Chapter 378: Chewing Over Events
“Isn’t Baylis stronger now?”
Why is everyone so surprised?
“Asas has been around since the era of the Fire Spirit. When I transitioned from the Fire to the Wind Spirit era, I expanded and grew, but my power is still influenced by the surrounding environment. In that regard, the power of the ancient gods is stable. They know how to control their strength and can send their power into me, even altering it,” Baylis said, peeking out from behind Karn.
“Oh?”
So, the power has gathered, but Baylis is still unstable?
“When Baylis was in Kanum, she was small, right? But I think Asas wouldn’t change size even if taken to the middle of the desert,” Haulon added.
“She was in Kanum too…”
Retze’s gaze turned distant.
“Oh, you can see that?”
“I encountered her while playing a game. It was bad for my heart.”
Even while saying that, Retze remains unfazed. I think that’s impressive.
“So, what led to bringing back this surreal God of Fertility? Weren’t we originally searching for the Goddess of Es?”
Retze prompted me to continue.
“Right. For now, I thought I’d head to the source of the Es River to look for the goddess, so I started going upstream. Along the way, I met a spirit who told me there was a temple with a relief depicting the birth scene of the Es River—when I went there, this pillar appeared.”
The hemp sack rattled every time I mentioned Es. Other than that, it had a strangely vacant expression, remaining quiet.
“The place is called ‘The Calf of the Moist Seed,'” Karn seemed to recall.
“There’s a myth about the younger god, Stekar, the God of Storms and War, being sealed within a tree called Erika. Erika is said to be the current fig,” she continued.
“Wait, the one who became a pillar wasn’t Es, but… Stekar?”
I stumbled over Haulon’s explanation.
“Why would it be that way? The Goddess of Es is Asas’s wife, right?”
“Yeah. She was sealed due to infidelity, right? Oh, did Es ask Stekar for help?”
After all, she did ask him to split the pillar in two.
“Don’t believe such strange reasons with that innocent face of yours.”
“…Where did you hear that reason?”
“From Es.”
Technically, I only heard a story that suggested such a thing.
“…”
“…”
“…”
“…”
The four of them silently stared at me.
“So, you ended up meeting Es after all…”
Retze said tiredly.
“I made sure to pretend I didn’t know! I didn’t want to eavesdrop on their lovers’ quarrel, but what could I do? I was surrounded and couldn’t escape!”
I am innocent!
“…Wait. Surrounded? Who was with Es?”
“A lime-green crocodile and a pink cobra. And Stekar too,” I answered Karn’s inquiry.
“…”
Karn, upon hearing this, placed a finger on his forehead and looked down again.
“Don’t tell me the God of Fertility, Skos, who colors the riverside, and his wife, the Goddess of Luck and Wealth, Neneto, were there too—no, I already know that they were,” Haulon stopped me before I could speak.
Indeed, the crocodile and cobra had those names.
“I haven’t met the ancient gods all at once like that either,” Baylis exaggeratedly shivered.
“So, Stekar split the pillar that was twice as tall, and told me to place the bottom half wherever I liked. The lower half remains as part of the pillar, so it seems infidelity isn’t possible. I was told that if I left it there, it would grow grass and bring fertility to the surroundings, so I brought it to Karn. By the way, Es took the top half back.”
That was roughly how the events unfolded. The part in the sack feels like the main body since it’s humanoid, but in reality, the pillar part is the true essence. Moreover, it’s technically half of a calf.
“I have no words.”
“I… don’t even know where to start…”
Karn and Haulon.
“So, it’s the perfect gift for Karn, who is building a nation in the desert.”
Retze’s quick understanding was a relief.
“Right. He said it didn’t have to be a place I chose. Oh, and I asked about the meandering of the Es River, and Asas said that once it’s set up, it will meander to meet me.”
“This great river’s meandering…”
Retze was at a loss for words.
“Please, don’t casually ask for such things. I really can’t take it anymore,” Haulon said, half in tears.
“The meandering of the Es River is a matter that could affect the rise and fall of a nation, you know?”
“Yeah, so it’s good for establishing a nation, right? Transporting materials, including building supplies, will be much easier.”
I understood since I had brought various things to the island to build a town.
Bringing various supplies to the place where Karn is trying to establish a nation is quite a daunting task. But with a river, it would definitely become easier.
“…I appreciate it, but I don’t know if I should thank you.”
Karn pondered deeply.
“Can I stay by Asas’s side? I’ve heard the Goddess of Es is quite jealous.”
“Yeah. Like I said earlier, the lower half is sealed. Also, it seems the punishment will go to Asas, so it should be fine.”
Being cut, sealed, and brought back…
“I feel a bit relieved.”
Baylis placed a hand on Karn’s shoulder and pressed her other hand to her chest, letting out a small sigh.