Chapter 80
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Clearance Reward (1)
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However, at my offer to become their god, the corners of Petra's eyes sharply lifted.
"It seems like because you're taking responsibility for the food, you think there's nothing visible to gain. Holding people's lives in your hands must make you want to play god now, huh?"
With those words, a fierce aura erupted from Petra's body.
Unlike before, she was deliberately ramping it up, and I could feel a prickling sensation on my skin.
'She's definitely stronger than Kang Ju-young.'
Comparing it to when I'd clashed with Kang Ju-young as the Destroyer, it was clear Petra was a bit stronger.
'But only compared to Kang Ju-young.'
With that thought, I raised my own aura to show her the difference in our levels.
"......!?"
The aura I gradually built up wasn't rough or violent like Petra's.
It was a heavy presence, like inescapable gravity, that swallowed even Petra's aura and dominated the space.
"You...... were you hiding your power?"
"I just hadn't revealed it. Does that matter?"
Petra bit her lower lip hard, frustrated that she hadn't noticed I was holding back.
"Indeed, with your strength, you could handle the monster in the eastern forest."
"Do you want me to take care of the eastern forest monster? Just say what you want."
At my words, Petra replied with eyes full of wariness and suspicion.
"What do you want from me?"
"You're overestimating yourself. On the contrary, what can you even offer me?"
To put it bluntly, Rock Fortress was on the verge of collapse.
They were half-starved with no food left,
the walls hadn't been properly repaired,
and the soldiers were fighting with scrap metal instead of real weapons.
"......"
To my question, Petra ultimately had no answer.
"In other words, you'll do what I want without even taking payment?"
"Suspicious?"
It seemed I'd need to convince her on this point to get what I wanted from Petra.
Seeing her still filled with doubt, I had no choice but to be honest.
"Kang Ju-young called it a support force, but it's not really. You could say we ended up here due to something close to an accident. And I'm not leisurely enough to waste time here."
"......If it's not a support force, why not just leave?"
"Kang Ju-young seems attached to this place and can't tear herself away. Anyway, this proposal is so we can part on good terms. Honestly, you could call it good luck."
Doubt flickered in Petra's eyes.
"What do you mean by good luck?"
"It means it's rare for me to do something without compensation."
In fact, I usually demanded payment for most things.
Early on after contracting with the Creator God, I'd acted without pay, but all sorts of people tried to take advantage.
"They devalued what I did since there was no cost on their end."
In simple terms, if I revived the dead for free, people would value resurrection at zero.
Of course, Petra had the gate clearance as compensation, but between individuals, it was practically nothing.
"I get what you mean."
Having roughly understood my words, Petra spoke with a thoughtful expression.
"Then what can you do for us?"
"I said I'd become your god, so tell me everything you desire, as if confessing to one."
"......"
At my repeated words, Petra finally nodded.
"If you fulfill everything, I pledge my loyalty to you."
"Loyalty?"
I looked at Petra curiously as she offered her loyalty.
Reading my gaze, she borrowed my earlier words to explain.
"Didn't you say work done without compensation loses value?"
Petra continued.
"I agree. But that's all I have to offer."
"Loyalty, huh......"
I wondered what good her loyalty would do, but I nodded anyway.
I'd planned to do it for free regardless, so loyalty or whatever didn't matter much.
"And what I want is......"
With that, Petra finally stated her desires.
'It would've been simpler if she'd just asked me to deal with the monster.'
What Petra wanted was simple but hard to execute.
As expected of an S-Rank Gate. Peace for Rock Fortress.
"Thanks to that, it was a lot of work."
Yes. I wonder what we would've done without Lee Seongmin.
I first used the [Item Purchase] ability I'd gained from the 9th world to fill the food warehouses with all sorts of ingredients.
There were about ten large warehouses, all fully stocked, enough to last 2-3 years without worry.
'I also made a wide field to the west.'
For the field, I roughly plowed the land and planted crops bought with [Item Purchase].
Then, using the mana power from the 11th world, I boosted the soil fertility and grew the crops to a certain level.
