Balance smiled, relieved of the heavy burden he had carried.
I sent him another message: "HOW ARE YOU, BALANCE?"
Balance looked at the system panel.
"DON'T GET TIRED YET~." I said.
Balance then smirked, almost mocking me. "So, Goddess, do you have any other information to give?"
I sighed. "THERE'S A BLACK MARKET UNDER THIS CITY."
I gave him some information in his inventory.
He checked his inventory, then slowly walked toward the black market I had told him about, planning to sell some items.
After a while, Balance came out of the Rift.
The Rift closed quickly after Balance completely exited, which of course surprised him.
On the way, he briefly crossed paths with Orion, who was patrolling after mining. Orion immediately noticed his presence and chased after Balance.
Balance was shocked, then turned toward Orion.
"O… ri… on?!"
"Found you! How was your little trip?" Orion said with an annoyed face, walking with irritation.
"Did you enjoy your walk?" Orion quickly grabbed Balance's arm, gripping it so tightly it hurt.
Orion dragged Balance to the field near the Emperor's palace through a portal.
"You'd better talk to the Emperor!" Orion kept ranting until finally, he unconsciously let go of his grip. That was Balance's chance to escape.
Balance quickly created a dimensional portal with his ability, and when Orion realized, Balance mocked him by sticking out his tongue. "Bleeeh."
"Damn, I forgot my grip! Damn it, he seems to have a ghost-like passive, it's hard to track him again," Orion said angrily.
Back to Balance's perspective.
Balance continued his journey to the black market. He couldn't make another portal because he was too exhausted—his mana wasn't enough to cast more spells.
The Minerva Black Market was located underground in the city, with a very secret entrance. But I had given him information about this place from the data provided by my goddess.
Exclusive cards and special coins she gave me were also very helpful, especially with the list of trustworthy merchants.
"Thank you, Goddess."
I (the Author) chuckled a little watching him.
After wandering a bit in the black market, which had a suffocating atmosphere, minimal lighting, damp muddy ground, full of trash, beggars, and drunk people, I saw a black cat suffering after being kicked by some kids there.
I hurriedly picked up the cat, gave it a healing spell for first aid, and bandaged its wounds.
"Mew."
The cat meowed at me weakly.
"Stay calm, if you want me to heal you!"
The cat scratched me, and then when I realized, it had already run away from me.
I just laughed at that moment, and in my heart I said: "Hope you'll be okay in this place full of criminals."
I'd better get back to finding the shop my goddess told me about.
"But… I'm scared to ask."
"What if I get scammed and end up at the wrong shop?!"
Hah…
Then an old grandmother came to me and asked if I needed help.
(Ah, I forgot my luck is unlimited!)
"Doesn't that mean even if I stay quiet, my plan will succeed anyway?" I thought.
"But do I even have a plan?"
After thinking for a long time, I finally arrived at the shop. Turns out the shop owner was the grandmother's grandson.
The grandmother served me tea while waiting for the items to be checked.
"Here's the tea, son."
"Thank you." I accepted the tea.
The shop owner was a former famous Council member, but retired after an SS-rank Rift with the Hydra boss. He lost his contract with the sea god Neptune and his hand, so he became a merchant in this black market. His name was Vandens, from the Jaeger region, known for strength and fighting spirit.
High-class Council members who retire only return to battle if it's truly urgent. He chose the black market because he didn't want exposure anymore, and selling here didn't require permits.
The shop's interior had a Mexican vibe (in real-world terms), with guitars, songs, and surfboards.
He really seemed like a man with two sharply different sides.
Vandens approached Balance.
"Kid, are you really still a beginner?" Vandens asked with sharp eyes.
I nodded after hearing him. I wasn't lying. There are many rules limiting me even though my class rank is very high.
Could it be my class is support? But here it says I can be DPS? Maybe sub-DPS?
Vandens explained to me.
"Kid… you don't need to lie to me. Your age must be younger than your ID card says, right? You didn't steal all this, did you?"
Of course I answered loudly: "NO!" I'm not that rotten to steal this much.
He sighed, then released his grip on the chair corner he had been holding tightly. His face softened, then he asked me: "How could you finish all this, even though you're a beginner who knows nothing?"
I answered: "This is thanks to the Goddess."
He just smiled, like he understood my situation. Then he gave me some advice: "You can't run from your reality forever. Prove it and explain it to those involved."
He handed me money for the items I sold and told me to rest.
At the door, I saw the black cat from earlier in the market.
Every step, it followed me.
"Hey, why are you following me?"
The cat just licked its paw.
I gave it a dried fish from my inventory and stroked it.
