Chapter 13 Encounter with the Goddess （2）
As I stood in front of the very one who summoned me to this world, an overwhelming presence pressed down on me. She was beautiful—radiant beyond words—yet in that moment, I felt nothing but dread.
She looked at me with eyes full of divine light and spoke with a soft, knowing smile.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Raito… or should I say, Eiji Minato.”
The moment I heard those words, a chill ran down my spine. I knew something bad was about to happen. Something I couldn’t avoid.
Without hesitation, I bowed deeply and replied,
“It’s an honor to finally meet you, my goddess.”
She studied me for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then she said,
“I’ve been watching you for some time now.”
I blinked.
“You… have?” I asked, unsure what else to say.
She nodded slowly.
“Yes. I have.”
Then, without warning, her tone shifted—her voice rising like a crash of thunder.
“Then explain yourself! Why did you abandon your duty as a hero!?”
The divine pressure around me intensified. My knees buckled, and I dropped to the ground.
“I’m sorry!” I shouted, instinctively.
Her gaze narrowed.
“Is that all you have to say for yourself? Explain. Now.”
Trembling, I nodded.
“Y-Yes, ma’am.”
I took a deep breath, gathering the storm of thoughts in my head and heart.
“Back in my old world… I never felt like I belonged. Everything amazing—everything magical—felt like it had already passed. All the wonder was gone, replaced by cold, rigid rules and roles. School, work, expectations… everything felt like a cage. I didn’t fit in. I didn’t want to.”
I looked up at her, still on my knees.
“So when I was summoned here, when all fifty-three of us—including our teacher—stood in that throne room, I thought maybe, just maybe… this was my second chance. A new world. A fresh start.”
I clenched my fists.
“But then the king told us we were meant to be heroes. Chosen to fight and die for this world. And I realized… I was being chained all over again. New world, same fate. New rules. Another role I didn’t choose.”
I lowered my head.
“I know being a hero sounds noble. You get to help people. Save lives. But you’re also always watched. Always praised. Always expected to act a certain way. You're trapped in the center of it all.”
My voice grew quieter.
“I didn’t want that. I didn’t want to be a symbol. I just… wanted to be free. To live without being bound by the rules of destiny or society. That’s why… I walked away. That’s why I abandoned the title.”
I stayed silent after that, unsure if I had said too much—or not enough.
As I knelt before her, my heart pounded like war drums in my chest. The silence that followed my confession stretched on like an eternity. The goddess stood there—tall, radiant, untouchable—her arms folded, her gaze unreadable.
“I see,” she finally said, her voice softer now, but still laced with disappointment. “So, you desired freedom… not responsibility. Is that it?”
I swallowed hard, unsure how to answer. But she continued before I could speak.
“You weren't just chosen at random, Raito. Or should I say... Eiji Minato. You and your friend were selected because your souls carried potential. Purpose. A spark strong enough to tip the balance of this world.” Her eyes narrowed. “And yet you fled from it.”
Her words stabbed deeper than any blade.
I clenched my fists, still kneeling. “I didn’t ask to be special,” I muttered. “I didn’t ask for any of this.”
She tilted her head. “No. But you wished for another life. And this was the one you were given.”
“I just wanted to live on my own terms,” I said, my voice trembling.
“In my world, everything felt… fake. Controlled. Empty. I wanted to escape the endless expectations—school, work, status, reputation… Always being told what I should be. Who I should become. I couldn’t breathe there. I felt like a ghost in my own life.”
Her expression softened, only slightly. “And here? Do you truly feel free here?”
I hesitated. The image of Brugo’s severed head flashed in my mind. The smell of blood. The fear in that slaver’s eyes. The weight of Sir Kael’s hand on my shoulder when he asked if I was okay.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But for once, I’m living by my choices. Not someone else’s.”
A long silence fell between us again. Then, she stepped forward. The glowing white world around us rippled with her movement, like the heavens themselves responded to her presence.
“You disappoint me, Eiji,” she said. Not with anger.
But with the kind of sadness that made my stomach twist. “Do you truly think the role of a hero is just about fame and rules? The title ‘Hero’ is not a shackle—it’s a gift.
A chance to protect, to create change, to give meaning to your existence in ways your past life never could. ”
“I know that!” I said, raising my head. “But I’m not like my friend. I’m not suited for that kind of role. Maybe he was meant to be your sword. But me? I want to be a shadow—someone who can move unseen, protect from the dark, make choices a 'hero' never could.”
She stared at me, silently.
“I still fight for others,” I said, quieter now. “Just not the way you expected.”
More silence.
Then, her lips curved into a small smile—almost amused, maybe even proud. “You really are stubborn.”
I blinked. “Wait... you're not going to smite me?”
She chuckled, the sound gentle like wind through leaves.
“If I smote every foolish soul who strayed from my expectations, this world would be ash. Besides…” She raised a hand, and the mark on my arm pulsed with divine light.
“You’re still connected to me. You wouldn’t have come here if you weren’t ready to face the truth. ”
I looked at the mark, then back at her. “So… what now?”
She stepped back, her eyes glowing brighter. “You have chosen a different path, but that does not mean your role here is over. You walk between light and shadow, Raito. If that is the role you claim, then so be it. But know this—your choices will carry weight. Greater than you can imagine.”
Her voice became distant, echoing, like the heavens themselves were closing.
“Destiny is not a single road—it is a web. Even a thread like yours can shift the future of this world.”
Then, in a soft voice, she said,
“If you will not be my sword in the light… then you shall become my sword in the shadows.”
Then the light around me began to intensify again. My body felt weightless, like I was being pulled backward.
“Wait!” I called out. “One more thing… my friends our teacher. How are they?”
Her smile faded slightly. “They walk the path you rejected. And the burdens upon them are growing heavier by the day. One day, all of you may cross again… and when that time comes, the choices you made will matter.”
Then everything turned white.
—
I gasped and stumbled backward, blinking rapidly as the scent of incense and old wood returned. I was back in the church. My hand still rested on the base of the statue.
The priest had moved away, but a few worshippers had quietly entered the sanctuary. No one seemed to notice that I had just vanished—perhaps not even a second had passed.
I lowered my hand, heart still thundering in my chest. “So… I’m still connected to her. Even now.”
"Her sword in the shadows, huh?" I murmured with a smile.
I turned and quietly left the church. As the heavy wooden doors shut behind me, the warm sunlight touched my face.
I wasn’t sure what that means.
But one thing was clear—
This world wasn’t done with me yet.