Chapter 381: Karn Gives Up
“I’m back.”
“Welcome back.”
“Welcome home, my lord.”
As I returned to the room, I found Dinoss and the Butler waiting for me.
“Hey, where’s Quail?” I glanced back at Retze.
“What are you worrying about? You should be more concerned about the terrain first,” Dinoss said, having just made eye contact with me.
“Why do I have to worry about something so grand when I just got back from grabbing a bite?”
“You! You brought back that grand god! I asked you to take care of the river’s meander! It’s a Wanwan!” The way Dinoss said “Wanwan” was a bit amusing.
“At least let Lord Jean escape… I mean, have a seat,” the Butler interjected. Wait a minute! Did he just try to say something ominous while keeping that usual smile?
“Ah, so Karn and Haulon… they stumbled upon the name of the Wanwan, huh? Well, it seems Haulon had a vague recollection of it,” Retze said, directing his gaze toward the two sitting in the shadowy corner of the room, heads bowed.
Asas was displayed on a sideboard against the wall, still in its bag. It was draped with an expensive cloth and adorned with flowers, yet it was still a hemp sack. I wonder if he liked it…
“Even if we’re talking about terrain, this area is flat, so it shouldn’t change much, right?” I plopped down onto a chair that resembled a chaise lounge and started clearing off the table.
“The fact that we can’t see the opposite bank of the Es River’s meander is a big deal,” Dinoss complained while helping me tidy up. He’s quite diligent, like a father.
“There’s no settlement around Karn’s Temple because the Demon Beasts are too strong. Plus, it seems the Es used to flow through here, so it felt pretty casual,” I said, unwrapping the leaves that had been wrapped around the Quail on the table and dividing it into portions for everyone in the room.
Eggplant dengaku, cheese, and sautéed cashew nuts. Mixing in a bit of Japanese cuisine, along with familiar cheese and cashew nuts that can also be found in Es. I poured some beer and then some wine for Karn.
“That’s why you and the gods can’t treat things casually like the rest of us!” Dinoss bit into the Quail.
The Butler returned with Karn and Haulon. Karn took a hearty gulp from his wine-filled cup, and Haulon followed suit.
“Why, of all things, did you have to bring a Wanwan to the God of Storms and War?—No, I know that his god prefers to take the form of a jackal. But make no mistake, it is not a dog. It is a fierce, pitch-black, wild form,” Karn said, placing his cup on the table and speaking in a grave tone. The Butler quietly poured him a refill.
A jackal has big ears, a slender nose, and looks a bit like a fox. It’s cute.
I munched on the sautéed cashew nuts without trying to argue back. Retze was tugging at one side of my cheek, but I ignored it.
“I understood the situation after consulting with Asas, but I still don’t get how it ended up like this…” Haulon sighed.
“I think it’s because you two have been bickering like a couple,” he seemed to imply, waiting for someone to get involved.
Retze continued to pull at my cheek.
“Can you explain?”
“Ah…” Karn responded to Retze’s urging, and Haulon began to explain. Retze’s eyes gradually became half-lidded, and his mouth opened.
“Wow, we can’t keep the God of Fertility locked up forever, and it seems you were just waiting for someone to dump it on. Then Jean just happened to stroll in.”
“Strolled in and accidentally got caught up in the gods’ schemes, but this also caused more confusion,” Karn said gravely.
“The gods that appeared must not have expected the God of Storms and War to be easily bound by a contract, let alone overwritten with a strange name,” Retze said, sounding oddly reflective.
“It’s an unbelievable situation, but thanks to Asas, we are grateful to have him in the Underground Temple. —Breaking a promise would be frightening for the God of Storms and War, but even more so for Lord S. I never thought concerns would be alleviated in such a manner,” he mused.
Lord S…
Following Dinoss’s mention of Wanwan, now it was Karn’s turn to say Lord S. What kind of face should I make? Well, my cheek is still being tugged.
“While it’s unfortunate that you got caught up in this, Jean, you need to stop calling the Spirits by their names based on appearances,” Karn said.
“I’ll do my best.”
“Divine contracts take time to prepare and sometimes even require one’s life…” Haulon was on the verge of tears.
“While you two were out, it seems Karn and the others have given up, but don’t bring back anything too strange, okay?” Dinoss warned.
“If only Retze would follow Jean around…”
“Impossible!” Retze declared before Karn could finish.
“It would be reassuring to have you around. I can pay you for your services, you know?”
“You’d die in seconds,” Retze shot back without missing a beat.