SSS-Rank Extra: I Got a Chaos System-Chapter 19: Divine Departure (And Other Disasters)

The morning arrived far too quickly for Kazuki's liking.

He had barely blinked before the sun was spilling through the windows, dragging him back into the waking world. Groaning, he rolled over and tried to burrow deeper under the blanket—only to realize something was missing.

His blanket.

He cracked one eye open and turned his head.

Lillian was curled up in her chair, arms crossed, his blanket wrapped around her shoulders like a victorious war trophy.

Kazuki sighed. "Unbelievable."

Lillian, still half-asleep, peeked at him from under the stolen blanket. "You were hogging it."

"I was using it," Kazuki corrected, sitting up with a stretch. "That's different."

She yawned and didn't look remotely sorry.

Kazuki shook his head, ruffling his already-messy hair. "Whatever."

He threw his legs over the side of the bed and stood, stretching out the stiffness from the night before. Lillian, still wrapped in the blanket like a smug little gremlin, made no effort to move.

He gave her a look.

She ignored him.

With a sigh, Kazuki trudged toward the basin of water near the window, splashing his face in a half-hearted attempt to wake up. The cold bite of morning air nipped at his skin, making him shudder.

Lillian finally stirred, shifting in the chair. "You gonna get moving, or are you planning to keep the village waiting?"

Kazuki groaned. "I don't wanna deal with them this early."

She smirked. "Too bad."

Resigning himself to his fate, Kazuki grabbed his coat, throwing it over his shoulders before heading toward the door. "Let's just get this over with."

Lillian followed, still wearing his blanket.

Kazuki eyed her. "You do realize that's mine, right?"

She sipped her tea, which she had somehow acquired between now and two seconds ago. "Finders keepers."

Kazuki muttered something about thieves under his breath as they made their way downstairs.

And then—

Noise. A lot of noise.

Kazuki frowned, hearing the distinct sound of construction coming from outside. He exchanged a look with Lillian before stepping out the door—

Only to be greeted by a horrifying sight.

Kazuki rubbed his temples.

A statue. They were building a statue of him.

"...You're joking," he said flatly.

Elder Rowan, the elderly village leader, smiled warmly. "Of course not, Holy One. It is only right that we honor you."

Kazuki slowly turned to look at Lillian, who was standing beside him, arms crossed, watching the scene with mild amusement.

"This is your fault," he muttered.

She smirked. "Oh? And here I thought you enjoyed the attention."

Kazuki turned back to the half-built statue. It was... horrifying.

It wasn't even a good likeness—just a vaguely humanoid figure with dramatically outstretched arms, as if welcoming the world into his divine embrace. The facial features were roughly chiseled, more resembling a potato than an actual person.

And worst of all...

"Is that a halo?" he asked weakly, pointing at the circle floating above the statue's head.

Elder Rowan beamed. "Indeed! A symbol of your divinity, Holy One."

Kazuki felt a headache coming.

Then—

[Ding!]

A system notification popped up in his vision.

[Mission: Leave the Village]

Reward: 220 EXP

Kazuki blinked. "Oh, now you show up?"

Lillian raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Kazuki waved her off. "Nothing. Just... internal screaming."

She snorted.

He turned back to the villagers, took a deep breath, and summoned every ounce of conman energy in his body.

"People of the village," he declared, raising his hands. "This is truly an honor. But..." He paused, letting suspense build.

The villagers leaned in, hanging onto his every word.

"I must humbly request that you do not build this statue."

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Elder Rowan looked deeply concerned. "Holy One, why?"

Kazuki pressed a hand to his chest, wearing the most solemn expression he could muster. "A true prophet does not seek material recognition. My teachings—" (What teachings? He never taught them anything!) "—must live on in your hearts, not in stone."

Silence.

Then, a sniffle.

A villager wiped away a tear. "Such wisdom..."

Another one nodded. "He is truly selfless."

Kazuki kept a straight face. Yes. That's right. Eat up my nonsense, fools.

Elder Rowan finally sighed, looking deeply moved. "If this is your divine will, Holy One... we shall obey."

Kazuki inwardly exhaled in relief. One crisis down. Now, for the bigger challenge—getting out of here before they found another ridiculous way to "honor" him.

He straightened, folding his hands in the most saintly manner he could manage. "My dear followers, there is one last matter I must address." He let his voice dip into solemnity. "I... must depart."

Gasps. More than before. Someone outright dropped their tools.

Elder Rowan looked as if he'd been personally betrayed by the gods. "Leave? But why, Holy One?"

Kazuki closed his eyes, nodding sagely. "A prophet must walk the land, carrying his wisdom to those in need." He opened them just enough to peek at the crowd's reactions. "I have been called to a great pilgrimage."

Murmurs spread through the villagers, uncertain and worried.

Lillian, standing beside him, murmured just low enough for him to hear, "A 'great pilgrimage,' huh?"

He ignored her.

Elder Rowan hesitated. "But... surely, we can prepare for your journey, supply you with provisions—"

Kazuki held up a hand, cutting him off with a peaceful smile. "There is no need. A pilgrimage must be undertaken with humility."

Silence.

Then a voice piped up from the back. "But, Holy One, how will we seek your guidance if you leave?"

Kazuki inhaled sharply. That was a problem.

Then—genius struck.

He placed a hand on his heart, letting his expression soften into something distant yet knowing. "Though my body will leave, my spirit remains. Whenever you seek my wisdom..." He took a deep breath. "Look to the wind."

Another wave of awe rippled through the crowd.

"The... wind?" someone repeated in hushed reverence.

Kazuki nodded gravely. "Yes. For in the rustling of the leaves, in the whispers of the breeze... my guidance will be there."

Lillian audibly coughed to cover up a laugh.

