"Is it prepared?"

"Yes master!"

I cheerfully replied to my master as I finished setting up the tent.

"Good job Kinua!"

"Hehe..."

"I'm also done over here.

Come, let's eat!"

"Okay!"

After he beckoned at me, I rushed to his side and we started eating.

"It's delicious!"

"Haha, I'm glad you like it."

Master's food is always delicious.

When I asked him where he learned it, he said 'in his hometown'.

But he always refused to say what his hometown was...

We kept eating and chatting just like usual.

Just me and my master.

Those are the greatest moments...

...

But he sure is mysterious...

His origins, his goals...

When I try to ask about any of these things, his answers are always vague and evasive.

I hope he will tell me one day...

We eventually finished our meal and prepared to go to sleep.

As always, I'm on the guard duty first before switching with master.

...

Which reminds me, why is master only traveling with me?

If there were more of us, the night shifts would be easier...

"Good night Kinua."

"Good night!"

...

And with that, I extinguished the fire and in a few moments, I heard master's snores.

...

"Sigh..."

When we first met, I had the feeling master was just putting up a mask.

I thought he only acted nice, but in reality wanted to do bad things to me...

But it's been months now...

It doesn't seem like it's all a lie.

But that worries me even more...

This happiness...

Do I really deserve it?

I mean...

Why me?

Why not my mom?

Or my brother?

...or Reiza...?

My eyes wandered around and landed on the extinguished fireplace.

...

But then I snapped out of it and shook my head.

No!

I can't let it get to me!

I made a promise!

...even though Reiza is gone...

Even so!

No...

Because she is gone!

Because Reiza is dead, I need to work twice as hard to make our dream come true!

I stood up while pumping my fist.

But as I did that, I heard leaves rustling behind me.

I turned around at once while drawing my short sword.

...only to find a squirrel.

...

I should calm down...

I still conserve energy so I don't fall asleep...

|= A night's guard duty later =|

When my time was up, I went to wake up master so we could switch.

Although, I still find it a little awkward that master also has to take part in guarding...

At times like these, I wish there were more people with us.

In the morning, I was awoken by master.

We then packed the tents and continued on our journey.

I still don't know what exactly is master's goal though...

So far, we were just wandering from town to town and doing odd jobs as adventurers to sustain ourselves.

But asking master what his goal is, he always just said 'to travel around the world'.

...

Maybe that's really his goal?

That would be weird...

Why would anyone actually want to just aimlessly wander around?

Yeah...

He must just be uncomfortable talking about the truth...

|= A few days later =|

"Ten, right?"

"Yes, it's ten."

This time, we were assigned to gather ten white lizard's tongues.

Some of these lizards live just south of the city in the caverns in the middle of the forest.

"Well, let's go then."

"Okay!"

And so, we started walking once again.

This time, however, there was no smooth pathway for us.

We needed to cross a forest to get to the lizard's habitat.

Although it's a forest, there aren't too many dangerous beasts.

At worst, we will encounter a Goliath bear.

But it's so slow, we can easily escape from it.

After entering the forest, we headed straight to the cavern.

On our way, except for the occasional wild dog, we barely ran into any threats.

But about halfway through, master suddenly stopped and turned his head to the left.

I put my hand on my sword's hilt and looked in the same direction.

...but I saw nothing.

"Master...?

There's nothing th-"

When I looked at master's face, I saw something was not alright.

His face was completely colorless and covered in sweat.

The grass beneath his feet rustled as he stepped back with his shaking leg.

"What's wrong master?!"

"R-run..."

He fell down as he kept looking in that one direction.

I jumped to help him back up while carefully watching that place he kept staring at.

But soon enough, I spotted someone further away.

Prompted by that, I drew my sword and stood in front of master.

That presence slowly walked up to us and I could finally see...

...a human child?

It was a human girl, who looked no older than eight years old.

But even with that appearance, her presence was even mightier than what the presence of the tribe's leader used to be.

She had long black hair and a pair sharp eyes looking straight at master.

Before she got too close, I heard master getting up and drawing a sword of his own.

He seemed to have calmed down...

But neither one of us had the mindset to run away.

...

Finally, she got within a throwing distance and her legs stopped.

I was about to say something, but she spoke first.

"Well...I don't suppose you know where a god called 'Gundar' is, would you?"

""...huh?""

What...?

Where a god is?

What kind of question is that?

She even said 'god called Gundar' as if there were multiple gods...

"N-no...?"

"Ah...too bad.

It would be too convenient I guess..."

She then grabbed her chin and looked at the sky.

"H-hey..."

"Hmm?"

Master called out to her, to which she looked back at him.

"That...explosion.

Was that your doing?"

"...an explosion?

Oh, right...

I guess it would seem like an explosion for you..."

Her brows furrowed as she kept looking at master.

"Well, you are probably confused...

But there is not much point to telling you anything...

You won't keep your memories after death anymore after all."

Huh?

Keep memories after death?

Why is she talking as if that was possi...ble...

"H-how do you know I was reincarnated?!"

Eh?

An unexpected reply came from master.

To which she only sighed and rolled her eyes.

This girl is starting to be irritating...

"Well I can feel it!

Just like you can feel it in me!

Isn't that obvious?"

"O-oh..."

"Well, if you don't know anything about Gundar, then bye."

And just like that, she turned around and walked away.

"Wait!"

Although I knew I shouldn't have, I called out to her.

"...what?"

And her response was turning her head and frowning.

"Who are you?

Why do you want to meet the god?"

"THE god?

Oh right...

He is the only god in this world..."

This...world?

"Well...

It depends on where you draw the line.

But I guess I am...

A god?"

...

Huh?