unfamiliar world. While he might have retained his animosity towards the Goddess, he also understood that survival and adaptation were his immediate priorities.

Mrit stood in the dim chamber, determined to navigate the challenges of this world without bending to the will of the Goddess. It was a choice he had made with unwavering resolve, even if it meant facing discrimination and hostility from the church and its followers.

***

Soma, on the other hand, made his way to a secluded room within the guild. It was a small, quiet space away from the bustling activities of the adventurers. Closing the door behind him, he settled into a comfortable chair behind a wooden table.

The room's only source of illumination was a soft, flickering candle. Soma's eyes, however, held a glint of curiosity and intrigue as he recalled Mrit's bold decision.

"So, he rejected it," Soma mused to himself. His voice held a note of admiration and curiosity.

In the dim room, Soma reached for a bottle of fine liquor and a glass, both neatly tucked away in one of the table's drawers. With a deft hand, he poured a measure of the amber liquid, savoring its aroma and flavor. His cheeks flushed slightly, and his eyes took on an intoxicating gleam.

Soma turned his gaze to the window, revealing the moon's radiant presence. The night outside was cloaked in darkness, but the moon, a luminous beacon in the sky, held Soma's attention.

"Oh, how rare it is to encounter someone so audacious," Soma remarked, his voice carrying a sense of anticipation.

As he raised the glass to his lips and took a sip, the room seemed to fade away, leaving only Soma and the moon in a silent, contemplative dance. His thoughts swirled in the intoxicating embrace of the liquor as he considered the path ahead.

"The future promises to be quite amusing, now that you are here Sun," Soma whispered to himself, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he looked out of the window.

***

Meanwhile, back in a modest room within the guild, Mrit found himself in the company of two companions—Gan, who was perched on a table, and Rick, who occupied a chair by the bedside. The room was shabby, and Mrit lay on a simple bed, his gaze fixed on the ceiling.

Gan's voice was filled with curiosity as he spoke from his elevated position, "So, you rejected the blessing, huh?"

Mrit nodded, contemplating the weight of his decision. "Yes, I cannot bear the thought of being marked with the Goddess's blessings."

Rick, always eager for knowledge, added, "But, Sir, it might have offered you some advantages."

The room was thick with anticipation as the two companions awaited Mrit's response.

Mrit, understanding the implications of his decision, responded, "Accepting the Goddess's blessing would expose my true identity. She may be tracking every blessed individual, as well as the masses with that damn blessing of hers.”

“To track so many people simultaneously… it's a power I cannot fathom."

Rick's brows furrowed with curiosity and shock, and he pressed further, "Sir, pardon my impudence, but did you possess such power when you were a…um… a God?"

Mrit paused for a moment as he looked at the skeleton who questioned him and leaned back and considered the question. He remembers that he had the power to oversee every being on earth during his time as a deity, a reality that seemed to baffle him when he first received the power of death.

Mrit replied with casual humility, answering the skeleton, "Indeed, I did. It was a pretty handy skill which helped me to uncover hidden human activities and thwart their attempts to defy me. It was also essential for managing my forces of undead."

Rick and Gan exchanged glances, both astounded by the notion that such an incredible power could be so nonchalantly discussed.

Pat, who heard everything while standing by the door, ventured, "But Sir, wouldn't it be challenging for you now?"

Mrit nodded in acknowledgment. "It is, indeed. But that's where the intrigue lies. Even without such omnipotence, the future holds promise as now, I have the power of the sun with me.”

He said wo while showing the mark of the sun on his right hand. With that said so, he now shushed both of them, “Now, enough questions. I need rest before I embark on my exploration of the town."

Mrit's companions could only admire the enigmatic man who had become an unexpected part of their world, a man who had once been a deity. Pat, the guard stationed at the door, had managed to steer the conversation away from a potentially sensitive topic, though helping the two nerds know more about Mrit’s power, and so earning the silent appreciation of Rick and Gan.

Pat's intervention was a well-timed one, for it had offered them a glimpse into the complex world of gods and power that had once inhabited Mrit.

Mrit knew that his journey in this world was fraught with challenges, and he had made a choice that set him apart. Yet, he remained steadfast in his resolve, determined to face whatever lay ahead with unyielding determination.

***