I think Solana has finished what she needs to say.
The ice-encased world was gradually shrouded in darkness. Even when everything turned dark, the sight was so overwhelming that I was unable to speak for a while. When I closed my eyes, the image of the land ravaged by war came to mind again and again.
Remembering the destroyed Royal Capital, I hurriedly drove away my ominous imagination.
“……So that’s why there were gods and monsters underground.”
That’s all I could say.
Solana nods, her white dress glowed faintly even in the pitch black surroundings. It was a little dazzling.
“Many gods were in the shelters, now known as dungeons, with their believers to protect them. Then the ice seal came, sealing them away along with the monsters.”
I can’t help but think about what happened to the monsters and giants outside the dungeon. Some may have been defeated in that time. But there are certainly titans and giant-type monsters still left behind.
Adventurers today are, after all, still defeating the surviving enemies from back then.
“The Chief God can be said to be a shrewd god. He prolonged the defeat for thousands of years, so that the people could once again increase in number and defeat the monsters —that was probably his plan.”
Solana had a complicated look on her face.
“I can’t believe he was thinking about something like that while his companions were fighting.”
Adventurers who dive into dungeons are only there for a living. But that also means they unintentionally defeat monsters that the gods couldn’t defeat.
“Rion, you….…”
Solana looked at me and hesitated.
“You have the power to awaken the sealed gods.”
“Is that why I am being targeted?”
I think Gideon and the people who attacked the Royal Capital were after me.
“Yes. The enemy’s goal is to awaken the sealed monsters like Skoll. Given that, Rion, since you can wake up the gods, you are an obstacle to them.”
My chest tightened.
“Then…. Lu is also being targeted…… is she…?”
“It’s probably for the same reason. She might be able to activate a skill similar to yours.”
Skoll’s laughter echoed in my head. Gideon’s too. The flames could have closed in on the royal capital and even hit my family —including Lu and mother.
“I……I’m scared.”
I am sorry. My true feelings spilled out.
But I can’t help it, my body is even shaking.
Solana lowered her eyes.
“I’m sorry, Rion. But you’re more dangerous than you think……”
I want to live with my family. That’s all I really want.
The debt was gone, Lu’s illness was cured, and I was slowly able to return to my normal life.
“……There’s a new enemy huh….”
Tears welled up in my eyes.
Skoll was defeated. But if an enemy like that keeps appearing again and again, I’m not that confident that I can always win.
『 Alarm 』– if it’s going to be that scary, then it’s really a “useless skill”.
“I’m not a great adventurer like my father……”
I’m really not.
I’m not great. I’m just a loser adventurer who can only borrow the power of God.
“I’m……!”
I tried to say it out loud. I want to throw away everything, including Solana’s trust in me and everything I had done.
“…………!”
But I can’t get my voice out.
I felt like I was betraying my father, who taught me the technique, and Lu, and my mother, who supported me. I don’t want to crouch in the back alley and wait for the violence to pass.
I’d already felt a lifetime’s worth of regret for being weak. Besides, if I denied my feelings for the “adventurer” inside me, I’d end up destroying what I treasure.
Because—I’ve always admired the cool and strong adventurers.
“S-still!”
I have to get strong in order to protect them. It’s something I’ve learned in the last two years without my father. I need all kinds of strengths: physical strength, skill, courage, and determination.
I can’t back down just yet.
“Rion……”
Solana was staring straight at me with eyes as warm as the sun.
“…… I won’t leave you alone. No matter who you are, I’ll always be by your side.”
The sun is born in my chest. When I realized that I wasn’t going to face it alone, it gave me courage.
“……I told you, I’m a believer of the Daughter of the Sun.”
I stepped forward and brought my face closer to Solana’s.
“Let’s do it, together with everyone who woke up.”
I looked at the goddess as if to convey my thoughts.
“The kindest and strongest is not a lie.”
Now I move forward. With the longing for an adventurer that I have always brought with me.
The horn has already been blown.
“…… Rion, you….…”
Solana’s eyes well up with tears.
“There’s still a lot we don’t know, but together…… Are you willing to go forward with me?”
I nodded vigorously.
The goddess’s body flashed, driving away the darkness. When our eyes get used to it, a starry sky surrounds us.
“Thank you, Rion!”
Solana said, wiping away tears.
“Now, I would like to introduce you to the gods who have been resurrected by Alarm.”
The outline of a person floated in the starry sky. Soon, four figures appeared. Above each of them shone a constellation of stars.
“Thor, the god of thunder.”
Under the constellation of the hammer, a god appeared so big that I had to look up. He has fiery red hair and a hammer on his right arm that looks like a lump of iron. A pale lightning streak runs across the surface of the hammer.
Looking down at us, he had a handsome face, but his gaze was powerful and a little scary.
“He is also the god of war who unites warriors, and has defeated many giants and monsters with his hammer, Mjolnir. He also fought against a giant snake monster known as the World Serpent.”
At Solana’s words, the god, Thor, grinned.
