Chapter 148. Contact
I had experienced, multiple times through meditation, the moment when a miracle was first cast by the prophet.
Every time, there was a commonality: the faintest sense, however weak, of a God.
Of course, it consisted only of the subtlest touches, like the shadow or gaze of an Foreign God.
In cases where I was unable to sense a God during meditation, it was either because my mind deliberately chose not to perceive it due to the danger, or the fact of perceiving it was forcibly erased.
“So… are you suggesting we attempt to contact Zeus with that power?”
“Yes, even if I’m not completely sure it’s possible, it’s worth a try.”
Strictly speaking, the presence of a God in meditation was merely an experience of what the prophet felt at the time.
It might be just a fragment of information less valuable than a splinter.
Therefore, I was not trying to summon a fragment of a God, but aiming to contact the real God through the remnants felt by the prophet as a medium.
“This is an attempt at a kind of prayer… and invocation.”
Since praying to a God was essentially a way to communicate.
“So essentially, you’re preparing an environment for a God to make contact and increasing the likelihood they will directly answer you?”
“Precisely.”
“Uh… but is that feasible? I haven’t received any response after all.”
Talia and Eldritch looked skeptical.
‘And rightfully so. Even I am not entirely certain of this action.’
In the realm of this religion and faith, it’s unclear what certainty should be felt.
“Even so, it’s worth attempting. It’s certainly better than just blindly praying.”
To be strong, priests pray with faith and act in ways to please the God.
The method always relied heavily on the God.
So, the only option was to try something on my own.
“If anything happens, wake me immediately. If I don’t wake up… Gluttony will drag my body and fight instead.”
I wouldn’t be able to cast miracles, but Gluttony alone could reach a combat power equivalent to the 4th rank.
『Can you manage?』
『Yes!』
“Where’s Mary… Ah, there she is.”
Mary descended slowly from the ceiling.
“What’s up?”
“I have something important to discuss. Eldritch and Talia, would you mind stepping out for a bit?”
“Yes, understood.”
Once they left, Mary gave me a curious look.
“Mary. I need to ask about my meditation and this dice ability.”
“… You mean the gaming ability?”
Apparently, that’s what she called it.
I recounted the conversation I had with Sevika.
“Sevika from your dream seems to care a great deal about you.”
“You know about Sevika as well? Anyway… this odd ability to cause phenomena similar to a game system—everything Sevika said, is it all true?”
“Yes, as far as I know.”
I asked Mary as an additional precaution.
“How does Sevika know this? Is there any chance she has a connection with Dowol?”
“They’ve never met. I have no idea how Sevika from your dream knows about the gaming ability.”
Apparently, she only had the basics about Sevika instilled.
“Then, could you give me your opinion on this?”
I shared my plan with Mary. She seemed to understand exactly what I intended.
“GM call?”
“Uh-huh… If the God is a GM, then yes, that’s the idea.”
In TRPGs, there are times when you break character and ask the GM, the Game Master, a question—be it about rules or anything else—which is referred to as a GM call.
“Could it also lead to a connection with Dowol?”
“He is not a God. Not a GM either.”
Of course, I didn’t think Dowol was a God.
So not even a GM?
I assumed he had some involvement in the happenings of this world, but did he lack any such capability?
“Then, if I were to ask, what is Dowol…”
Mary formed an X with her fingers over her lips.
“As expected.”
“You’ll discover it yourself one day.”
“Right, I suppose so.”
I decided to get back on topic.
“So… do you think this is possible?”
“That is for the God to decide.”
Mary couldn’t guarantee it but hadn’t outright dismissed it.
“On what grounds are you doing this?”
“Sorry?”
“There’s no assurance that Zeus is on your side.”
That was certainly true.
Given that I was well-loved by an Foreign God, he might consider me something malicious.
“Especially since Zeus waged a long war against Foreig Gods’ forces. He might dislike you.”
“Even so, I have to try. I want to discuss Talia, too.”
Above all, I wished to experience a God’s presence firsthand.
“Well, I’ll be off then.”
With a final plea to keep watch, I entered meditation.
* * *
The man, a devout follower and prophet of Zeus, was running desperately.
He had received news that his son was taken by followers of a Foreign God.
Praying earnestly for his son’s safety and his chance to rescue him, the man ran.
Then, upon praying to “reach his son’s location swiftly”—
Flash!
Lightning struck from the sky.
At the moment of connection with the God, I intentionally paused the world in my meditation.
This lightning was the connection between Zeus and the prophet.
In other words, it was a connection with me, who was merged with the prophet at that moment.
Maintaining that link, I detached from the merge and took my own form.
“Zeus! If you can hear my voice, please respond!”
The paused world remained silent.
