The Truth Part 1

"Ryota, Will you become my spouse?"

"Eh?"

That one line made Ryota weaken as this was his first time asking to go out with someone.

"W-Wait! What? We only just met, right?" he stammered.

Kanna didn't seem fazed by his reaction. "Yes, I know," she replied calmly.

Ryota couldn't help but feel even more puzzled. "You know?" he asked incredulously.

"Of course," came the simple response.

Feeling a mix of emotions, Ryota let out a deep sigh and put his pen down on the table before faceplanting into his hands. "Are you serious?" he finally asked.

She nodded. "Yes."

As Ryota thought about the situation, he couldn't help but be reminded of a strange request he had received during the Special Entrance Exam in the catacombs dungeon. He recalled the necromancer's words as if they had just been spoken to him.

"I have a request for you," the necromancer had said, his form barely visible in the darkness. "Please find my daughter in this dungeon, and I shall reward you. A special one that only someone as strong as you could earn."

Ryota couldn't shake the feeling that there was a connection between that request and this proposal. Was this mysterious person somehow connected to the necromancer and the reward he had promised? He couldn't help but wonder what he was getting himself into.

"Don't tell me that reward was you," Ryota asked himself as he looked at the person who had just proposed to him.

Synthia then entered the room, sporting a new look. She was wearing a yukata and her hair was tied up. She noticed Kanna, and Kanna also noticed her.

"Ryota-sama, who is this woman!?" Kanna and Synthia asked in perfect unison, their accusatory gazes fixed on Ryota.

"...Why are you two in such a perfect sync?"

"Ryota!" Kanna exclaimed, with Synthia chiming in at the same time, "Ryota-sama!"

Ryota looked at Synthia and Kanna, feeling a bit flustered as they spoke in perfect sync once again.

"Why are you two in such perfect sync!?" he asked, hoping to lighten the mood. "Also, Synthia, It's her! The necromancer's daughter from the dungeon!"

Synthia then looks at Kanna closely, She is currently scanning her body with her eyes. Synthia was once a System after all. "You are right... Apologies,"

Kanna was bewildered by Synthia's sudden change in behavior. "Huh? Who are you?!"

Synthia then swipes the air making the inventory slot appear she then presses the maid outfit and equips them. Her body then turns bright as her yukata transformed into a maid.

"I didn't know you could do that with the system," Ryota remarked, impressed by Synthia then he gets his face up from the desk and grabs his pen then starts drawing her father.

"My name is Synthia," she introduced herself to Kanna with a bow, "I am Ryota-sama's guide and maid assistant."

Kanna was still a little taken aback by the sudden transformation of her yukata, but she regained her composure and introduced herself. "My name is Kanna Izayoi."

As the conversation continued, Synthia noticed Ryota's reddened cheeks. "Ryota-sama, Why happened while I was at the onsen?"

"She's awake, As you can see."

"Mhm. Then can you tell me why your cheeks are red?"

Ryota clicked his tongue "Tsk, I don't know what your talking about." He proceeds to draw on the paper.

"Did you just click your tongue?"

"I did not."

Kanna, not wanting to be left out of the conversation, spoke up. "Ryota! What is your relationship with Synthia?!"

"Hm? I guess... you can call it master and maid," Ryota replied with a shrug.

"Huh?" Kanna was confused by the dynamic between Ryota and Synthia but decided to drop the subject for now.

Ryota-sama, you haven't given the next volume to Athena-sama, have you? How about giving it to her this time? You know her, she is an impatient one when it comes to cliffhangers," Synthia suggested.

"...Athena-sama, can hear you, you know?" Ryota pointed out as he puts the paper in his inventory slot.

Kanna's expression turned jealous as she asked, "Who is Athena-sama? Is this another woman of Ryota's!?"

Synthia and Ryota looked at each other, but then Synthia gave him a mischievous smile.

"That's right, Ryota-sama actually likes Athena-sama," Synthia revealed.

Kanna then pouted as she stared daggers at Ryota. "Why would you lie?" Ryota asked Synthia.

"For amusement," Synthia replied.

"...You're a devil inside," Ryota says straight in her face.

"Fufufu~ Am I?" Synthia responded playfully.

"You are,"

Kanna then looked at both of them with a pout on her face, feeling a twinge of jealousy. "Do you even need another woman in your life when you already have me?" she thought to herself but didn't say it out loud.

"Hm? Did you say something?" Ryota asks as he looks at Kanna.

"N-Nothing," Kanna replies, still pouting.

"Well then, now that's done... Synthia, I have a favor to ask you," Ryota says.

"Hm? What is it?" Synthia asks.

