Chapter 77

When I looked inside the room, the floor and walls were made of a faintly glowing white stone, and there was something that looked like an altar in the center.

The room was circular, and the ceiling, naturally, was also circular, with a gemstone embedded in the center, surrounded by intricate carvings.

"It looks like a sculpture that praises the gemstone in the center."

"Aye, it does appear that way. Though, I didn't even realize it was a gemstone until you mentioned it."

The embedded gemstone was colorless and transparent, and it was hard to see unless you looked closely.

"Still, it looks more like a platform than an altar."

"Perhaps someone took a statue that was once here."

"Aye, that's how it feels."

It seemed like something that should be there was missing. Touching the platform didn't cause anything to happen, and there was nothing when I went around to the back.

"Was the barrier on that door, or is this room the barrier? There's nothing in the corridor."

"Nay, since it was inscribed on the door, I believe it's a barrier to seal the door."

For now, I'm tapping the walls to check for hidden passages. Personally, I think it's a good deal since I can log out safely here. Maybe this is a save point or a safe zone.

Just as I started thinking that, white light from the gemstone in the ceiling illuminated the platform, and this time, a strong light overflowed from the platform.

"Welcome, one who bears the blessing of my kin."

When the light subsided, a strikingly shiny golden-haired man with a halo was sitting on what was now a pedestal.

Is this another god?

"Considering the gods I haven't encountered, it must be the God of Light. Or maybe the God of Stone Pavement?"

"What kind of choice is that?"

I'm curious about the God of Stone Pavement.

While whispering to White, the god on the platform turned around.

"Welcome, one who bears the blessing of my kin."

Are you redoing that?

"You must have walked a difficult path to meet my kin. You must have faced desperate trials. You must have felt crushed by the missions given by the gods."

The handsome man with fine features and a broad shoulder, who was not thin but had a decent build, spoke with a pained expression, his eyes closed. However, I have no idea what he's talking about!

While I was stunned, he looked up and almost shed tears, trembling slightly as he spoke about my struggles, which I had no memory of.

"Who is he talking about?"

White was dumbfounded.

"At least it's not me."

Could the many trials be things like being forced to strip down to my underwear, being asked for relationship advice, or being demanded to make curry?

While whispering to White, the overly divine man suddenly opened his eyes wide, brushed his sleeves, and turned to face us again.

"My name is Vers, the God of Light. I will bestow my blessing to aid you in your mission."

"Wait, I don't have a specific mission. Is it okay?"

I raised my hand slightly to stop him. I'd be in trouble if he changed his story later.

"What?"

Vers was frozen, seemingly surprised.

"Are you a food hunter by any chance?"

White pressed further.

"I haven't met a living being in what feels like a long time..."

Apparently, the only ones he met in the past were a party of heroes who defeated an evil god. Incidentally, that battle split a single continent into several, including one for humans, one for elves, and one for dwarves. How much more could it get?

"By the way, your temple, along with the temple of the God of Darkness, Verna, no longer exists, right?"

"Oh, beautiful goddess Verna, gentle moonlight of the night. Enveloped in your lovely light, I appear."

This god is in a different world again.

At least I understand that he only appears when the moon is directly overhead and the light shines straight through the ceiling gemstone. The ceiling gemstone probably acts as a light amplifier. I didn't really want to understand that, though.

"Gentle moonlight, lovely light, beautiful goddess Verna, disappeared from the world because people were tired of her. Yet, she still gently illuminates and envelops everything. Despite this, people's attitudes towards the goddess who doesn't show herself are far from understanding."

Vers dramatically shook his head.

"So, I also hid myself, emulating her."

Hey.

It seems Verna has a reasonable reason for hiding, but is that your reason too?

"However, the presence of several evil gods is strong. I thought you were given the mission to defeat them."

"Nay, I haven't received such a mission from any gods."

"Are you, by any chance, only blessed by the six gods?"

"Nay? I don't have any blessings at all."

Vers asked, seemingly having an idea, but I denied it.

"Didn't you receive a blessing from the difficult Tasha but not a mission?"

"I have her favor, but no mission. If you must, I'm a food hunter."

"From favor to mission?"

"If you doubt it, you can check my status. It's hidden, though."

I sent a look that said, "You can see, right?"

Incidentally, I currently have my job displayed as a mage. I can do quite a lot now, but since my level is low, a high-level appraisal can easily see through it. Eventually, it should only be visible to those with the skill to see through it... probably?

"Four favors!? And you've met the gentle, lovely, beautiful goddess Verna, the gentle moonlight of the night, with her lovely light?"

That's a long name!

Wait, what?

"Isn't meeting the other seven gods the condition to open the door?"

"The condition is to meet the six. I always have the gentle, lovely, beautiful goddess Verna, the gentle moonlight of the night, with her lovely light, in my heart, but I never thought I would meet her in person."

"Should I point out the absurdity to the god who is already dumbfounded, or to the other god?"

White is confused, but I'm also confused. At least I understand that he is a follower of Verna.

After that, I was grilled about how I met Verna while having tea.

When I brought out a familiar cat-foot table and chairs, White was disappointed again, but there was nothing else in the room. Unlike Val, who could make the dishes float, Vers had no such thoughtfulness.

Vers seemed to be a recluse who had no interaction with the other gods.

"Mm, this is good. It has a better texture than Anra."

Anra is a fruit similar to a mango, round and bright orange, with a lot of moisture. From the gods' stories, it was probably an offering to Vers in the past when his temple still existed.

