Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: The Squinty-Eyed Traitor - 4
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📰 General Post Title: What was the morning recruitment quest today??? Author: VirginLife Jerched off last night and slept in, missed the recruitment quest at the Windmill Village hall this morning. What was it??? — LikeTheWind Recruiting people to ride India's Light back down and set up camps. — VirginLife ????? What's that????? — LikeTheWind 45~49th floor parties are a bitch without backup. — VirginLife Yeah. — LikeTheWind That's why tons of people are still dicking around in the 40s. Yeah. — VirginLife Yeah. — LikeTheWind They're recruiting to take relief supplies like food down there, feed the noobs early, and send 'em up without getting wrecked. Yeah. — VirginLife Why? ⭐ Moderator — Gold Rush🔹 Who knows, maybe your future girlfriend's down there. Save everyone first and see. — VirginLife Oh. — VirginLife Thinking about it, it's kinda like noodles parkour. Super badass. — VirginLife Take food down to lower floors, newbie cutie starving in front of me: "Tough, huh? Eat this (smirk)." Can I become a social king? LOL "Dinner's paid with nighttime pounding exercise (wink)" like that LOL — WallBloodInvincible Guilds only recruit internally cuz assholes like you show up. — VirginLife Fuck, it was my chance. ⭐ Moderator — Gold Rush🔹 Dunno about the rest, but I get why you're VirginLife LOL — VirginLife Fuckin bitch why you picking on me suddenly 📰 General Post Title: So what's the holy site deal? Author: qpepre Wasn't there some quest on 52F?? — YotSsaJji Apparently nothing big? They said ignore it for now. — qpepre Fr? — YotSsaJji Yeah, guild leader and gallery lord decided to leave it be. — qpepre Why not ask my opinion? — YotSsaJji Who the hell are you? — qpepre Veteran who's fought in Glory Battle on 47F with a single ohamma sword. — YotSsaJji Dunno that guy. — qpepre Warrior who shields the party with heroic skills and battle experience. — YotSsaJji Dunno that guy. — qpepre Just a healthy 26yo tower buddy who likes/upvotes the occasional sexy pic... — YotSsaJji No but fr I don't know LOL 📰 General Post Title: Time for worship, upvote go go Author: WallBloodInvincible Time to praise the gallery lord who hands out daily bread and quests today too, right? — BladeOfDoom Upvote — MapleSyrup🔸 Howling upvote — KALSONG Shaking dick upvote LOL — BlackPuddingUnicorn Lord's squad seizure starting... — Mnal But vibe's super good lately LOL — BlackPuddingUnicorn Why? — Mnal Gallery lord quests and dungeon EXP are insane, so ability upgrades and awakenings popping off this time LOL Broke through Windmill Village and already 5 advanced mages and holy knights promoted LOL — BlackPuddingUnicorn Fr??? What??? Isn't that either innate or insanely rare??? — Mnal Dunno LOL Just feels like 50F+ has great item drops overall, EXP, awakenings all good LOL — MagicStick10inch Just skeleton water or what? — Mnal Dunno LOL Everyone's just worshipping the gallery lord LOL — KALSONG Anyway worship him LOL — Weeed You guys repair the walls too, pays well. — PlumpPungNyang Why would I do that LOL ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After the shocking encounter at the holy site.
The saintess's side showed no particular movement. A few days later, when I sent food via the connected road, they simply offered direct thanks.
Dozens of wagons in tow, as I arrived once more before the sanctuary, people had gathered. All of them came out to greet me in postures of prayer to the Goddess of the Earth.
Of course, leading the front was Angela.
"Thank you for the Lord's mercy."
"…."
She still covered her eyes and hair with white cloth and a hood. Priest Abel standing behind her did the same. And I could guess why they acted this way.
'Some ritual they perform when going out in the sunlight.'
There were plenty of religions in my past life that used turbans, hoods, or veils outdoors, so I just nodded along. Gesturing lightly, I said,
"Let's start with meals and food distribution first. We need a wide open space to proceed. Or should I leave the wagons and let you handle it yourselves?"
"We'll guide you."
Following Angela's lead, we moved, then climbers and Lord's Guard atop the wagons distributed grain to the gathering crowd.
"Here, one more scoop please!! I have an elderly mother at home—!!"
"M-Move! I should get it first—."
