The Goddess Is Obsessed With Me

Note : auhhuhduahhduh finally one exhausting week is overrrrrrrrrrrrrr, hhhhhhh, I really hate group assignment seriously…. it’s fine if the tacher at least get me some decent guys but all I got are bus riding bastards. Ugh, whatever, I’ll just enjoy my weekend. Hope you guys enjoy yours too!

Sorry for any erorrs!

“Harold-san, there’s this quest I want to do with you…”

Erina had a serious expression on her face, exuding an atmosphere that matched her demeanor.

Unlike our usual fun and playful interactions, there was a subdued atmosphere this time.

She nervously wiggled her fingers, as if worried I might refuse.

In the past, we had always taken on quests together without hesitation.

But this new question brought a mix of doubt and anxiety, leaving me wondering what was truly going on this time.

“What is it?”

ssk

When I responded to her words, she pulled out a quest paper and held it in front of me.

The quest entailed recruiting personnel to explore the dungeon, and the departure date was set for a week later.

Wait a minute… this…

Once again, I carefully examine the contents of the quest, attempting to recall as many memories as possible and compare them to previous experiences.

To summarize the quest, there was a newly discovered dungeon, and it was about recruiting an advance squad to investigate the level of danger and the loot that can be obtained.

Since it is a completely newly discovered dungeon, its origin and the level of risk remain unknown, which is why a fairly generous reward has been specified.

Of particular interest is the fact that the dungeon has just been discovered, leaving it without a name. Therefore, the guild has given it a temporary name for the time being.

Whispering Dungeon.

The reason it was named “Whispering Dungeon” is because it was built based on the advice of the first discoverer.

The dungeon looks like a ruin, and the deeper you go inside, the more annoying sounds you hear, giving the sensation that someone is whispering.

This is why it was given the temporary name of “Whispering Dungeon.”

As an aside, the first discoverer continued to feel as if someone was behind him even though he explored the dungeon alone.

No matter how many times he looked back, there was never anyone there.

This experience left him feeling a bit terrified, and he offered this experience to others.

What I was paying attention to here was the ‘newly discovered’ dungeon and the word ‘whisper’.

Combining what I’ve read, the quest in the game with this dungeon is…

“Erina… this might be a little dangerous.”

It was an essential quest for the story progression and a dungeon quest that made users tired.

From my memory, it is clear that this quest was one the main character would receive after dealing with Mir. As a result, some of the questions I had previously were now resolved.

What will happen if Erina arrives at the progression where Mir has to be subjugated?

I’ve been asking myself those questions all along, but this time I was able to get an answer.

If a quest that only happens once is skipped…

With that thought in mind, after addressing the lingering questions, I refocused on the main point and made sure to emphasize the importance of awareness to Erina this time.

 “Ugh… that’s why I asked you, Harold-san… because I thought I might be dragging you into a dangerous place…”

Since this is a dungeon where maintenance is more important than personal firepower, it may be a bad environment for me, who can use burst type magic once or twice at most, but I wasn’t worried about myself.

It was because of the dungeon boss ability.

The reason is that the boss of this dungeon has a very bad compatibility with Erina.

If my memory is correct, the boss of the Whispering Dungeon is Malua, a demon known for instilling doubt and fear in its victims, in short, mental type attacks.

Unlike the few ancient demons in this world that act on instinct like wild beasts, Malua possesses intelligence and can understand human speech.

Instead of relying on brute strength and vicious claws like common demons, she uses endless whispers and fear to prey on the spirits of her victims, gradually breaking down their inner selves.

Without a firm belief or strong mindset, one’s mind can easily shatter under her manipulative tactics.

If severely affected, the victim is left as a mere shell without a sense of self.

The opponent who gave up and defeated by her will face a terrible end.

She is bitten all over her body by several small and large cubs she raises, and she loses her life as she decomposes wretchedly and cruelly.

So, in order to deal with Malua, you need to have strong beliefs and mental strength…

But Erina was the type that was easily broken.

Right now, no matter how many mistakes she makes, I can’t help but worry about her getting weaker and weaker when fighting Malua, knowing that the person we’ll soon be dealing with is a demon capable of destroying minds with words…

Even I, who had been doing well so far, was a little hesitant.

“I’m fine with this…but I’m rather worried about you, Erina.”

?!

At that, she mumbled something with a nice smile.

“After all, Harold-san thinks of me before himself…♡”

I couldn’t hear what she was mumbling to herself, and when I tried to ask her again, all I received was a smile of denial.

 “Erina, as always, if you want, I can be with you, but this time it’s different.”

Hearing those words, she nodded vigorously with a determined face as if she was prepared.

“Of course, as long as I have Harold-san, I can make up my mind at any time!”

If she said that, I would be relieved, but I couldn’t easily shake off the unpleasant feeling that something was going on behind the scenes.

Even so, it seems that as long as she’s with me, she’ll be able to hold on to her spirit.

However, the place we’ll be heading to is a deep and dark dungeon, where I cannot guarantee that we will always be right next to each other.

Moreover, the Whispering Dungeon is built with Malua’s sharp intelligence, which sets up various traps to separate team members.

She’s a heinous demon that divides the majority into minorities, isolates the minority, and inflicts horrifying deaths.

“Thank you Harold-san! Then let’s go on the quest together!”

ssk

“Just a moment, before that…”

I grabbed her hand as she was about to leave, and held it back.

