Chapter 22
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Gardener of the Mother Goddess (4)
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[As a final reward, the Gardener of the Mother Goddess presents a ?-grade item.]
My surprise at the unfamiliar grade was fleeting.
The ground before me trembled, and a single sword rose from it.
[The Gardener of the Mother Goddess urges you.]
At the Divine Seat's urging, I slowly drew the sword.
It resembled a Western longsword.
A small snake was embossed on the cross-guard, and the pommel had a groove large enough to hold a single orb.
A faint white light shimmered along the sharply honed blade.
“A sword.”
I had been thinking of getting a weapon soon.
That thought had solidified, especially after clearing the Garden of the Abyss.
To be precise, it was while I was grappling with the Lizardmen in the lake.
“Not bad.”
I muttered, holding the sword up to the light.
A scolding came right back at me.
[The Gardener of the Mother Goddess stomps its feet in anger!]
It seemed my assessment of the reward was perceived as rather harsh.
But I wasn't exactly jumping for joy, either.
Considering all the trouble I'd gone through, it felt a bit lackluster for a final reward...
[The Gardener of the Mother Goddess transmits the item information for 「Emperor's Remnants」.]
Simultaneously, information about the sword unfolded before me.
[Emperor's Remnants - ?-Grade]
[The emperor's footsteps have left traces that have endured for millennia. All traces in the current era are superimposed upon those footsteps. Thus, this sword can mimic any and all traces.]
[You can use Remnant Copy.]
“So why is the grade a question mark?”
There are items of all grades in the world, from E-grade to S-grade, but.
I had never once heard of a question mark-grade item being discovered.
“Aha, could it be because of this skill's effect?”
[Remnant Copy - A skill modified based on the user's abilities. By inserting a summon orb into the pommel's groove, you can select and copy the corresponding monster's highest stat and one of its skills. ※ The corresponding monster cannot be summoned while Remnant Copy is active.]
A question mark meant the item's objective metrics couldn't be measured.
If the description was accurate, then it made sense why this item's grade was displayed as a question mark.
It all depended on which monster's orb was inserted into the pommel's groove.
The effects would vary wildly depending on the skill and stat copied.
“I'll make good use of it, Divine Seat.”
It was an item with limitless potential, comparable to an S-grade in some ways.
[The Gardener of the Mother Goddess shrugs.]
The Divine Seat finally seemed satisfied.
I put the sword into the dimensional pouch at my waist.
Then, I smiled brightly and looked up at the Beholder.
“Now, let's have the next one.”
[The Gardener of the Mother Goddess flinches.]
“We're just getting started. What's the matter, Divine Seat?”
The Emperor's Remnants was just the reward for clearing the dungeon.
The deal I'd personally negotiated with the Gardener of the Mother Goddess hadn't even begun.
“You're not planning on pulling a fast one, are you? Not a being of your stature, a Divine Seat.”
I pointedly brought up the status window in front of the Divine Seat.
[Keep the Beholder Sage alive until the waves end.]
[Reward - Ownership of the Beholder Sage]
“Ah, you're free to go back on your word, of course.”
I'll just have to catch it and send it to the Lord's side in one shot.
[The Gardener of the Mother Goddess's shoulders slump.]
The dejected voice of the Divine Seat, now left with no choice, echoed in my head.
Vwoooom!
A brilliant light erupted from the floating Beholder Sage's purple body.
And soon, I was able to confirm some satisfying information.
[The Gardener of the Mother Goddess has transferred ownership of the Beholder Sage.]
I confirmed that 'Beholder Sage' had been added to the summon list in my status window.
[Ownership has been linked with 「Monsters Are Blocked by Monsters」. The Beholder Sage can now acquire information related to the Lord's Castle.]
Only after another information window I couldn't quite understand popped up did I give a thumbs-up.
“Thank you. I'll raise this one well.”
[The Gardener of the Mother Goddess lets out a faint sigh.]
“Well then, it's time for the final reward.”
[The Gardener of the Mother Goddess nods.]
The payment for broadcasting my every move during the defense.
This time, the Divine Seat didn't express any particular dissatisfaction.
Thanks to that, it had not only managed its garden,
but also developed a passion for defending it.
[The Gardener of the Mother Goddess presses you to speak.]
I had no intention of dragging it out either.
“Divine Seat.”
I continued in a low voice, looking at the Beholder.
“Share your authority with me.”
Not much is known about the beings called Divine Seats.
They approach by borrowing the names of divine objects that appear in ancient myths or numerous oral traditions.
They call those they choose 'Incarnations' and spare no effort in supporting them.
Of course, there are also Divine Seats like the 'Great Warlord of the Heavens' contracted with Yoon Sua, who raise their Incarnations in a spartan manner without support.
However, most of them provide their Incarnations with overwhelming stats or skills, watching their backs.
In other words, a Divine Seat's authority was tantamount to the best support possible in the world today.
