He Became the Only Ally of the Abandoned Warrior

[I knew it.]

The goddess closed her eyes and began to manifest her power.

[I, Yustini Elestianus, grant thee, Lin, the power to strengthen thy class.]

Item Master.

It might sound unfamiliar, but anyone could see that this was a second-tier class, an upgraded version of the porter.

In the original version of Arrogant Saga, Lin, who was forced to learn about items by carrying them in the porter’s pouch and reading their descriptions whether he liked it or not, was granted this hidden class as he mastered all the items.

The porter’s pouch floated into the air and was enveloped in the goddess’s light.

[It will take some time because I need to enhance your power and create a corresponding exclusive item.]

In the game, a few lines of text would be displayed, and that would be the end of it.

But Lin didn’t mind too much.

He had something to ask the goddess, and this brief respite was precious.

“May I ask a question?”

[Yes, please do.]

“Can you make me strong again, like I was before?”

[…...]

The goddess’s expression grew somber.

The supreme being who seemed to be suppressing something sighed deeply and soon denied his request.

[That wasn’t true strength. You were merely postponing your struggles, like homework left undone.]

“Why is that?”

[Because I cannot bear to lose you again.]

“Are those burdens so heavy on me?”

[It was only because it was you that they could even be considered burdens.]

Their conversation felt like a series of Zen riddles.

Even after receiving an answer, Lin felt no sense of relief.

[…You are already strong enough.]

“‘Enough’ is not enough.”

The phrase “enough is not enough” was a paradoxical play of words.

He wanted to ask for more, but seeing the goddess on the verge of tears, Lin couldn’t bring himself to push further.

It was foolish, but he couldn’t be harsh with someone who genuinely felt sorry for him.

How could this be strength?

Even a small kindness, favor, or gesture could make him feel weak and insignificant.

“Is this a game or reality?”

Originally, he should have asked this question when he received the porter’s pouch.

But back then, Lin was too exhausted and in excruciating pain.

Clinging to the hope he had somehow stored away in his heart, he was so excited to receive his exclusive item that he forgot to ask.

That joy, however, was soon swallowed by the wish he made afterward.

[This is reality. It is the only worldline that barely managed to come together among countless possibilities.]

“Then why is this world so similar to Arrogant Saga? Why are the general settings alike, yet the details differ?”

The goddess hesitated.

Was it okay to tell him?

But the goddess had already made up her mind.

She decided to stop being passive, hoping things would go the way she wanted just by waiting.

[Arrogant Saga was a means to counter those who broke the rules. It was a device I set up so I could run simulations to find the answers I needed.]

“Based on this world?”

[Yes, based on this world.]

There was a developer here.

A solo developer, at that.

[I believed that as long as the Demon King was defeated, the world could be saved. I believed I could establish peace under my protection.]

So the goddess said she applied countless examples of Demon King subjugation from the game’s players.

The more samples she gathered, the more ingenious Demon King subjugation scenarios were completed.

She was particularly impressed when she saw a thief steal the Demon King’s single horn during a fierce battle.

And then, she immediately despaired.

No matter what she did, no matter how many times she repeated it, the Hero Lucy was always betrayed and killed.

While the goddess acknowledged that the Hero’s behavior had been excessive, it was impossible to establish world peace with heroes who were riddled with betrayal.

Moreover, after the Demon King’s death, the Demon King’s party emerged, running rampant, making it impossible to win the war against the Demon Army.

In desperation, and with a reckless use of her power, she created and released the DLC.

But no matter how creative the methods used to clear the Demon King subjugation, no player could even get past the DLC’s intro.

Due to blatantly breaking the rules, causality began to gradually restrict the goddess’s powers, and then, finally, a savior appeared.

A player who chose the porter, whom everyone ignored, and even saved the Hero.

Although they used save-loads, they still managed to clear the DLC.

The goddess, overjoyed, checked who the player was.

And she wept on the spot.

[Why you…!]

The one who bore such immense wounds.

The one whose soul had rotted away beyond repair due to those wounds, leaving only a small, salvageable portion that was sent to another world with the fervent hope that they might find peace.

But only he could stop this apocalypse.

It wasn’t just about applying game strategies; a person who could endure this immense suffering and press forward was needed.

In the game, it was simply expressed as being ignored, but in reality, the treatment of the porter within the party was always the worst.

