Ch.153Chapter 153. The Truth of the Deserted Island (2)

Chapter 153. The Truth of the Deserted Island (2)

I transferred my consciousness and slowly opened my eyes. A man’s face filled my vision.

This is that pose. The exact ‘Son, have you been deceiving your father?’ position.

“Ohh…! F-fire! The totem is lit! Are you Lord Malak?”

This man wearing tattered clothes with a bushy beard must be the ‘castaway’.

– That’s right. I am the storm god Malak. I have come in response to your prayer.

“Ohhhhh!!! Ahhhhh!!!”

The castaway jumped up and down in place, screaming wildly.

“Whew, whew. Deep breaths.”

Then suddenly, he knelt down with a solemn expression and started praying.

What’s with that tension? Living alone for months has completely driven him mad.

“C-c-can I finally escape from this island?!”

The castaway opened his eyes again after praying meditatively.

– Yes. But before that, one moment.

I need to gather what I’m taking first.

– Where is the evil god’s idol?

Transferring the idol takes priority over summoning the castaway. If I transfer the castaway first, there won’t be anyone to place the idol on the altar.

“Ah, here it is!”

The castaway placed the idol of the evil god Shamishur on the altar.

It’s an angel idol with three pairs of wings. It was made of obsidian, wasn’t it? A slight purple aura surrounds it.

Just looking at it, I can feel its mysterious energy. It’s definitely not an ordinary object. Hard to believe it’s a relic that was abandoned at the bottom of the sea for hundreds of years.

– Is there anything else you want to take?

Since I’m transferring things anyway, I might as well ask the castaway.

“To take with me… I guess this helmet and armor wouldn’t be appropriate?”

There’s really no reason to take the helmet used for boiling water and the armor that’s now just scrap metal, whatever it was used for.

– Do as you wish.

“Could I take this totem I made?”

He seems quite attached to it, probably because he put so much effort into making it.

– Impossible. Everything else is fine, but this totem cannot be taken.

Totem and totem. Altar and altar. These are the conditions for the ‘transfer totem.’ You need a pair at both the sending and receiving locations to use the blessing.

“…I understand. Are the other totems possible?”

– As many as you like.

The castaway placed all the totems he had made on the altar. Failed attempts… that sounds a bit harsh.

Let’s think of them as ‘results of various trial and error.’

– Wait a moment.

I used the ‘transfer totem’ to send the items on the altar. I went to totem #1 to confirm the transfer was successful, then returned.

I had doubts about whether the small altar built by the castaway alone would function properly, but fortunately, everything transferred well.

– You have waited long, my believer. I shall guide you to the tribal federation.

“Ahhh…!”

I used the ‘Summon Servant’ blessing on the castaway who was kneeling in prayer again. With blue smoke, the castaway appeared with a poof in front of totem #1 and the altar.

“Oh.”

“Neither civilized nor barbarian, but a primitive man.”

“You’ve been through a lot.”

Those attending the representative meeting each said something to the castaway who was sitting dazed.

The castaway, who had been staring blankly at them, suddenly stood up. Then he approached Paya, who was closest.

Actually, the closest person wasn’t Paya but Lakye, who was right next to totem #1. But when his eyes met Lakye’s, he trembled and turned away.

Did he sense Lakye’s killing machine—no, powerful aura?

“People… real people… it’s been so long…”

The castaway mumbled something, then opened his eyes more clearly and spoke again.

“Just once… could I just hold your hand once…!”

Perhaps he missed human warmth.

“No.”

Not a chance. Paya firmly refused without a moment’s hesitation.

“You, stay away a bit.”

“I-I was being inappropriate. I’m sorry…”

The castaway hastily backed away at Lakye’s words.

Mr. Castaway. No matter how much you missed people, saying “just let me touch you once” to a girl young enough to be your daughter is too much.

That’s something only someone who looks like Wanbin can say to a girl he rescued after taking down a criminal organization.

– Give him a place to wash, live, and clothes to wear.

I called soldiers to support the castaway.

“Thank you! Thank you, Lord Malak!”

The castaway left the altar, repeatedly expressing his gratitude. I’m glad he looks healthy at least.

– Paya.

