Published: August 15, 2025
"—So, got it?"
"Yes. I can't promise absolutely, but—"
"That's fine. You have your own life to consider... Hey, wait, what were we talking about again?"
"Um... If I recall, it was about why Lord Seerelipta wanted to meet me."
"Ah! That's right. And then you asked if it was because you were interesting? But actually, it wasn't that—you asked why I found you boring, right?"
"Yes."
"Yeah, that's it. So, the reason I called you is that you caught my attention. Not because you’re interesting, though."
I was starting to get it. This god keeps saying I'm boring or uninteresting, but it doesn't seem to be out of malice. It's like whatever comes to mind just slips out of his mouth.
"So, what exactly is it?"
"How do I put it... I was informed by Gain and the others that a new person had arrived in this world. When I came to your village and caught a glimpse of you, I thought, 'This kid might resemble me a bit.'"
"Me and Lord Seerelipta?"
"Just call me Seele. No one's really listening anyway."
"...Then Seele, in what way do I resemble you?"
"Well... what do you think?"
He was building up suspense. What a troublesome type... Resemble in what way...? What could it be, from what he figured out in such a short time—something in common between us...
"Are you somewhat of a recluse?"
"You're basing that on my appearance, right? It’s true, though."
"Insensitive and says too much?"
"I won’t deny that... but it’s not quite accurate."
"...Gloomy?"
"You sure say a lot even though we just met... Well, none of those are entirely wrong. But the real answer is something more fundamental."
More fundamental?
"Humans apparently have parts of themselves they don't even understand; it’s hard to grasp. Even as we talk, there are aspects that surface and others that don't—like criteria for judgment? The foundation of the personality? Hmm, it's hard to explain in words. And honestly, I haven’t talked to many people, not even other gods..."
I think he means the part of us that we can’t consciously understand—the unconscious, or something like that...
"Anyway, whether human or god, everyone has thoughts and feelings. This is the fundamental part you should think of."
"Okay, I kind of get it. So you mean that this fundamental part is what we share?"
"Exactly. Though it’s just that we 'resemble' each other. By the way, if I had to sum up my way of thinking in one phrase, it would be 'survival of the fittest.' You have that too, right? Something like that."
"You say I have it, but do I really?"
"Don’t you see? Well then, let me tell you a bit."
From what felt like sitting deeply in an invisible chair, he shifted to lying face down and kept explaining as if it was decided. Our conversation wasn’t exactly flowing smoothly.
"Ah, maybe I'm talking too much?"
"Not at all... Did you read my mind? I just got a bit overwhelmed by the sudden torrent."
"Good. Like I said, I rarely talk to anyone—even other gods—so..."
He talks a lot but seems to have no sense of boundaries, just saying whatever he wants. It’s like social awkwardness without shyness. Not unusual.
"I'm glad you understand. Back to the topic—you kept the evolved pearl slime a secret from the kid who helped with slime research today, right? Why was that?"
He tilted his head resting on his folded arms. If I didn’t know better, I might mistake him for a girl.
Feeling a bit awkward, I answered honestly.
"I didn’t know the exact value, but it seemed valuable. Niki-kun is still a kid, and since he doesn't know anything, the info wouldn’t leak, so I thought it was safer."
"Yeah, that prediction is spot on. Pearls are far more valuable here than you think. Especially in the Reefall Kingdom where you're from—they can't be mined yet, so if sold, they'd fetch a high price...
Naturally, people will try to find out where they came from and how to get them. And some won’t hesitate to use illegal or cruel means to claim them as their own.
You have trustworthy merchants you know and the backing of a powerful duke’s household. Even if attacked, you could probably handle most threats on your own. But Niki lacks all of that. Maybe the villagers could protect him from petty thieves, but if the Dark Guild or nobles target him, he wouldn’t stand a chance."