[The Gardener of the Mother Goddess strokes its chin.]
And I was certain.
The Gardener of the Mother Goddess was by no means a low-class, riffraff Divine Seat.
“I know you are a noble Divine Seat, Your Majesty.”
There is only one figure in ancient mythology who was both a gardener and an emperor.
The one who, in the 24th century BC, established the first empire to rule the entire Arabian Peninsula.
The human beloved by the Mother Goddess, Ishtar.
Sargon, the First Emperor.
A being that borrowed the myth of humanity's first emperor.
How could its class possibly be low?
[The Gardener of the Mother Goddess proposes a contract.]
However.
The voice that echoed in my head was different from what I had expected.
“No, a contract isn't quite what I had in mind.”
[The Gardener of the Mother Goddess displays a question mark.]
I asked for its authority, I didn't propose a contract.
What is a contract?
It refers to a promise for a transaction between two parties, not something one side gives unilaterally.
A contract with a Divine Seat is no different.
Just as the Divine Seat bestows stats and skills upon a mortal,
the mortal must also offer the price the Divine Seat desires.
“I want a reward for teaching you about defense, Divine Seat.”
But I want to receive it one-sidedly.
[The Gardener of the Mother Goddess falls into deep thought.]
The Divine Seat was lost in deep thought.
After a few minutes, the Divine Seat finally reached a conclusion.
[The Gardener of the Mother Goddess nods. It proposes a formal contract, with a unilateral grant of authority as the condition.]
It decided to bestow a part of its authority upon me.
At the same time, a warm light began to seep into my body.
It felt like a gentle spring breeze wrapping around me.
However.
[!]
Suddenly, the light vanished, and a voice echoed in my head.
[The Gardener of the Mother Goddess is flustered.]
I grasped the situation at once.
“It seems there's a problem with the contract.”
[The Gardener of the Mother Goddess nods.]
A problem.
There's only one thing that could interfere with a Divine Seat intervening with an Incarnation.
The Incarnation is already contracted to another Divine Seat.
“I don't have a contract with any Divine Seat. No Divine Seat has ever even approached me.”
I checked my status window just in case, but my contracted Divine Seat was still listed as 'None'.
There was no way I had one in the first place.
Before linking with MonMonMak, I was an E-grade, literally a trash-tier Awakened Being.
Never mind a Divine Seat; even shoddy guilds wouldn't take me.
[The Gardener of the Mother Goddess uses its restraining power to convey its thoughts in complete sentences.]
And suddenly, a deep, solemn voice resounded in my head.
[It says there is already a Divine Seat scheduled to contract with you.]
“A Divine Seat scheduled to contract with me?”
I asked with a look of disbelief.
A contract is a contract. I'd never heard of a 'scheduled contract' before.
[It mutters that it would like to use its restraining power to sever the connection, but it's impossible because the other contract's class is too high.]
There are classes among Divine Seats as well.
As I said before, Sargon is by no means a common street-rabble Divine Seat.
A class so high that even a Divine Seat like that wouldn't dare touch it.
The Gardener of the Mother Goddess seemed thoroughly enraged by that fact.
“So it's impossible for you to grant me your authority, then.”
[The Gardener of the Mother Goddess tells you to wait a moment.]
With those words, the Divine Seat fell silent.
And exactly ten minutes later, it returned, its voice full of joy.
[The Gardener of the Mother Goddess says it has found a way and begins a detailed explanation.]
I listened silently to the Divine Seat's explanation.
The gist of it was this.
I was currently in a state of being neither contracted nor un-contracted with a Divine Seat.
To use an analogy, it was like being a freelancer who was only affiliated with a company by name.
The idea was that we could use this situation to proceed with a provisional contract, as if outsourcing a project.
“And through that, I can receive your authority.”
[The Gardener of the Mother Goddess nods.]
It could use this token contract as a pretext to gain the right to grant me its authority.
There was no better option.
“Understood. Let's do that.”
[The Gardener of the Mother Goddess is delighted!]
[The Divine Seat, 「Gardener of the Mother Goddess」, proposes a temporary contract with you.]
“Fine.”
It was just a contract in name only, but.
[From now on, the Gardener of the Mother Goddess will sponsor you.]
[This is a temporary contract. The authority's values will be scaled down.]
[Through the Gardener's Blessing, you have acquired Poison Resistance Lv.5!]
[Through the Akkadian Emperor's Blessing, you have acquired Fear Resistance Lv.5!]
[All stats increase by +10!]
As the status window appeared, a new energy surged through my body.
I had only obtained a minuscule fraction of its authority.
And yet, I'd gained two resistance passives and an increase to all my stats.
The quality was on a different level from rewards you could get from items or clearing dungeons.
“I look forward to working with you, Your Majesty.”
* * *
After finishing my conversation with the Divine Seat.
Odolph approached me as I was preparing to leave the dungeon.
“My Lord, please take this.”
