Chapter 36

I was fully intending to return to the city of the dead.

Strange...

"Ho, so you call that white?"

This is our second encounter, with the god of freedom and adventure, the wind god Val. It is said that this god often appears in the form of a woman, though it can also appear as a man, with gender and age depending on its mood. It seems that the gods here are generally like that.

"White, come here."

White appears on my stomach.

"Why do you call me in this situation! It's awkward to be summoned before the god who sealed me, but I don't know how to react when I'm summoned by someone lying down before a god!"

I was scolded. While still lying on my back, White protested with a pout.

"Hehe, you seem to be well."

Since lying down and talking for a long time is not good, I sit up with White on my stomach. This time, I face Val while sitting in the air.

White feels good today as well.

"Do you have any business?"

Are you going to give me a mission or a quest called a mission?

"No, I just came to see someone jump off the 'Cliff of Trials.'"

"The 'Cliff of Trials'?"

"Did you jump without knowing? That cliff is called the 'Cliff of Trials,' and in the past, people in this area jumped off it as a test from the gods. Of course, it's just what people say; we have nothing to do with it."

As I look at the cliff, the silver hair that floats gracefully in the wind moves with it.

"Though it's called a trial, I remember only two people have survived the jump."

"Really, they survived from this height?"

"...Are you asking that?"

Val looked at me with a glare, and even White, who had been curled up, gave me a look like "What are you doing?"

"I'm sorry, my survival was unplanned. I was originally planning to die."

I pet White to cover up.

"I came to see someone who has survived falling from here and is jumping again. I just came out of curiosity, and I'm asking why you jumped twice."

Val told me that they came out of mere curiosity, and then looked at me with a question in their eyes, asking why I jumped twice.

"Well, I was originally planning to return to the city, but I thought I might as well enjoy the feeling of flying before dying. There's no deeper meaning."

When I told the truth, both the god and White looked at me with even more confusion.

The 'Cliff of Trials' reminded me of a story I read in an old book. In the past, there was a trial in this area where people were thrown into a river to determine if they were witches. If they floated, they were witches; if they sank, they were innocent. At the time, people who worshiped heretical religions and summoned monsters were put on trial.

The trial was brutal, where those who died were guilty, and those who survived were innocent. Unlike the witch trials, it was somewhat better because the innocent were recognized. This was because people believed in the god Tasha, and those who survived were considered right.

In reality, it was probably the powerful people in the temple who got rid of those who were in their way or whose deaths would bring money to the temple under the pretext of heresy. In a fantasy world, heretical religions might have actually existed.

I can believe in the gods, but I can't trust the 'humans' who use them.

One of the two who survived the jump from this cliff became the king of the Labyrinth City.

In the king's adventure story, there is a tale of a woman who was accused of heresy and jumped from the 'Cliff of Trials' with him. She was saved by Tasha.

Incidentally, that woman became the wife of the first king of the Tarkant Principality, the Knight Baron Galley.

"Is this cliff related to the Labyrinth City's king? If a god appears, shouldn't it be Tasha?"

Or is it because I have a blessing that I often encounter Val? Could I have some strange marking?

"I am here as well."

Suddenly, a small old man appears.

Who is this?

Given the flow, it must be...

"Is it the tree god Tasha? It's been a while."

Is it the effect of solving mysteries? Does encountering a god once trigger a chain reaction?

I haven't progressed much in the main story (if there is one)?

Do gods appear so frequently?

No, Crow has met them, so the encounter rate might be high?

"I see you more often than other gods, but it has been a while."

While listening to the two gods catching up, I pet White and think that the gods in this world are friendly and approachable. It's a relief for me, who finds it troublesome to be formal and respectful even in a game world.

"I was watching to ensure that this place is not used for trials again, as per my agreement with Galley. I thought about punishing those who push others off, but when I came, I found that you jumped of your own will. I thought about leaving you to die, but since you survived and have the blessing of my kin, I was considering what to do. You have changed, haven't you? Choosing to die to return to the city."

No, as a player, many people choose to die to return to the city. It's rare to survive after choosing to die.

"Yes, flying seems to be an air magic skill, and you will be able to do it eventually. Both times, you acted for reasons outside my control."

Oh! I need to work hard to level up my air skills!

"...You, you are recognized as a strange one even by two gods?"

Protesting fluffiness. White, with a resigned and exasperated face.

My actions are strange because I'm a player! Everyone does it! ...Probably.

Because I met Galahad and others first, I no longer say out loud that this is a game world. If I say it out loud, I might be caught up in the game's logic, and the 'different world' might just become an RPG. I want to enjoy this world.

The two gods started talking about old stories, and as I listened without interrupting, I learned that Galley's wife, Rees, was accused of heresy out of revenge for rejecting a viscount's son. In reality, the viscount had fallen to heresy and was replaced by something else. Rees had the ability to sense and seal that something, but she didn't realize it and was cornered by the viscount. Galley saved Rees, and the entity was sealed, but the seal is starting to weaken.

Is this a flag?

For the gods, the revival of that entity is just a topic of conversation.