“Master of thunder and king of Olympus! While I may not be your follower, I plead—grant me your presence!”
No matter what I said, nothing changed.
“Will you truly not answer? Even knowing why I have come?”
Foreign Gods… even those impostors would grant my prayers.
But why was it that Gods who purportedly supported humanity never answered prayers or questions, in this world or the one before?
“Is it because I’m not a follower? Why did you entangle that child?”
In my attempt to communicate with the God, I eventually found myself voicing sorrow and resentment.
“Did you have to burden a child with such a weight? You did not grant even a first rank to Priest Boris who dutifully maintained your temple and offered you praise!”
What on earth were their criteria?
Did Gods paint such a grand picture that humans couldn’t comprehend it?
“Come on, say something!”
What use was there if there was no response, regardless of how I cried out?
“Yes, it was foolish of me to expect anything.”
In the end, I had to accomplish it myself.
Just like when I gave up everything and tasked myself as that pastor’s errand runner to ruin him.
A God would likely offer no help to the end.
I finally released my resentment and emerged from my meditation.
* * *
“Did you achieve any success, Ethnos?”
“Not at all. There was no response whatsoever.”
I returned the scripture to Talia.
“That’s unfortunate. Watching you flipping the scripture so fervently, I thought you had succeeded.”
“… Did I?”
I noticed red stains on the scripture and looked at my fingers, finding a drop of blood.
『Gluttony, did you do this?』
『No!』
Could I have unconsciously stained the scripture with my own blood?
Examining the scripture closely, the blood had fallen directly on the letters; I decided to try assembling the words.
‘Nothing.’
This was the first word that came together.
My heart, once filled with disappointment, began to throb rapidly.
‘This isn’t a coincidence. Zeus must have answered me.’
Without the ability to influence the world within meditation, he answered in this form.
While contemplating the letter arrangement, I tried listing the blood stains by size…
‘You are unworthy.’
A sentence formed.
“Unworthy, huh? What kind of worthiness?”
A tether of sanity snapped.
“Uh, uncle?”
“What, does it mean not being a follower disqualifies me? Or is there some damnable criterion for conversing with a God?!”
“Please calm down, Ethnos.”
My head felt like it was boiling.
From those old prayers to the God for my mother’s sake all the way to now.
Gods didn’t seem to harbor any intention of aiding me.
“Ha…”
As I sighed while slouched back in my chair, Talia spoke up, looking at me with concern.
“He’s not entirely ignoring you.”
“Thank you, but I’m alright.”
“No, really. Think about it, Ethnos. Ultimately, it gave an answer, didn’t it? If there was truly no intention to interact, wouldn’t there have been absolutely no response at all?”
As I calmed down and reflected, Talia’s words seemed quite reasonable.
Of course, one could see it as positive, if overly optimistic.
“Or maybe it was a warning.”
A warning not to try again due to unworthiness.
A rather gentle warning at that, even if it was.
“Perhaps it’s suggesting you acquire a particular qualification?”
“Who knows…”
If that were the case, I wished it had specified what qualifications were needed.
However, thinking carefully, it wasn’t completely without gain.
At least I found out some form of contact is possible.
“I’ll try again later, or perhaps attempt with a different God. After all, it doesn’t seem entirely impossible.”
Worst-case scenario—
Facing an unprecedented situation—
‘I can try to connect with Outer Gods in this manner.’
If I could endure it, that is.
“So meanwhile, engage in other meditations—”
“Uh, uncle!”
Talia suddenly interrupted.
“If you keep on doing this meditation thing, won’t it take a toll on your mind?”
“Just a little bit. It’s minor, so it’s fine.”
Though my mental state decreases by about one or two, it recovers after roughly a week, so it isn’t an issue.
“Even though you haven’t completely recovered yet! You’ll worsen at this rate!”
Perhaps seeing my actions as excessive, Eldritch nodded in agreement.
“I understand the precaution, but it seems excessive.”
“Rest good.”
With Mary interjecting her opinion, I had no choice but to concede.
“Fine… I get it.”
“So… would you like to come along for a change in pace?”
Suggesting a change in pace at a time like this?
As I was about to decline, Eldritch gave me a knowing look.
“Ethnos. Talia witnessed the deaths of dozens today, and even faced life-threatening battles with the Dweller Princess.”
It was routine for me, but knowing Talia had experienced it sounded overwhelmingly stressful.
A breath of relief indeed seemed warranted for her.
“I’m not saying this is just for play. It’s to look for a clue about that qualification too, and it could also serve as training for myself.”
“So… what are you proposing?”
Talia beamed with expectation as she replied.
“There’s an old hidden sanctuary on Fidelio Island! They say it’s where a divine relic is kept. Let’s explore it together!”