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‘My brother would help you with a smile, no matter how many times you asked.’

A woman’s image came to mind.

A woman who prayed for her brother’s name to be cleared.

Even as she neared death after exacting all her revenge and preparing to exterminate humanity, she pleaded for him to be spared.

‘My brother would forgive you and come to help rebuild peace.’

[Why, after enduring such pain, why?!]

The goddess was enraged, but the pope smiled as she closed her eyes.

‘Because it’s a world where those he loves exist.’

‘Sister…?’

Witnessing this, the youngest sibling fell into despair and became a demon.

She, born a vampire bastard child, was never properly acknowledged and, after all her siblings died, was driven to extreme loneliness, eventually going to a place beyond the goddess’s reach.

In the end, the goddess squeezed out what little power she had left.

[I will surely be punished.]

Holding onto her regret and guilt, she brought him back, shedding tears of blood.

She was angry at her own helplessness and ignorance.

And deeply sorry for those who taught her love despite everything.

The goddess told Lin everything, without holding anything back.

[You are… the last intact piece of the soul of the second Hero, Guerrero.]

“I see. So that’s how it was.”

Lin reacted with unexpected indifference.

“I am Lin. Not Guerrero. And helping the goddess and this world is my choice.”

[Why? Even after all the pain you’ve endured, why?]

Lin smiled awkwardly.

“Because it’s a world where those I love exist.”

But his hand, gently stroking the pouch hanging around his neck, was exceedingly careful.

[…I am truly a wretched goddess. I will certainly be punished.]

The porter’s pouch split in two.

It transformed into a bracelet and wrapped around Lin’s wrist as light enveloped him.

Finally, when the light subsided, a pair of sturdy and simple bracelets adorned Lin’s wrists.

[Lin, from now on, you are an Item Master, who has mastered all items. You can instantly create skill scrolls and high-tier items using the items stored in your inventory, and you can activate effects with just a thought, without any other actions. Additionally, your basic stats have been greatly enhanced due to your hidden class change.]

However, the drawback was that when creating high-tier items, the materials would be consumed.

It was an obvious trade-off, but it meant that he would need to stockpile a lot of items from now on.

[Would you like to test its performance?]

The goddess pointed to the exploration captain, who was entering the sanctuary, his form collapsed and broken.

“I’ve found you… my love…!”

Barely holding his crumbling body together, the captain staggered forward, and Lin asked one final question.

“In the game, the captain had no aptitude for being a vampire. Were the bad endings or those minor but detailed settings ever applied?”

The goddess shook her head firmly.

[No, that was just a random simulation created by chance. Outside of the Demon King subjugation, it’s nothing more than a fantasy.]

“A fantasy that never happened?”

[Even if Lin were to dream of or imagine the world’s destruction, does that change reality? Does it make it something that actually happened?]

He understood.

And Lin felt a great sense of relief.

So, the event where Tigrea fell to the exploration captain in the game was just a terrible dream.

It was a fantasy that never came true.

His sole sense of guilt was resolved.

“Come into my arms…!”

The exploration captain mustered all his remaining strength and leaped forward.

Simultaneously, Lin’s bracelet glowed.

[Master Skill: Item Creation]

[Combining 5,000 tough spikes from the ‘Spiked Lynx’ monster from the royal ruins with a previously acquired skill scroll and parchment.]

Recognizing the skill Lin had created, the goddess smiled.

[So that’s how it is.]

The goddess was convinced.

The woman before her was indeed the one most suited to Lin.

So much so that the goddess herself wanted to personally bring them together.

Lin leaped toward the exploration captain.

The first skill name of the Item Master was shouted out, marking the occasion.

“Ultimate Skill: Thousand Thrusts!”

Countless spikes burst forth from his arms in a flurry of attacks.

The sight was reminiscent of Rabin charging at the unique mutant monster in Balter Kluar to save Lin.

It was purely coincidental.

At that time, Lin had been put to sleep by the illusionist, so he had not witnessed Rabin using her ultimate skill.

But since it was coincidental, it was now inevitable.

[Go, Lin. Even though I’m such a wretched goddess, I always wish for your peace.]

He didn’t look back.

The countless thrusts shredded the exploration captain to pieces.

Lin ran toward the fork in the road.

Intoxicated with a battle high like never before, Lin shouted loudly.

“Wow! This is totally broken!”