Excuse me, Master Takatsuki. The master is not here today.

　Fujiyan wasn't home.

　Nina-san, who handled it for me, looks horrified.
　It was my fault for going without an appointment.
　I felt bad for not having an appointment.

"What time will Fujiyan be back?
And I'm not supposed to be back for a couple of days with a big deal or something...
Really?
　Too bad.
　The only person I could complain to was out of town.
　Well, I guess I'll just go solo and hunt goblins today.
　That's what I was thinking about.

'By the way, Takatsuki-sama!　Look here.
　The smiling face and Nina's shining in the bosom that she shows me.

'The gold badge?'
'Yes!　Thanks to the blessings of the gods you know, Lord High Moon, you are now Gold Ranked!
That's ... congratulations.
　That's great.
　A gold badge is the highest rank that a branch of the guild can issue.
　Rank certification above platinum can only be granted by the main branch in the King's Capital.
　So Nina-san has reached the highest level of the Adventurer's Guild in McAllen?

''No, honestly, with my abilities, I thought the Silver rank was the end of the line. You never know what's going to happen.
'No, no, Nina, your fighting was amazing.
　It would only be because of that foot technique that he was able to improve his rank.

''Master was very enthusiastic about starting a big business with the demonic stone he got the other day, and it's all thanks to Master Gao Moon!
　Nina raises her hands in the air in praise, but I feel more than happy.
　But I'm more than happy, I feel a little empty.
　Everyone is doing well.
　On the other hand, I have to say...

Well then, please say hello to Fujiyan for me.
'Yes!　Come again!
　The smiling Nina saw me off and I left Fujiyan's.
　I've lost my plans for today.

　◇

　In the end, I stopped hunting goblins and spent the day training in the square near the guild.
　I was hoping that Lucy would be there too, but she wasn't.
　At the end of my training, I offered my daily prayer to the goddess.

'Whew.'

　While lying down, I look at my "soul book".

My life span: 11 years. It's probably the result of daily demon hunting.

It's the same as it was a month ago. I thought it might be over 100, but this seems to be the highest value.

　As for the rest, there is a line of low statuses that have no replacement.

(I wonder...)

　When I first arrived in the other world, I was thrilled.
　Then I was shocked to find out my low status in the temple.
　I trained for a year, but I couldn't get that strong.
　Still, I managed to make use of the skills I had trained and managed to become an adventurer.
　Lately, the reputation of the people around me has been improving.
　There's nothing wrong with that.
　But...

(I wonder if it was like this........)

　It was fun a little while ago.

　The first day I defeated a demon.
　The first time you got your uncool name for the first time
　The first time I made a friend for the first time.
　The first day I almost died and received a goddess' blessing.
　The first day I had an adventure with my classmates.　

　It was exciting.
　Lately I've been ... bored.
　As I was thinking about that, I suddenly felt sleepy.


　◇


　I was standing in the middle of nowhere.
　No, it's rude to say there's nothing here.
　Let's call this the space of the Goddess.

'Well, well, well, Goddess. It's been a long time.
　Without being surprised now, he crossed his hands in a familiar motion and curtsied.
　However, it had been a while since I've been here recently.
　The last time I heard his voice was when he was the old man of the giant god?

''........''
'Huh?　Goddess?
　No answer, I thought, and I lifted my head up to see him standing insanely close to me.

　Oh my.
　It's so close that my bangs are almost touching.
　Also, his eyes are cold.
　Did I do something to piss you off?
　You're only supposed to be having safe adventures these days.

Oh, um...
Hey, Makoto.
Yes, sir.
You're my follower, aren't you?
Of course, I don't miss a day of prayer.
I know. It's coming.
　Right?

Do you know what a goddess does?
'Is this the work of a goddess?　Collecting donations?　Oh, if you couldn't just pray?
It's a little gutter!　Why do you need to collect money like those guys in the heavens!　I don't need it, it's not worth it!
Wasn't it?
　I don't know what it is.

"Ahoy!　Goddesses are supposed to be guiding lost lambs!　You've got a lot on your mind!　Then talk to me!　You can count on me!
　He gouged my head.
　It doesn't hurt.
　It's just that in that position, his face is on my chest.

'Oh, um. I think I hit you.
I did it on purpose.
　He's out of line!

"Uh, excuse me, goddess.
　Attack of the goddesses?　distance oneself from
　This guy (goddess) is always tempting me.

I pray every day. Why don't you ask her?
No, that's the last thing I want to do.
　I'm afraid of owing God a favor.

That's all right. You can count on God. Don't worry about the debt. You're the only one who's a believer.
　The interest rate seems to be high, Noah-sama.
　Well, but I'm sure Goddess-sama was left out of the discussion.

''So, does that mean that the Goddess-sama's power will make you stronger?
Hmm?　I've already given you a blessing.　I can't go any further.
Huh?
　No!

But you know what, this is the kind of thing a goddess can do.
　I took it out in a flash.

'It's my soul book again?
　She's a real goddess, she's got a real talent for detail.

"Hey, hey, hey!
　What did you write?

Look, look, look.
　He grabs my head and shows me his soul book.
　So it's close to the distance.

'Just, here, here.'
"Uh, what?

"Water magic, proficiency level 101.

Mmm, goddess?　This,
You're the type of person who gets to level 99 in RPG games, right?　And you've been a bit burnt out lately, with your proficiency being cantankerous.

　He saw through it.
　Of course he saw through it.
　She's a goddess.

''Hmph, let me give you some more deals. Water Magic, Proficiency: when you reach about 105 or so, you'll be able to see the water spirits.
Eh!
　Is it really that simple?
　I was kind of worried about a lot of things, training in the rain, getting hit by a waterfall, and spending a day in the water!

'Oh no, I've been watching you do that training for no good reason.
Tell me about it!
"Ha-ha-ha!
　You're being a jerk!
　Well, no.

'Thank you, Goddess.'
　He crosses his arms and gives a deep bow.
　Now you can continue to increase your proficiency in water magic!

Oh, honest. Mm-hm, keep up the good work.
We were pretty much at a standstill this time, so that was really helpful.
Well, I'm glad you like it. Oh, but I do have a few things to keep in mind.
What is this?
　Now, is that too much to ask?

No, it's not. The status of the Book of Souls has a maximum value of 99. That's what they said in the heavens.
　Oh, yeah.
Really?

'Actually, there's no limit, because it only goes up as hard as you work. It's just that I don't quantify it. What I did earlier was modify my soul book a bit so that I could quantify it over 100.
　Well, that's good to know.
　I guess all that hard work pays off.
　I feel more motivated.

However, it's illegal in the real world to alter your soul book. If the Church finds out, they'll give you an Inquisition or something.
'What?　Hey!
By the way, I heard it's a death sentence in the Land of the Sun or the Land of Water if you're caught worshipping an evil god. It's so barbaric!
Why are you telling me this now?
You didn't know?
　I didn't know that!
　And I've been avoiding the church for a long time.

　...I'll be more careful in the future.

Well, it's about time.
　The goddess begins to disappear.

'Always in a hurry, isn't it?'
Oh, you want to talk to me more?
Well, I think I'd like to talk to you more slowly.
Hmm. You're getting better and better, don't you think? Keep up the good work, you can fall in love with me.
　Don't do the flush.
　I'm going to be thrilled.

'Yes!　I have one last thing to tell you!
What is this?
　Is it the usual fluffy instructions?

'Go to the Great Maze. Thou shalt have a good meeting.
　While saying that, the Goddess disappeared.

　Eh..........
　I got some amazingly specific instructions.