Refusing My God’s Advances

When I opened my eyes, I was forced to put my hand up to block the light coming from the glowing jackass in front of me.

"So, the little devil spilled all the beans, hmm?" Garland asked, and I snorted.

"I didn't think you were good from the beginning," I laughed and stood up. "You must have played one hell of a trick to get yourself into this position, right?"

Garland smiled and nodded. "You have no idea, my boy. I was actually a researcher who augmented his own body to extend my life. There is so much in the world to learn, but never enough time. Still, there is only so long you can hold the scythe back if you know what I mean?"

"So what happened? You concocted a war to bastardize the demon, and that somehow got all the humans on your side to ascend you to godhood?" I asked, making Garland burst out laughing.

"In the most simple of simple terms, yes. The kingdom I was raised in and ruled, Highron, focused on improving living things with magic and technology. It was dangerous to test on humans, so we had people kidnap demi-humans as test subjects. They are basically the same as us, so it worked out great. Then the south and east got wind, rallying all the demi-humans, but it was too late," Garland explained as if he were telling an old fairy tale.

"We had created some creature that rivaled even the spirits that some summoners like that miserable princess with you. Those things still exist, and while I have a contract with you and those women you are marking, I can still destroy everything around you and them! I don't have to force you to do my dirty work. I have plans that are over a century in the making! Even if you don't kill the demons, I will at some point!" Garland snaped, and I yawned.

"You sure are a talker, but I guess I am just curious about one thing. Why did you give me Shelli?" I asked, and Garland's eyes narrowed.

"She tricked me. She sacrificed herself at the end of the war to save her people, who are frozen in time now for as long as I exist. That way I couldn't make them slaves. Not only that but putting the cursed mark entered me into a contract that backfired. It caused me to become sexless and lose all desires for pleasure. I also was not able to hurt her or allow anyone else. That last trap was that she would be turned over to the hero when you were summoned," Garland explained with gritted teeth.

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked after pausing. 

This was basically a full admittance that he was the evil in this world, not the demons.

"Because of that woman! You were supposed to make her talk, or kill the demons! Before the other Angel-kin were sealed, I killed one of their kind and was going to get rid of the rest, but Shellimiara offered herself to me. That was where I was caught. I had to agree to sign a contract, and my desire for her flesh caused me to agree without thinking. This allowed the creature to set all the rules, along with reading all my thoughts beforehand to know exactly what I had planned for the future!" Garland snapped but then took a deep breath.

"Regardless, even if you have broken my hold on her, and that demon, you can't do it to the entire world. We also have a contract!" Garland laughed, and I nodded.

This was pretty cut and dry.

"I have to save the world from you, the impending doom," I said, and Garland started to laugh again.

"Yes, because you actually think you'll ever reach me as I am now?" Garland asked, but then his face contorted. "J-Just like I-I c-cannot directly affect y-you! Damn, that angel!"

Garland was right, for the time, but Shelli had really got him. I had still gotten what I wanted, and now I knew everything. All thanks to a lifetime's worth of sacrifice from Shelli, working under this dirtbag. I really had to treasure that woman.

"Well, if you can mess with me, and I can't mess with you, I guess we are done here, right?" I asked, but Garland shook his head.

"I want to make you an offer," He said.

"No. Send me back," I replied, and Garland ground his teeth.

"You don't even know what I am going to say!" 

"I still refuse," I said, crossing my arms. The universal sign for I'm not listening.

"What if I told you how the cursed mark works? What if you worked for me? You could have all the women that you want! Just kill the angel, and you will get the power to force the cursed mark onto anyone! You can even use it to make followers like the Dark Sorcerer, Silas! Think about you! All the waifus you  can imagine or ever want without having to do all the work of forming a bond like the stupid love pact!" Garland laughed, but I just shook my head.

At least whatever Shelli's contract had been, it really let me see what kind of evil resided over this world. Still, he couldn't touch it. All I had to do was slowly get rid of his followers, at my leisure. 

Something told me that no matter how hard I tried to stay out of this, I was going to get dragged into this world's mess one way or another. The best I could do was start making plans to deal with the ones already laid by this bozo.

"I refuse. You are a stupid god, but I get the last laugh today," I said with a smirk, and Garland frowned at me. 

Rather than say it right away, I walked up to the old man and leaned in real close.

"Tonight I am going to do the thing that you once only had the capacity to dream of. I hope that you watch every second of it. I hope that you realize this is only the first thing that I will steal from you, but as you know, I am in no hurry. I am going to take my sweet time to pull apart every plan of yours for not only taking my life from me but everyone else's. Now, please return me, and enjoy the show."

The lights went out and I was back in my body with three beautiful women looking down at me with worried expressions. This made me smile, but it wasn't the only thing that did. Garland was as bad as I had imagined, but now I knew everything thanks to the brave angel standing over me.

Each one of these girls was linked to this mess, but I couldn't save this world in the next day, month, or year. I had plenty of time to do what I loved while planning the greatest heist ever in this world, or any history.

Stealing everything from a god.