Chapter 2: God’s Toy

“Um…Thank you for helping Hana.”

“Don’t mention it. The disease will be cured properly, so rest easy, okay?”

“……Yes!”

I thanked the boy—the god—in front of me and bowed deeply.

Although the current situation was not clear, according to Takagi-san, Hana’s surgery was successful. Not only that, this god told me that she owuld be cured properly.

Then I remembered that I didn’t tell him my name, so I hastily introduced myself, panicking.

“I’m Kusunoki Hinami. 21 years old and a university student.”

“Yeah, nice to meet you…Still, I’m amazed that you’re unfazed even in this sudden darkness.”

After I introduced myself, I felt calmer. Seeing me not give a large reaction, the god was surprised.

After hearing that Hana was safe, all the strength had left my body. I had confidence that I wouldn’t be surprised by anything now.

“Hana lived, so nothing more could surprise me…”

“I see. Then, do you remember the exchange condition?”

“Oh……yes.”

I hesitated a little, but I answered clearly.

I promised to give up my everything.

It was quite vague since there were no specific terms. I wondered what would happen to me. Maybe I’ll be killed, or become a plaything. I thought so, but it’s a god. The chance should be lower…I thought so for some reason.

I had always thought that gods were just the imaginary creations of humans.

“Uwaa, you’re quite an honest girl, aren’t you?”

The god sat down next to me who was crouching down, matching his eyes to my level.

It felt like I was getting sucked into those blue eyes. For me who had been in the midst of working part-time to help pay for my little sister’s medical expenses, this position was a little—no—very embarrassing and difficult.

“Hinami will become my toy.”

“Eh…!? Toy…?”

“Yes. I have to stay here alone all the time. I do work sometimes, but usually I am very free.”

“Huh…”

“What a casual reply, ufufu. Hinami, you will go to a different world other than Earth—to the world that I am supervising.”

A different world?

No, that might be a normal thing for a god. But I have to wonder what merit he has if he sends me to another world. To be honest, I’m not really strong or anything—just a simple girl.

“I have a lot of free time, so I’m thinking of watching Hinami struggle in another world to kill time.”

I wonder if this is what gods are like. I received a response far beyond my expectations.

Possibly having noticed my expression, he kept talking with a grin.

“Also, there’s another objective. I want you to collect points.”

“Points?”

I asked back as I looked at him.

“Yes. The system is structured so that your actions in the other world can accumulate points. By sending them to me, I can gather the points. Of course, I’ll send you suitable items corresponding to those points, alright?”

“Is there a merit to you if I gather points?”

“Hmm…that’s a secret.”

The god’s lips formed into a crescent smile. Then his finger approached my mouth and touched my lips. He said “I’m not telling you,” and smiled mischievously. In that moment, my face burst into flames. This kind of thing, it’s the first time…!!

Noticing my reaction, he laughed. So embarrassing, I wanted to crawl into a mouse hole. Just looking at that beautiful face was making me blush, but now my face must look like a boiled lobster.

Because I wasn’t exactly sure what points were, I felt a little worried, but if the god’s keeping it a secret, maybe I  just shouldn’t pry into it. I just have to collect points in return for him helping Hana. There’s no problem as long as I understand that.

“Then, please send me to the other world!”

“Eh?”

Perhaps because I was flustered, I stood up vigorously.

So I would be heading for the other world. Or so I thought, but when I looked at the god he looked startled…I wonder if I did something wrong.

“Ahaha! You’re cute, Hinami! Transferring to the other world without knowing anything? You’ll definitely die~.”

“Ueh!?”

Come to think of it, I don’t know anything other than the fact that I have to collect points.

Moreover, he nonchalantly told me that I’d die. I wonder if the world I’m going to is a dangerous place…That’s a bit troubling.

I turned my head to avoid the god’s gaze and sat down again. Then, he patted my head. He’s completely treating me like a child…

“Anyway, I’ll explain quickly. The name of the other world is ‘Letisreel.’ There are three continents, ‘Sariton,’ ‘Mushbarl,’ and ‘Agdis.’ ‘Sariton’ and ‘Mushbarl’ are continents where there are many humans. ‘Agdis’ is a lush continent where nature is abundant and where there are a lot of beastmen and spirits. Ah, but there’s also a young, hot-blooded and very warlike emperor ruling over ‘Mushbarl.’ You’ll have to be careful if you go there…”

“…Yes.”

