Chapter 41 : Chapter 41

Chapter 41: The Sea God's Grace is Endless (3)

“Who is that?”

Artier asked, startled as he looked at him.

The old man then stopped his conversation, rose from his seat, and approached him.

“Ah, you must be Artier.”

The old man’s appearance seemed to scream, ‘I am a mage.’

He wore a long robe and a mage’s hat, with a staff made of antique wood slung across his back.

However, instead of leaning on the staff, he brought his hands together.

“I am Ropin, a servant who follows the will of Rata.”

A mage who was also a priest.

Artier knew of this man.

‘Why is a main NPC here?’

Ropin was the first main NPC to appear in the next main story.

Artier couldn't understand why a character he was supposed to meet on the northern front lines was here.

“A pleasure to meet you.”

Surprised as I was, I had to keep my wits about me.

Artier exchanged greetings with the priest and then looked around.

‘Gerard and Jeina don’t seem very wary either.’

Well, their reaction was perfectly normal. Priests weren't beings to be rashly suspected in a fantasy world.

And that was also true in <Cross Destiny>.

“There are many strong people here. Although one of them looked like he was at death’s door.”

At those words, Collie quietly averted his gaze.

“Of course, strength doesn't necessarily solve all problems.”

Ropin smiled leisurely before turning to Artier.

“I hear you all are heading to Gigas Hall?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“In that case, could I entrust you with an escort mission?”

[A quest has been generated.]

The Holy Mage Ropin wishes to hire you for a safe journey to Gigas Hall.

If you accept his request, you will gain his friendship and a small reward.

Reward: 2 silver coins per person, increased affinity with Ropin

“Pardon?”

Artier asked back in surprise.

What business could Ropin have in Gigas Hall?

This wasn't just because he was a story NPC.

“Will it be alright? Gigas Hall is a place that rejected the Rata faith.”

The Rata faith, which worshipped Last Star, the first and last star itself, was the state religion of the Empire.

However, the southwestern part of the Empire was a slightly special region. It was an area where various non-human races lived together, not humans.

‘The non-human races aren’t very fond of the Empire.’

Originally, the non-human races had refused to coexist with humans.

But after the Orion Empire unified the entire continent, they had no choice but to bow their heads to the Empire. The power of the Empire, with all of humanity gathered, was too much for the small populations of non-human races to handle alone.

“That’s why I’m asking you.”

Ropin was smiling purely. It was hard to tell if he was genuinely thoughtless or if he trusted them.

It was quite difficult to distinguish.

“We don’t want to cause any conflict with the non-human races.”

“The same goes for me. I simply wish to avoid an unwanted fight.”

“Is that so?”

Well, the Ropin from the original story was a pacifist. To the point where he wouldn't fight at all unless it was to protect himself.

He probably wasn't going there to pick a fight with the non-human races.

After a moment of thought, Artier nodded.

“Understood. We’ll accept.”

It wasn't a formal request, but what did it matter?

It was a good opportunity to earn some extra money since we were heading that way anyway.

“As expected, you’re quite straightforward. Just like the hero of Dorman. Hohoho!”

“……You know of me?”

“How could I not? The northern part of the Empire is already abuzz with stories about you.”

Ropin said it as if it were a matter of course.

“Are you not the legendary being who was promoted from a Low-Grade Mercenary to a Supreme-Grade Mercenary in a single leap? An incredible achievement that might be the first in history.”

That wasn’t my intention at all.

As Artier let out a hollow laugh, Gerard gave him a look and whispered through communication.

Don’t make that foolish face. It’s better to be respectful for the sake of the future.

The doctrine of the Rata faith was based on pacifism.

The logic was that since we were all part of the star, hurting others was the same as hurting oneself.

Therefore, priests of the Rata faith often trained quietly in temples and did not engage in external activities.

‘Do you think I don’t know that……. In the original story, I had to treat priests like gold because of that.’

Sighing inwardly, Artier looked at Ropin.

That was why this character was important.

The timing of when we could receive help from the Rata faith depended on what this person realized.

“I am a bit curious. How were you able to grow so quickly in such a short period?”

“Hellmorphs.”

“Hellmorphs?”

“They are heterogeneous monsters that appeared in the north. To survive them, I had to become stronger.”

Artier slowly recounted the story of what had happened so far.

From barely surviving in Jestion's viscounty to the unfortunate incident during the defensive battle.

After hearing the whole story, Ropin stroked his beard and fell into thought.

“Fiends that hate all living creatures…… how bizarre.”

“What do you mean?”

“The driving force for all living creatures is survival. Whatever the action, its foundation ultimately lies in the desire to survive.”

No matter how much the Rata faith advocated for peace, it didn't mean they were peace-obsessed fools.

For long ages, they had continuously studied the doctrines given to them and the truths of the world.

