I'm a Goddess to Be Devoured by the Protagonist - Chapter 45

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 45
[You Really Seem Lucky]
[When held, nullifies instant death once.]
It’s a broken item.
I had to have this no matter what.
“Well then. Shall we draw up a contract?”
[Transaction Contract]
[Transaction Contractor: The Recurring Pitch-Black Dream]
[‘The Listener Drawing Lines of Desire’ provides entertainment to ‘The Recurring Pitch-Black Dream.’ In return, ‘The Listener Drawing Lines of Desire’s Contractor’ receives sponsorship of ‘You Really Seem Lucky.’]
[(Please draw anything using a quill pen.)]
I had no idea how to entertain him, but the sight of such a broken item made me sign without hesitation.
Now that I think about it, I didn’t sign anything back when the Victor was around. That god is certainly an unusual one.
[The contract has been established.]
“Here, let’s do this.”
The Dream rummaged in his embrace and pulled something out—a rectangular plastic case that looked as though it might contain a game chip.
I read the text scrawled across the container.
[The Enlightened One of Swarming Joy’s Horror Game Series, Volume Three]
Why does your name appear here?
It appeared to be one of the games the Enlightened One had created.
A horror game, no less. I’m a coward—I wonder if I’ll be alright.
But my answer was already decided.
“Alright.”
“Hehe. Hehehehe.”
The Dream laughed in an eerie tone. Somehow, the very space around us seemed to tremble along with his laughter.
Has the horror game already started?
“Of course, only you are entering the game.”
So I wouldn’t be going in with him.
Alone would be even more terrifying. Damn it.
“I’ll be watching over you.”
The moment the question ‘How?’ crossed my mind, the game chip the Dream had pulled out earlier shone, and my vision shifted.
I found myself in what looked like a Scientific Laboratory. It seemed as though a mad scientist might burst forth at any moment.
So it’s a game, but an upgraded VR game version.
What’s the difference between this and a haunted house?
Of course, being a coward, I’ve never even been near a haunted house, so I wouldn’t know.
In any case, I moved forward. Staying still here seemed pointless.
But my steps were soon blocked.
[A Card Key appears to be necessary to open this door.]
A ominously designed system window appeared.
In a horror game, if something was missing, you had to find it somewhere. I began searching the room adjacent to where the door was.
Shelf—empty. Drawer—empty.
Locker—hmm. There’s something disgusting in there. Better not open it.
Then it happened.
Clang.
What was that sound?
What else but the sound of a monster.
For some reason, the sound came from very close by. Until just before, I’d heard no sign of anything at all.
I slowly turned around.
What stood there was a grotesque creature twisted from the depths of hell—a being crafted in every fiber to inspire nothing but pure terror.
I wanted to scream.
But they say that when a person is overwhelmed by fear, they cannot make a sound. Instead, my lips sealed shut.
At least my image as the Listener remained intact.
To anyone watching, I would appear to be standing perfectly still.
My expression wouldn’t change, after all.
-Wow, you’re not even running away?
The Dream’s voice echoed through empty air.
Not running—can’t run. My legs won’t obey me.
[You have died.]
[Would you like to play again?]
[Yes] / [No]
So a god’s game contains the element of death. How amusing—letting humans experience death indirectly and enjoying it.
Of course, that’s sarcasm. There’s nothing fun about it.
Listen. If you’re not scared, you have to stop running away from it.
Get out here right now. You’re playing this too.
I’m not doing this alone!
* * *
I cleared the game having experienced countless indirect deaths beyond reckoning.
I kept a composed face on the surface, but inside, I was streaming with tears from sheer terror.
“Wow. Impressive. Not once startled through all those deaths.”
Dream clapped their hands together. I couldn’t tell if they were mocking me or genuinely impressed.
“Well then, shall I send you an item?”
How grateful I am.
I turned on the Broadcast and watched Dream sponsor an item.
It was the middle of the night, so Sirius was asleep.
[Viewers: 2]
[Message Sponsorship from the Observing God, “Recurring Pitch-Black Dream”]
[Take it]
[Sponsorship Item: You Really Seem Lucky]
He bolted upright.
