At some point, for reasons beyond my comprehension, the others in the group start chasing me back to the exit. It's not like there's any danger left in this place - even for them - and there's no reason they need to worry about my share of the loot. They have a whole other dungeon to go through, and given they even managed to take down that lich after some time and effort, they'll probably be fine in this low level cavern even without me. Especially if there's not another boss ahead for them to deal with.
Just in case, though, I shout back at them at one point to ensure they know that I'm not interested in a loot split. It's not like I have any ill-will toward them. I don't hate newbies and low skill players, assuming they don't force themselves into my face and make it my problem that they haven't got any skills. Cheaters and exploiters and gimmick players? That's different. But everyone's bad at the game at some point. So I don't have any wish for them to lose out on their loot.
It'd be nice and noble to say I'm skipping out on the loot and leaving because it's the right thing to do for a cheater or an exploiter like me, even if it was unintended. The truth is, though....
I'm just too angry and disgusted to enjoy any loot that I haven't even earned. The idea of doing something like collecting loot and celebrating it makes me want to explode. And with all these damn 'blessings' it's possible somehow I'll do just that. So it's for their own best interest I'm not trying to force myself to endure it.
By the time I make it to the entrance of the cave, Elara leans on her knees, panting. "You didn't even stop...one time...!"
Arin slowly kneels down and then lays on his back on the ground once more. As if he feels it's just his natural place to be down there. "Is it...even natural...to run this fast?"
Kael at least seems unbothered. Which is impressive given how much blood he coughed up earlier. I suppose that means Arin probably healed those injuries for him at some point when I wasn't paying attention. Perhaps it was while they were following me? It would certainly explain why Arin is laid out again.
In the end, I don't really care, though. I look past them and down into the riverbed below.
What am I supposed to do now? How do I convince this damn system helper to tell me how to turn these things off?
"That isn't possible, Master! The goddess believed you need it, so you need them!"
Ugh.
Elara waves a hand in front of my face and then plants her hands one her hips, glaring at me. "Excuse me! Don't just ignore us! You're so zoned out!!"
What...?
Had they been speaking?
It's just hard to concentrate and listen to anyone else speaking while I'm having such a crisis. If they understood what I'm going through right now, they'd know I can't be expected to listen to anyone speak to me. But I suppose if they understood they'd not have followed me all this way back out of the dungeon cave.
I sigh and shake my head. If only these damn 'blessings' were all easily ignored. I can refuse to use magic. I'll never eat a monster. Those are easy enough, even if the former cuts off an entire class path for me. But most of these hacks?? They're passive things that will always be on! Like the defense thing and that annoying voice in my head! I could have lived with something like regeneration.
I wouldn't have liked it, but I could understand it being a fair trade for no respawn mechanics, and while I love a good hardcore save erasing challenge, not even I would just go and leap into a completely unknown situation like this and turn on hardcore mode. Especially when it's more like uninstalling the game forever than just deleting the save file or world.
But-I shake my head and scoff.
I've really reached the bargaining stage already? Thinking that those overpowered things I skipped a;ready when given the choice to pick one would have been okay??
What is wrong with me? It's pathetic.
Elara snaps her fingers in front of my face, glaring at me. "Say something!"
...Fine. If she wants to understand what's happening, I'll just tell her the unvarnished truth. "Look. I'm from another world. I came here to take on the challenge of fighting your demon king. But that damn goddess made me so overpowered it's completely took away the challenge. I don't see how I can take this whole world seriously, now."
I don't know if it's taboo to admit that I'm from another world, but I don't really care, either. What will they do, jail me? Apparently I'm too powerful for that. And if I'm punished by the goddess for breaking her rules, maybe she'll take my powers away. Really, there's only benefit for me telling the truth, and I'm not in the mood to play along with any kind of...moody mysterious hero thing. I'm not going to try to hide my powers and help people in the shadows. I don't want to have them at all!
If I seem moody, it's only because this world is unfair.
Anyway, all I care about now is whether that stupid helper in my head has any way to even begin undoing this mess. She's the only one who could possibly know, since she's the only sentient thing given to me by that semi-sentient goddess. She has to know something.
