The Goddess Is Obsessed With Me

Lately, I've been feeling a sense of calm. Despite the abnormal phenomenon in the sky still being a blemish, it's a relief that life has been relatively incident-free. After enduring the tough times caused by Mir and Abne's fierce battle and being forced to stay at Elenoa's temple, I'm finally experiencing a sense of leisure for the first time in a while. The sun isn't too hot, and the wind stops just short of being cold. People infuse life into their day with their energy. Walking down the familiar yet always changing streets, I realize what true peace feels like.

"Yawn..." Despite ample sleep, a yawn escapes me, a sign of a tranquil daily life. Recently, I've been feeling something: a lack of things to do. Looking back, there have been many difficult yet memorable events. Initially, I lived a planned life based on my foreknowledge of events, but eventually, things deviated from what I knew, leading to many confusing situations. Since then, my life has been quite impulsive. Sometimes, a series of coincidences have resolved issues.

That’s probably why the story, having deviated from its original course, seems to have paused in its progression. The last significant event was the Academy part, right? Those unbelievable moments still baffle me. Even after Morione took my memories, somehow my past self managed to navigate through the game's progression effectively.

If the Academy part has concluded, does that mean the story is nearing its end? The game's storyline can be divided into early, middle, and late stages: the Night of Destruction, the Revival of the Ancient God, and the Rebellion of Time. Having overcome two of these major hurdles suggests that we are gradually approaching the end.

However, my encounters with Tempus, the god of time, didn't give me a sense of hostility. She felt more like an ally, offering useful information. So, at the moment, I'm unsure of what to do next. With the story no longer progressing, what steps should I take now? Honestly, it seemed like there was nothing left for me to do. The original goal of returning to where I came from had lost its meaning, and I couldn't think of anything else I needed to do. Yura also wanted to stay here, and frankly, I wasn't even sure what I truly wanted anymore. These days, when I went out to the streets, I just wandered aimlessly.

My days passed as if I had truly become a part of this place. I met with people I knew, wondering what to do and how to spend my time. "Now that I think about it, I haven't seen Miru lately..." Since that day, under the orange sky, I hadn't seen her.

When I returned to the giant tree, Miru was nowhere to be found, only this mysterious pendant in my hand, presumably hers. There was a note with it saying, 'I hope you succeed, Dad...' Did she disappear somewhere after leaving this pendant behind? Even when I asked the goddess Morione, she said she couldn't sense Miru. Could it be... she returned to her original place? If Miru is, as she claims, my daughter from the future, did she return to her own time? What would the situation be like there?

My curiosity only grew, like opening Pandora's box. Once I started thinking about it, it became increasingly bothersome. So... I decided to visit someone who might know the end of this curiosity.

Pressing the teleportation device given to me by Miru, my surroundings rapidly change, and soon, I find myself in a library filled with countless books and a woman's figure comes into my view. "You've come, child. I've been waiting for you." The goddess of time, Tempus, greets me with a relaxed smile, as if she faintly knew I would come.

"I came to ask you something," I say as I sit across from her, observing her face. Tempus seems to have something important to discuss this time; usually, she would glance at me occasionally during our conversations and then return to her books, but now, as soon as I sit down, she puts down her teacup and book.

She listens attentively, sparing any unnecessary prelude, as if even speaking a word more than needed would be a waste of time. "Where is Miru?" I ask Tempus directly, trying to get straight to the answer I'm seeking. Tempus's face becomes serious for the first time, which makes me feel a sense of unease.

"Miru... from what you've said, it seems she has disappeared from this world," Tempus replies.

What...? The way she speaks, as if she's not certain herself, makes me feel something is off.

"So, you sent Miru away, right? Did you not bring her back?"

"Well... the former is correct, but as for the latter, I'm not sure."

What does that mean about Miru's whereabouts?

My anxiety grows. Did something happen while I wasn't looking?

"I don't know where that child is, but... I think she went where she wanted to be," Tempus suggests.

This chapter upload first at NovelUsb.Com

Went where she wanted...? What does that mean?

As my anxiety peaks, Tempus tries to reassure me. "Don't look so worried. It's not something ominous... certainly not something like her having died."

Her words cool my growing panic, but they wrap Miru's fate and location in even more mystery.

"What are you saying...?"

Tempus then gazes into the void, continuing with a somewhat mystical explanation. "It's complicated to explain, especially since I don't fully understand it myself. But I can assure you, Miru has gone where she wished to go."

"If I had to elaborate... she might have returned to her original place, or even further back in time. She probably knew her mission was complete and left for a better future."

