Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Festival of Receiving Flesh (Complete)
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After taking down the lich, I immediately forfeited.
It wasn't just the exhaustion from an intense battle after so long. From here on, it was a matter of efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
The next rounds would pit the survivors against each other in a tournament format, just like the original Katabasis.
Against humans who'd climbed up after facing monsters like that, there was no guarantee of victory—and if I lost, it'd all be for nothing, with no change in the prize money.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ I should have stopped you from getting involved with that mad god long ago. Above all, the biggest reason was that the Goddess had seen me covered in blood, and her mental state had taken a severe hit.
"…"
Asad wasn't all that interested in the Katabasis to begin with—he'd only joined to settle a debt of gratitude—so he quietly nodded in agreement.
"I see."
The Goddess of War and Victory, hearing my intent to forfeit, smiled and spoke.
"It seems you've already done the math in that short time."
"I'm overly cautious and lacking in skill, so I'm hardly fit to compete with famed heroes."
"Are you still dwelling on when I called you a petty fool?"
The Goddess chuckled softly, then put on a stern expression.
"Knowing your place in battle is a skill in itself. Hubris invites defeat."
But soon her eyes curved gently as she smiled warmly.
"Splendid. I look forward to your future exploits, Arjen."
The Goddess waved her hand, signaling our dismissal.
On the way out of the temple, a priest handed me a pouch.
The clear clink of coins told me it was probably the prize for advancing to the finals.
"This year's Katabasis was especially thrilling, huh?"
"Who do you think will claim the laurel crown?"
As I crossed from the eastern district toward the central avenue, many people were buzzing about the Katabasis.
This one had been particularly unique, after all.
Surprisingly few people in this city had actual dungeon experience.
Like the old saying from my past life: "During the Gold Rush, don't mine for gold—sell jeans." Here, far more people lived off the ecosystem created by Crawlers than Crawlers themselves.
Meaning, more folks had only seen monsters in processed materials than you'd think.
For them to witness living monsters—Floor Lords from mere tales—with their own eyes? No wonder it was exciting.
"Send me to swordsmanship school! When I grow up, I'll be a Crawler!"
"Jensen! Are you insane!? You blew our family's month of living expenses on that ridiculous sword!? Return it right now!"
The ripple effects would probably dominate the city for a while.
No telling how long, but dungeon interest would spread like a fad for the time being.
That was likely the Goddess of War and Victory's intent.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ That mad god surely has her reasons, but whatever her intent, this is just inciting fools and the lowly to rush to their deaths. I can't see it as anything good. The Goddess sharply criticized the Goddess of War and Victory's intentions.
"Intentions, huh…"
This Katabasis must have been a huge undertaking even for the church of the Goddess of War and Victory.
The offerings to keep her on the mortal plane wouldn't have been cheap, and every orb consumed was prime material for artifact-grade items.
Even for a wealthy church, would they really foot this bill just to remind people what dungeons are like?
I paused to ponder, but dismissed it as unproductive.
Even if that church was plotting something, there was little I could do about it.
"Let's grab some food and head back."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A week later, the last of the gods who had descended for the Festival of Receiving Flesh announced their return to the heavens.
With the Goddess of War and Victory's ascent, the festival was effectively over for the year.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ That mad god will have to pay the due price upon her return to the heavens. Because of that, the Goddess had been grinding her teeth for days.
It felt like ages ago, but her anger hadn't subsided yet.
"Hm."
Setting that aside, I was tallying up the household ledger for the festival.
Food expenses from indulging in feasts.
Money extorted by Wolfram.
Cost of a spare priestess robe, since the old one was beyond repair.
Armor repair fees.
Holy relic cartridges expended in battle.
And sundry other costs.
There were pluses like prizes from eating contests, but overall, it tallied up to about the same as a single dungeon run.
Actually, since I always minimized consumables on dungeon trips, this level of spending was rare lately.
"Still, the finals advancement prize isn't too shabby, so that's a relief."
The prize for duo-slot finalists who defeated monsters in this Katabasis was 30 gold.
Asad, who was entitled to a tenth, waived his share, saying he'd contributed little against the lich.
So all 30 gold was mine.