The villagers, however, looked nothing short of stunned. Some turned their faces to the sky as if hoping to hear wisdom right now.

Elder Rowan's eyes were shining. "You are truly beyond us, Holy One."

Kazuki fought the urge to sigh in exhaustion. "Indeed."

For a long moment, there was silence. Then, slowly, Elder Rowan bowed.

"The Holy One must not be hindered," he declared. "He shall depart on his divine pilgrimage."

Kazuki let the relief wash over him. Finally

But one more hurdle remained—the Hydra.

Convincing the villagers was one thing. Convincing a giant, multi-headed, nearly indestructible beast that they weren't abandoning it? That was another challenge entirely.

Kazuki stood before the Hydra's den, arms crossed, staring up at the massive creature curled inside. Its many heads blinked down at him, unblinking and expectant.

"Alright, big guy," Kazuki started, patting the Hydra's nearest snout. "You're staying here."

The Hydra's heads all tilted at once.

Kazuki cleared his throat. "Don't give me that look."

Lillian, leaning against a tree nearby, smirked. "You know it's going to follow you, right?"

Kazuki ignored her. "Listen, buddy. This place needs you. You're their guardian now. Big, scary protector of the village. Sounds good, right?"

One of the Hydra's heads lowered and booped Kazuki in the chest.

He staggered back. "Oi—stop that."

Another head slithered around his waist, nudging him insistently.

"Hey—!" Kazuki yelped as the Hydra suddenly scooped him up with one of its heads, lifting him into the air like a child refusing to let go of its favorite toy.

Lillian made a strangled sound beside him.

Elder Rowan and the villagers, who had gathered to watch the 'divine farewell,' gasped.

"Behold!" one of them whispered in reverence. "The Holy One's final blessing!"

Kazuki, currently dangling five feet off the ground, flailed uselessly. "This isn't a blessing! This is a hostage situation!"

The Hydra let out a long, stubborn grumble, another head wrapping around him in a loose but firm coil.

"Oh, for—let me go!"

Instead of letting go, the Hydra flopped onto its back, rolling slightly while keeping him in its grasp—like a giant scaly cat refusing to release its favorite human.

Lillian wheezed.

Kazuki's soul left his body. "Why are you like this?"

One of the Hydra's heads nudged his hair, its massive forked tongue giving it an affectionate but very wet lick.

Lillian had collapsed to her knees, shaking from suppressed laughter. "Kazuki, I—pfft—this is the best thing I've ever seen—"

Kazuki glared at her from his upside-down position. "If you're not going to help, at least suffocate quietly."

Tears were gathering in the corners of her eyes. "I—c-can't—"

Elder Rowan, meanwhile, had a hand over his heart, eyes shimmering with emotion. "To witness such divine playfulness... truly, we are blessed."

The villagers sniffled, a few of them wiping away actual tears.

Kazuki gritted his teeth. "I am not being playful—"

The Hydra, still purring like a gigantic smug cat, rolled again.

Kazuki flailed harder. "HELP."

Lillian collapsed fully onto the ground, shaking with laughter.

"Alright, alright, fine!" Kazuki shouted. "One last game, then I'm leaving, okay?"

The Hydra perked up, releasing him just enough so that he was almost standing.

Kazuki bolted.

The Hydra lunged, playfully trying to nudge him again, but Kazuki swiftly turned, poking its nose before it could grab him. "Tag. You're it."

The Hydra blinked.

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

Then slowly, reluctantly, it let out a deep, rumbling sigh before curling back up, finally accepting defeat.

Kazuki let out the longest sigh of his life.

He turned to Elder Rowan, still regaining his balance. "The Hydra is now your responsibility. Keep it happy, keep it fed, and whatever you do—never let it get bored."

Elder Rowan bowed deeply. "We shall cherish this great guardian, Holy One."

Kazuki dusted himself off. "Good. Do that."

Lillian, still wiping at her eyes, coughed to compose herself. "Well, that was dramatic."

Kazuki glared at her.

She just grinned. "Shame I don't have a magic mirror to record that."

Ignoring her, Kazuki threw his coat over his shoulders and strode toward the village gates. One last push. One final step to freedom.

But, of course, the village refused to let them leave quietly.

The moment Kazuki and Lillian reached the gates, a wave of villagers rushed forward, openly weeping. Some clutched at their chests, others fell to their knees as if they were witnessing the departure of a divine being.

"Oh, Holy One, you've blessed us so deeply!" one sobbed.

"Please, return someday!" another wailed.

Kazuki's eye twitched. Return? Not even in my nightmares.

Then, behind him—a deep, rumbling roar.

Kazuki barely had time to turn before the Hydra let out a massive, earsplitting cry, shaking the ground beneath them. A farewell, a protest, a temper tantrum all at once.

Kazuki immediately bolted. "NOPE, NOPE, I'M LEAVING BEFORE IT CHANGES ITS MIND."

Villagers scattered as he sprinted past them, coat flying behind him.

Lillian, laughing but far calmer, lingered a moment longer. She turned back, her expression softening as she met the gaze of one last person.

Her father, Elder Rowan standing just beyond the crowd.

The old man said nothing, just nodded at her—an unspoken farewell, understanding and respect passing between them.

Lillian gave him a small, crooked smile and a two-fingered wave. "See ya, old man."

Then, she turned and followed after Kazuki, catching up just as he reached the outskirts of the village, still grumbling under his breath.

Just as they stepped beyond the threshold, one last voice rang out behind them—

"May the wind carry your wisdom far and wide, Holy One!"

Kazuki twitched.

Lillian snorted. "So, the wind, huh?"

Kazuki groaned. "I am never coming back."

And with that, they finally—finally— left.

[Mission Completed.]