[ TWATF ]

Chapter 113: Naked God (1)

The girl voice, who was called a Goddess, sighed.

[Runald, Lost Ones aren’t that common. It’s been tens of thousands of years since the Three Ancient Gods have fallen! They did have a lot of followers, but they are probably all dead by now! And besides, you don’t need to worry one bit even if they appear.]

“…Why is that?”

[It’s obvious. You got me!]

“…You?”

[Yeah! If I, the Naked Andersen, am with you, you are 100% safe!]

Runald sighed.

[…Wait, why are you sighing?]

“It’s nothing.”

Runald just thought instead.

‘To think it was she who appointed me…’

It had been three years since he arrived at the <Depth>. After barely clearing the Tower of Nightmares, the Cultivator of his tower spoke to him.

-You are not going to the <Great Lands>.

-What?

-I don’t know the reason, but a certain Goddess said she will buy you. You will become her Vicegerent in the <Depth>.

A God, not the Lord, appointed him! Runald was excited. However, the excitement faded as soon as he realized the Goddess who purchased him was the ‘Lower Rank God’, the most common type of God within the <Depth>.

“Goddess, I don’t think there will be any [Fishing Spots] around here.”

Runald spoke again.

“Even if there were, no spirit who comes up to <Caspion> can survive. Do you really have to come all the way here to get the Followers?”

That was the start of the tragedy. It all started because of the Followers.

Followers, or spirits who believed in God.

All Gods of the <Depth> required Followers. Unlike Vicegerents, who were enough with just one, the number of followers the God had contributed to their power. The more Followers, the more power the God obtained. It allowed them to make a more powerful World, or use rare Setting or Parts into its world.

-Followers are Power!

The word was famous among Gods. Because of this competition, all spirits within the <Depth> were all [Followers]. In this heavy competition, weaker Gods had only two choices to gain Followers.

First, lure the Followers of other Gods.

This method, also known as ‘headhunting’, was widely utilized by mid to higher ranking Gods. It was done by offering Followers better conditions to take it away. But it was difficult for weaker Gods to use as they had nothing to offer, and there was the possibility of making the opponent Gods become angry and start a war. The lower-ranking Gods were then given one remaining option.

The second option was to find a [Fishing Spot] and fish up a Follower.

This was what Runald and low-ranking God Andersen was trying to do.

“Who told you that there was a [Fishing Spot] here? Huh? Goddess, tell me. Who was it that fooled you?!”

The problem was, it wasn’t going too well.

“Come on! Tell me!”

[…Minerva.]

Andersen spoke with a squeamish voice.

“…Minerva?”

Runald became scary immediately.

“Are you talking about that damn Goddess of Fortune who issues the <Monthly Fortune> magazine?”

[…Uh, it’s her. Yeah.]

Runald began shouting angrily. Andersen quickly began defending herself.

[B-but Minerva said it! Today’s lucky point was the West-North-North of Caspion, Blue, Forest, and water!]

“…”

[This is the only place with Blue Forest which is northwest of Caspion! And the water should indicate that it’s the [Fishing Spot]!]

“…And so what did that damn Goddess say?”

[She said I will meet an important person if I go there.]

“And you think that ‘important person’ is a Follower…”

[Right!]

Runald stopped suddenly. Silence fell between them.

“Goddess.”

[…Yeah.]

“Will you apologize?”

[…I-I’m sorry.]

“We’ll return.”

[…Yeah.]

Runald sighed and turned back. He seemed tired as he walked through the bush. Andersen was also silent as if she was saddened.

***
My reaction when i read the title for this chapter:
(⑉⊙ȏ⊙)