Gulrak (1)
Good thing. I didn't smash the wrong thing. To be honest, I was a bit confused whether the memorial tower model was really connected to the demons. I clearly remembered the clock in the training grounds, but there were way more items in the history hall than I thought. So when I smashed it without controlling my strength, I was seriously gauging reactions. I was so flustered I couldn't even apologize. Fortunately, Luna's reaction confirmed it was definitely the demon's magic circle. I saw her sneakily pocketing it.
Just don't say anything, tell me when no one's around. But her destructive lack of tact was still the same. She knew Kara was watching me closely, yet she blurted it out anyway. She told me last time, so I could've played along smartly, but Kara got naturally looped in. In the end, after lunch, the team hung out chummily at the cafe, chatting and laughing. Grace bought cake midway, and it was delicious. Gotta visit more often.
"Gulrak only wants you to remember two things: offerings and sincerity. As long as you have those, anyone can become a follower of Gulrak."
The afternoon was time to visit each denomination's church or altar. Those wanting Gaia headed to the church, those wanting Gulrak to the altar. Today, following Kara's guidance, we were heading to Gulrak's altar. I'd visit Gaia's church when the chance came. I was supposed to be with Luna during this slot originally, but with the plans wrecked anyway, hanging with Kara wasn't bad. Luna seemed half-resigned too and quietly tagged along with Kara. Grace and Lee Yeonju joined us as well.
"Um, can't I just... skip this?"
"No way. We're a team, right?"
Lee Yeonju looked like she wanted to bail any way possible, but Grace dragged her along to the end. Felt like she was Grace's security blanket. In Soul World, Grace had a habit of sticking to the first person she got close to. The character changed each time, but this run it was Yeonju. Must be tough for the quiet Yeonju. Still, her personality wasn't bad.
"By the way, sis. Why did your country start worshiping Gulrak?"
On the way to Gulrak's altar, the half-resigned Luna tossed a question at Kara. Kara crossed her arms, thinking for a bit with an expression like she couldn't quite remember—it had been so long.
"Well... I don't know the exact reason, but I know my dad started it. To unite the confused tribes, he held sacrifices every time. Later realized those were for Gulrak."
"Sounds like the old rain-making rituals."
Not Luna—Grace's words. Probably referring to those famous Native American rain dances. The kind where you keep going till it works, near-100% success rate. Symbolizes unyielding persistence.
"Different from that. Those are 'til it rains,' so a bit off. But that level of sincerity and grit? Gulrak would bless it. Note: rain-making's tough even for him."
"Isn't striking people with lightning harder?"
"Nah. Lightning's distant from direct life. Rain? Imagine no rain in your country. Chaos, right?"
Rain is water, water is life's source. Rain from the sky is literally scattering life. Even on Earth, with dams and reservoirs, no rain cracks the land. This world relies heavily on rain too. Especially in this era—any famine sparks riots. Even the high-and-mighty focus on droughts.
"True rain-making needs national-scale manpower. Tatar's fine with its desert and trade focus, but elsewhere? Different story."
"I see. So when does Tatar hold national sacrifices?"
"Founding Festival. I lead them myself."
Grace and the others looked amazed at Kara's priest-like explanation. No need for a separate guide priest. Kara was an expert on Gulrak alone. Plus, as she said, she held the shamaness role. Like in some cultures where shamans dance up front during rituals. That's her style. Reason's simple: her late mother was a shamaness.
"You guys didn't bring offerings, right?"
"Nope."
"Me neither. What about you, Kara sis?"
"This."
Kara rummaged in her pocket and pulled out an item—a sharp beast fang, judging by the size from a big one.
"Caught a decent beast over the weekend. Offering this first."
"What offerings does Gulrak like?"
"Mostly life-related stuff. Carefully crafted weapons or jewelry work too."
Hearing that explained why Gulrak blessed Porori. Acorns are Porori's staple, tied directly to his life. And as an instinct-driven animal, suppressing that to offer life-linked acorns? Good boy, here's a blessing.
I can't though—Chaos blocks it. As mentioned steadily, once chosen by Chaos, other gods are off-limits. They reject you. Prayers or sacrifices? Crickets.
"Sivar, you try too... Oh. Chaos follower, huh? Might not work."
"Can't a Gulrak follower pray to Gaia?"
"Yeah? Then give it a shot. You guys have offerings now anyway."
Kara handed out beast bones or fangs to the group. She'd gone back to the dorm after lunch and grabbed them. I got a beast thighbone—long as my torso. What kind of monster?
"What beast was it? Looks huge."
"Wild boar. House-sized one, so I took it down."
Forest or mountain boars here are exaggeratedly house-sized. Nearby woods brim with mana. Mana ties to life, boosting growth directly. Chaos Forest's flora and fauna are massive for that reason. Academy's warm year-round too. Even bugs and insects palm-sized everywhere.
Lucky with abundant food. Winter would've been hell surviving in the woods. Blessing in disguise.
After getting offerings, we followed Kara to Gulrak's altar. Gulrak symbolizes the "sky," so his altar's sky-high.
"...We gotta climb?"
"Huh? Legs hurt? Skip if tough."
Mountain peak, near the academy—not just woods, mountains too, altar at the top. Luna pondered briefly, sighed deeply, then headed up. Why not try mindset. The group slowly ascended after. Kara, who'd been before, led briskly. Others had solid stamina over normals. Problem: mountain steeper than expected.
"Huff... huff... ugh..."
"T-Tired...?"
"N-No... fine..."
Mage Grace, weaker stamina-wise, started panting hardest. She handled mana fine, so decent endurance, but slope's steep. She'd drop first at this rate. I quietly sat in front of the extra-struggling her.
"...Sivar?"
"Climb on."
"Pardon?"
"Climb on."
I patted my back piggyback-style. No eyes behind, but felt her hesitate. I glanced back.
"Don't want?"
"N-No! Th-Then... excuse me..."
Grace carefully climbed on. Normally, noble pride would've refused. But stamina-wise, no room for that. Dying of exhaustion—face matters little. Once on, I slowly stood. Soft sensation on back, but ignored.
Definitely big. Random thought as we headed summit-ward. Grace hesitated at first, then quietly wrapped arms around my neck. First piggyback since adulthood, probably. Mine too, post-arrival. Not even Ellie, so Grace first—unexpected.
"So broad..."
"..."
"Firm..."
Grace mumbled from behind. I half-ignored, pushing to the top. Slope made it quicker than thought. Midway stairs eased it.
"Ah, sisters. Here to offer?"
At the summit gateway-like spot, a priestess greeted. Knew Kara, clearly.
"Yeah. With these folks. Anyone come early?"
"No. Heard most went to Gaia since it's up here."
Couldn't laugh. In Soul World, users griped same: peak location sucks routing. No teleports, that's why.
While Kara chatted with the priestess, I quietly set Grace down. She thanked me, face slightly flushed.
"Oh, right. Might be a squirrel instead of people."
"Pardon? Squirrel?"
Couldn't ignore the priestess's words. Luna whipped around too. Kara asked what, and the priestess explained smilingly.
"The animal that came after you left last time. Strutted in with acorn on shoulder."
"A-And?"
"Placed it on altar, bowed. World sure wonders."
100% Porori. Followed Kara, found altar by chance? Hope spirit status stays hidden. Priestess is Gulrak follower—probably fine. Stunned by Porori's extraordinary antics,
Rumble!
Kaboom!
Blue lightning crashed down. Right on my head.
"...?"
No. What the fuck?