Chapter 413: Blessed By A Monster (2/2)

”As I suspected, a ruthless leader but a righteous one. Yet, countless sailors fell for the river, but why was this an exception?” Arthur wondered to himself. ”Can you guide me to that spot?”

His wounds were mostly healed, so there was little of use to stay in the village. However, since he got a good lead out of this, he might investigate the place.

”It is the least we can do, My Lord,” Regal nodded and stood up. ”Please, follow me.”

***

They reached their destination after half an hour of walking. It was a riverbank beside a tree, and there were some traces of blood around. However, Arthur could tell that there were traces of energy that didn't belong to this place, and it might belong to the monster.

”This is the place, good sir,” Regal pointed. ”However, monsters are seen a lot in this place, so it's best to take caution.”

”No need to worry, you can go back now. I won't be coming back to the village, so take this,” Arthur handed him a pouch of gold. ”Do you know of Hidden City?”

”Ah, I've heard words of it in the harbor,” Regal took the pouch with confusion. Then, from the weight of the item and the jingle of coins, he seemed to realize what it was. ”Sir, please take this back! You've already done more than enough for us!”

”Don't worry about such things and listen to me. If you need a place to stay, go to Hidden City. You will be given a house and a job, so don't worry about those things.”

”Hidden City and a man with one arm,” Regal muttered before his face morphed into shock, and he fell to his knees. ”My Lord, are you the Seika of Living Beings?” the man was trembling.

”It does not matter who I am, but what I can do for you. I've seen your selflessness, so I'm offering you this chance for a better life.”

”I,” the merchant's hand tightened around the pouch, ”humbly decline, Seika,” he refused, which astonished Arthur.

”Why so?”

”I first heard of your name a month ago when our lands became more fertile. They said you brought a divine tree to our land, and its blessings were so strong that our land became fertile. But, of course, I had no money to spend on farming, and this place was never one to be farmed.”

”And how is that a reason?”

”I'm ungrateful, but you have given my village a chance to survive. If I leave this place, then there's no hope for the rest of my people. However, I want to stay here and build a farm. This way, we will never starve again.”

”So, it's the village again,” Arthur smiled toward the man, a smile so sweet that the man felt humbled. ”I'm not different from you, Regal. I'm just working to protect my people. If you care so much about your village, then bring them with you. They will have to work to stay in Hidden City, but I'll give them houses and food.”

”...” the man was silent, and he wiped out his eyes as he nodded. He then struck his forehead on the ground in kowtow so hard that it bled. ”I will never forget this debt,” he said through a choked voice before standing up and leaving.

Arthur smiled as the man returned to his village, and his attention shifted to the tree. He walked to sit beneath it and waited for the first monster to show its face.

True to his expectations, the monsters were quick to appear once they sensed his presence. However, this place wasn't the main river, but a stream stemming from it, so the monsters were weaker.

”I'm not here to fight,” Arthur's eyes began glowing as his authority as the creator took hold of the monster's existence. ”Go back to your master and relay my with to meet them.”

The monsters tried to struggle, but they couldn't oppose their existence, which Arthur commanded them. They dived back into the stream, other monsters emerged, and Arthur repeated his action.

It was night when the last monster returned underwater, carrying the hundredth message to their leader. Arthur waited, and he simply closed his eyes to think about the development of his city. Time passed slowly, but Arthur knew that his invitation would receive an answer.

It was midnight when a presence appeared in the stream, and a figure emerged. As he opened his eyes, Arthur saw the monster that had blessed Aether.