Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Righteous Druid (1)
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[Quest: Lavata Mine Purification Operation - Great Success!]
Ah, the sound of experience pouring in is music to my ears...
[Achievement Unlocked: The Worshipped]
[Additional Effect: Gain Great Favor from Neutral Parties]
Nice rewards... Wait a minute, now that I think about it, I never even got a look at that Shadow Cloak. The mine's already collapsed—how am I supposed to get it now?
“Wheeeeeeck!!!!”
Just then, I heard El vomiting her guts out beside me. Seasick, huh? I didn't even have the energy to pat her back, so I just glanced over. Huh? Wait a second. That...
“Urk, cough, cough!”
El wiped her filthy mouth with a ragged black cloth. I shot to my feet and snatched it right out of her hands.
“Master?”
“...Where did you get this?”
“It was in a pool of blood. I was puking and needed something to wipe with, so I looked around and...”
“My god...”
“...Did I do something wrong?”
“No... You did great.”
She really did!
I clutched the tattered, dirty cloth tight and patted El's shoulder. She gave me a weird look, but I didn't care.
“Just wash it and it'll be good.”
And so, I acquired a slightly soiled Shadow Cloak.
* * *
“Stuffed.”
I'm starting to get tired of top-grade steaks and all that. I tossed the veal leg bone—still some meat on it—to Ayla and picked up my wine glass. The fragrant aroma of white grape wine imported from Lyset pierced my nose. Mm, elf-brewed wine really hits different. I savored the white grape wine to my heart's content.
“Fuuu...”
Sinking into the plush chair, sleep started to creep in. Ah, getting too used to this lifestyle isn't good. I'm not planning to live in Lavata forever. I straightened my back and refilled my empty glass with more white grape wine.
Right now, I was receiving the utmost hospitality. Lavata's administrator, the mercenary guild, the miners' guild, the affiliated merchant guilds, and even the temples—all were dying to meet me.
-The Righteous Druid purified the mine and vanquished the demon.
That was the rumor spreading through the city. From kids who had just started talking to the elderly on their last legs, everyone knew the tale of the Righteous Druid. The Purification Tree that had sprouted through the mine had become a landmark overnight, and now people were even making pilgrimages to pray there.
Well, to be precise, the "Righteous" part and "vanquished the demon" needed some caveats.
Especially "vanquished the demon"—that wasn't certain. Citra surely hadn't died. If she got lucky, she might be sealed under the Purification Tree for centuries... but who knows.
Demons aren't easy to kill in the first place. Destroy the vessel they've descended into, and the main body just returns to its origin in the underworld.
Do the temples know how to truly kill a demon? Probably not easy, even if they do.
Anyway, I stuck strictly to the facts. A cult ritual was underway deep in the mine, which summoned the demon, but it got crushed by the roots of the Purification Tree.
I never once said I vanquished the demon.
But rumors always get exaggerated, and before I knew it, I was famed as the druid who slew a demon.
'Not bad.'
Fame has all sorts of uses.
In some ways, it's even more useful than money.
'Maybe I should pivot to this lane entirely.'
I already had the [Saint of Purification] title, and now [Nemesis of Evil] on top—my name value was skyrocketing. Add in the tales from cursed Galopik lands, and I was gaining fame by the day.
Lavata's a bustling port city, so my reputation would spread inland and across the seas in no time.
'High name value means more people seek me out, easier to make money.'
Of course, only if backed by real skill.
I opened the book by the window. Let's see what this new title gives...
[Nemesis of Evil]
I closely read the description for my new title, [Nemesis of Evil].
[You are immune to Fear/Confusion/Shock states.]
No more getting stunned, then. Nice.
I figured a grand title like this would have a grand effect. Immunity to losing your nerve.
With this, I'd be immune to the 'stun' from encountering higher beings like demons or dragons. No more freezing up like an idiot, pissing yourself, and dying to a single blow.
'Surviving after that is another question...'
I flipped the page to check my skills.
Hitting level 30 netted me two new skills.
[Beast Summon] and [Green Summon].
[Beast Summon] lets you summon beasts, as the name implies. Less "summon" and more "call." Unlike spiritists summoning spirits on the spot, [Beast Summon] calls nearby beasts or animals to command.
