Chapter 93

Temblance Volume 14 - Chapter 19

'I miss you.'

Shizuka Shinomiya.

She was fulfilling her duties as the lord of Baiyan.

While developing Baiyan, she regularly raided the Guardian of the Forest and supplied various resources to Reidan.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that the reason Reidan managed to barely survive without completely collapsing was due to her efforts.

However, Shizuka was starting to feel a bit fed up.

The reason was that she hadn't seen Grid for nearly seven months.

She was so desperate to see Grid that she felt like she was going to go crazy.

Despite being revered as the most beautiful woman in South America and being courted by the top 0.1% of men worldwide, she was showing symptoms of unrequited love for Grid.

"Haa."

At that moment, when she was thinking about throwing everything away and going to Grid's side, a notification window appeared.

[Your ruler <Grid> is summoning you. Do you wish to respond to the summon?]

"Oh!"

The long-awaited notification window appeared at just the right time.

'He must have realized how much I miss him.'

It must have been telepathy.

Shizuka's heart raced, feeling a sense of destiny.

Her love life, which had never existed, began to unfold in her imagination.

'He must have summoned me without any prior notice...'

Could he have prepared a surprise event for me?

"Shizuka, I've missed you so much. I toss and turn every night, imagining your beautiful face."

She imagined Grid making a macho statement with a sexy expression.

Her mouth hung open.

Shizuka's body twisted, her eyes clouded with infatuation.

For the first time in her life, she had fallen in love with a man, and she felt like a young girl.

The only problem was that her figure and attire were not suitable for a minor.

"I'll respond to the summon."

Without a moment's hesitation, Shizuka answered Grid's call.

When she teleported to Grid's side, the first thing she saw was a mountain of gold coins.

'Is this for me?'

Shizuka's long eyelashes trembled.

She was moved by Grid's event.

"This money will be used for our wedding."

Shizuka blushed, imagining what Grid would say next.

'Grid, you should focus on dating before marriage.'

It felt a bit rushed to talk about marriage without having dated first.

Although I have feelings for Grid, I'm not that hasty.

Shizuka wanted to get to know Grid better before marriage.

What kind of man is he during the day and at night...

While lost in her imagination, familiar voices reached her ears.

"Hey, Shizuka. Long time no see?"

"You've gotten even prettier. Do you have a boyfriend?"

"Why do women's armor levels increase with more exposure? Thanks."

Phon, Regas, Bantner, Toban, Faker, and others.

When she turned her eyes to reality, she saw the former Chedaka guild members.

"…?"

Weren't we supposed to meet alone?

Shizuka turned her gaze to Grid, who was busy stuffing gold coins into Noe's mouth without even looking at her.

Grid shouted.

"Collect the money! Money! This place will explode in 2 minutes and 40 seconds, so collect as much money as you can until then!"

"…So that's why you summoned us."

The Temblance members quickly understood the situation.

Meanwhile, Raoul urged the dazed Shizuka.

"What are you doing? Hurry up and collect the money."

The amount of gold coins was enormous.

If they collected them diligently, it might help solve Reidan's financial crisis.

[You have obtained 62 gold.]

[You have obtained 75 gold.]

"Collecting them one by one would take forever."

There was a limit to the amount of gold coins a player could collect in one action, due to the volume their hands could hold.

"If Yufemina were here, she could use Mass Teleport to move them all at once."

"True… Why is she offline at a time like this?"

"We should have brought a shovel."

"Should we use a shield to scoop them up?"

"Ooh, good idea?"

"Hmm."

After a moment's thought, Raoul used a skill.

"Dragon's Claw."

Rumble!!

Three stone pillars emerged from deep within the warehouse floor and then disappeared.

Raoul created a wind.

"Dragon's Roar."

Boom!!

The gold coins were swept by the wind and poured into the deep holes like a waterfall.

The gold coins buried deep in the ground were now safe from the impending explosion.

The other Temblance members also began to use their skills.

"Mah Speed Spear!"

Boom!!

Phon's supersonic spear shattered the warehouse wall, creating a direct path to the outside.

"Charge!!"

Rumble! Bang!!

Bantner and Toban, standing side by side with their shields in front, resembled a bulldozer as they slowly pushed the mountain of gold coins toward the broken wall.

Meanwhile, Pia, who had climbed to the top of the mountain, armed herself with a hoe and a spade.

"Unpaid Farming."

Pitter-patter!!

It was amazing.

The hoe and spade moved at a speed that couldn't be seen, digging into the mountain of gold coins.

A large amount of gold coins flew outside and were neatly stacked.

Asmodeus, who had not adapted to the situation, also took action.

"Aura Explosion."

Boom!!

A powerful explosion created a hole in the wall, twice as large as the one Phon had made.

Aiming at the hole, Asmodeus used an Aura Tornado to send a large amount of gold coins outside.

It was a spectacular sight. It seemed that with their abilities, they could transport most of the gold coins outside the warehouse within the time limit.

What about Grid?

"Ah! When will I finish collecting this!"

He was continuously stuffing gold coins into his inventory and Noe's mouth.

Blinded by the money, he didn't notice his surroundings.

Pia casually said to Grid.

"A narrow field of view is always a poison."

Grid already knew this.

But he had momentarily forgotten due to his rising greed.

