The problem with saving a village—even accidentally—was that people wanted explanations.
Arjun did not have any.
They gathered around him the next morning, not in a crowd exactly, but in a way that felt intentional. Too neat. Too quiet.
Someone cleared their throat.
"Did you know the monsters would fall?"
Arjun blinked. "No."
They nodded.
"Did you foresee the collapse?"
"No."
More nodding.
"…Why are you agreeing with me."
The head elder smiled calmly. "Because foresight does not always announce itself."
Arjun felt tired.
[Narrative interpretation intensifying.]
"I didn't narrate anything."
[Others are narrating for you.]
"That's worse."
Chapter 22: Politics Is a Worse Monster
By noon, outsiders arrived.
Well-dressed. Polite. Smiling too much.
Arjun immediately disliked them.
One bowed deeply. "Strategic Authority Arjun, our lord seeks your guidance."
Arjun nearly dropped his bowl.
"Please don't call me that."
The man smiled wider. "Humility is expected."
"I'm not being humble," Arjun said. "I'm begging."
The messenger didn't seem to hear that.
"Do you foresee conflict?" he asked.
Arjun hesitated.
"…No."
The man visibly relaxed.
"Excellent."
[Regional tension decreased.]
"…System," Arjun whispered, "why did that work."
[Your uncertainty is being interpreted as restraint.]
"That feels like cheating."
[You are not trying.]
Chapter 23: Accidental Philosophy
The hero found him later.
Not armored. Not armed.
Just… sitting.
"You didn't give them answers," the hero said.
"I didn't have any."
The hero nodded thoughtfully. "Answers limit possibility."
Arjun stared.
"I just didn't want responsibility."
The hero looked shaken.
"That… might be the same thing."
[Conceptual alignment forming.]
"Please stop aligning."
Chapter 24: The Beginning of a Problem
Someone left bread outside Arjun's door.
He thought it was nice.
Then someone else left fruit.
Then a note.
For your continued silence.
Arjun stared at it for a long time.
"…No."
[Behavioral shift detected.]
"I am not accepting offerings."
[They are not asking permission.]
He stepped outside.
People bowed.
Arjun turned around and went back inside.
"That's not a solution," he muttered.
[It appears to be temporary.]
Chapter 25: A Name Starts Circulating
He heard it whispered first.
Then spoken.
Then said openly.
"The Still Path."
Arjun stopped walking.
"…The what."
A villager smiled nervously. "Your way."
"I don't have a way."
"Exactly," the villager said, awed.
Arjun closed his eyes.
[Cult probability rising.]
"I refuse."
[Refusal recorded.]
"…That didn't sound convincing."
[It was not.]
Arjun sighed deeply.
"I just wanted to be left alone."
The world, apparently, disagreed.