The past few days, Hatake and I were in a constant quarrel. He was such a c.o.c.ky guy who kept on making a ruckus. He would pick a fight with me or Jin. Jin ignored his existence and didn't even bother yelling at him.

Hatake was feeling c.o.c.ky, flirting around Hinami and Ayumi, and I got angry at him. I was the only one who couldn't resist his d.a.m.n behavior. I got irritated the most when he tried his moves with Ayumi. Little he knows, Ayumi gets very violent once you irritate or annoy her and he ends up with a black eye. However, due to his skills, the bruise disappeared just a moment ago. I can't deny that he's handsome and appealing but wouldn't it hurt to learn decent manners?

Just now, a portal made of crystal appeared in the middle of the room. The priest came out of it with a scroll on his hand. He had spent the last days contacting the G.o.ds trying to learn some information about our curse. I realized that each representative holds a curse.

"Vast beyond the light! Radiate the heirloom of the heavens! Holy Transport!"

All of a sudden, we appeared before him. We were somehow teleported to his location and he spoke out:

"Listen here! Representatives! I will now lay upon each of you your secrets!" He opens the scroll which extended out on the floor.

He told us that to make our bond stronger with each other, we were to reveal one of our curses to each other. He thought that we would be more accustomed to each other if we know something personal. It was to deepen our trust. But no matter what happens, I won't trust that idiotic Ebisu Hatake.

"You'd better not tell them my most embarra.s.sing curse, dimwit! I'll skin you alive!" Hatake complained in a threatening voice. The priest's face twitched in irritation.

"Very well then. I shall speak of you first."

"Vivid Prison!" The priest cast out a spell.

A cylinder transparent-like prison appeared out of thin air, imprisoning Hatake. The prison glimmered in different colors and Hatake's confused face shot around us.

"Wh!"

I guess the priest had planned this through. Since he was also irritated by Hatake's c.o.c.ky att.i.tude, he must have decided to speak out the most embarra.s.sing curse about him. Hatake, inside the prison, seemed to be screaming but his voice didn't reach out. It was impenetrable and soundproof.

Hmf... Served him right. That jerk.

The priest started to reveal his curse. Apparently, Hatake was a businessman. He was rich and well-known however he was corrupt and used dirty ways to earn money. He was caught and killed by one of his clients, sending him to the void where he met Ebisu, the G.o.d of wealth. He had been cursed with [Curse: Poverty], which made him unable to gain money that he deserves and he was not able to use corruption in any kind of way.

"Big mouth for a guy with a small wallet." Hatake shot me a threatening look, apparently, he was able to hear us but we couldn't hear him. He started cursing at me.

Can't Ebisu add another? Like, he can't reveal his corrupt att.i.tude towards people? That could have been great.

Next was Agyo Hinami, Cursed by the G.o.d of war, Agyo. Hinami was a teenage delinquent who likes to fight people that she hates. Apparently, Agyo was proud of Hinami. However, he found that Hinami was a scoundrel who kept on lying around and causing trouble. Agyo, being a G.o.d of war, found it disgusting and believe in fair war and battles. She ended up with the [Curse: Open Flower] which made her unable to lie. That's not even a curse! That's just lowkey punishment!

Geez, these G.o.ds are getting on my nerves. And look at me, so pathetic. I'm the one here who suffered more.

Jin Ichigo was a farmer. He had a family and was relying on his crops. The crops were the only source of his income and the only one that supported his family. However, a great storm washed away his farm. Devastated, he cursed the skies until he died. His family suffered from poverty and hunger which made his family die before him. He was able to live very old age, cursing and detesting the Jin G.o.ds as each year pa.s.sed, and died of aging. The G.o.ds felt anger for his actions and for blaming them in his loss. So as a punishment, the G.o.ds made him a person who wields the elements he hated the most. The elements that killed his family and took his life, the thunder and the storm. [Curse: Vengeance] was the vengeance of the Jins against him. For the rest of his life, he was to live with a power that he despised the most.

