POV Ichiro

Sera-san came back with a wagon pulled by a horse. Granted I created the horse when Elded-san came to me. Apparently the horse's name was Aprlritz. How do I even pronounce that? Also some of those traits were a problem. So I removed Greedy and Cunning, and gave it Kind and Regeneration. Sera-san commented on how well behaved the horse was. I could only smile and agree.

As we were about to leave, the entire village came and wished us a safe journey. Some had tears in their eyes. No, wait...they're wishing me a good journey! Oy oy guys! Come on now.

[You are very loved by this village, Ichiro-dono.] Sera-san just looks at me with a smile on her face.

[Ahaha, well I've done a bit to help around the place. It was a small thing or two. Nothing really to talk about.] Sera-san just seems to look at me with a bright smile.

We set out on the trail and Sera-san starts talking about the structure of the church without me asking.

Apparently there's the regional priests. These are the priests that preside over a large area of territory. These priests are called the Watchers. Then there are the priests for individual cities or villages. They're just called priests. Apparently Cardinals command five Watchers and have a personal guard of up to five hundred soldiers. Then there are the Bishops who are above the Cardinals and have a personal army of two thousand holy knights. Above the Bishops are the Deacons. There are three Deacons at all times and act as a sort of council. Each Deacon rules over a particular territory and has a personal army of ten thousand soldiers and five thousand holy knights. Above the Deacons is the Pope. They reside in the Holy City just east of Galim. The lowest rank is the Holy Knight, but they are higher ranked than priests residing in cities or villages. Apparently they can out rank a Watcher with a letter from a Cardinal or above. Sera is a junior priestess which is apparently an apprenticeship for a Watcher position. This position is called the Initiate within the church but for people not in the church they address themselves as junior priest or priestess.

[Is it ok to tell me that, Sera-san?]

[Why wouldn't it be, Ichiro-dono?] She says that like it's simply a matter of fact. Oh well, maybe it's not that big of a deal? We walk a little bit further, but I notice that the sun was starting to move towards the horizon.

[Um...Sera-san, don't you think we should prepare to make camp?] Sera-san looks at me with wide eyes and then looks around. Then she finally looks down at her hands.

[Truly a divine blessing...]

[Um...Sera-san?] She looks back at me and smiles.

[There's a clearing up ahead we can use for a camping spot. Let's travel just a little more.] I wonder if that spot was made for people to camp at along the trail? As we walk I catch Sera-san sneaking glances at me from time to time, but it's not that big of a deal. It might be a bit vain but being looked at by a pretty lady like this isn't so bad. As I was just thinking that I see ahead of me several stats with the Greed and Evil trait.

As I was thinking about whether to change their trait, Sera-san must have noticed my expression because she stopped and looked at me with a worried look.

[Is something troubling you, Ichiro-dono? Perhaps I...] She didn't finish that sentence as several men walked out from the woods. They had that sinister look. I guess bandits look like bandits no matter where they're from.

[Oy oy, look at this! Quite the catch!]

[Yo boss! Maybe we can have a little fun, eh?]

[Haha! Sure, but don't damage the face. She could fetch a good price.] Wow, that actually was making me mad. I step forward and raise my hands.

[Gentlemen, please. Go home, stop this life of crime. No one is above redemption. Not even you fellows.] They all go wide eyed and then start bursting into laughter.

[Oh, you see this fellow? Now that I take a better look he's got a good face. We could probably sell him to a noble with that kind of taste.] Oh yeah, they're scum.

[Too much of a hassle. Just kill him and take the woman along with the wagon.] This guy was pretty big. I saw that he had a fifty kills under his stats. He was carrying a large axe and had a scar across his eye.

[Ichiri-dono, truly it is very benevolent of you to offer redemption to this group, but they are beyond such. They have allowed themselves to fully turn away from the gods and picked a life of evil.] Well I am trying to be an adventurer now, but I've never actually killed people before. Well that's not true. Since this world exists I've wiped out a civilization or two, but does that actually count?

I draw my sword and prepare for battle. The bandits all laugh at me.

[Ok ok. We'll make sure to kill you quickly since you're showing such bravery.] As he said that, Sera-san rushed forward and punched one of the bandits. Turning his upper torso into a thick red spray. The bandits all go wide eyed.

[I shall smite you, in His honor!] Sera-san takes a fighting stance and all the bandits become more vigilant. The leader bandit clicks his tongue.

[Tch, a Holy Knight. Looks like we'll have to earn our coin this time.] Several bandits rush Sera-san and attack. She weaves in and out of their attacks and even blocks a few with her gauntlets. Each punch completely crush bodies or shattering blades.

