〈 Episode 8 〉 Deal (2)
*
“You’re saying you’ll tell me the location of the Relic?”
“Yes.”
The Relic.
It was an item imbued with God’s Power that had special effects.
At the same time, it was an essential item to become a Hero.
Of course, it was also possible to become a Hero without a Relic.
In fact, some Heroes have achieved great feats purely through their powerful Stigma, without relying on a Relic. But even so, they were treated like second-rate.
The power of a Hero truly erupted only when the Stigma and the Relic created a synergy.
Ultimately, by the time one reaches the status of a High-ranking Hero, a Relic was indispensable.
And not just any Relic, but one recognized by the Church as being 4-star level or higher.
There weren’t any concretely defined rules, but that was the reality.
A Hero should be someone who can face 10 Hero Candidates simultaneously, and a High-ranking Hero was expected to take on 100 such Heroes at once.
That was something impossible without the assistance of a Relic.
However, in most cases, obtaining a Relic was surprisingly not that difficult.
The moment someone became a Hero Candidate, a mass-produced 1-star Relic would be provided.
Once someone became a Hero, the Church would support up to a 3-star Relic based on their achievements.
And when someone was deemed worthy of the power and accomplishments to become a High-ranking Hero, it was customary for the Church to assign one of the 4-star or above Relics they possessed, alongside the title of High-ranking Hero.
There were also various other ways to obtain a Relic.
You could receive one as a direct inheritance from a teacher, kill and steal from the current owner, or even stumble upon one that was just lying on the street—not even a cat.
But Gwen didn’t fall into any of those categories.
The Church did not hold a 4-star or above Relic suitable for Gwen’s Stigma.
In the first place, the Relic that suited her didn’t exist in the world.
Her Relic was hidden away in a place so obscure that it was hard to even acknowledge unless discovered directly.
A Relic that needed to be found personally.
However, saying that would also imply, on the flip side, that if you simply followed the guides, it wouldn’t be that hard to find and become a High-ranking Hero.
That was the reason behind her [Precocious] trait and why she was loved by beginners, driving them to consult guides while playing.
But that was the reasoning of the Divine Seat.
Gwen’s position was a bit different.
She still didn’t know the location of the Relic.
“Don’t you want to know the location of the Relic?”
And I knew that Gwen wanted to obtain her Relic.
After hearing my words, Gwen stared into space for a moment.
Then she said, “But what about my Divine Seat? It seems like they’re against it.”
I had anticipated this. In fact, I expected the Player to oppose her getting a Relic.
The core of Gwen’s training involved delaying her acquisition of a Relic for as long as possible.
It was because of her trait, [Precocious].
[Precocious] seemed like a trait that only had advantages, with no drawbacks. It simply accelerated skill proficiency.
At this moment, that was true. But in the future, it would be different.
The risk of [Precocious] would begin as soon as Gwen obtained her dedicated Relic.
The time accelerated for her growth would hasten her aging process.
She would grow slightly faster than others, but after obtaining a Relic and becoming a High-ranking Hero, she would age and die within a few years.
The important thing was that the content of Hundred Braves did not end with becoming a High-ranking Hero.
The goal was to nurture the strongest Heroes and place them high in the Hero Rankings, and further, to advance to Saint-level Heroes. To achieve that, she needed to make as much progress as possible before obtaining a Relic.
‘But…’
I wasn’t questioning the Player, the Divine Seat.
What I was asking was Gwen.
“What about you? Don’t you want to know the location of the Relic?”
At this point, what mattered was Gwen’s decision.
Characters, like Alan, do not follow the Player’s commands unconditionally.
Of course, Alan’s case was a bit extreme.
Regardless, Gwen could very well ignore the Divine Seat’s orders.
And if she had progressed through the game this much…
“You’ve noticed it too, right? That the Divine Seat isn’t a perfect being.”
Even if one follows the guides, this game has too many variables.
Well, it might be natural for real life to have a lot of variables.
In each of those variables, beginners inevitably make mistakes.
In that process, someone of Gwen’s caliber would naturally pick up on things.
“Right?”
At that, Gwen let out a brief laugh.
“It’s rare to hear someone speak about the Divine Seat like that.”
Well, it’s only natural since I’m one of those whom you refer to as a Divine Seat.
“So what’s your proposal?”
“Just so you know, I won’t completely trust you until you reveal that ‘trade secret’ you mentioned.”
“That’s fine. I just need to get to the Trial.”
“No, I don’t believe that you know the location of the Relic either.”
I hadn’t expected Gwen to be this cautious.
But she continued speaking.
“However, I don’t think it would be bad to take a gamble at least once. Just as you said, I was planning to go to the Trial anyway, so I have nothing to lose.”
I did it.
*
Clatter, clatter.
The sound of utensils echoed across the modest table.
It was just two plates, a fork, and a spoon, but still.
‘Is this enough to fill me up?’
