Author's Note:
Character Map:
"X" = Loid Orcus (protagonist)
"(X)" = Loid Orcus (strong inner thought)
°X° = Makina
•X• = Soul Goddess Aksa
^X^ = Sebastian (AI Assistant)
X>X = Chat Window/Panel in the Livestream
*X* = God and Goddess
#X# = Deities
?X?=Unknown Person
×X×=(Monster/Enemy)
Others:
[X] = Status Board/What is written on it/ Status Window (New)
--- = POV Change
|||| = Time Skip/Time Preview(New)
(X) = Explanation/author/ A.U.T.H.O.R.
([X]) = Sound effect
{X} = Buttons, or something that may cause a certain action
---
•Hey! What's with the special treatment? I'm also a goddess, you know!•
"Pathetic. Disappointing."
•Hey!!•
Ignoring the goddess, I headed to the forest, as there were many interesting individuals gathering out there. The goddess probably also needed to talk with Goddess Viviane.
Before leaving the room, I left some fractions behind to guard the door and check on the patient, then made my way out.
After a few minutes, I arrived outside the hospital, where various races were trying to build a settlement. Albeit temporary, it served as protection from the outside elements like wind and sunlight. At that, Makina sent some mimics that could assist these people in building the settlement and other chores.
But when you looked closely at all of them, you'd notice there were chokers on their necks. After some investigation led by Makina, it seemed these were some sort of magic item that restrained mana and inflicted pain when resisted.
There was also a function that allowed someone to inflict pain through a medium. As for now, we didn't know what that medium was, but Makina was there to—well, let's say—gather data, so we'd know eventually.
Now then, I left the vicinity of the settlement and went near the woods. There, I saw people carrying large carcasses—beasts or monsters they had hunted—back to the settlement. Looking further, some people of various races were dismantling their spoils to prepare for cooking and storage.
Although it was interesting to watch, with my emotion regulator system on, I felt less nauseous watching it.
It was good that I left the stream to Makina, although that might also be a problem as people back in our world were buzzing about what to do regarding my situation—especially the medical professionals taking care of the hospital, albeit online, just ordering things through mimics.
Civil servants were taking the lead in how to interact with the people of this world through Makina.
Probably right now, the company led by Uncle and assisted by Makina is catering to those duties. Though it's a shame I'm not able to attend, I have much more important things to do.
At that, I walked inside the forest and used a detection spell with the help of shapeshifting, spreading my mana around the forest. As I felt the mana flow, I detected the presence of multiple people moving as a group... and a monster base, with miasma that I could feel.
I hurried to that place—but when I arrived, it had already been taken care of. Someone had stabbed it in the head with a spear and then looked at me.
?Your proficiency in detection spells seems to have improved, albeit a little. I still sensed it, even with just average aptitude in magic. If a skilled magician were here, you could have been detected, tracked, and countered before making a move.?
"Haha, as expected of a beastman. I thought I erased all my traces."
?Indeed. I was surprised when I first met you—how you didn't have any scent, how you moved silently, and how your presence was so thin I didn't feel it. But now you reek of scent, sound, and mana. That's how I found you.?
"Haha, I see... Even though I'm using an ability, I'm still clumsy. Any advice to improve it—preferably as fast as possible, Lowell?"
w The same thing I told you yesterday. Just work on it, and you'll get there. w
"Any other advice?"
w Hmm... none that I could teach you. w
"Hm, speaking of magic... where are the elves?"
w I don't know. Even if I did, I wouldn't care. w
"Oh come on, still not getting along?"
w Tch. Those elves... Even if we tried to get along, they'd just chase us away with their pride as long as their ears. Speaking of which, if it's magic you're after, it's better you ask the elves. Proud and prideful they are—but it's based on something, unlike humans who are just full of themselves. w
"I see... Don't let it get to you. Try to tone down your feelings."
w Your words have virtue, but I'll try. Can't promise anything though. w
"Hahaha. Well then."