One of the bandits saw this and turned their attention towards me. He ran towards me with his sword drawn, but I hesitated. I tried to block his blade but I missed and it struck my chest. He bounced back and then looked at me dumbfounded.

[What? How did you...] I quickly slash down and cut the man cleanly across the chest. He falls and slowly dies while I stare into his eyes. I see it all. His name, where he's from, what his greatest fear is, who his parents were and so on. He falls to his knees and I fall to mine. I cradle his head in my arms. Fear grips his face and he eventually dies in my arms.

[It's ok now, Ichiro-dono. It's ok now.] I look up and see Sera-san has tears in her eyes and she's holding out a handkerchief to me. I realize I've been crying this whole time. I wipe my eyes and hand it back to her.

[I've never...I mean...He's a bandit, but I've never actually...] The words stick in my throat tightly.

[I know, Ichiro-dono. I know. But he was a bandit. This was his inevitable end.] She looks down and shakes her head.

[He had a family, a home, desires and dreams. Just like that all gone. Life is so precious. Why, Sera-san? Why do they do this?] I look up at Sera-san and she just looks at me with a bitter smile and a tear forming in her eye.

[It's how it is in these lands. You can't save them all, Ichiro-dono.] But that's not true. I could change everyone here. Remove every notion of evil in every living thing in this world. But would that be right? Philosophically speaking they should have the right to choose. What kind of God am I? I could give them unending paradise, but should I allow evil to live like this?

[How can one know joy if they do not know sorrow? Can one truly understand the light if they have not seen the dark?] I stand and look down at the departed bandit. I chose long ago to be a hands off God of Creation. I have to learn to be impartial. This is how they lived their lives. Is it just possible that no matter where there will always be bad people? Was there really nothing I could do? Am I being hypocritical right now? I think more and decide with a very heavy heart to let it be. They made their choices.

[Live by the sword, die by the sword.] I look over at Sera-san and she seems to have clasped her hands while looking at me. I raise my eyebrows.

[Sera-san?]

[Thank you for sharing your personal wisdom, Ichiro-dono, and allowing me to see your benevolence. I will try to not let such darkness reach your light again.] Just as I was about to ask Sera-san about that there was a coughing sound. We both look over and it seems the bandit leader was still alive. He was barely holding it together.

[You're a priest, right? Then I repent. Hurry up and heal me and I promise to never do anything like this again. I'll even share my spoils with you.] Sera-san clenched her fists and rage erupted on her face.

[You dare!]

[Hold for a second, Sera-san. What do you mean spoils?] The bandit smiled.

[Ahaha, all you priests are the same. You act all pious, but in the end, even gold and slaves can sway you.]

[You fiend!]

[Sera-san, stop!]

[But, Ichiro-dono] I hold my hand up to her.

[Trust me, Sera-san.] She looks at me, then the bandit, and then steps back while lowering her head.

[Where are your spoils, bandit, and I will think about healing you if I find something of value.] He smiled and looked at me.

[Heal me first and I will tell you.]

[Tell me first, or die. The spoils won't do a dead man any good and I'm not exactly hurting on resources.] Well I mean considering I can just create gold after all. This seemed to catch his attention as he seemed to be considering something. He sighed and then looked at me.

[East of here is a clearing, that's where we keep our loot. Alright, I told you now heal me priest!] I smile and look at him.

[Who said I was a priest? Sera-san, I'm going to go check on this loot. Come with me.] The bandit looked at me wide eyed and Sera-san just smiles at me while giving the bandit a dark grin. Once we leave ear shot of his yelling I stop and look down.

[Sera-san...was that the right choice? I mean we could heal him, and he might make a change for the better.] Sera-san looks at me with a tender smile.

[Ichiro-dono, you are so very kind and benevolent. But you must harden your heart to those evil doers. Who knows how many people they've killed?] Well I mean I do. I just checked their stats. Collectively they've killed quite a bit.

[Even so, redemption isn't beyond anyone, right?] I look at Sera-san. Hoping for some sort of answer.

[Ichiro-dono, I know what you're asking, but it just doesn't work that way here in this world. We killed them quickly. Otherwise they would have suffered torture before being publicly executed or turned into a criminal slave. This was a mercy in a way.] I can't tell if Sera-san is trying to convince me or herself. Either way, I will leave it be for now. They made their choice, and now they must live by that choice. I just hope I'm doing the right thing.

We walk for a bit and see three bandits guarding an area. There is a carriage with a canvas covering it and several boxes on the ground. They seem to be talking among themselves until they notice us. They didn't even say anything and just rushed us with weapons drawn. Sera-san immediately lept at them and punched each of them in the head. Quickly dispatching them in the shortest amount of time possible. I realized she was trying to be considerate towards me as she looked back at me with a bitter look on her face before removing the bandits from the area.

