“Actually, I did try to bestow the titles personally before, but whenever I missed someone or was late, the people would tell the bride and the groom, ‘You have not been acknowledged by the gods! The wedding may not proceed!!’, and then force them to split. Some really sad things happened back then…” [Rurutia]
“I see.” [Ryouma]
“Personally, though, as a god of skill, I think it’s more surprising that Earth and its people are able to do something so similar to what we do using our power of the gods. What’s more is that they do it so matter-of-factly in their day-to-day life.” [Tekun]
Rurutia was looking down, so Tekun poured her more liquor, and in a rare display of solemness, said that.
From the sound of things, he appears to be interested in Earth technology.
But that aside, there’s still something I’m concerned about.
“By the way, considering that the weddings here are something that’s ‘acknowledged by the gods’, won’t you giving out so many blessings be a problem? I mean, in Japan all that’s needed to establish the marriage is to notify the government office, so I don’t really get it, but…” [Ryouma]
Especially, in Hyuzu-san and Rurunez-san’s case, wherein they both received a blessing from three gods.
“It should be alright. We’ve been doing this since forever, and I don’t think there’s ever been a problem.” [Rurutia]
“This is a bit of a sad topic, but were there ever cases where people fight after getting married and then divorce? Given how marriage is established here, it’s basically a religious problem, so wouldn’t that lead to excommunication or something?” [Ryouma]
“Ahh, there’s no need to worry about something like that. Divorce here is permitted just like marriage. You know how it goes: ‘Repent’.” [Rurutia]
“It’s sad, but if it doesn’t work out, then it can’t be helped. The people will just go ‘Repent where thou hast erred and make not the same mistake again. Do this and it shall not be treated as a betrayal to the gods.’ Although there are also times when we intervene and the couple are able to work out an amicable solution…” [Gayn]
“But then for noble families, a divorce would end up slinging mud onto the faces of many people, so a lot of times, people in their situation opt to live separately instead. But I think as far as normal families go, the people here aren’t really that much different compared to those from Earth.” [Kufo]
“Is that so?” [Ryouma]
Well, if that’s the case, then I guess there’s no need to worry and I can congratulate Hyuzu-san and Rurunez-san from the bottom of my heart.
“In that case, let’s toast one more time!” [Kufo]
“Alright! Let’s add another barrel of liquor!” [Tekun]
“Yay!” [Rurutia]
“Lets party! Ok!” [Gayn]
“You guys are way too excited! And what’s with you, Gayn? You’re acting like some pretty boy from Earth? …There’s also all those Japanese terms you’ve been using since awhile ago, like doujinshi and bots. Aren’t you being too influenced by Japanese culture?” [Ryouma]
“You think? I don’t really know about that myself too much, but whenever I see Tohmochin, words like doujinshi and bot just naturally pop up.” [Gayn]
Tomo-what? Who in the world is that?
“What did you say!? You’re a former Earthling and a former Japanese, and yet you’re telling me that you don’t know who Tomochin is!? Tomochin is Sukiya Tomoko-chan, the idol at the peak of her career! Normally, she’s just a normal, plain, quiet child, but she loves manga and drawings. She lives with her idol friends, who shares her hobbies, and draws doujinshis. But just recently, she became an adult and joined a company, whose policies made her draw refined adult women characters. Because of her graduating from drawing doujinshi and manga, her hobbies have essentially been completely banned. And although the total number of her fans have increased, the fans that supported her when she was a nobody have dwindled, causing her much heartache. She’s a stressed out twenty-year old girl!” [Gayn]
“I-I don’t know her…” [Ryouma]
Gayn gave a speech full of passion and zeal, but in the end, the only thing I was able to find out was that this so-called Tomochin was apparently someone from a super famous idol group that was from back when I was still alive. Still, while I know that Kufo once mentioned that Gayn had taken a liking to Japan’s idol culture, I didn’t think it had gotten this bad.
“Unbelievable. How could a former Japanese like you not know her…” [Gayn]
“I can’t believe you’re even getting depressed about this stuff. If it were my subordinate, Tabuchi, then he might’ve known about her. He’s an otaku with a really wide coverage, so… As for me, I just wasn’t interested in the entertainment industry altogether. It’s only a given that I know nill about idols. In fact, I wasn’t really all that interested in other people either…” [Ryouma]
“Well, you sure are frank about how lonely you were.” [Tekun]
Tekun said, astounded.
It’s true, though.
After all, if that hadn’t been the case, then I wouldn’t have isolated myself in the forest for three years.
And at the very least, there’s no denying that I have a much better social disposition here now than I had back on Earth.
What’s more is that I’m actually enjoying myself now. Huh. Now that I think about it, It seems I have changed without knowing it.
“I’ve gotten to know more people and my sphere of influence has steadily increased. …I even managed to go beyond human boundaries and make friends with gods. What’s more is that it hasn’t even been a year since I left the forest. When I compare the time I spent after leaving the forest to the three years I spent cooped up in it, although it’s such a short time in comparison, somehow it feels like it’s so much longer.” [Ryouma]
If my life were a web novel, I’m sure the people would be complaining about how slow the pace is.
But I believe that that’s a testament to how deep my relationship is now with the people in my sphere of influence.
“Oho? Then humor me this. Since you’ve gotten to know a lot more people now, isn’t it about time for a girl to have caught your interest?” [Gayn]
“Oh my! Now that you mention it, it really should be about time!” [Rurutia]
“No, no. Hang on. It’s still a bit too early for that.” [Ryouma]
And just like that, the conversation turned an unexpected corner…
It was in that way that I made merry with the gods and lavishly celebrated Hyuzu-san and Rurunez-san’s wedding until it was time for me to leave.