Chapter 14

Chapter 14

“Hurrghh...”

I ended up passing out for two whole days after using Divine Advent. Prinz and my dad nursed me back to health while Bianca visited me regularly. The Holy Fever was as intense as its name suggested and I was bedridden with a high temperature the entire time. It was such a relief that the 1000 Days of Morning Prayer Quest allowed up to two absences.

I slipped in and out of consciousness but spent most of the time asleep which seemed to worry all the people around me. Ah, I mean people and gods.

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World sighs and says that they didn’t know there would be such terrible side effects.⟭

Oh, Lord Voice. How long have you been watching?

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World says they left work the moment they could and hurried over just now.⟭

I was very thankful to them in more ways than one. After all, I was only able to defeat the dungeon master thanks to their help. I giggled at the thought.

It was only for a moment, but I enjoyed being all-powerful. Taking care of that A-class boss was a cinch in that form. Seems like I could solo S-class dungeons pretty easily as well. I think I’m probably somewhere around the protagonist’s power level in Loop Twenty.

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World notes that depending on your potential, the Advent’s powers could increase many times over.⟭

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World retracts their words and says that you shouldn’t overuse the power.⟭

Yup, of course. I’ll train to get stronger myself.

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World compliments your resolve and encourages you to diligently pray, train, collect offerings, and evangelize.⟭

I could get behind praying and training, but I laughed when he said to collect offerings and evangelize. That’s right. Collecting offerings and evangelizing are the shortcuts to increasing my stats. I can buy both skills and powers through the Transmigrator’s Item Shop. As well as the pyramid scheme where the more followers I convert, the stronger I become. Pretty awesome, I guess.

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World lightly coughs and suggests that you use the term “multi-level marketing system” as opposed to “pyramid scheme.”⟭

Yes, yes. If you say so. Talking about this holy MLM made me realize something. The faith of these people impacts the gods directly. To be completely honest, I had adopted a rather flimsy attitude toward this transmigration, but seeing faith build up in this world made me realize it was just as valuable as the world I originally came from.

The existence of this world was unquestionable. Even if it was slowly falling into ruins. The souls of the people living here were probably real as well. It just so happened that the one and only god of this world that acted as the pillar of these people’s religion had left.

It seems expanding the congregation of The Voice that Shapes the World will benefit this world as well.

✠

“Allie! How are you feeling?”

“I feel fine now.”

“That’s such a relief. I was so worried.”

Bianca came running to my bedside as soon as she heard that I’d woken up. I purposely clenched my fists in a show of strength to reassure her that I was fine now. And I really was doing great. As soon as the penalty period was over, my body felt completely reinvigorated as if I had never been sick a day in my life.

It seemed Bianca hadn’t told anyone about what transpired in the dungeon. Divine Advent had a huge tradeoff and, strictly speaking, it was borrowed power. I couldn’t risk flaunting it around. I had intended on asking Bianca to keep it a secret, but it no longer appeared to be necessary. She had already caught on like the clever future countess she was. And so, our insane trip into the cemetery dungeon and fight against the boss was never revealed to anyone. I blamed my illness on being overworked, which ultimately turned out to be a good thing because my duties were drastically reduced.

I decided to clear up the whole situation with my decision about cooking and serving tea, as I had already learned quite enough of all that. I carefully announced to my dad, Peisha, and Isela that I might be more inclined toward alchemy than cooking or tea serving.

My dad had a hard time concealing his good mood while Peisha and Isela seemed unwilling to let me go this easily. I had been a little worried that Peisha and Isela would be disappointed in me, but those worries were unfounded.

It seems they were the type of people that get even more fired up in the face of a challenge. But my mind was already made up. Selling healing potions to adventurers was likely to be my most profitable option.

Having skills and powers wouldn’t cut it in such a harsh world. I needed wealth. I made mental plans for myself to re-read Infinite Returns to Save the World so I could make a list of all the dungeons adventurers frequented the most.

That’s right! I forgot all about it. Thinking about dungeons reminded me of something important. I still needed to decide what I was going to do with the dungeon I had conquered. There are two options when deciding what to do with defeated dungeons.

The first option is to keep it open for adventurers. Not only do dungeons without bosses become significantly easier to navigate, but all of the items dropped by the demonic creatures could also be collected and unique resources such as special plants, ores, and other rare materials could be mined.

