A.N: Hi! Hope you're doing well. So here is the 1st chapter of the day. I took into accound the criticism of last week and  tried to explain the MC's mindset. I don't think I did a good job but it's the best I can do for now. Also, the other 2 chapters will come late. I've finished writing half of the 3rd chapter so I need to finish it.  Thx for reading.

I logged in Althasia. I hoped Sevarin and his group would take me up on my offer to change world. As a newbie god, I wasn't confident that I could protect them. I had more advantages than most people but in front of the other gods I would  just be an infant baring his baby teeth. 

The atmosphere in the camp was exuberant. Everyone had a smile on their face. When people saw me, they bowed, knelt and expressed their happiness. They handed food and drinks like it was water. It was like a party was taking place. However, when I looked closely I could see that they were packing. 

I pasted a smile on my face and didn't talk to anyone. I didn't want to hinder what they were doing. If I was truthful, I should say that it was not that I didn't want to talk to them but more that I didn't know how to deal with them. Their behavior toward me was exceptionally good. Due to their expressions, I knew that they loved me. And that was where I found myself lost.

They didn't know me. I was a total stranger to them. I wasn't from their world, I wasn't from their species, I wasn't strong nor was I beautiful. I didn't have the best personality around. Why did they love me? Why did they want a god like me? I didn't understand. 

However, this wasn't what puzzled me the most. Everything that happened wasn't real. It was a game. They were just programs. Their love for me was just the way there were made. I shouldn't feel bad that they were getting killed. I should just care about the powers I would lose if they disappeared. But I caught myself developing feelings for them.

Back in Tion town, when I became a god, I didn't care about my followers. They were just a bunch of strangers that I would never met. In my mind, they didn't really exist. Then, when the notification came about the decrease in their numbers, I felt annoyed that a bunch of people I didn't know could influence me so much. Finally, when I came to this camp, I truly felt their existence for the first time. The looks they gave me when I called them made me realize that to them, it wasn't a game. It was reality. 

Even now, walking among them. I feel their existence like a tangible wave that enveloped my heart. Gentleness, joy, warmth, I hadn't felt them in a long while. I soaked up these feelings  and I found myself thinking of ways to help them get a better life.

The two hours were coming up. Everyone assembled at the center of the camp. I made my way in front of them. I stayed silent as I observe their expressions. There was excitement, hope and expectations written all over their face. I switched to my true form. 

Their eyes sparkled at my Mara appearance. I knew that I was more handsome in this form thanks to my charm stat but the sighs of appreciation were not needed.  

“Have you taken your decision?” I asked after a long while.

“Yes, my lord.” I was happy that Sevarin ditched the  'my god' at the end of every sentences he said to me. “All of us will follow you.”

I smiled in relief. If they had refused, I would have stayed and helped even though it wouldn't change the situation much. 

“From today onward, you all will be known as Unas. It means the first ones. You will be the first settlers who aren't travelers to go between worlds.” I wracked my mind for a name and it was the best I came up with. I hoped that my explanation convinced them. I couldn't actually say that it was too bothersome to remember more than 1400  names for the pet ceremony.  

“Unas. We are the Unas.” They repeated over and over. Happiness radiated from them. They were sick and tired of being called demons. Having a name that they could call themselves brought them a sense a unity and happiness. They could take proud in this name. 

I listened to what they said in silence. I cleared my throat loudly to regain their attention. 

“To move between worlds, there is a special condition that you must agree to. I won't use a long explanation. If you want to move, you have to agree. Unas, do you want to become my pets?”

They were shocked at my words. I tried to reassure them with a smile. It was obvious that it was forced but no one called me out on it. 

Sevarin was the first to accept. “Yes, my lord.” His voice reverberated through the camp. He had shouted his answer bringing everyone out of their stupor. 

The Unas have been registered as your pets.  

Numbers of Unas: 1455

Sevarin Faris has become your pet.

Pollex Skrillex has become your pet.

Dominin Faris has become your pet.

Holiatis Garbo has become your pet.

Carlisia James has become your pet.

James Sanford has become your pet.

…

A huge list of name appeared in front of me. I dismissed it without looking. 

“Okay, I will tell you a little about the world we will be going to.” None of them uttered a word as they waited for me to continue. “The place we're going to is called Forgotten Soul. It's the first world where travelers could transfer to. For years, it had been wrecked by numerous wars. Most of them had stopped now. There are Five continents. We will be on the Heimrich continent. It's a gigantic island composed of four countries. One of them is overridden with beasts. As soon as we moved, we will be near the border with that country. At that time, I will let you decide on where you want to go.”

I clapped my hands.  “Okay, if I say more, it will take too much time. I have to talk to someone and then we will start the transfer. Please gather anything you might need.”

“My Lord, what exactly can we bring with us?” Sevarin asked me. 

“Anything you can hold. As long as it's on you or in your hands, you can transport it. It would be good if you have weapons, jewelry, precious stones. It will ease your first days there.”

