Souma and Elena celebrated their successful quest at a tavern. After eating their fill, the time to part ways finally came.
"We get along so well, don't we!"
Elena's voice was lively.
"Yeah, we do. I had fun too."
"Then let's do another quest together sometime! Promise me, okay?"
"I don't know about that."
Elena pouted, saying "Ehh."
"Did you actually dislike me?"
"No, that's not it! It's just, I don't know if I can come back here again."
"So you're moving your base of operations somewhere else?"
"No, that's not it either..."
"Then what do you mean?"
Elena tilted her head.
(Can't think of a good excuse. I might as well tell the truth.)
Souma pointed ahead. There was a plaza with a small fountain, surrounded by wooden benches. Perhaps because it was dusk, every bench was empty.
"It'll take a little while, so let's talk over there."
"Okay!"
◇
After sitting on a bench, Souma explained the situation.
"I'm sure you won't believe this, but..."
With that preface, he told her everything without holding back.
Elena stayed quiet and listened. She was surprised at first, but soon turned into a machine that just nodded along.
"...and that's how it is."
Souma finished speaking. In response to his hard-to-believe story, Elena said:
"Isn't that incredibly romantic!"
Her eyes sparkled.
"Huh? Romantic?"
"Because you can travel between two worlds! And while you're sleeping! I'm jealous, Souma-san!"
"Wait, you actually believe me?"
Souma was surprised.
"Of course I do."
Elena looked puzzled.
"That's strange. Normally, you wouldn't believe a story like this!"
"Sure, at first I thought 'What is this person talking about?!' But it's you telling me this, Souma-san!"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"You're so easy to read, Souma-san! So I knew you were telling the truth!"
"I see. ...Wait, I'm that easy to read?"
"Yes! Especially when you're thinking about perverted things! When you were watching me tangled up in those Vine Lasses, your eyes were completely those of a degenerate! And also when you see a woman with big breasts in town!"
Elena puffed out her cheeks, fuming.
"For real...! I thought I was hiding it...!"
"You're totally obvious! So be careful!"
"Got it."
After a brief pause, Souma said with a serious expression.
"So I don't know if I'll be able to come here again after today."
"I see."
Then Elena stood up and said, "In that case!"
"Let's go consult with the Goddess!"
"The Goddess?"
"Namiel-sama, at the Grand Temple! The almighty and omniscient Goddess! Don't you have gods on Earth?"
"The concept of gods exists on Earth, but they aren't real."
"Then all the more reason to go to Namiel-sama! In this world, consulting Namiel-sama is the best way to solve your problems!"
"Hmm. If you say so, Elena, I'll give it a try."
Souma also stood up from the bench.
(I thought this was a game-like world, but gods actually exist... I wonder what she's like.)
Souma thought of the goddess Namiel, whom he had yet to meet.
◇
Souma and Elena arrived at the Grand Temple. Its exterior was reminiscent of an ancient Greek temple. The interior was equally majestic, befitting its appearance.
"That is Namiel-sama!"
Elena pointed ahead. About ten meters away stood a woman in a heavy robe. She was kneeling on the marble floor, offering a prayer. Her back was turned, so he couldn't see her face.
"You have come, Souma."
Noticing their presence, Namiel spoke without turning around.
(Hmm? I've heard this voice somewhere before...)
As Souma felt a sense of déjà vu, Namiel turned around.
"Eeeeh! Mom!?"
Souma couldn't help but shout. Namiel's face was the spitting image of his mother, Namie. The familiar voice was also unmistakably Namie's.
"No, I am not your mother. I am the goddess of this world, Namiel."
Namiel denied it with a straight face.
"That's right! Don't be rude!"
Elena was also angry.
"No, she looks exactly like my mom!"
Souma ran up to Namiel. Elena hurriedly chased after him.
"I am not. I am the goddess of this world, Namiel. However, it is not unreasonable for you to think of me as your mother. That is precisely why you were chosen."
"I was chosen...?"
Souma tilted his head.
"Yes. The reason you can come to this world from another world is none other than because I chose you."
"Is that so!?" It was Elena who was surprised.
"Why was I chosen? ...No, I mean, why was I chosen?"
Souma hurriedly corrected his language. Seeing this, Namiel smiled softly.
"I am an almighty and omniscient goddess, but even I sometimes feel the desire to let loose."
"...Huh?"
Both Souma and Elena froze.
"To put it simply, after peering into an infinite number of worlds, I discovered someone who looks just like me. That is your mother, Namie. Interestingly enough, the name was also somewhat similar."
"So I was chosen because I'm her son?"
"Yes. When I learned of your feelings for Namie, I wanted to save you even if it meant distorting the laws of the world. Perhaps because I, as a goddess, cannot have children, I came to feel that you, the son of Namie who looks just like me, are like my own child."
"So that's how it was...!"
Souma was convinced.
"It's a bit of an unexpected turn, but still, isn't that amazing! Souma-san was chosen by Namiel-sama!"
Elena jumped for joy. Under her sleeveless shirt, her ample breasts bounced up and down.
"Given those circumstances, will I be able to keep coming to this world?"
When Souma asked, Namiel smiled and nodded.
"You have been granted the Goddess's Blessing. Its effect is that by sleeping in a futon, bed, or sleeping bag, your soul is transferred from Earth to Mistoria, or from Mistoria to Earth. You can use it once per day."
"In a futon, bed, or sleeping bag...!"
"What happens if you sleep in a tent without using a sleeping bag!?"
Elena raised her hand and asked.
"In that case, it probably won't activate."
"Probably!?"
"There are exceptions to everything. It might activate. Probably."
Souma gave a wry smile and whispered to Elena.
"Is she really okay? This goddess?"
"I-It's fine, Namiel-sama is the almighty and omniscient goddess, after all."
Elena whispered back.
"I can hear you even if you whisper, you know."
Namiel said with a straight face.
"We're sorry!"
"No problem. Now, I will resume my prayer."
Namiel turned her back to them, knelt down, and began to pray. Seeing this, Souma became curious.
"Excuse me, Goddess. What are you praying to?"
"What do you mean by 'to what'?"
Namiel turned her head without changing her posture.
"When we pray, we pray to a god. But you are a god yourself, Namiel-sama. So I was wondering what you pray to."
Elena muttered "That's true" in a small voice.
"You've noticed a good point."
Namiel stood up again and faced Souma. Then she answered his question.
"I am not praying to anything."
"Huh?"
"Prayer is just a pose. It's nothing more than giving a sacred impression. Actually, I'm just pretending to pray and sleeping."
"Eeeh!"
"But people would be deeply saddened if they knew. Please keep it a secret from others."
"Understood. Then we'll take our leave."
Souma bowed and looked at Elena, saying, "Let's go."
"The Goddess's prayer is just a pose... she was actually sleeping..."
Elena's eyes rolled back in despair.