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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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The missions he’d thought were easy were proving to be difficult. ‘…Huh?’ The reason was simple. He was trying not to use his powers.
“What are you doing? You’re holding a poisonous plant.”
“Huh? Oh, uh…”
Minerva had called it a poisonous plant. He dropped it and looked around.
‘I have no idea.’
Plants were plants, dirt was dirt. He couldn’t tell them apart. He had no idea what he was supposed to collect.
“Haaa…”
He’d had no problem when he’d used [Chronos’s Eyes]. He’d been able to ‘sense’ things, but now he couldn’t even do basic gathering.
‘What should I do?’
As he was scratching his head, a message appeared.
[‘Oracle’ has arrived]
[God Chronos: You have my eyes, do you not?]
“…Tsk.”
[God Chronos: Do not worry, I will not take back my power. Just be grateful for my grace and move forward.]
“………..”
Should he use it? No. He didn’t want to go back on his word. He didn’t want to rely on Chronos again. ‘There has to be another way…’ He closed his eyes and thought. And then, he realized.
“Minerva, wait.”
“Huh?”
He’d forgotten.
“I’m going to wear my glasses.”
“…The ‘glasses’ you bought?”
“Yes.”
The glasses engraved with ‘Appraisal’. He could gather herbs without Chronos’s eyes.
[God Chronos: So you borrow the eyes of lesser beings? I shall not stop you. But the day will come when you reach out to me.]
‘Never.’ He shook his head and started gathering herbs. Then another message.
[‘Title’ acquired.]
[Title: Self-Reliant Child]
-The wisdom of the small can sometimes break the stubbornness of the great.
-A wisdom only attainable by a human who challenged a god.
-You are a resourceful child. Here is a reward.
-Intelligence increased (small)
“Oh…!”
So, he was watching.
[God Chronos: Hera… you’re meddling.]
[Goddess Hera: I’m simply rewarding a good deed. Do you not understand rewards?]
[God Chronos: …………]
A divine squabble. He was just happy about the increase in intelligence. But the problems didn’t end there.
“Chrono-ssi, goblins ahead.”
“I see them.”
They approached the goblins.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
“Easy peasy.”
The goblins fell. His gun was now infused with Hera’s divinity, not Chronos’s, so it felt a little weaker. But it wasn’t a problem. He had plenty of skills. But…
“Chrono-ssi, watch out for its claws!”
“I know!”
When he was fighting the boss monster—
*Growl!*
“Get lost, you bastard!”
He shot at the monster, keeping his distance. He tried to use skills, but the boss monster used skills too. ‘…This is frustrating.’ He couldn’t manipulate time. He had to fight fairly.
‘Was it always this hard?’
He’d slowed down time or accelerated himself in the past. The troll was the first time he had fought a boss monster head-on. And that was because he’d had no choice. He’d been filled with adrenaline then. Now, he had to endure without any skills.
“If only…”
…If only he could manipulate time. He could kill this boss in one turn.
“Chrono-ssi, now!”
“I know!”
He and Minerva got close to the werewolf.
“[Point-Blank Shot]!”
*Whimper?!*
A satisfying shot, but the werewolf took a step back and lunged at him.
“Shit!”
He had to change his stance, but it was too late. He couldn’t move fast enough without his skills. Back then, he’d been buffed by the gods. He was on his own now. ‘Should I sacrifice my shoulder…?’
Damn it. That meant going back to the hospital. He had potions and bandages, but it would still be inconvenient. He gritted his teeth— when—
—Slash!
*Whimper!*
“…Huh?”
The werewolf’s head flew off. Minerva wiped her rapier and approached him.
“That was an unusual mistake, Chrono-ssi.”
“…Haaa…”
It was an unusual mistake, indeed. He wouldn’t normally make such a mistake. It showed the limits of his power without Chronos. Just as he felt a flicker of weakness in his resolve,
[‘Oracle’ has arrived]
[God Chronos: My arms are always open for my child.]
“…Ugh…”
Chronos was tempting him, pulling him back. Return to me, accept my power. Accept the reality you’ve abandoned. ‘I hate it… but…’ Could he even complete the missions, the events, without his powers? He doubted himself. He felt weak. Even defeating the boss monster hadn’t lifted his spirits. As he looked down at the ground, Minerva spoke.
“It’s not that strange, actually.”
“What…?”
“You try to do too much alone, Chrono-ssi.”
“…Minerva…”
She pulled out a water bottle and handed it to him.
“…Lean on me. I’ll also lean on you.”
“…Huff”
Yes. This was it. This was what he’d wanted when he’d rejected Chronos.
‘Sorry, Chronos, but I refuse your offer.’
[God Chronos: I hope you’re not saying you’ll rely on your comrades. That would be foolish.]
‘Foolishness is what makes humans human.’
[God Chronos: …Do as you please, fool.]
Chronos’s oracle disappeared. Another window appeared.
[‘Title’ acquired.]
[Title: Let’s Walk Together]
-The progress of mankind is the progress of communities.
-Humanity’s unity can defeat anything, and walking together is a beautiful thing.
-Just wait a little bit longer. When your name becomes known, then I shall grant you power.
-Party members’ attack power increase by 5%.
“Hehe!”
She knew how to scratch his itch. He stood up.
“Alright, I’ll lean on you then. You do the same.”
“!…Hmm… I understand how Mars feels now.”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
She fanned herself and walked away. He didn’t pry.
Day 1.
“…It feels rewarding.”
“That’s good.”
He was in good condition. He had used [Power Chord] while she was on watch, and taken frequent breaks.
Day 2.
“…Four boss monsters…?”
“They’re all weak, so it’s fine.”
“………..”
It went smoothly. But Minerva’s stress levels were dangerously high. He’d have to focus on stress relief tonight. No boss monster hunting tomorrow.
Day 3.
“…How many did you say there were…?”
“13. They’re all gathering quests, and they’re all easy, so don’t worry.”
“………..”
Minerva’s stress level had stabilized. But her soul seemed to be deteriorating.
Day 4.
“Die, die, die, die…”
“Hmm…”
The stress and condition management seemed to have worked. His combat senses were sharp. He’d completed most of the extermination quests. Only the boss monsters remained.
“…So, I’m free if I kill them?”
“Well…”
He still had to dig.
Day 5.
“…Is it… finally over…?”
“The extermination quests are done.”
“Then…!”
“Yes.”
He showed her the pickaxe and shovel.
“Now we dig.”
“……….”
She wasn’t talking much today. Was she stressed? He played [Power Chord] at night.
“Chrono-ssi. I want to sleep… peacefully tonight.”
“? Isn’t it peaceful?”
His music was supposed to relieve stress. He stopped playing and looked at her.
“…Without any noise.”
“…Oh.”
That sounded ominous. He didn’t play any music.
Day 6.
“How many missions are left?”
“Just 6 gathering quests left!”
“Six…”
That was enough time for sex. Minerva smiled ominously and closed her eyes.
“…Hmm.”
He might have overworked her.