Sirius had woken. I’d meant to let him sleep, but I’d inadvertently roused him.
-Your Divinity, what is this…?
[Viewers: 1]
[~(˙ ᵋ ˙ )~]
I sent back some random emoticon.
I’d decided not to let Sirius know about my suffering.
It was too ugly.
* * *
The moment my business was done, I returned to the Enlightened One.
“What were you up to?”
“I had quite an unpleasant experience.”
This much I could say, surely?
It certainly wouldn’t have been a pleasant one for the Listener either.
“I knew this would happen.”
I should have listened to the Enlightened One from the start.
But you’re the one who made that horrible thing. If not for you!
[Dream: Won’t you play with me today?]
[Listener: No. I’m busy.]
After that, I ignored every message Dream sent.
* * *
The day after the gathering.
When I woke, there were stacked messages from the Enlightened One waiting.
[Enlightened One: Ugh, Listener…]
[Listener: What’s wrong?]
[Enlightened One: Come to my space.]
I moved to the Enlightened One’s space as he requested.
The Enlightened One rushed toward me and clung to my legs.
“My Contractor is going to die!!”
His upturned face was a mess. His eyes were swollen and tears streamed endlessly down his cheeks.
Even a god with an Intervention Level of 10 could not seem to prevent death.
What must a Contractor’s death feel like to a god? Like watching a character you’ve poured effort into for so long simply vanish?
That thought left me feeling unsettled, but I couldn’t blame the gods for it.
It was simply a cultural difference between humans and gods.
“Look at this…”
The Enlightened One shared a link with me.
When I clicked the link, a broadcast screen appeared showing someone. In its center lay an Old Man resting on a bed.
He was not alone. Many people surrounded him.
Among them were people who resembled him—men and women of various ages—as well as others who bore no apparent relation to him, whose appearances were entirely different.
They were all worried about the Old Man.
-And… God who has walked beside my life, I thank you. Because of you, I learned what joy truly is.
The Old Man’s words were drawing to their end.
-God of gathered joy. Your Contractor gladly accepts death.
His face was so serene that it seemed impossible he was a man facing death.
The Old Man departed from the world as peacefully as if he were simply falling asleep.
Those gathered around him called out to the Old Man each in their own way. But he did not answer.
The Enlightened One’s cries only grew louder.
I watched the scene in a daze.
I had thought the gods merely played with humans through broadcasts. Not all of them were sociopaths like the Listener.
The Enlightened One’s weeping finally subsided some time later.
“I’ve watched the Broadcast for so long, but I still can’t get used to a Contractor’s death.”
There was no way one could ever grow accustomed to such a thing.
“You’ll come to understand this feeling eventually, too.”
Sirius’s death.
Though there was still much time left, I nodded in agreement with his words.
* * *
Sirius was still in the city of Opal. Tonight was the final night of the festival.
After bathing, Sirius returned to his lodging and asked me a question.
—God.
[ ( ᐛ )? ]
—May I ask what work you do?
What do I do? Lie in bed and watch the Broadcast?
[‘The Listener who Traces Diagonal Lines of Wishes’ says you’ve been watching over him.]
—My question pertains to ordinary matters beyond that.
I hesitated, then decided to tell him about what had happened today.
[‘The Listener who Traces Diagonal Lines of Wishes’ says that today you met with another god.]
—I see.
There’s no harm in telling him that much.
I left out the part about that god’s Contractor dying.
Sirius fell silent before the system window, lost in thought.
Soon after, he spoke.
—Does the other god also have a Contractor?
[‘The Listener who Traces Diagonal Lines of Wishes’ affirms this.]
I affirmed his question, but I did not reveal the existence of other worlds. I was uncertain whether I was permitted to speak of other worlds.
—Does God have another Contractor besides me?
[‘The Listener who Traces Diagonal Lines of Wishes’ says that you have no Contractors other than ‘Sirius’.]
—If I were to die, would you take a new Contractor?
[‘The Listener who Traces Diagonal Lines of Wishes’ says not to speak such sad things.]
—Humans die eventually. And as an adventurer, I cannot know when my death will come even less so.
He was right. His words were true.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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