Chapter 1781 (1/2)

As Darcia waited inside the capsule for her new body to be co Vandalieu's voice as a lullaby… did not happen

She was currently receiving grueling training from an instructor in a field of flowers

“Keep shooting while running! Don't let your ars or eyes rest!”

“Yes, Sensei!”

“This is a Divine Realue and your physical liination, limits imposed upon you by your own mind!” the instructor barked “Transcend your mind!”

“Yes, Sensei!”

The male instructor… the Dhampir mercenary Veld, who had only recently finally become a heroic spirit of Vida, the Goddess of life and love, was showing mercy as he made Darcia work

When Veld was alive, he had given harsher training… fro that was perhaps better described as torture, to the subordinates and newcomers in hisupon Darcia, even if training hat she herself desired

What Darcia wanted to beco mother who can do more than be protected by her own son”

So why has this becoh of this when I lived in poverty, Veld thought, but he felt so and firing arrows simultaneously

She learned quickly As to be expected of a mind, one that had overcohly motivated, and at this rate, Veld expected that she would become incomparably more powerful than when she was a mere Dark Elf

At the very least, she would be strong enough to not be captured by the likes of the Five-colored Blades at the time

“Use martial skills next! This isn't reality, so don't worry about your Mana and the is; focus only on hitting your target!” Veld shouted

“Yes, Sensei!”

Rapid Fire, Sustained Fire, High-angle Fire, Screw Projectile, Shadow Arrow… All of these were martial skills that could be used with a Skill level of 5 or less, but being able to use theets accurately while running was quite pro

“Cease fire! Break time!” said Veld

“Yes! … By the way, Veld-sensei, is there a point to taking a break when I don't have a body?” Darcia asked

“There is Even if I tell you to not feel any ue, that's impossible You can only take your attention away fronore it Do you not feel it?”

Veld, who had wandered Vida's Resting Grounds for a long time as a deue accumulated over time Because he reue had eaten away at him

“I'ot tired,” said Darcia

“Well, that's healthier for you I suppose we should have some tea for now,” said Veld

He held out a hand, and a tea set with baked sweets appeared under it

This was yet another illusion with no physical form, but the scent and taste of the tea and sweets had been reproduced, so consu them would relieve the stress on their minds

“Ah, then why don't we have this?” said Darcia, waving her hand

A lunchbox containing sandwiches and onigiri, along with soreen tea, appeared

“This is Earth's food that Vandalieu recreated,” Darcia explained “Since he shared his senses with me, I kno it tastes and smells, so I can eat it here like your baked sweets, Sensei”

“… I-I see Then I shall partake,” said Veld

Normally, one would not be able to reproduce items from their own memories unless they were a familiar spirit or heroic spirit Veld concealed his surprise as he ate several onigiri

The texture of rice, which he had not tasted in a long time, was quite pleasant

“Once we finish eating, you will be training in unarer techniques with another instructor,” said Veld “After that is ic comes after that Don't eat toothat your stomach feels heavy”

“But is there any point in doingnow? I don't have a body,” said Darcia, questioning how useful push-ups and sit-ups would be when she was in a state of having only her mind with no body

“Normally, there wouldn't be,” Veld replied “But you're different Your body is currently being created from the root of life The root of life adapts the soul to the body while creating it, so if your soul perfores that your th has increased, the root of life will feed that back into your body”

“Really?! The root of life is even ht, isn't it?”

“Yeah, so do your best with the ,” said Veld as he ate his onigiri, which were more delicious than he had expected them to be

In the next moment, several silhouettes appeared behind Veld

“Wait, Veld Is it not time for us to become Darcisan's instructors now?” one of them said

“To partake in this food without us, despite being a newcomer… I am envious,” said another

“That's right, that's right! Respect the siblings of your ancestors!” shouted a third

Veld's expression turned into one of exasperation

“W-what shall we do?” said Darcia, her s a little

There was a Goddess with the appearance of athe skull of a beast on his head, a Pure-breed Va boy, a Harpy that had reached Rank 13 and a Succubus

“Cooking skills are essential for mothers! Let me, the Goddess of hearths, teach you how a God handles a cooking knife!” said a Goddess with the appearance of a ed woman

“I, the Pure-breed Va!” said a Pure-breed Va boy

“Then I'll teach you unars of my arms and my talons!” said the Harpy

“Ah, then I shall teach her how to fight indoors with randson Godwin, after all,” said the Succubus

Veld looked around at them and waved a hand at them with a smile “Leave, Gods and extras”

The Gods i their protest

“How terrible! Even as a joke, you shouldn't say that to Gods!”

