Saruto tilted his head and let out a small breath through his nose.
"If '75 hero' is the a hint I receive," he said, the corner of his mouth lifting. "Then you know exactly what I'm about to say."
The figure hovered in place, fingers steepled, its form swaying as if suspended by invisible strings.
"Oh?" it replied. "And what might that be?"
Saruto raised one hand, as if ordering from a menu. "I want a device that could track anyone or anything." He paused, then added quickly, tapping his own chest. "Only I can summon it. And only I can use it."
"I ain't searching the whole continent to find the hero. After-all, I'm not much of a lore reader about their location."
The space went quiet.
Then the figure's mouth stretched far wider than a face reasonably should. "Wow," it said, drifting closer, looming just enough to be uncomfortable back at him. "Not bad for a starter wish?"
Saruto raised an eyebrow, already suspicious, but didn't back away. Mostly because his legs felt like they'd betray him if it tried.
"However," the figure continued, wagging a finger, "there will be… adjustments."
Saruto squinted. He had heard that word enough times in life to know it never meant something good.
"You may only track heroes," the figure said. "As for the 'anything' part?"
He sighed. "Here it comes."
The figure stopped in front of him and snapped its fingers. "...you'll only get a location. No shortcuts. You still have to walk there."
"With your legs and finded with your hands."
Saruto stared at it for a moment. "…So it's a divine GPS with restrictions."
The figure nodded proudly. "Exactly."
Saruto rubbed his temples. "I swear, even gods love nerfs."
The figure scoffed. "Careful. This is already generous."
Saruto straightened up, shrugging. "Fine. I'll take it. As long as it works."
The figure chuckled. "Oh, it works. Whether you survive using it? That's depend on you, Saruto..."
He roll his eye and continue speaking.
"As for the second wish?" he said, folding his arms. His brows lifted slightly, like he was asking for something casual. "I want an unbreakable crowbar that hits like a truck."
"…Ehh?"
The figure's confident grin froze. Its eyes narrowed, mouth hanging open just a little.
"Say that again?" it asked, leaning closer, like its ears had malfunctioned.
Saruto inhaled, his smile sharpening. He leaned forward and spoke louder, each word deliberate.
"I. Want. An unbreakable CROWBAR that hits like a truck."
The figure's expression collapsed into pure disbelief. Its shoulders stiffened, hands jerking up in reflex.
"What??" it blurted. "There are countless weapons—legendary blades, divine spears, any powerful artifact! and you choose a crowbar?!"
"Yuh-huh."
"That doesn't explain anything!" the figure snapped, face twisting in frustration. It began pacing, muttering under its breath. "Of all things... why a crowbar?"
Saruto tilted his head, lips curling into a knowing grin. "A crowbar opens doors."
The figure halted mid-step, staring at him.
"…That's not—"
"And breaks things," Saruto added, his grin widening.
The figure dragged a hand down its face, looking genuinely tired. "You are not right in the head."
"Aww thanks," Saruto said, tapping his own chest with his thumb. "If I'm possessing this body, I might as well commit to it as my main."
He smirked, watching the reaction like it was entertainment.
The figure just stared at him, expression empty.
The figure stared at him in silence. "…I can't believe I'm arming a mortal god-wannabe with construction equipment."
"Well… I guess it's not completely ridiculous enough to destroy the world."
The being pinched the bridge of its nose, then snapped its fingers again, clearly giving up on arguing. The second wish settled into white realm with a dull shimmer.
It exhaled slowly. "So," it said, sounding tired now. "what's your last wish?"
"Oh! That's simple!" Saruto's face lit up instantly. His posture straightened, eyes shining far too brightly.
"Give me an unchanging physique modification suited for beating my enemies shitless without losing stamina too fast!"
He leaned forward as he said it, excitement creeping into his voice—just a little too eager. A little too unhinged.
The figure stared at him.
Silence.
Then it sighed. Deeply.
"You know what?" it said flatly. "Wish granted. No more weak body." There was no shock left in its expression, only acceptance. "I've already stopped being surprised."
It raised its hand one last time. "After awakening, you'll instinctively know how your body has changed, how to summon the device, and—"
it gestured lazily to Saruto's side, "—there will be a weapon of your choice waiting for you, It's also a type of weapon that you could call whenever."
Snap.
The final sound echoed through the space.
The figure slumped slightly, muttering under its breath "I should've stayed a background god…"
"See you again, my little friend..." The figure grin back.
Suddenly, Saruto started hearing faint sounds. At first, it was just noise—blurred, distant, overlapping. Then the words slowly formed.
"Don't give up!"
"Come on, boss, push harder!"
"You got this!"
"—no wait, you don't got this!"
"Huh…?" Saruto frowned, brows knitting together. His eyes shifted lazily, trying to find the source.
A sharp flash of light hit him directly in the face.
"—gh!" He hissed and raised his arm subconsciously, squinting as his vision swam. Everything felt too bright. Too real.
Slowly, he sat up.
His joints didn't ache. His chest didn't feel tight. His breathing was steady. Lastly his sore body just disappear.
He rubbed his face once, then twice, blinking hard.
"…Whoa." His voice came out clear. Very clear.
His body felt light. Warm. Refreshed. Like he someone who had just slept for a week straight and woke up after stretching for an hour.
Then his vision fully focused.
The first thing he saw was pure nonsense...
The bandit leader had his arm slammed onto a wooden crate, veins bulging, teeth clenched, sweat dripping down his face. His expression screamed life-or-death struggle.
Across from him, Riot was arm wrestling him with one hand—while yawning.
"Uaaah~" Riot said lazily, eyes half-closed. "Are we done yet?"
Around them, four bandit subordinates were cheering at full volume.
Bandit 4: "COME ON, BOSS! HE'S IS JUST A KID!"
Bandit 3: "DON'T LOSE OR WE'LL NEVER LET YOU FORGET THIS!"
Bandit 2: "USE BOTH ARMS IF YOU HAVE TO!"
Bandit 5: "HEY, BOSS, MY GRANDMA SQUEEZES HARDER THAN THAT!"
The leader snarled. "SHUT UP! I'M TRYING!"
Bandit 2: "Wow, wow, excuses already?" one subordinate laughed.
Bandit 4: "Yeah, boss, is this why you banned arm wrestling in the hideout?"
Bandit 5: "Don't worry! If you lose, we'll just tell everyone you slipped!"
The leader's eye twitched.
Next to this disaster, a badly bruised man lay on the ground, barely conscious, tightly bound with rope from head to toe. His face was swollen enough to be unrecognizable.
Standing calmly beside him was Elena.
She dusted off her maid dress, expression gentle as always, hands neatly folded.
She noticed Saruto sitting up and smiled brightly.
"Aww~ you're finally awake, young master~?" she said in her usual playful, sisterly tone. "Ignore the men over there. They're being loud again. I'll go prepare your breakfast~"
She glanced down at the tied man at her feet.
"Oh, and this one~?" she added lightly. "He was sent by the Baron your father, to retrieve you alive. He did resisted a little~"
The bruised man let out a weak whimper.
Saruto stared.
His mouth opened. Nothing came out.
He looked at the arm wrestling.
At the cheering bandits roasting their own leader.
At Riot yawning mid-match.
At the tied-up man.
At Elena smiling like this was a normal morning.
"…What the fuck is going on…?" His face was completely blank, absolutely speechless.
*
To be continued...
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