Then Lady Luciana shouted. She seemed accustomed now to dealing with the hungry masses.
"There's enough for everyone, so line up! Cause a fuss and we'll confiscate what we've given!"
"Eek."
"Hiiik!"
Scatter!
The sanctuary folk paled and dispersed. I hadn't planned to take anything back anyway, but to these people whose reason was clouded by starvation, it was threat enough.
Angela and I stood side by side, watching. Of course, Niva and Aslan guarded me a bit behind.
"…."
"…."
Smoke rising from boiling porridge,
People's laughter,
Peace of the plains blooming with pink flowers.
-Hoo, hoo—.
-Nom nom….
And people cautiously spooning porridge into their mouths.
Just a single meal,
Yet it carried a reverence like a religious rite.
'That said, the crowd seems under 300? Mostly elderly and infirm?'
I spoke up.
"Fewer people than expected."
"…Yes."
Angela replied.
"Because of what happened a few days ago, some who lived with us left."
"Like Priest Albert?"
"Yes, even Archbishop Paul, who turned a blind eye to us, felt responsible and led the pilgrims toward Knot Village."
"Knot Village…?"
"One of the seven villages in the surrounding forests. Excluding abandoned Windmill and Waterwheel, it's the one with the most people left, so probably headed there."
Knot
Loop
Plate
Windmill
Jar
Wagon Wheel
Waterwheel
>
Seven villages named after objects symbolizing each. They served as supply depots sustaining this sanctuary, Gades Banea.
"Priests and warriors dispatched from the sanctuary cleared banshee monsters, while the villages sent apprentices and goods."
"…."
'Loose feudal society bound by faith.'
Angela continued.
"But after the Storm King's raid and famine, only this few survived, scraping by."
"Is the Storm King still a threat?"
"No, even he, who always brought banshee beasts to raid us—. For some reason, since the famine, he hasn't shown in the plains."
"!"
'No way—like Baran bracing for Hrekal, this place was meant to fight the 'Storm King'? External factors altered the main quest?'
"Then the remaining chaos…."
Hearing my trailing words,
She nodded.
"…All this chaos stems solely from the famine."
"I see."
'That's why Abel asked about the Blessing of the Earth the moment he sensed it.'
Angela looked at me. No eyes visible through the white cloth, but her faint smile suggested friendly eyes.
"Now, thanks to the Lord's mercy, I can conserve my strength. If you need serious banshee beast cleanup, call me. I'll rush over anytime."
"…."
The saintess's power.
Her 'Blessing of Flowers' and blood rituals?
'Niva's on instant guard for legend-tier, so must be immense power….'
Frankly speaking,
I still couldn't fully trust her.
Precisely because she's 'legend-tier.'
'Unlike Niva and climbers bound instantly by system and gallery, or lost beastkin. These folk are fragmented, fresh from severe political turmoil.'
So I answered moderately.
"It's fine. We'll send food regularly through winter, so rest body and soul within the sanctuary."
But Angela didn't rejoice. She opened and closed her mouth a few times, mumbling. Somehow sensing the line I'd drawn.
She smiled faintly and nodded.
"Then we'll do what we can."
"…."
I didn't reply.
And after that day.
Reports came from some climbers and Lord's Guard. Patrolling the dangerous sanctuary borders swarming with banshees at night, they'd spot the saintess in her white dress now and then.
-Couldn't see details.
-Eyes flashed, then ghosted away….
-But behind, always banshee beasts skewered dead on red spears.
"…."
Apparently,
The saintess was stronger than expected.
'Good she's only patrolling strictly within sanctuary borders.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Back in Baran.
I headed to the Great Archive managing advanced magic tomes and treasure artifacts. Stacks of books and miscellany. There, longtime archivist Fabio kept watch.
'As expected, all four disciples of the sage are busy.'
Lord me,
Clerk Milla,
Astronomer Albert,
And archivist Fabio….
'Milla on quest distribution, Albert on dungeon monitoring, Fabio on magic tomes and artifacts. All pinned to posts.'
Baran's brains couldn't stray from duties. Better to visit their offices than summon to the Lord's Manor.
Plus, I wanted out of the manor anyway.
I called to him.
"Fabio."
"!"
Weary neighborhood bro Fabio, mid-comparing magic tome and ancient book, startled at my footsteps.
