2.4
The normie's eyes are shinning as he answers… Maybe I'm not one to say, but considering how much he is simping her, maybe I should stop calling him a normie…
"Of cours---!"
"I refuse."
Out of nowhere, the red haired girl interrupts the normie, midsentence. She still has a deep frown in between her eye browns. That was a fastball if I've ever seen one. But the normie still seems to be willing to play the game…
"What do you mean!? There are lives on the line! We were summoned as heroes, so we obviously have the responsibility to help them!"
"Wrong. I had no option before I was brought here. My duties, my responsibility and my--- circumstances were left behind in my own world. And now they expect me to compromise to this situation I barely just heard about? That's the opposite of what a responsible decision would be. I own nothing to anyone HERE."
"But, that's…"
Whoa, red hair: obliterate! I'm even feeling a little bit of pity for the normie right now... Nah, he had it coming, even if he wants to help them, he can't just lose focus of reality here...
"What's more, my status clearly said 'summoned by accident', meaning I'm not even one of you 'heroes'. Then, how do I get back? Are any of you willing to take 'responsibility' for that?"
"Summoned by accident"… What if they ended up summoning someone with COVID…? Then this world would actually end…
She's now looking at the shining woman, who stares back while maintaining her neutral expression.
"It is a shame; however, it does happen at times for someone unrelated to be summoned alongside the heroes. Unfortunately I am unable to send you back to your world, at the moment."
Well, considering that the Demon Lord was summoned, nothing else surprises me anymore. Besides, I had already expected that they would be unable to send us back to our own worlds… Be that the truth or not. I mean, if that possibility was on the table, some heroes (and a Demon Lord) might even rebel in order to get sent back home.
Who knows, maybe that could even be the reason why she's being so calm and attentive. If you look close enough, you can even see a sharp glint in her eyes.
I can't tell for sure, since her abilities for social manipulation don't seem to be anywhere near enough – when compared for example with that axe girl, who has already managed to befriend everyone off-screen while I was having the most important conversation of my life…
Anyways, what I mean is that she doesn't seem like much of an actress, but it's better to keep her intentions on check for now.
"However, I promise you will be treated fairly, in the same manner as the heroes, if you choose to help. Overall, just by being an otherwolder your raw potential is already on a different level than someone native from here."
I guess it just doesn't matter whether you're a hero or not in order to receive cheats... But would she be willing to let a Demon Lord in on that offer as well? Anyone can dream, I guess…
"No. I have no intention of participating in your war. And since I'm not a 'heroine' either, whether I'm here or not shouldn't make much difference. You should play with the pieces you chose, isn't that so?"
…
Is it just me? Or can everyone else see the daggers and sparks flying in between them?
"I have no intention of forcing you to participate in this war… However, it is something that will affect you no matter where you go in this world. Besides, have you any plans for what to do if you leave now? It might be preferable to stay for a while and decide later."
This room turned so cold I feel I might break if I move…
Caham! A-anyways, I should also make a decision. Should I try out my luck in this new world or stay with the heroes for as long as I can, get stronger and then try to bargain some kind of agreement with this… Queen...?
Do I have any confidence in my ability to not get caught…?
"No, I have no specific plan in mind, but I will manage. Either way, isn't it better for you if I fall by myself now instead of dragging all of the others through the mud later? I'll just act on my own from the start, so there won't be anything for you to worry about."
Everyone else is watching in a frozen state. If I also get out of here right now, no one should be able to follow… Ah, wait, the shiny woman is still standing strong.
"Unfortunately, I am not able to force you to change your opinion. But know that you will always have a place in here, should you change your mind."
That almost seems like she would force her if she had the means… I think I can almost see her feelings overflowing from her words… But even then her face remains neutral…
The red haired girl prepares to leave.
Instead of wasting my time analyzing other people's emotional state, I should really put my focus into making a decision too…
It seems the others have also accepted his result. Is there anyone else planning to leave too? Personally, it doesn't seem like a good option for the others to take. But it would make things easier for me…
"Then, farewe---"
"Wait! Even so, you can't just run away here! We must help them! It is the right thing to do!!!"
The normie has come back to life!? I could've sworn I saw him lying dead in the corner of the room just a minute ago!
"Aren't you ashamed to refuse her request!? She's our Goddess! How could you possibly justify yourself to go against the will of God!?"
Congratulations, normie, you've been promoted. Welcome to the simp club.
I mean, I do agree she looks like a Goddess, and even shines. Also, she's so beautiful it made me think that not even 2D can compare… C-Caham! But even I wouldn't be able to scream something like that out loud in front of others, you know…? I mean, maybe if we were in a live or something. But while you're just talking in front of the person herself? That's a different level there, bro…
"Hah?"
