Chapter 7

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World is tip-toeing around to make sure you’re not upset.⟭

Hmm? Why does a god care about how I feel?

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World claims to feel strongly responsible for dragging you into the underworld without letting you live out your natural life span.⟭

“Oh.” Yes, I’d forgotten about that. The transmigration bureau gods created a disastrous situation across the country and killed me off, all for the sake of some public works project. It was only right for me to lodge a complaint against this unlawful killing of an innocent person. “Right, about that. What exactly happened? Can you at least give me an explanation?”

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World says there was a bug in the system that extracts the souls of potential transmigrators. Instead of only choosing souls of the dead, some souls of the living were also selected by mistake.⟭

So... My cause of death was a system malfunction. “I guess even gods make mistakes, huh? Hmm, that seems a bit ridiculous.”

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World protests that the system would’ve been perfect if they had created it and claims it is defective because a blundering, inexperienced new recruit made it instead.⟭

I puffed up my cheeks in indignation when they tried to play the blame game. “But of course, the senior member should always take responsibility right?”

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World mumbles and reluctantly agrees.⟭

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World adds that none of this would have been happening if The Eye Overseeing All Chaos had done their job and performed proper quality assurance. The Voice that Shapes the World demands that useless bum get over here right this instant.⟭

⟬The Eye Overseeing All Chaos flinches and crouches down to conceal their presence.⟭

“Yeah, well. I guess I can kinda understand your situation...” I finished up by giving out a long, dejected sigh. It’s not that I wasn’t angry and appalled by this blunder. This was my life that we’re talking about here! But I also wasn’t exactly eager to argue with a god to get my former life back. It was a cruel, tiresome life that wasn’t really worth getting worked up about.

I’d probably be a lot more thankful if I could have transmigrated into a nice, easy childcare romantic fantasy instead of this absurd regression story. Even if they were being quite casual, I was still talking to a god. I had to make the best of the situation, seeing as how I was stuck in this S-difficulty story. There was no use staying mad at a deity who seemed to be moderately interested in me.

I tried my best to quell whatever anger I was feeling. Instead, I decided to slip in a reasonably justifiable request. “Then as compensation for the bug— Erm, I mean in reparation for the mistake, will you mark the [1000 Days of Morning Prayer] quest as complete for me?”

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World remarks that the instant completion project proposal wasn’t approved yet and that it would cost an astronomical amount of cash to purchase.⟭

I was already half-expecting an unfavorable response, so that came as no surprise. What caught my attention was the other part of their response. It seems that this Transmigrator Support System underwent periodic updates.

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World adds that this quest allows you to awaken your divine powers in just a thousand days when it should normally take ten years’ worth of earnest, heartfelt prayer every single day for half a day.⟭

Hmm, Mr. God is taking quite an uncompromising stance on this one. Maybe I should request a different type of compensation for my untimely death. “Then are you able to make me super strong after I awaken my divine powers? I want to at least be able to hold my own against the final boss.”

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World props up their chin with their hand and peers at you.⟭

It seemed like the god was really considering my request. Is this too much to ask?

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World has made a decision.⟭

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World says you need to be diligent with your prayers to them if you want to grow strong enough to hold your own in this world.⟭

“Of course. You said you built this world. As its creator, it is only right that I should pray diligently to you.”

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World’s eyes twinkle as they ask you to confirm your acceptance of the decision.⟭

“Yes, I accept.”

Their response had been rather intense, but I nodded my head all the same.

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World declares that you are to be his first follower and that there are no take-backs.⟭

Huh? So that’s what they were getting at? A slightly disconcerting message suddenly follows.

⟬«System» You have become the prime follower of The Voice that Shapes the World and will receive [Love of The Voice that Shapes the World] and [Favor of The Voice that Shapes the World].⟭

⟬«System» You have started a religion for The Voice that Shapes the World in the continent of Serentra.⟭

⟬«Status» [Love of The Voice that Shapes the World]

You are now able to blast off high-grade divine power skills due to an excessive amount of blessings and grace. Your current divine power skills are at the cardinal level.

Note: Both effects will only apply after awakening your divine power.⟭

⟬«Status» [Favor of The Voice that Shapes the World]

Power levels of all divine power skills have been raised by 10 levels.

Note: Only applies to ultimate skills, effects apply after divine power awakening.⟭

Whoa! It felt like getting a bonus on your first day of work.

At that moment, a rapid series of messages popped up.

⟬The Architect of the Skyscraper of Suffering pauses in the midst of work and shouts in horror at the Head of Development.⟭

⟬The Eye Overseeing All Chaos witnesses what happened and then tattles to the Head of Assessment in the next building over.⟭

⟬The Scale that Judges Souls rushes over and trembles in fury at the fact that the Head of Development started a religion first.⟭

Hmm, it looks like some serious trouble, I’m not too sure what’s happening. Anyways, it was not a good idea to get on a god’s bad side. I shouted in earnest at the thought of all the benefits that were to come.

