Result of that new internal epiphany within the council was them being kicked out of the meeting seconds later so the council could have a serious discussion. About them.
At that moment, Reis decided this couldn't go on.
If he let things be, those old foxes would make his life miserable. They were looking at him like he were a delinquent who needed to be trained just in case heaven chose him in the end, which, by the way, was impossible.
|You are incorrect. Anyone could be chosen indeed.|
Why would anyone pick someone who wanted nothing to do with this as the king? That made no sense.
| Heaven works in mysterious ways.|
'What mysterious cause is to bring us here in the first place?'
Not one or two. A thousand people.
|You do not have the authorization to view that information.|
Hah.
Reis knew he needed to run. Not just run. Cut off the ties with 'heaven' and just get a new identity. But that wasn't possible. This body was too weak; the face was too...abnormal. 'Ann' had no military power, no magical ability to back him. He was just broke as hell in every aspect.
This realization brought him to the embarrassing act of asking for help.
From someone he denied help from less than a day ago.
|The Guardian was offended by your refusal. It will be difficult.|
'Great…now I'm totally screwed…'
What was a Guardian anyway?
Reis had taken it at base value and thought of it as something of a helpline when he heard it first.
The idea of a Guardian and subject, he had seen it in game before. It was like a spirit helping players out on specific missions they couldn't complete on their own. It was class-specific too, only for 'divine' classes.
|You are partially correct.|
|Each player was assigned superior beings from this world to watch over them and make sure they are properly adjusted to this world.|
He narrowed his eyes. That time in that void, that being almost crushed him into a cube. What kind of adjustment was that?
|...That was to ensure better distribution of energy. The smaller space you take in the existential void, the less toll it would take on the mind.|
And what about physical capacity? Did he look like he had the physical capacity to turn into a cube?
Oh wait. Was it just his soul?
|Sure...|
"If they are supposed to help anyway, why would it not work anymore?"
|There are special circumstances.|
Yeah, right.
|The Guardians aren't all the same. They are not obliged to help you.|
|Those from the upper realm will only assist you if you ask. But that is not guaranteed.|
|Since you denied his goodwill once, he may not heed you again.|
So guardians were snobbish?
|Please be careful of what you say.|
Arrogance was the only thing that could describe it. Reis didn't care if these were stronger beings. What kind of superior being couldn't brush off a simple thing like this? They just had to lend a hand to do something as simple as giving him a cave to hide!
Well, not exactly that, but he wouldn't ask for something like an extra life.
|I never said he wouldn't help, just that it would be difficult.|
The blue screen glowed a few shades brighter all of a sudden.
|You can still try asking. The Guardian is most generous; you may be lucky.|
'Lucky my ass.'
|Ask like a devout believer; you won't know until you try.|
'A devout believer? Of what? Injustice? '
Despite what he said, he knew he had to. For a peaceful life without people who were offended by his collarbone showing. Yeah no.
Compared to that, accepting a defeat here was fine.
But how was he supposed to be devout? He wasn't exactly religious. All he knew were the prayers he saw on TV and stuff.
Trying didn't hurt.
"Great Guardian," Reis held his breath for a second. The things he had to do...
"I ask for your guidance."
Standing in under the bright rays of sunshine in front of the window, he surely looked like a young priest praising his lord. Maybe an angel reciting a prayer. The Vidalian royal family had that odd charm that made people wonder how they weren't elected as saints instead.
If not for the not-so-angelic hearts, some god out there may have given them a promotion. But as the universe would have it, they stood on that line between angels and demons called humans, and had very human aspirations.
"Please shine over this pitiful subject and grant me peace."
"You are the only one who can help me. So please forgive my misgivings and grant me your aid."
Reis did his best to say it as the religious leaders show on TV. Expression reverent, hands clasped together. There was no gap in sincerity.
But nothing happened for a full ten seconds.
'I thought you said it would work if I asked reverently?!'
...You didn't ask reverently.|
Like hell he wasn't. Even the pope wouldn't sound as reverent as he did! Reis felt literal chills hearing his own voice. He never knew he had such great acting skills. Must have been something 'Ann' knew.
|That's the issue.|
He stared at the screen in disbelief. So being too devout was an issue as well?
A sudden gust of wind hit his face along with some dust. Reis stepped away from the window, coughing.
Even the weather was against him. What did he do wrong? It was the same way the church in this world prayed.
|You are missing the crucial factor.|
What could he—
"Did I not mention I can hear your thoughts?"
A deep voice rang in his ears, freezing him in his spot.
That arrogant voice. But there was no one around him.
He had heard something about thoughts before. It was slowly coming back to his memory book.
Someone could hear his thoughts.
And that someone was talking to him in his thoughts. Somewhere, he didn't really know how to act.
'Well, shit.'