I stared at what Odolph held out, narrowing my eyes.
“Hmm? I thought you couldn't harvest mana stones in this field.”
“Indeed. We could not harvest a mana stone from the beast's corpse. However, we were able to obtain this instead.”
I examined the item more closely.
A small stone resting on a palm as wide as the Pacific.
At a glance, I couldn't tell what it was.
It had similarities to a mana stone, but its appearance was clearly different.
It was closer to a ruby-type gemstone...
“Huh?”
The moment I opened my mouth as a thought struck me.
“Yes. It is likely one of the things humans covet most.”
Odolph nodded with a benevolent smile.
He handed me the gem, then bowed deeply.
“Will it be of help?”
If this is what I think it is, it's a massive jackpot.
“Of course, Odolph. Well done.”
“I am relieved. Then, this humble servant shall take his leave.”
Odolph disappeared, and a brown orb returned to my hand.
I turned my head, clutching the gem.
“You guys worked hard, too.”
“Kiit.”
“Kiruk.”
Jen Karuk, who had suddenly expended a crazy amount of mana, and Gono, who had become a goblin bullet, looked incredibly haggard.
I patted each of their heads and said.
“You really went through a lot. Go back and rest.”
Poof!
The summons soon vanished, and green and purple orbs appeared in my hand.
Come to think of it, I even patted their heads and praised them, but their favorability didn't go up.
With a slightly disappointed expression, I gazed at the last remaining summon.
“You... you don't belong to the Lord's Castle, so you won't be returning. Does that mean you'll be sticking by my side?”
The Beholder Sage bobbed its body up and down.
Hmm, I guess so.
This one is more like a tamed creature, so that makes sense.
In fact, tamer-class Hunters often keep their monsters by their side.
But having a giant eye following me around is a bit...
If I kill it once and send it to the Lord's side...
[The Gardener of the Mother Goddess eyes you with suspicion.]
“Alright, Divine Seat. I won't kill it, so don't you worry.”
[The Gardener of the Mother Goddess lets out a sigh of relief.]
For a Divine Seat who's supposed to be the First Emperor, it's surprisingly soft-hearted.
Vwooo.
Suddenly, a blue rift, large enough for one person to enter, opened before me.
It was time to leave the garden I'd grown fond of.
“Well then, I'll be on my way, Divine Seat.”
[The Gardener of the Mother Goddess waves its hand.]
The Gardener of the Mother Goddess and I are in a temporary contractual relationship.
Unlike other Divine Seats with formal contracts, it can't monitor my every move.
So, for now, it's a temporary farewell until we need each other again.
I stepped into the rift.
[Congratulations. You have perfectly cleared the Garden of the Abyss.]
My vision spun, and light began to pour in from beyond the pitch-black darkness.
‘It's just one thing after another.’
I gained countless things on this expedition.
But just as many questions arose.
Especially the true nature of the Divine Seat I'm temporarily contracted to.
As I floated, lost in such thoughts.
“Huh?”
[A condition for the skill 「Conversation with the Lord」 has been met. * Converse with a Divine Seat 1/1]
A completely unexpected status window appeared in my vision.
[Only one condition remains to unlock 「Conversation with the Lord」!]
[Information on the final condition is unlocked. * Craft an S-grade or higher item from monster byproducts 0/1]
This was an unforeseen gain.
Conversation with the Lord.
The day I could speak with the knight stuck in the Audience Chamber was not far off.
The final task was tough, but I could already see a clue.
“We have a bio-signature! Approaching rapidly!”
Just then.
“Hmm?”
“All units, prepare for battle! We don't know what's going to happen!”
“Prepare for a dungeon break! The rift opened before the pattern even changed!”
Suddenly, urgent voices echoed from beyond the bright light.
And right after I stepped out of the rift.
I couldn't help but furrow my brow in thought.
“What is this?”
Why am I seeing so many Hunters the moment I exit the dungeon?
Was I transferred to another dungeon where a frantic raid is taking place?
“Everyone, get, ready...”
The man at the front of the Hunters, who had been shouting with veins popping in his neck, turned his eyes to stare at me.
And his jaw dropped.
I slowly looked around and tilted my head.
No.
This is Sillim Station, isn't it?
“It's Hunter Kim Hanul. Hunter Kim Hanul made it back alive!”
The brief silence was broken by someone shouting my name.
“For real? That's Hunter Kim Hanul?”
“What, don't tell me he cleared the depths of the Garden of the Abyss all by himself?!”
A commotion swept through the Hunters like a wave.
“Damn it, I knew you could do it!”
Amidst the chaos, Yoon Suhyeok shouted, clenching his fists, while Yoon Sua wore a look of relief.
“L-look at that!”
“The Garden of the Abyss is disappearing...!”
Finally, after watching the floating garden in the sky emit a brilliant light and vanish,
I resignedly accepted it.
The fact that, at this moment, a quiet trip home was out of the question.