What a sad guy.

Kannon Ayumi, cursed by the G.o.ddess of Mercy, was a high school girl who abused her position as a student council president. She never felt mercy towards the people below her and abused her power as she manipulates them. She died of a stab wound when one of her close friends betrayed her. She was given the [Curse: Slavery] and to live her life here as a slave. The owner will gain her level and she will lose them if she is not with her owner. She cannot disobey her master nor betray her.

That explains her mysterious level, geez, now I know why she didn't want anyone to know. It might be embarra.s.sing if someone else knew. They would look down at her. But I couldn't help but only sympathize her. She ended up crying on my shoulder. I held her in my arms as I comfort her.

"How could you embrace me after hearing that?"

"Hey, that doesn't mean you can't change? Besides, you saved me a couple of times."

I felt sorry about Ayumi. I wonder, who is her master?

Apparently, The priest wasn't able to tell my curse since it contained a rule that cannot be broken. A rule that implies that no one shall ever know the Nas.h.i.+ki name nor powers. Ayumi never knew about my curse, only my past which Koneko stupidly revealed to her.

They shot a suspicious look at me. At the time being, Hatake has calmed down, so the priest decided to release him.

"Are you sure he's the right one? He looks suspicious. He looks weak too. How would I know you won't betray us and spread our secrets?" Hatake sneered and sharpened his sword towards me.

"At least he's not a poor dumba.s.s like you, Hatake."

Oooh! Ayumi shot a very hot one!

Hatake's face twisted with irk. He lowered his sword and clenched his fists as he walked away angrily. He kicked the air, thinking there was a rock on the floor.

Apparently, they were fine after hearing all of the curses. They didn't complain except Hatake of course. He kept on pointing his finger, threatening the priest. The priest would only reply with an annoyed look.

Jin Ichigo kept on being silent. I sat beyond the corner, disappointed. I was left behind. Because I wasn't able to reveal to them my curse, they felt unfair knowing that I know theirs. It was unfair for them. It would be hard for them to trust me.

Is he really going to make me suffer here? Why are all the representatives here had such a malevolent past? Isn't it more fitting if they chose a representative with a very benevolent past? Like real life heroes who can really save the world? Why would they choose imperfect beings such as us?

Do they think that we would change and become better for ourselves? Maybe... Maybe this curse was to help us be better than our past selves. To improve our souls. Maybe, this curse was to make us believe in our own potential and discover things about us. Or maybe this curse was just simply to punish us for our sins.

I signed as I stare upon the sky. There were no birds and only clouds were seen. There was no sun at all.

The snake that had been lingering around Hinami approached me in the corner, slithering as it moves on the floor.

Poof! A sudden burst of air appeared and faded only to show a young looking man. He had silver hair and his skin was paler than Hinami. His eyes were of a snake and his skin had scales. I closed my eye knowing that he might be naked.

"Don't worry, I have clothes on me." He spoke with a soft scary voice. He sounded like a snake. Wait... he is a snake!

I looked at him and he wearing j.a.panese clothing called monsuke, a black kimono for men. I sighed in relief. Koneko, however, is naked every time she transforms into her human form.

"Feeling out of place?"

"Yeah."

"I can't blame you... Hissss..." He started to hiss like a real snake.

"I can taste a G.o.ddess in here..."

G.o.ddess? Do you mean Koneko?

"Yes, Koneko. So that's her name?"

"Wha?! What in the world?! How did you hear my thoughts?!" I was surprised.

"I can read minds... Hiss... Since Hinami can't lie, I can help her by telling her what people were thinking when she interacts with them. So that no one can betray her... Hiss... Since she can't lie, reading minds will help her know the other truth about the other party."

"Are you a legendary pet too?"

"Yes, I am..."

I realized that our pets were similar. It helped us in our personal troubles and companies us when we're lonely.

