Chapter 8

Chapter 8: The Goddess with a Dark Heart Transforms into a Clumsy Goddess!

(I'm sorry for the delay.)

Elaine, the scheming goddess, contacted me.

(It seems like you made it on time. You must have brought an answer that satisfies me!)

(I'm not sure if it will satisfy you...)

Elaine's proposal was a proposal from her Familiar.

Gods can reincarnate a few of their Familiars in this world, including for monitoring purposes. Elaine had only recently been appointed, so she only had one Familiar, but she suggested bringing it along.

As a Familiar of a god, it should be reasonably strong, and it's reassuring to have a fellow who knows the situation for the future.

(I understand your sincerity. I'm not a demon, so I'll consider this proposal and pretend that this never happened.)

(Thank you!)

Elaine seemed genuinely happy!

She must have been desperate because she didn't want to be seen as a scheming goddess!

(Then, I'll send the Familiar to your side!)

...She cut off the conversation.

Couldn't she at least give me some information about the Familiar?!

And when is it coming?!

Normally, talking to a goddess should be healing, but it's the opposite, and it's stressful...

After the [Conversation with the God], a white cat with a pink line from its back to the base of its tail appeared in front of me.

Upon closer inspection, it had two tails.

...When did it get there?

It doesn't seem to be in a combat stance.

"Nice to meet you."

When I greeted it, it bowed its head.

To my surprise, it said, "By the orders of Lady Elaine, I will be your companion from now on."

...Lady Elaine?

So this cat is Elaine's Familiar!

It feels more reliable than Elaine.

No, wait.

Elaine was also like this at first.

After all, she is a retainer of Elaine!

There's no way the quality can be good.

"Takuto-sama, are you okay?"

... Takuto-sama!

This is the first time I've been called by my name since coming to this world, Exis.

I'm more moved than I thought!

... Since I've only been talking to monsters in this world, I realized that I'm more "in need of human interaction" than I expected.

"From now on, please take care of me."

I bow my head politely again.

"I think it will be tough in many ways, but please take care of me from now on!"

... Huh?

The words I thought and the words I spoke were different.

Once again,

"Ah, sorry. My words came out weird, but please take care of me!"

... Strange.

I tried to say, "I might cause you trouble in various ways, but I'm looking forward to working with you," at first.

I ask [Omniscience and Omnipotence].

I want to know why the words I think and the words I speak are subtly different.

The answer was simple, it was a [Curse: Language Restriction].

... Curse means it's a curse, right?

I must have been cursed unknowingly during the battle with monsters!

Next, I ask who cast the curse and when.

I was stunned to hear the answer!

It was "Elaine" who cast the curse, and the timing was "during the transfer"!

What the hell is going on!

"Wait a minute."

I called out to the white cat with two tails and immediately contacted the foolish goddess.

(Yes, hello.)

As always, she replied casually.

(... Hey, what is this curse?)

(What are you talking about?)

I'm completely dumbfounded.

(I've been hit with a curse that limits my speech, explain it!)

(Huh? What are you saying? I wouldn't do something like that, no matter how you look at it.)

(Stop your excuses and check it right away!)

(Okay, okay, just wait a minute.)

My body flashed for a moment.

(...Huh? Why did that happen? That's weird.)

(Explain quickly!)

(I don't really know either, but it definitely seems like I cast the curse.)

...This woman is beyond foolish, she's a broken goddess!

(Do you have any idea what might have caused it?)

(No, there's no way. Usually, curses require some kind of "treatment" or "ritual" performed on the other person to activate. ...Oh!)

(Hey, you just remembered something, didn't you?)

(...When Takuto was transferred to this world of Exis, he passed through the light.)

(Oh yeah, if I didn't do that, I wouldn't have been able to transfer here!)

(At that time, I prayed, "May Takuto be able to talk to everyone like friends!")

(So, is that related to this? You said you wanted to make a world where everyone is friends.)

(Yeah, it seems like I cast a curse to make Takuto speak in a friendly tone... But I don't really understand the meaning of it.)

(Huh? No, I don't really get it either.)

(In short, you can speak in a casual tone like with friends, but you can't speak politely or use honorifics!)

...That's an unexpected answer.

I can't speak in honorifics.

That's too risky! To the outside world, I'll just look like an impolite brat.

And on top of that, I am already "unemployed." What am I going to do from now on...?

(Takuto, can you hear me?)

(I can hear you, Clumsy goddess!)

(Hey, isn't "Clumsy" a little too harsh?)

(What's wrong with calling a clumsy goddess "clumsy"? Is there a god who casts curses on their apostles?)

(Well, it was just a slip of the tongue.)

(Put yourself in the shoes of someone who's been cursed!)

(...I'm sorry.)

(Find a solution!)

(Huh?)

(Whether it's against the rules or not, figure something out! If you can't do it, bring a more powerful god or goddess!)

(Huh? Um, well!)

(Hurry up!)

(Okay.)