48
048 ― Why Is That Place Up There So Noisy
Recently, a strange rumor has been circulating in Pandemonium.
Contribution ranking 3rd place. April, famous for her unusually massive muscles and extraordinary strength, is unbefitting of an Elf.
The rumor was that she, who was said to be rising to the 5th floor soon, was respectfully following a human.
"An Elf and a human? Did she hit her head somewhere?"
"For an Elf who absolutely never associates with other races to be with a human... And not even as equal companions but in a disciple relationship, how strange."
The ferocity of Elves is famous not only among Earth's Hunters but also among Dwarves and Beastmen.
If they're not fellow Elves, they would never travel together. Far from traveling together, Elves have the habit of being eager to kill rather than cooperate.
Therefore, it was incredibly fascinating that an Elf was traveling with a human, especially when that Elf was such a famous figure as Pandemonium's 3rd place.
"Why is she doing that?"
"That human apparently raised his contribution by several million in a short period?"
"How short is short-term?"
"Over 2 million in less than a week... Even now, it's said to be rising every day. And that's from Moonlit Forest."
"2 million in a week!?"
Everyone who heard the news was shocked.
Depending on the god, there are gods who generously give contribution points. Like the God of Sky or the God of War.
They were famous for giving substantial amounts of contribution points each time a trial was cleared, so many people flocked to them.
But the God of Moonlit Forest is not like that.
Not only does he not give much, but he doesn't even give contribution points to anyone other than Elves.
To have raised 2 million in a week at such a finicky god's temple was unbelievable even when heard.
"That's incomparably faster than Lin Shenlin. How long has that man been in Pandemonium?"
"Don't know. Seems like it's been over 3 years."
"Lin Shenlin also caused quite a stir initially, but not to this extent. Besides, he's also collecting at the Temple of Sky."
Lin Shenlin's overwhelming figure of 120 million was partly due to his strength, but the advantage of the Temple of Sky was also significant. The God of Sky is especially famous for generously scattering contribution points.
But this newcomer from Moonlit Forest's pace was faster than even Lin Shenlin's initial pace. And by far.
"Is that human called Kang Jin-woo also at 5th floor level like Lin Shenlin?"
"Probably so. No one has seen him taking trials, so there's no testimony."
"No one has ever seen him? Then how does he raise contribution points?"
"Don't know. They say he's holed up in the temple all day, but when does he actually do trials? Maybe he's skilled at stealth and sneaks around."
Hunters, Elves, Dwarves, Beastmen, and others in Pandemonium were all abuzz with talk about Jin-woo.
Even Orcs, who have very low intelligence and are only aggressive, were to some extent conscious of Jin-woo.
***
A few days passed.
Jin-woo was sharing simple tea and refreshments with April in an oriental-style pavilion structure.
"Drink."
"Thank you, Master."
"Stop calling me master."
April respectfully received the tea Jin-woo poured and drank it.
Compared to her pot-lid-sized hands, the cup was very small, making it look like she was holding a tiny coffee cup.
"The taste is unique. I've never tasted anything like this in our world."
"Since it's tea that Shartia specially selected, I guess it suits even Elven tastes."
"Who is Shartia? Is she another of Master's disciples?"
"I don't raise disciples or anything like that. Shartia is a human I know, um... An Elf I know."
She was a human who was the reincarnation of an Elf, but it was troublesome to explain, so he just called her an Elf.
"I see, Master."
Even after giving such hints and openly saying he doesn't accept disciples, she continued to call him master. Her stubbornness was like a log that had no intention of falling over.
"I understand your situation. You want to improve your skills more to rise to the 5th floor."
"Yes. I'm accumulating contribution points for that purpose."
"What does skill improvement have to do with contribution points? Do you mean you train by taking trials?"
"There's that meaning too, but the purpose is to accumulate contribution points to receive more powerful blessings."
Blessings?
"I don't know if Master has received them before, but when you receive blessings, your power overflows beyond your original self. Vitality, mental strength, Magi, senses. There may be detailed differences depending on the god's preferences, but there would be no disagreement that you become stronger."
"It's temporary, though."
"Even if temporarily, I can exert the strength of a 5th floor knight level. I want to analyze and contemplate such a version of myself to gain clues for enlightenment."
