Divine Protection of Many Gods

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I return to the blacksmith shop, it is best to ask Toto for directions to the Church .

「I understand that it is your first day in town, but the castle is a giant landmark, even a drunkard could find their way through this town . 」

Toto laughs as she guides us through the town .

「It’s only my first day here and so much has happened, I just haven’t gotten use to the area yet . 」

I make an excuse, that once I get to the Church I could find my way to the Silver Cup inn . An Adventurer is in serious trouble if they have a bad sense of direction .

However, Toto was genuinely surprised .

「Today, no until yesterday you were in the forest? Did you travel through the Demon’s Wilderness?」

「Ah, no I came from the town of Bureto . I haven’t traveled to the Demon’s Wasteland yet . 」

「Isn’t it terrible? Hordes of Monsters have migrated into the forest from the Demon’s Wilderness . The Adventurers don’t know how to handle the situation . 」

「That is true, there is certainly a large number of Monsters in the forest . 」

The revival of the Maou isn’t publicly known . Despite Seira’s search, it is clear that a formal Hero hasn’t appeared either . After a Hero is selected perhaps there will be a public announcement about the revival of the Maou .

「I’d heard that the feudal lord and the Adventurer’s Guild are going to cooperate, it seems they are putting together a subjugation force soon . 」

Is that how they are explaining why a rescue party is being sent to Bureto . I find it forewarning, although it is true that the subjugation force is being deploy it doesn’t change the fact that the Monsters are becoming more active lately .

「Anyways, the town seems to be lively . 」

Perhaps it is unrelated but, the blacksmith Thill seems to not be doing well financially . He can no longer get by with the funds he has saved up from past clienteles .

It seems that the previous regulars, Adventurer customers, who knew of the quality of Thill’s goods have long retired . And every year the number of customers decreases .

「But you know sometimes a person like you appears, and buys things from my shop, so it’s possible to stay in business . 」

Toto tightens her fist and looks my way .

「For now, I think you should try doing something about that unusual signboard in front of your store . 」

「Unusual!? Where!?」

As I thought, that signboard is Toto’s handiwork .

「Is that so, all I see is a store with an unusual signboard . 」

Toto looks at the other two . Ayla appears doubtful with an embarrassed expression, Amy apologies and slightly nods .

Toto must had taken quite a shock, she trudges along looking downcast .

I try to cheer her up .

「Why not try to market on the fact that your father is a skilled Dwarf . 」

On hearing Dwarf, Toto tilts her head and bursts out laughing .

「Fufu, father is human . 」

「What!?」

Just judging by appearance isn’t Thill what one would consider the standard image of Dwarf, a short man with a beard .

「Certainly, his does look like Dwarf . 」

We continue to laugh all the way to the Church . Toto is also Laughing .

Beneath the lamplight, our arrival at the Church is filled with laughter .

「We’ve arrived . 」

「I didn’t expect things to turn out this way, nonetheless, thank you for your help . 」

「No worries, you’re an important customer . 」

Toto bows, and then makes her way down the street .

「Bye, I’ll see you again in three days . 」

I return her farewell with a big wave, then we make our way to the Church .

「Ah, hello . 」

The guards reply by waving their hand .

「Thank goodness Hibiki, you’ve finally arrived . 」

We are greeted by Lux, he appears to be exhausted .

「What’s wrong Lux, you look dead tired . 」

The cause is probably the K . Y . Sister . (K . Y . is the acronym of the Japanese terms that stand for “unable to read the situation/mood”/”Not able to take a hint”)

「Ah, you see Seira just won’t leave me alone for even a minute . 」

It seems after she showed Lux to his room, she never left him alone .

He hasn’t gotten the chance to speak to Barra and his other companions . If she is purposely being a nuisance, she sure is clever .

I wonder if she is a nosy person by nature? Likewise, I definitely don’t want to be involved with that type of person .

Lux must have left the room to get some fresh air, that’s probably when he noticed our arrival .