At that, I distanced myself from the group of beastmen carrying their spoils, led by Lowell, as they were about to return outside the forest to dismantle their hunt.
As for me, well...
([Schoo])(Bush rustles)
A bush rustled. In the forest, it would be a normal and usual occurrence, as various beasts and monsters roam freely, but—
([Schoo])(Bush rustles)
([Schoo])(Bush rustles)
([Schoo])(Bush rustles)
([Schoo])(Bush rustles)
([Schoo])(Bush rustles) etc...
Various bushes swayed and rustled—and emerging from them were slime-like beings. My trusted familiars: slime mimics. One after another, they came out of the bushes, the ground, the trees, even puddles—emerging from various directions and hidden places.
They slowly approached and clung to my legs, then began assimilating into my body. The slime mimics then gave me gifts I truly delighted in.
[Fusion Skill: A1 has been activated]
[Collecting Essence]
[Analyzing Essence]
[Essence 1 is capable to…]
[Essence 2 is capable to…]
[Essence 3 is capable to…]
[Essence 4 is capable to…]
…
[Essence 156 is capable to…]
I smiled and passed it on to Sebastian through the hivemind to evaluate its uses.
"Now then... Makina is probably busy collecting data from the rescued people and the prison scum. Sebastian's definitely busy analyzing and evaluating the essence collected from various races I secretly observed while they hunted and sparred. There's also the essence collected by slimes after slaying or confronting beasts and monsters."
"There's also the issue of the stream and what to do from now on. Uncle is probably handling those affairs, since I'm basically working under the interests of our company now... with Mema—Grandma—hmm, our benefactor stepping down. What's left is the usual: training my skills and abilities, understanding how to apply them in theory and practice... and then the matter of those brats."
I looked up at the sky—probably the same sky they were looking at, if they also ended up here. At that reminder, I couldn't help but worry. I hope my big sisters, Helia and Rena, are with them.
I asked the gods about them, but it seems they've weakened to the point they barely only know what their apostles witness—unless the god or goddess exert themselves and make a move.
However, I did hear some news: it seems the deities have started to move, especially those extremists eager to wage war against the fiends. They've begun raising heroes in their own dominions.
Some deities, with what little power they have, are summoning heroes behind the gods' backs. They're severely weakened, but the reason they're doing this is to fight the fiends. And... I heard from Aksa that there's a strange rumor among the deities.
If a god's dominion is the one to defeat the fiends and is worshipped because of it, that god may regain power—perhaps even return to the strength they once held when they ruled their own worlds. It's risky, but some deities are giving in to the temptation.
The first time I heard it, I went blank. But if even Aksa admits that there may be truth in it... then the gods and goddesses below—the ones in the divine realm—are buzzing with schemes. Factions are forming. Strife is rising.
The goddess said they able to suppress it, but the factions can't be dissolved. The gods and goddesses found advantage in it, using these groups to restrain the deities.
I asked Aksa about her own faction. She fell silent. I take it she has the weakest one... maybe even a minority within a minority. She stayed quiet for the rest of the day, and I didn't press. Aksa may be doing something godlike in the background.
She said I should grow much stronger as her apostle. I understood where that was going, so I simply nodded. Though my motives differ from the goddess's, our paths align for now.
"I remember the history Aksa told me... of a time when humans fought to prove their god was the chief among gods—like Greek mythology. She said it was resolved, but I doubt that sentiment ever disappeared, especially in the mortal world, where vanity thrives. I wouldn't be surprised if some dominions, full of fanatics, are claiming the title of chief god for the one they serve."
Thinking about it gives me a headache. So, the best way to stop thinking... is to move the body. And to make that movement beneficial—
"Let's go to the labyrinth."
With that, I entered the labyrinth and began grinding.
"Yosh. Let's aim for Rank C."
Thus begins my grinding arc.
Let me know if you want this version formatted into scenes, monologue cutaways, or styled more like a light novel or web serial.
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aot
i have time, so i update, that all, then have a good read and day to come