Ch.2828. New Blessing

Rex woke up in the middle of an endless snowfield.

This was the place the giant, Kaordiks, referred to as his “mental world.” It was Rex’s first time coming here with a clear mind.

As he turned his head, a giant with steel-like black skin entered his field of vision.

However, the face that was always composed was now distorted with ferocity, and as expected, the angry voice belonged to Kaordiks.

Though he didn’t know the reason, Rex vaguely guessed it might have something to do with his prayer at the sanctuary.

[Your thoughts are correct, my warrior.]

Kaordiks confirmed, sitting like an emperor on a massive throne. His golden eyes glowed more intensely than usual.

[How can I maintain my composure when a damned lesser god doesn’t know his place and covets what is mine?]

“…A lesser god?”

Rex carefully opened his mouth while gauging Kaordiks’s mood.

[I’m talking about Boreas. He’s been watching for an opportunity ever since you entered the dungeon. So desperate to find a way to entangle you that he even went so far as to place a sanctuary.]

Kaordiks clicked his tongue with an irritated expression.

[Such a vulgar act, like a whore spreading her legs. He should focus on governing his own servants. Hah!]

Rex nodded with a sour face. He was beginning to understand the situation.

So, the god who presided over Lindveil’s dungeon—Boreas—had gone as far as placing a sanctuary that wouldn’t normally appear, just to seduce him?

[You need not worry about it. I’ve thoroughly warned him that there will be severe karmic consequences if he touches my warrior.]

Judging by Kaordiks’s reaction, Rex’s guess seemed accurate. However, he couldn’t easily comprehend it.

‘Why?’

In Rex’s opinion, he had no value that would tempt a god.

True, he possessed exceptional abilities for his age. But the world was full of superhumans who were incomparably superior to him.

In fact, he still didn’t understand why Kaordiks had chosen him in the first place.

[My warrior, a true gem shines even in the mud.]

Kaordiks only answered Rex’s doubts with a pleased tone. Then he casually added something that made Rex’s eyes widen involuntarily.

[Ah, by the way, that lowly bastard bestowed a blessing upon you… but I erased it.]

“What?”

[Well, it wasn’t much of a blessing anyway. ‘Gale Wind’ or something? It would have made your body more nimble, and when mastered, would allow you to wrap wind around your weapon to sharpen the blade… but it’s just a trivial skill.]

This was something Rex couldn’t possibly ignore.

A trivial skill? It sounded like an amazing ability. The name was even cool.

[I had no choice. When the master is clearly watching, I cannot allow someone to openly covet what’s mine.]

“Ah… I see.”

Rex tried hard to agree.

He had already received much power from Kaordiks. Coveting another god’s blessing now would truly be greedy.

Still, he couldn’t help but feel dejected. He wished he hadn’t known about it at all…

Kaordiks looked at Rex with a smirk. His gloomy appearance resembled a puppy soaked in rain.

[Do you desire that lowly one’s blessing so much?]

Rex couldn’t deny it. It was the truth.

Though Kaordiks despised him as a lowly one, Boreas was the god who ruled the dungeon of the great city Lindveil.

Every day, countless adventurers risked their lives entering the dungeon to gain Boreas’s favor. It would be a lie to say he wasn’t disappointed.

[My warrior, the god you serve is not so unvirtuous as to take something from his servant and remain silent. Indeed, if I take one thing, I must give one in return.]

At the tone suggesting he would bestow a new blessing, Rex raised his head.

[Though you have not yet accumulated sufficient karma… I will make an exception this time.]

Kaordiks waved his hand.

Then, the symbol engraved on Rex’s chest vibrated violently once, and a hot sensation spread throughout his body.

[Plunderer. Combat is essentially the act of killing and being killed to take what the other possesses. The more your blade draws the enemy’s blood, the thicker your own blood will become. To explain simply, the more damage you inflict on your opponent, the greater your recovery ability.]

