To say Alpheus became competitive was a gross understatement. He seemed determined to beat Marianne at her own game to the point of completely forgetting the entire point of the game. He became increasingly tense with each question, and his brain seemed to work overtime. Marianne could tell that much from his facial expressions that shifted with each passing millisecond. She decided to indulge him for a while as he enjoyed himself.

She spent God knows how long countering every question he threw at her with infuriating serenity.

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He tried probing her with extremely specific questions.

“How long did you sleep?” Alpheus asked.

“Enough,” Marianne responded.

“What is your name?” Marianne asked.

“...Alpheus...” Alpheus responded

“How far did we travel?” Alpheus asked.

“Not enough,” Marianne responded.

“What are you?” Marianne asked.

“A goblin,” Alpheus responded.

He was losing his patience.

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He tried to sneak in the same questions she already answered, hoping she would slip up, but received the same question each time.

After the sixth time of confirming that her name is Marianne, she decided to save his dignity.

“Alpheus, my dear, could it be that you have the memory of a goldfish?”

He stared at her blankly to process her question. Once again, he almost forgot about the time limit.

“No, I’m not! What does that mean?”

“It means you’re forgetful.”

“N-No, I’m not! This is a strategy!”

“I fear revealing your strategy to your opponent might be a bit... counterproductive.”

She continued.

“But I’m glad that your memory is fine. Could you assume it would be another case for an old bat like me?”

“Why would I think that?”

“Aaaaaaaaand another point for me.”

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Searching for viable strategies in his brain, Alpheus took an advanced approach, asking her about something he had read in some of the stories he had read.

A paradox

“What came first, the chicken or the egg?” He asked this with such a severe tone dripping with smugness.

“Who cares? They’re both here now.” Seeing his triumphant demeanor shrivel up made her chuckle, which made her ponder.

“To think he would ask me that dumb question.”

That thought was followed by another one.

“Hmmm, so this concept also exists in this world. Interesting.”

She decided to keep that thought to herself.

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He took the most drastic approach he could imagine. He hesitated even to consider it. He didn’t think he could ever successfully pull it off, which might take some years of his life. He might be unable to handle it, but he had no choice if he wanted to beat Marianne.

He talked.

A lot.

The following words spewed out by this boy don’t need to be read. There is no need to subject oneself to that, as it doesn’t add anything to one's experience and is, quite frankly, a waste of time.

“What do you think of that?”

“I agree!”

She didn’t even bother paying attention.

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Alpheus looked defeated, and his shoulders slumped. He took this harder than expected, so she decided to have fun. She forgot that she continued indulging him but dragged it out for her entertainment.

And so, she began asking actual questions.

“Who is this goddess you talked about?”

“Huh?” This question caught him off guard.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Uhm, well, she’s the goddess of mankind, Elias! We all worship her!”

“Hmmm, I see.”

“Well, that’s why I’m confused. How do you not know about her?”

“Because I’m not from here.”

He stared at her cluelessly, so she decided to elaborate and save them the pointless back and forth.

“I’m from another world. A world where this goddess of yours doesn’t exist.”

She didn’t know how he would respond to that. He might not even believe her or that she was kidding around. And yet his eyes sparkled with deep fascination.

She forgot about how innocent he was. He probably doesn’t even consider lying to be possible.

“What is this world of yours like?” He asks enthusiastically, the sparkles in his eyes only growing more intense.

“Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm”

It seems like Alpheus forgot about the time limit rule because he waited patiently for her to stop pondering. It looks like he forgot about the rules entirely.

“Well, it was more boring than this world.”

That wasn’t the response he expected. He looked a bit disappointed, eliciting a smirk from her. And so, she continued.

“Which is what someone would say if they didn’t even bother to explore or interact with it.”

He paused for her to continue.

“My world was a treasure trove of fun stuff. So many places in nature would make you sit in awe with your mouth agape and many different types of people wherever you went. There were places where the sky would sometimes be covered by colorful light that made you feel like floating in the sky or mountains that made you feel like an ant. So many people lived in such places and had their history and traditions. Traveling there would make you feel like you jumped across entirely new worlds.”

The sparkle in his eyes returned tenfold.

“Did you... see them all?”

“More than most. But even I didn’t see everything. No human ever saw everything, and we never will. That’s how big my world is.”

At this point, Marianne had to avert her eyes from the brightness before her.

“Can you tell me about them???”

“Sure! But could you tell me a bit about yours?”

Alpheus looked to the side. It seemed to be his trademark response when he struggled with his words. He seemed hesitant to answer, but unlike the last times, it wasn’t due to some deep aversion. The blush on his face suggested embarrassment.

“I... don’t have anything to tell. I didn't explore the world a lot... or at all. These woods were the only place I could visit, except for my room.”

“Your room?” She asked, confused.

“I... lived inside a cabin and didn’t get to leave it until recently...”

Marianne smiled encouragingly. “Can you tell me more about your room, then?”

He gained a bit of enthusiasm back and continued.

“Until now, I lived inside a room where I did nothing but read books. It was never cold inside; I had a comfy bed. There were also always berries there for me to eat!”

Once again, he looked to the side and mumbled.

“So, I don’t have anything exciting to tell you...”

“I don’t think so. You can tell me about the stories you read!”

He looked back at her and asked hesitantly with hopeful eyes.

“You want to hear about the stories?”

“Of course I do!”

He looked down, looking like he could explode with happiness.

“Then I have so many to tell!”

“I’m looking forward to that.”

This carefree exchange is interrupted by a deafening growl, loud enough to make Marianne’s eardrums feel like they would explode. She needed to cover her eyes, and it seemed like Alpheus didn’t fare much better. She wondered if his hearing was more sensitive than hers because his grimace was beyond intense.

After the growling stopped and the ringing in her ears subsided, Marianne turned to Alpheus, who seemed like he was in shock.

“Alpheus, follow me. Now.”

His eyes regained focus, but he still seemed confused, so she took his hand and guided him to walk alongside her in the opposite direction of whatever made all that noise.

After he managed to calm down a bit, he asked, breathless.

“Miss Marianne, what was that?”

They didn’t have the luxury to wonder about that.

“I don’t know. Doesn’t matter. We need to go. Now. That’s what matters.”

The severity of her tone made him go quiet and quicken his pace so he could keep up with her.

They heard trampling that could cause an earthquake and drown out any noise. It even managed to drown out the noise of something else.

A horde of animals running in their direction.

They didn’t seem to run towards them but away from the thing behind them.

Marianne only took notice of them when they came into sight, upon which she quickly grabbed Alpheus to find cover behind a tree to avoid getting trampled by the larger animals passing by.

Alpheus was shaking, and Marianne waited for the right moment to move out. They needed to act immediately.

After the last wave of beasts ran ahead, Marianne didn’t bother to guide Alpheus, who wouldn’t even be able to hear her, and took him into her arms to run away.

She didn’t bother to look behind, but Alpheus, cradled in her arms, did have a clear view of whatever was beyond and recoiled in terror.

A massive beast dwarfing the trees in its surroundings.

On all fours, with its arms twice the size of the legs,

Horns bigger than its head, and a mouth could swallow you whole.

It was a Behemoth.