This Is Getting Out Of Hand (1)

<(Reminiscence)>

“Have you arrived?”

Cold. Unlike other gods, this goddess never speaks to me informally.

Perhaps that’s why I felt a sense of anticipation visiting the garden of the fifth god.

“Kim Han.”

But of course.

She doesn’t think of me as special… not at all.

“That is correct.”

And as expected, she’s reading my thoughts.

Was it unpleasant for her all this time? Was it laughable that I, a mere human, worried about a god who spends time alone? Or did she think it was pathetic?

“That is not the case. I did not think anything of it.”

“…What?”

“I will say it again. I was aware that you were concerned about me, Kim Han. And as I mentioned, I ‘know’ about it, but I have not ‘thought’ about it.”

“So…”

I’m confused. Am I just like a piece of gum wrapper in her bag that she didn’t bother to throw away?

Or am I like candy she forgot in her bag that anyone could take from a restaurant?

“It’s hard to understand, Kim Han, your current emotions, that is. If I must say, it wasn’t worth thinking about. Because I am not lonely. The concern was based on a wrong premise, so there was no need to continue. More importantly, your 5-year gift…”

“Stop!”

“…Your emotions are too complex. They’re hard to read.”

“Stop it! Stop reading my feelings, my thoughts, as you please! How far do you have to go to be satisfied?! How far! No value? No need? Stop it! Just stop!”

“Did you find it uncomfortable to have your thoughts read?”

“Of course! Imagine someone reading your thoughts before you even speak! Do you like that?”

“Hmm… I think it would be convenient?”

“Y-you lunatic!! You’re crazy!!”

“Not reading thoughts makes it difficult to understand the meaning of polysemous words. If you mean that ‘crazy’ refers to being out of one’s mind, then you’re wrong. But if you mean being absorbed in something, then yes. I am absorbed in my work…”

“Stop! Stop! Enough!! I won’t expect anything from you anymore! Just give me the gift!”

“Understood.”

Still a cold tone. And a message matching that cold tone appeared before my eyes.

The gift received from Ludicer in the last year at Exorsus was the same as the previous four years. Just like her heart.

*—*Conversation between Kim Han and Ludicer in the 5th year before regression.

Leaving behind the tower master, who insisted on her innocence and even volunteered to become a slave, I entered the Garden of Gods with the bewildered Lee Hyo-ju and Arun.

Upon entering the Garden of Gods with the three of us, the usual surroundings transformed into a beautiful garden, unlike when meeting Ludicer.

“I didn’t expect to see you so soon.”

“Welcome.”

“……”

“Aetas? Oh?!”

Another god with a fish head alongside Aetas.

Feeling something strange as I faced three gods at once and looked around, I found Arun and Lee Hyo-ju standing on either side of me.

“Oh?!”

This is the first time for such a situation.

I had always thought that no matter how many people entered the Garden of Aetas, only the representative and the god could meet one-on-one.

It’s inevitable because, in the time of the ‘Battlefield of the Gods’, every January 1st, the representatives residing in each city flock to the garden of the city’s god.

Even those known as skilled individuals do not delay heading to the Garden of Gods to receive even the crumbs thrown by the gods to their slaves each year, and to quickly adapt to that power.

And each time, I always met Ludicer one-on-one. The same goes for other representatives.

So a few days ago, when I met Aetas with Ludicer, it was surprising and amazing to me.

But this time, even Ister is here. And meeting other representatives at the same time. It’s both fascinating and interesting.

“So, this must be Ister? The God of Rivers?”

“Yes, human.”

“Crazy bastard. Are you a wench? You’re not in your right mind either. Why say ‘human’? I know I’m human. You don’t have to keep saying human, human at the end of every sentence. Got it? Fish head?”

“You, human scum!!”

“Aetas, beloved of the Sky God Caelum? Could you quiet this fish head? If this continues… we’re just going to leave.”

Aetas would know that I wouldn’t really do that immediately, even if I threatened like this.

But she also knows that I’m the kind of person who could really storm out if things keep going like this.

“You! I told you not to do that! Don’t do it!! You are really… annoying! And Ister, you bastard! Didn’t I tell you not to step in? Did I or did I not?”

“Ugh… Understood.”

As expected, Aetas!

Even the Heaven and Demon Gods are cautious before Aetas, so it was intended for Aetas to help, not Ludicer, but to be silenced in one blow. Quite impressive.

“So, why did you call us?”

“Honestly, I didn’t expect you to actually try to kill them immediately. I thought you would act a bit more cunningly, based on what I’ve seen of you before.”

“Ah, that’s true. It felt like my brain was melting with anger. And seeing those greedy and stupid old men made me so irritated. And the Wind Tower Master played the victim at the end. Tsk. Still, I tried to use all the tower masters there, including the Wind Tower Master, like dogs.”

“Death is too lenient a punishment. I cannot forgive them.”

It was Ludicer’s ice-cold voice, which I hadn’t heard in a long time.

She seems really angry… It’s been a while since I’ve seen her like this, so it’s quite refreshing.

“So… okay, I got it. So what are you planning to do?”

“I called you for a more certain reward and greater benefits. You know? Even if you make a slave contract in that state, it will only last five years at most.”

“Right… Tsk. Well, I get that. But even if Aetas is a powerful and ancient god, is it okay for our new god, Ludicer, to do the same? Isn’t it going to bring too much attention from the start? Even if the ‘Battlefield of the Gods’ period lasts only about 30 years, won’t you get ostracized or bullied later? That fish head has a small brain, so he won’t think much about this…”

“Hey, human!”

“Whyyy~?!”

