The conversation with Shiro-san—the Goddess with a beautiful face, perfect proportions, a beautiful voice, and specs that could make even the Goddess of Beauty run away from her superiority, but also possessing outrageously troublesome traits like being expressionless, emotionless, and a natural airhead—continues.
[………………..]
[………………..]
No, please, carry on with the conversation. Could it be that…? That pattern where it won’t do unless I initiate it myself?
[Yes.]
[……I’d prefer if you denied it, even though it was a lie.]
[Well then, this may be a lie, but I will now change the subject.]
[……Ah, yes.]
[………….]
[………….]
It really was a lie!? What should I do with this Goddess… L-Look, since you can read my mind anyway, you should use that to your advantage to bring up a topic for our conversation.
There must be a lot we can talk about, right? We could even discuss things from my previous world or something like that…
[Well then, let’s talk about the book called “The Documents of the Jet-black Knees Volume II.”]
[Whoehh!?]
Oi, idiot! Stop right there—you can’t just go digging up anyone’s black history from their middle school years like that!!
Seriously, please stop it, I’m going to die.
[Is this actually titled “Jet-black Darkness?” Why is the “Jet-black” in this series written as “knee” instead of “lacquer?”]
[~ ~ ! ? ! ?] (T/N: 漆黒 / Jet-black. In the book (That’s totally not written by Kaito), it was written as 膝黒 instead. 膝=knee, 漆=lacquer)
STOP ITTTTTTTT!? Don’t start correcting the misspelled kanji! I’m pretty sure that’s not something you should be touching!! My heart is one arrow away from crumbling into pieces!!
Why, of all the things you can read in my mind, did you aim at that memory that’s been buried so deep!? You must have been doing this on purpose, huh!?
The current flow of conversation is no good. I need to think of a new topic… anything!
[S-Speaking of which! I heard that blessings work differently for different Gods! What effect does Shiro-san’s blessing have?]
[……I dunno?]
[You don’t know!?]
If I let Shiro-san take control of the conversation, I was afraid my mind would completely break down, so I frantically mobilized what little communicative power I had to try and steer the conversation elsewhere. But… is something wrong with my eyes and ears? For some reason, I’m pretty sure I just heard this Goddess-sama say “I dunno?” while tilting her head with that expressionless face, as if she doesn’t even know the effect of her own blessing… She’s just joking, right?
[No, it’s just that this is the first time I’ve given my blessing to anyone, so I wouldn’t know what effect my blessing would have.]
[……This is your first time giving a blessing?]
[Yes. I basically don’t go to the Human Realm, after all.]
I had some expectations, given that she knows Kuro, but Shiro-san is still a Superior God. I didn’t think she’d just grant her blessing to anyone.
[Then, I’ll change the question. What is it that Shiro-san has authority over?]
[I don’t have authority over anything, you know?]
[……Huh?]
I’ve always assumed that all Gods have authority over something, like being the “God of OOO” or something like that, but apparently, that’s not the case. Geez, can someone just take her back already—this Goddess, I mean.
What should I do? My mental capacity is almost at zero… I don’t have the confidence to continue this conversation any longer…
[Well then, let’s go back to that series I mentioned earlier…]
Ah, wait. It seems that I can still keep going. I’ll hold onto our conversation, so please, no more about that topic.
[As expected, do humans yearn for such great power?]
[……Eh?]
I thought the conversation was going back to my black history being exposed, but instead, Shiro-san asked me a question.
There was still no inflection in her voice, and her expression hadn’t changed at all… but for some reason, she seemed genuinely curious, unlike before.
[………………..]
Maybe that’s why I couldn’t reply right away. Whether humans yearn for great power or not… That’s a question Shiro-san, as a God born with great power, could ask.
How should I respond? No, Shiro-san can read my mind anyway, so there’s no point in pretending. I might as well say what I honestly think.
[I think we do yearn for them. Great power, amazing wisdom, wealth, and prestige… There were many times when I longed for them myself.]
[Well then, I’ll give it to you.]
[……Eh?]
[I’ve seldom had conversations with humans. On this rare occasion, I can give you one thing that you wish for. Is it the power to do as you wish? The wisdom to touch upon the truth of the world? Wealth beyond what you could ever use in your lifetime? A reputation that makes all people respect you? Whatever you want is fine.]
[……………]
[Now, tell me what you want. I can give you something no one will ever hope to reach.]
As if it were a natural thing for her to do, the Goddess spoke with calm certainty. She could give me anything I wished for—change me into anything I desired…
Anything I wish could come true. If I asked her, I could be “special.”
My heart trembled strongly. What I couldn’t obtain, no matter how hard I struggled, the God in front of me is offering to grant.
There was no reason to refuse. There should have been no reason… but still, something deep inside of me held me back from speaking my true desire.
I closed my eyes, retreating into the recesses of my mind that I’ve only recently begun to understand more clearly.
What is it that I want? What do I truly wish for? Quietly, I asked myself. Slowly, I opened my eyes to meet the Goddess’s all-knowing gaze, and I finally spoke the answer I had found.
[……No, thank you.]
[Why?]
[……It’s because I think you probably couldn’t give me what I really want…]
[………..]