The second route would be to terminate the dungeon. In other words, one could close the dungeon and it would cease to exist. Dangerous dungeons or dungeons that don’t have very many resources were usually terminated like this.

The dungeon I had conquered fit into the second category. In addition to only spawning common skeletal monsters, the dungeon was a lifeless cemetery with no plants or ore. What little they had going for them was swept away by my divine power. All that was left now was a desolate wasteland.

Not to mention the dungeon was situated smack in the middle of the castle, like a parasite clinging to healthy tissue. It didn’t require much thought. The dungeon had to be closed. But it was such a shame. It was my first own plot of land. I put off closing it for now and decided to speak with Bianca about it later.

“Using your powers doesn’t put a burden on your body, does it?” Bia asked. “After you used them you seemed just fine before you suddenly keeled over. I think it’s best if you keep your powers hidden and don’t use them too much.”

“Yeah, I’ll do that. Now that I think about it, you must’ve been quite panic-stricken when I fainted in your arms. Sorry about that. Was I difficult to carry?”

Just as I was feeling sorry for her for having to drag my body across the dungeon, Bianca said something unexpected. “No, it was quite all right. I had some help with that.”

“Help?”

“Yeah. The skeletal monsters helped me move your body.”

“What?” This was quite unexpected. I didn’t realize there were skeletons that survived my blast. And they helped us out to boot?

“I’m serious,” she said. “I told them to stop staring and help me out, so they did.”

I could picture it in my head. The dignified future countess fiercely ordering about the undead. It somehow made sense in my mind.

“Hmm, those skeletons must’ve survived by burrowing deep underground. They probably were all trained to take orders as a result of being worked like slaves in Ardiman’s army... That’s it! I know what to do now!”

“Allie?”

A lightbulb had gone off in my head. I hurriedly took out the skill book I received as loot from defeating the dungeon boss.

⟬«Skill» [Infamy in the Realm of the Undead (Passive)]

All undead monsters that see you will be afflicted with [Fear].

Note: This skill is more effective against weaker undead creatures.⟭

Infamy! Fear! Wonderful! I opened up the Transmigrator’s Item Shop and purchased a familiar item.

⟬«System» You’ve successfully purchased [Job Advancement Package (Non-Combat)]⟭

⟬«System» You have chosen [The Hands of a Farmer Blessed by a Nature Spirit]. Your Farming skill is Lv. 1.⟭

It just so happened that I needed a decent supply of herbs to create my healing potions. I smiled triumphantly. “Hehehe.”

“Allie...?” Bianca gave me a quizzical look, but I ignored it and grabbed her hand.

“Bia, let’s go! There’s someplace we need to visit!”

✠

Skeleton Troop No. 1004. That was the name he had been given. That wasn’t his original name, of course, but time was cruel and his memories were worn out, not unlike his brittle joints. All that remained was his number.

He had received it long ago before the name “Gilette” was written upon any map. Back then, Skeleton Troop No. 1004 had set out on his rite of passage quest as a prince. He diligently traveled the continent and completed the tasks given to him. All that was left to do was return to his family’s castle and succeed his father. As he eagerly began his trip back home, he just so happened to pass by what is now Gilette Castle.

“Sir, watch out!”

“No!”

Of all things, a dungeon sink broke out and the prince was trapped in an A-Class dungeon.

“Ha! How lovely of you to join me!”

After receiving Necromancer Ardiman’s overly enthusiastic welcome, the prince and his party were transformed into Skeleton Troop No. 1004, No. 1005, No. 1006, and No. 1007.

Their terrible lives as the slaves of a demon began. They were subject to hard labor. Shoveling away the land to expand the cemetery was considered a good day. On others, they had to stand guard to ensure no adventurer got past them. On those days when dungeon task forces invaded, they would be the first ones to get trounced as a skeleton shield to defend Ardiman.

They lost count of how many times their bones broke into millions of pieces, only to be restored so that they could repeat the process.

I’m tired of this now! Someone, please save us!

All they could manage to do to express their internal struggle was clack away with their rickety bones. And at last, as they worked, yearning for freedom, Ardiman was finally defeated. Skeleton Troop No. 1004 was overwhelmed with relief at the thought of death. Finally, his eternal rest.

I have neither flesh to be buried nor a name to be engraved on my tombstone, but I am content.

Unfortunately for him…

“This land is going to be a herb garden from now on. I need you to cultivate the land starting here and all the way down to the end there. Double time!”