By the Grace of the Gods

Today, four chapters are posted simultaneously.

This story is the first chapter.

"Well then, let's get to it."

Gob!

After returning home from Gimul Town, Ryoma gathered the Goblins, gave them instructions over a light meal, then took a bath to wash away the sweat. Afterwards, he headed straight to his bedroom bed to take a nap.

However, Ryoma couldn’t fall asleep easily.

He had been running through the town all day, putting out fires, conducting rescues, providing treatment, and searching for kidnappers, constantly using magic. He had also frequently shared senses with the slimes, causing both physical and mental exhaustion to build up. Yet, sleepiness did not come at all.

On the contrary, various miscellaneous thoughts kept surfacing and disappearing in Ryoma's mind.

Even when he slipped into a light sleep, he would wake up immediately. After such restlessness,

(No good, I can’t sleep.)

Ryoma quietly got out of bed, took a cup and a small bag from the nearby shelf, scooped some contents from the bag with an included spoon. The tea-brown powder poured smoothly into the cup, and he poured hot water conjured by magic over it.

"Phew... this is the best thing for times like this."

It was a traditional medicinal broth Ryoma had loved since his previous life. A blend of roasted dandelion root, mugwort, ginkgo leaves, and several other wild herbs, it was something he could even make in this world by gathering the ingredients.

(I used to drink this all the time... no, I’ve been drinking it more lately...)

Since the town started to deteriorate, Ryoma found himself reminiscing about the past more often. Not every day, but on sleepless nights like tonight. On such days, his old life inevitably crossed his mind.

Everyone recalls their past sometimes. It’s probably due to fatigue. Ryoma thought so and paid it little mind, but today was a bit different.

“Maybe, three nights before this year ends, if I’m alone in the abandoned mine shaft, my confusion might clear up.”

He recalled the words once told to him by the god Seerelipta and felt a new doubt arise.

“Is this what that meant?”

Once one question arises, many more follow.

If confusion is recalling the past, then what does ‘clearing it’ mean? What exactly am I confused about? What’s the cause? Do I recall the past because I’m confused, or am I confused because I recall the past?

Exhausted both physically and mentally, his thoughts wouldn’t settle. Sitting on the bed, Ryoma absentmindedly sipped his medicinal broth and pondered.

(Why did Seerelipta tell me that... even though the other gods were there, she timed it so only I could hear...)

Considering Seerelipta’s free-spirited nature, Ryoma thought she wasn’t straightforward, yet he oddly trusted that she wouldn’t lie.

He continued thinking, though his thoughts remained scattered.

“...Heh.”

But no answer came. Instead, a smile appeared.

(I don’t get it! But maybe that’s okay. I do remember my past, but that’s just the past. I can confidently say that my current life is nothing but happiness.

I have no troubles with clothing, food, shelter, or money. My income from adventuring, running my shop, and other things is more than enough. Life isn't just stable—it’s fulfilling, with slime research as a practical hobby. I’ve made more acquaintances, and while not everyone I meet is kind, I’m surrounded by many kind people... there’s no way I can think I’m unhappy.)

As he smiled and took a sip, the ginkgo leaves in his medicinal broth were ones he had collected with Beck, the young adventurer boy. On the shelf where the cup was kept, a stone gifted by Niki, a boy he befriended when returning from an expedition to Fatma Territory, was displayed.

There were also more items in Ryoma’s room now that involved other people.

When he was secluded in Gana Forest, there were things too, but all were made by Ryoma himself. Everything was self-sufficient and solitary.

“No, that sounds like I was a lonely guy. But I had slimes back then, so strictly speaking I wasn’t alone... well, counting slimes as people is impossible. Actually, it makes me sound even lonelier.”