God's Prophecy - Chapter 4 - The Emotion That Got Me in Trouble

This whole ordeal made me aware of how hunger can affect my behavior. I was so focused on finding food and protecting myself that I spared no effort to observe the surrounding area.

This area was mostly a forest; however, it was not all trees. There were hills, and if I could climb a tree, I might get a good idea of my current location.

I climbed a tree and looked ahead. I noticed that the forest was really vast. There were paths paved for people to walk on or drive their carriages. And in the distance, I could see buildings.

Is that a city? I was really befuddled back then; I didn’t even notice where the path the father-son pair took led to. If I follow that road, I might be able to reach the city…. I was amazed at how I missed such obvious clues.

I might be able to do something If I go there….

I had never left the village before, and I barely knew where my village was. I only played around in the nearby fields and hills with my friends. Even if I heard of a larger dwelling in a different town or village, I wouldn’t think much of it. However, after spending time with god, I realized that there were many things I was ignorant of; there were many things I didn’t know of, such as the concepts of numbers, distances, and time.

What kind of place is that city, and what kind of “country” did I reside in? It’s history? It’s enemies?

What is that concept of magic that I have only got the chance to see once in the village? What are those monsters and beasts that inhabit not only this forest but many other places?

What about knowledge—the many things I don’t know about this world?

Many, many questions kept popping up in my head. However, most importantly…I was hungry.

In the Kingdom of God, I was able to have three meals a day. But now, I have to find a way to secure food….

I don’t want to find myself in a situation where I don’t care what happened to other people….

I peered down from the hill, looking for prey to catch. Or at least a water source to quench my thirst.

As I walked ahead, I noticed something. Someone is here! A man was sitting with his back to a tree. He had a sword in his hand, the sunlight bouncing off it. However, it was quickly clear that its owner wouldn’t have the chance to swing it again. He was dead, ice cold.

Was he an adventurer, maybe?

His lightweight armor, which didn’t seem very heavy, reminded me of the outsiders I had seen in the village. They were mercenaries who hunted monsters in response to requests.

What I found strange, very strange, was the fact that I instinctively prayed for the deceased man. It wasn’t the first time I had seen a dead person. I had even seen acquaintances being killed back when the village was attacked.

Before, the first thought that came to mind when I saw a corpse was how lucky I was. I would have been happy to take any money or valuables they had on their person. But now, even in such a situation, I couldn’t bring myself to recklessly disturb the body.

I thought about leaving his body as is, but I was worried that someone might discover it and show disrespect to the man in any way. Or perhaps the monsters of the forest might end up devouring him.

But was burying him here really the right choice? What if his companions are searching for him…. Thinking about it, I ended up dragging the body as I walked toward the town.

I placed the body on a crude wooden sled made by tying logs I found in the forest with a makeshift rope—which was not light. However, the light armor, despite its name, was a burden to me.

I didn’t know how to put it…but the last portion of the prophecy god showed me kept coming to mind; I thought that the body of the deceased hero should be returned to his home world.

I pulled the sled, trying my best to shoo the hunger away. This person… may have…someone waiting for him to come back….

From then on, I walked as I dragged the body along. An hour had since passed, and I wondered what I was doing…hungry and alone.

To be truthful, I had ulterior motives as well. I thought that if someone were to see me, a child, dragging a dead body, they might stop and talk to me, offering help.

As these naive thoughts kept springing to mind, I heard the voices of several adults behind me. Thank goodness….

“Hey! Is that armor…could it be?!”

“No way.…”

When I turned around, there was a group of men and women. I could tell they were adventurers with a glance. They donned their fighting attire. Some carried swords and others carried staffs.

At first, I thought they were looking at me with sorrowful eyes, but the bearded man, the biggest of the lot, suddenly changed his expression and rushed at me.

“Macheta?! You brat, what the hell have you done to Macheta?!”

“Huh! Wait, wai—” Suddenly, the enraged man’s fist filled my view; I only felt pain for but a second before getting knocked out cold.