"Hello, my Lord. And Miss Niva."
Niva nodded curtly,
I approached and greeted.
"Doing well, Fabio?"
"Yes, of course. Looking for a specific book or treasure?"
"No, just checking on the tasks I assigned."
"Ah…! You mean the 'Heart of Mist'."
Hrekal's leftover treasure, Heart of Mist. Requested analysis on the transparent orb swirling with fog inside.
'Only talent in territory with appraisal skill, including climbers.'
A month since assignment, time to check.
I asked.
"So, what exactly is it?"
"Appraisal shows it absorbs mist."
"Mist?"
"Yes, natural fog of course…. Even the perpetual fog over Midval River—once called earth's border—and lakes. Seems to absorb all kinds."
"Oh…."
Like a dehumidifier.
One that sucks only fog.
'Suck up bad weather fog sometime. And road fog even better.'
Heart pounding, I asked.
"Range and conditions?"
"Activated via mana stones. Range scales with investment, but exact ratio unknown."
"After use?"
"Need to test…."
"Then let's experiment."
Saying so,
I glanced at blankly listening Niva.
She nodded.
"Sure, why not."
We three hauled the head-sized Heart of Mist to lakefront base camp. At the foggy road entrance, dumped a bucket of mana stones into the orb.
Rumble—
Soon,
Heart glowed softly, sucking surrounding fog. Vacuum cleaner vigor.
Whoooosh—!
'No gale. Just fog absorption?'
Musing so, spaced out. Snapped back: dozens of meters that were dim moments ago now clear.
I said.
"Better effect than thought."
Niva added.
"But subtle. Bucketful for this? Fog road's dozens of km; hundreds of buckets to clear all."
By the way.
Did you just say 'bucketh'?
'Where'd this bunny pick up grandpa lingo….'
But not the point now. I wry-smiled at Fabio holding the Heart.
"Haha, subtle yield. Worse than city utilities. Hoped it'd clear road fog and scout surrounding woods."
"Hm, yes. At this rate, might need all winter mana stones for the city."
"Even with ample supply now. Accounting for beastkin and climber demand, can't squander—."
Then,
Niva tapped my hand.
"Hey. Can't we use those floating on the lake? Tech issues make salvage impossible anyway. Even my warp can't move 'em. Just use 'em this time?"
"!"
"!"
Our eyes met.
"…."
"…."
Gulp
Do it?
Don't?
"…."
"…."
But,
Too big to rashly commit.
'Nearly a quarter's territory assets.'
New mining method might emerge; couldn't sleep regretting. Chicken me and Fabio tabled for next meeting.
I proposed to Fabio.
"Test at foggiest Waterwheel Village first. If seriously effective, go for it."
"Understood."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Thus passed the day. Toward evening, an unexpected guest: sanctuary inquisitor, white-robed Abel.
He brought two horses from my Waterwheel visit. The same I'd ridden with Aslan to the sanctuary.
'Just ditched 'em, yet returned specially.'
Abel offered reins.
"Horses the Lord left at the sanctuary."
"Here to return them?"
"Yes, and… actually, something to discuss in person."
"?"
Abel turned. Waterwheel still creaking behind. But his gaze further back.
"That hut fence behind…."
"I built it."
"…."
Mouth agape. First emotional stir. Then bowed.
"…Thank you. Place of memories."
"Your hometown?"
"Yes, Waterwheel Village native. Always patrolled as excuse to return."
"I see."
"And…."
"?"
Sunset fully down.
Abel slowly removed blindfold. Slender, fox-like eyes gleamed crimson between thin lids, like Angela's.
'This guy's a real suspicious squinter.'
He said.
"…For the saintess, I incited the Pope and five archbishops via letter. Traitor to the church."
"Why on earth?"
"…."
Abel gazed past hill toward Sanctuary Gades Banea as twilight faded.
"Because I thought this moment might be the last chance."
"What?"
He said,
The saintess's final shot at freedom was now.
"The saintess is free now. Infinite thanks to the Lord who made it possible."
"…."
That instant.
A hollow alert popped before me.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 【Floor 52, Main Quest of 'Sanctuary Gades Banea' has been completed.】 【Quest Reward: Legendary Ability Upgrade Scroll, 'Light of Life'.】 "…."
"…."
Niva beside me gaped too.
"Main que… cleared…?"