The one who appeared before me was Nagano God—Iiyama Kaito.
Apparently, he’s called a God.
…But no matter how I looked at him, he just seemed like a regular adult man.
I didn’t sense any god-like majesty from him at all.
『Master, please be careful. He is a God who built an era. Divine Rank is proportional to the number of believers. Though his boom has passed, he still maintains a considerable Divine Rank.』
So even if he looks ordinary at first glance, he’s an incredible God, huh?
Well, he must possess enough incredible power to trap me in this dream world.
—So what?
I’m going back.
To the other world, where everyone is waiting.
“Nice to meet you, Nagano God.”
“…I’d rather you not call me that.”
“Then, Iiyama-san. Could you move aside?”
I hesitated to suddenly bash him with the bar.
What I was hitting just now were merely products of delusion. Not human.
But this Iiyama-san is an actual, existing God.
I can’t just go and strike him suddenly.
First, let’s try talking.
“Unfortunately, I can’t do that. You… should spend your entire life here.”
…In other words, it seems he intends to block my path.
“Why?”
“Because that’s what’s best for you.”
“Huh…?”
What’s that about? Don’t just decide things for me.
I tried to retort, but my mouth wouldn’t move right away.
A strangely real exhaustion was etched on Iiyama-san’s face.
His previous lines also seemed to carry… a certain conviction.
That’s why I didn’t immediately use a Crowbar Chop.
“For my sake? How is a dream world like this, which only feels real, for my sake?”
“You lived a dream-like life in the other world, didn’t you?”
He says it as if he saw it all himself.
“It must have been fun at first. Gaining immense power, everything going your way. Of course, that’s fun. But eventually, you realize. Just how boring it is when everything only ever goes your way.”
“………Is that so?”
No, no, my current life… I quite like it, you know?
“The fun only lasts for now. You’ll understand eventually too.”
“…That presumptuousness of yours is really irritating.”
Iiyama-san let out a soft, self-deprecating laugh.
“You’re like me. Suddenly gaining immense power, being sought after by those around you, and then becoming a God.”
…I see.
So he was the same as me.
“Being a God is tough, isn’t it?”
“Not particularly.”
“Really? Being praised as a ‘savior God’ by people you don’t even like… having ‘You’re amazing, God-sama,’ ‘As expected of God-sama,’ repeated endlessly… Are you still okay with that?”
“………Tch.”
There is a bit of that.
Like with the Empire, or Photuatua.
Even if I don’t want it, they become believers on their own.
And then they arbitrarily start worshipping me as ‘God-sama’.
If it were Lisia-chan or other close friends, it might be different, but…
Worship from people I don’t even know is honestly annoying.
“Those who gain immense power in another world inevitably become Gods. And Gods… get tired.”
A weariness that wasn’t physical could be seen in his expression.
“If you return to the other world, your life of being worshipped as a God will continue. Believers will keep increasing, and at first, everyone will be grateful. But… people get used to it. Eventually, they’ll think of it as ‘natural,’ and in the end…”
—They get tired of you.
Just like the current Nagano God.
“You should end your life in this world, a world without Divine Power. If you do, you can live more naturally, more enjoyably.”
“……………So, that’s what you think, huh? Because that’s how it was for you.”
“Yes. You too will eventually follow the same path. So before that… you should end it here.”
“…………”
In other words—is this kindness?
Advice from someone who walked the same path.
I understand that feeling. I understand, but.
“Iiyama-san. …What you’re saying probably isn’t wrong. In fact, since becoming a God-sama, I’ve had various hardships too.”
“Then—”
“—But, you know,”
I took a deep breath, and
“It’s none of your damn business!!!!!!!!!!”
I shouted.
“I might face hardships from now on. The day might come when I get sick of this God-sama life. But… why do you get to decide that for me! You and I are different!”
It’s not guaranteed that Nagano God and I will walk the same path.
Rather, I will walk my own path.
“The ‘probability’ is high? I don’t know anything about that! Even in Poké〇n, a move with 30% accuracy hits when it hits! I… will live my own life!! What you’re doing is just forcing your values on me! That’s what I… hate the most!!”
I readied my bar.
Towards Iiyama-san—no, towards Nagano God.
“What I desire is freedom, unbound by anyone! And a fun life with my friends! If you’re going to get in the way of that, then you… are my enemy!!”
“…Good grief. I didn’t think you were this foolish.”
A black haze rose from Nagano God’s body.
That look in his eyes was no longer that of a God.
When a God falls, they become an ‘Aragami’.
I’ve heard that before.
Words no longer reach a raging god.
“This is the world I, a god, created. …There’s no way you can win, right?”
“Shut up! I’m a God too, you know…!!”
“Hah… Good grief. I guess it’s a senior’s duty to teach a foolish junior about reality…”
…What’s this ‘senior’ business? It’s so irritating.
“Let’s go, Sinri.”
『Roger that, Master!』