“Then what about helping or sacrificing for others?”

“That too belongs to the desire to make others survive. The surviving individual doesn’t necessarily have to be oneself.”

“……I see.”

“But the actions of those monsters called Hellmorphs are strange……. Their purpose and actions show no desire for survival. If they annihilate all living things, what on earth will they eat and drink to live?”

At Ropin’s words, everyone fell silent.

It was one of the questions they had always had as well.

“They were nothing more than puppets.”

Just then, Gerard spoke.

“I saw no organs for eating and living, and they did not make decisions autonomously. It is clear that there is a being controlling them from behind the scenes.”

“Hmm, it’s certainly an abnormal affair. I’ll have to visit the north after this request is over.”

“You have a request here?”

Artier asked.

As far as he remembered, Ropin had no quests related to the southern part of the Empire at this point in time.

“That’s right. The lord of Gigas Hall personally placed a request with me.”

“That’s strange. The lord of Gigas Hall should be a non-human race, too.”

“Well, I don’t know the reason, but he said he needed divine magic. I don’t know the details either. I’m not even sure if I can say more.”

It was understandable that Ropin couldn't speak about the contents of the request.

However, Artier was already thrown into confusion just by the information he had heard so far.

‘There’s someone in a critical state enough to need divine magic?’

Divine magic was among the strongest healing powers in this world.

It had the power to heal wounds in an instant and improve one's condition, almost as if turning back time.

But the price was enormous. Each time divine magic was used, the caster lost a part of their lifespan. One paid for saving another's life with their own.

‘But Ropin shouldn't be able to use divine magic right now, though?’

Artier looked at Ropin. At a glance, it seemed that the elderly Ropin had no lifespan left to pay.

“Will you be alright? You don’t seem to be of an age to be using divine magic.”

“I think so too. It could be dangerous, sir.”

It seemed Artier wasn't the only one who was puzzled, as Gerard and Collie asked with worried expressions.

However, Ropin simply bowed his head with a benevolent smile.

“If it is a beneficial deed, I do not fear my body returning to the star. That must be what the world desires of me.”

“……”

Everyone around was at a loss for words.

And Artier was clutching his brow.

‘Right. The priests of the Rata faith were all people like this.’

People who believed that if something was right, their lives were worth less than a sheet of paper.

They viewed death not as an end, but as a return to the original world, so they had no lingering attachment to life.

‘I need to use you to do the main quest. I have to save the world!’

Ironically, it seemed Artier was the one with more attachment to Ropin's life.

***

A week later.

Paaaaaaaaang!

As the loud sound of a ship's horn echoed, Artier walked out onto the deck.

“We’ve arrived!”

A massive castle wall covered in moss, a seamless road made of bricks.

If Dorman was a free-spirited commercial city, this place felt like a city built with meticulous planning.

“That’s Tobes Castle. One of the few southwestern cities belonging to the Empire.”

“Hwaaa! It’s so hot!”

Jeina was fanning herself nonstop with her hand, sweating profusely.

She was already wearing a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, and even with her sides wide open, she was still in that state.

“Collie! Can’t you use that thing that makes things cold again?”

“I can't just make ice water willy-nilly, and it’s not even that kind of skill in the first place.”

Collie said, sweating.

Having reached level 10, Collie had learned Ice Wall, a skill that created terrain.

It was a skill he learned to protect allies and manipulate terrain, but now it was being treated as Jeina's personal ice dispenser.

“Do you think making an Ice Wall the size of a finger is easy?”

“Aah! I don’t know, I don’t know! If you keep this up, I’m jumping into the water, you hear?!”

“Hmph, go ahead and jump, sir.”

Collie crossed his arms and turned his gaze away with a huff.

But Collie didn't know.

Jeina was a person who did what she said she would do.

Splash!

With a tremendous splash, Jeina's figure vanished in an instant.

“Je, Jeina?”

“Ueek?!”

Collie hurriedly grabbed the railing and looked down.

There was Jeina, tasting heaven.

“Ha, so refreshing.”

“……Gerard, please remove the saltiness later like last time.”

“Alright. I will.”

Once the ship stopped, the party disembarked onto the land one by one.

‘So this is the County of Tobes…….’

The scent of the sea still brushed my nose, but it felt different from when I was on the ship.

The fishy smell was much stronger, and the air was scorching hot.

All around, stalls selling accessories and street food were lined up in long rows, and countless people were walking around, purchasing goods.

Looking at the stalls, Artier unconsciously fixed his gaze on some of the people he saw here and there. Their ears, unlike his own, were pointed high as if to pierce the sky.

“Huh?”

And among those pointed ears, Artier spotted a familiar robe and mask.

“Bow!”

Bow put down the accessory he was looking at and slowly walked towards them.

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