Uriel gave me a long, dazed look. I understood why she was like this; from the moment she met me on Earth to when she killed me and up to the moment I transmigrated, I always presented myself as a lazy person, someone who, if given the chance, would avoid all responsibilities and stress.
Truthfully, I was still the same person, but maybe because of my ascension, my eyes had opened to perceive things I couldn't before.
The world was vast and beautiful, and I was nothing but a tiny speck in all of it. Even now that I had become a being beyond its constraints, I couldn't help but still feel small, which I actually was.
After what felt like an eternity, Uriel finally spoke. "Are you really going to use all the powers you have to just travel? Like actually leave the comfort of your room and travel?"
My brow tightened at her words. Although she didn't directly insult me, I still felt a sting in my chest. 'Is it that unbelievable that I want to see the world?'
I released a slow sigh. "Yes, I do. And no, it isn't an impulse. I thought long and hard about it." Once I finished, I met the goddess's golden eyes. Unlike the first time I saw her, they didn't look as divine or carry the same awe.
Uriel nodded twice, her toes tracing small arcs in the air. "If that's what you want, I think it'll be amazing. Even I, as a goddess, know little to nothing about my world. So…" she continued. "Since you want to be less lazy…"
Her voice trailed off again as she met my gaze with firm resolve. "Why don't you become my official knight or the second god of my world? You could still explore while preserving good and evil, maintaining balance, and protecting other worlds while witnessing the beauty of creation."
Her face suddenly brightened so much that I had to shield mine with my hand. 'She would be a good sun for this world, no doubt.'
Uriel continued excitedly, her eyes practically sparkling. "You know that's the dream of all gods, right? Helping mortals while seeing beauty through their eyes. It's such a wonderful thing."
Lowering my hand, I blinked lazily. "Yeah, no."
Uriel froze mid-gesture. "Why—why not?!"
I spread my arms wide. "I don't have the energy for all that moral upkeep. Good, evil, balance, those sound like chores. Me wanting to explore the world doesn't make me less lazy. Actually, the system said it would take a billion years to finish, but I plan on completing it in a trillion."
Uriel frowned. "Then what do you want? Go to different worlds and lie on their grass?" Her eyes suddenly widened as if she had realized something, before her face turned completely pale.
I already knew she understood what I intended to do, something no god she knew had ever attempted.
Drawing in a deep breath, I answered calmly. "You see, I don't believe in good or evil, nor do I fear living forever or dying right now. Humans live for less than a hundred years, after all. So if we neither desire eternal life nor wish for everything to end immediately, what's the point of living in the first place?"
Uriel's face showed nothing but confusion as I continued.
"For me, living is about the journey of experiencing interesting things and enjoying what the world offers. And although I want to live forever, I still want to hold onto the feeling of being mortal, of appreciating the small things."
My voice softened as a faint smile formed on my lips. "Even if these feelings are part of a scripted plot or something the True Creator designed to limit all beings, I still believe I'm on my right path, and I'll follow it, even into eternity."
I lifted my shoulders slightly in a shrug, then gave her a grin. "So yeah. No knighthood or any of that crap, just enjoying my life in different worlds with different identities. Not just as a spectator but as the player."
Uriel sank onto the air, her hair floating around her. "Are you serious? Do you know the massive difference between a mortal and an immortal, not even talking about an Eldritch Horror? If you lose control or crash out even once, you could wipe out everything on the planet."
"I'm a pretty calm guy."
She shook her head. "Lazy, yes. Calm, no. I've seen the times you lose it over the main character through the screen even though you know he isn't real. So imagine those things happening to you. That world would end."
Honestly… Uriel was right. If I entered a cultivation world, I didn't think I could handle all the nonsense. And I didn't have the patience to fight a divine war for destroying someone's planet.
I smirked. "That's why you're coming with me. Plus, we have Fate on our side, remember?"
Uriel exhaled in resignation. "I'm not any better, but whatever. You're not planning on changing your mind anyway."
I nodded at her conclusion. She was right about me having a high chance of ending a world or two, but I wasn't going to let that stop me. If a world ends, all I need is to gain the power to rebuild it.
As for exploring the world, I would complete it, no matter how long it took or how lazy I became along the way. I would take many pauses and many breaks, but I would finish the journey I chose to begin.
But first, I had to complete what Uriel wanted. She was going to be my future companion, which meant I didn't need her tied down by her duties as a goddess.
"Uriel, you wanted your hero to become strong enough to defeat the devil king, right?"
The goddess, whose expression was downcast, probably reconsidering all her life choices and why she even killed and transmigrated a psycho like me, lifted her tearful eyes. "Yes. Why do you ask?"
I smirked. "It's time we give your hero a bit of plot armor and challenges."
She tilted her head. "How are you going to do that?"
I closed my eyes. This time, I was going to control the mysterious world completely and test the extent of its power.
The moment I opened my eyes, an unimaginable energy coursed through me. I could perceive nearly every part of the mysterious world.
Now all that remained was to command it.
"Goddess, it's time to visit your world one last time. You might not see it again for another million years, so get ready to say your goodbyes."