Chapter 129: Inside Kendorra's City Altar
The buildings in Kendorra's city, once infested by invaders, had returned to their original state. And inside those buildings, useful materials overflowed—enough for just over seven hundred people to rebuild their civilization.
It was definitely a planet more advanced than Earth. Hybrid multi-purpose tractors. Smart irrigation systems. High-strength lightweight building materials. Portable soil analyzers, and so on. Items made with superior tech to Earth's littered the place, all still functioning perfectly even after thirty-five years.
'At this rate, no need to dispatch Omega.'
I decided to hold off on the designated dispatch ticket. Of course, if Kendorra's people needed my help first, I'd use it without hesitation. Since I'd taken them under my protection, I planned to support them generously—like an investment. That way, they'd rebuild civilization faster.
I also told them the shrine could wait until they had spare time. It wasn't urgent.
'They said they'd handle rebuilding themselves, so I'll watch and wait for now.'
With that thought, I observed Kendorra's people rebuilding for a while. Folks pulling various items from buildings. Iris following them, capturing it all on screen. The few kids playing hard with Black Magma Slime... wait, no, were the kids playing with BlmaSl or the other way around?
Anyway, as I watched Kendorra's restoration...
Ppururu's chat caught my eye at the edge of my vision.
"The one I demolished earlier? I didn't look closely, so no idea."
She probably meant the altar originally in the shrine. What did it look like again? I glanced and moved on, so memory's fuzzy.
"Iris. Remember where you tossed the demolished altar?"
> Memory recalled.
Iris gave a short, crisp reply, then zipped to the trash pile and focused on a broken chunk.
> This one.
"Hm... doesn't look similar at all?"
As the allies' chats scrolled by, a man cautiously approached Iris.
—"Lord... is there something wrong with that altar...?"
It was the guy who'd smashed it earlier. He seemed restless, worried he'd done something wrong.
"No, nothing major. Just checking it out since someone said it looks like the one I installed."
—"Ah... yeah, the overall shape is similar. Quite the coincidence."
"Do you know who made that altar?"
—"Sorry, no idea. It was there when we started worshiping our god."
Was the similarity a coincidence? Just in case, I kept probing. What was the name of the god in the shrine? How long had they worshiped it?
He answered:
—"This shrine was for our world's sole god. Named Geodani. Records say we've worshiped Geodani as our god for 10,000 years."
The man glanced at the broken altar and continued.
—"Records also say offering tributes there would bring Geodani's grace in times of peril or drought."
"Can you tell me exactly what grace?"
—"Hm... I recall it sent divine messengers to resolve followers' troubles. Defeating enemies or bringing rain in droughts... Of course, those records are basically fictional tales."
He gave a wry smile.
—"But there's also a record that at some point, no grace came despite tributes... I think that's fake too. There was never any real grace. If Geodani truly existed, it wouldn't ignore our planet's near-extinction. Ah, of course, my faith in Gauntlet is eternal. I've met you in person, received your grace, and even spoken with you."
"Ah, yeah..."
—"Are your questions answered?"
"One more. Did Geodani ever introduce itself as an explorer or Helper?"
—"No such record. No one ever spoke directly with Geodani. Records say they offered tributes via the altar or received will through messengers."
"What did those divine messengers look like?"
—"Oh, tons of records on that. There might be illustrations. Want to see?"
"Yes, please. Curious what they looked like."
—"Got it. I'll fetch from the shrine archive. Wait a moment."
He dashed into the shrine. A bit later, he trudged out with heavy steps, holding a book.
—"S-sorry. The archive's badly damaged... only one picture left..."
"No need to apologize. Show me that one."
He opened the book and held it to Iris.
—"Ah. The name's damaged too. I think it was Psycho Clown."
I'd thought the odds were near zero that Kendorra's god, Geodani, was another explorer like me—a Helper. But I'd checked just in case...
"Looks like... Geodani was probably a Helper explorer with Trinity allies."
Astonishing fact. Useless beyond the surprise, though.
—"Lord, should I check the archive more? Maybe I missed a picture..."
"Nah, you're good. Go back to work."
He scratched his head, bowed politely, and rejoined the others.
Anyway, I'd accidentally inherited a world some ancient explorer had to abandon.
'What a world.'
Gazing at Kendorra's landscape, I felt a new weight of responsibility on my shoulders. If I died like Geodani, Kendorra would be abandoned again.
'...Just don't die.'
My shoulders were already loaded. If I kicked the bucket, all my tamed monsters would be left alone.
So, I'd be extra cautious from now on.
Labyrinth Day 67.
Waking up, I spotted an unfamiliar object nearby. A pure white egg etched with black stripes.
Rubbing my eyes with the back of my hand, I stared blankly—then summoned all monsters in the shelter.
"Kids. Gather round for a sec."
"Yang yang!"
> Yes, Father.
> What is it, yot?
> Kyua!
I eyed each one. Then spotted who was missing.
"...Ah. No Centaurides."
The egg's owner seemed to be Centaurides, out of nowhere.