“So, oden is all well and good, but has there been any movement from Garnalava’s followers?”
Oh, right. I’d gotten completely sidetracked. I was actually here to report the giant bird’s subjugation.
As I explained everything that had happened since my last report, Ren-kun hung his head toward the end of the story. His body was trembling, as if he were struggling to hold something back. I continued the tale, wondering what was wrong, when he suddenly burst into laughter. Apparently, he had been fighting the urge to laugh for a while now.
“Ahahaha! You defeated a kin beast of Garnalava with Clean? That is so incredibly out of left field! I’m sure he’s fuming right about now. Ahaha!”
“I mean… I had the [Creativity] skill, so I thought it might work.”
“I’m sure the skill helped you pull it off, but even so, most people wouldn't even think of that. Treating malice like literal filth…! Pffft, ahaha!”
Ren-kun was wheezing because he was laughing so hard. I didn't think it was that funny.
“Phew… Ah, that hurts. Man, I needed that laugh. It’s hilarious, but you’ve actually gained a massive trump card—even if it only works on Garnalava’s kin. Oh, but wait. If you can purify malice, could you just purify the malice in the dungeon one chunk at a time? If you could clear it out, I think I’d finally be able to intervene inside.”
“Hmm, that might be tough. Ordinary malice is invisible, after all.”
“I see. Since it’s Clean, it won’t activate unless you can perceive the target as ‘dirt.’”
I thought Ren-kun’s point was spot on. To begin with, I don’t actually feel the malice drifting around me. It’s hard to purify something I can't even sense.
“Still, that’s a shame. It’s a bit of a problem if we can’t scout the dungeon in this situation.”
“Is it that bad?”
“It certainly is.”
What Ren-kun feared was the reckless retaliation of the evil cultists.
Our operation to broadcast the Song of Soothing from the sky had been cut short by the giant bird’s interference. That meant there were likely many people whose brainwashing remained intact. The evil cultists had been operating in the shadows for some specific purpose, but our recent stunt might have tipped them off that we’re onto them. If they feel cornered, they might start causing public disturbances. If that happens, there’s a high probability they’ll come after us. If we can’t monitor the dungeon, we can’t stay vigilant against their movements or warn the others when something happens. That lack of control seemed to frustrate him.
“Is there a more efficient way to convert malice into Destiny Element?”
“It’s a slow process, but if you and the others raise your levels, the conversion efficiency will improve accordingly. Though, don’t expect a dramatic change just by gaining a level or two. The most efficient way would be to turn the residents of Aingurna into Apostles left and right—though if I did that, the other gods would definitely yell at me.”
Turning people into Apostles against their will when they aren't even believers would definitely ruffle some divine feathers. Especially since many are likely followers of other gods.
To begin with, the Destiny God just isn't very well-known. It’s not that people haven't heard of him, but he’s treated as a minor deity. I suppose that’s unavoidable since he’s a newcomer to the pantheon. Still, you’d think he’d be more popular if his divine favor increased a person’s luck. There are plenty of adventurers and merchants who’d kill for better luck.
When I voiced that thought, Ren-kun gave a wry smile and shook his head.
“I can certainly grant a bit of luck as part of my authority. However, it’s usually not a large enough boost for a person to actually notice. You’re a special case, Ruto. Maybe it’s our connection from your past life, but you’re particularly susceptible to my power. Even the [Destiny God's Smile] skill wasn't supposed to be that powerful…”
Wait, really?!
Come to think of it, Halfa’s luck isn't particularly high, even though she’s the Maiden of the Destiny God.
“Besides, gaining more followers is its own brand of trouble. It just increases the workload! I’m already forced to deal with Garnalava without any help from the other gods. If my to-do list gets any longer, I won't be able to handle it!”
I… see? Does that actually make sense?
He isn't just avoiding the work because he wants to slack off, right?
Regardless, it seemed Ren-kun had no intention of actively seeking out new followers. If that was the case, I didn't need to force the missionary work. I’d considered explaining his divine favors at the Adventurer's Guild to help him out, but only if he wanted the help.
If that was the case, then leveling up really was the best way to improve the malice conversion rate. We had the teleportation door key now, so traveling back and forth to the deeper floors was easy. B-Rank monsters supposedly started appearing from the 20th Floor, so grinding there might be a good idea. Using B-Rank magic stones would likely improve the quality of my status enhancement potions as well.
Oh, but I was starting to run low on several ingredients. Specifically, the Golden Four-Leaf Goldidilla was proving difficult to find. I’d have to go out and gather some myself. I wondered if there was a spot to find them inside the dungeon?
If I was going to explore the deeper floors, I also wanted a skill to detect terrain traps. I’d heard the guild was holding a lecture for a skill called Terrain Traverse; it might be worth picking up.
Man, I’ve got my hands full.