Basically, the food in this world was pretty tasteless.
Setting aside the fact that the cooking method was just violently throwing everything into a pot and boiling it down, the ingredients themselves were flavorless.
It was clear that modern ingredients had undergone selective breeding.
‘But it’s still better than military rations.’
Finishing my share, I set down my utensils.
At that moment, the Innkeeper, who was eating in front of me, asked.
“Do you need more?”
“No, this is enough.”
I didn’t particularly crave more.
Just as I picked up my plate to leave the table.
“By the way, Alan.”
“Yes?”
“How long do you plan to stay at the inn?”
I smiled as warmly as I could and answered.
“I plan to stay until I grow old and die.”
“I may not have kids, but I can’t leave the inn to you.”
Of course, saying I’d stay at the inn until I grew old and died was a joke.
That was simply unrealistic going forward in the story.
Alan Pleuk would have to leave this place soon.
Yet, I felt a bit sad.
I’d worked for several years in this inn, and to be treated like this…
Though only a few months had been actual work.
“I’m sorry. But I hope you won’t take it too hard.”
“Yes?”
“I hope you’ll go to a bigger city instead of this small town. I want you to see, hear, and experience more. And even if you return to the inn someday.”
Thinking back, he really was a good person.
The Innkeeper was like a father to Alan Pleuk.
At the same time, he was also the one who prevented Alan Pleuk from leaving his hometown.
‘He really is a good person, but…’
That only means I should leave here sooner.
Before I get too attached.
I had already hesitated about when to bring it up, but he spoke up first.
That made it easier.
“Actually, you see.”
“Hmm?”
“I was planning to leave soon.”
He looked momentarily shocked by my words but quickly regained his composure.
“Where to?”
“I thought I’d head to Sakh for now. It’s hard to go to Leim Kingdom since I have to pass through Saint City Hailen, but I’ve heard Sakh is a metropolitan city just like Leim Kingdom.”
In fact, Sakh was one of the places I had in mind to go.
Though first, there were things I needed to do at the ruins.
“Sakh, huh… But I heard the safety there isn’t very good.”
“That’s the backstreets.”
For reference, the backstreets of Sakh were among the most dangerous places in this world.
“So I won’t be venturing there.”
Actually, I might end up wandering into the backstreets a little. But I couldn’t exactly say that.
“Hm…”
“It’ll be fine. I caught a bandit not long ago.”
“That’s true… So when do you plan to leave?”
That was a bit of a tricky question to answer.
Still, I couldn’t avoid it.
“In three days.”
I was planning to leave in three days.
I couldn’t afford to hold Gwen back, so I hastily arranged my schedule.
“In three days?”
“Yes.”
“Suddenly deciding like this? Weren’t you just saying you’d stay at the inn until you grow old and die?”
This time, the Innkeeper couldn’t hide his surprise.
I had expected this reaction.
Because I expected it, I had thought about how to respond beforehand.
“Actually, I’ve been thinking about leaving for a while now.”
What came in handy here was the past of Alan Pleuk.
“I apologize, but I actually wanted to find my biological parents.”
Alan’s mother had abandoned him at the inn after giving birth to him.
That was how the Innkeeper had raised Alan.
“But I never had the courage. I couldn’t leave you behind after raising me. In fact, I’m still hesitating. That’s why I’m trying to leave as quickly as possible.”
“Ah, I see… You’ve thought it through.”
The Innkeeper looked a bit sad contemplating sending me off.
It was a bit of poetic justice considering he just said he wouldn’t entrust the inn to me. Nevertheless, I said to him.
“Of course, I won’t be obsessed with finding my biological parents. I’ll travel around the world and expand my horizons as you suggested. If fate permits, maybe I’ll meet them someday.”
“You’ll probably meet them.”
After a brief hesitation, the Innkeeper said.
“Then can I just wish you a safe journey?”
I appreciated it, but…
I still have three days left, you know?
*
“Is the innkeeper your father?”
Gwen, who was polishing her sword in the room, asked.
“No, he’s the one who raised me when I was an orphan.”
“In that case, he must be quite an amazing person.”
Saying that, she examined the blade of her sword.
The light from the lamp shone red on it.
For a moment, a chill ran down my spine, but I knew she wasn’t someone who would harm others recklessly.
“So, did you finish everything properly?”
“Yes. I said my goodbyes in advance, so now I can focus on preparations.”
Gwen glanced at me with a sidelong look and sighed.
Then she said, “By the way, I expected you’d be somewhat prepared since you were asking to be taken to the Trial straight away, but it seems like you’re completely unprepared. I feel like I’ve been deceived.”
“That was the truth. Without your help, it would have taken me not just three days, but probably years.”
And it was true.
Gwen shook her head at my shameless demeanor and stood up.
“Then follow me.”
“Pardon?”
“Three days isn’t enough. We have places to go.”
*