"Sorry, I can't take you with me. But I'll always come here to see you."
Slowly I walked away from the little cat.
Without it knowing, I had already gone far.
"Hopefully we can live together someday without fear. Live well, find someone better than me."
I returned to my small apartment, with the system starting to open new features like the shop. Though only beginner items and expensive ones were available—no mid-level items for my level.
And selling in the black market was more profitable because of the interest there.
"HEY, WHY DID YOU SAY THAT?!"
I (the Author) got mad, saying "god" instead of "goddess."
"My Goddess, this is for my secrecy." Balance tried to calm me.
Balance sighed, exhausted, then asked: "Can I create a universe?"
HUUUMMM…
I (the Author) was confused how to explain.
"YOU CAN! IT'S JUST THAT YOUR POWER ISN'T ENOUGH YET TO MAKE A BIG UNIVERSE LIKE THE PREVIOUS CREATOR."
Balance thought about it.
"Hey, Goddess."
"?"
The system screen showed a huge question mark.
"Why don't you give me a Soul Weapon like the other gods and goddesses?"
I (the Author) sighed.
"BECAUSE YOU DON'T NEED IT YET, AND THE BODY SUITABLE FOR IT HASN'T BEEN DESTINED TO BE BORN."
Balance lowered his head again.
"When will I get a weapon?"
"IT WON'T BE LONG IN OUR GODS' TIME."
"I see." Balance said with a pout.
Balance opened his phone.
Lots of viral news notifications kept buzzing, piling up until the phone screen heated up and scrolled quickly.
ORION JAEGER, HEIR OF THE JAEGER FAMILY, ANNOUNCES HIS ENGAGEMENT TO THE DAUGHTER OF COUNTESS CYGNUS.
Balance looked at his phone happily.
"I knew they had a relationship, but I didn't expect them to announce it now." Balance felt relieved, leaning his back against the wall.
{Looks like a lot has happened since I ran away from home.}
ILLEGAL DIMENSIONAL RIFTS ARE APPEARING MORE OFTEN. CITIZENS ARE ADVISED TO TRAIN FOR SELF-DEFENSE.
MINERS IN THE RIFT OF NAVEAH'S TERRITORY BECAME VICTIMS OF A SUDDEN RIFT EVOLUTION.
DISCOVERY OF PEARL OYSTER CREAM BECOMES A BEAUTY TREND, HERE ARE ITS BENEFITS.
THE SURGE OF RIFTS MAKES SOME CITIZENS DOUBT THE PROTECTION OF GODS AND GODDESSES.
THE EMPIRE TIGHTENS SECURITY ACROSS THE NATION. WHAT'S HAPPENING?
"Wow, this world really feels like it's collapsing, doesn't it, Goddess?" Balance smiled.
"I THINK IT'S FUN! WHEN ELSE CAN YOU EXPERIENCE A REAL GAME LIKE THIS, RIGHT?>U<."
Balance smiled briefly and looked at the system screen again, then flicked it.
"HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"
"That's not funny, Goddess. Many people died and lost someone out there."
Balance closed his phone, then looked out his apartment window.
"There are cries and screams out there. This isn't a fun game for most people—unless you're a psychopath."
The wind began to blow in through the window, knocking things over thanks to the black cat that had been following him.
Balance climbed up to the window, turning and calling to the cat.
The cat answered him, then suddenly leapt toward Balance.
Balance panicked, quickly spreading his arms wide, and managed to catch the cat—though he nearly fell from the very high floor.
My body went weak after that moment.
I lifted the cat.
"Geez, I thought I was going to die stupidly because of you," I said to the cat.
The cat meowed softly.
"Geez, I can't even be mad at you." Balance then gently set the cat down on the floor.
Suddenly, the system panel rang with a bell sound, signaling a notification from the Goddess.
"I KNOW! HOW ABOUT YOU GIVE IT A NAME!" typed the Goddess.
Balance agreed, and the cat jumped into his lap.
Balance stroked the cat.
"I should give you a name, huh?" Balance said.
"Panthera leo… Leo…" he muttered.
Finally, Balance got an idea.
"How about Leona Pantherelia? Do you like it?" he said happily.
The cat meowed energetically.
"Wait, so she's a girl?!" I said, thinking the cat was male.
"Hold on, Author?! You seriously didn't know?" Balance said with a surprised face.
Balance then lifted Leo.
"Author, look! She doesn't have balls—and she's pregnant!"
The whole place went silent thanks to Balance's unexpected behavior.
I answered: "Oh my god! I thought she was just fat!"
To be continued.