Mysterious Light
No mistake. I only met her once, but it was definitely that goddess.
The one who summoned me and Seiya into this world, gave each of us a DORECA, and assigned Risha and Arisa.
The origin of everything. The very source of it all.
The human who returned from the ape—it looked exactly like her.
But wait. Is she really the real one…?
She looks identical, but could she just be a look-alike?
"Still… she was awfully strong, that ape."
I was certain it was the goddess because the ape before returning had been ridiculously strong.
She overpowered me. I’d have been done for if I’d hesitated or messed up.
In fact, she’d made me pull out my absolute best. That kind of ape.
I’d thought she was the weakest. Turns out she was the strongest. That’s a big reason I believe she’s actually the Goddess.
Well, what now?
"U…n…"
A soft groan. Slowly, her eyes opened.
Eventually her eyes fully opened, blinking—papapa—her gaze darting around.
She pushed herself up, then looked around again, fidgeting.
“Awake now?”
“……”
“First, I wanna hear some answers. You know who I am?”
“……”
“Hey, talk to me.”
“Um… can I ask something first?”
“Question first. Fine, go ahead.”
“Where am I?”
“Huh?”
“Who am I?”
“…Wait, what?”
Unexpected turn of events.
Where am I? Who am I?
Classic lines. This is exactly—
“Am I… memory loss?”
“I don’t remember anything.”
“Nothing at all?”
“Yes…”
“Not even me?”
“Um… yes… I’m sorry.”
“Hmph…”
Damn it—now it’s getting even more complicated.
I was just trying to figure out if she’s really the Goddess, and now this? Memory loss.
Well, sure, people who came back from being apes often had messed-up memories. It’s not unheard of.
Most of them got killed by monsters and turned into apes, so it’s not surprising their memories are messed up. People with trauma-induced amnesia are common enough.
But someone who can’t even remember their own name? Never heard of that.
“Hyaa!”
The woman tumbles backward, scrambling on the ground.
“What’s wrong!”
“Ah, aaaaah, that!”
She points. Three zombies emerge from the depths of the woods.
“Scared of zombies?”
Using DORECA, she instantly conjures iron swords from inside each zombie’s body.
One by one, the zombies collapse, skewered through and falling slowly.
“Amazing…”
“Don’t fear. I’m here.”
“Yes.”
“Seriously… completely different person. This is…”
She no longer seemed like the Goddess at all.
Not remembering her name was one thing. But for the Goddess to flinch at zombies like this? That didn’t fit. That wasn’t her character.
You don’t change your whole personality just 'cause you lost your memory.
Besides, only humans killed by monsters turn into Shreivij.
How the hell would that goddess get killed by a monster? Seriously—doesn’t add up.
“Hmph.”
A sarcastic smirk. Idiot, I am, mocking myself.
“Let’s go, then.”
“Go where?”
“My place. There’s zombies popping up nonstop here. Let’s get somewhere quiet.”
“Yes!”
Now that she’s not the Goddess, she’s just another person to protect—just another citizen.
I’ll guard her and take her back to town.
I turn around and start walking.
“Ah, this fell.”
“Huh?”
I stop and turn back.
A single card lies before her.
A magic card. Once, the DORECA of the Holy Night.
Fumbling at her chest, as if she’d dropped it without noticing.
She didn’t notice—she rarely used it, compared to her own DORECA.
“Alright, here you go—”
Reaching down, offering it to me.
The moment I took the card from her hand.
The card—both of us touching it at once—flared with light.
“Eh… eh?!”
“W-What’s this?!”
Me, stunned. Her, flustered.
We both panicked at the sight before us.
Why? Why’s the card glowing?
She yanked her hand back in a hurry. The light flickered out.
“Phew…”
“…Can you… try touching it again?”
I asked her.
“Eh? B-But…”
“Please.”
“…Okay… h-huh…”
Smaller than before, but still startling.
The card glowed again the moment we touched it together.
This time, I pulled my hand away first. The light died.
Grab it again. Glows.
"Looks like... it glows when both of us touch the card at once."
"Yes. What is this, exactly?"
Where even do I start explaining?
Why does it glow in the first place?
Is this really... that Goddess?
The mystery just keeps digging deeper.