Chapter 245
Chapter 245
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 245
Chapter Title: Omen of Disaster? (5)
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Dawn light was breaking. I dragged myself out of bed.
“Ugh, ughhh!”
What the hell was with this headache...? Was it from the booze I drank with Lloyd last night? Yeah, it was pretty strong stuff. I clutched my throbbing head and let out a sigh. No, seriously... How was Lloyd perfectly fine after drinking this crap? The guy was a monster. Definitely a monster...
After groaning and holding my head for a bit, I carefully—ever so slowly, trying not to jostle my body—got up from my seat.
“Whew...”
I’m dying. I’m gonna die. I activated [Nature’s Healing] to max out my recovery, then scanned my surroundings with a slightly clearer head. The room, bathed in the pale, dim light of dawn pouring through the window, felt a little unfamiliar since I’d tidied it up the night before.
“...”
It really was time to leave now. When would moments like this start feeling normal? Or would they ever?
If I completely gave up on my old life and chose to put down roots in this world, maybe then it would.
“Up we go.”
I stretched long and hard, grabbed my pre-packed bags, and left the room. The empty space looked bigger than when I’d first seen it. I closed the door, pocketed the key, and headed downstairs. Oh, and before tackling the stairs, I didn’t forget to knock firmly on Elle’s door—she seemed to still be asleep.
Down on the first floor, Callisto was already up and sipping tea alone, looking fully prepared.
“Theodore, good morning.”
“Morning, Cal. Where’s Lloyd?”
“Seems like he’s outside tending to the horses.”
“Got it.”
“I’ve already fed Claudia and Storm.”
“Even Storm? I could’ve done it. Thanks, Cal.”
“No trouble at all. Leave it to me.”
I sat across from him. Figuring Elle would come rushing down in a panic once she woke up, I had a moment to catch my breath. Right on cue, the innkeeper—busy in the kitchen prepping lunches—brought me a warm cup of sugarcane milk.
“Lunches are almost ready.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s such a shame you’re leaving. The golden pumpkins are just about in season...”
“Ah, I love pumpkin too. Too bad. But I’ll probably swing by again soon. I’ll stay here for sure next time.”
“That means a lot. Our inn’s always open.”
As we chatted and I drank my sugarcane milk, a noisy clatter came from the stairs above. Elle came bounding down, yawning hugely with a face still heavy from sleep. Her bag was stuffed to bursting—who knew she’d bought so much yesterday?
“G-good morning... Yawwwn.”
“Yeah. Good morning, Elle.”
Elle took her warm sugarcane milk and drank it down. By then, the innkeeper must’ve finished the lunches, because she emerged with what looked like pretty sizable lunch boxes even from a glance. For three days. Not too much, not too little, but each box seemed big enough for at least two servings.
“The road ahead might be rough, so I packed hearty. Real hearty.”
“Wow, just looking at them fills me up.”
Mine, Elle’s, and Lloyd’s were the innkeeper’s special lunches, while Callisto’s was veggie-focused. I stowed the hefty boxes in my subspace ring, thanked the innkeeper profusely, and headed out. She saw us all the way to the door, waving for a good long while, wishing us safe travels and hoping to see us again.
“We’ll head out through Sequoia Forest.”
Since Ravin had asked us to stop by, we’d exit Corin via Sequoia Forest. Cutting straight through and veering a bit south would bring us to Quarzan, a coastal city. It was close to Roshan and not too far from the Ekaitz Confederacy, so mercenaries passed through often. That meant plenty of info. We could check the latest on the continent’s situation there.
At the edge of Sequoia Forest, glowing green in the dawn light, Ravin and Lewis were waiting for us. Spotting Ravin waving from afar, we reined in our horses and carriage slowly. It was his first time seeing Ayla, but thankfully, he didn’t freak out too much.
We followed Ravin and Lewis to the site where the temple was under construction. Exiting a path between massive sequoia trees led to a circular clearing. Piles of materials everywhere showed construction was in full swing. Still, the foundations were solid, and the towering pillars already exuded a strong presence.
What was it that Ravin so badly wanted to ask of me? A blessing, maybe? But I was a druid, not a priest. Prayer was one thing—blessings were another.
