404 - People Preparing for Winter #2

Paranoy spoke.

"Gloria has come to Sodomora-ssi...! That girl wearing a wicked raccoon skin has been causing a scene, asking where Hassan-nim went-ssi...!"

"Aw, shit-."

I instinctively felt that what was bound to happen had finally happened.

Gloria has come to Sodomora.

Is this for real?

The moment I heard the name Gloria, every cell in my body broke out in goosebumps, as if they were having a seizure. *Ususu.*

The Gloria I remember was a lump of iron in human form.

Having fought her myself, I knew best. She was so sturdy and heavy that if a truck collided with Gloria's body, it wouldn't be strange for the truck to be smashed to pieces.

I couldn't fathom where that kind of strength came from in a frame a whole head shorter than mine; she was the personification of absurdity.

「Let's do that, *kking-kking*-.」

Even her head was pretty far gone.

Truly an incomprehensible natural disaster itself. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her a natural disaster in human form.

Could I beat Gloria if I fought her now?

I remembered the time I tried to build up my strength in preparation for Gloria eventually chasing me down. Necromancy and magic were both things I tried to prepare for that moment.

But wasn't I supposed to have until at least the year after next?

Right now, my Strength stat has risen to 16, but Agility and Stamina are barely at 10. Of course, you could say this has reached the realm of a superhuman, but it felt woefully insufficient to face Gloria.

"Shit, that girl already made it this far-."

Wasn't Gloria doing a massive cleanup that was supposed to take at least a few years?

As punishment for causing various disturbances in Delphi, the City of Gods, wasn't she handling the task of cleaning the city's sewers all by herself?

That was such a staggering workload that no matter how much Gloria seemed like an invincible superhuman, it was a job that could never be finished within a year.

And yet, that Gloria has come looking for me in less than a few months.

Something was definitely going wrong.

"Gloria is a very wicked girl-ssi...! She treated me, Hassan-nim's right hand and head follower, like just some funny Nymph and bullied me-ssi...!"

Paranoy poured all his passion into explaining how he had dealt with Gloria while I was away, and just how many wicked things she had done to him.

"After realizing I have a precious grace, she tried to forcibly drag me away from this Temple while treating me like some kind of bag-ssi...! Treating me, Paranoy, like a bag-ssi...! This is an unacceptable act...!"

What is he talking about?

Soon, I realized that Paranoy was the possessor of the grace I had bestowed upon him, 《Squirrel Storage》.

Inside Paranoy's mouth, there was a bizarre pouch that could store almost anything that could fit inside.

Although Paranoy's cheeks bulging every time he put something in was funny, the power of that grace was quite useful, despite its bizarre name and ridiculous appearance.

Because it functioned just like a game's inventory.

It was enough for people everywhere to covet Paranoy.

I imagined Gloria, coveting Paranoy's ability and carrying him around tied to her back like a bag.

If that powerful Gloria had really tried to drag Paranoy away, he would have become a living inventory and been dragged along like Gloria's luggage.

But Paranoy was standing right here, perfectly fine without a single scratch.

I asked.

"So, where did Gloria go now?"

When I returned to the city, Gloria was nowhere to be seen.

If she had been causing a scene to find me, it wouldn't be strange for her to kick down that door and barge in right now-.

Then Paranoy laughed, *keu-heu-heu*.

"But I, the head follower Paranoy, used my wits-ssi...! By now, that wicked raccoon-skinned Nymph-hater must be busy dealing with Scylla and Charybdis in the cold waters of the South Sea-ssi...!"

At that, Luna, who was stroking the head of Doris sleeping on her lap, asked, "What does that mean?"

Paranoy said.

"I, Paranoy, lied and said that Hassan-nim went to the South Sea to subjugate the terrifying sea serpent Scylla and the whirlpool Charybdis-ssi...!"

Hippolyte, who was sitting quietly and combing Ignoi's hair from behind, took over the conversation.

"He gave false information. Charybdis and Scylla are monsters that rule the South Sea. Even for Gloria, it will take time to deal with them and return."

I had heard of the names Charybdis and Scylla.

The monsters that were the cause of the isolation of the islands of Ideope.