[Green Summon] imbues plants with consciousness. Skills like [Forest Breath], [Forest Blessing], [Forest Song] just grew and controlled plants directly, but [Green Summon] gives plants a sort of 'intelligence.' They can act on their own will.
I tested [Beast Summon] for kicks. City, so no beasts—just gather nearby animals.
-Tap.
-Tap tap.
-Flutter!
-Whoosh!
-Chirp!
Closing my eyes and focusing, soon a racket started outside the window.
“Gasp...”
Outside: pigeons, sparrows, rats, even cockroaches—every urban critter swarming in.
Rats are fine, but cockroaches? No thanks. I canceled the skill quick.
-Rustle rustle!
They scattered like nothing happened—animals and bugs alike...
“Not bad. Gotta test in the forest later.”
Now for [Green Summon].
In a quieter spot, I closed my eyes and softly recited the 'Forest Poem' from the old lady.
The Druidic 'Forest Poem' is like a prayer to nature. Druids see nature as alive, enabling communion with the forest. And they really could 'commune.' The poem's part of that.
Of course, I'm not communing with a grand forest—just a little potted plant.
“I am the green agent of the forest and earth goddess Lynshaka. Child of the mother, heed my call.”
Opening my eyes, the silver eucalyptus in the pot shivered its branches, then raised its leaves like it was looking up at me.
“Clap.”
-Clap, clap, clap, clap.
The silver eucalyptus clapped its branches together. Good, that's solid.
“Greet me.”
It bent its stem deep in a bow imitation. Worried it'd snap, but [Green Summon] plants move freely.
'The old lady used this for all sorts of chores.'
Plant servants for cleaning, laundry, cooking...
Cooking that precise needs finesse, though.
I just watched in awe back then. Now I've grown enough to use [Green Summon] myself.
“Attack any intruders entering this room.”
Enough reminiscing—I gave the silver eucalyptus a simple order and watched. El should be back from errands soon. I eyed the door.
-Slam.
“Mas...”
Before "ter," the silver eucalyptus whipped a branch, firing sharp leaves at El. Never imagining an attack just entering my room, El took them all. Unlike normal leaves, some embedded in her clothes. If they'd hit exposed skin like her face, could've drawn blood.
“Hm, good.”
Gotta test other plants. This was a small pot, but a full tree would pack real punch. Traps, tracking too...
“Ow, ouch ouch.”
El plucked leaves from her clothes, staring at me in bewilderment.
“...Was testing.”
I grinned shamelessly and patted her shoulder.
“Warn me next time.”
“If you knew, you'd dodge. Defeats the purpose.”
“Tch... Anyway, here. Cloak's washed.”
“Oh, already?”
“Yeah. Good sunlight, dried fast.”
I tried on the cloak El handed me. Hm, light? Barely feel it.
El stared, face screaming why wear such a rag—beyond comprehension. Heh. I chuckled softly and whispered.
“Don't freak.”
I stepped to a shadowy corner away from light and pulled up the hood. Then...
“Gasp! Master!”
My form melted perfectly into the shadows. Night would be ideal, but even now, it looked convincing.
Dark-colored cloak, but it subtly shifted hue with surroundings. Green in forests?
“Thought it was magic!”
El yelled, unable to hide her excitement. Pretty shocked, huh.
“It's a stealth item that blends you perfectly into shadows. No idea how you found it, but... thanks, El.”
I doffed the hood, fished a gold coin from my pouch, and flicked it to her. She caught it with a smack, eyes sparkling at me.
“Th-this is too much!”
When El bore the noble name Reinhardt, a single gold meant nothing. Pitiful seeing her shocked now... but fortunes change.
“Too little, if anything. Keep it.”
“Wow, thank you!”
The Shadow Cloak's worth eclipses a hundred golds easy, so one coin's pocket change. But that's knowing its value. El used it to wipe puke...
'Feels a bit iffy?'
I sniffed the cloak. Good—just sun scent.
Anyway, scored useful skills, item, and fame this time. If it's smooth sailing ahead, what more could I want?