Koneko suddenly popped her head out from my chest on the opening of my s.h.i.+rt around my neck.

Nyaaan~

"How were you able to turn human without getting naked, umm?"

"Orochi. Snake G.o.d of Deceit, Orochi. My name may be suspicious but you can trust me. I am the G.o.d of deceit but I'm not betraying anyone. I simply smell deceit and speak the truth for milady, Hinami."

"So reading minds is your blessing?"

"Blessing? Do you mean by special pa.s.sive skill? Then yes it is."

"I see. So about that..."

"Not being naked? You just have to kiss her in her lips pa.s.sionately and then a skill will be unlocked, named G.o.ddess Clothing. Her clothes will determine on how you kiss her."

NYAAAAN?!~

Both I and Koneko shot him a confused and awkward look. He can't be serious. I mean Koneko in her human form, she's a loli!

"I see. She's a child..."

"STOP READING MY HEAD!"

d.a.m.n it. He gets on my nerves all of a sudden. I stood and turned my back.

"So you mean you kissed Hinami?"

"With no malicious intent or perverted ideas. She did."

Woah... Kissing a naked guy. Hinami, you really are something.

"I'll be going then."

I left him.

A week had pa.s.sed and I haven't done what that snake had said. I couldn't believe him. I mean, who would trust a snake? He even has deceit on his name. An idiot would only fall for that. But maybe he wasn't lying.

I shot a look at Koneko. She was wearing my cloak and spare clothing that Ayumi had prepared for emergencies.

"D-don't even think about it, master! Lolicon! Lolicon complex!" Koneko shouted at me.

"H-hey?! What do you mean lolicon complex?!" I pulled her cheek.

"Ahhh! That hurts master!"

"Here..." Ayumi appeared behind me, giving me a loaf of bread.

"Thanks."

"I miss the village. Do you know when we're getting out of here?"

"I don't know either."

-----------------

I have spent a week here with Ayumi and grown a little attached to each other. She was now more open to me with conversations and had helped me train in the quantum. I had been practicing [Stride] and she was practicing her [Shadow Dash].

Koneko had never reverted back to her human form and continued to stay on my shoulder.

Even in this realm, it had day and night. The sun had already sunk and the realm was covered in darkness but the stars lighted the place. Later on, we took a rest and laid on the crystal floor. Beyond was a series of stars glimmering with different colors, showering us with awe.

"Hey..."

Ayumi suddenly spoke. I looked at her and she was facing the sky, with a scarlet colored face.

"What is it?" She seemed fl.u.s.tered.

"I heard what Orochi said about Koneko having clothes..." She bit her lips.

"Ahhh! Don't get the wrong Idea! I didn't do what he said! Geez, he was just lying."

"You'd better not kiss Koneko!"

Koneko was sleeping on my chest.

"Of course I won't! She's still a chil-"

"Not until... Just wait..."

Huh? I looked at her. What does she mean wait?

"What do you mean?"

"Geez! Nevermind! Just don't do it yet! Idiot! Just wait!" She mumbles something else but I didn't hear it.

"What?"

"Nothing! Idiot! Just die!" She was flushed with red and pouted her lips. She suddenly rose and stood on the floor.

"Idiot Yakiro..." She said before das.h.i.+ng away in the darkness.

What's with her? Anyway, I should focus on how I could grind my level the time I get out of here. I heard Arnel and the others talking about a pillar.

Pillar is basically a high-level tower dungeon that falls from the sky. It contains riches and the first one to reach the top with a condition will be granted a little wish.

Nyaan~ Nyaan~ Koneko was yawning.

I was able to better grip my movement when using [Stride]. Hero cla.s.s huh? Why was I the only different from them? All their cla.s.s were medieval like and felt like the fitting of an RPG cla.s.s. I've never heard a Hero cla.s.s before. Oh well... I better keep practicing my stride.

"Stride!"