It was obvious that even for Gloria, facing those sea monsters that created massive whirlpools wouldn't be an easy fight.

Wouldn't it take at least a month?

Even if Gloria succeeds in subjugating them, it would open the sea route to Ideope, so it's not a bad thing for me.

"Wow, you used your head pretty well for Paranoy."

"I, Paranoy, am a Nymph who has tasted University life-ssi...! Among all the Nymphs of the mountains, seas, and fields, I am the smartest-ssi...!"

"Yes, very smart."

I rummaged through my pocket and pulled out a candy for Paranoy.

MnZBMElkRjFKc3ZCR0RiWklQRlA5WlZINzRaZThhUzZ1cnMyS01IbEgxWTRTNjRwcnhTdUdtcXlqTVRpSDhaVg

It was something like an offering the girls of the Garuru tribe had given to win my favor; I had eaten most of them, but I saved one as a souvenir because I thought of Paranoy.

"I-Is that the salt star candy of Ideope-ssi...?"

"I don't know. It was delicious."

*Seureuk-.*

Paranoy took the star candy wrapped in small packaging.

He then looked at Doris, who was asleep on Luna's lap, and Ignoi, who was having her long hair combed by Hippolyte.

"...."

Soon, Paranoy's lips twitched as if he had something to say. He hesitated, as if deciding whether to speak or not, before finally blurting out in a shrill voice.

"Candy is very delicious-ssi...! I like honey and candy the best-ssi...!"

*Paseuseuk-.*

And then he put the candy wrapped in small paper into his mouth and crunched it down. *Adeudeuk.*

* * *

Two days have passed since returning from Ideope.

I had to taste various alcohols again for the ridiculous Nectar Contest, and Hippolyte, just like last week, holds out a golden liquid toward me.

"How is this one? Give me an honest evaluation."

"It's a miss. It tastes good, though. It's delicious. Is it cider? It tastes like apples."

"Oh well. If it's not Nectar, what does it matter what kind of alcohol it is?"

Hippolyte now showed an overt attitude toward coveting Bacchus's position. Does she want to become a god that badly?

"By any chance, how is Nyx-dotty's work? I heard she brought back some golden spring water or something from Ideope-."

Hippolyte even showed signs of subtly keeping Luna, who would be her rival for the position of God of Wine, in check. I decided to tell her the truth.

"Luna is in a similar situation."

I thought Luna would be able to whip up Nectar in no time, but unexpectedly, Luna faced significant difficulties with the final ingredient.

She succeeded in creating a golden fruit wine using the spring water of Ideope, but it felt like she had stopped one step short because she didn't know what that last single ingredient was.

「It feels like I almost know, but I don't. I think I'd know the answer if I could just taste it once. Honestly, it's worrying trying to make it without knowing anything. The spring water isn't infinite, either....」

It seems it wasn't easy for either Luna or Hippolyte to create a drink they had never tasted. That would be the same for other brewing masters as well.

Since I'm probably the only one in Sodomora who has ever tasted Nectar.

If that's the case, it means I'll have to keep holding onto this God of Wine position for the time being.

Honestly, at first, I didn't like having to take on the role of the God of Wine because it felt like a heavy burden. But now, I've gotten used to it to some extent.

You could say I've learned the knack of handling the power.

Did they say Bacchus had the ability to turn plain water into wine?

"Aah...! Hassan-nim has turned plain water into grape juice-ssi...! Truly, truly, there is nothing to say other than that it is a god-like miracle-ssi...!"

Of course, I'm not perfect like Bacchus, so what I make doesn't become wine, but grape juice.

Shit, why grape juice of all things?

It's a bit annoying, like a game being forced into a 'for all ages' patch from an adult version. Of course, Paranoy seemed to like the ability to make grape juice more than any of my other abilities.

"It's delicious-ssi...!"

Thanks to that, I've become popular with young children.

My temple used to be full of old people wanting massages or merchants who came only hoping for the blessing of financial luck.

Now, seeing children running around trying to drink the grape juice placed here and there, I'm deeply moved.

