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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: Journey
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There's one punctuation mark I hate more than anything else in the world: the question mark.
Why? Because it's not content just being a question mark itself; it's highly contagious, polluting my mind with question marks of its own.
[The seal on '???' is being broken. (Time remaining: 8 hours)]
[After the seal is broken, if '???' is not acquired within 30 minutes, it will permanently disappear.]
I tilted my head, staring at the faint black magic circle forming on the forehead of the swordless god.
"What in the world is it?"
I couldn't guess the identity of that black magic circle, visible only through my Heavenly Sight.
One thing was certain: whatever emerged from that black magic circle, I had to acquire it, no matter what.
"Let's see, it's about 10 o'clock now…"
I had to return here by six in the evening, eight hours later.
Not coming back wasn't an option. Because the unknown clue I had so painstakingly found would permanently disappear if I didn't acquire it within the time limit.
"…I guess I'll have to eat a hearty lunch."
It had only been a few minutes since I vowed to eat well.
But calculating the time it would take to leave the mansion, acquire this unknown clue, and return, I realized I was destined to go hungry again.
"Sigh."
Lamenting my pitiful fate, I turned my body.
This time, towards the statue of the Primal Saintess, who was praying while standing.
Pulling out an empty flask from my pocket, I stood before the Primal Saintess, feeling an unspeakable repulsion.
"It feels dirty now that I'm actually about to do it…"
The elixir 'Dragon Blood Elixir' possessed incredible efficacy.
To obtain it, one had to perform a specific action.
"Those damn developers…"
Looking at the saintess's exposed, swelling chest, I had to fall into deep contemplation, cursing the developers who came up with such an idea.
Should I abandon the elixir and uphold the minimum moral standards that had taken root in my heart?
Or, should I disregard the fact that it was just a statue and take only what I needed?
"…I'm sorry."
It certainly wasn't because the carved face and figure of the saintess were beautiful, but having chosen the latter, I placed my hand on the exposed breast of the saintess, gripped it firmly, and infused it with mana.
"What the fu—…"
A string of curses spontaneously erupted due to the texture of the statue and the phenomenon unfolding, which I couldn't understand why it was designed this way.
It was understandable.
As the magic manifested, the saintess's face began to turn red, her thighs began to close.
And even the sound of liquid began to emanate from beneath her skirt.
"…"
I had clearly committed no sin.
Yet, I had to activate my senses and scan my surroundings.
At least it was a relief. No one would know that I was doing something like this, even if it was out of necessity.
Defending myself in this way, I held the empty flask I was gripping between the saintess's thighs.
—Trickle.
"…Why is it yellow?"
This will make it gross to drink.
Feeling a profound sense of mortification I had never experienced before, I forced myself to recall the elixir's efficacy, defending myself.
Though the process of obtaining it was a bit… off, considering the elixir's effects, it was well worth the trouble.
'Upon consumption, all stats increase by 5, plus an 'Infinite' buff for three hours.'
The former was excellent, but my ultimate reason for wanting this elixir was the latter.
Because the 'Infinite' buff, which could only be experienced by consuming this elixir, was clearly going to be a great help if I ever found myself in a crisis.
When the 'Infinite' buff was active, players could use skills infinitely without any mana consumption.
Not only that, but skills with penalties or those that required a price to be paid were also included.
A buff that allowed one to unleash power without any cost or penalty.
And I, who had to pay a price to exert a certain level of power, with my vessel's durability decreasing the more I did so.
The reason I acquired this Dragon Blood Elixir, even while feeling mortified, was clear.
"I really need to use it sparingly…"
Closing the lid of the empty flask, I couldn't help but make that vow.
****
After two hours of free time.
The expedition members all had lunch together at a rather luxurious restaurant, then began to climb the Arvik Mountains.
Their final destination was the villa of a frontier noble named Gosan.
I didn't remember who Gosan was. I only suspected that his sponsorship wasn't for good intentions.
He was a guy I disliked in many ways.
Not just his unknown schemes, but most of all, I didn't like that he built his villa near the mountaintop.
'This is unsettling.'
As we climbed the mountain for a while, familiar terrain began to appear.
And then, a sudden ominous premonition washed over me.
Sure enough. Yukir, who was struggling at the very front, began to shout dramatically as if he had discovered an oasis.
"A r-resting place! Everyone, let's rest here for 10 minutes… no, 20 minutes!"
Perhaps the climb had been difficult. All but a few of the members cheered, welcoming Yukir's decision.
"H-Hooray…"
Rose seemed to feel the same, cheering quietly beside me.
Normally, I would have lectured Rose, who hadn't yet escaped the clutches of her hangover.
But recalling what I had done at this very spot just moments ago, I closed my mouth tightly, unable to utter a single word of criticism, and had to listen to the voices of the members who had already entered the temple.
"Why are there two statues here?"
"Isn't that pee? H-How indecent…"
"Who would do such a thing… What a pervert, seriously?"
"It's wet, so it hasn't been long since someone was here."
"Someone with such ideas should be castrated… The world truly is ending."
