Why level up in isekai, when you can hack your way through

Chapter 20 - The A-Rank Quest

Somewhere far away in a place beyond the skies of this world where no man can reach.

A god sat in his divine realm, watching an online livestream of an idol concert on a holographic screen, his eyes glued to the performance.

"There's no one who can ever be as great as Terasu-chan she's so perfect," he said while being entranced by her every move.

And after the stream almost came to an end he he absently muttered something unexpected.

"I wonder how Kazuki is doing..."

"Ara~?"

!!!

And in a sudden panic, the god's relaxed demeanor shattered. As he remembered his duty to watch over Kazuki quietly.

He was indeed the Kami-sama Kazuki met after his death. Under the request of another god, he was meant to keep an eye on Kazuki quietly after Terasu-cha's concert came to an end on the day Kazuki was reincarnated.

Sigh...

"Let's just see what he's doing... and hopefully he's not dead..."

Another divine holographic screen pops out just from a wave of his hands but unlike the High-quality livestream of the idol, this screen had nothing but static white noise and buzzing.

While looking at the screen he said to himself, "Ara~? I can't see him?" his brows furrowed, confusion and concern filling his voice. "That's never happened before... unless..."

"He's dead..."

With shock and confusion, he came to a realization as he began talking to himself in a growing state of panic. "I knew he wouldn't be able to handle that special place. That's why I made sure he'd be transported out the moment he died! He should've ended up near Emeraldorr's borders, with his memories of that place wiped clean..."

"But if I can't track him... that means he died there too..."

"Maybe it was the demons who got him..."

"I should've kept an eye on him..."

In frustration, he sat down in his divine seat and said, "Gah! I messed up this one... and now the other guy is gonna be all mad about this... and if he shares this with the council, I'm screwed... I'll get demoted for sure."

...

[Somewhere Around Emeraldorr]

Forty minutes had passed after the trio booked themselves into an inn.

Feeling worn out with a drained face, Kazuki sighed.

"(Some good life Kami-sama promised.)"

At that exact moment, far beyond...

"Achoooo!"

"Ara~? That's rare." Kami-sama said, perplexed by the sudden sneeze, unaware of Kazuki's frustrations or the fact of him being alive.

Afterward, Athena said to Kazuki with a concerned tone, ( ( "Kazuki-sama would you like to turn on cheats to stop feeling the pain you got from Miss Isabelle's beating?" ) )

Although Athena's intentions were pure Kazuki felt more pain by the last part of what she said.

He replied, ("Nah... I'm good Athena... for some reason, I feel like I need to remember this pain and beating for sure.")

Meanwhile, Kazuki, Isabelle, and Rogu made their way toward the town's exit, ready to take on the A-ranked quest challenge Omulgg had thrown their way.

As they walked, Kazuki collided with someone carrying a large bundle of bread loaves. Both let out a startled, "Ack!" as they stumbled back from the impact.