『Items possessed by Hassan

Number of Followers: 972 → 1271

Number of Altars: 1 → 10

Number of Temples: 1

Number of Priests: 12 → 15

Number of Graces: 1

Overall: Young and Weak Boy God - You can promote as the number of followers has exceeded 1000.』

As the number of followers gradually increased, I had smoothly reached the stage where I could promote.

The increase in the number of altars and priests must be because I set up statues in my likeness on each island of Ideope.

Anyway, a thousand followers. The requirements for promotion have been met before I knew it.

I opened the faith management tab and pressed the promotion button.

*Diring-.*

『Chaos Task Shop. lv. 2』

『1. Grace - lv. 2』

『2. Curse - lv. 2』

『3. Calamity - lv. 2』

『4. Promotion. - 1271/10000』

Then the Chaos Task Shop changed to level 2, and I saw the promotion requirement increase to 10,000. I looked around at what else had changed.

『Overall: Ambitious Young God - You are writing new myths and stories.』

I saw that the overall evaluation, which had previously given the harsh assessment of being a young and weak boy god, was now telling a new story. It feels good to know I'm doing well.

However, what I was looking forward to the most wasn't raising the level of the task shop.

Since Luna has safely returned to Sodomora, there's only one thing I, who have gathered plenty of task points, should do.

Thanks to Paranoy's trick, having a bit of breathing room before meeting Gloria was a huge opportunity for me.

If I missed an opportunity like this, I'd surely regret it deeply.

"Long live Chaos."

I called out the bizarre incantation I was starting to get used to.

The first thing I did was objectify my stats.

*Diring-.*

『Name: Hassan Lv. 36

Strength: 16

Agility: 10

Stamina: 10

Task: 920

Grace: 《Glowing Hand》 《Night Armor》 《Dark Eyes》 《Sooty Skin》』

These were my current stats. Since I have 900 task points, I can raise my level by at least 9 with the totems Luna makes for me.

"Ta-da, look at this. It looks just like Hassan, right?"

Wednesday evening.

The cabin with Luna after a long time.

Luna made me a bunch of Moai totems.

The number was nine, as I had requested.

Perhaps Luna's dexterity had developed from making so many Moais, as she easily carved out nine Moais using a carving knife. *Seuk-seuk.*

Looks just like me.

The shape still looked like a description of some blasphemous monster, but in Luna's mind, this was what I looked like.

Of course, the shape of Luna's Moai totems wasn't what was important.

I used the totems Luna gave me to consume task points and raise my other karma stats.

The result was this.

『Name: Hassan Lv. 36 → 45

Strength: 16

Agility: 10 → 15

Stamina: 10 → 14

Task: 920 → 20

Grace: 《Glowing Hand》 《Night Armor》 《Dark Eyes》 《Sooty Skin》』

"Holy shit-."

A groan escaped me as I felt the heat coursing through every corner of my body. I wonder if Thanos felt like this when he gathered all five Infinity Stones.

My body felt like it had become one giant furnace, bubbling and boiling.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that hot magma was flowing under my thin skin right now.

In fact, my body began to emit white steam like a boiling kettle. My sweat was vaporizing into smoke.

Looking in the mirror, I was emitting a bizarre aura like some incredibly pissed-off Saiyan, enough to give me goosebumps.

*Pusheeeee-.*

Shit, this is actually possible.

I suddenly felt afraid as my body became hot enough to burst. Was it a problem that I raised too many levels at once?

Or because I broke through level 40, the realm of heroes?

What was certain was that if I didn't quickly manage these unstable energies, my body might be ruined by the excessive outputs running wild like wild colts under my skin.

Could I solve this with meditation, like when I learned Aura?

No, my intuition told me this wouldn't be solved by something as soft as meditation.

"Luna, I'll be right back!"

I hurriedly stood up and headed to the first floor. And the moment I pushed the door to go outside-.

*Ujijik-.*

The door, which was built the sturdiest in the cabin, made a pathetic sound and fell to the floor.

"Wait, what is this."

I had just pushed the door like usual, but the part where the hinges were nailed had completely torn off. This was fucking unbelievable.

Even when I raised my Strength to 16, nothing like this had happened.

I ran quickly, looking for someone who could help me. Only one person came to mind.