"Rather than die for me, I would be much happier if you lived for me though. I love my children I'd be sad to see you die."

This is nonsense. Rather than picking someone actually suited to fight... I was chosen.

"What made you choose me? If I am all of these things you say I am to be. Why me?"

Continuing to look at me like a doting mother she carries on.

"Oh, my sweet child if it was up to me I would never choose you. Someone with no faith won't be able to properly use my powers, let alone fight with them. I wasn't the one who chose you."

[What? Does that mean that there is someone with more authority than God?]

"Goddess, and technically, they don't. I give the right to choose."

This prompts me to my next question.

"Then who? There isn't anyone in my life... Well anyone anymore who would ever put such faith in me."

In fact, the idea that anyone would choose me to fight at all is just ridiculous.

Assuming the person that chose me is close to me. They would know even more so I am not cut out for anything confrontational.

So why was this mysterious person choosing me?

"I love seeing the cogs turn in your head, but how about just let me explain? It is what I am here for."

First off I seemed to be confused about a core concept from the start.

Being faithless has nothing to do about religion or Gods for that matter. Although apparently, it does help.

"Faith isn't restricted to just me. It is everything Humans stand for. Having faith in others, oneself. That is the way Humans not only connect with me but wield mana."

Humans are beings that naturally don't retain mana, unlike the other races of the continent. However, we can infuse ourselves with the mana of the world and wield it.

Compared to other forms of magic, it is naturally harder for humans to use magic that isn't directed towards their own body or another human.

Whereas Demons and Elves who naturally contain magic, have much stronger physiques than humans do because of this.

On top of that, each race has its own way of manipulating magic, allowing them to create spells of massive magnitude. Whereas Humans cannot manipulate mana.

"So compared to the other races how are we supposed to keep up? To me, it seems like Humans are inherently weaker compared to the others..."

"On the contrary, when we Gods first decided on our children. Many were opposed to the design I had settled on."

Although we couldn't directly manipulate mana. We could connect to each other. Accumulating power through faith. That alone wasn't the issue, however.

"Humans are the only race that can connect to their Goddess. And in turn, I am connected to you. Each and every human is a part of me, and those with enough faith can channel my power through them."

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[It sounds like we are just a battery pack...]

"Interesting viewpoint, but that should suffice. Because of this, humans have remained as one of the most powerful races in this world."

What a surprising change. Usually, in these scenarios, the humans are always assumed to be weaker than everyone else.

Then it hit me.

"That is precisely it, 'Why would I be summoned here if humans are so strong?' is the next problem to address.'

The destroyed church from what I am understanding is of human origin. I mean it doesn't get more faithful than that.

"What happened?"

Sadness can be felt from the world around me, reflecting the emotions of its owner.

"Due to the nature of our connection when needed, I can designate a child of faith to represent the human race, and me. A Hero would be the term many use. Although sometimes they are called Avatars or Apostles."

A feeling of dread begins to well up in me.

"They are the core of Humans' strength. Lending strength to the masses, acting as a medium for me to channel power that is typically too strong for the typical human. These heroes have the authority to designate someone close to them. Someone they have immense faith in.

Cold sweat begins to take hold of my body.

"Natsume... your dear friend who died that night was my designated Hero. He was the one who chose you to come here and fight by his side, as well as three others.

The vibrating beneath my skin has reached a point of uncontrollable growth. Leaving my body so numb, I can no longer hear.

And yet the world continues to speak. My soul continues to listen.

"When you made your promise to him, from that moment on your position has been sealed."

The white of the world begins to darken, even though I am no longer breathing my body doesn't beg for air.

"The night he died, the promise you made to him was broken. So although you were chosen to be a hero's companion. You were branded Oathbreaker."

Although she is still holding my head, softly running her fingers through my hair, I can no longer feel anything anymore.

The only thing keeping me here is this world, not allowing me to recede into my mind once again.

"I know you hurt, but just as faith implies, you can be redeemed."

Lies... This is a world of lies meant to torment me.

Knowing Natsume, he believed in me till the end, waiting for me to come. I betrayed that trust. His faith was wasted on me.

Knowing Natsume, he died thinking I was coming, that I just didn't make it on time...

"And knowing Natsume, Rei, He forgave you regardless. You've long been forgiven for your actions. The only one who hasn't given you forgiveness is yourself."

And I never will.

The Goddess Elene remains silent for the time being. Hours seemingly going by, laying in her embrace.

I speak into the soft folds of the dress.

"What of the others? There were three others who he chose."

"The night of the incident was when the summoning was supposed to take place. Although he didn't make it, the other three were still summoned to this world."

It was a massacre. The humans without their hero, missing companion or not, were the same as a sheath missing its sword.

Kingdoms fell, one after the other. Battling on with the hope for a hero to come that never would.

Unknowingly, even the original residents of this world lost their faith.

"And as the last bastion of humanity was destroyed. I lost connection with my remaining children of this world. Leaving only one person to carry my faith.

[Me, the Oathbreaker. The one with no faith.]

I raise myself from the Goddess and move away.

"If that is how it is... Then send me home. I have nothing to fight for here. You of all people know I don't have the faith needed to do anything.

Rising up while pointlessly straightening her dress, the Goddess holds out her hand and a small droplet appeared, floating above her palm.

A stark contrast compared to the world of white.

"This is currently the amount of power I hold in this world. It should be familiar to you."

Looking closer It is the same black droplet I saw in the church.

"Although you don't have a single bit of faith in you, this darkened bit still represents the faith those have placed into you."

[From the way she is speaking I know it is a pitiful amount. Couldn't be more than one person I would wager. He is already gone.]

"Two actually, although Natsume did place a good bit of faith in you, he is no longer with us. The two here are not him."

This bit of news shocked me, waking up my tired mind from the stress of the previous conversation.

Splitting the orb in half left two even smaller black droplets.

"One, is your caretaker and Uncle, Asayama. He truly does care for you... Even now he is still looking for you. Don't worry, I will make sure to take care of everything on that end for you."

The droplet turned white as if being freed from its current torment and returned to the center of her palm.

"The other is me."