The red haired girl doesn't even deign herself to give an answer, and simply stares inquisitively at the woman in question.
Nonono, you shouldn't pay any mind to perverts like him...
The simp continues, feverously: "You haven't noticed? She's the Goddess who created the godddess race, all of these soldiers, the humans of this world! And she brought us here! She saved my life! All our lives! Weren't you also on the verge of death!?"
Say what now?
Thinking back…
The soldier from the corridor said: 'don't make the Goddess wait'.
The shining woman referred to the 'goddess race' as 'my race'. She also said she was the one who would repeat the process to seal the soul whenever the seal broke.
She also mentioned the demons waged war 'against me'. And 'my territory'. I'd assumed she was just a Queen and a narcissist… But if that's true, then parts of the conversation would start to make more sense…
Also, she is shining, after all…
"Is it true? That voice… It was you?" Asked the shield girl, representing the other stupefied heroes and me.
The goddess made a confirmatory expression.
"It is true. I am the Goddess who created the race you see in front of you, and their eternal Queen." She points to the soldiers at the corner.
"Save some exceptions, I am responsible for everything that exists in this world and outside it, within this universe. Most of you here must have accepted my invitation, in a moment when your souls had lost almost all connection to your bodies…Though the situation might be different for someone who is not a hero, so I must apologize for that."
S-so she actually is a Goddess? It would be typical for an isekai… And also explain the reason why that soldier specifically called her a Goddess.
Also, she is shining, so I have to admit this one had been in front of me this whole time… But it's just way too surreal to actually think you've met a God. I mean, really, did she just say she created the whole universe? And she's here, in this small planet, discussing with us about a war that doesn't even amount to a spec of dirt in the greatness of--- well, everything else in existence…?
Holy shit, I can't even start to compute…
… Also, all of these kids… They were dying before being brought here…?
Fuck…
…
W-Wait, then what about me!?
N-no… I don`t remember anything like that before being sent here.
Memory loss…?
Then again, she did say it might have been different for non-heroes, and I am the Demon lord after all…
But, what if…?
It… It doesn`t matter. If I`m alive now, then all that matters is finding a way back home…
…
"And what does any of that have to do with me? I'm leaving."
W-what? T-That girl is crazy… We've just received an absurd information, and she doesn't seem to be shaken at all. A Demon or a Goddess, her decision can't be influenced in the least…
I on the other hand have no idea of what to do…
"Wha---!!???"
The simp--- I mean, considering everything I guess he can go back to being a normie… His face contorts in visible indignation, anger even.
Honestly, I've waited too long. Time to decide… I guess I'll just do what feels right…
"Excuse me."
I say while tapping him in the shoulder.
"At the end of the day, it's meaningless to try and force someone to do something they decided not to. And can you actually understand what this war means? We could die… And even if we don't, we'll be forced to kill other rational beings. Do you understand? The kind that probably has families and everything. Imagine one of them raising a flag before facing us: 'I need to survive this war and return to meet my newborn child', and such… There's no way I can do that… I'm sorry, but I can't participate on this either."
Now I understand that everything I've ever studied for human rights was so that one day I could save my ass in an isekai.
And of course I chose to run away in the end… Predictable I'd say, huh…
But that doesn't matter, I have to try and search for my own way home. I already know my first objective in this world, at least.
"Ghh! Of course, you would also! I knew it from the moment I saw your face---!"
H-huh? W-What does my face have to do with this??? D-damn normie!
"Blythe, enough, the discussion has ended. It is as he said. Accepting this task is something to be decided through each one's own free will. However, do not forget that freedom is something that does not exist without duty."
Ahh… I'd better just follow her cue and leave…
So the normie's surname was Blythe, then? Well, not that it matters anymore now. I hope we won't have to meet again, otherwise they might be coming for my head next…
I wish I could've helped the Goddess if I could… But it's complicated when part of the request is for me to get killed…
But wait… Even if I leave now, I'll still be able to get a harem later, right…? Right!?
…
…
…
The red haired girl has already opened the door and left, she didn't even stick around for the end of the discussion. She must've already known how things would end, or not even cared… I should hurry and take my leave too.
We exit the castle without any problems. That soldier--- what did they say her rank was again? That Captain(?) soldier simply stares at red hair for a while, before sending me an uninterested look, devoid of any sort of surprise… I think she might've already expected I would leave. W-what do these people even have against me…? D-do I look weak willed or something…? Can`t deny it though…
It must be an isekai protagonist trait or something... After a while I'll return OP and everyone will be impressed: 'How did that loser manage to defeat a red-eyes supreme white dragon!?'… Heh.
…
No, seriously now. Is it actually something about my face?