Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: I Became the Goddess of the New World
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RPG games mostly made 'healer' class jobs boring.
In contrast, healers were often necessary when forming parties.
Of course, Akare had been designed to progress even without a healer.
But if a party had a healer, things would proceed much more comfortably.
Anyway, for these reasons, healers were unpopular jobs in RPG games.
Few people wanted to play them, but many needed them.
That was one of the reasons I chose Cleric.
I preferred multiplayer over solo play, after all.
"Watch out!"
Raven, disguised as a man, shouted.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [BOSS Black Illusion Rabbit Lv.10] I ignored Raven's shout and reached out toward the Black Illusion Rabbit.
Its face twisted like a demon's, baring sharp fangs.
'Male Raven really isn't as good as female Raven.'
Crunch... Crunch...
Whether the Black Illusion Rabbit chewed on my hand or not, I pondered Raven inwardly.
The Raven traveling with me now was in princess mode, so disguised as a man.
Normally, it would have been Prince Raven based on my gender, but I didn't want that, so I changed it with admin privileges.
"Heal."
Crunch...
I was suddenly musing on Raven because a beta test feedback that came up the most was on my mind.
'They asked for a gender choice for Raven.'
Most inquiries about gender choice came from female beta testers.
Their common claim was that girls like pretty female characters more than male ones too.
"Homosexuality..."
If there were no affinity, it might be fine, but with affinity implemented, it was hard to accommodate that claim.
Max out affinity, and you could do all sorts of embarrassingly imaginable things.
'This is why the ratings board raised issues.'
Thankfully, Earth's Akashic Records backed us up, so all related problems passed without issue.
"Did you know?"
Raven, watching the Black Illusion Rabbit's Aurora mukbang, turned her gaze to me.
"The Black Illusion Rabbit inherited the blood of 'demonic beasts' that have now vanished, making it a monster with a trace of demonic energy."
"...That's news to me."
Of course it was. It's a secret I learned with Creator privileges.
How would the princess of a just-fallen kingdom know this?
Well, it wasn't a question expecting an answer anyway.
"So what happens when demonic energy meets holy power?"
"I've heard demonic energy has always been fatal to holy power."
"Exactly. And just now, this cute bunny bit the hand I used Heal on."
Raven's gaze turned to the Black Illusion Rabbit.
It was dead, soaked in holy power.
"Doesn't it look cute like this?"
A cute Black Illusion Rabbit is a dead one.
In truth, a normal Black Illusion Rabbit looked just like an ordinary rabbit, fairly cute.
"...You're insane."
I just took the freebie route prepared for those who picked Cleric, and my favorite NPC recoiled in horror, hurling insults at me.
Isn't that too openly hateful?
That hurts my feelings too!
"Let's make camp here..."
Raven started preparing camp, looking exhausted.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We passed the first stage, the Darkness-Devouring Forest, and arrived at the capital.
"Whoa, so many people."
People standing around like country bumpkins fresh in the big city.
People demonstrating job skills and mingling.
People quickly forming parties and heading to hunting grounds.
The capital's plaza was full of countless such people.
'What's that over there?'
In the corner of the plaza, an open area with practice scarecrows.
Martial Artists wearing their starter weapon, gauntlets, had gathered there.
"Challenge!"
Whoosh!
A Martial Artist shouted challenge and used Forward Leap.
He used the scarecrow as a foothold to change direction mid-air.
But he failed the next attempt and ended up rolling on the ground.
"Nailed the first one, but goofed."
"Talent spawn? I struggle every time."
"Whoa, how'd you do that?"
True to aspiring Martial Artists.
They huddled together, practicing Forward Leap direction changes.
I watched the aspiring Martial Artists' heated practice for a while.
Due to balance patches, max direction changes were limited to three.
'Even the first direction change is tough for them.'
Well, how often do busy modern folks get to move like this?
Daehyeop Kim adapting to direction changes quickly was the outlier.
This is normal.
"How does Great Hero Gold Horse do this?"
"Heard Great Hero practiced nearly half a day too."
"Man, this ain't easy."
I left, inwardly cheering on the aspiring Martial Artists' achievements.
'Shall I stop by the church?'
Clerics get buffs from praying at church.
Skill cooldown reduction, holy power regen speed increase, max holy power increase.
Random one of the three.
Balance for this hasn't been set yet.
I thought a week of beta testing would suffice.
'There were circumstances.'
