Chapter 26 Part1 (1/2)
<chapter 26.=”” new=”” element=”” -=”” 1=””>
[The Bursting Thunder skill has become Lv10 and has evolved to the high rank level! Strength and Magic have increased by 30. The powerful lightning can now draw upon the energy of the heavens.]
[The Intermediate Combat Sense skill has become Lv9. Agility has increased by 10. You will have a foggy idea of what your opponent will do next.]
[You have learned the active skill, Lv1 Lightning Shadow.]
He'd not only learned how to further progress as a warrior who used lightning, but also gained a new skill he could potentially fuse, and had an experience that was especially profitable; yet, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo stared blankly, as though he had left his soul behind. Jin and Kratia quietly examined Lee s.h.i.+n Woo.
”What could've happened for him to be like that?”
”I wonder. Maybe he got a lot less stats than he'd expected from the bone?”
However, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo didn't hear the two's voices. He couldn't forget the last thing Seagald had said.
'Retadane... He definitely said Retadane.'
There was no way he'd heard wrong. Moreover, the memory of the experience was still fresh, and he could playback the memory if he wanted.
He was sure. Seagald had said 'Retadane'.
'Wait... Now that I think about it, Retadane would react whenever I talked about Seagald.'
At the time, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had responded to her as naturally as possible, but he inwardly thought it was strange. Because Retadane didn't really react when the other 12 generals were mentioned. Thus, he had hypothesized that Retadane had already met Seagald once before...
'If that's the case, then is she his descendent...? She's probably not his daughter, so maybe his granddaughter?'
When he'd come to the Underground Empire, he had definitely heard G.o.d say this in pa.s.sing. Before she had summoned heroes from other worlds, she had turned her world's people into heroes. They all 'failed', but she didn't say that they had all 'died'.
But to think a citizen of the Empire would be included... Not only that, but a citizen of the Empire who wasn't affected by the curse.
'It's not impossible, right? She might've been born in a dungeon.'
So long as she operated as a hero, there would be no problem for him, regardless of whether Seira Von Retadane was a citizen of the Empire, lived above ground, or just lived in this world.
He was a bit curious if the other heroes knew about this, but... anyone would be able to figure out the truth if they knew Seagald's family name, and it wasn't even really a huge secret either.
'If I get the chance, I'll ask Pleine.'
But Lee s.h.i.+n Woo realized that he didn't really need to go out of his way to ask Pleine. By defeating the Lightning Shadow General, he'd gained 10 permits to G.o.d's secret shop!
Defeating a general greatly contributed to G.o.d's goal of purifying the Empire, so it seemed as though G.o.d gave those contributing heroes the chance to meet her as a reward. If that's the case, then asking G.o.d would give him the most clear answer!
”Alright. 'Strike the iron while it's hot.'”
”What? There's still more we have to do?”
”Nope. We're finished. It's been a while, so let's go meet G.o.d. Why don't you come too, Kratia?”
Jin looked uneasy, while Kratia briefly looked like she had no idea what was going on. She ruminated over the message right away, and nodded her head.
”Now that I think about it, I remember you (s.h.i.+n Woo) talking about that.”
”You don't need to be afraid. All you need to do is badger her for a ability or an item.”
”Alright. ...I've changed my mind a little.”
Kratia still didn't like the idea of G.o.d affecting her abilities, but the conversation changed if G.o.d could give her a new artifact. Kratia, who wanted a new ability for her artifact, nodded her head at his words, and ultimately, entered G.o.d's garden.
”Then, shall we go too?”
”Do we really have to?”
”You never know, we might get better abilities. Plus, I have something personal I want to ask G.o.d. But if you really don't want to go...”
”...No, I'll go.”
Jin sighed quietly, nodded as if he had resolved himself, and stood beside him. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had no idea what he had been thinking about, but thought it wasn't strange that Jin had his own problems to think about, and used the permit to G.o.d's garden.
[The party is entering G.o.d's garden through the use of the permit.]
When he softly closed his eyes and reopened them, he was transported to a beautiful garden that he'd been to once before.
Perhaps because he completely accepted himself last time, he didn't appear as a human, but as a level 6 Powered Elemental Bone Joker. Of course, Jin wasn't anywhere nearby...
[Good job!]
”Ugh.”
He felt someone touch him. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo felt an aggressively warm and soft feeling spread over his body and the sweet aroma made it so he momentarily couldn't get a hold of himself, but was soon able to calm down through Invisible Heart.
The situation was quite clear. G.o.d was hugging him! To think she could agitate him, an undead; she wasn't a G.o.d for nothing. One who goes beyond the norm; an individual who goes against logic... Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was unnerved by that aggressive charm.
”Please get off me.”
[To think you'd beat one of the 12 generals! It's been so long since that's happened!]
”I said get off me.”
G.o.d was still excited and didn't let go, but soon, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo forcefully pushed her away. She laughed, patted his back, and stepped back.
[Try to understand. I like to express my happiness as well.]
”...It's a relief that you feel so happy.”
To be honest, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had questioned G.o.d's intent of wanting to purify the Empire before, but seeing her current att.i.tude, he realized that her intent wasn't a lie after all. He really couldn't figure her out. Maybe she was just psychotic.
[You probably can't understand me, huh?]
”Yes.”
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo replied honestly. G.o.d smiled bitterly, pulled over a chair from a nearby table, and sat down. Then, like last time, she propped her chin on her hands, and spoke calmly.
[I just... you know, don't you feel happy when you get a goal despite it being a lost game? You might've gotten around twenty goals repeatedly.]
”That's really not something a G.o.ddess should say in front of a hero.”
[Be happy. I'm only talking about this because it's you. Since it seems like you've already realized quite a few things on your own.]