"I have nothing to say~!" She chirps in my head.
Well. Isn't that a first.
The group all blink and look among one another, apparently still processing my confession.
Kael is the first to speak. "...This was a weak dungeon. The demon king's power is incomparable. So. I think maybe you're aiming a little too high, if what we just saw is your power."
I don't respond to that. There's no need for me to defend my decision, and I'm not going to engage in it. If he knew my ability spread he'd be agreeing with me.
Arin squints up at me. From where he's lying on his back. "...Actually, in the sunlight I can see a strong divine glow about him."
"That's the sun, Arin!" Elara sighs in exasperation.
Arin waves his hand. "Divine sight only works in the light."
That's a terrible ability. I'm jealous.
He looks at me more closely. "...Do you not realize your own strength?"
"Were you not listening?" I grunt in annoyance and put my face in my hands. "I literally do. And I didn't choose it. That's the problem. There's no point in trying if there's no challenge."
That's the most unfair, infuriating part of it all. This all happened with absolutely no input from me. In fact it was completely the opposite! That damn goddess ignored every single thing I said and now still expects me to do her dirty work for her! What kind of a shitty deal is that?!
"Goddess Amara chose to reward you, for your heroism and devotion, your humility in taking such a powerful challenge, your desire to save these people genuinely and by your own power gained her favor!" The annoying voice in my head is as cheerful as ever. "Of course you got overpowered gifts! You deserve them!"
What I 'deserve' is the right to ignore the rewards and return them back to their sender.
The more I think about it, the angrier I am. And that anger is going nowhere.
I want to scream. I want to break things. I want to throw myself on the ground and-
I don't actually know what comes next after that urge. But it's not like screaming or destroying random objects or throwing an actual tantrum is going to make it go away or get me the help I want. So, it's just stress, frustration, and a mounting rage that's getting me nowhere.
Elara eyes me uncertainly. "...You think you can fight the demon king?" Her voice isn't mocking, but inquisitive.
"...Probably, yeah." I sigh and shake my head. "With these powers, I could probably do anything."
What a joke.
"The demon king isn't as weak as you seem to think," Kael crosses his arms. "No one in this world is even close to his power. Nobody in this world could even hope to measure it."
"He's right~!" The voice chirps. "After all, you're only level 3! If you tried to fight him as you are, you'd be demolished!"
I stop. Stop raging. Stop pacing, and I didn't realize until now I'd started that.
So. You're saying. That with the abilities I have now, the demon king is still a challenge?
"Of course, Master! This is a SSSS rank world! Don't be fooled by how easy the low levels of this world are. The goddess is never wrong about her power ranking! The top levels of this world are a threat that could destroy a lesser SSS rank world all on their own!!"
"...Where is the demon king?" I ask. Out loud, in case the system helper won't tell me that, either.
"Huh?" Elara blinks, processing for a moment. "On the other side of the world. In the Demon's Castle on Mount Effigy."
She shrugs and gives me a small, lopsided smile. "Weaklings like us could never make it there."
"Right. But what direction is Mount Effigy?"
"Does it matter?" Kael rolls his eyes. "It's on the other side of the world."
"...Wait, really? You really don't know which way it is?" Elara tilts her head at me. "Everyone knows where it is. It's in the east."
East.
I pat myself down, and...
"Master, your storage pocket is located at your bellybutton."
Thanks for that. I don't plan to use it. But I'm not even mad.
I'm serene.
I take a deep breath and start my way toward-
"That's South!" Elara shouts.
The south. Alright then, maybe I need a compass before I go.
Elara shakes her head in exasperation. "Are you really trying to fight the demon king after we barely survived one beginner dungeon?!"
She should speak for herself. I wasn't even scratched. "It's the only challenge this world has. There's nothing else for me to do. I'm not going to waste my time on weaklings and accidentally out level the boss."
She stares at me for a long moment, and then throws her hands into the air.
"Fine! Fine." She marches over to me. "But it's a very long journey, so we need to stock up first."
What?