Plunderer!

Just from the explanation, he could tell how overpowered this ability was. It was an especially useful blessing for a vanguard who fights enemies at close range.

[Compared to this, that wind god’s petty blessing is worse than garbage. Are you satisfied now?]

Rex nodded obediently.

This was certainly not inferior to the Gale Wind blessing. In fact, it was superior.

Gale Wind had many substitutes in various ways.

But the Plunderer that Kaordiks had given him was an irreplaceable ability. For Rex right now, Plunderer was more useful than Gale Wind.

Rex’s “Heart of Steel” strengthens his body as he kills enemies and overcomes trials. It would take a long time, but moving faster than a Gale Wind user wasn’t impossible.

As for enhancing a weapon’s cutting power, he could train in the technique of handling sacred flame that he had recently acquired.

Kaordiks spoke with a deliberately stern expression.

[Normally, blessings are not something to be given so easily. One must steadily accumulate karma… From now on, work diligently.]

“I understand.”

Kaordiks gazed with satisfaction at Rex’s compliant response, then suddenly admonished him in a brusque tone.

[Always remember that you are a servant of Kaordiks, the God of War. I will never tolerate you fawning over other gods.]

“…Haha.”

[When you slay monsters and accumulate karma, call my name. I shall personally come to you.]

“I understand.”

[Then it’s time to return to the mortal world, my warrior.]

Kaordiks extended his hand as if he had said all he needed to say.

Looking at the approaching giant’s palm, Rex closed his eyes.

Soon, his vision was enveloped in darkness.

[Remember. Hardship will always be by your side… You are destined to live as a blade wielder.]

***

Though it seemed like they had conversed for quite a while in the mental world, less than 10 seconds had passed in reality.

Rex glanced around at the people.

They were clasping their hands tightly and continuously muttering to themselves, mostly things like:

“I beseech you, revered Lord Boreas, please bestow your blessing upon me…”

But it didn’t seem to be working as they hoped, and eventually people opened their eyes with heavy sighs.

Corner clicked his tongue and complained.

“Sigh. Failed again today, failed.”

“What did you expect? It’s not like this is the first or second time.”

“I want to receive an amazing blessing like someone too. Can’t I live a tastier life for once in my miserable existence?”

Here, “someone” obviously referred to Rex. Corner looked at him with eyes dripping with envy.

Rex awkwardly scratched his cheek. He wasn’t exactly living a particularly tasty life, but it was awkward to respond.

Harald and Eira also seemed to have gained nothing, slowly rising to their feet. Though they didn’t show it, disappointment was evident in their bitter expressions.

“Heh, I had high hopes since it’s been a while since a sanctuary appeared.”

“At least our divine power increased. We should be satisfied with that.”

Eira comforted Harald in a gentle tone.

“I suppose…”

Harald trailed off as he looked around at the group.

But something seemed strange about Chloe’s state.

While everyone else had finished praying, Chloe alone remained kneeling with her eyes closed.

“Huh?”

People finally noticed the anomaly and looked at Chloe.

Suddenly, a wind blew. Chloe’s crimson hair fluttered in the breeze.

Whoosh!

The wind spread outward in a circle from Chloe.

Chloe’s eyelids slowly opened. A green light flashed from her amber eyes before quickly fading.

The awakening of a blessing.

Rex instinctively sensed what had just happened to Chloe.

Chloe blinked her eyes with a dreamy face as if just waking from a dream, then belatedly exclaimed in surprise.

“Ah!”

“W-what? Don’t tell me you’ve awakened?”

Harald asked in an urgent tone. The others also looked like they were dying of curiosity.

No long explanation was needed.

Chloe nodded, her face brightening with a radiant smile. Immediately, cheers erupted.

“Woooooah! Really?!”

“You owe us a treat when we get back, Chloe. Congratulations.”

“Wow, so our party finally has a proper sacred awakener too.”

