Episode 5: "Hero Kuronaka's Realization"

Village Girl
"What's wrong, Kuronaka?
You look pale."

The village girl asked him as she passed by.

Village Girl
"What'd you say? A person walking in the sky? Now, don't be silly!
You need to start taking things seriously, or people are not going to like you!"

That was odd. She had replied even though Hero Kuronaka hadn't said anything.
She'd said it automatically.

(Something's wrong...
Really, really wrong.)

Old Man
"Remember when I found you? You gave me quite a shock, young man! All alone in the rain, and not a single memory to call your own."

An older man beckoned Kuronaka to approach the bench he sat upon.
Hero Kuronaka didn't respond, instead just walking past him.

Old Man
"That was quite a shocker!"

(Something's wrong...
Really, really wrong.)

(But... what is it?
What's wrong?)

Slime
"HeeeEEeeEy! Did you fiiiIIIiind the pot you were loooOOooOoking for?
WoooOooOow! You're suuUuuUUUuch a good hero!"

Cat
"Meow..."

(Is it something to do with me?
Or is it...)

Goddess Statue
"Welcome back, Hero Kuronaka."

Before he realized it, Hero Kuronaka's feet had carried him back to the goddess.
Her timbre was calm and gentle as it ever was.

(I just have to trust the goddess... Right...)

Hero Kuronaka
"Uhm... Goddess..."

Goddess Statue
"Yes? Speak thy mind."

And speak his mind he did.

Hero Kuronaka
"It's just, well, something happened while I was on the bridge.
I saw someone walking in the air."

Goddess Statue
"..."

The goddess didn't answer.

Hero Kuronaka
"...Goddess?"

Goddess Statue
"Is that so? That must have been quite the sight.
Now, onto thy next mission. Listen carefully."

Hero Kuronaka
"No! Listen to me, goddess!
I really did see someone!"

Before he knew it, Hero Kuronaka had raised his voice.
He couldn't ignore the unease, the doubt creeping up anymore.
Even if that meant defying the goddess.

Hero Kuronaka
"What's going on?! Is there something wrong with me?!
S-Something's not adding up here!"

Goddess Statue
"I understand."

Yet despite Hero Kuronaka's weariness, the goddess statue remained as calm as ever.

Goddess Statue
"I guarantee there is nothing you should worry about, Hero Kuronaka.
It's all part of the game, after all."

Hero Kuronaka
"Game?"

Upon hearing that word, something tugged at him.
What game was she talking about?

Goddess Statue
"Mine eyes see everything.
Hero Kuronaka. May we remain in each other's company throughout this game, no matter what."

Hero Kuronaka
"Wait, goddess. What do you mean by 'game'?
Just what are you—"

BOOM!

A sudden explosion cut him off.
His surroundings shook all around him.

Hero Kuronaka
"Whoa! Wh-What was that?!"

An earthquake?
Just as that thought crossed his mind, he heard—

Wee-woo! Wee-woo! Wee-woo! Wee-woo!

It was an odd sound he had never heard in the village.
Unpleasant. As if it was the wailing of a metal-made monster.

Hero Kuronaka
"Wh-What is that?!"

Everything was moving so quickly.
A voice cut through the ruckus.
Not a normal voice, however.
A thunderous voice, echoing from the sky itself.

???
"There has been a sudden explosion in the Satellite Management Building!
All personnel, report to the scene immediately!"

The voice resonated all around him.
And what was more, he couldn't even comprehend the meaning of what it said.

???
"I repeat! There has been a sudden explosion in the Satellite Management Building!
All personnel, report to the scene immediately!"

Hero Kuronaka
"Sat in light management...?
A-An explosion...? What's this all about?"

(What are they saying?
Where is this voice coming from?
What was with all the shaking? Was that the explosion?)

Hero Kuronaka stood in place, bewildered.

Goddess Statue
"No need to worry, Hero Kuronaka."

The goddess statue spoke trying to calm down Hero Kuronaka.
But...

Goddess Statue
"This is all... part of... the game..."

Her voice gradually became garbled, mixing with the sound of static.

Goddess Statue
"M-Mine eyes... see every... everything.

Hero Kuronaka
"Goddess? You said that earlier."

Goddess Statue
"Yo... Kuronaka..."

Hero Kuronaka
"Yo... Kuronaka?"

(Is she talking about me?
But I'm 'Hero Kuronaka.'

Who... Who is Yo Kuronaka?)

Goddess Statue
"N-No matter... No matter what may come...
May we remain... in each other's company throughout this game... for a long time..."

The goddess's voice was slowly consumed by noise and chaos.

Goddess Statue
"For a long, looong, lo+o+o+ng...
lØー■ng, l*Rg %\—n☆g゛,┘g ₮imɆ…"

Hero Kuronaka
"G-Goddess?"

Goddess Statue
"nØw, g■o?%kＮfr※Ｋ" +...H９ⱤØ―+..."<>/span

And then...

Goddess Statue
"..."

Hero Kuronaka
"Goddess?!"

The goddess statue shattered, her pieces crumbling to the ground.

Hero Kuronaka
"Huh?!"

It collapsed.
All that remained of the statue was the rubble littering the place it once stood upon.

Hero Kuronaka
"G-Goddess! Goddess!!!"

Confused and anxious, Hero Kuronaka called out to the goddess.
But no matter what, his cries were met with no response.
His guide was now nothing more than a pile of broken stone.

Hero Kuronaka
"I-I can't believe it! Goddess!"

(Demons...)

The word flashed through his mind in an instant.
Hero Kuronaka rushed toward the village.