“Ister, step back. He’s a cherished representative of that person. And Kim Han, take it easy. As you said, he has a small brain; he gets excited easily.”

“Th-that person?! No way…!”

Ignoring Aetas’s reprimand directed at him, he looked at me with surprised eyes, pointed his finger, then slowly lowered his hand, repeatedly mouthing “no way” with his lips.

Why does his gaping mouth in the air remind me of a fish bumping against the aquarium wall? Was it because they resemble each other?

“So, what’s your answer?”

“It doesn’t matter. No, it must be done. If not, we’ll be ostracized. That’s how pride is to a god. If we manifest and cause chaos, more gods will view us favorably. We’ve raised their pride on behalf of all gods. They won’t care about the punishment or the benefits we gain. They’ll focus on the fact that we ‘directly’ manifested. Even the demon you’re displeased with would say this incident was well-handled.”

“Is it that serious…?”

“Yes. The timing of the incident was terrible. First, as you mentioned, it’s the ‘training period.’ And it’s been less than a month since the ‘Battlefield of the Gods’ opened. You’re the first representative to arrive at Exorsus. Their attack happened at a time too early for human activity. You were asleep at that time. Lastly, they attacked our representative!”

“…Damn, it’s serious.”

As Aetas pointed out each aspect, the situation finally became clear. This was an inescapable situation.

For a god, pride was an aspect so significant that it could be discussed in terms of their very existence. Though we collectively refer to it as pride, it could be seen as a form of honor.

That’s why gods are willing to risk their lives in the ‘Battlefield of the Gods.’ It’s an act that elevates their honor.

Furthermore, the situation completely contradicts the law set by the Creator, which governs the entire ‘Battlefield of the Gods’ and is represented by ‘settings.’ It was no wonder Aetas, who looked up to the Creator, reacted so sensitively.

Unlike the current arrogant group of five, ordinary beings living on the continent stake their lives on these ‘settings.’

As a simple example, when I first entered Exorsus to adhere to these ‘settings,’ the head of security, facing my intimidating aura, requested that I issue registration to Unos and
Katarina, who were nothing more than chunks of meat.

Although I initially expressed my refusal, he didn’t give up, citing an oracle.

At that moment, he was genuinely risking his life.

“Yeah, it’s a serious situation.”

“So what? Are you saying three gods will manifest and kill everyone?”

“Of course not. I’m not Ister. What do you take me for…?”

“Lady Aetas!!”

“Ah! Right. Sorry. My mistake. I offer a sincere apology, Aetas!“

“Human!!”

That guy, there’s something amusing about teasing him. He’s exactly like Arun. A spitting image of Arun, you could say.

In some ways, gods and their representatives seem to share similar traits. Aetas and Lee Hyo-ju, Ister and Arun, me and Ludicer.

Not that we look alike.

“So what are you going to do?”

“On Earth, they call it good cop, bad cop. Do you know it?”

I do. It’s a common scene in dramas, movies, and crime shows.

When I nodded, Aetas gave a captivating smile.

“It’s a legitimate situation, so we’re going to manifest after a long time and scare them properly. Just brand the slave seal on those affiliated with the five magic towers’ masters so they belong to you. Including their families. After that, you just have to coax and placate the slaves, including the tower masters! For example, with the Mithril Ingot you can make…”

“Hmm… Sounds good. As expected of an old god, you’re smart and clear.”

“Of course! I’m Aetas. Don’t get confused because my name is similar to Ister. If you do, I’ll really hate it.”

“Okay. I’ll have to tweak it a bit, but I’ll discuss that with Ludicer… So, is that it?”

During my conversation with Aetas, Ister, and Ludicer, Arun and Lee Hyo-ju were just staring blankly in surprise.

Hmm, it seems like I’ve been leading the conversation too much on my own.

So I gave them a look, signaling them to say something too. But they still had that dumbfounded expression.

“Tsk. Have a separate talk with your dazed representatives. I have things to discuss with Ludicer.”

“Oh my! Someone’s lucky, getting lots of love from their representative!”

I shrugged my shoulders even more naturally at Aetas’s teasing, but Ludicer just lowered her head without any response.

Is she intimidated because Aetas is a high-ranking god?

“Then let’s split up. Oh, right! Before you go, Aetas.”

“Yeah?”

“Thanks for the gift last time. It was a big help.”

“…Are you serious? It’s a bit surprising, but I’m glad it helped. As I said before, take good care of my Hyo-ju.”

“Sure.”

With that, Aetas took away the blushing Lee Hyo-ju, and Ister similarly took the still-dazed Arun.

I was left alone with Ludicer.

Unlike usual, she remained silent.

“Before that, are you really okay?”

“Pardon? In what way…?”

“No, I mean, they’re all higher gods than you, right? Are you okay? You seemed unable to say anything. Was it tough because of them?”

“Oh, no. I’m fine.”

“Really? Ah, and thank you for that gift. It seemed excessive for a first-year gift, wasn’t it too much?”

“It’s not a big deal. The portable workshop equipment you were worried about is for production, not combat, so it’s not too much.”

“Is that so? Hmm. But you don’t have to overdo it next time. As far as I know, you’re the youngest among over a hundred thousand gods, right? Take it easy. If other gods say something, just let it go in one ear and out the other. If they seem threatening, go to the Creator.”

“You don’t need to worry. During the ‘Battlefield of the Gods’ period, gods can’t cause direct or indirect harm to each other. Be careful, though. Among the continent’s people, there are some as strong as you.”

Nodding in understanding, the silence returned. An awkward situation. Ludicer was always quiet, but the atmosphere now felt strange.