Chapter 662 - Chapter 590: Apostle of the Jade Goddess
The church inside looks almost identical to the one on my island.
The pews are a different shape, but the size and number of rows appear to be the same.
And at the very back, the Jade Goddess statue I created is displayed, with a wooden fence about waist-high placed in front of it.
"That fence is well-made."
"Hey, focus on what's important."
I mean, I can't help but notice.
It appears to be varnished, but I wonder how they made it.
"Wah."
"Yeah. Let's pray."
Considering what's to come, I properly pray for everyone's safety.
I feel like I'm being watched by the goddess. Or rather, I am being watched... Wait?
"Hey, Shou. You got a buff, didn't you?"
"Huh?"
The people behind me apparently saw me, Lupi, and the others glow faintly for an instant.
Now that I think about it, I heard that praying at the goddess statue in the Necropolis grants a buff. Maybe that was applied?
But then again, that statue was like an event item, and it's strange that it would be applied to the statue I made...
"Shou-kun. Check your status."
"Ah, right."
While thinking about that, I check my status and see:
[Jade Goddess Apostle's Blessing]
"Huh?"
[Jade Goddess Apostle's Blessing]
"Apostle beloved by the Jade Goddess. Their blessing grants great power. Holy Magic and Spirit Magic MP consumption reduced by 5%, AGI, LUK +3% (1 hour)"
...Wait? Has this been happening all along?
I mean, I remember getting the title "Apostle of the Jade Goddess" when I installed the goddess statue in the Necropolis.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, but there's a [Jade Goddess Apostle's Blessing] on me."
"You didn't even notice yourself?"
Natto, Bordeaux-san, and the others seemed to understand and accept that it was just me.
What is this mysterious trust...
"Was this on me before too?"
"It probably activated when you prayed, Shou-kun?"
"Ah, I see."
So it activates when the titleholder prays?
Well, it's not a bad thing, so I'll go with it for now.
"We should head out soon."
"Ryo. So what's the plan?"
"From what I heard from those waiting, several parties seem to be planning to enter the forest, so we'll invite them to join our alliance."
Saying that, Natto shows me his guild card.
He immediately sends a message saying "We've regrouped, heading your way" then puts the card away.
"What about the spectators?"
"Just leave them be?"
"Well, as long as they don't try to touch Lupi and the others, it should be fine..."
"You're a celebrity, there's nothing you can do about it."
And so, we head back the way we came.
It wouldn't be right for me to ride Rigel alone while everyone else walks...
"Gaju, ride on me instead. Mog-kun too, if you'd like."
"Jyu!""Gwo~?"
"Blu-rin♪"
Of course, Rigel is fine with it, so I lift Gaju onto him, and Natto lifts Mog-kun onto him.
Some cheering comes from the spectators watching from a distance, but... I won't pay it any mind.
"Well then, let's go."
"Ou""Understood"
...
..
.
"Nice to meet you!"
"Pleased to meet you all."
South of the town gate. We've walked outside the walls and finished greeting the members who came with Natto.
Before us stretches what you'd call a forest—a dense jungle. I went a little way in when we defeated the Kobolds earlier, but I probably didn't go very deep back then.
"So what's the plan?"
"I've already thought about that. Shou, I'm counting on you."
"Counting on you, huh, from you..."
As for going into the forest's depths, if there are people who want to come along, we'll have them join the alliance like the others with Natto's group.
Oh, I need to make someone from Natto's "Fairy's Friend" the sub-leader.
"Um, we're just going to check out what's deep in the forest, so any parties who want to join, please form an alliance with us."
I call out, and people watching from a short distance start murmuring. After that, I'll leave it to Natto, with a deadline of 5 minutes.
It might seem short, but if the number keeps growing, it'll become endless with debates about when to leave.
"Let me know if you're interested."
"Jyuju!"
Parties who want to join line up in front of Natto, so I have Gaju thoroughly check for strange people.
Quite a few people seem to be joining, so I check the parties and alliances...
[Tir na nOg]
☆Shou's Party
Shou, Lupi, Leda, Roy, Rigel
・Former Silver Cat Knights
Shal, Cait Siths (24 members)
・Kijimunaa Warriors
Gaju, Kijimunaas (10 members)
☆Fairy's Friend
Natto, Bordeaux, ...
...
..
.
I need to scroll to see it all...
Bordeau-san is explaining various things to the people who joined.
Since it's easy to get lost deep in the forest, I'll handle that (or rather, Gaju and the others will), and we'll proceed further.
"Time's up. Let's head out. It's past 2 PM."
"Ryo. Then, we'll depart!"
"'''Ooooh!'''"
It feels a bit like a raid scale, but it's better than having too few people.
...
..
.
Lupi and the others lead the way, with me and Gaju on Rigel following behind.
Natto's group and the alliance members have too many people to move together as a single block, but they're staying relatively within sight of each other, spread to the left and right.
"Nothing to do..."
"Jyu"
The Kobolds we encounter are at most five or six, so most of them flee.
We don't chase them since there's a chance they might get lost if they scatter, instead we proceed in the direction they fled.
After about 15 minutes of walking...
"Jyu!"
"Lupi! Wait!"
Gaju calls out, and I have Lupi and the others stop.
It seems like there's something up?
"What is it?"
"It seems like there's something. I'll go take a quick look, keep watch."
"Huh? For real? Be careful."
I dismount from Rigel and dash to Lupi's location.
Just ahead is a bit darker than before, but nothing particularly strange...
"Jyu. Jyuju!"
"Huh? Over there?"
I crouch down to Gaju's eye level and look where Gaju is pointing.
Right, I need to activate [True Appraisal] to see...
"Huh? What is that!?"
A giant tree wrapped in miasma (?) was walking... where I hadn't noticed it at all...