I understood the theory. Even if temporary, you become stronger when receiving blessings.
It seemed like the idea was to explore that stronger state of yourself to devise ways to truly improve your skills.
I didn't know if it was actually possible, but just hearing it sounded plausible. It might be quite a good method.
'What was it like after fighting with Johan.'
At that time, I borrowed the blessing of the God of Ice Valley and the blue sword to face Johan. Did I gain enlightenment through that blessing?
Honestly, I wasn't sure. The influence of absorbing the dragon's soul was very significant at that time. Plus, with the magic sword's Magi absorption added on top, the growth was too explosive.
Gauging how much the god's blessing helped in that growth would be difficult now.
'Come to think of it, there was also a Temple of the God of Ice Valley in Pandemonium.'
Maybe I'll drop by there later when I have time.
Since I'm raising contribution points for Moonlit Forest, I'm not interested in contribution points there, but I'm curious about what the temple looks like.
"I understand the situation, but it has nothing to do with me. Why should I provide precious information to you for free?"
"..."
April closed her mouth.
The method of accumulating contribution points in this 3rd floor was very precious information. Everyone knew that you could do it by clearing trials, but what trials to solve and how to solve them for more contribution points - everyone kept such things secret.
Secret doesn't mean no one knows, but rather that it's traded expensively, and April couldn't offer anything to Jin-woo.
"Then, how about this..."
She took out a few leaves from the subspace pouch in her bosom and showed them.
They were brown leaves that fit in her palm with some kind of seal stamped on their surface.
"What is this?"
"It's currency stamped with the seal of the Delphinia Kingdom. Simply put, money."
"I only accept dollars or won."
"Wh-what is a dollar?"
"Currency stamped with the seal of the New York Mint."
Speaking of which, I remembered. New York's status had fallen significantly recently, so the dollar was also precarious.
Currency is ultimately about trust being most important, and they had experienced the disaster called Ireland and lost three S-ranks in a short period. It was understandable that the city's credibility would fall.
"Hmm."
April crossed her thick arms and pondered. If money wouldn't work, she didn't know what to offer. She had a few tools with magic engraved on them - should she try offering those?
Jin-woo shook his head and stood up from his seat. He hadn't planned to tell her anything, regardless of what she offered.
"I'll be going now."
"Ah, wait a moment. Where are you going?"
"To the temple. I'm thinking of trying some trials soon."
Now, even giving toys was gradually losing its effect. It wasn't that the God of Moonlit Forest got tired of toys.
Rather, he was too absorbed, which was the problem.
'He got too absorbed in one series.'
Jin-woo had brought various toys and picture books, but he hadn't filled everything with the same series.
So he had planned to guide the god to have interest in various things as much as possible, but somehow he ended up having excessive interest in only one series.
Now he barely gave contribution points unless it was from that series.
The problem was that all the toys from that series were exhausted, so there was nothing more to give.
'Well, if I leave it alone for a bit, he'll get tired of it quickly. Then I'll have to gently coax him with other works.'
Until then, some time was needed. In the meantime, Jin-woo planned to receive blessings and take trials.
• Kang Jin-woo ― God of Moonlit Forest's contribution points 5,143,145
'I've accumulated quite a lot of contribution points too.'
Jin-woo's contribution points had already surpassed 5 million. It was an unbelievable figure for just under two weeks of results.
With this much, the blessings he could receive would be considerable.
'The stronger the blessing, the more strongly that god's individuality will be revealed.'
Then he might be able to find out if the God of Moonlit Forest is a World Tree.
If he found out, what would he do about it? He didn't particularly have anything to do...
Still, it's better to know more information. Rather than not knowing and getting stabbed in the back later.
"I-I'll follow you too, Master!"
"Following is your choice, but that doesn't mean I'll tell you anything."
"I clearly understand Master's intention. You're saying I should show my sincerity first, right?"
No matter how he explained, the words didn't get through. Jin-woo shrugged and headed toward the Temple of Moonlit Forest.
***
[The God of Moonlit Forest blesses you. A blessing worthy of the contribution you have accumulated.]
He received a blessing at the temple. Light appeared on a small tree behind the altar, and that power flowed into Jin-woo.
