Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Toward Valkeros
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Pantheon.
The word carried two meanings in the dictionary.
1. The grand temple built in the capital to house all the gods of the world.
2. A collective term for the divinities enshrined in the aforementioned temple.
In most cases, it referred to the second.
And the message that had just appeared before Bran's eyes was no different.
The gods had noticed the existence of the entity known as "Bran" and recognized him as a promising talent who could be of use to them.
"The Friend of All Travelers' Companions, Rakuga, shows slight interest in you."
"The Festival Shrine Maiden Karivalier shows slight interest in you."
Sure enough, more messages popped up right away.
Both were benevolent gods, overseeing domains directly opposed to Igra's, which seemed to draw their particular attention.
'I'm pleased. Even if they are gods outside my usual interests.'
Interactions with the Pantheon were one of the main systems in Return Load.
It was a great showcase of the world's setting where gods truly existed.
A player's specific actions would attract the gods' interest, creating opportunities for communication.
Good deeds earned the favor of benevolent gods, while evil acts drew the patronage of wicked ones.
The best perk of getting close to a god? Blessings, hands down!
The diverse blessings matching each god's nature allowed for more varied playstyles.
'Clearing exclusive quests sometimes granted holy relics or manifested miracles.'
However, becoming a devout follower of a specific god required careful consideration.
The graces bestowed by gods were sweet, but they often demanded sacrifices or bizarre rules in return.
Take Igra, for instance.
Another message appeared.
"The Goddess of Morning, Raweina, shows slight interest in you."
"You have drawn the attention of a mid-tier god for the first time! Divine Power slightly increases."
"What."
Bran's eyes widened.
This was the big fish of the day.
The title explicitly including "Goddess" marked her as a cut above the previous two.
She must have been impressed by how he'd borrowed her power in battle.
He already owed her a great debt, Goddess.
The generation of the Divine Power stat was also a huge boon.
'The higher Divine Power, the better. Glad I unlocked it so soon.'
A decent amount of Divine Power was a massive help in gameplay.
It amplified blessing effects and boosted influence over divinities.
There were plenty of maps and quests requiring a minimum threshold.
No need to specialize like a holy knight or priest, but more was always better.
"Coming here was the right call."
Bran grinned.
Luck was seven parts, skill three—such sayings didn't exist for nothing.
His gamer knowledge played a big role, but without stumbling upon Leodorn by chance, he wouldn't be here.
Thank goodness the old man's voice carried.
Still, it was a slight disappointment that the god he wanted hadn't shown interest yet.
'Not enough for that one, I guess. Not your average deity.'
But the interest stacks were surely building steadily.
Especially for such a shy divinity.
One who didn't quite live up to her status as a greater goddess surpassing Raweina.
"Ugh... dizzy..."
"Kael."
That was when it happened.
Kael's voice came from behind.
He was sitting on the floor, clutching his forehead.
A brilliant glow, even more radiant now, shimmered over his platinum hair.
"You okay?"
"Yeah. Nothing hurts more than before."
"Tough little bastard. Pulling off a purification prayer without a scratch—figures you'd be fine."
He wasn't kidding.
The purification prayer Kael had just performed was dangerously risky, potentially fatal in the worst case.
It was forcing one divinity to expel another—essentially a war in ritual form.
If not for Kael's talent and the slim gap between Raweina and Igra, Bran wouldn't have asked.
Bran helped him up by the hand and asked,
"You felt your power grow stronger, right?"
"...Yeah. And I heard Lady Raweina's voice for the first time."
"What?"
Bran's eyes narrowed.
"What did she say to you?"
"She said she'd watch over me. It wasn't like she was doting or anything, but I could tell she was pleased."
"Hah, figures."
It was only natural.
A purification prayer was one of the greatest gifts one could offer a god.
Beings who drew power from faith—no god disliked expanding their influence.
"She didn't say why she was wary of you?"
"Yeah, I asked... but she ignored that."
What an inscrutable deity.
"At least she thanked me at the end. Very quietly."
"Raweina did? She's really going all out."
Bran let out a low whistle of admiration.
That haughty goddess expressing thanks?
Whatever her circumstances, it was clear she didn't truly despise Kael.
'Not all secrets are unraveled, but this is enough for now.'
He breathed a sigh of relief.
No worries about losing Morning's Blessing anytime soon.
Even if he did, he'd stick with the kid anyway.
The truth behind Kael and Raweina would come out during their journey.
"Anyway, good work. Thanks for sticking with me."
"No, it's nothing. If not for you, I wouldn't have heard Lady Raweina's voice... I'm just glad I could help you."
Kael looked up at Bran with a bright smile.
Bran chuckled dryly.
"...Heh."
Moonlight shattered beautifully on his eyelashes.
No exaggeration—it was a face straight out of a mural, angelic.
And to think it belonged to a boy. Infuriatingly stunning.
Turning his head, he spotted Leodorn still passed out.
"Ugh. Gah."
"Let's go, old timer. Sleeping here'll leave you lopsided."
Bran hoisted Leodorn onto his back.
The old man was surprisingly sturdy—must've done manual labor in his youth.
As they were about to exit the chapel, a translucent window appeared before him.
"You have purged the village of Melheim, devotees of the evil god Igra!"
Bran smiled.
At this rate, he might become a darkness slayer rivaling holy knights.
A fruitful day trip indeed.
He'd gained stats and divine interest; Kael had reclaimed an improved blessing and the goddess's trust.