"That means, you are on your path... the future is drawing nearer."

Satisfied, Tempus takes a sip of her tea.

Her words seem almost graspable, yet elusive. If I try to make sense of them...

"So, Miru is not in this timeline? She went where she wanted to be..."

"It seems so."

I grasp a thread of the truth but can't fully unravel it. A knot of unresolved feelings remains in my heart. "Are you done with what you wanted to ask? Now, let me tell you something I want to convey." Even though the conversation didn't wrap up cleanly, there was no more information to gain, so I passed the conversational baton back to Tempus.

"Do you know why gods are confined to their temples, despite having the power to dominate this vast world?" Tempus suddenly brings up a topic I hadn't considered before.

"I guess it's because their powers weaken outside their assigned temples?" This was a setting in the game – gods had set rules to restrict themselves, supposedly to care for mortals.

"That's why they did it, but do you know why gods imposed such an inconvenient restriction on themselves?"

"To care for lower beings like us."

I answered her continuous questions without hesitation, but...

"You're wrong."

"What...?"

"That’s a story modified by the gods... Every divine being inevitably faces the same injustice. What you mentioned is a fabricated tale. In reality, mortals can't defy what happens in unseen places... Whether we like it or not, gods like me weaken significantly outside our designated temples."

The truth I knew wasn't the reality... It was shocking how casually she dispelled my beliefs.

"So, why are gods subjected to such restrictions?"

"As I said before, this world tries to be as fair as possible... Sometimes, heroes like Erina are born, just like in ancient times, when free gods became embroiled in power struggles, leading to a logical conclusion."

Tempus takes another sip of her tea, revealing a truth not known even in the game.

"That logic is the agreement among themselves that restricts their activities outside their designated temples. Except in unavoidable situations, violating this results in the loss of their original power... This rule was established, shaping the current system."

"Their inherent power and the strength of their will can endlessly amplify their abilities... The concept and understanding have changed now, making such constraints natural, but back then, it was a great calamity for us."

Tempus lets out a hollow laugh, then stands up and starts walking – a sight I had never seen before, her standing so resolutely. "It might not seem significant, but... from the moment she stood up, there was an unexplainable unease about her demeanor. "Like me, the gods were confined by these rules and seldom met each other... Thus, it became nearly impossible for a god to die," said the Time Goddess, leaning on the railing and looking down from the base of the endless tower.

"A god can truly die only in the case of a clear homicide... And for that, it requires another god or a being with comparable power. That's why I've been unable to die, and it's been tormenting me."

Then she started to emit an indescribably odd aura...

"The eternal loneliness of being relegated to a lifeless place... And the certain rest that exists beyond death... I have longed for death."

The atmosphere was growing increasingly strange... Something felt dangerous...!

"But I am nearly immortal, unable to die by the laws of this world... So, I now intend to destroy these laws," she said, turning to face me and extending her hand, materializing her unique divine weapon – a double-edged sword of time.

"It's time to end this long journey and allow myself to rest..." she said, pulling out a white mask and covering her face, still speaking in a calm voice.

"Child, a disaster is about to happen soon. You better prepare yourself well."

The weapon in her right hand and the familiar mask hiding her face...

Seeing this, I had a feeling I knew what she meant by the impending disaster.

"The greatest trial of your life is approaching... But I know, despite the difficulty, you will overcome it."

Then, a white smoke began to swirl in her left hand... She was about to send me back...!

"But don't take it too lightly, or your fate might take a wrong turn."

"Wait a moment, Tempus?!!"

I tried to stop her, but just like she always sent me back...

"It will take a lot of time for me to destroy these concepts, so for now, you have some breathing space. Make sure to prepare adequately."

"When the reins are let loose, and the gods start to kill each other, order will crumble, and it will truly become a survival of the fittest world." Leaving me with a mix of harmless hostility and sincere advice... my vision gradually fades away...

"Just so you know, for your future's sake, I won't go easy on you. Only the seeds that endure winter can bloom into beautiful flowers."

I tried to resist somehow, rushing towards her, but...

"It seems like a goodbye for now, and after this, it will probably be our last meeting."

"Stay safe."

The last thing I saw was her enigmatic smile, then everything was obscured by a blinding white light...

"And this time... become ruthless enough to kill me."

?!"

When I came to my senses, I was back on the street from earlier.

"This is serious..."

Judging by the situation... something bad was approaching...

"I have to warn everyone...!"

The final gateway to the ending in the game...

Just as I was starting to feel a moment's peace, the impending trial was announced.

"Why did it progress all of a sudden?!"

The rebellion of time was upon us...