Too few beta testers picked Cleric.
And none of them did a Cleric's duty: 'pray at church.'
So not enough data on buff balance.
You need data first to balance anything.
I headed to church while opening the skill window to check tooltips for issues.
⚔ STATUS ⚔ Faith (Passive Skill) - Changes stat 'Affinity' to 'Holy Power'. - Damage taken reduced by 10%. - Basic skill 'Heal' effect increased by 50%. - Basic skill 'Blessing' effect increased by 50%. - Holy Power +10. ... 'No problems.'
I arrived at the church while reading carefully.
"Not many people."
Unlike beta, a few players were visible.
But no Clerics among them, and they soon lost interest and left.
"Such a shame."
Non-Clerics could enter too, but no one did.
Why? I pondered, but no clear answer came.
As I loitered in front of the church, a nun-like woman approached.
"Are you a devotee?"
"Yes. Here to pray."
A smile formed on the nun's lips.
"Perfect timing, before regular service. Please come in."
I followed the nun into the chapel.
Sunlight filtered through stained glass, illuminating the interior.
The chapel atmosphere was solemn. Everyone bowed heads in prayer.
At the front stood a goddess statue. Much smaller than the one I'd removed.
That wasn't the Destruction Object. Just a replica, a fake.
Step... Step...
I walked to the statue and stood before it.
Nearby devotees knelt, hands clasped in prayer.
I blended in and mimicked them.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Heard the Voice of God.] [Max Holy Power increased. (Lasts 24 hours)] 'Drew the worst one.'
Skill cooldown reduction is first prize, holy power regen second.
Of course, third prize max holy power increase pops up.
'Did the Saintess ever hear God's voice?'
An old memory surfaced. The tale of the Saintess who didn't believe in God.
Did she hear it before her end fighting heretics?
Creator privileges could resolve it instantly.
But... meh? I wanted to focus on my game now.
"Um... what are you doing here?"
Someone whispered in my ear, startling me.
I calmed my inner surprise and turned.
"Suzuka?"
"Ah! You know me?"
It'd be weirder not to.
The sole woman in the big corp party. Top domestic VTuber.
'Couldn't get nun guidance during service.'
Glancing around, nuns were all praying too.
"Praying."
"Praying?"
"Yeah. Prayer gives buffs."
"Gasp. Really?"
Suzuka looked around once, then clasped hands and closed eyes.
"Whoa! It really gives a buff."
"Heard only Clerics get them."
Anyway, meeting Suzuka means this is streaming.
Whatever. I'm just a random Cleric user, not Director Aurora.
"Heard the Voice of God. Sounds profound..."
Nope. Just wrote it without thinking.
No need to read into it.
"Why'd you come to church, Suzuka?"
"Well... During beta, I just rushed main story. This time, taking it slow. Sightseeing, travel vibe."
Wasn't she supposed to play with the big corp party?
I looked at her with that doubt.
Suzuka continued explaining.
"Had a group planned, but guess breakup shock was too much."
"Breakup?"
What now?
Some backstory I don't know?
"Something about preventing tragedy or whatever. Totally bewitched by Raven."
Pout...
Suzuka puffed cheeks and pouted.
'Breaking promises.'
You promised to play with Suzuka!
Daehyeop Kim, Sweet, you call yourselves men?
"What a story..."
Must've been tough.
Especially for a Cleric, where party play is recommended.
Suzuka was in a bind.
"Got a next stop after church?"
"No, nothing set. Thinking unexplored spots mostly."
Hmm... Hunting grounds for two Clerics.
"Echo of Grudges. Been?"
"Echo of what... Oh, the graveyard hunting ground? Haven't gone yet!"
If south of capital has Darkness-Devouring Forest, north has a massive graveyard.
Once a duchy, abandoned due to famines and monster raids.
They built a graveyard to use the land, but it didn't last.
Hunger, thirst, pain, screams. Echoes of grudges drove people mad.
"But it's kinda scary..."
"We're Clerics."
Clerics handle undead best.
All other monsters, Clerics suck most.
"Who knows? Maybe treasure buried in grudge-filled land."
"Treasure...!"
Hooked on 'treasure'? Greed lit Suzuka's eyes.
"Let's go now!"
Naive? Or good at streaming?
Not sure exactly.
'Sorry.'
No treasure actually.
But easy hunting together is fine.
I followed the excited Suzuka out of church, confessing inwardly.