[Tiarind Goddess's Blessing] (★)
Mana has a profound effect on the earth and crops.
By the way, the field was larger than Rock Fortress itself.
It had to be big enough for self-sufficiency.
'I stocked the armory with gear for knights and soldiers too.'
I generously filled the armory: about 50 sets of various weapons and plate armor for knights, and around 5,000 sets of weapons and light armor for soldiers.
Of course, all made with [Item Purchase].
But is Lee Seongmin's Item Purchase ability unlimited?
"It's infinite if it says infinite. The Elixir of Youth I pulled out before is included in Item Purchase too."
Elixir of Youth? So there are all kinds besides weapons, armor, crops, etc.?
I nodded to affirm it.
"Anyway, two things left."
Wall repairs and exterminating the monster in the eastern forest.
But I could handle both in Grand Archmage form.
Oh. Just my thought, but maybe you don't need to do it as perfectly as Lee Seongmin.
"Probably. As long as the monsters are cleared and food supply is solved."
Right.
It meant there was no need to arm the knights and soldiers too.
"But since I started, might as well do it thoroughly."
With that, I finished using [Collection Cuisine Summon], which I'd been maintaining.
It was breakfast for the people of Rock Fortress, instructors, heroes, and cadets—easy to prepare.
It's getting noisy outside.
The biggest change from my predawn work was the massive field to the west.
Plus, I'd knocked out the guards on the walls to make it, so they'd only notice in the early morning.
"Time for soldiers and residents to come in, I guess."
When do you plan to fix the walls?
"No time like the present. I'll do it as the Grand Archmage—send me there?"
Yes. Your main body will head back to the room now, right?
As Lee Seojun said, with breakfast ready, I planned to keep the main body quietly in the room.
"Got it."
I sent Lee Seojun to the Grand Archmage's location, then moved my main body to the room while focusing on the Archmage.
Thud, thud—
Additionally, the Grand Archmage was heading to the walls.
"Ah, Mage! Did you sleep well?"
The magic from yesterday had left quite an impression on the soldiers, as they greeted me along the way.
"Hard to say I slept comfortably."
"Could it be that the massive field to the west was made by you, Mage?"
"Who else but me? It's something I settled with your lord."
"Ah, no. I'm not doubting. I just wanted to express my gratitude."
"No big deal. I also left gifts in the armory and food warehouses—check them out."
"Yes. I'll send people to confirm right away."
I told the soldier who'd check that he'd done well.
"Then carry on."
Arriving at the eastern wall, I saw Hero Association members and cadets arriving one after another.
They must be planning to repair the walls early in the morning.
"So it seems."
Even after seeing my magic yesterday, their initiative to repair the walls was good.
Anyway, the Hero Association member and about ten cadets widened their eyes upon seeing me.
"Oh? Ah. Grand Archmage."
The Hero Association member approached, calling me Grand Archmage.
"Heard it from Kang Ju-young?"
"Yes. She said you introduced yourself as such."
"I see. More importantly, here to repair the walls this early?"
"Even with you here, Grand Archmage, we figured repairs were necessary."
I nodded in understanding, then glanced at the cadets behind.
"But fewer than yesterday."
"It's early morning, so only volunteers gathered."
"Hmm."
After a brief exchange, I habitually stroked my beard.
As I silently stroked it, the Hero Association member asked curiously.
"What's wrong?"
"Truth is, I also planned to repair the walls. But taking work from the young ones sits ill with me."
"Pardon? No, it's fine. If you're going to repair them, please do so freely."
The hero before me was here for repairs, so likely a mage, and readily yielded the task.
Watching this, Lee Seojun chimed in approvingly.
Great. This all counts as contribution.
Petra wanted peace for Rock Fortress, so wall repairs counted toward contribution too.
Lee Seojun seemed excited about what rewards hogging all contribution in this S-Rank history recreation gate would bring.
'Come to think of it, history recreation gates are said to give absurd rewards.'
High mortality rate, but exceptional compensation.
I was curious too, so I accepted the Hero Association member's words without refusal.
"Then leave the walls to me."