Space-Time Inspector

Chapter 16: Working for a God

Harry Wilson sat rigidly in his chair, hands on his knees, his expression solemn. He realized he was facing a situation beyond human comprehension. If he wanted to enjoy the rest of his life without complications, the smartest move was to drop his usual lazy, carefree attitude and listen carefully to the woman who claimed to be a god.

"How does it feel to experience the creation of the universe firsthand?" Raven 12345 asked with a smile, glancing at Harry.

Harry studied her expression, confirming that she was indeed approachable, before awkwardly grinning. "If I ask you whether this is all a hallucination... would you kill me on the spot?"

"Nope. A lot of people have asked me that, so I'm not surprised," Raven 12345 shrugged. "I'll show you more until you fully understand and believe what I'm telling you. But not now. For now, just take my words at face value, and let's talk about work."

Harry raised his hand, signaling her to pause. He needed time to process what was happening.

He had thought the bizarre events he experienced were confined to Earth. But this woman claimed to be from... another world? Not Earth, not another planet, not even another galaxy-another universe! She said she was from an empire that ruled over multiple universes and worked for an organization called the Time-Space Administration Bureau, responsible for maintaining order in this universe. Now, this self-proclaimed god needed an agent to handle Earth's trivial matters, and she had chosen Harry.

That was the gist of it. The words weren't hard to understand, but they were a serious challenge to his worldview.

Harry stole a glance at Raven 12345, who clearly noticed but didn't react. Seizing the opportunity, he tried to compare the silver-haired woman before him to the gods and immortals from his imagination-maybe adding wings or a halo behind her head. But he quickly gave up, realizing it was a waste of time. Ever since he met that cat-fearing werewolf, he should've thrown all Earth's legends down the drain.

"So... other universes really exist?" Harry stammered, looking at Raven 12345. "I've read about parallel universes and stuff. Is that the theory?"

"It's way more complicated than that. The true structure of the macro-world is far beyond human imagination," Raven 12345 said dismissively, as if explaining it was too much trouble. "You won't be dealing with other worlds anytime soon. That's for full-time employees or special missions. Right now, your main focus is handling your own little corner of the world..."

"Why me?" Harry couldn't help but interrupt. He felt he needed to assert some control, even if he couldn't win against her. "You didn't even ask for my consent, did you?"

"Oh, right. I forgot about that," Raven 12345 smacked her forehead, making Harry break into a cold sweat. "Voluntary participation is a thing. I just assumed you'd agree. So, you don't want to?"

Harry was taken aback. He hadn't expected her to be so lenient. This wasn't how he imagined a mysterious, all-powerful organization would operate. He thought refusing would mean certain death. But now that she offered such a relaxed condition, he hesitated. What should he do? Refuse? It felt like a waste... like his new, exciting life was about to be stillborn.

"What happens if I say no?"

"Your memories of the past two days will be erased. I'll also take care of the werewolf. Don't worry, no harm will come to you or her. You'll just go back to your normal life, completely disconnected from these things. Ordinary people have ordinary lives. Those who meddle with the extraordinary tend to meet tragic ends," Raven 12345 explained casually. "I'll find another agent. There are plenty of humans on Earth. If all else fails, I can always request an intern from headquarters."

Harry felt a tightness in his chest, an indescribable emotion welling up. He shook his head. "And if I agree? What exactly do you want me to do? Just so you know, I won't do anything immoral. I'm a good person."

Raven 12345's lips curled into a faint smile. "Relax. You're working for the gods. In other pantheons, this position is even called 'Chosen One' or 'Apostle.' We just don't use those titles because of our unique system. You won't be doing anything bad. Your tasks are simple: first, you'll host some tenants, just like before. But these tenants will be... special. They'll need help, a place to stay, and someone to guide them-so they don't cause trouble in the human world. Second, you'll assist me with other tasks."

Harry: "..." He had a feeling the second task was the real deal.

"By tenants, you mean people like Lily, right?" Harry tried to dig deeper. While it wouldn't give him the upper hand, at least it would prevent him from being blindsided. "'Non-humans'? Can I ask why? Just to stop them from messing up the human world?"

"It's more complicated than that," Raven 12345 said patiently. "Any civilization, unless it's facing an existential crisis or some other severe situation requiring divine intervention, has the right to evolve naturally without interference. I know your human myths and legends, but real gods aren't like your stories. We create worlds, manage them, and sometimes destroy them-but all under strict regulations. No one is allowed to arbitrarily interfere with or disrupt mortal activities. Before we became gods, we made a lot of mistakes in this area, so now it's a serious matter. Your world is no exception: human civilization should evolve naturally without external interference. It's fine if you face challenges in your development, but if a third-party force tries to artificially alter your evolution, it's my duty to stop them. As for your task... it's to clean up the 'fallout.'"

Harry struggled to grasp Raven 12345's words, feeling like he was on the verge of understanding something. "You said there's a... 'third-party force' trying to interfere with human progress? Lily... and the tenants I'll be hosting in the future-are they connected to this interference?"

"Don't overthink it. That was a long time ago. The biggest wave of interference has already been dealt with. Humans are safe now-as long as you don't do anything stupid, you'll live out your lives just fine," Raven 12345 said, locking eyes with Harry. "As for the tenants you'll be hosting... yes, they're connected to a major event. But that's classified for now, so don't ask too much. So, are you willing to take this on? Even though it's just mopping up for the Time-Space Administration Bureau, honestly, in many worlds, this is considered a coveted position. It's like being a part-time contractor for a government agency..."

Harry: "...The way you put it makes me even more hesitant!"

Raven 12345 laughed heartily, completely unfazed.

Harry lowered his head, deep in thought about the decision that could change his life forever.

He still couldn't fully trust the woman before him, nor could he comprehend concepts like multiverses, gods, or macro-worlds. As Raven 12345 said, for now, he could only assume it was all real and decide what to do.

If he agreed, he would embark on a path entirely different from his previous life-what Raven 12345 called "working for the gods." Whether the silver-haired woman was telling the truth, whether there were traps ahead, or whether the future held smooth sailing or dead ends, Harry would face a completely new, unimaginable life. His fate would change, for better or worse.

If he refused, he would simply lose two days of memories, forget things ordinary people shouldn't know, and return to his life as a small-time landlord. Or maybe he'd find a regular job, live like everyone else, marry someone he didn't love but could tolerate, and live out his days like that.

No need to choose.