GODDESS TRIAL

Norihiko's confusion remained as the girl who claims to be a goddess remained floating in midair.

“Did you just say you are a goddess?”

“Yes, the prettiest.”

“The prettiest goddess”

“Exactly right.”

Norihiko sat down on the floor; he tried to find a reasonable explanation, but when he found none, he asked, “Why did you stop me from dying?”

“Wait, you are just going to take my word for it. I thought it would be much harder to convince you. I even came with my certificate of divinity and everything,” Astrea said.

Certificate of what? “I based my thoughts and actions entirely off of logic, and since the existence of gods did not fit into my logic scale before, I just had to broaden it.” Norihiko explained, “I guess seeing a girl flying would do that kind of thing to you. Now back to my question, why did you stop my death?”

“That’s easy; it is because it will be such a waste.” Astrea said, “I have watched you for quite some time now. I saw everything you did to get to this point, and let me just say, you are impressive. So of course I will not just let you die.”

“So you saved me because I impressed you.”

“That’s exactly right.” Astrea said, “I saved you to put you in my debt because I need your help with something.”

“What if I have no interest in helping you?”

“Then I will leave you to die and find another person.”

“Ok, if that’s how it is.” Norihiko took a breath and said, “I am not interested then.”

Astrea is visibly shocked by his response. “W-what do you say? You meant you agree, right? I mean, there’s no way someone can refuse a request from a goddess as pretty as myself.” The goddess composure left her.

“Wow, you break easily. I thought you would put up a greater front than this.” Norihiko said, sighing, “Also, you said you have been watching me for some time, so why did you make the mistake of lying to me?”

At these words Astrea flinched, which further proved Norihiko's point.

“You should know lying to me is impossible, You are desperate, aren’t you?” Norihiko said, then smirked, “Find someone to replace me; if that is not a lie, then I don’t know what is.” Norihiko stood up to look directly at Astrea. “I am the very best at what I do; no one can match me.”

“What you do” Astrea said inaudibly.

“What?”

“You said what you do not do.” Astrea said, “You had fun doing it, and you loved it, didn’t you?”

“What are you getting at?”

“What if I told you you do not have to stop?” Astrea said as she flew down and sat on the roof’s ledge, “You are right, I’m desperate. I need you to agree, or I will die.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well… the truth is I was betrayed.” Astrea said gloomy, “You see, because of that, in the world where I am from. I might be the goddess of justice, but I haven’t done quite justicey, and I have no experience.”

“How does that involve your death?”

“When the entity of a god or goddess, completely disappears from their world, they essentially die,” Astrea explained, “and because I have not maintained the justice in my world, I am slowly becoming weaker, and I will soon...”

“So that’s where I come in; you want me to do your job for you.”

“Yes, but you won’t be alone; after all, you will have the prettiest goddess in the multiverse by your side,” Astrea said, smiling and making her face look as adorable as she could.

Nope, I don’t see it. Norihiko sat back and thought about her offer. Everything she just said is true. A different world… a world without justice or laws at that. Taking everything into consideration, Norihiko said, “I’m going to be in charge.”

“Do you mean—”

“Yes, I will help you, but on one condition: I am in charge.”

“But I am the goddess.”

“I am honestly afraid of what you would do if I leave you to your own devices.” Norihiko said, “We only just met, but I am very sure.”

“Sure of what?”

“You aren’t all that bright, are you? People who point out their best qualities, even if it is not all that impressive, are mostly compensating for something else.” Norihiko said without even a bit of sugarcoating, “I’m right, aren’t I?”

“M-meanie”

“Well you are lucky because now you have me.” Norihiko looked back at the scene, which was still paused. “In hindsight dying is not the most spectacular way to go out; besides, my mom won’t be happy to know I died finishing her case.”

Astrea laughed confidently. “I already knew this would be the outcome. I am the pre-” She stopped herself, remembering what Norihiko had said.

“You are what?” Norihiko asked, smiling.

“Big meanie,” Astrea said, turning away and sulking.

“Also, you said you are not powerful, but stopping time seems plenty powerful to me.”

“About That, Time isn’t stopped; right now we are just exchanging information through telepathy but in the smallest fraction of a second. It’s a spell which does take that much effort; when it is cancelled, all the information would flow into your mind all at once.”

“Is that safe?”

“I will be fine; you, on the other hand—”

“What?… why’d you stop?”

“Maybe using this spell wasn’t such a good idea.” Astrea thought aloud before turning to Norihiko, giving him a thumbs up. “Do not worry; whatever side effect it may have, I will take care of it.”

That is not very reassuring, Norihiko thought before going to the criminals one by one and placing files in their hands.

“What are you doing?” Astrea asked.

“Giving them the evidence of their crimes, they are going to die anyway, so why not?” Norihiko said.

“You do know this is all just a thought, right?”

“Yeah, I know.”

Once Norihiko finished, he returned to Astrea’s side; firmly gripping his bag, he said, “I am ready.”

“Let’s go then, OPEN.” Astrea said.

A large magic circle appeared on the floor, and Norihiko and Astrea suddenly vanished as time continued and the entire rooftop exploded.

Norihiko and Astrea reappeared in the middle of a street.

“Welcome to—”

THUD

Astrea checks to see that Norihiko has fallen flat on his face and is now unconscious.

“I guess that is the side effect.” Astrea said, “It is probably for the best; I doubt anyone would want to see a sight like this.”

They are in a ghost town where the houses are crumbling and seem to have been ransacked, and blood can be seen at various places.”

“This definitely… isn’t pretty.”