What do you know?
That's what I wanted to say, but not wanting to suffer social death, I grit my teeth and maintained my silence.
"Whoever it is, someone who does that to even a statue needs to be cut off…"
Just then, a chilling voice came from beside me.
I turned my gaze to see Rose, who had plopped down on the spot, already holding up her index and middle fingers.
"It's big."
"Yeah."
What on earth were they saying was big?
Looking over, Daisy and Sage, who were partners today, were muttering while looking at some exposed part of the saintess.
"Camel, are you feeling sick?"
"No? Why?"
"You look pale…"
Ah, was I unable to control my expression?
Hastily composing my face, I turned my gaze sideways to look at Rose, who had a worried expression.
"You're one to talk. How's your stomach?"
"Honestly, I feel like I'm dying…"
"Here."
"What is it?"
"Vitality Potion. It's been a while since you drank, so you'll feel better if you drink this."
"Camel…"
Was she moved? Rose, receiving the small potion bottle filled with purple liquid, drank the potion with tears welling in her eyes.
"Suddenly I'm sleepy…"
"It's that kind of potion. Get some rest, we have time."
"How can I in this place… Oh? Really?"
Rose asked with wide eyes when I sat down on a long rock and patted my thigh with my hand.
"You didn't even ask when you were little. Well, if you don't want to."
"I didn't say I didn't want to!"
As I made to stand up, Rose immediately buried her face in my thigh.
"Drink moderately from now on."
"I'll think about it."
Perhaps it was the effect of the Vitality Potion. Rose, whose face was flushed, said that and then began breathing softly, as if she had fallen asleep.
Naturally, it wasn't long before sharp gazes turned towards me, and I waved my hand, conveying to them only with my mouth.
"We're not dating. We're childhood friends, and she's sick, so I'm doing this."
Don't misunderstand.
How long did I make excuses like that? The rest time passed in an instant, and Professor Zikel began to lead the students again.
"How do you feel now?"
"I'm so out of it. My legs feel weak…"
Was there a side effect to the potion? Rose's complexion, after I woke her, was worse than before.
"Sigh. That's why you should have drunk moderately."
"What are you doing?"
"Get on my back. If you're okay, then don't."
So, I had no choice but to squat down and offer Rose my back.
I also wondered if it had gotten worse because of the potion I gave her.
"N-No, I'm not okay."
Rose stammered and climbed onto my back.
I felt a heavy sensation and a moderate weight. As I supported Rose's bottom with my hands and straightened up, I heard Rose gasp.
"Am I not heavy?"
"You were like a feather when you were little, but you've gained some weight, so you're heavy…"
"You brat."
When I answered, Rose blew air into my ear, which was my weak spot.
"Ack! Want me to put you down?"
"No way."
And then she hugged me tightly, as if she would never get off.
Feeling this, I chuckled, recalling old memories.
Perhaps because she was the first child I saved, I always felt a sense of contentment whenever I saw this side of Rose, not the villainess.
How long did we climb the mountain like that?
"Camel-nim. Aren't you tired?"
"Huh?"
Daisy, wearing a smile that felt somewhat artificial, spoke to me.
"Shall I help you? I imagine your friend who's on your back is uncomfortable too."
"I'm fine—"
"Did you know? You can put people into a subspace too?"
Daisy gripped my shoulder, cutting off Rose's attempt to answer, and snapped her fingers, conjuring magic.
Then, a black subspace, exactly Rose's size, appeared next to Daisy.
"Camel-nim. Stop struggling and put her in here. People are looking at us strangely."
"N-No, I don't want to!"
"My goodness. The luggage talks? Camel-nim, you'll put this luggage in here, right?"
"What, what are you saying? Camel, I don't want to go in there."
It was a sudden, awkward situation.
Daisy, trying to put Rose into her subspace, and Rose, desperately resisting, clinging tightly to my body.
I agonized over how to answer.
To be honest, the softer sensation I felt as my hand naturally went up had pleased me, so my true feeling was to refuse outright.
But Daisy's words about people looking at us strangely also had a point.
As I was lost in thought.
The one who solved this problem was an unexpected person.
"Here, get on."
A cold voice came from beside me.
I turned my gaze to see Sage, with an expression devoid of any emotion, and a medium-level Earth spirit with the appearance of a turtle.
"Tsk…"
Rose must have seen the turtle as a dead end, making that sound as she got off my back.
****
"F-Finally…"
Yukir, his face haggard, spoke as he looked at the large mansion beginning to appear beyond, while I was thinking something else internally.
'So this was it.'
The appearance of the mansion, and the magic circle and black aura visible through my Heavenly Sight.
The mansion before me was one I knew well.
In the original story, it was the place where the archbishop of the Chaos Cult had summoned the protagonist's party.
'Who is it?'
My thoughts reaching this point, I became genuinely curious.
Who exactly was this Chaos Cultist powerful enough to rent that mansion?
What on earth were their intentions at this point in time?
Well, their head would immediately hit the ground the moment they tried anything foolish, anyway.