“It’ll take a while to finish, but let me show you around anyway.”
Ravin explained everything. At the center of the round clearing would be the temple itself. To the left, they’d preserved a small spring and planned a vegetable garden nearby—for the priests’ self-sufficiency or to share with followers.
“Great idea. I can help with that.”
If I used my Fertile Land skill on the garden spot ahead of time, they’d get bountiful harvests. With limited time, the effect might only last a few months to half a year, but that should be plenty.
On another side, he showed us the foundation for a fountain dedicated to Goddess Lynshaka. With the lake nearby, piping in water wouldn’t be bad, and topping it with a statue of the goddess in the center would look great. It’d boost faith too...
“...Aha!”
That’s when a great idea hit me. Ah, I’d been agonizing over what to do with this ‘golden boar,’ and this place was perfect. I pulled the golden boar from my subspace ring. Ravin and Lewis stared at me in surprise.
“Theodore, we have enough for construction funds! The lord has already...”
Ravin figured I meant to donate the boar to the building fund. Not even close. Selling a golden boar gifted by the lord to fund the temple... Goddess Lynshaka might approve, but Lord Corin sure wouldn’t.
But I’d thought of a way to please both.
“About the statue of Goddess Lynshaka.”
“Y-yes?”
“How about making it one where she’s holding the golden boar? It’d symbolize her watching over Corin.”
“...Wow!”
Ravin’s awed exclamation echoed loudly. Lewis looked deeply impressed too, gazing at me with misty eyes.
“That’s... brilliant.”
Look at this guy, all moved. Yeah, touched. Go tell your dad all about it, huh?
[The Goddess of Forest and Earth, Lynshaka, is pleased with the ‘golden boar’ offering.]
That’s right! Just as I thought—Lynshaka accepted it as an ‘offering.’ Score another point for me.
A bit of a shame to part with the golden boar, but it was pie in the sky anyway, so this worked out better all around. Honoring Lynshaka while impressing Corin... Plus, how many devotees would flock to see a goddess cradling a golden boar? Those coins tossed into the fountain would rake in some nice cash too.
“It’ll be the most amazing statue!”
“I’m looking forward to it, Ravin.”
“I’ll hold onto the golden boar until then.”
“Lewis, I wouldn’t worry if it’s in your hands.”
I handed the boar to Lewis, then flashed Ravin a grin. She spoke up excitedly again, inspiration clearly surging.
“Then, the most important part’s left!”
“Yeah, I’ve been wondering. What you wanted to ask me...”
“You remember the ‘living temple’ idea, right?”
“Of course.”
Ravin placed a hand on a massive temple pillar and looked up. Carved from sequoia, it was tall enough not to be overshadowed by the surrounding trees. A humble yet majestic temple, like a single great tree. Shame I wouldn’t see it finished.
The pillar was carved from base to top with spiral patterns like a nautilus shell. Ravin traced the smooth grooves with her fingers.
“I designed this pillar so vines can climb and grow up it.”
“Ah, so that’s why the carvings...”
“We could’ve sculpted gods or mythic scenes. But for a true ‘living temple,’ what it needs most is ‘life.’ Just like you said, Theodore.”
“Really brilliant thinking.”
“I never would’ve come up with it without you. I’d have built some rigid, lifeless temple instead.”
I touched the pillar’s grooves. Sure enough, they were gently sloped and soft-carved for vines to climb. Such a kind pillar. I stroked the carvings tenderly, like touching something alive, then pulled a seed pouch from my pocket. I took out White Disidia—with its purifying power—and planted it in the pot at the pillar’s base. Using [Breath of the Forest], the White Disidia sprouted fast and began twining up the pillar.
“It’s a purifying plant. I was gonna plant some around anyway... Thanks, Ravin. With these guys staying here, it’ll feel like I’m with you.”
I grew White Disidia on the other pillars too, then planted a few dawn star trees and blessed moonflowers around the temple clearing. With dawn star trees, the temple wouldn’t need lanterns at night—it wouldn’t be dark. The forest would no longer be a place of fear.
[The Goddess of Forest and Earth, Lynshaka, watches over Corin’s new temple.]
Now, the forest would be a beloved place.