I'm a Goddess to Be Devoured by the Protagonist - Chapter 52

As the words from the original story came back to me, I felt tears prickling at the corners of my eyes.
It was such a sorrowful tale.
His gaze grew distant, lost in memory.
-I believed in him until he struck me down from behind.
That man took the money Sirius had gathered and fled. He abandoned Sirius over a pittance, thinking nothing of their bond.
-Thank you for listening to my story.
[The Listener says it must have been difficult to share such a painful tale, and thanks you for your courage.]
-It was not difficult.
Then I’m glad.
Having finished his account, Sirius prepared for bed with an expression of perfect calm.
[The Listener wishes to have good dreams together with you.]
-……Together. I understand.
With those words, Sirius lay down and sought sleep. I closed the broadcast and drifted off as well.
Though he was far away, I felt as though he were right beside me.
* * *
Six more days had passed since the Boy was thrust into his brutal training.
Sirius went to the Adventurer’s Guild and purchased information about a dungeon that contained reasonably weak monsters.
Upon entering, they found flowers that moved on two legs using their stiff roots as limbs.
At first I thought it absurd—flowers walking upright—but they were remarkably swift.
One flower gave chase to the Boy. He took off at full speed.
-Kyaaaah! Help me!
-You are more than capable of winning.
Sirius spoke without hesitation to the terrified Boy. When the Boy realized Sirius would not rescue him, his face went ashen.
Yet this time, he did not run.
The Boy turned and cut down the flower. It was remarkable progress.
-Shrieeeek.
The flower collapsed with a ghastly cry.
-I… I won!
-Well done.
At Sirius’s praise, the Boy soared with exhilaration.
[Sword of Courage]
[Grows stronger in proportion to your courage.]
At that rate, the ability should be activating reasonably well by now.
After cutting through countless flowers, the Boy at last found himself before the boss monster.
A massive flower loomed above them both. Each movement produced a sickening, wet sound.
-Ugh. S-scary…….
-Do not be afraid. Your opponent is not strong.
-Y-yes…….
Squelch.
-KYAAAAH!!
As the blade pierced it, sap the color of pale green poured forth.
-Screeeee!
The flower thrashed its limbs and kicked the Boy like a ball. Sirius caught him from behind, steadying him before he could fall.
-I… thank you…….
-Keep your eyes forward. The enemy remains.
-Y-yes!
He gripped the blade properly once more and charged forward.
Though ungraceful compared to Sirius, it was respectable enough to call impressive.
Time passed—how much, I could not say—before the Boy seized victory.
-Huff… huff… I… I won.
-Well done.
Perhaps that praise was the very words the fifteen-year-old Sirius had longed to hear.
* * *
The Earl, hearing of the Boy’s growth, was deeply satisfied.
-With your aid, our house’s line need not end.
There was no more talk of driving the Boy away.
-I wish to offer you something in return.
A servant appeared holding a cushion. On the cushion lay a single object.
“A knight should receive something like this, don’t you think?”
[Guardian Necklace]
[Absorbs a certain amount of impact directed at the wearer.]
“A necklace that absorbs impacts, then.”
Since Sirius didn’t know he could see the System window, the Earl explained the item to him.
“Thank you. I’m sure I’ll find it useful.”
“Yes, yes indeed.”
The Earl seemed pleased that Sirius had accepted the item so graciously.
“I’m grateful once more—for turning my boy into a proper man.”
“Not at all. I merely drew out the talent that was already within him.”
“Humble, too—such a young man. I like him well. We must hold a party this evening.”
Why did these nobles love their galas and parties so much?
I couldn’t fathom the minds of wealthy people.
[‘The Listener Who Draws Lines of Wishes’ says you should enjoy this party as well.]
“Yes. I understand.”
Sirius covered his mouth so that no one could see his lips moving as he replied.
* * *
Now that I think about it, starting the day after I woke up from that month-long sleep, I sparred every morning.
That’s right—Seungryija and I played a game called Swordsmanship.
Today too, Seungryija slumped to the ground as his stamina gave out, his face brimming with satisfaction.
As we chatted about this and that, Seungryija suddenly asked me a question.
“Why don’t you come meet me at dawn? What are you doing then?”