Before leaving the chapel, Bran glanced back and murmured,
"Rest easy."
Of course, he meant the victims, not the cultists.
Peaceful silence enveloped the moonlit chapel.
No more screams would echo here. At least not anymore.
Thud. The chapel door closed.
Fortunately, the wagon was intact.
"Ooh, she's safe!"
"Hiiing."
Leodorn rushed barefoot toward the wagon and mule.
Evidently meant purely for human sacrifices, the cargo inside remained untouched.
Bran, Kael, and Leodorn grabbed what they needed and left the cult village behind.
"Feels like a dream."
Leodorn muttered, gazing at the now uninhabited village.
The rest of the journey proceeded smoothly.
Contrary to the bodyguard bluff, the Crow Bandits never showed.
With the Imperial Knights involved, it was expected.
Imagining Spera under "interrogation" in the capital's prison brought a chuckle.
"They really blew it. Serves 'em right."
They traveled the main road north for a full month.
The tropical mugginess faded, but summer heat persisted all the same.
One afternoon, as usual, leaning against the wagon's interior, Bran scowled while fanning himself furiously.
"Aren't you hot? At least take off the outer layer."
"Hek... I'm fine... hek, I can handle it..."
Kael shook his head.
Despite claiming he could handle it, he panted like a dog in the dog days.
Come to think of it, Bran had never seen him undress.
This heat could've triggered Tenacity of the Weed, yet the kid toughed it out.
"Fuck, I can't take it anymore. Even if I tan black, I need air."
"Yeah... go ahead..."
Unable to beat the heat, Bran leaped out of the wagon.
Kael waved limply and murmured softly,
"......Maybe I should've said it back then."
He was starting to regret not revealing his gender.
If he'd said he was a girl, he'd be in cooler clothes by now.
A month ago, during their talk in the cult village, he almost spilled it.
"No. This is fine."
But he shook his head soon after.
If Bran ditched him for being "a hassle as a girl" or got awkwardly distant, he couldn't bear it.
"Though Bran wouldn't..."
Kael preferred their current closeness.
Casual chatter, natural touches, carefree stripping...
"Heh heh."
Kael let out a creepy chuckle.
One reason he endured the heat.
Bran's beast-like, honed body never got old.
Broad shoulders, sweat tracing abs.
Continuing his irreverent thoughts, Kael closed his eyes and whispered,
"Sorry, Lady Raweina..."
He knew it.
Impious thoughts unfit for one of noble blood serving the exalted Goddess of Morning.
But how could he help where his eyes wandered!
Right in the middle of his fantasies,
"Kael! Get out here!"
"Eek?!"
Bran's voice boomed from the roof.
Kael clutched his pounding chest and asked back,
"W-what is it?"
"When I say come out, come out, you peanut-brain! Get up here!"
"Ugh... it's hotter outside..."
Grumbling, Kael obediently climbed out.
Standing on the wagon roof, a cloudless blue sky stretched out.
Whoosh! A gust flipped his platinum hair.
"...Huh."
Much better than inside.
The sun was hot, but the cool breeze made the difference.
The open plains let the sky feel endless.
Bran stood arms crossed, facing forward.
"Bran?"
"There. Ahead."
Bran pointed with his index finger.
The moment Kael followed it, his eyes went wide.
"Whoa...!"
A crimson wall like a sunset loomed on the horizon.
The empire's southern shield, the Red Mountains spanning south to central regions.
At the road's end stretching to the mountains, city lights flickered.
"We're finally here. That's Valkeros."
"That's...!"
Bran's finger shifted to the lights.
A long journey indeed.
Exactly two months, as he'd said before Black Stone Fortress.
Leodorn, smoking on the driver's seat, turned to them.
"Good work. At this pace, we'll arrive by morning."
"You've had it rough too, old timer. I owe you big time."
"Owe me? If not for you two, I'd have been sacrificed ages ago. Lost the wagon and my life. Don't feel the slightest guilt."
True enough.
Bran just smiled and nodded.
"By the way..."
"Yes?"
Leodorn trailed off suddenly.
Glancing around furtively, he whispered,
"How about a deal with me?"
"A deal?"
"Yeah. With your skills, it's a cinch. And you won't even have to detour from Valkeros."
Leodorn removed his pipe.
An unusual move for him.
What's with this old man?
"Foooo..."
Exhaling white smoke, Leodorn continued in a noir film drawl,
"I'll make you an offer you can't refuse."
"An offer you can't refuse...!"
A favorite movie line.
Heart racing.
Bran stared at him and flatly replied,
"No thanks."
"W-what?! *Cough, cough*!"
Leodorn choked violently.
Smoke billowing from nose and mouth in panic—like a botched magician.
Bran burst out laughing.
"Kidding. You assumed I couldn't refuse, so I got rebellious."
"Haaaa... that's what it was. Please, spare this old fool the jokes."
"What's the offer? You look sharper now, by the way."
A stark change from last night.
Gray hair slicked back with a part, beard neatly trimmed like a British gentleman.
Even in shabby clothes, he exuded unexpected class.
"We're entering Valkeros now. Gotta have some dignity."
"Nice. You look loaded."
"Thanks. Before the main point, I should explain my situation."
Pausing dramatically, Leodorn continued,
"I used to be an executive at a major trading company. Ever heard of Baek Eunsong Company?"
"What the fuck?"
Shock made the curse slip out naturally.
Of course he'd heard of it. Plenty of times.