I rubbed the three gleaming gold towers with my index finger, lost in thought.
'The duo-slot winners get 200 gold... maybe I should've gone all the way?'
But I shook my head after a moment's consideration.
Word was, excluding our forfeited team, six teams made the finals.
The winners had "Sword Princess" on their side, they said.
Even if I'd pushed on, against pure PvP, my odds would've been slim.
I finished the ledger with my quill, swept the coins back into the pouch, and grabbed a paper tube of mana grass and a bottle of liquor before heading to the window.
The room I rented in this slum was on a high floor in a decent building, so opening the window offered a clear view.
Leaning against the frame and gazing out, the dim slums contrasted with the central district, still ablaze with lights to mark the festival's final night.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Arjen. Lost in the central lights, smoking mana grass, the Goddess rarely called my name.
"Yes."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ …… She'd started the conversation but fell silent for a while.
Sensing her hesitation in my mind, I didn't press—just watched the central district, waiting for her to speak.
After a long silence.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Do you go through things like that every time in the dungeon? The subject was omitted, but I knew exactly what she meant.
The fight with the lich in the Katabasis.
My corpse-explosion aftermath must have shocked her deeply.
'Didn't expect her to still be hung up on it.'
Honestly, a bit surprising.
I knew what the Goddess originally was.
Now fallen, unaffiliated with even the eastern pantheon, with just a prayer room in the slums—but not one to flinch at a bit of gore.
Still, I could guess why she was acting this way.
If her feelings toward me mirrored mine toward her...
"As if. If that happened every time, I'd need ten lives to keep up."
I shrugged with exaggerated goofiness, out of character.
"If it were really like that, given my personality, I'd probably be working at a clinic instead of dungeons—lower profits, but safer."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ...You could still do that now. Her voice carried a hint of fear.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Your goddess... your goddess's gaze hasn't reached those horrific depths before; I've only imagined. And yet, you've always returned safely from your journeys... She trailed off.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ...But watching you down there, right before my eyes—what horrors you endure... it makes me think your survival until now was mere luck. And how long can that luck hold...? I stubbed out the nearly spent mana grass in the ashtray and lit a fresh one.
Inhaling deeply, my head cleared a bit, and I smiled.
"Maybe back then, but it's tougher now."
Why?
"I've got debt. About 300 gold."
I pictured the silver-haired receptionist at the Crawler Guild, always smiling.
"Clinic pay wouldn't even cover the monthly interest."
That pitiless woman might actually sell me off.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ...Just sell that staff. "Haven't even used it much. And getting fair value? Doubtful."
I could pay the debt, but the loss would leave me hollow, barely holding onto sanity.
"Besides, I'm still young. Gotta grind hard when you're young and opportunity knocks—that's how you coast in old age."
I sensed the Goddess hesitating beyond.
"Do you remember when we first met, Goddess?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ...Of course. How could I forget? "Me too."
I gazed out the window at the central district.
No, farther beyond.
"The girl who botched stealing a loaf of bread and nearly got beaten to death now carries a pouch full of gold coins and gripes that it's not enough. And the goddess holed up in an empty temple now receives 20-silver incense offerings... and still isn't satisfied."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ……Blasphemy. I chuckled softly at her gruff tone.
"It wasn't without risks, but I'm content. Thanks to it, we live pretty comfortably together. And,"
And in my mind, I pictured one goddess.
The one adored by all, basking in cheers at the plaza's heart.
"It might be a stretch, but at least in some future Festival of Receiving Flesh, shouldn't you descend too?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ That's... "Not surrounded by throngs of worshippers adoring you, but strolling a short festival with this unworthy daughter? Who knows."
After a pause, the Goddess spoke in a trembling voice.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ...The height of luxury. "For that future, please don't fear too much. As you saw in the Katabasis, your goddess's sole daughter is capable... and far tougher than you think."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ ...Yes. Her response ended, and silence followed briefly.
"Ah."
The central district's night sky lit up brilliantly.
Likely the final goddess, lingering till the end, ascending to the heavens.
As the light faded, fireworks painted the sky.
Just like when the festival began.
Leaning at the window, I stared blankly at it for a long while.