But Veld's stance did not change “Enough! If you are Gods, then answer only when you are called upon I am reluctant, but my role as instructor has already been decided!” he shouted, his voice sounding like a roar

“Wah, Veld is angry!” one of the Goddesses squealed, and the whole group fled

Heroic spirits were commonly respected by the people like the Gods were But although they were in a lower position than the Gods, the relationshi+p between them appeared to be one between equals

“They have tooto fool around, do it elsewhere, Gods,” Veld muttered

Vida's faction was different fro's army and its remnants, where extreme hierarchical relationshi+ps existed, and it was also different from the strict authoritarian society of Alda's faction, where each role existed to maintain order and discipline

Though it depended on the individuals' personalities, hierarchical relationshi+ps were vague, and there were some merits to this Veld, a former mercenary, had taken notice of this, but… he did wonder whether his actions were really acceptable

“U worried

“Hmm? Ah, those people are always like that There is no need to worry about them They do not really intend to teach you how to use a kitchen knife or fight indoors It is so like a joke of theirs,” he said to reassure her

But it see else

“W-will I groings, or talons, or a tail? It isn't like I hate the idea of it, but big changes towhether the training I' to waste,” she said

It see body

“That is…” Veld couldn't i this topic

He was a veteranfor those with bodies that were significantly different from humans' bodies

But before he ed to squeeze out a response, the owner of this Divine Realm appeared

“It is alright, Darcia, entle voice of Vida, as enveloped by a warht

“Vidsama!” Veld exclaimed

Even he would correct his behavior in the presence of a great God

Darcia'sher because that was Vida's will

To begin with, su training in that state had no precedent The fact that it was taking place noas because of Darcia's own desire to becoer, and also because Vida's faction could not afford to have her waste the time that her body would take to become complete and ready for her resurrection

According to Ricklent and Zuruwarn's inforun to make his move in earnest The infor multiple measures in addition to the trial that he had presented to the Five-colored Blades to er

Thus, it was possible that Darcia would beco after her resurrection

The reason Vida was going to such lengths for Darcia's sake… It wasn't because Darcia was the key to victory against Alda's forces But because Darcia's body was being created by the root of life and Vida's crystallized blood had been used, it had become possible for her to train inside this Divine Realm, so Vida had decided that it would be best if she did

Even though the situation was quite different froo, the one who had al a move It was only normal to want to take every countermeasure possible

“You say it is alright Does that mean that you knohat form I will be resurrected in, Goddess-sama?” Darcia asked with expectations in her eyes

“Darcia, Skills exist in this world,” Vida said, bringing up another topic rather than answering her question “Skills are engraved into the soul Thus, by training in this Divine Realm where your mind has a defined form, you will build up the technical ability you need to acquire and master Skills When you return to your completed body, I am sure that the numbers you see on your Skills will reflect your efforts,” she explained “And if you have the bonuses that Skills provide, it does not e a little You will become accustomed to it quickly”

“Umm, I'm happy about that, but… in other words…?”

“I don't knohat forhed, poking out her tongue

Darcia staggered in exasperation

It would be fine to be angry about that, Veld thought as he listened in silence

“Oh my… But if even a Goddess doesn't know, then there's no use worrying about it!”

It seeetting angry

“It is good that you are positive about things But ould like to enter the Boundary Mountain Range as well Rodcorte is e movements, and I wish to eat curry,” said a voice from behind

Veld turned around in surprise to see Zuruwarn, the God of space and creation, whose four heads seeiri that were still left Accoic, looking at Zuruwarn through half-closed eyes

“Zuruwarn…” Ricklent muttered

“Oh my, you two have come as well I would like to treat you to tea, but…” Vida said, her s as she trailed off

Because of the barrier e, Zuruwarn and Ricklent could only appear in her Divine Realm as illusions

“It can't be helped,” Zuruwarn and Ricklent said, and then they changed the topic of conversation

“I have told you previously that Alda's forces areactively, but they have positioned a God of war and a guardian deity at strange locations It is possible that those locations are where Botin and Peria are sealed, but… I don't understand why they would do such a thing They are certainly not trying to protect them from Vandalieu, so perhaps it is some kind of bait? No, it is far too obvious If the re's arnore them?” Ricklent muttered

“Ricklent, getting lost in your thoughts in the middle of conversations is a bad habit of yours,” said Vida “And your way of thinking is too logical”

“Indeed Unlike before, Alda is currently acting on fear and e to read Alda's future actions, youto trip over yourself,” said Zuruwarn

“Zuruwarn, it is good that you are being serious about this conversation, but stop fawning over the onigiri My child is bewildered by your behavior,” said Vida

Veld, who could not join in on a conversation between great Gods, simply kept his head down in silence

Meanwhile, Darcia was talking to Zuruwarn “I'll have Vandalieu offer theht, once I've been resurrected, I'll have hiether! Once they're finished, we'll offer them to you!”

