A New Life in the Temple

Mae's voice was like a warm, comforting hug, enveloping Frena in its soft embrace.

"I'm not the only deity roaming the earth. We all have our designated duties, mine being the protector of life and the preventer of natural disasters. And let me tell you, there's no shortage of work to be done."

Frena nodded, understanding all too well. Shishiro Village was a peaceful oasis, spared from the dangers that plagued other parts of the world.

But there were areas overrun by ferocious beasts and plagued by natural disasters, and it was said that these dangerous places were often aided by the gods.

"So does that mean that Master Mae sacrifices humans as payment for helping others?" Frena asked tentatively.

"Absolutely not. Gods don't require payment to save lives. It's just my job, you see." Mae paused, searching for the right words. "Frena, do you think you could give me a hand with something?"

"O-of course," Frena replied, holding out her hand. "It's the least I can do."

Mae's brow furrowed as he looked at Frena's thin arms, which were surprisingly spindly for her age. He gingerly took her hands in his own, as if handling a fragile porcelain doll.

"Whoa!" Frena exclaimed, startled.

"I'm sorry, did I startle you? Just try to hold still, okay?" Mae said soothingly, trying to calm Frena's nerves.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, inhaling the strange, otherworldly atmosphere that seemed to seep into the air like a thick fog. Frena could feel the bizarre energy tingling on her skin, like tiny electric shocks.

"Forty-six years old... twenty-two years old," Mae muttered, still holding Frena's hand as he counted something. "It seems to be between thirty and fifty."

As Mae continued his mysterious calculations, Frena felt her heart pounding in her chest. Was she just nervous being in the presence of a god, or was there something else causing her heart to race?

"Alright, thank you. I've finished counting the lifespans of humans. From you, I can connect to the people in the village at the foot of the mountain and the people in the royal capital... I've calculated the average lifespan of people all over the world," he announced with a flourish.

"Human lifespan... is it your job to measure lifespan?" Frena asked, still trying to wrap her head around the idea. It was like trying to understand a foreign language!

"Oh, yes. The average life expectancy is 44 years old. It's been six years longer than 200 years ago. Is this also an effect of the development of civilization?" Mae replied, letting go of Frena's hand.

Frena was in awe at the idea of Mae being able to measure the lifespans of every single person in the world from just one person. As expected of a god.

"I regularly check the average life expectancy of all life, not just humans," Mae continued, further explaining her role. "That's why I told them to bring humans back in 200 years. After all, I am the god who controls life."

"..."

Ah, so the rumors have been twisted like a cheap carnival game.

Meeting with a deity was rumored to be a sacrifice? That's just ridiculous.

It's been two hundred years, so it's not surprising that the story has gotten a little distorted. I think it would've been more accurate if it had been written down instead of passed down through the ages like a game of telephone.

"Well, you've accomplished your goal now. You can go home if you want," Mae said with a casual shrug.

"What? You're not going to kill me?" Frena asked with a confused look on her face.

"You've been wanting to die for a while now. Why do you have such a death wish? As the god of life, I can't just let people who want to die go. Can you tell me why you feel that way?"

"Oh dear, this isn't looking good. Frena breaks out in a cold sweat. 'I was being bullied in the village'? No way can I tell a god something like that," Frena thought to herself.

"But I can't go back to the village now," she said with a sad sigh.

"So you came here with the intention of dying, huh? I'm sorry to disappoint you, but that's just not going to happen. You should go back home and reassure your parents that you're not actually dead," Mae suggested.

"No, I-I don't have any parents," Frena said, tears welling up in her eyes.

Looking at Frena, who spoke with a somewhat painful look, Mae also figured it out. To what extent is unknown, but she was probably treated coldly in the village.

...

I've reached the point of no return in my old village, so I figured I'd ask Mae for a job.

"Uhm, Mae, do you think I could work for you here, maybe as a servant or something? Please...?"

He looked at me quizzically, as if to say "Girl, what are you talking about?" But he eventually relented and said, "Sure, you can stay here and do whatever you want. You don't have to do anything special, and you could even stay in the temple forever."

"The only problem is that the temple doesn't have any living facilities."

I guess the temple is more of a holy bedroom for God, not really meant for human beings to live in.

"Oh, I see. That's okay though, I didn't really live like a human even when I was in the village."

Wait, what did I just say?!

"Uh, I mean, I lived a very simple, ascetic life in the village."

Phew, I just narrowly avoided making a huge blunder. But I don't think I fooled God, who sees through all of my lies and secrets.

"Well, if that's the case, we'll just have to buy some furniture for you to live in. I don't usually eat anything, but since you have to, we'll have to go get some food. And from now on, you can consider this temple your home." Mae said, before disappearing into the depths of the temple, only to reappear a moment later with a jute bag in his hand.

"What's in the bag?" I asked, curious.

Mae chuckled and replied, "Sometimes animals come and offer jewels and diamonds to us, but they don't understand their value. Humans like jewels, right? We can sell them for some money."

As Mae and I sauntered out into the great outdoors, I couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all. It was like watching a modern-day Dr. Doolittle strut around, chatting away with the critters as if they were old friends, trading stuff.

And don't even get me started on the way he handles those precious jewels – he treats them like a pile of pebbles he found on the beach.

So this is what is like living with a deity. I tell you what, I'm equal parts terrified and in awe at the prospect!