On the drive back, Jack leaned forward to avoid getting blood on Jenny’s seat and conversed with Ellis in his mind about the incident that just happened while Jenny sat in silence and focused on getting Jack home quickly.

(From what I saw, your physical and cognitive abilities have multiplied by about five times since your “upgrade”.)

‘Oh, really? Does that mean it will continue to multiply by five, or does it just add five times my original strength?’

(Hopefully it continues to multiply rather than add, or else you will be screwed when my archangel arrives.)

‘Oh yeah, can you tell me more about what I should expect? I mean, what are the chances of getting attacked again?’

Jack inquired, though Ellis didn’t seem interested in explaining, she didn’t want him to die even more.

(*sigh* fine... I suppose I could give you a basic overview...)

‘Thanks, Ellis, I owe you one.’

(Yeah, yeah. Anyway, monsters in this world are very common, they can be found anywhere and can survive in many different environments.)

‘Wouldn’t people notice if there were that many monsters just wandering around?’

(From what I’ve gathered from the time spent in your mind, it is likely your government knows about their existence, but don’t spread it around to avoid mass panic, and what is discovered is dismissed as a conspiracy theory. Monsters have obviously avoided discovery in fear of human’s or the gods that love the humans. Throughout history, there have been monsters that have attempted to eliminate humanity, and every time a god would bless some knight to go and defeat the creature, and send a message to any that threaten humanity.)

‘Did you ever bless anyone?’

(Yup! But my blessings were more of the “Hey, they would make a cute couple! Blessing of the goddess of love, and now live happily ever after” variety.)

‘That feels wrong somehow.’

(I wouldn’t know, I never got to see their happily ever after... my blessing may have worn off and I would never know about it.)

‘Why didn’t you just watch them?’

(Because I’m only sixteen.)

Jack choked on the air and started coughing. After assuring Jenny repeatedly that he was alright, he returned to his conversation with Ellis.

‘Does that mean your younger than me?’

(How old are you?)

‘Nineteen’

(Then yes, I am younger.)

Jack let out a sigh in his mind.

‘I thought all the gods were millions of years old or something.’

(No, gods are born similarly to how humans are born, but it is true they will never die unless another god kills them.)

‘Why another god?’

(Because nothing else can. Gods are higher beings in every meaning of the word, they are stronger, faster, smarter, cockier, and more self-righteous than any other existence.)

‘Gods don’t do favors, huh.’

Jack remembered when he asked her why she doesn’t contact one of her god-friends, and he suspected this had something to do with it, but he wasn’t going to pry.

“We’re here.”

Jenny’s voice pulled him out of his head, and back to reality as they pulled up to his apartment building. He lived closer than he thought, or maybe Jenny made some questionable maneuvers, either way they were finally home. Jack pushed open the car door and climbed out, noticing his wounds very acutely since his adrenaline gave out. He entered his apartment with Jenny trailing behind, almost hesitant to enter, and he even thought he heard her make a small squeal, but he dismissed it. He was so tired he could barely stand, and immediately sat down heavily on a wooden chair next to a small table.

“Where is the first aid kit?”

Jenny asked in a slightly demanding tone while beginning to search through his cabinets.

“In the closet by the bathroom.”

Jack had finished bandaging the worst of his injuries while Jenny watched intently, making him a little uncomfortable, he didn’t see her blink even once. He then turned away from her to let her finish up his back. He felt her hands lightly dab his back with the wet cloth, and shudder whenever she made contact.

‘Is it really that bad?’

After the bandaging was finished up, Jack thanked Jenny, then apologized for his rudeness before heading toward his bed, telling her to help herself to anything she wants before she goes.

“U-um.”

Jack stopped, and looked back at Jenny, who was looking at him with an amused expression.

“What?”

“I’m not going anywhere, moron. What if you need help?”

It took a moment for Jack to understand due to his exhaustion, and by the time he figured out what she was saying, she had already walked past him and into his bedroom.

“W-wait.”

Even if it was Jenny, this was a bit much.

“Stop arguing, and just go to bed.”

Jenny sat down on his recliner, and had already made herself comfortable by leaning all the way back and propping her feet up.

“Ah... whatever.”

Jack was too tired to argue, and it’s not like they’re sleeping in the same bed. He walked over to his bed, and removed an extra blanket before spreading it over Jenny, who quickly accepted it and wrapped herself up in it. Jack shuffled over to the light switch, and flicked it off and crawled into his soft, comforting bed. Before he drifted off to sleep, he reflected on the day’s events, remembering the furies, and How they were able to do so much damage despite being weaker than him.

‘Ellis.’

(Yes?)

Ellis responds with her usual cheery voice, not affected by the same physical limitations as him.

‘Starting tomorrow I’m going to learn how to fight.’

(Okay.)

Ellis remembered how Jack panicked when he thought Jenny might be in trouble, and how he ran after her, ready to fight despite his many injuries. He didn’t seem like a violent person, even while fighting the furies, he waited for them to attack first, but when his friend was in danger, she believed he would have thrown himself at a dragon without hesitation. Yet he still expects nothing in return.

She was starting to like this human.