The right hand he holds out, holding the hammer –Mjolnir, seems to be twice the size of mine.
“Nice to meet you. Thank you for Alarm.”
I felt a tremendous heat in my clenched hand.
“My blessing is ‘lightning.’”
Thor hurled a hammer like a lump of iron from his right hand.
Boom! There was a thunderous roar and lightning scattered in all directions. After catching Mjolnir, he bends his knees and then he fixed his gaze at me.
“You may be small…… but you have a big heart.”
He patted me on the head.
“You defeated Skoll, and you encouraged Solana. Both were impressive!”
His entire face broke into a smile. However, when he tightened his expression, he took on the face of a fearless god. His red eyes are calm.
“I’m also a god of war, and from what I can see, all the monsters haven’t awakened yet. Some have been defeated so far. In other words, the enemy’s total military strength has decreased, and the number of troops available between ours and theirs should not be much different now. Otherwise, there is no reason for them to hold back from an all-out attack.”
A finger as thick as firewood pointed to my chest.
“This is a battle we can win. I have high hopes for you.”
Thor turned into a white light and flew towards the constellation.
Solana next introduced a woman in blue armor. Above her head is a constellation of spoon.
She came before me and fell to her knees.
“Eh!?”
“I’m Sigris. A Valkyrie who heals human warriors. I’m also known as the God of Medicine.”
The goddess, Sigris, looks up at me. Her blue hair was long enough to cover her right eye, and it swayed slightly as she raised her head.
“Rion, Sigris continued to heal humans and support them in battle. She is the god who has the deepest relationship with humans. She’s also known as the War Maiden.”
As Solana said, Sigris holds a spoon the size of a spear in her right hand. She was holding it straight up above her knees, like a great knight would.
“I offer my thanks to you.”
“L-likewise……!”
Oh, I remembered.
“You’re the god who healed those injured, right? Thank you.”
It should be me who should be thanking her.
Sigris looked surprised when I thanked her, but then she stood up and smiled softly at me.
“Nice to meet you and thank you. I’m glad you’re a kind person.”
The Medicine God also turned to light and disappears into the constellation of spoon.
“I’m next.”
With a shout, a brown-haired god leapt forward from where the bow’s constellation was shining. He stood right in front of me.
Solana hurriedly introduces him as she jumps back.
“Uru, the great hunter. Also the God of Hunting.”
The god Uru puts his hand on his chest. He is wearing fur and leather armor, but they all glowed faintly. His smile is as fresh as a spring breeze.
“Greetings, the person who wake me up. I am also the guardian of those who deal with nature. In battle, I would rush through the fields and be the first to know the presence of monsters.”
Uru winks at me.
“You now have the sense of a hunter. It will come in handy in battle and in the dungeon.”
Then the smile on his face faded. With a serious face, the god, Uru said,
“Let me protect you… and nature once more.”
Then he disappeared into the constellation of the bow.
Eh?
I was a bit confused. I thought there was still one left, but there was no one around. Solana was looking around as well.
“Hey, Rion.”
Someone grabbed both my shoulders. I was so surprised that I nearly fell on my butt.
“Loki!”
Solana’s exasperated voice was the introduction.
Loki’s eyes drooped even further as he laughed.
Black hair and black robe. Underneath that dark robe is a slender outfit like that of a thief.
“Did I surprise you?”
“Y-yes……”
“That’s good ♪.”
Huh……? He’s glad that I was surprised?
Loki giggles and distances himself. Overhead, the constellation of a Staff shone brightly.
“Sigh…… Rion, Loki is the god of magic. He is also the god of trickery ―in short, he’s full of deception.”
Loki bows. He holds his right arm horizontally and then lowers it in front of his body in an extremely ostentatious manner, the sort of thing you’d only see in a theater troupe.
“Well, I want to thank you as well. You have the power of the horn, the power to awaken something.”
Loki held up a finger.
“What I sent you was ‘duplicity,’ the power to combine one blessing with another —I never thought that the gods would join forces among humans though.”
Loki laughs amusedly.
I don’t know what type of person he is, but I feel that his aura is different from the other gods.
“Thank you waking me up. You’re already my friend now, and I cherish friendship so please believe in me….…”
Loki too, disappeared into the constellations.
“Uhm……”
Counting on my fingers, I remember the four new gods.
There’s the trustworthy god, Thor, the knight-like god, Sigris, the brother-like god, Uru, and finally—the slightly suspicious god, Loki.
The surroundings became brighter and the starry sky faded. I can also hear the sound of bells.
Solana flew in front of me.
“It’s almost the end of the dream, the god who finally killed the titan Ymir, created the world, and sealed it. I will tell you the true name of the Lord God whom you call Odis.”
Solana pulls my hand as if to lead me to wake up.
“Odin. The real name of the Lord God is Odin.”
The thing that passed through my mind….. I don’t know why, but for some reason, it was that antique shop owner.
I heard the sound of the bell.
The long, long dream came to an end.
I hope that the morning I wake up will be a day of new adventures with Gods.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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