"I want you to sell this manga only in this city... for 50 silver," Ryota says.

Synthia's expression turns serious as she responds, "Oh, so you're serious about becoming a mangaka in this world."

"Of course," Synthia replied.

"Hm? What's a mangaka?" Kanna asked, looking confused.

"A mangaka is a person who creates manga, which is Japanese comics. They're usually serialized in magazines and collected into volumes that people can buy," Synthia explained with a smile. "Ryota is a mangaka, which means he creates his manga and shares it with others."

Ryota cleared his throat, interrupting Synthia. "Hm? Japan..? Never heard of that word before," Kanna said.

Ryota and Synthia looked at each other silently for a moment.

"Anyway, here are the manga volumes that are ready to sell," Ryota said, placing the stack of 100 copies on the table.

"That's a lot," Kanna remarked.

"Though, it would be great if I had an editor to help me with my manga," Ryota thought to himself.

"Well then..." Synthia picked up the manga volumes and placed them in her inventory slot. "I'll be off now."

"Yeah, see ya!" Ryota waved goodbye to her as she left for the market.

"Now then, Kanna, why don't you come with me and meet Athena-sama?" Ryota said.

"O-Okay," Kanna replied.

Ryota then holds Kanna's hand and places his other hand in the air.

<"Call: Heaven's Space!"> A special magic that creates a portal to Heaven's Space, a place only accessible to Synthia and Ryota. The portal opens, revealing a sky full of stars, two moons, and a vast void.

As they entered the heavenly space, the portal closed on its own. Kanna looked around in wonder at the beautiful stars and moons. She had never seen anything like it before.

"This is amazing, Ryota-sama," she said in awe.

Ryota smiled at her enthusiasm. "I'm glad you like it," he replied.

As they approached the throne, Ryota cleared his throat to get Athena-sama's attention.

"Hello, Athena-sama," he greeted her respectfully.

Athena-sama looked down at them from her throne and nodded in acknowledgment.

"Ryota, it's good to see you. And who is this?" she asked, indicating Kanna.

"My companion."

Kanna looked at Athena, whose beauty was stunning as always. She could now understand why Synthia had said that Ryota liked her, even though he didn't say it.

"Greetings, Athena. I am Kanna Izayoi," she said.

"Hello, Kanna." Athena smiled and then turned to Ryota.

"Now state your business," she said in a serious tone.

Kanna felt a chill as she heard Athena's words. She looked at Ryota, who was smiling. He was scrolling through the inventory slot, trying to find something.

"Ah, there it is," Ryota said.

He pressed the paper with the folder on the inventory slot, and it then appeared in the air under his hand.

"Here it is! The next volume! I made two volumes since I didn't want my special reader to get bored," Ryota said.

There was silence between Ryota, Kanna, and Athena. Eventually, Athena stood up from her throne and slowly walked to Ryota as he got closer. Her face suddenly changed from serious to excitement.

"Two volumes?! Really?!" she exclaimed.

"That's right! I did it just for you, Athena-sama!" Ryota said with a smile.

"Ahhaha! I'm so happy! Thank you, Ryota!" Athena exclaimed, her face beaming with excitement.

Kanna looked at Athena and noticed her serious expression had transformed into that of a child receiving their first gift, filled with joy and happiness.

"Ryota's manga is scary! I swear he just changed this goddess's expression like it's nothing... Is this the power of manga?!" Kanna exclaimed to herself

"Hm? What's wrong, Kanna?" Athena asked.

"A-Ahh... nothing," Kanna replied.

Athena grabbed the two volumes and headed back to her throne. "Now then, tell me your real business here," she said.

Ryota turned to Athena and asked her. "Tell me, why was I chosen to be transported to this world?" he asked.

"As I said, I'd like you to enjoy your li--"

"Lies," Ryota interrupted her. He looked down for a moment before looking up and revealing his green eyes.

"Veritascopic Eyes...!" She said with a surprised expression.

"That's right... a magic that can detect lies and deceit..." Ryota said.

Athena stayed silent for a moment before standing up. She flicked her fingers, and thousands of swords appeared, all aimed at Ryota and Kanna.

"If you want to know... prove to me that you're worthy to know the truth," Athena said.

Ryota only looked at Athena's eyes. "Kanna, step back," he said.

"But--!" Kanna started to protest.

"Do it," Ryota said firmly. He then swiped the inventory slot and grabs the papers and pen.

Kanna looked into Ryota's eyes but eventually stepped back.

"No hard feelings, Ryota," Athena said as she prepares for the fight.

"...No Hard Feelings," Ryota said who is also preparing his drawings.