“Sleeping.”
“What? You sleep?”
From his reaction, it seemed ordinary gods didn’t sleep after all.
“Gods have no need for sleep. Has your vitality waned somehow?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Do you feel as though your memories have faded?”
My memories hadn’t faded, but it seemed easier to say they had in order to hide the fact that I was possessing a body.
“Yes, it does feel like they’ve gone.”
“Just as I thought. There seems to be something wrong with your mental state.”
Was that how it worked?
But that’s strange. I feel fine right now. So why am I sleeping?
Maybe I should ask Seosa about it.
“By the way, I’ve been getting free labor out of you lately. If you win this time, I’ll have to sponsor your contractor with an item.”
“Let’s fight right now.”
“Ha, that competitive spirit—unmatched.”
* * *
Sirius hesitated as he was about to drink the Potion that Seungryija had given him.
“It has quite a striking aroma.”
From his expression, it was clearly a striking aroma of the decidedly unpleasant variety.
[‘The Listener Who Draws Lines of Wishes’ says you should drink every last drop without leaving any.]
“Understood.”
Sirius drained the entire bottle without leaving a single drop, following my orders.
His expression didn’t look good at all.
[‘The Listener Who Draws Lines of Wishes’ says he should have thought to prepare some candy beforehand.]
“I’m all right, truly.”
He didn’t look all right, though.
But what could I do from here? I couldn’t even offer him a single piece of candy.
I could only wait for that striking aroma to pass and for Sirius’s expression to return to normal.
“I’m fine now, truly.”
[‘The Listener Who Draws Lines of Wishes’ says thank goodness.]
After that, Sirius had breakfast, thanks to my insistence that he not skip meals.
While Sirius was eating, maybe I should visit Seosa. I wanted to ask her why I’m sleeping.
[Listener: I’m coming to your space.]
[Seosa: Sure. Come on in. (￣∇￣)/]
[Transfer]
After exchanging a brief chat with Seosa, I pressed the button and moved to the space that had now become familiar to me.
Seosa, as always, watched me with her eyes closed and smiled warmly.
“Do you have any questions for me?”
“I’ve been sleeping without any pain or discomfort.”
“You’re still adjusting to the Divine Realm, so that’s natural. It should feel normal soon enough.”
How soon is soon? A year? A decade? A century?
Sleep had posed no problems so far, but the possibility of complications later made my chest tighten with impatience.
“Sleep shouldn’t cause any serious trouble. Probably.”
If not for that last word, I would have taken it as divine prophecy from someone who could read the future. A shame, really.
“Your contractor sleeps at night too, doesn’t he? Since he’s not moving, there shouldn’t be any problems.”
But in the original story, things happened even while he slept. Terrible nightmares and all.
For all I know, Sirius might be quietly handling everything behind the scenes, which is why I remain oblivious.
“Anyway, don’t worry too much about it. If anything comes up, come to me.”
“Understood.”
I exchanged a few more brief words with Seosa and returned to my space.
* * *
Sirius used a Transportation Stone to arrive in Diamond, the capital.
I had deliberately kept the number of times Sirius visited the capital to a minimum.
The capital held painful memories for him. Sirius had been born in a duke’s residence as a child whose own father never knew of his existence.
Confined to a corner of the duke’s mansion beneath his mother’s indifference, he couldn’t escape until around age ten, when his mother died.
For five years after that, he received the same education as any other noble. Yet Sirius felt that such a life didn’t suit him at all.
As though he were wearing clothes that didn’t fit.
At fifteen, he threw himself into the harsh world with nothing but the clothes on his back.
What followed was a string of betrayals. Even someone he’d grown close enough to give his name — Sirius — had stabbed him in the back.
A past as dark as they come.
In any case, if he could resolve this matter cleanly, there would be no reason to return to the capital.
Sirius made his way to the Cassia Dukedom’s town house.
“A knight of the Ranunculus Earldom. I come with the recommendation of both earldoms.”
Getting this far had been difficult indeed. The Cassia Duke was notoriously suspicious of others.
Once he received the item here, preparations against the Evil God would be complete.
“Find my daughter’s body in the Ruined Village.”
The duke gestured to a servant, who quietly relayed some command.

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