CH 4

Karina here! I came from the Alchemy Kingdom to Solasidor here in the Paverkant Kingdom to become a merchant!

But my country—the Alchemy Kingdom—was destroyed, so I have to live here in order to survive! Big news! Much wow!

I don't have any luggage because it was stolen by my friend Modoki from the Alchemy Kingdom on the way here!

"Hoooh… sounds like you've had it rough. Assuming you're telling the truth, that is."

When I told him about my situation, he became suspicious.

I mean, yeah. I kinda just realized it, but I was much too well put together.

You know how long it'd take to get this town from the Alchemy Kingdom in this world on foot?

Not to mention how I said I was attacked but didn't look dirty at all.

Maaaaan that's suspicious.

"… Ah, I actually flew here using magic."

It wasn't as amazing as spatial magic, but it was possible to fly through the air using magic.

But when I told him the truth up to the point that it wasn't an outright lie…

"Hoh? So you're a mage? Then why did you have your luggage stolen?"

"I was asleep and, umm, it was taken when I wasn't looking?"

"And you're wanting to become a merchant?"

Waaah, I'm getting pummeled here!

This Soldier-san is too good at his job! Dammit, maybe I should've just teleported directly into the town instead of using the gate!

I followed up by showing him that I could read, write, and do arithmetic, but then he just started to suspect that I was a spy. But there's no way a spy as stupid as me could exist! That was my defense, anyway.

And what was even more important was that he was going to reinforce the security because I might be a spy… waaaaah! Goddess, please help me! Your apostle is in trouble!

[Hmm? Did you just call for me? I felt a desperate prayer just now?]

"Goddess!?"

It was the Goddess's voice. I suddenly looked at the soldier who had froze in place.

It looked like time had stopped.

"I-is this… a time stop!?"

[Yes, I am the Space-Time Goddess, after all. I've only stopped time in this room. I'm glad that there are no dogs here. This magic has a restriction that it can't stop dogs.]

Why only dogs???

[Also, time-related skills are forbidden techniques, so I haven't given you any. If you want to learn them, do it yourself.]

The Goddess spoke offhandedly.

So I can learn it. Even though it's a forbidden technique.

[So, I can help you, but I'll ask for a favor in return. Please bring a tribute to the church after this.]

"O-okay! Ah, but if possible, please resolve this so that I can make the tribute without being ran out of town…"

[Who do you think I am? … I don't kill people just because I can.]

I was starting to think she was the Destruction Goddess or something to be frank.

[I'll put some identification into your storage. The problem will be resolved if you show the man.]

"Th-thank you so much! I'll definitely bring the tribute!"

[Alright. Three, two, one…]

At the end of the Goddess's countdown, the stopped time started moving again.

"Oh! I'm so sorry, I have my identification!"

"Hmm? I thought you said you lost it?"

"Umm, it's something I hid behind the fabric of my clothes—here we go."

Saying that, I opened the storage space in my pocket and took out the identification I received from the Goddess.

It was a piece of metal that was slightly larger than a 5 yen coin. There was a hole in the middle of it.

I handed the identification to the soldier and he examined it closely.

"… This is… I see."

Soldier-san's attitude changed and stern demeanor softened.

"Hmph, there's nothing wrong with it. You can go through. You should've just shown this from the start."

"Ah, yes. I'm sorry for the trouble."

The Goddess's identification was amazing. I was able to pass through without understanding what it was at all.

I looked at the identification I received back from Soldier-san again.

… It was a coin that was slightly larger than a 5 yen coin.

Eh, does this other world use 5 yen coins as identification? When I thought that, I heard the Goddess's voice in my head.

[It is an item to make people think, "Oh, this is proper identification." If you use it too much, the effect will be weakened.]

Umm. Is the Goddess actually an Evil Goddess?

Even while thinking that, I decided to never mention it.

[Also, I want a beautiful woman's socks as my tribute. Not yours though.]

"… Why would you want a beautiful woman's socks? Aren't you a Goddess?"

[It's my hobby. Aaaaand ノシ.]

This Goddess… has some weird hobbies…