Isn't it scary to suddenly find out that someone has been replaced?

Your friend from yesterday, with the same memories, is actually someone else.

I don't like it.

"Sorry, is there a way to prevent the replacement?"

I couldn't help but ask.

"There is, but what are you drinking?"

I was drinking tea while the old story was being told.

It's a red, slightly sour tea made from a blend of rosehips and Assam, with bright red flower petals. White is drinking it too, so we're both guilty!

I remember that in another game, Peter didn't like it when the NPCs talked among themselves without the player, saying, "I don't want to watch a play w."

Tasha is drinking black beer, and Val likes a minty herbal tea. I'm showing respect by giving them a rating of 10.

We're sitting in a circle in the air, about two meters off the ground, having a tea party.

"You really lack tension."

"Don't say that with a wet chin."

White, who seems to like fruit tea, especially Ruby Berry Tea, is hurriedly wiping its chin with its front paws.

"I want to avoid the situation where everyone around me is replaced. Is there a way to counter or reverse the replacement?"

If Galahad and Ruba are replaced or taken over in an event, it would be terrible.

"You have alchemy, don't you?"

Tasha asks while holding smoked spicy dried meat, which I planned to give to Kikihime and Peter. I also prepared some fried cheese, olives wrapped in bagel dough, and other small snacks. It seems Tasha likes dry snacks.

I added some crispy dried squid and small fish as additional snacks. The old man's teeth seem strong.

"Yes, but I haven't used it much."

"You have [Light] but not [Purification]. Hmm."

"[Purification] is for healers, right? If I need to learn it for a countermeasure, I will."

"No, it's good to have it, but it's not necessary. There are substitutes, after all."

Saying that, Tasha raises a hand with prominent veins, and a small gem appears on the palm.

"This gem is called a 'Soul Binding Stone.' It's rarely obtained from a Sea Serpent."

The 'Soul Binding Stone' on Tasha's palm is transparent like a drop of water.

"Other materials include 'Tigal's Star Dust' from the Starfall Hill, [Light] enchantment, [Purification], and if the user infuses [Attribute Stones] with purification, you don't need to use it yourself."

Tasha arranges the materials in the air as they talk.

I note that magic can be infused into [Attribute Stones].

"These are mixed."

The magic circle under the arranged materials glows, and the materials disappear in white light. When the light fades, a pale blue gem in the shape of a 'Soul Binding Stone' appears.

"Here you go. This is a magic stone to prevent possession. If you wear it, it will keep away the entities we talked about. It's a gift for the drink. It's not a difficult alchemy, but obtaining the 'Soul Binding Stone' from a Sea Serpent might be challenging. With your blessing from the moon god, it should be easier than usual. If you want to process it into jewelry, do it when you get the Soul Binding Stone."

The gem dropped into my hand is a 'Nether Binding Stone.'

[Nether Binding Stone]

Rating: 10 (Artifact)

Prevents possession.

With a rating of 10, the success rate is 100%.

It also reflects damage to the entity trying to possess.

An artifact.

"It's an artifact...?"

"It's just a simple thing, but it's made by the alchemy god Tasha."

Val looks interested.

"Thank you."

I won't hold back!

"Do you want to know the location of the Starfall Hill?"

"Only asking would be impolite. I'm not completely selfless, so I'd be happy if you could tell me."

"I see."

Tasha nods as if understanding something.

"From what I hear, there's still time. If it were imminent, you might have begged for help."

I give Tasha a barrel of black beer and some dried meat jerky.

I also give Val some herbal tea and a Ruby Berry tart.

"It's a thank you for the tea. It would sound bad if Tasha did it and I didn't."

Saying that, Val drops a small stone, about the size of a fist, into my hand.

It turns out to be a 'Teleport Stone.'

"I appreciate it."

"Unlike Tasha, I can't make others, as it's my domain. 'White' is well, too."

"Hmph, I'll do it on my own."

White responds casually to Val's words.

"You are a strange human, blessed by the tree god Tasha, accept it."

"You are my favorite, be your own king. Be free like the wind. Know that there is no constraint or control."

Tasha disappears after saying this, and Val also leaves, leaving a chant-like message.

[You have obtained the alchemy recipe for 'Nether Binding Stone']

[You have obtained the alchemy recipe for 'Teleport Stone']

[You have obtained the title 'Tasha's Disciple']

[You have obtained the title 'Tasha's Blessing']

[Your 'Wood Magic' has changed to 'Wood Magic']

[Your title 'Val's Blessing' has changed to 'Val's Favor']

[Your 'Air Magic' has changed to 'Air Magic']

[You have obtained the title 'Time of the Gods']

[You have obtained the skill 'Time Magic']

[You have obtained 'Druid Magic' due to obtaining 'Wood Magic' and 'Time Magic']

Two of these were expected.

I thought I might get the titles and magic that Crow had if I met Tasha. The titles were different, but I got the expected 'Time Magic' and 'Druid Magic.'

The others were unexpected! Favor? Disciple? A 'Teleport Stone' as an artifact? No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no,