I got a little confused after hearing the names of the continents all at once. If he keeps talking about the countries, I’m not confident that I could remember them all. Perhaps knowing that, the god advised, “You can remember the names of the countries at your pace after you get there.” 

How embarrassing…

“Also, the main races are humans, beastmen and spirits. There are monsters too, so be careful. I don’t need to explain about humans so I’ll explain about the beastmen and spirits. In general, all beasts that are not monsters are called beastmen. They are intelligent and their appearances are similar to humans. But, they have ears or tails. Spirits are a little hard to explain…If I liken it to the games in your world, spirits include elves, dragons and fairies. Well, to put it simply, I guess they are mysterious beings that are neither humans nor beasts”

“I-I see…it’s quite different from Earth.”

To remember it all, I desperately repeated it in my head to memorize it. But thinking about it, it feels like a world similar to the games Hana likes…I think. I didn’t play them a lot because I had to work part-time, but if it’s a world Hana likes, then I can live a full life there.

“Well, simply put, it’s like a world from a game. After that…”

“I see… well, it should be easy to understand.”

“Really? Ah, right right. Try saying, ‘Status,’ okay?”

“Eh? Erm, ‘Status!’”

The moment I said that, a screen lit up in front of my eyes. Is this a 3D image…? Something like a hologram came into my sight. It was written in Japanese. It seemed like something with visual information about me.

<Kusunoki Hinami>

Age: 21
Lv. 1

HP 15/15
MP 20/20

ATK 3
DEF 3
AGI 6
MAG 10
LUK 30

<Skills>
None

<Title>

The Divine Protection of the God Ligris

“Wow, it’s like a game…”

“ATK is offensive power, DEF is defensive power, AGI is agility, MAG is magic power, and finally LUK is luck…Wait, your status is low!!!”

Ah, it’s low after all…I did feel like that that the moment I saw this, but actually hearing it in person is a little shocking. Well, considering that I was an ordinary and that I did not do sports… Is there any hope?

The moment he saw my status, the god started pondering something. I wonder if he’s trying to do something because I might die at this rate or something like that. A bit of cold sweat dropped down my body.

“You’ll die quickly like this…But normally people have a magic skill.”

“Magic…! That’s amazing. Can I use it?”

“Well… that depends on your affinities. First, we’ll need to something about your status.”

With a complicated expression, the god grabbed my hands.

From his face, I could tell that my status was lower than expected. I thought that it’s amazing that I managed to get chosen by god. Ah, maybe that’s why my LUK was high? I wonder if I was a ‘Lucky Girl,’ or something like that.

“Ah!?”

While I was thinking alone, my body suddenly swayed.

Eh, what on earth just…?

“Okay, success~! Take another look at your status!”

And with those lines, my body floated into the air. Without any time to resist, I was seated on the handsome god’s lap. When I looked at my hands thinking that the way my body fit was weird, my hands were shrinking. My clothes became loose, almost coming off, so I grabbed them quickly in panic.

I looked back at the god to see what it was, but not wanting to tell me anything, he was just grinning…

I gave up and recited, “Status,” again.

<Kusunoki Hinami>

Age:13
Lv. 1

HP 30/30
MP 45/45

ATK 10
DEF 10
AGI 13
MAG 20
LUK 50

<Skills>
God’s Miniature Garden
Rhapsody of Light

<Title>
The Divine Protection of the God Ligris

“Ah, the stats rose…”

“But it’s still weak…”

“Oh, there’s a new skill! Ah, I was curious before too, but what’s ‘The Divine Protection of the God Ligris’?”

There was a slight increase in stats and two new skills that weren’t there before.

I wonder if these are powers given from god. Hmm, while I was struggling with the screen, he started explaining one by one.

“You see, I gathered up the experience Hinami had so far and bestowed it back to you.”

“Eh?…Oh, I’m 13 years old!”

My body grew smaller and the status screen told me that I was 13.

