A Hero's Story (3)

His was not completely uncommon. Short, light brown hair, brown eyes, 14 years old. His father left when he was young, and his mother worked hard to make ends meet.

The summer before he entered high school, he got hit by a car. The culprit was never identified.

He spent two month in a coma with his mother working desperately to pay for medical fees. Against all odds, he recovered.

Neither his health nor his mother's health were good after that, but somehow they survived. He earned a full scholarship for college and worked part time to pay for his other expenses. His mother often sent him money as well, even though she could barely afford to pay for herself.

The story of humans struggling in the face of all odds and succeeding is indeed quite beautiful.

That is why I did not try to kill him again.

The only fault I could find with them is that they were too kind.

That was what attracted me to the boy in the first place.

Without me, he might have lived a much better life.

...

His mother was not a foolish woman. She did not fall for any scams, except perhaps for the scam called religion. Whether or not it was actually a scam I had no way of knowing. I saw no gods other than myself. I saw no magic, no miracles. There was not a single sign of her prayers being heard. Yet somehow she and her son did survive. Perhaps there was a higher power at work that even I could not detect.

However, his mother was an extremely foolish woman. She worked long hours, but ate and slept little. She traded her lifespan for money, and she gave that money to her son. Such behavior obviously could not last. She passed away while he was in college.

Her foolish prayers were always to ask for "God" to watch over her son. Never once did she wish anything for herself. Such was her kindness.

I am not the god she wanted. However, if "He" didn't answer her prayers, then I would.

So I watched him.

I watched him struggle through the blow of his mother's death. He wanted to attend her funeral despite his upcoming exams. But he knew that she didn't want his academics to suffer because of her. So he tried to shut his heart. He swallowed his tears and agony and kept studying. Such was his kindness.

He was foolish as well. Such a weak boy, with such a fragile heart. If he continued to suppress his emotions, he would surely suffer even more. But it was not my duty to tell him that. I was not kind like them. I would only watch.

Although, I could not help but feel a bit sorry when the boy died of a heart attack from overworking when he was 24.

I reached out to the soul of the boy.

I could not offer him much.

- Boy.

His soul shook when I spoke.

"Are you... God?"

- I am a god, but not of your world.

"So you are God?"

He seemed to be fixated on that idea.

- No.

"Then what are you?"

- I am not your God. I am a god from another world.

"Another world? Like Mars or something? No, before that, let me speak with the god of my world."

- I have never met it.

If it even exists.

"That can't be..."

The boy's soul shook in agitation, and I cast a barrier around it to prevent it from dispersing.

He seemed to want to say something, but he could not find the words.

Then I would try to help.

- Why not you pass your message on to me?

The soul paused momentarily.

"What do you mean?"

- I am more likely to meet your god than you. Tell me what you want to say to it. If I ever get the chance, I will give it your message.

"... Can you do that?"

- You have my word.

He took a few minutes to compose himself.

"Ask Him why. Why did he just watch as my mother and I suffered for nothing? Why didn't he help us? Why did he let us both die in vain"

Hmm? This child... His soul was suddenly, abnormally calm. Perhaps he knew that I was always watching.

It was slightly terrifying.

- I will ask if I ever get the chance.

I pretended to know nothing.

"Okay. Now why did you reach out to me?"

- Yes?

"You're a god of another world, right? You must have some important business if you're busy messing around in this world."

He probably knew that I was watching him. I briefly wondered how to give my answer without incurring his wrath.

- I... suppose I need help.

"Help? Is there something I could do to help you?"

- Once, there might have been something. Now I am not so sure.

It might be too late.

"What is it?"

Strangely I found myself at a loss for words. What should I say?

My world was being overrun by a demonic species and the human race would soon be annihilated. He was the only one who had a chance of saving it. This was for the most part true, and it was vital information. However, it was missing a lot of details.

For example, why was he the only one? To be fair, he most likely was not. He was just the one most likely to be able to save my world that I was aware of.

Why did he only have a chance at saving the world? Why was humanity already on the brink of extinction? Most gods summon heroes early enough to guarantee their world's protection. I, too, attempted to do so. If his line of thinking reached this far, he could easily connect me to his "accident" ten years ago. The chances of him being willing to help me out at that point would be slim.

What was hardest to explain was my own behavior. Why did I allow him to recover from the crash ten years ago? I could have just finished the deed then and there. Manipulating electricity in this world is easy enough. Equipment malfunction, power failure, power surge, there were these options and plenty more. If I had just done that, I could have brought him to my world in time.

Why?

I was... confused.

Why did I want him to live?

Why did I watch him all this time even I turned a blind eye to my people suffering?

Why did I feel... guilty? Is that what this feeling is?Just within a few seconds, all these thoughts ran through my head. The soul was still waiting for my answer. However, the only words I knew how to say were...

- I am sorry.

"What?"

I was sorry.

It was obvious in me in hindsight. I had gotten attached to the boy. I wanted to watch his choices, his struggles, his growth. Most of all, I wanted him to live.

Therefore.

- I am sorry that you died so young.

These were my true thoughts.

- Right now, your soul is beginning to dissipate. I do not know what will happen if I let you go.

My barrier that protected him could not last forever.

- Perhaps you will reincarnate. Perhaps you will just disappear.

If the god of this world does exist, it would do whatever it pleases with him.

- If you do not want that, I can bring you to my world.

I did not want that, so I made a cowardly offer.

- It is... not a good world.

I am not a competent god.

- There has been war against the demon race for the past few years.

There will be bloodshed for many years to come.

- My people are desperately fighting, but they are wearing thin.

Because I did not bring them a hero.

- My world will soon die.

And it will serve me right.

- I can reincarnate you in my world as a hero.

But, I wanted this boy to live.

- To be honest, the odds of you saving the world are next to none.

He who was supposed to be ten years old would only be born today.

- But you will have a chance.

But I will have a chance to see him live again.

- Do you wish to be reborn?