Alternate Route 3

The guards didn't peculiarly offer me any chats upon my arrival. They just stood in place doing idle animations, as I walked past.

Compared to when I was with Fiona's group, it felt like I was talking to an actual people. I felt a tinge of loneliness creeping in, but soon, I shook that aside.

More importantly, beside my battle mode, I'm just some weakling from Earth. I might practice martial arts a bit, but only the bare basics--I wasn't confident in a straight up fight.

I came to this realization when I was walking along the way, I tried striking my palm against the tree. My strikes were just as strong as in my old life.

There was a strange thing about the tree. No matter how much I tried to break a weak-looking branch, it wouldn't budge.

Was it because trees were treated as an environment object, like in battle mode? If I remember correctly, in the games, environments were immortal. Even if the meteor storm hits the field, it would still be intact.

In any case, I couldn't test it with monsters, since they always popped up in battle mode—never on the field like this.

When I accomplished a certain amount of random encounters or initiated these on my own—the monsters won't appear again. To grind further, I need to initiate it myself.

Strolling inside the city; the townspeople ignored me like always. I saw no sign of Fiona's party anywhere.

It'd be awkward if I were to meet them, but if by a slim chance we met each other, I'd like to apologize.

Now that my muddled mind was cleared up--I was really reckless during last night.

If they really want to kill me, they should've done so when I was dead tired, right after I finished my first fight. Even if my [Godslayer] activated again, my mind would be all drowsy to strategize.

...but then, I wasn't sure about the full extent of its abilities, for example...

"Ugh!"

I felt a heavy impact on me. My body seems to be hitting a metal surface and I nearly fell over.

That hurts...huh?

"Watch the hell you are going, retard!"

It was one of the rowdy adventurers with flimsy gear. Their gruff appearance and pungent smell made me frown...

"This weak chump---what are we gonna do 'bout him, boss?"

They were three in total, one boss and two minions—looking more like bandits than actual adventurers.

Looking at the other people around, there was no commotion to be had. People simply act as if they didn't exist.

"Shut the fuck up, you damn thugs." the boss' words spat saliva all over his minions, "Hey, kid. I'm in bad mood here and you're damn lucky the Holy Order were busy patrolin'. Next time I meet you, I will—guuh!"

Concentrating the weight on my left foot and using my hips as a pivot, I struck out with my palm.

It didn't feel like striking barehanded. My palm was like a war hammer, creating a loud crashing noise upon impact, shattering the thug's armor, followed by him getting thrown over many steps, coughing many mouthfuls of blood.

Nothing personal. I just felt like testing my theories.

"Boss!"

It made my lips curl up and I pushed up my glasses by reflex. I might look like a villain right now, but it's kinda uncharacteristic for a glasses-wearing character to overwhelm someone via physical strength.

...should I learn magic?

Nah, I hate studying.

Now that I think about it, why didn't I just strike the training dummy with my own fist, during the weapon exploit test?

Sometimes I thought, I'm quite an idiot; I was lazy as well. No wonder why I sucked at my job and I was relegated to do the easiest, repetitive tasks.

...and even I complained about it.

Maybe because the trees were treated as an environment object, there was no correction value?

...but since the thug earlier was hostile, the value was adjusted as if I was in battle mode?

Why didn't the battle mode trigger? Because I'm inside the city? Or was it...

Huh...

I felt uncomfortable glares from the minions. Before they struck me by surprise, I muttered:

"[Battle]."

As I thought, it didn't make sense if I could trigger the battle with a training dummy, but not with an actual enemy.

...

I end up fighting the three bandits again. Their stats seem to be even lower than me? Even in terms of AGI...I end up going first.

Via the item menu, I equipped the toy gun. It's marked as a [Key Item], but strangely enough, I could still take it out in battle. Due to it not being recognized as a weapon, my current equipped armament was still the War Hammer.

It made me wonder, why I didn't get the [Hammer] skill despite 'supposedly' hitting the training dummy 500 times? No shooting skill acquired either.

The skills I got so far outside my own class—it's from a major event that alter the story. Such as: getting the blessing from gods and rejecting the offer from the [Main Party]. I guess, since they're a part of the 'supposed' storyline woven to me, they felt more alive than the other NPCs.

The other thing was an achievement of dealing damage. The skill acquisition was based on factual observations, on things, I actually did and mastered in real life.

In my past life, I felt I was human trash—that doesn't explain why do I get so many privileges.

...but well, everything may be clear, once I learned more and more things about this world and about myself. Why was I sent here and what was my mission.

Just defeating the Evil God and living my life of peace and quiet doesn't feel right somehow.

...

Due to my actions being a part of [Item Usage] my turn was done.

I didn't let them a moment as I sprayed the bullets at their own turn.

...it took only one shot each for them to turn all blurry and disappear.

[Gained 0 EXP and Gold!]

When it finally showed up like this, my expectations soared.

[Godslayer is now Lv. 2!]

Now that's interesting.

What's more of an eye-catcher was their last words of defeat.

"Goddess...we failed you...this man is too strong..."

Goddess?

If I remember correctly—the God of Heroes didn't specify what gender that so-called Evil God is.

...ah goddamn it.

I was so drunk in my own power trip, I forgot to charge the [Death Eater Corpse] during the battle.

Ugh...guess it couldn't be helped. Maybe it wasn't actually that important.

I hurried towards the church to question him. Considering I could be attacked any time, this matter was of utmost importance.

I need to regain my peace and quiet before I could finally enjoy my life in another world. The rest could wait later.

...and that god's the most reliable person, seeing this loli System hadn't answered my queries at all; I felt completely betrayed.

...

Luckily, the church was open. Come to think of it, only an hour and a half passed since I left the Monkey Island Cymbals for the Quest.

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Sitting down at that same long-row seat; my knees rested on the cushion beneath. Putting my hands together, I tried restraining my eagerness.

No matter what, he's a god—even if I'm not religious, I have to rely on him to an extent.

[O, Godslayer—tell me, what is it, that you seek?]

"The forces made a move on me again. As of this extent, I'm scared. I don't know what would happen when I let my guard down." I spoke in my mind.

First of all, the nature of his blessing was meant to protect myself using my own strength. It was apparent in his philosophy.

'A Hero isn't born, but made.'

'It is not given, but earned.'

'Not a Chosen One, but the one who made his own choice.'

In the end, I was unable to conceal my eagerness with my earlier words. God of Heroes chuckled majestically.

[Calmness is a virtue, Young One. Your worries are unfounded—at both occurrences, didn't you won by overwhelming advantage?]

"While that's true, they're the one who started it. No matter what, I can't just underestimate them..."

[You have a valid point. The discord between me and the Evil God started as such. Everything was peaceful and I was enjoying my rule. Out of blue, he attacked the nation I built and nourished with love...the rest, it's not hard to figure out. I don't know what bone he had against me.]

"He? I thought the Evil God was a woman? It was said twice, the moment they died—they refer to 'him' as the Goddess."

[Does the gender matter at all? To us gods, we can appear in any gender we wish, depending on the beholder.]

Ugh...this god...

I felt I was forgetting a crucial matter.

"More importantly, how do I know if I can trust you?"

[Before you make baseless assumptions, do you think I have any motive for doing so?]

"Huh?"

Come to think of it, my paranoia made me act insolently to the one who's supposedly my benefactor.

Thankfully, he didn't pay any mind to my transgressions; I breathe a sigh of relief.

[I am on the side of good. I live for the happiness of my own nation. Even if you become strong enough to kill me for what reason it be, I don't care. Everything has its own end and I'm not afraid of what's going to come.

As for the Evil God, he had all the reason to fear you, for he clung to life so much and so afraid having his power wrestled apart. He lived selfishly, committing countless villainy which persists until the present. Who would you think is afraid of impending doom?]

It makes a lot of sense. I guess even gods were afraid of Karma.

"Nonetheless, isn't it strange you did not mention any Heroes? Do you expect me to accomplish it all alone?"

[Young One, to think, you have taken this call without knowing anything.]

"You're just going to leave me in the dark?"

[Cough! It will take a long time to explain. I am afraid I don't have all the luxury to do so. Hitting the library in this city would give you everything you need to know.

Even as gods, we have a lot of limitations. That's why we have to rely on Heroes to defeat the Evil God minions—the Demon King. They were busy fighting the Demon Kings as we speak.

The side who defeat the other will gain power—alas, we seem to always be equally matched—we

were currently stuck in a deadlock where neither side could prevail.

A Godslayer is the one with the ability to kill us directly. Their appearance is like a curtain's call to our world...you're the one who would end this pitifully long torment...that's all I can tell...]

The world ending? I don't want that! I don't want to go back to my shitty old life!

Before God of Heroes' voice faded away, I almost cried my voice out.

"Wait! I can't defend myself from the Evil God at all times!"

In desperation, it's the most important thing that popped into my mind. Later on, I felt, how blessed I was.

[No need to worry, Young One. Do you know the reason why the Evil God attacked you sparingly, and it's relatively easy to defeat?]

"I don't know...I'm unable to make sense of it."

[To tell you the truth. I'm not sure about the Evil God's intentions all this time. For now, rest easy—I will grant you protection. As long you're within the city, you can be sure that the incident will never happen again.

Feel free to take your time and learn more about this world. We gods perceive time differently than humans.

Just don't die, before you achieved your goal.

For my condition, may I ask for one last favor?]

It's a great offer. Even if it may not be one hundred percent a guarantee, since I didn't fully trust him—it's still better than nothing. Even if I abide by self-reliance, I couldn't do everything by myself.

"I'd be glad to comply if it's within my abilities."

[Good. For the longest time, I never actually able to communicate with Evil God directly. Even his actions to bring destruction and the motives of his Demon Kings weren't making sense in the slightest.

When you're finally ready to confront him, please, hear his side of the story. I want to know the truth...before it all ended...]

"No, wait! I don't want this world to end! I..."

His voice finally trailed away without even responding to my words.

"Ugh..."

My legs were all numb and my forehead's all sweaty.

How long had I been kneeling down? Just how much of a trance had I been earlier?

If his words rang true, then the city had become my Sanctuary. It's kinda ironic I was attacked here twice though.

Still, why did I automatically assume, when this world ended, I'd be back to my old life?

Does it have anything to do with my old memories?

The moment I thought about that, a figment of my past unraveled itself.

'Why are games so fun? Why are stories hard to get in comparison?'

'I just want the main character I can root on.'

'I like the games that let me play at my own pace...'

...it's like, I was experiencing all those moments in the past, like a dream going on fast-forward.

"Sir? You have been praying for quite a long time...is something the matter?"

The same nun from before, who held a donation bag, roused me from all the happy memories...

It's...so painful.

I'm not sure if, in this world, I could play such games and enjoy such stories again.

Do I really want to be in this world forever?

"The confession's room right there, sir. We're about to close since it's already evening, but due to your generous charity...we'll do our best to ease your worries."

Ah...

Another memory sprang in my mind, about how much of ungrateful, selfish bastard I had been.

...it riddled me with so much guilt.

"Very well."

Maybe knowing this world and what happened to it was important.

...but I felt, knowing myself took priority. To finally forgive my past mistakes, make amends and strive to become a better person, for my own sake.