It seemed that she had become well-accustomed to encounters with the Gods that she had already met before

“Are you serious?! Ah, but if the offerings are made across the barrier, I can't reproduce them in my Divine Realm…” Zuruwarn said wistfully

“Zuruwarn…” Ricklent sighed “Leaving that aside, has Gufadgarn not shown himself, my sister? With the help of this new brother, it should be possible for us to enter the barrier”

Gufadgarn had been entering and leaving the Boundary Mountain Range, along with the entirety of the Trial of Zakkart With his power, it should be possible to pass through the barrier

But Gufadgarn still hadn't visited Vida's Divine Realm even once In fact, he made almost no effort to leave Vandalieu's workshop

Thus, Ricklent and the others had been unable to contact him… or rather, her

“He's always been the type to hole himself up in one place… and I think he's over the moon at the fact that he has met Vandalieu,” said Vida

Darcia let out a surprised “Eh?!” upon hearing Vida say that Gufadgarn was over theto her because as far as she rearn had always behaved courteously

“… Then I suppose it cannot be helped We shall reather infor noticed by Alda,” said Ricklent

“Sending a Divine Message now is painful, too,” said Zuruwarn

It see “over the arn worshi+pped the champion Zakkart

Indeed, she worshi+pped him

It was strange that a God would worshi+p a human, even one froarn's relationshi+p with Zakkart

The reason that Gufadgarn had remained in Vida's faction up until now, the reason she had made accommodations for Vida's races that lived in the Boundary Mountain Range – it was all because Vida was the Goddess who had chosen Zakkart

Thus, Gufadgarn had often behaved impolitely towards the other Gods and had become knoithin Vida's faction as the “capable but troublesoh such Gods were not unusual in Vida's faction, so he was not viewed as a particular problem

“Well, if Vandalieu visits anyone's Divine Realarn,” said Vida “Now then, Darcia, it's ti I'll leave it to you, Veld”

“Yes, Vidsama!” said Darcia “I'm in your care, Veld-sensei”

Veld looked at his ht smile, and his student ould likely surpass him in the future

Aren't I the one being h

In a deserted, old, worn-outbut handsome face had an incredibly deep frown on it He would not frown this deeply even if he had just stepped in a pile of horse dung

“Your will and your son?” he said, glaring at the well-ordered, sculpture-like face of the Emperor Marshukzarl

But the half-Elf's expression was calns of fear or nervousness

“That's right Soon, they will come for my throne and, in the best-case scenario, imprison me under the false story that I have fallen ill If the tiht, they will likely have me 'die of illness,'” Marshukzarl said, his expression still reic fate that he would soon meet

“The standard trick when forcing soh social position,” Schneider muttered “Just so I knohat's the worst-case scenario?”

“A public execution Being burnt at the stake, most likely,” said Marshukzarl

“That sounds aweso out of the Itear – no, a stick-shaped vegetable

“… Why are you eating a root vegetable here?” Marshukzarl asked

“Vegetables are good for your health, don't you know? Also, I don't s to suys,” said Schneider

He and Marshukzarl were the only ones in the roouys,” the athtly

“As to be expected of you,” said Marshukzarl “Though they are different from the Fifteen Swords and the Hilt, it is iht they were adept in staying invisible, though ar”

An e hiht someone to this mansion

“More importantly, why is soion shouldn't have had that much of an effect, should it, o wise ruler?” said Schneider, taking no notice of Marshukzarl's words

The Marshukzarl that Schneider knew ruled the Amid Empire in a way that the humans that made up the majority of the population considered him to be a wise ruler

At the very least, it would appear that way to the people

No taxes were collected beyond the fixed tax aion and the expedition that he had forced the Mirg shi+eld-nation to conduct, he was undefeated in war Monster raes were suppressed by his subordinates, and public order wascriminals such as bandits and pirates