Chapter 19 Evan’s Thoughts

Eris Main Residence, Gerfast

Great Western Empire

April 1st

Year 1051

The Great Western Empire!

That was the name of the empire that I started with whenever I picked the 'Second' of the 'Seven Heroes' as my playable character.

The ability to mimic the skills of other characters and enemies was the one reason I picked the 'Second', 90% of the time I reset my account.

But to think that the game I enjoyed playing so much, 'Aidos Online', was actually the simulation of what would have happened in another world somewhere in the universe.

I never would have expected such a thing to happen even in a million years…provided I could live that long.

Frankly, when I woke up and met the goddess, I was scared shitless.

I mean, who would not be if they were suddenly whisked out of their home and tossed into some random space with a god?

An actual deity that rules over who knows how many worlds!

Although I feigned being calm, given the fact that she could read my thoughts, she probably figured that out.

As for learning that 'Aidos' actually existed and what the goddess wanted from me, I had mixed feelings about it.

Part of me was happy that my favourite game was becoming reality, while part of me was scared of the worst-case scenarios.

What if I got killed by some random monster?

What If the goddess went back on her word?

What if the other god who's on the demon's side just decides to nuke this one?

Such questions instantly plagued my mind but I still agreed to come here.

The reason was quite simple, I feared the possibility that even if I had refused, the goddess could just toss me in here regardless.

In that case, my task may have been the same, but I might have not gotten any special powers or abilities.

Hopefully, whatever goals she has would not be detrimental to me when she moves to achieve them.

◇ ◇ ◇

Ever since I was but a little boy, I've always felt that there was something significant about my name. I don't know when it started but at one point in time, I began feeling that way.

After coming to this world, Aidos, and possessing the body of someone with the same name, that feeling became stronger than ever.

There was no way in hell that it was a coincidence. That a kid named 'Evan' just happened to have a body open for possession at the time when I was to be sent into this world.

Such coincidences don't happen that easily.

Then there was my race, a race that obviously wasn't what I originally was, a human.

At first, I thought it was 'Evan Del Eris', the original owner of this body who was not human, but the information I accessed from the system's archive proved me wrong.

Up to the point of his death, 'Evan Del Eris', was indeed a human.

That meant that right from the very beginning, 'I' was never a human in the first place.

This brought me to think about my parents back in my home world, if they were not human just like me but they were.

I didn't have any basis for this, but I was sure of it.

I opened my status board and darted my gaze to the censored title on it. Whatever I really was, whatever my soul really was, it had to do with that hidden title.

As for asking Artemisia what race I was, that was futile.

After all, if she wanted me to know, she would not have censored it in the first place!

◇ ◇ ◇

Looking at myself in the mirror with the maid 'Rei' behind me, I heaved a sigh once more as I thought about the fact that I had to attend another one of the parties that I detested.

Well, saying I detested them was a bit much but it didn't change the fact that I didn't really like going to those parties.

Especially due to the fact that the body I was now in, was that of one of the highest ranking nobles in the Great Western Empire, a global superpower that could be compared to a certain United Group of states in some northern continent of my old world.

'Or maybe we are the guys right next to them who had a country spanning two continents? Or the ones who started a world war about a century ago?'

I kept on thinking about random stuff while I was waiting for the butler to come to call me up when the carriage was ready.

Taking a seat, I reviewed the plans I had for when Laurene, Ralphie and I returned from the Graveyard of the Arrogant.

With the way the Duke and the Emperor were acting, it was quite hard to say that they would let Laurene and I go on weekly dungeon expeditions.

Allowing us to go out and hunt wild monsters is even more unlikely, there are too many risks that the Duke wouldn't want to put his successor through, at least for now.

Perhaps when this body grows older, but while it's still just ten, there's no way he'd let me go hunt monsters as much as I would like to.

'I guess I'm going with the plan to run away and go dungeon diving myself. But this is a Ducal estate I'm tryna run from, it won't be easy. I'd have to pick the timing right, maybe even borrow help from others.

The problem is who to get help from...'

|Connection Initiated|

|Connection Confirmed|

"Huh?"

A blue notice box suddenly appeared in front of me, causing me to let out a surprised voice.

"Is there a problem, young duke?"

"…No, leave me be for now."

I told 'Rei' to leave and she bowed before exiting the room, allowing me to take my time to understand what was happening now.

'It says 'Connection Confirmed'

Connection to who?'

[The 'goddess Artemisia' says it is a connection to herself.]

'Artemisia?'

[The 'goddess Artemisia' says that is indeed her name.]

'…'

[The 'goddess Artemisia' says that you should not forget you have a party to attend in less than ten minutes.]

I stared at the floating letters in shock for a few moments before another message popped up, reminding me of the nuisance I had to deal with soon.

'Why?'

[The goddess Artemisia says that if by 'Why?', you mean 'Why she decided to contact you?', then the answer is simple.

She says she wishes to provide you with assistance as whatever plan you are cooking up in your head would fail without her assistance.

She also feels like you would need her help in a few other situations so she decided to create a connection between you two so she can provide assistance, when and only when she considers it 'Necessary'.]

'…That was one lengthy explanation, but then again I can see why you'd do that.'

**KNOCK KNOCK!!

I wished to chat with Artemisia more, but the knock on the door reminded me once more of the party I was to attend.

I looked at the appearance of the 4 feet 9 inches tall ten-year-old with dark hair and dark grey eyes in the mirror before heaving a sigh and walking out of the room.

'Let's do this!'

◇ ◇ ◇

'Let's NOT do this!!'

Although I really didn't like these parties, I could somehow bear with them. The influence of the memories of the original 'Evan' who grew up seeing these as normal also helped.

However, this situation is entirely different!

Here I was, an hour after thinking I could deal with this party and be done with it in quickly, with my left hand on Laurene's waist and my right hand entwined with hers as the two of us danced a slow waltz on the ballroom floor.

Around us were dozens of other noblemen and women, dancing along with the music, and even though I really didn't understand classical music, I had to admit that the song was beautiful.

It would all have been perfect, if I didn't have to deal with the death glare that was coming from the blonde-haired, green-eyed teenager who was dancing with his fiancée no more than five metres away from Laurene and me.

"Pfft."

The fact that both Laurene and his fiancée noticed his actions and found it funny didn't make the situation any better.

Somehow, he was able to prevent everyone else on the dance floor, save the two girls, from noticing his actions while giving me a glare that could kill me ten times over if glares could kill.

Staring at the bright lights hanging from the ceiling of the ballroom, I thought about how the party began and how things got to this stage.