Becoming an Accidental God in a New World

The guard took me quietly back to my room, and I opened the door and waited for the guard to leave.

But the guard kept an eye on me that whole time, making me feel a little irritated and suspicious about what he wanted.

"Do you need something from me?"

I asked, and the guard blinked while looking at me before he let out a small sigh.

"The Cardinal offered you a helping hand, right? You better take that hand and do not even think of betraying his trust. I am telling this for your own sake."

The man told me before he went away.

Fenrir growled as he watched the man leave, but I stopped him with my foot before he could entertain any ideas of biting someone because he felt irritated.

"Master, this place is pissing me off. Everyone here talks like they think they're better than us. I do not like this at all."

Fenrir told me, and I wanted to tell him that not only did I understand him, but I agreed with his opinion.

But Fenrir was at a stage where he did not need any more encouragement for his behaviour.

"Don't pay them any attention. For now, let's focus on ourselves. We should go and talk with the duchess about the Cardinal and his offer."

I had no intention of hiding anything from the duchess. Not because I trusted her, but because I was afraid of what the repercussions of hiding my betrayal from her would be.

"Huh—! Is there a need to do that? I am sure that old lady will understand and respect master's choice anyway."

Fenrir asked with a confused look on his face, and I just patted the poor pup.

"It's necessary to be honest in our relationships… well, as much as you can. Besides, I don't want to cause unnecessary confusion."

I mainly wanted to avoid trouble for myself, but I had a feeling telling this to a child was not a good idea.

"Hmm, I still don't get it yet, master, but sure…? If that's what you want to do, then I'm all for it."

The puppy agreed before he followed me out. I quickly checked to make sure there was no one around, and once I was sure that the corridor was empty, I decided to head to the duchess's room.

I knocked on the door once, and at a second knock, the door opened on its own.

"You may enter… oh my—! Shopkeeper, you came here yourself? You should have asked me to come to you! Please, take a seat."

The duchess quickly got up once she noticed that it was not a guard at the door but me.

Her room was much more luxurious compared to mine. It had a sleeping area as well as a guest space and so much more. It was easily twice the size of my room… not that I was jealous.

I tried to avoid looking around much as I took the offered seat.

The duchess also came back quickly, and she looked around with a flushed and startled face. She seemed to have noticed me looking around her room, so she tried to make excuses.

"Shopkeeper, please do not take offense at these people's unfair treatment. I told them to let us exchange rooms, but they already made arrangements before I could tell them about my guest. If you want, you can have this room—"

I raised my hand before the duchess could speak more. I needed her to stop for a second because this was getting too out of hand.

"Duchess, it's fine. I am not going to take your room away from you, nor do I need that much space. In fact, we likely won't be here for long."

I told her, and she calmed down a little before she gave me a curious look.

As I had decided not to hide things from her, I decided to tell her about the small 'talk' I had with Goddess Helia.

Of course, some information had to be edited or omitted for her own sake.

"I see… so the goddess wants us to take the kids away as well? But according to the Cardinal, their goddess asked for something else? It sounds like there is something fishy going on here."

The duchess got the same feeling I got.

Since both I and the duchess were far removed from this mess, we could see things more objectively. But I doubted it was the same for those involved.

"Anyway, I am here to tell you that I will be betraying you soon, so please pretend to be shocked and betrayed."

I told the duchess clearly and without any guilt in my voice.

Once again, the duchess was taken aback by my words, but then she thought about something and nodded.

"Of course. I believe in you, shopkeeper. You must have a plan regarding this situation. I will make sure nothing goes wrong on my end."

The duchess assured me, and I wanted to tell her that she did not have to go that far for my sake.

But one look at her was enough to tell me that she was not going to listen.

As for me, I neither had a plan nor a way to get this situation resolved. I doubted I could even count on Goddess Helia to be able to help me.

But I did need some help… and to find out what was going on.

"I will take my leave now. There is one more person… well, creature that I need to talk to regarding all this."

I told the duchess, and she nodded.

She looked calm, but I could not tell what she was thinking on the inside. For all I knew, she might be plotting my end.

"I understand, shopkeeper. I promise to help you in any way I can."

She told me, and I felt like it was my time to leave. I needed to inform the Griffin guardian as well, and hopefully, he'd come up with a plan… or at least tell me about one.

A few guards were around when I left the duchess's room, and I quickly headed outside.

A breeze ruffled my clothes as I walked, and I felt a shiver go down my spine. For a second, it almost felt like someone brushed against me, but the feeling was too subtle.