!!

Erina blushed in embarrassment, but was surprised to see my serious expression, and then she looked at me with a nervous expression.

“I know I’ve said this over and over, but this quest is going to be especially dangerous, so take it easy… Do you remember the words I used to say?”

While I was with her, I bought several books for various philosophies and spiritual growth and gave them to her as a gift for her inner maturity.

Whether she likes reading or not, Erina, upon my receiving gifts, spends the entire night engrossed in the book.

The following day, she excitedly shares her findings with me, reciting the sentences that the book emphasizes.

And whether the lessons from those books were actually helpful, I’m not sure.

Usually, whenever she felt broken-hearted, I would remind her of the contents emphasized in the books.

 Each time Erina repeated those words, her worsening symptoms would begin to subside.

Then, rubbing her head, she wondered as she fell into deep thoughts, and then she shook her shoulders with a bright smile as if a light bulb had appeared above her head.

“Have faith… you will gain strength, think what you live for and realize what you are for…is that right, Harold-san?”

She mumbled what I had said and nodded her head vigorously with a smile that’s full of self-confidence.

“Yes… I think of those words when I’m anxious…thank you, Harold-san! ♡”

When she finally said those words, Erina put a lingering smile on her face and left to accept the quest.

◆◆◆

Eventually, a week later, we decided to go to the whispering dungeon.

At first, I was anxious, and I thought it might be better not to take on the quest.

However, the quest to explore this dungeon was essential for the story’s progression.

The monsters inside weren’t very strong, so they weren’t a threat to me, but the challenge was having to accompany Erina.

So far, she had been able to overcome obstacles through sheer force, but this dungeon quest was different.

It was so treacherous that power alone couldn’t guarantee success.

If Erina made a mistake, she would suffer irreversible inner wounds from Malua’s attack, and her mind would be shattered beyond repair, severely disrupting our future journey.

The stakes were high, and the risks were too great to be taken lightly.

My chances of returning to the real world will also be greatly reduced…

So, since we’ve already accepted the quest, I need to do everything possible to prepare for the disadvantageous situation.

Erina, who hasn’t fully matured emotionally and has unstable emotion, requires something to artificially boost her mental strength.

There are various methods, from religious magic to amulets that can protect the mind from external influences.

I’ve refrained from using these methods so far, as they might hinder Erina’s personal growth, but now the situation is different.

I decided to explore amulets and talismans and even purchased a potion magic book.

 However, I still hesitated to seek advice from an expert, but considering the seriousness of the upcoming quest, I decided it was necessary to consult with one…

…

..

.

“Ara~? I think it’s the first time you’ve come to the temple on your own will~? Have you finally become interested in becoming my knight~?”

I tried to get the information I deserve by going to the goddess Abne, who is considered the most intelligent among the gods.

She playfully teased me as I entered the temple on my own accord.

Her mischievous smile suggested that she found the situation amusing.

“No… I’m sorry… I’m going on a dungeon quest a week later, and it’s said to be a completely newly discovered dungeon… The place can attack people emotionally, and I’m worried about Erina….

 Even if I’m next to her, she might find it challenging to set foot in there.

I was hoping to get some advice on how to handle the situation from the goddess…”

After my humble request, Goddess Abne tilted her chin in contemplation, lost in deep thought. Moments later, she lifted her head and spoke with a serene smile.

 “Hmm~ … whispering dungeon? It’s just been discovered, so I don’t know much about it, but based on what I’ve heard, it must be a bad place for Erina~.”

She already know about it…?

…Perhaps because she got the most believers in the royal capital, the information gathering seemed to be quite fast.

“No matter how much you encourage her, in such a place she would easily lose her mind~… This is the only advice I can give~”

With a graceful gesture, she swung her hand through the air and gently placed a magic book in front of me.

Swish-

Thud-

“This….”

The magic book contained an attack spell that shoots a small star, which can be learned as a reward for reaching level 5 bond in the relationship with the goddess Abne.

This unique magic has the ability to remove harmful effects from nearby allies when casting the star.

If the removal is successful, the star’s power is tripled.

It requires only a small amount of mana to cast and is highly regarded for its potent pure damage relative to its mana consumption, making it a cost-effective and versatile spell in the game.

 “With this, while killing monsters in the dungeon you can also support Erina’s spirit~.”

I came here simply for advice, but the corners of my lips naturally rise due to the unexpected harvest.

I didn’t even offer a token of my oath… Is it really okay to accept this…?

As I pondered over the new magic, a slight unease crept onto my face. In response, Goddess Abne swiftly picked up on my emotions and offered a reassuring smile, as if to put my worries to rest.

 “It’s okay to take it~, even if you’re not a believer right now~, it’s something I’m keeping an eye on, so feel free to use it, Harold~”

Hearing these words, I bowed deeply and expressed my gratitude to Goddess Abne.

“Thank you… I will never forget this grace.”

Although it was a brief moment, my perception of Eleanor was shaken, but it wasn’t the first time I had been hit with an ungodly thought.

 “….Come back often… I’ll be waiting for you anytime.”

Before leaving the audience…. Through the gap of the slowly closing door, I saw the final expression of Goddess Abne.

“uh..?

When I left, she looked very sad, and her eyes seemed to long for something…

note : kuuuhhhh!!!! to think that Abne has this kind of cute side!!