SWNOVELXO Chapter 52
Chapter 52: Horde (2)
“It wasn’t my doing.”
The excuse, not quite an excuse, came out reflexively. For Khan, who still harbored a modern person’s sensibilities, being in this situation where he was receiving an apology from a young girl felt wrongfully like his fault.
Especially in front of Berta, who could be considered a guardian….
“Elena. That’s enough, get up.”
“But, still. You can feel it too, Berta, can’t you? The goddess’s…”
“Elena.”
Uh. At Berta’s firm urging, Elena hesitantly got to her feet. Yet, she kept stealing glances at Khan, evidently feeling as if she had committed a grave sin against him.
Khan himself had no idea why she was acting this way. Or rather, he didn’t even want to understand.
“I’ve observed the situation.”
Fortunately, even amidst invoking the goddess, Berta had kept her consciousness. Relieved that he didn’t need to go through the hassle of explaining everything, Khan sighed in relief and massaged his throbbing forehead.
“Good. If even you had started blabbering nonsense about being chosen by a god, I might have lost my mind.”
“No. It’s a certain truth that the goddess has chosen you. As evidence, the divine essence of the goddess deeply ingrained in your heart is clearly felt by us.”
“…Go on.”
Khan’s headache seemed to worsen upon hearing Berta’s words. Was there something that only they, being priestesses of the goddess, could sense? Berta’s tone was ominously serious.
“As you know, priests and paladins borrow the goddess’s power to cast holy spells.”
“The divine power given to ordinary believers is just a diluted form of divinity, made so that even mortals can wield it. Of course, it’s still a tremendously powerful force, but…”
“Divinity is different. It is the very foundation that sustains deification. An ordinary mortal… ah, well, a warrior chosen by the goddess wouldn’t be just any mortal! It’s not a power meant for mortals. Of course, it’s impressive that you, as a warrior, possess it and live!”
As Berta and Elena hurriedly explained, Khan furrowed his brow. Having divinity seemed to be no ordinary matter.
‘This kind of setting wasn’t in the game. How would I know…’
From the beginning, having a friendly relationship with the Pantheon’s characters was something not found in the game.
Who would have thought that such a feat would be accomplished by a barbarian, considered a heretic?
“Can just anyone sense this divinity?”
“No way! Divinity is a sign of transcendence. Ordinary mortals can’t even grasp its existence.”
“Elena is correct. We, who serve the goddess closely, naturally recognize her divinity. Not just anyone could discern the divinity left in your heart.”
“…That’s a relief, at least.”
“Re, relief? But divinity is a power granted only to transcendents…”
“For all that, it’s a white elephant to me. I don’t even know how to use it. I only worry it’ll attract troublemakers who covet it.”
At that, Elena clamped her mouth shut.
Khan’s guess hit the mark. A being who couldn’t escape the bounds of mortality yet harbored the goddess’s divinity would undoubtedly not be ignored by evil demons.
Moreover, unknown to Elena, there wasn’t just the goddess’s divinity residing in Khan’s heart.
A piece of the demon Aecharis’s power, who was the progeny of a great demon and capable of engulfing the world, lay beneath the deep scar of holiness.
Even if other demons were unaware, a clash with Aecharis, who had lost some of his power due to the goddess, was an inevitable future.
‘Maybe, she did it anticipating this…’
With a satisfied smirk, recalling the goddess’s final moment before her departure, Khan inwardly gritted his teeth. It was not just a matter of being happy about acquiring something.
“Whatever it is, it’s not something to worry about for now. The priority is to deal with the problem in the north.”
“Are you referring to the living dead? Truly, the goddess chose you as a warrior to punish these brutal people! Ah, please forgive me for thinking all barbarian were cruel heretics…”
“I’m just dealing with what’s been handed to me.”
Of course, even without anyone asking, Khan intended to hunt down the Followers of Truth for his past regrets and his own goals.But the Goddess of Justice does not know. Hence, wasn’t it that he kept giving to Khan, asking for resolutions without explicitly stating so? As long as there seemed more to be extracted from her. There was no need to correct the Goddess of Justice’s misapprehension, it seemed.
‘I refuse to be treated as some sort of champion of justice, though.’
Who would think of a champion of justice upon seeing a muscular barbarian over 2 meters tall? But at least, this fanatic girl seemed more than willing to think so.
“So drop the grand titles like warrior chosen by the goddess. Just call me Khan.”
“Sir Khan!”
“That damned honorific…never mind.”
Feeling his mental energy being drained just by engaging with her, Khan decided to make his exit. Given that Berta was complaining of severe fatigue due to divine intervention, Khan left the room with Elena.
‘I should figure out how to shake off this kid too…’
“What’s wrong? Did I do something to annoy you…?”
“It’s nothing.”
Her overly dramatic reaction just from being glanced at was as tiresome as it was unsettling.
Even compared to the most devout among the temple church’s followers, she seemed different somehow.
Khan imagined without hesitation that if the Goddess of Justice told her to die, she might just pierce her own throat with a sword without second thought, and frowned.
“It’s not like the Goddess of Justice ordered you to act this way. Why are you making such a fuss?”
