3 A Mission And A Promise
Understanding the connection between his soul and the Hero's Sword fragments, finally gave him an idea as to why the Goddess Visare decided to talk to him.
"That's right, fluffy sleepyhead!... I have a mission for you."
I knew it!... That's his thoughts as the Goddess Visare proudly explains what kind of mission he is gonna be assigned.
"I want you to gather all the Hero's Sword fragments and return them to me here at my Realm."
That explanation is so direct and simple. Yet he has this uncertain premonition that it won't be as easy as it was told by the Goddess Visare. Besides...
"Sheesh!.. I know, fluffy sleepyhead. You're thinking that you don't have any reason to do this mission, right?"
"You're right!..."
It's not like he's a coward but risking his life for something he didn't completely understand feels a bit confusing for him.
"Well... What if I tell you that your soul won't be able to come back to your origin body ever again without the Hero's Sword? Would that be enough reason for you to do this mission?"
"Wait, why is that?..."
"The Hero's Sword is the only way to summon someone from your origin world and return them. Now that's broken into many fragments, it won't be able to summon a person or even return a soul to your origin world."
"If the broken Hero's Sword is the problem, can't you just make another one..."
"Sigh!... Again?... Why would I do that, fluffy sleepyhead?"
That depressing long sigh of the Goddess Visare shows how much she doesn't want to make another Hero's Sword. Whatever the reason, of course, he would want to know...
"Really?... You want to know?... Fine!... First I have to form an agreement with the Creator of your origin world so that the Hero's Sword can summon and return someone to Earth... Then I have to make a new whole System for the new Hero's Sword..."
The Goddess Visare keeps on talking with a displeased voice that also shows how much bothersome is to make the first Hero's Sword. She keeps on explaining all about the Hero's Sword System using words that he can't comprehend anymore.
When the Goddess Visare notices his confusion, she finally stops her explanation about the Hero's Sword System and goes back to talking about the mission.
"Anyway, if you don't gather the Hero's Sword fragments, your soul won't be able to return to your origin world. And since your soul is not part of the Reverie System, your soul won't be purified and it won't be born into the next life."
The fact that he or his soul won't be born into the next life is a serious matter. However, what matters to him is not the next but his current one.
Even if he successfully gathers all the Hero's Sword fragments and returns his soul to his origin body on Earth, what's waiting for him is still death.
If what he remembers as well as the Goddess Visare has told him earlier is true, his body has an incurable sickness and he probably won't live that long.
But still, the feeling of wanting to return exists inside his heart and mind.
To return not to his origin body but probably to the people who are waiting by his side.
"Fufufu!... I guess you already made up your mind, fluffy sleepyhead."
The Goddess Visare laughed not to mock him but by being pleased with his silent agreement to do this mission.
"Don't worry, fluffy sleepyhead... It's not like I'm going to abandon you after you complete this mission."
It was that caring voice again used by the Goddess Visare.
His thought that maybe the Goddess Visare is manipulating him came out again. But thinking about how the intent or feeling of the Goddess is easily expressed in their entire conversation made him doubt that he is being manipulated.
Perhaps the Goddess Visare just doesn't care about lies or deception.
The Goddess Visare then told him what she would do for him after he successfully completed this mission.
"Once your soul returns to your origin body, I'm willing to form an agreement with the Creator of Earth to remove your sickness and completely heal your origin body!... How's that, fluffy sleepyhead?!"
I guess I'm not that unfortunate.
That single thought made him smile and gave him a bit of courage about the uncertainty of what was waiting for him in the world of Reverie.
"Fufufu!... I like that smile of yours, fluffy sleepyhead. I hope you can keep that smile once your soul has been summoned using that hideous experiment."
This time, it was not the serious voice of the Goddess Visare, nor the caring or carefree voice. It sounds more like the Goddess is challenging him, an intimidation perhaps.
"What do you mean by that?!..."
...CRACK!...
"Sheesh!... I guess we don't have much time. It's all your fault, fluffy sleepyhead. You made me spend too much time talking about the Hero's Sword System..."
As the Goddess Visare complains and blames him for what is about to happen, white cracks start to appear on the ground of the dark abyss and the clear blue sky along with the shattering sounds.
This scene made him realize that this place is about to collapse and his time with the Goddess Visare is about to end. But until this moment, the Goddess still hasn't told him the details of the hideous experiment his soul is involved with.
"Wait!... What about..."
"You just have to find out about it once you get there!... That's easier than to explain it here, right?"
"At least give some details about it!"
...CRACK!!!...
"We don't have any time!... This is the limit of how long I can keep your soul here without killing your new body."
"What?... Killing?..."
"Don't worry, fluffy sleepyhead!... Your soul has my blessing. Just look into a part of yourself and you will see the System that I gave to you. It's not as powerful as the Hero's Sword System but it will help you in this mission."
At the Goddess's remark, he tried to look at his hands and the System given to him appears in his eyes.
[Goddess's Assassin System]
[Mode (+0)]
[Life (+0)]
[Mana (+0)]
[Status (__)]
[STR (+0), AGI (+0), VIT (+0), DEX (+0), INT (+0)]
[Element: FIRE (+0), WIND (+0), GROUND (+0), WATER (+0), LIGHT (+0), DARK (+0)]
[Combat Power (+0)]
[Level (+0)]
"Why are all my points in zero!"
"Well... Your points will still depend on your new body!... So just hope that the hideous experiment will give you a strong one!"
Remembering how unfortunate he is makes him think that his new body is doomed as well.
"Do your best to complete this mission, fluffy sleepyhead!... And I will keep my promise to you!... Do your best so I can return everyone else to your origin world!"
"Wait!... What do you mean by everyone else?..."
The silhouette of the Goddess Visare then disappears.
And as the white cracks filled the place that was called the representation of his soul, his soul, and consciousness started to fade toward his new body in the world of Reverie.
