NAOFUMI'S POV:~
"Thank you for that, now you can go back to that goddess," the god said. His posture was a masterclass in divine slouch, one arm draped over the throne's armrest, the other idly scrolling on what looked suspiciously like a celestial smartphone. He punctuated his sentence with a dramatic yawn that could have swallowed a small constellation.
"Wait! Hold your cosmic horses!" I blurted, my hands instinctively going to my hips, a gesture I'd perfected from years of dealing with Melty's royal tantrums. "Please, PLEASE, send me straight back to my world. But before that," I added, narrowing my eyes, "will I not get any reward for what I've done?"
He paused his scrolling, giving me a look that was a bizarre mix of boredom and mild indigestion. "Oh, yes, I forgot. Right. Rewards. What do you want?" He waved a dismissive hand, like he was swatting away a particularly persistent fly.
"Can I ask for anything?" I pressed, my inner lawyer sharpening its claws.
"Yes," he replied, tapping his foot impatiently.
"Really, anything?" I emphasized, leaning forward, my voice dripping with suspicion.
"Yeah, bro," he said, rolling his eyes. "Like, whatever. Universe-bending, time-traveling, unlimited-pizza-ordering, you name it."
"Meaning," I continued, my voice low and dangerous, "absolutely, positively, anything?"
He finally looked up. "I will say this only once, Naofumi. You can ask for anything. But if you ask for something stupid, I will personally send you back as a goblin with a severe case of existential dread."
"Alright," I said, a mischievous grin spreading across my face. "I wish to ask for unlimited wishes."
"Naofumi," he said, his voice strained, "do you honestly think I'm some kind of cosmic vending machine? Do you think I'm running a 'Buy One Save the Universe, Get Infinite Wishes' promotion?"
"Well," I shrugged, "you did say anything. And to be fair, you sound like a commercial for a bad mobile game."
He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Look, Naofumi, you're stressing me out. My divine aura is starting to get a migraine. Just… ask for something reasonable."
"Reasonable?" I echoed, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "After dealing with Motoyasu, Ren, and Itsuki? After facing wave after wave of apocalyptic monsters? 'Reasonable' left the building a long time ago."
"So you still remember the sufferings of your old life, I thought you might have forgotten them."
"Okay? Naofumi... You are an ideal hero, but a new poison has started to boil inside you. You're way too forgiving."
"You are saying this because you think I have forgiven them all."
"I don't think so, it is true. Hey Naofumi, have you forgotten what atrocities they have done to you? Hmm?"
"It is not that I have forgiven them, but I am not fully prepared yet, I still have to do a lot of things."
"You may make yourself a fool, but you can never make me one. Anyway, it seems I will have to remind you of those things again!"
I took a deep breath, trying to channel my inner negotiator. "Umm, god," I said, adopting a more diplomatic tone. "You must know what I want. You've seen my memories, you've witnessed my suffering. So, please, fulfill my most heartfelt wish. It shouldn't be too difficult for a being of your… vast capabilities."
"Filo?" he asked, a hint of recognition in his voice.
"Exactly!" I exclaimed, pointing a finger at him. "I went to Fitoria, begged her for help, but it's not the same. In the previous life I got filo from a gacha. but this time, it's impossible to replicate that. So, I need your divine intervention."
"Okay, okay, chill," he said, waving his hands gently, a warm smile spreading across his face. "When I send you back, go to the slave trader. Play the gacha again, and you'll get the Filo egg. I've already ensured it's a guaranteed drop for you."
"Really?" I asked, my eyes wide with disbelief, a flicker of hope battling with lingering skepticism. "A gacha? Are you serious?"
I stared at him, my mind reeling. This god was… surprisingly earnest. There was a genuine warmth in his eyes that made me question my initial assumptions. "Fine," I said, a hint of a smile tugging at my lips, "but if I get a normal filolial instead of Filo, I'm coming back, and we're having a serious discussion about divine customer service."
He chuckled, a soft, genuine sound that put me at ease. "Don't worry, Naofumi. I wouldn't joke about something so important to you. By the way," he paused, his smile softening, "I knew from the beginning that you were going to ask for that wish, my hero. I've been watching you, you know. You've been through a lot, and your loyalty to your companions… it's truly admirable."