“Huh?”
“You. It seems too much to chalk it up to mere devotion. I don’t know if you’re aware of it but…”
“I do know. I’m aware that I’m strange.”
Khan was taken aback by the girl’s indifferent response. It was her smiling lips contrasted with her eyes, shimmering with an indescribable brightness, that startled him.
“But isn’t there such a person? Someone who can’t maintain their sanity unless they worship something fanatically. That kind of person.”
It was a horrifying statement, all the more so coming from a young woman barely in her twenties. What could she have gone through to become so twisted? Khan’s imagination fell short.
‘Damned medieval times.’
Both Aries and this fanatic girl. It’s as if the Goddess of Justice has a hobby of collecting peculiar kids to become apostles.
“…As long as you’re aware. Just don’t be too bothersome. Especially, stop treating me like I’m someone great. At least, not in front of me.”
“Why? Since you’ve been bestowed with divinity. Wouldn’t it be fine to achieve great deeds, spread your fame, and aim for true transcendence?”
“I’m not interested in that. It’s bothersome.”
And it seemed Elena was mistaken, but it wasn’t Khan who was endowed with divinity, but rather the artifact now turned sacred relic, the Shield of Deep Origins.
Khan himself, far from divinity, still couldn’t handle mana at all.
“Oh. Boss. Finished with your business? And you brought the lively lady too.”
“My business is done.”
“So, what now? Are we leaving as planned?”
“No. We’ll stay a bit longer.”
“Eh? Why?”
Since it was something the rest of the group moving through the north should know, Khan went on to explain what had happened.
He omitted the unnecessarily confusing details, like the descent of the Goddess of Justice or that he had acquired both divine and demonic powers, and simplified it to saying Berta had requested their help.
“Ah, and Berta also mentioned that a calamity had struck the city.”
“A calamity…? Does that mean there’s already trouble brewing within the city?”
“Oh, perhaps it’s best if I explain that part!”
“…Go ahead.”
With a smirk on her face, Elena stepped forward, prompting a look of confusion from Ron.
He was unaware that Elena was soon to become the goddess’s scale, a girl with a set of values hard to comprehend by the average criminal mind.
“Before you all visited the convent, a decree was issued. That’s why I had suspected you all might have been the disaster we were warned about… Of course, I don’t believe that now!”
“Oh… that’s a relief.”
“So, did you notice anything upon entering the city today? We seldom leave the convent and are somewhat out of touch with the news.”
“Hmm… Nothing special. Ah, there seemed to be quite a number of refugees, possibly from nearby cities or towns. I also saw the city’s caravans returning laden with goods.”
While casually listening to their conversation, Khan checked his physical condition. Thanks to the effects of the Vessel of Greed, his stamina had increased, necessitating an adaptation to his improved physical state.
[Level 25]
[Strength: 60] +1
[Agility: 33] +2
[Stamina: 35] +6
[Intelligence: 2]
Although it was due to an item’s effect, his stamina finally surpassed 40. The problem of having disproportionately low stamina compared to his high strength persisted, but this was undoubtedly a significant growth. Equipment that improved stats to this degree was precious. Darkin Perayas wasn’t known as the boss of the fifth act for nothing; the loot he dropped was of another level entirely.
‘With this, I might have a bit of strength left even after using an A-grade skill…’
Of course, unless he resorted to using his ultimate move, “Surging Strength,” right from the start. Normally, using a skill would likely leave him in a near-death state due to its aftermath.
Furthermore, with his strength stat doubling, the shortage in stamina could become a problem again at any time.
‘Whether finding a fundamental solution or making do with what I have, I need to resolve this one way or another.’
Focusing his consciousness on the Vessel of Greed, located near his right breast like an additional heart, seemed the most promising option. As Khan concentrated, the Vessel of Greed responded.
“Uh…?”
Jan threw a puzzled look his way, quickly noticing the subtle change Khan elicited.
Though timid by nature, Jan was a genius mage of the highest order, a fact reflected in his selection as a disciple by the magus. It was no coincidence.
Jan’s evident confusion turned to astonishment.
“Warrior, that is… No, how?”
It was nearly akin to shock.
“Warrior, were you an incredible mage all along…? But people from barbarian tribes shouldn’t have mana. How on earth…?”
That was to be expected. Understanding and replicating the phenomenon occurring around Khan would necessitate direct action from the tower’s masters, not just any mage.
Jan, blessed with innate magical talent, was even more astounded by the miracle Khan achieved with a moment of concentration.
“Does this look like magic to you?”
“No… I can’t feel the flow of mana. It’s such a faint change that I wouldn’t notice if I wasn’t concentrating. So, it’s not magic? But then, how…!”
Indeed, this wouldn’t leave him branded a demon anywhere. Khan smiled, satisfied with Jan’s confused response.
Gulung─
As if responding to his smile, the space around his right chest gently rippled.
This wavering space seemed invisible to others but was vividly clear to Khan. He pondered the extent of the space within, how to activate it, and its potential applications.
A curious smile appeared on Khan’s face.
‘Aecharis’s Pouch… I had no idea it would have such an effect.’
To think, an inventory would appear at this point.