When the blinding light finally subsided, I found myself standing in a void of pure white.
My line of sight was higher. I wasn't on four paws anymore; I was standing on two lithe, slender legs.
This was the incarnation the system of this world had granted me as a "Savior." I had the form of a young girl with shimmering silver hair.
(I should be dead. I died saving that stupid brat... so why am I here?)
In front of me, a woman with wings was trembling, her face pale with terror.
"This... this is impossible! It’s a summoning accident! How did a run-down house and a random civilian get dragged along with the Hero?!"
(...And this is supposed to be a goddess? Don’t make me laugh. Compared to him, she’s just a piece of transparent trash.)
I stared through a rift in the dimension, catching a glimpse of "our" living room.
Kazuya was there, lying unconscious on the floor.
"What do you plan to do with that man?"
My voice was cold and sharp, surprising even me with its edge.
The Goddess—Lumina—flinched, her shoulders jumping.
"Oh... uh, yes! Ideally, we only need you, the Savior 'Tarmane.' He and that house are irregularities—foreign objects in this world. We need to dispose of them immediately and send him somewhere..."
"What did you say you’d do to him?!"
I took a step toward her.
I could feel the power surging within this "Savior" body, a strength built for combat.
But none of that mattered right now.
"Listen to me, you useless goddess."
I pressed my finger against Lumina’s throat. I wasn't letting her go.
"Do not move him from that house. The living room he loves, the mundane life he cherishes... you will keep every bit of it intact, and you will protect him."
"That’s—that’s impossible! Do you have any idea how much divine energy it takes to maintain that much mass in this world?! My salary—I mean, the Divine Realm’s budget would completely evaporate!"
"Then I’ll earn the difference."
Lumina blinked, her eyes wide.
"Earn it? You?"
"All you lot care about is having someone to save this world, right? Fine. I’ll take the role of the Savior Tarmane. I’ll go out there, hunt the mana beasts, build a reputation, and offer the divine energy to you. In exchange..."
I leaned in close to the goddess’s face, a perfect, chilling smile crossing my lips.
"You make sure he can spend the rest of his life lazing around in that house, undisturbed. Understood? You will guard that house so that neither human nor monster can ever approach it. I’ll pay for all of it with my labor."
Lumina stood there dazed for a moment. Then, her eyes began to flicker as she started running the numbers.
"So... let me get this straight. You cooperate with me to subjugate the mana beasts, and in return, I maintain this 'Sanctuary' for the civilian... a give-and-take relationship?"
"I’m glad you’re a quick study. And don't even think about trying to turn him into a 'Hero.' He’s just my owner. Nothing more."
Tears welling in her eyes, Lumina nodded frantically.
And so, the world’s most "comfortable cage" was completed.
A house protected by a giant tree. A "Sanctuary" severed from the laws of this world, powered by a goddess’s desperate supply of divine energy.
(The Savior of this world? Like I care.)
My only king is the man drinking cola on that sofa.
I’ll just go around behind the scenes and tear the throat out of anything that threatens his peace.
Just before the light enveloped me to send me back to the living room, I shifted back into the form of Tama, the black cat.
Being on four legs is better anyway—it makes it easier for him to pet me.
The moment my paws hit the living room floor, I looked out the window. A vast sea of clouds stretched out into the horizon.
"...Tama? You there? I had the weirdest dream—"
Kazuya woke up, calling my name with a sleep-addled voice.
As if nothing had happened, I jumped onto his lap and let out a satisfied purr.
"Mrrp. (I'm home. Don't you worry about a thing. I'll make sure you can stay a shut-in for the rest of your life.)"
While he spends his days napping, blissfully unaware, I’ll sneak out the window and "clean up" this world.
All so I can stay by his side forever.
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