He leaned forward, his expression becoming more serious. "And that brings me to an offer. I have a proposition for you, Naofumi. Would you consider becoming my messenger?"
"Your messenger?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "What would that entail?"
"You would travel to different worlds, carrying out tasks that I assign," he explained, his voice calm and reassuring.
"Think of it as… helping to maintain balance, to guide those who are lost. Of course, you would only be called upon when you're free, when your own world doesn't need you. And in return," he added, his smile returning, "I would offer you rewards, access to resources, knowledge… anything you might need."
"But why me?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"Surely, there are others more qualified."
He looked at me, his eyes filled with sincerity. "Naofumi, I've seen countless individuals, across countless worlds. And I can honestly say, I don't think I'll ever find someone quite like you. Your resilience, your unwavering sense of justice, your ability to protect those you care about… it's truly unique. You've proven yourself time and time again, even when the world turned against you. And honestly," he said, his voice laced with genuine admiration, "I admire you. I think you are exactly the person the multiverse needs."
He paused, letting his words sink in. "Think about it, Naofumi. You could use your unique skills to help others on a grander scale. You could make a real difference, beyond the borders of your own world." He looked at me with his usual smile, but this time it was a smile filled with respect.
My instincts were screaming that I was about to get into a new level of trouble. This felt like a trap, a gilded cage disguised as an opportunity. Should I refuse? But he's a god, and refusing a god directly… that felt like a recipe for cosmic indigestion.
"I'll have to think about it," I said, buying myself some time. That felt like the safest, most neutral response.
"Then think," he said, his smile widening, a hint of something mischievous glinting in his eyes. "You have thirty seconds. Yes or no?"
Thirty seconds? Seriously? This was less a negotiation and more a divine speed dating session.
To be honest, I didn't think it was a good idea. Traveling to different universes meant less time for Raphtalia, Filo, and everyone else I cared about. And what was the point of more power? I was already strong enough. Greed was a dangerous path.
The real question was, could I refuse him directly? Would he get angry? He was behaving calmly, but gods were known for their… unpredictable moods.
"Sorry, but no," I said, trying to sound firm but respectful.
"Alright, so your answer is yes?" he said, his smile unwavering.
Wait, what? He was blatantly twisting my words. This wasn't a negotiation; it was a divine strong-arming.
"Look, Naofumi," he said, his voice now laced with a playful, yet unsettling, tone. "It's not your choice, it's my choice. Maybe if I force you, you won't like it. Why not play a game? Anyway, you must have played a lot of games before."
He knew everything about me, including my past as a NEET. He was playing on my familiarity with games, trying to make this feel less like coercion and more like… a challenge.
"So, is this a bet?" I asked, my eyes narrowing.
"Yes," he said, clapping his hands together. "If you win, then you won't have to become my messenger. And if I win, then you will."
"And what's the game?" I asked, bracing myself for something ridiculous.
"Nothing much," he said, his smile widening into a full-blown grin. "I will take my female form. If you can watch me continuously for three minutes without getting captivated, then you win."
"What? Are you serious?"
"Dead serious," he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Three minutes, Naofumi. Three minutes of unwavering focus. Can you do it?"
Well, I know I can't decline.
"Fine," I said, my voice tight. "Three minutes. Let's do this."
He snapped his fingers, and a blinding light filled the throne room. When the light faded, the god was gone, replaced by… something else entirely. A figure of breathtaking beauty, with features that seemed to shift and shimmer, designed to captivate every sense. It was a visual assault, a siren song in human form.
"Three minutes, Naofumi," she – or it – purred, her voice like liquid honey. "Don't blink."
She had long, flowing golden hair, shimmering like spun sunlight. A delicate silver ribbon was woven through it, and a soft, ethereal halo hovered just above her head, casting a gentle glow. Her features were unnervingly perfect, sculpted with a precision that bordered on the uncanny, capable of making even the most celestial beings feel inadequate.
She was adorned in a flowing golden outfit, a masterpiece of divine craftsmanship. The fabric seemed to move and shimmer with an inner light, its folds revealing tantalizing glimpses of her form. Her… assets weren't overtly displayed, yet her body was able to overwhelm my senses. Each curve, each line, was designed to captivate and distract. Her eyes, a mesmerizing blend of celestial blue and gold, held a hypnotic quality, drawing me in like a moth to a flame.