People rejoiced in Chloe’s blessing as if it were their own.

One might have expected jealousy that such a young girl had surpassed them, but there was no sign of it.

“So, what ability did you get?”

People were so excited that even Eira, who always maintained her composure, couldn’t contain her curiosity.

Chloe chuckled and answered.

“I’m not sure yet. It’s called ‘Gale Wind,’ and I feel like my body will become faster when I use it… I think I need to practice first.”

“An activation type. That’s good. The effect suits you, and your hard work has finally paid off.”

“Auntie…”

Something welled up inside her at those words, and Chloe covered her face with her hands, her eyes reddening. Eira stroked Chloe’s head with a gentle smile.

“This kid…”

The men awkwardly rubbed their noses with their fingers.

It was truly a heartwarming scene.

Only Rex couldn’t smile.

‘Gale Wind?’

The name of Chloe’s awakened blessing sounded familiar.

Wasn’t Gale Wind the blessing that the wind god had tried to give him?

Because Kaordiks had intervened, he had received Plunderer instead of Gale Wind.

‘No way, right?’

A disturbing thought suddenly crossed his mind.

After failing to give the blessing prepared to seduce him due to Kaordiks’s interference, the god had instead given it to Chloe who was nearby, as if doing her a favor—a ridiculous notion not even worth joking about.

‘I’m being self-centered. Really.’

Rex shook his head to clear away the idle thoughts.

What did it matter anyway? For now, he should congratulate Chloe.

With that thought, Rex approached the group.

***

After resuming their exploration, the party soon discovered stairs leading to the third level.

Harald pondered for a moment before speaking.

“Let’s head back for today. It’s getting late. We should all have dinner outside.”

It was actually rare to enter a dungeon for just a day trip.

Typically, it would take at least several days to navigate through the vast maze of the dungeon to reach the deeper levels.

Naturally, supplies for camping would need to be prepared, but the party had made no such preparations.

This was because today’s main objective wasn’t to reach the deeper levels.

The real purpose was to give Rex, the newcomer, experience in the dungeon as requested by the Adventurer’s Guild.

And that purpose had already been sufficiently achieved.

From the beginning, Rex was a sacred awakener who had reached the stage of sacred flame. He was on a completely different level from an ignorant rookie.

What could we possibly teach someone better than us? Though no one said it aloud, they all thought the same.

The group began to retrace their steps. While entering had only required closing their eyes, this part was inconvenient.

“Ah, I can’t wait to get out and try it.”

Chloe, unable to contain her excitement, kept humming a tune. Rex, walking beside her, tilted his head.

“Why didn’t you try using it when we cleared the last room?”

Chloe had been by Rex’s side ever since they left the sanctuary. It was as if she was determined to fulfill her duty as a senior for today, even after learning that Rex was a sacred awakener.

She could have just fought alongside the others if she was so curious.

Chloe blinked and replied in a tone that suggested he should know better.

“Huh? Using an unfamiliar power recklessly could be dangerous. I’ll only practice outside until I can handle it properly. Didn’t you do the same?”

“Ah… you’re right.”

Come to think of it, Rex had also struggled to adapt when he first obtained Warrior’s Gaze.

What a foolish question. Rex smiled bitterly.

“I’m hungry. Should we have veal roast today? It’s usually too expensive to even consider. But on a day like this, I should treat myself.”

“That sounds delicious.”

Rex responded to Chloe’s musing.

Chloe glanced at Rex and carefully said.

“…You come too.”

“Pardon?”

“What, don’t want to?”

“No, that’s not it…”

“Then it’s settled! You’re coming!”

Chloe slapped Rex’s back with her palm, then smiled brightly as she walked away.

Rex stared blankly at her retreating figure with a dazed expression.

‘Good grief.’

Her hand was so strong that his back still stung.

He wondered if there might even be a red handprint left.

Still, it wasn’t such a bad feeling.