“I believe, O mighty Voice!”

✠

I headed straight for the kitchen after leaving the sanctuary. My cooking skills leveled up significantly while preparing breakfast for the picky noble family under Head Chef Peisha’s directives. I also received instructions on the process for serving tea to the noble family in between meals alongside Nellie.

My tea brewing skills were already peerless because they were classified as a sub-skillset under cooking. For this reason, Isela’s instructions were more focused on teaching us the conduct of a maid and on customs and courtesies. As a part of the training, I had to practice gracefully sipping tea while sitting elegantly on a chair. It would have been rather tedious, but luckily there was onsite entertainment available.

“Nellie, this is your eighth time messing up the tea leaf measurements. By any chance, are you unable to read the numbers on the scale? Do I need to educate you on numbers first?”

“N-no, not at all madam.”

“Then why can’t you do it properly? Even Ailette, who’s younger than you, has no trouble at all. You can’t serve tea just by keeping your hands smooth and beautiful with fancy lotions. This job entails serving nobility in close proximity. You’re not going to be able to do this unless you’re detail-oriented and clever. If you’re going to keep this up, you might as well quit now.”

Nellie struggled to speak, eventually muttering, “I’m sorry.”

Isela’s quiet, yet scathing words had brought tears to Nellie’s eyes. Even so, I hardly felt any pity for her. Nellie cast a glare full of malice at me when Isela’s back was turned. No doubt she was going to tell her mother all about this. Yeah, okay, whatever. I’m not scared at all.

Next, it was back to the kitchen to prepare lunch. I stayed in the kitchen even after clean-up was over and all the other servants had already left to take a break. I got permission from the head chef to stay behind and use leftover ingredients in order to create a sugary fruit dish.

I know I’ll level up after this. I decided to make apple soup. I first cut thin slices of some Ruby Red apples, then boiled them in a salted pot of water with a little white wine. All that was left to do was to add a smattering of olive oil and serve. The finished product would be a harmonious balance of flavors.

It was a simple dish and didn’t take too long to make. When it was done, I plated the bright red soup in a transparent bowl. I knew the first order of samplings needed to be done by a higher-ranking chef, so I looked to see if Peisha was still near. As I looked around, I saw Mr. Alchemist standing at the edge of the kitchen threshold.

Mr. Alchemist… I mean, I guess I can’t keep calling him “Mr. Alchemist.” Dad seemed to have come to see me but was in the middle of an animated discussion with Peisha and Isela. As I approached them to offer samples, I overheard their conversation. Strangely enough, they were talking about my future plans.

“Just the person I wanted to see, Mr. Rodeline. Thank you for the excellent soap. I’ve actually been meaning to talk to you about Ailette. Your daughter is extremely talented at cooking. I want to train her to become a great cook.”

“What do you mean? My kid’s an alchemy prodigy! Speaking of which, that soap you so enjoyed was created by my daughter. Isn’t she amazing? I plan on instructing her so that she can fully reali—”

“What is this nonsense you two are talking about? She needs to serve tea and keep close to nobility if she wants to find a suitable spouse. I will do everything in my power to send her to a duke’s castle later, so please entrust Ailette to me.”

Hmm, a tea maid serving in a duke’s castle... I would’ve taken that route if this were a romantic fantasy. What a pity. Anyhow, even my dad is fighting over me?

Judging by their conversation, it seems he came over here to persuade me to learn alchemy from him. Of course, I welcomed the opportunity with open arms. Seeing as how I was in tutorial mode right now, it’s important for me to learn everything I can. Their conversation sounded as if it was wrapping up so I figured it was probably a good moment for me to step in.

“Madam Peisha, Head Chef Isela, Dad. Will you please try this dish that I made?”

“Hm? It’s a soup made from apples.”

“Yes, head chef.”

The three of them each tasted a spoonful of my soup. Although I had faith in the system, I was still quite nervous because I’d always been a terrible cook. I was good at other household chores but very inexperienced with preparing food.

Peisha savored the soup for a good minute before aggressively turning toward my dad. “Do you see now, Mr. Rodeline! Ailette is gifted! She is a magnificent cook!”

“B-but my daughter is an alchemy—”

“Both of you are wrong. Ailette has just created a dessert that will accompany the tea. She is fated to serve in a duke’s castle.”

While the three were squabbling, a delightful message popped up.

⟬«System» Congratulations! Maximum exp. reached. Your [Cooking] skill is now Lv. 3. You have unlocked the following skills: [Food Expertise], [Perfect Steak Grill Master], [Baked Goods of Happiness], [Connoisseur of Salads], and [Stirrer of Nutritious Soups and Stews].⟭

Now that I was level 3, I could seriously start cooking up some dishes. Not only that, my apple soup was so well-received that it was decided that it would be served as a dessert for the countess herself.