Although it was too late to take back my words, I knew I might have just said something extremely rude to a being of such immense power. Still, even in the face of that, I couldn’t bring myself to believe that this person—the Goddess in front of me—could truly fulfill what I sought.
I won’t deny my desire for great power. In fact, I’ve wished for it many times.
To become an unparalleled warrior, build a harem, and live life however I pleased… the thought of such a life fills me with satisfaction. It’s certainly something I yearn for.
But even so… what came to my mind was Kuro’s innocent smile.
[……I was told so. She told me… that I’m fine the way I am right now, that we just have to keep searching…]
[…………..]
[At that time, I was so happy. Even when I was struggling and suffering, even with this unsightly appearance, dragging myself forward, she still pushed me onward.]
[…………..]
[I’m just a powerless and weak human… Don’t you think I’m unworthy of something like that? What you’re offering feels a little too heavy for me to carry.]
[……If you wish for anything aside from money, I don’t think it would weigh anything though.]
I couldn’t help but chuckle at her words, spoken with the same unchanging expression.
Shiro-san… she’s actually a pretty amusing person, isn’t she?
[Well, anyway… Whether it’s unrivaled power, absolute wisdom, vast wealth, or unending admiration from others, I don’t need any of that. What I truly wish for… is “something that I must earn with my own hands,” no matter how much I struggle, suffer, or look unsightly in the process.]
[………………..]
I think this is an answer I can give because I’ve been truly blessed. Yes, I’ve really been blessed. Whether it’s the people around me or the environment I find myself in, I can honestly say that I’m blessed in those aspects—so much so that I can express such a naive, yet hopeful wish.
But this is the answer I’ve come to on my own, and even if the one before me is a God… my answer won’t change.
[Even though you suggested it to me, I must apologize. But my answer remains unchanged—I will decline your proposal.]
[…………….]
Shiro-san didn’t say anything. She simply listened to my words in silence, her gaze fixed on me as I lowered my head.
And when I looked up to meet her eyes again, the atmosphere around her had completely shifted.
Her golden eyes, which had seemed unfocused just moments ago, were now undeniably fixed on me. And though it was so subtle that no one else might notice unless they were paying close attention, I could swear that the corners of her usually expressionless mouth had slightly curved upward.
[……I’ve changed my mind.]
[Eh?]
With her usual emotionless tone, Shiro-san stood up from her chair and lightly waved her fingers to the side.
My body glowed briefly once more, and immediately afterward, I thought I heard a sound akin to glass breaking.
[I had only agreed before because of Kuro’s request. I had no personal interest in you, so I just performed the blessing by mimicking what the Low-ranking Gods do… But now, I’ve changed my mind, so I’ve canceled it.]
[Err… ]
Was that sound earlier the blessing being revoked…? Did I offend her? No, I was certainly quite rude earlier, so I can’t argue with that. I might have done something bad, even though Kuro had to request her for it…
As I was thinking this, the scenery immediately changed.
[ ! ? ]
We weren’t just in the hanging garden anymore. We were literally floating in mid-air. Below me, I could see the green earth and blue seas, and the sky was split into two colors from the middle, with a blue sky on one side and a starry sky on the other. In the midst of this bizarre scene, my body floated in the air, as if suspended between worlds, and I could see Shiro-san a little further away.
[Now, I’m “interested” in you—so I will be doing this seriously.]
[ ! ? ! ? ! ? ]
With the words she murmured, an overwhelming sense of intimidation radiated from Shiro-san’s body, so powerful that I couldn’t even find the words to describe it. It felt as though the very world in front of me was shaking in response.
[By my name—By the name of Shallow Vernal—I declare to the world.]
At her words, the air trembled, and the earth seemed to pulse beneath me.
[That this person—Miyama Kaito—is one I acknowledge as worthy of my blessing.]
Her voice, though calm and devoid of any strain, echoed as though it reached every corner of the world.
[Therefore—By my name—By the name of Shallow Vernal—I command the world.]
The earth shimmered, the sea glowed, and the sky became more radiant than before.
[Oh, Earth—Become the cradle that protects him—Oh, Sea—Become his garment that nurtures him—Oh, Sky—Become his wings, embracing his very being—Oh, Stars—Become his beacon and guide him to the future.]
Thousands upon thousands of lights emanated from the earth, sea, sky, and stars. Like meteors, they swirled around me, filling the air with their brilliance.
[By my name—By the name of Shallow Vernal—That this one’s name—That the name of Miyama Kaito—As the one I bestowed my blessings—To be inscribed in the world—in conjunction with my name.]
As the tremendous light converged, to the point where I could no longer keep my eyes open, I saw it—a sight so beautiful it nearly overwhelmed me.
It was as if all the beauty in the world had been condensed into that beautiful goddess’s smile.
[Miyama Kaito—the child who strayed from another world, liked from first sight by Kuro—Magnificent—Just as you declared yourself, you have indeed exerted yourself with your own hands—and from me—you have certainly earned my interest. Therefore, I grant upon you—the blessing of the world.]
Dear Mom, Dad—I have finally found my own wish. And—the Goddess has bestowed her blessing upon me.