What he is eating now is a ruby berry tart. Instead of cutting a large cake into triangles, I made several round cakes and tarts, about five centimeters in diameter, thinking that round ones would be better for a tea party with the image of light = sun.

I made them with the receptionist at the adventurer's guild in mind, but Vers, with his well-defined features and somewhat sharp face, was loudly critiquing and eating them, with cream all over his face.

Of course, I ignored it, but it made me feel a bit awkward, so I petted White to distract myself.

"Alright, I understand. I will cooperate with you, this God of Light, Vers."

"Cooperate...?"

What is this?

"I will bestow my blessing, skills, and items upon you. You will offer food to me and the lovely, gentle, beautiful goddess Verna, the gentle moonlight of the night, with her lovely light. What do you want!?"

I was a food hunter.

"Rather than what I want, where can I find a mount?"

"What? Not weapons...!"

Vers was shocked.

"The God of Light, along with Asha, grants the qualifications of a hero, performs rites, and bestows legendary weapons."

White explained.

"That's right. This Vers, the God of Light, and Asha, the God of Fire, bestow weapons on heroes. And the gentle, lovely, beautiful goddess Verna, the gentle moonlight of the night, with her lovely light, and Fal, the God of Water, bestow holy magic and clothing on saints."

"I already have holy magic..."

Aren't saints the healers in the hero party? I'm a magic swordsman, right? Hmm?

"Is the title 'Saint of Fal' like that?"

"Saint, Holy Woman, Hero, and Female Hero. These titles are given because the God of Water, who likes you, has bestowed the abilities of a saint upon you."

Encountering gods other than the whimsical Val and Rasha, who gives skills because they seem interesting, is strange, especially since I don't have a mission. Val gives skills casually but has never given favor, as he grumbled.

"Understood, if you can ride, that's fine! I'll give you one I captured long ago! It's a rogue who tried to destroy three countries and escape to a hidden world, but it's perfect!"

Suddenly, he shouted, and the floor beneath our feet melted away, revealing a milky white space below. Directly below us, where the floor used to be, a massive black dragon was restrained with several wedges and chains. The chains, whose ends were not visible, tightened as the dragon tried to warn us, and blood flowed from the holes where the wedges were driven in.

"Hmm, it's still lively, even though it was captured before the continent split."

"...It looks extremely dangerous."

It looks like a strong dragon, like Bahamut. And it's aggressive and evil.

I haven't encountered one yet, but after eating dragon steak, I had the image of dragons as smooth, plump creatures. The dragon, now struggling while restrained, had a hard, scaly exterior with a metallic texture, reminiscent of sharp blades.

"I'll give this to you, so subdue it."

"Huh?"

Before I could understand what Vers said, I was dropped in front of the dragon.

"It's not a matter of physical strength."

Vers's voice reached me, but I couldn't focus on that.

The dragon's massive golden eyes, with vertical pupils, glared at me from the front.

The dragon's aura enveloped my body.

It was heavy.

I couldn't look away. If I did, I would lose.

If I looked away, the dragon's aura would crush me to pieces.

If it's not a matter of physical strength, it must be a matter of willpower.

White moved at my shoulder.

"White?!"

"Concentrate, I cannot help you."

I hadn't noticed White was there due to the dragon's pressure.

Without looking away from the dragon, I called out to White, and heard a voice I had never heard before.

I thought I was the only one dropped.

"Returning...?"

"Is not possible."

If I lose this willpower contest, I will involve White.

If White can't return, there won't be a time limit in this space where I meet the gods. I've heard that summoned creatures become "unsummonable for a while" when they become unable to fight, so they won't die, but I don't want them to die.

My fingertips tingled.

Sweat trickled down my forehead.

A tense stalemate.

It was unbelievable that I could suppress the dragon's pressure.

Vers might have done something to balance it, but I had no time to think.

My world was now only the dragon in front of me.

How long had it been?

Sweat flowed from my forehead, and my head felt heavy.

My hands and feet were heavy, and I wanted to sit down.

My back hurt.

Why is this dragon glaring at me so angrily?

—It's natural to be angry, having its freedom taken away like this.

Why was this dragon captured here?

—Perhaps it enjoyed destruction. Or maybe there was another reason.

Why am I here, glaring at the dragon?

—Because of White. I can't involve him.

No, that's not it. It's about the mount.

The tiger tile of Galahad.

The white wolf of Eagle, Hagar.

The black wolf of Camilla, Uruk.

A supple cat-like tail is nice.

A fluffy dog-like tail is nice too.

Why am I struggling with a mount that feels rough to the touch?

I was irritated.

"Submit to me... yield... surrender!"

Guhuhuhuhu...

A cracking growl escaped the dragon.

"Give up already and submit to me!"

Gaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh

As I shouted, the dragon roared, shaking the white space, and the wedges holding it in place were pulled out.

When the dragon spread its wings, free, I thought it would attack or kill me, but—

"I don't know how to heal something this big."

The massive amount of blood flowing from the wounds where the wedges were driven in.

Even if it submitted, it could leave, but it resists with pride, even though it wants to leave.

The dragon's mouth, which had roared, came close to me. Closer than when we were facing off, our golden eyes met.

"You look cool."

The next moment, after being swallowed whole by the dragon's teeth, the massive body disappeared, and I stood in the milky white space, covered in blood, with White.

"What is this armor?"

I was now wearing blood-stained black armor.