'At least it's not the power of Erosion.'
Examining the energy that flowed in, it wasn't from Erosion.
Still, he couldn't be certain with just this. The blessing given by the God of Ice Valley was also pure energy, unrelated to Erosion.
'Still, the power is considerable.'
The blessing from 5 million contribution points was quite powerful.
It was incomparably stronger than what he had received from the God of Ice Valley in the past. Even adding the blue sword from that time, the current blessing from Moonlit Forest overflowed with more power.
If 5 million was this much, how much enhancement were April with 48 million or Lin Shenlin with 120 million receiving?
At that moment, beside him, April was closing her eyes in front of the altar.
She wasn't particularly clasping her hands in prayer, but the trial seemed to be coming down properly. Light was leaking from the small tree and dwelling in April's body.
"Support your companion and show the light of trust. It seems the trial that came to me is to help Master."
"There are trials like that, too?"
"It's common for those who act in groups. Since I've always acted alone, this is my first time receiving one."
The small tree sparkled slightly, vouching for April's words.
The 3rd floor often had people entering in party units or guild members using Feathers of Fate, so that's probably why.
'Then my trial is.'
Since I received the blessing, now for the trial.
When Jin-woo closed his eyes.
[The God of Moonlit Forest expects from you.]
A quiet voice was heard.
[Please obtain golden apples from Brielda's Garden.]
Somewhere, it was a very soft voice.
Should I say the voice lacked color? Or should I say it felt like thin fog?
I never expected to be able to hear a voice. This would be the second time after the God of Ice Valley.
"Brielda's Garden? What am I supposed to do there?"
"I don't know what the garden is, but I know of Brielda's ruins. It's ruins located at the top of the Keldra mountain range to the northwest."
The map of Pandemonium was all printed out after viewing it on Hunter Net Blind.
Keldra Mountain was quite far from the city, a place that would take about 3-4 days at the typical B-rank Hunter's speed.
If it's the summit, time to climb the mountain would also be needed, so at least 5-6 days would be necessary.
[The God of Moonlit Forest expects. Return before ten days and ten nights pass.]
'Huh?'
Then a new message appeared. There was no voice, but the will was conveyed.
"Return within ten days?"
"A restriction was imposed? That's good. Trials with restrictions can earn many more contribution points."
"That's good, but I wonder if it's possible within ten days."
No matter how many more contribution points you can get, that's only when you've cleared it first.
Climbing to the top of Keldra Mountain, searching through the ruins to obtain something called golden apples, and then returning to the city again. Ten days seemed like quite a tight trial.
"Don't worry. Among the compatriots I know, there's a guy who tames and rides wyverns. If we just pay a price, we can reach the top of Keldra Mountain in a day or two."
"Oh really?"
"I've also received a lot of help when taking trials in distant places. Let's go find him right away."
It seemed there was an Elf doing something like a taxi business for compatriots taking trials.
Any race has those skilled in business, I guess.
Leaving the temple with April, Jin-woo fell into deep thought.
'Ten days... Does that mean sleep only ten nights and return?'
If it were another god, I would have just thought they were giving a more difficult trial, but since it's the God of Moonlit Forest doing this, it somehow seemed like that.
As if saying don't go out too long, just sleep ten nights and come back.
The two left the temple and went to meet the Elf who was said to have tamed wyverns.
―Kwaang!
―Kwagwagwagwang!
On the way, Jin-woo looked up at the sound echoing from the sky.
Far away, toward the sky island where the Temple of Sky was located, he could see sword energy shooting in all directions and fire streams confronting each other.
"Why is that place up there so noisy?"
"Who knows. Lin Shenlin must be throwing another tantrum on the island. That guy chases away anyone he doesn't approve of, not letting them land on the island, let alone enter the temple."
"There's not a single god or believer who isn't a nuisance."
The God of Sky, no, the Lord of Oppression and Ceiling. Perhaps because he's the very one eroding Earth, he's detestable from one to ten.
Even Lin Shenlin's actions of serving that guy seemed unnecessarily irritating.
'I don't know who it is, but it has nothing to do with me.'
He didn't know who was fighting with Lin Shenlin, but it had nothing to do with him. He left with April to find the wyvern knight.