They nodded at what I said. I left them to their thoughts and went to see Saffron. She was tied to a tree. Her mouth was gagged. As I advanced toward her, her gaze was filled with hate for me.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

“Hey, you okay?” I was genuinely worried about her. Her face was red. Veins popped out of her forehead. I removed the gag from her mouth. 

“Saffron-”

“Don't talk to me. You despicable devil.” I sighed at her behavior. I knew that she was crazy about that Goddess Althasia of hers but to me she never seemed like an obsessed fool who would turn her back on people. I didn't knew her long but despite that, I wasn't dense enough not to notice that her aura was different from before. 

When I first met her, she had an air of hardworking clumsiness. She  was warm and steadfast in her belief.  Now, however, she felt cold, like apart from her love of Althasia there was nothing to her. The Saffron I knew wouldn't abandon people to die. For god's sake, it was the girl who wanted to heal my pets even though she considered them as demons. 

Right then and there, I decided that staying here would be detrimental to her.

“Saffron, do you want to be my pet.”

“Never.”

I made a ball fire in my hand. I approached it from her face.

“Saffron, do you want to be my pet?” I wouldn't harm her. I just approached the ball close enough to let her feel the heat. 

“Do you think Althasia would want you to die?”

“To be in the embrace of my goddess would be my pleasure.”

“So why don't you kill yourself? You can bite your tongue and die. Do it, I won't heal you.” It was a gamble. That last line she said pissed me off so I called her out on it. An indescribable emotion flickered in her eyes. I extinguished the fireball. It wasn't needed anymore. 

“Kill me. Kill me. Kill me.” Her voice rose with each word she said. She struggled violently to free herself.

“Stop, you're hurting yourself.” I was panicking. That was too far from the reaction I expected.

“Kill me. Kill me. Kill me.” Blood dribbled down her hands. The ropes that tied them borrowed in the skin. I could his a sickening wet sound as she continued to struggle. 

“Supreme healing.” It was the only healing skill I had left after my meeting with Goddess Althasia. When I refused to teamed up with her, she removed my acolyte title. That was the reason why the acolyte back in Tion Town didn't believe me when I said who I was. Because I lost the title, I also lost the skill that went with it. Healing chant was lost but thankfully she couldn't remove the one I obtain when I first logged in. 

A golden light enveloped Saffron. The wounds on her hands closed. I was already used to that sight. However, right now, something unexpected happened. The light that was on her body migrated to her head. It concentrated in that area and glowed for a few seconds longer than usual. 

“Saffron.” I called her name, worried about her. 

“Ev...Everheart.” She looked confused. “What happened? Why am I tied?”

“Do you remember what happened after the demons' attack?”

She shook her head in the negative. She might be playing me but her confused expression looked too truthful. I untied her. She looked around curious about where she was.

“After the attack, the town was bombed by the Church of Althasia. The demons were already gone. Most of the townspeople died. Those who survived are here with their saviors. Come with me.”

She didn't believe me. She reluctantly followed me as I led her to the others. Her face registered shock as she saw the Elves, Dwarves and Beastmen.  

A kid rushed to her. They hugged each other. It  looked like they were acquainted. I stayed in the background. They talked for long agonizing minutes. I waited. Someone called the kid. He bid goodbye to Saffron and ran the woman who called him.

Saffron was in a daze.   

“Those people were the saviors of the town?” She asked after a while. 

“Yes. All the members of the Church of Althasia left long before the red horned demons approached the Cathedral. They left behind all the survivors. You also disappeared with them.” I explained how Sevarin and the others came and fought. She listened to what I said. I also told her what we planned for the future. 

She was astounded. Even though everything I told her was hard to believe, she was forced to see the truth for what it was. 

“Do you want to come with us?” I asked hoping she would come with us. The situation here was too dangerous. 

“I can't. I have to go back and discover what happened.” Her determination was firm. She had convinced herself that what happened in Tion Town was the action of corrupted members of the Church, that the whole Church wasn't bad. She was sure that she was the one who had to report all their bad actions to the Pope. I tried to get her to see the truth but she was adamant. 

“Okay. To be on the safe side. Be my pet. That way I can know if you have trouble.”

“Pet?” Her reluctance was obvious. For anyone, the word was demeaning. I still couldn't believe none of the Unas said anything about it. 

“I don't see you that way but if you become my pet I will know if you need help. I know that we don't know much about each other but I like you, I don't want you to be hurt.” My words came out with difficulty. Putting what I felt in words wasn't my forte. 

She blushed and refused to meet my eyes. 

“Yes.” She said in a small voice. “I'll be your pet.”

I was happy even though I didn't understand why she looked so bashful.  

Saffron Kassio has become your pet.

“Do you need help going back?”

“No, I can do it myself. As long as I find a town I can use their cross to go anywhere I want.”

“See that man there. His name is Sevarin. You can ask him where the closest town is.”

I bid her goodbye. She went to Sevarin they talked for a little while, then she left. Sevarin came to me.

“Is it really okay to let her go? She might give out our location.”

“Even if she did, we won't be here for long. Tell everyone that the transfer will begin in the next hour or so.”

I logged out of Althasia and connected to Forgotten Soul even though I had the nagging feeling that I forgot something important. 

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