Reunion with a certain shady individual (3)

"What happened to Aerith Nightmoon?" I asked the goddess with a serious expression.

This question of mine brought about a change in the goddess's expression as well. Her demeanor which was relaxed up until now became tense.

"Why do you ask?" Instead of answering me, the goddess replied to me with a question.

"As she's the woman who took such good care of the previous me to the point where he developed affection on a spiritual level, I feel....compelled to ask about her condition," I answered her truthfully as I felt like her answer may or may not be favorable depending on mine.

The Goddess remained silent for a short while even after receiving my response.

"I will not be able to give you all the details about her circumstances. She's a very important individual. It may be surprising to hear but her fate is closely intertwined with the fate of your new world. As a deity, I cannot interfere too much with something like that due to some of the repercussions I will face from violating laws set by higher beings. I hope you can understand." The goddess explained.

Her response wasn't what I envisioned at all.

'The fate of the world is somehow connected with my biological mother? Why? Higher being? This certainly got much more intriguing all of a sudden.' I thought.

"Aerith Nightmoon is currently outside the human domain. She left you and your father due to dire circumstances that she didn't want to involve you two with. In 14 years, her fate will be to meet her end. If that fate is not altered before that then your world will face much more difficulties in the challenges ahead. That is all I can say." The Goddess concluded her answer on an ominous note.

"I presume I can't ask about the 'challenges' you mentioned that the world will face?" I asked just in case although I knew what her answer would be.

"Yes, I won't be able to answer that." the goddess replied with a smile just like I thought.

"Didn't you say you couldn't say too much related to the fate of the world? Then why are you able to mention that 14 years are left to alter her destiny and the world's?" I asked with my eyes narrowed.

The goddess sighed before saying,

"I'll have to face lots of complaints, scoldings, and paperwork for mentioning that."

"As for why I did it, I'm sure you already know, don't you?" She answered with a mischievous smile.

".....Don't expect anything from me," I said with an annoyed tone.

"Oh, but I will."

I quelled the urge to click my tongue hearing that.

I of course knew why she mentioned the 14 years Aerith has left. She expects me to save Aerith and in turn, change the fate of the world for the better. The Goddess seemed to care about the world one way or another.

"Now, any more questions you have for me? We're running out of time." the goddess said in a hasty tone.

"Ah, yes. The blessing you gave me.....is that really something all reincarnators are supposed to have?" I looked at her suspiciously.

Although the blessing removed my limits, it significantly stunted my growth rate. I of course didn't mind being who I am but it didn't sound right for every reincarnator to have. For example, what of the reincarnators who just want to live a slow and peaceful life?

I could have imagined but it seemed like the goddess's face turned a bit pale after hearing my question.

"Ah, that....." Her voice trailed off as it seemed like she was wiping off her cold sweat.....

"How about we....don't discuss that! Haha!" the Goddess said while she let out a nervous laugh.

"What? Why? Is there some sort of problem with that blessing? Just so you know I'm happy even with the side effect it has considering all my limits are remov-" I was saying when...

"AH! NO!" The Goddess shouted as she swiftly appeared before me and covered my mouth with her hand.

"Shhhhh! Not here! Don't mention that here, okay? I'll have to do a lot more paperwork if they hear about it!" She whispered to me while carefully looking around her as if someone may be hearing our conversation.

I nodded in response to her request and she pulled her hand away after warming me a couple more times

For some reason, her current demeanor reminded me of the tired office worker lady I had as a neighbor.

"Well if you can't answer my question about the blessing-"

"AHEM!" The Goddess exclaimed loudly with a sinister smile.

"Ah, my apologies. Well, I don't have any more questions to ask you so I guess it's time I leave." I said as I took one last look at.....not the Goddess, but me. I failed to mention it before but I came here in the shape of my previous body. Meaning, I looked like the 16-year-old Dusk Jones with black hair and red eyes. It was a shame to go back to the 6-year-old body as this one was forged through lots of training and working out. So I was naturally proud of it.

"Ew.....why are you looking at yourself like that? Are you a narcissist?" the Goddess asked as she shot me a disgusted look.

"You seem much more like a narcissist than I am though..." I replied as I narrowed my eyes.

"Oh shut up, you. I'll send you back to Tellus Mater now. I hope we don't see each other soon...because you're a real pain to deal with...." she said with a sigh and started doing some strange movements with her hands. She really did remind me of a tired office worker.

After she started moving her hands in a strange pattern, my vision started to become hazy, until everything became black, and then I felt my consciousness fade.

After what felt like a long time, a high-pitched voice awoke me.

"Hey, Dusk! Wow, did you really fall asleep while praying?!" Dawn shouted like the annoyance she was.

"No. I was just really focused while praying. What do you want?" I said as I slowly opened my eyes.

"I think you were sleeping....but anyway I came here because Daddy and Mr. Nightmoon said we're leaving!" Dawn said loudly with a smile.

"Yes, it's just as she says Dusk. We're leaving now that Ralph has finally accepted that he's very bad at playing cards." Lucius suddenly arrived with a smile.

"Hey, lay off! I ain't bad, today just ain't my day!" Ralph shouted from afar in an annoyed tone.

"Father, please just accept your loss. You're embarrassing me too." Agnes joined in to bully Ralph.

"Hehehe! Mr. Priest lost 18 times in a row!" then Dawn destroyed the poor priest with the devastating truth while smiling innocently.

This caused the priest to collapse in misery while my father patted him on the back.

The three bullies laughed at the comical scene that seemed like a skit. Even my father couldn't help but chuckle.

But I was silent as I thought about the ominous things I heard from the Goddess.

"14 years...." I muttered under my breath absent-mindedly and then looked outside one of the windows in the church with a serious expression.

Note: Again, I give my thanks to all of you who gave me power stones. I really appreciate it! I express my gratitude to those who read this novel too!