Chapter 60

"Well, I'm going to go... Lady Lea, can't you make shoes appear here?"

"I can make them with my skills if I have the materials, but I don't have them, so it's impossible."

"You really didn't think about anything when you created the [Clone]..."

Ultimately, after further discussion, we agreed that for today only, she would accompany me to observe the abilities of the monster's skills and to see if anything unusual happens when acquiring them, separate from the exploration of the transfer.

I don't have anything particular to hide, so there's no problem with her conducting the investigation.

Since we are going to fight monsters, I checked the performance of the [Clone] and was told that the abilities of the main body are divided according to the number of clones created.

Apparently, the goddesses usually have several clones out at all times for things like prayers in the divine realm and [Divine Oracles] when choosing professions, but even so, they are much stronger than human clones, so there's no need to worry about Lady Lea in the hunting grounds.

After all, she possesses almost every skill.

Even with just the bonus stats, her abilities are incredibly high.

Even if her abilities are reduced to a fraction of their original strength, she is still far stronger than me, and it makes sense that she wouldn't be defeated by E-rank monsters.

Moreover, even if something happens, since the clone is created by a skill, it won't affect the main body at all.

Rather, the disadvantage of creating a [Clone] is that the main body becomes weaker, so as long as Lady Lea is in the safe divine realm, she is invincible.

It's unclear if this skill can be used by humans, but if it can, it's undoubtedly an excellent skill.

However, the purpose of creating a clone is to automatically use a specified skill, and only one type of skill from the main body can be set for the clone.

Since the [Divine Eye] necessary for this mission is assigned, I can't rely on other skills, and I was warned in advance that she has no intention of participating in combat.

Of course, if a goddess could use all her skills, it would be too overpowered.

I didn't expect that much, and since I intended to take the last attack myself from the beginning, it's not a problem that she won't participate in combat.

A simple question came to mind: if she doesn't have [Language Understanding], can she understand my words?

When I confirmed this, I was told that the goddesses have numerous language abilities from the start, and they can converse without the skill in the languages of the worlds managed by Felza, with a smug look.

It's very goddess-like, or rather, incomprehensible to ordinary people, but as long as we can communicate, I don't mind.

With this, there's no problem with her accompanying me to the hunting grounds.

Indeed, there's no problem after we reach the Lulub Forest, but...

The big problem now is how to get to the Lulub Forest without shoes.

(I'm not sure when the shoe shop opens, but considering when other shops start operating, it's probably around 8 in the morning. If so, it might be just right to head there now...)

"Can you retract the [Clone] once and then bring it out later, Lady Lea?"

"It's possible if we can pinpoint Loki's location with a [Divine Oracle]. But I want to see the situation along the way, so I refuse."

"Ugh... But it's a struggle just to leave this inn. You haven't paid, Lady Lea."

"That's where Loki has to work hard."

...What a ridiculous way to leave it to someone else.

But there's no point in thinking about it here.

We should have already left this town and headed to the hunting grounds, and I don't intend to waste any more time.

"Alright, I understand. I'll pay for both of us today... Here, let's go."

Saying that, I crouched down.

"?"

"Since you're barefoot, you can't walk like this, right? I'll carry you to the shoe shop, so get on quickly."

"...Alright."

I'm already crouching, so I can't see Lady Lea's expression.

After a moment, I feel a slight weight on my back, and her long, black hair tickles my cheek, along with an indescribable sweet scent, but I don't let any lewd thoughts show as I head to the innkeeper.

I've never felt so resentful of the leather armor between us.

"Sorry, innkeeper. Due to certain circumstances, this girl had to stay in the room last night... I'll pay for both of us, so please forgive me!"

"Oh, you're quite the young man. I see... Next time, let me know in advance!"

"I didn't do anything! The sheets are clean!!"

I know I'm making an outrageous excuse, but if I let this misunderstanding continue, it would be a disaster.

I'll be thought of as a pervert, and since I didn't do anything, I'll make sure to correct it.

Still, Lady Lea is so light...

Does the [Clone] also divide weight?

By appearance, she looks like a third-year middle schooler.

Her height is about the same as mine, or maybe a little taller, probably not more than 150 cm.

Even if we buy shoes, a girl in a white dress without any weapons in the Lulub Forest, what excuse can I give if we meet someone in the hunting grounds?

While thinking about this, I feel Lady Lea gripping my neck tightly, and I head to the shoe shop with her on my back.

---

"Are you sure sandals are okay, Lady Lea? We have to run all the way to the Lulub Forest."

"It's fine. If necessary, I'll take them off."

"That defeats the purpose of buying them..."

Now we are leaving the town of Bezart and heading north to the Lulub Forest.

Of course, my style doesn't change even with a goddess, so I'm jogging with my usual oversized basket on my back.

I didn't want to cause a commotion by going to the guild with Lady Lea, so I confirmed the request and received the basket while she was choosing shoes at the shoe shop, and we immediately set off.

Lady Lea has been jogging along with me, but the sandals she bought are a bit precarious.

But it wouldn't have looked right with a white dress and hunter's boots.

If asked which looks better, I'd have to say the sandals.

The old man at the shoe shop, who was grinning at our exchange, is someone I won't forget for at least five years.

"By the way, Lady Lea."

"What?"

"Is it okay if the goddesses, including you, are recognized by their appearance?"

Of course, if a goddess descended to the lower world, it would be a big deal.

Even if it's a [Clone], if recognized, it could turn into a festival, and I would be in a very awkward position.

"It's fine. The last time anyone saw a goddess was over 10,000 years ago, so no one will recognize us."

"I see... Ah, the person who fell from the dimensional rift?"

"Yes. That was the last time."

"Did they recognize you because they visited the church?"

"Yes. When someone approaches a divine artifact, we can individually identify them, and if there's an outsider, we can sense the anomaly."

That's why.

When I first visited the church, I felt like someone called out to me.

I thought it was just my imagination and left...

"Did someone call out to me when I first visited the church?"

"That was Alicia. She was in a commotion, thinking you might not be from this world, and tried to stop you."

"So that's what it was. I thought it was just my imagination."

"It's understandable. Our power weakens when we move away from the divine artifact, the divine statue."

The divine statue is a divine artifact...

So, the obsidian board is also a divine artifact.

Still, thinking that there have been divine statues and churches for over 10,000 years, and that the civilization hasn't changed much from now, it's clear how stagnant this world is.

On Earth, what would it be? The age of primitive humans?

"Well, even if the divine statue is a divine artifact, when you see Lady Lea, you'd just think she's an incredibly cute girl, right?"

"..."

"Please don't reveal yourself by mistake. It will definitely cause trouble."

"That's fine."

We continue our conversation during the three-hour journey.

The information obtained by this [Clone] is transmitted in real-time to the main body.

Once it reaches the main body, it is shared with the other goddesses.

The reincarnation is handled by the goddesses, but all direct interactions are done by Lady Alicia.

The [Divine Eye] requires visual contact, so its range depends on the user's eyesight.

The ability to read minds that the goddesses use so casually is literally the [Mind Reading] skill.

Naturally, Lady Lea doesn't have any money in this world and is penniless.

The divine realm is divided among the managed worlds, so the place I saw is where the six goddesses live, and so on.

The [Divine Passage] takes two minutes, and the soul's journey to the divine realm via the church feels like 10 to 20 minutes.

Considering this, it's the first time I've talked to a goddess for this long.

But topics naturally come one after another, so the conversation never stops.

I slowed down my pace more than usual to avoid heavy breathing...

Still, by mid-morning, we finally arrived at the Lulub Forest for the first time.