“Well, you just became a little younger. The experience that Hinami had from the age of 13 to 21 was converted into stats. However, your knowledge and skills didn’t disappear. It was just converting your ‘experienced time.’ Other than that, there were no effects of making your mental age become younger, so don’t worry, okay?”

“Uhh…Yes.”

“Okay. First, about the title. That is proof that I, Ligris, am watching over you. It is shown as divine protection on your title.”

“Eh! So that was god’s name, your name…”

“Right. Also, the skills. As for these, the ones fitting your affinity were assigned, so I couldn’t choose them. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the kind of magic that Hinami wanted, I think?”

While saying that, his finger touched <God’s Miniature Garden> on the status screen. Then, only that part lit up and an explanatory text appeared. It was a convenient mechanism.

<God’s Miniature Garden?>

A sanctuary protected by god is created.

“Um, the description is a bit rough…?”

“Fufu, indeed. Well, let’s see…To explain it more clearly, Hinami, you’ll be given a house when you go to the other world, and a certain area around it will be protected and will keep enemies out.”

“Ohhh, that’s amazing…! So it’s like a barrier?”

“Yeah, something like that.”

Sounds like that will help a lot.

I copied what god did and touched ‘Rhapsody of Light’ below the previous one.

<Rhapsody of Light>

When you sing a song wholeheartedly, a spirit of light is summoned and becomes a shield that protects the caster.

“A defense magic…of sorts?”

“Looks like it.”

“I don’t think I have any way to attack, is that alright?”

“Hmm, that might be a little dangerous!”

“Ehhhh!!”

I wonder if I might die quickly…

Anyway, the skill is ‘singing.’ Maybe it’s related to how I’ve been taking lessons in piano and singing? Although, I had stopped when Hana became sick…

Although I felt very disappointed, I touched the god’s protection last.

<The Divine Protection of the God Ligris>

An exchange diary with Ligris can be written.

“……Eh?”

“Because, it’ll be tough in a world where you don’t know anything, right? I think it’s a pretty good deal though.”

“Th-That’s true…!”

Indeed. When I get out of here and into the other world, I won’t be able to contact him without this protection. Certainly, being alone when I don’t know anything is quite tough…Feeling that he was being considerate for me, words of thanks flowed out naturally.

“Hinami is really honest. Anyway, I told you that there would be a house, right?”

“Ah, yes…!”

“Because I can’t just suddenly summon a house in the city, I built it in a forest. The inside of the house and the garden area inside the fence is perceived as Hinami’s house. Only within those boundaries does the skill <God’s Miniature Garden> apply, so remember that.”

So that’s my safe zone…!

I nodded vigorously to let the god know. That must be the line between life and death for me.

“Also, you can walk to the city. Well, it might be a little far though…I picked a low-difficulty forest, so I don’t think there should be much danger.”

“Thank you! I’ll be able to manage somehow.”

“Yup. Hmm…That’s all from me. Any questions?”

“Eh…erm…I can’t think of any.”

“Well, you won’t know until you experience it. Write on the diary if there’s anything else.”

“Yes!”

Somehow, despite being the price I had to pay in return for my wish, this was more than satisfactory. My life? Hana will live, so it’s perfectly fine. In the end, I wonder if I was able to do something like an older sister…

“Well then, shall we? Truth be told, I can’t have people here for too long.”

I nodded a bit and looked at him. He too nodded in response.

Then he embraced me tightly. His warmth could be felt directly. Nothing happened, but maybe because I felt relieved, tears came out a little. Possibly having noticed them, the god gently patted my head.

“Sorry for being a bit forceful. But Hinami is now mine so you can’t escape now, okay…?”

“Uuh…!”

“Fufu, be prepared.”

Then, the god took my hand and touched his lips to the back of my hand.

“Hey…!!”

“Fufu, this is service, a service. Check your status once you arrive in <Letisreel>.”

Without being able to make a retort, I was surrounded in a dazzling light and disappeared from that world of darkness.

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T/N: It’s nice how the author chose not to go the OP power route, although our heroine is apparently now penpals with the god Ligris. It’ll be interesting to see the future world building from here on out!

Also, here is a picture of Hinami-chan: