Chapter -03
A Fateful Encounter
Meanwhile, behind a particular cradle, a little girl stands, her gaze fixed upon me with an air of familiarity.
"Looks like you're enjoying your new life, Saikō," she remarks, her voice carrying a hint of mischief.
I turn to face her, my expression one of confusion. "Who the heck are you, kid?" I question, my patience wearing thin.
"Kid? You already forgot about me, Saikō?" she responds, disappointment evident in her tone.
"To forget about you, I should know you first," I retort, my curiosity piqued.
"Should have expected this. Wait, I'll make sure you won't forget about me this time. Let's see... when I asked for one wish before you came to this world, you wasted your wish and asked me to be a guy," she sighs, shaking her head in exasperation.
"You? You were the voice who was talking to me," I realize, a sense of understanding dawning upon me.
"That's right," she confirms, her demeanor shifting to one of authority.
"But you're just a brat-" I begin, only to be swiftly silenced by her glare.
"Shut up! You say another word, and you're a dead child," she threatens, her eyes flashing with intensity.
"Wait, shouldn't you show me some respect since I'm older than you?" I argue, attempting to assert my seniority.
She stares at me, unimpressed. "No."
"Fine. Don't be mad. By the way, what is your name?" I inquire, eager to learn more about her.
"I don't have one yet. I haven't undergone the ceremony," she explains, her tone begrudging.
"Wait, is that bad?" I inquire, slightly taken aback.
"Come to think of it, umm, it's not. Maybe it'll work for now. Taso, huh?" she concedes, seemingly resigned to the idea.
"So, mind telling me why you're here?" I prompt, eager to uncover the purpose behind her visit.
"I, Taso, child of god, am here to guide you through the rough, rocky, difficult parts of your life," she reveals, her words laden with gravity.
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"You don't seem like one to do good deeds. Come on, tell me the real reason," I press, sensing there's more to her story.
"Fine. It's not just me. There are a lot of children of gods. It's a race to see whose chosen one will complete the task. Whoever manages to do it will get a name—an affinity like 'god of war,' 'god of love,' 'god of peace,' and all. You get it, right?" she explains, her gaze unwavering.
"Wait, you mean you're relying on me? This is my first... but-" I begin, grappling with the weight of her revelation.
"Don't get the wrong idea. I mistakenly chose you, or rather, my big sis did," she clarifies, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice.
"I see... so I'm the right-hand man of a god?" I deduce, the realization dawning upon me.
"Well, you could say that," she concedes, a wry smile playing at her lips.
"Ah, man. She's here. Go hide," she instructs suddenly, a sense of urgency coloring her tone.
"Who? Another candidate? Tell me, I'll make quick work of our competition," I offer, ready to defend my newfound position.
"No, just hide, Taso," she insists, her tone leaving no room for argument.
A little girl, resembling an angel with her blond hair, enters the room, her presence filling the space with an aura of innocence. "Lil' brother, I love you," she declares, her words pure and heartfelt.
I, acting like a child, reach out to grab her, our laughter filling the room as we play for hours on end.
---
As night falls and the world around us settles into a hushed stillness, Taso slips into my room, her expression grave.
"Saikō, I wanted to tell you that you're in big trouble," she begins, her voice tinged with urgency.
"What? Freya coming again?" I ask, my mind racing with possibilities.
"No, not her. Two burly men are approaching here for you," she reveals, her words sending a chill down my spine.
"Come on, Taso. You know I don't swing that way," I joke, attempting to lighten the mood.
"This is serious, Saikō," she insists, her tone leaving no room for doubt.
"Ah, okay. Tell me, why are they coming here?" I inquire, my heart pounding with apprehension.
"You see, this world is different from ours. Everyone here is born with something called a 'core,' and one can hold onto eight cores at any given time," she explains, her words laden with significance.
"Still haven't answered my question, Taso," I press, eager to uncover the truth.
"Saikō, you have black hair, which is really rare in this world, especially in
this part, and they think you've got an incredible core."
"So all I've got to do is give them my core, right?" I ask, hoping for a simple solution.
"That's not possible, you see. If you take a core, you lose nine years of life. And since you've only got one core, you'd lose your life," Taso explains, her words sinking in with dread.
"What? I'm not dying again. Wait, what am I thinking? If they're coming here, does that mean they're going to hurt Freya and my mom?" I seek clarification, a sense of panic rising within me.
"They could even kill them," Taso confirms, her tone grim.
"Ahhh, those son of bitches, fucking faggots—" I begin to curse, my anger bubbling to the surface.
"Cursing them wouldn't work, Saikō. Let's escape from here, fast," Taso suggests urgently, her concern evident.
"No... if they don't find me, they're definitely going to kill mom and big sis," I realize, a sense of dread settling over me.
"Wait, Saikō, what are you thinking?" Taso questions, her voice filled with apprehension.
"I'll go with them for now, that is, and when the time comes, I'll escape," I declare, my resolve firm despite the risks.
"But, Saikō—" Taso begins, her protests falling on deaf ears.
"I know, Taso. I know what I'm doing," I assure her, my mind made up as I prepare to face the impending danger head-on.