[Thank you, Sera-san] She looks at me and smiles bitterly.

[Let's see what those fiends kept here.] We rummage through the boxes and see a good amount of dried good, various dried meats, and a good amount of coin. I saw maybe a few large gold coins, a good amount of small silver coins, and a whole chest filled with various gems and jewels. I couldn't tell if this could be considered a fortune but Sera-san quickly let me know by her reaction.

[By the divine there's a practical fortune here! They must have hit several merchant caravans to amass such a wealth.] I look down and a dark thought comes across my mind.

[I don't think that's the case, Sera-san.]

[Why's that, Ichiro-dono?] I turn and look at the carriage with the canvas draped over it.

[Didn't the bandit say we would fetch a decent coin? Let alone selling me to a certain noble?] I start walking towards the carriage. Sera-san makes a sharp inhale.

[Slave traders...it makes sense.] I can hear Sera-san follow me towards the carriage. I reach and pull the canvas off the carriage. I see underneath several women and girls in simple linen barely covering their skin. Several look very bad with wounds and bruising on them. They were behind iron bars and they looked at Sera-san and me with fear.

I look at them and try to give them a reassuring smile.

[It's ok. We're not slavers or those bandits. We'll take you away from here to some place safe.] I reach for the iron door at the back and see a padlock. I grip it hard and I hear the sound of metal crunching. I tear the lock off and throw it to the side. This seems to startle the women and girls inside even more. I open the gate and step back.

[It's ok. You can come out now.] They hesitate until one lady who had a bandage over the right side of her face covering her eye begins to move out. She steps out and looks at me. I smile at her and pull out some dried meat.

[If you're hungry, please eat. We have plenty enough for everyone.] The young lady slowly takes the meat from me and keeps her one eye on me. She then places the edge of the meat into her mouth and then begins to chew. After a moment her eye widens and she begins to eat swiftly. She coughs and I give her some water. She looks at me and begins to cry. She must have had it rough.

[It's ok. Everything is fine now.] The rest of the people leave the carriage and we begin to share our food. Well more specifically the bandit's food.

Eventually they had their fill and I looked over their stats. Many of them came from the same village just south of Tol Skeral. It was a kind of outpost village. It was a farming community and apparently was called Maple Town. I think I remember this place. I specifically made this area extra fertile for crops if memory serves.

I look over at the bandaged lady and check her stats.

Name: Leila

Age: 51

Race: Elf (Normal)

Class: Mage (Basic)

Health: 153/500

Mana: 5,000/5,000 (Restricted)

Origin: Village of Evergreen Forest

Desire: Painless Death

Kills: 30

Level: 14

Traits: Magic (Crippled), Disfigured, Blind (Right Eye), Burned, Scarred, Tortured, Unlucky, Kind, Resilient, Smart, Patient, Magical Prodigy

Magical Affinity: Wind, Water, Earth

Known Spells: Healing Waters, Water Orb, Water Shield, Wind Arrow, Water Arrow, Earth Bullet, Earth Walk, Earth Shield, Dig, Raise Wall (Restricted)

Mood: Thankful (Bittersweet)

Favorite Food: Many Berry Pie her mother makes for special occasions

I blink a few times. I see there are new features unlocked, but what is the reason these new features unlock? I look ever at Sera-san and see her class is unlocked as well. It says Apprentice Watcher. Hm. What does my class say? Apparently I don't have a class. Also, Leila-san sure knows a lot of spells. And what is with those traits? She definitely had a rough time. Probably because of that Unlucky trait.

I see her desire and I can't help but furrow my brow. Leila-san looks at me and tilts her head to the side as if she were a dog trying to figure something out. It's very cute.

[Don't worry. You may have had a rough time, but it can only get better from here. Life is too precious to just throw away. Remember, you have family who are worried about you.] She opens her eye wide and I can see a tear forming. She looks away and just nods her head.

While I'm here, let's take care of those nasty traits.

End of Chapter

Name: Tasaki Ichiro

Age: 3,227(32)

Race: Human?(God of Creation)

Origin: Earth

Desire: Get the women home

Kills: Many

Level: Unmeasurable

Traits: Peaceful, Kind, Thrifty, Super Strong, Super Speed, Immortal, Magic, Poison Immunity, Physical Attack Immunity, Magic Immunity, Fire Immunity, Ice Immunity, Acid Proof, Agile, Bubble Defense, Healing Aura, Disease Immunity, Lucky, Regeneration, Eagle Eyes, Attractive(Mortal Form)

Mood: Remorseful

Favorite Food: Tranquil Inn Deer Stew with Side of Bread and Goodberry Mead

Current Age: The Age of Tears

Current Year: 3195 AC (After Creation)

Current Location: Midlands of the Continent of Humans