Regaining his senses, Grid observed the Temblance members.

'Using skills is the way to go.'

Realizing this late, Grid first separated Noe.

Noe's eyes, now as large as Go stones, were filled with tears.

"Chew! This shiny thing is tasteless! Meow! Choke!"

"Taste doesn't matter. Don't spit it out and keep eating... Why are you burping?"

"I told you to eat! Meow!"

"No! Don't chew and swallow; just put it in your mouth like a squirrel storing acorns!"

Noe is the most powerful demon in hell.

When using the Soul Consumption skill, Noe could freely expand his mouth, clearly capable of continuously ingesting gold coins.

Grid, now confident, ordered Noe to eat the gold coins separately and then took out a failed item.

'Grid, how much have your skills improved?'

The Temblance members focused their attention on Grid.

Pia and Asmodeus also looked expectant.

With the blindfold of the Executioner on, Grid used a skill.

"Pagma's Sword Dance, Ultra."

Roar!

A menacing aura was released, and Grid's black hair fluttered.

Grid carefully swung the failed item, observing the mountain of gold coins with a flashing red light.

Boom! Boom!!

Rumble-

The mountain of gold coins, losing its balance due to the precise strikes of the sword, collapsed and poured into the warehouse wall that Phon and Asmodeus had broken.

Pia and the Temblance members were amazed at the wave of gold coins flowing out like a receding tide.

'Excellent.'

His skills had improved.

This proved that Grid, who had acted alone for the past few months, had not wasted his time.

Although he relied on Temblance, his ability to disrupt the balance of objects was truly remarkable.

As everyone was moved, Shizuka, who was pouting, released an arrow.

"Those who can avoid it, do so. Phoenix Arrow."

Boom!!

It was overwhelming.

The mountain of gold coins, which was now less than half, was completely blown outside the warehouse by the flaming bird.

A significant amount of gold coins melted and stuck to the ground due to the high heat, but there was no need to be disappointed.

It was already 10 seconds before the warehouse explosion. If not for Shizuka's efforts, they would have lost half of the mountain of gold coins.

"Huff huff... Everyone, get out of the way!"

Grid shouted, terrified of being hit by the Phoenix Arrow, and everyone flew out of the warehouse.

A ground-shaking explosion occurred immediately after.

Boom!!

"Ah!"

"What's happening now?"

The thousands of people gathered near the collapsed council room turned their gaze toward the direction of the explosion.

Beyond the waterfall, the first prayer hall was burning.

The paladins shouted.

"It must be the work of the criminals who killed the council members! Chase them immediately!"

Damian stopped them.

"Wait a moment."

"Yes, Representative of the Goddess."

Damian, while being ignored by the highest-ranking clerics, was widely supported by most of the believers.

The paladins, who stopped and bowed, listened to Damian.

"Please stay here and complete the investigation. I will go to that place with Isabel and Grid."

"If the Representative of the Goddess wishes it, we will do so."

With the council members dead, Damian was now one of the highest-ranking authorities.

The paladins immediately made way for Damian.

"Let's go."

Damian signaled to Isabel and Grid.

The Grid here was Randy. Due to the influence of holy power, his form was gradually becoming strange, looking like Grid but not quite.

"Follow me!"

The OGC's filming magic devices chased after Damian's group, who were hastily moving.

The OGC wanted to uncover who had destroyed the Rebecca Church's council.

But Damian was not one to remain silent.

He leaped and demonstrated the sword skills he had practiced with Pia and Crowazel, destroying dozens of magic devices in succession. Although it would anger the viewers, he did not hesitate.

It was an effort to protect Grid's safety.

***

"Is this the treasure Pascal hid?"

Grid and the Temblance members were stuffing the gold coins scattered everywhere into their inventories.

Damian, seeing them, had a horrified expression.

He was imagining and feeling disgusted by what Pascal might have done with this much treasure.

"Damian, you must become the Pope."

Grid, with a serious expression, encouraged him.

Squatting and slowly collecting gold coins, it wasn't a very impressive sight.

But to Damian, Grid shone brightly.

"I will become the Pope and be the person you need."

Grid had arranged everything.

He saved Isabel and killed Pascal.

If he couldn't become the Pope after all this, it would be a disgrace.

Feeling a sense of resolve from Damian's determined gaze, Grid smiled, showing his white teeth.

"Trust and expect me."

"..."

Damian felt a lump in his throat.

He knew that Grid's intention to help him was not entirely pure.

But wasn't it true that he was showing trust?

Grid was the first person to treat him, a hardcore otaku, without prejudice.

"By any chance... Can I join the Temblance?"

A future Pope joining a guild?

It was a welcome surprise.

Grid, who was ready to welcome him with open arms, was stopped by Raoul.

"The Rebecca Church must remain neutral on the surface."

Given the Rebecca Church's characteristic of spreading its doctrine regardless of race or nationality, maintaining neutrality was correct.

If it openly allied with a specific force, it would invite resentment from various forces and risk the value of the religion.

"That's true."

Grid, feeling disappointed, extended his hand to the dejected Damian.

"Well, what does it matter if we're not in the same guild? We will always be eternal companions. Join the guild after your term as Pope ends."

"…Yes."

He had gained a friend.

Damian, smiling with joy, respectfully accepted Grid's handshake with both hands.