Chapter 389: Protection
“Wait. Didn’t a Spirit just emerge?” Haulon looked somewhat dazed.
“Something that looks just like Note suddenly appeared. Does that mean a Spirit was born?” Retze said.
“Normally, they’re born a bit smaller, but that one was already pretty big.” I had a few notebooks for Es piling up, but I hadn’t bound them into a book yet.
Is it really the weight of the ancient gods’ names? I did change Stekar’s name, though. — Please disregard Es.
“…This is just another day, huh…” Haulon hung his head in disappointment.
“…I am your King’s Branch.” Karn’s voice crawled up from the depths of the earth.
“Huh?” Karn had been posing like some dark mastermind lost in thought, but it seemed he was finally ready to step into the light.
“If you permit it, I can command your Contracted Spirit.”
“Is that so?”
“That’s not just ‘is that so!’ While it might be fine for Asas alone, what about Es and the gods connected to it…? What do you plan to do by contracting with those beings!?”
“I’ll give you permission.” It would be easier if there was cooperation in the construction of the land.
“Stop! That’s terrifying!” Karn was unusually furious.
“You’re relentless.” Dinoss muttered weakly.
“Hey, ease up a bit—don’t look so bewildered. It’s said that the more renowned an ancient Spirit is, the greater the influence it has on the humans living in that land. I can barely feel Spirits, but those who can see them are filled with awe.” Retze explained.
“Long ago, when people were much closer to Spirits than they are now, those who lived in lands strongly influenced by Spirits were said to be their retainers. Even now, the stronger one’s ability to sense Spirits, the more pronounced that influence is. They are literally speaking the finest Spirits born from those Spirits. And in this land, it’s not an exaggeration to say that everything consumed is influenced by Es.” Haulon elaborated.
“I see? So, the more one can see or borrow the power of Spirits, the greater the influence?” I guess it’s because I’m the retainer of my own master. Of course, there’s also the aspect of faith due to the blessings the land provides.
“Exactly. I’ve moved around a lot since I was young, so I don’t feel the same awe towards Goddess Es as King Tildonai does. Still, there are several gods I can’t look in the eye.”
“Really?” I thought humans just captured Spirits to command them, but it turns out they could also be dominated by Spirits before they even realize it.
“So, what about you? Isn’t being a protector the ultimate form of becoming a retainer?”
“Huh?” I asked Karn back. What do you mean?
“The current Hero is referred to as ‘Apostle of Light,’ ‘Retainer of Goddess Namina,’ and ‘Hero of Namina.’ From what I hear, it seems you have more than one god protecting you—but there’s no sign of fear or attraction from fire, water, or light. How are you managing to negate their influence?”
Ah. So that’s it. If one is heavily influenced by a Spirit, their traits will manifest too!
“Dinoss, who is accompanied by the Fire Spirit, is sensitive to the cold. Is that why Karn is too?” Dinoss doesn’t show it much, but there are times when he sends magic power to his dragon-shaped Spirit and feels warm.
“I just dislike the cold. I can move even in extreme cold.”
“The desert has a significant temperature difference, you know.” Haulon added.
So he’s just sensitive to the cold. And when I think about it, the influence of Baylis, who is directly attached to me, is probably greater than Es.
“I wonder if the powers of the gods are canceling each other out? I remember hearing that if you receive multiple protections at once, incompatible attributes can negate each other.” I vaguely recalled something like that being said.
Now that I think about it, I’ve never directly used the power of the gods. Well, I didn’t summon them, but does using them for fields and production count?
Well, I don’t think I’ll lean towards the power of any one of them.
“I see…” Haulon let out a sound and then fell deep into thought.
“You! How dare you receive the protection of other gods while ignoring this Wanwan! Just how many gods are you under the protection of?” The Wanwan, who had been gnawing on a bone, lifted its head.
“Yeah. When I came to this world, I received protection from eight of them.”
“Eight…!?” Dinoss burst out laughing. Haulon was choking.
“That’s… I can’t believe you’re still standing, even Wanwan is surprised!” The Wanwan’s eyes widened.
“Will I collapse?”
“Don’t you know? Unlike contracts, protection means the power of the gods flows in constantly. If you’re strongly influenced, a human’s body can’t withstand it and will break! After breaking, you either die or become a Spirit!” The Wanwan said proudly for some reason.
“Uh… I don’t like that.” I hadn’t signed up for this.
“Speaking of which, there’s a story about Heroes ultimately becoming Spirits. But that’s supposed to be a choice they make.”
“Now that you mention it, I’ve heard that too.” Haulon replied to Retze.
“Can you choose?”
“I’ll look into the origins of that story a bit. —For now, shall we eat?” Before everyone fell into their own thoughts, Retze called out.
“If we stay in one place, not only Demon Beasts but also flies and wasps will swarm us.”
“I don’t want that.” I dove into my meal.