Now all that’s left is to activate this idol on the altar and provoke the evil god.

“I’m ready.”

Paya looked down at the ‘Prayer Unreached’ with a grave expression.

She had the critical mission of using this hidden piece to infuse faith into the evil god’s idol.

There were many other priests, but I thought Paya was perfect for this task. After all, it was Paya, not Muri or Bojak, who summoned me or the real Malak.

‘Transferring an unidentified faith to an idol… this is unprecedented.’

‘I’ll do my best, but I can’t guarantee the results.’

When priests including Muri and Bojak were making estimates and shaking their heads, it was Paya who showed determination by saying, “I’ll try.”

Paya might have exceptional ability in communicating with or summoning supernatural beings. That’s probably why she could turn Tuntuni into a spirit.

This is just my theory.

– Paya, you can stop if needed. Don’t push yourself too hard.

Although Paya had entered adolescence and was shedding some of her girlish traits, to me she still looked like a child.

A delicate and fragile girl who seemed like she could be blown away with a puff.

“It’s fine. I can do it.”

Paya answered without even looking at me. Is it my imagination that she sounds a bit cold? It’s because she’s going through puberty. Yeah.

Suddenly, I miss Paya’s bright smile. Is this how a father feels when his daughter becomes distant?

“Nawavarusatanoma… rasnivita…”

Paya muttered something and used her magic. A mysterious energy from her soul (I can’t describe it any other way) gently enveloped her body.

The energy surrounding her body slowly extended toward the hidden piece in the form of a scripture, eventually embracing it as well.

“Ugh.”

There was a slight resistance during the process, but Paya remained focused and continued her work.

“Is it going well?”

“Is my little sister—I mean Priestess Paya—alright?”

I wonder if others can see that energy. Curious, I asked Lakye.

– Can you see it?

“I can’t see it, but I can feel it. Paya is using magic to manipulate the scripture.”

Ah. So this energy is only visible to transcendent beings. The stronger the power one possesses, the more clearly they can see it, perhaps.

Beings like Charon or high-ranking demons might be able to see it to some extent.

“Hmm… interesting.”

Why is MeleeSpy pretending he can see it? Idiot, the energy is flowing to the right, not the left.

While I satisfied my curiosity, Paya’s work continued. Something that looked like faith escaped from the scripture enveloped in Paya’s energy and reached the evil god’s idol.

About 10 minutes into the faith delivery process, the idol that had been quietly absorbing the faith began to shake. Just like when I use blessings.

And then.

– KYAAAAAAAAAAA!

A terrible scream erupted from the idol.

“Ugh!”

Paya, who had been concentrating on the faith transfer, let out a painful groan. I could see sinister energy approaching her.

– Paya!

Lakye was faster than I could react.

Immediately raising his divine power when the scream was heard, Lakye grabbed Paya. The divine power surrounding Lakye’s body drove away the sinister energy extending from the idol.

Ha. That was a close call.

Just in case, I had placed the ‘Enhancement Tattoo’ blessing on Paya and even created a small cloud with ‘Malak’s Domain,’ but they couldn’t block that energy.

Perhaps blessings not used in incarnation state aren’t recognized as divine power?

It’s fortunate Lakye was here.

“I succeeded. The evil god saw me. It saw this place through the idol. I felt its strong determination to reclaim this idol. It will definitely come to the tribal federation.”

Paya spoke rapidly with wide eyes. She was trying to quickly relay the information she obtained while still conscious.

– Well done, Paya. Rest now.

“Yes…”

As if she had been waiting for my words, Paya closed her eyes and surrendered herself to Lakye.

“We weren’t the only ones who heard the scream.”

Dina, who had been staring blankly at the ceiling, whispered.

Not just Dina, but all the paladins attending the meeting were looking at the ceiling. I quickly entered the community.

[LivingAlone: Did you hear that scream?

A woman’s scream. It felt like it reverberated through my brain. I used purification skills twice because I felt like I was going crazy.

Can someone explain what happened?]

[OneSlice: There’s commotion near the capital

What? What did you do? What was that scream?

I’m scared OMG Tell me quickly]

Good. We’ve done everything we can.

Now we just need them to take the bait.