When we enter the Church with Lux, I see Seira . She may have followed him . Her clothes look similar to before but are less ragged, they must be a new pair .

「Huh, have you already arrived . It would had been fine even if you took your time, though . 」

And yet again I meet this unpleasant and sarcastic person .

「Ah, if it isn’t the person who recklessly rushed ahead without any plans . 」

While ignoring the growling Seira, Lux and I move towards the dinner party area .

Apparently, the dinner party is set-up as a buffet . A lot of guests had already arrived and they seem to be enjoying their meal .

However, when we entered the hall, all the men turn towards our direction . Anyways, most of the participants here seem to have a relation with the Church . Several of the people here are probably nobles, but judging by their clothes they aren’t high ranking nobles .

Their eyes seem to be appraising us, or perhaps Lux . I wonder if they had been informed of who the Hero is . Ayla is hiding behind me, she fears their rude stares . Amy is tightly gripping my sleeve, she is probably too anxious to separate from me . I caress the heads of the two, to help them relax .

When I look around I see Baara in the corner of the room, holding a wine glass . At times she takes a sip but the amount in the glass never changes . Gary is chowing down on a heap of food . Kuesu is also there, but she is quietly eating, surprisingly they both have about the same amount of food on their plate . Although Kuesu’s mouth hardly opens, the food quickly disappears at the same rate as Gary’s dish . Is that some sort of magic too . I join up with Baara and Lux .

「So . Hibiki, Ayla, and Amy was that some sort of “play” . 」

Baara makes a shady smile while greeting us .

「Mumu~ Hibiki, the food here is delicious . 」

Gary who is eating greets us as well .

I mumble to myself “don’t talk with your mouth full . ”

Kuesu mutters something . As I thought, magicians are oddballs .

「I had enough today, I can stand another hour of being around that Shinto Priest woman any longer . 」

「It’s not like we enjoy being around her either . 」

「Is that so?」

After all the guests have arrived, the K . Y . Sister gave a short speech . After she finished everyone began to chat among one another . I thought it was over but now she is making rounds to greet everyone .

Meanwhile, our group happily spent the time enjoying the food and drinks without being bothered .

「What is up with the silverware?」

I muttered something that was bothering me .

「Because silver has a good affinity for magic, it is metal that has a special connection to the Church . 」

Baara answers .

This is for the first time since I arrived in this world, that I’d seen tableware made of silver . At the cheap inns and taverns I visited, they all had tableware made of wood .

「It must be because silverware is expensive . 」

「Silverware is troublesome to maintain . If it is not polished regularly it will rust . The Church only uses the silverware on special occasions, such as when nobles are visiting . 」

Kuesu answers this time . She gave a detailed explanation about silverware .

「As stated, silver has magic properties, if a Magician has a silver Accessory it can be used as a catalyst for their magic . 」

「Is it similar to a Demon Ore?」

「I don’t think I’m wrong, but a Demon Ore is only used for storing and retrieving magic energy, while silver can be used to amplify or draw out latent magic energy . 」

「How is it used?」

「For example, if a veteran Mage, equips a wand made of silver, they would notice an increased difference in their Magic Energy . 」

「I see . 」

「There are some Magicians that do business in silver Equipment, but it is better to request high quality silver . 」

Furthermore, I couldn’t expect to hear this from anyone better than a Magician? It is best to hear information from a specialist .

「Hibiki after you join the Magician’s Guild, I’ll help you finds some quality silver Equipment . 」

「If that is fine with you?」

「I am your Shishou of course . 」

With that said, two days from now, I have made a promise to join the Mage’s Guild . Until then, it is decided that magic training will be in the morning .

「Hero, are you enjoying the party?」

Seira returns to us after her rounds of greeting everyone . Gary and Kuesu both show an unpleasant expression . Barra is looking down .

Lux returns a light reply . Seira continues talking without noticing the mood .

「I want to introduce everyone who has assembled here to the Hero . Can you associate with them?」

「N, no . I was never your chosen Hero…」

「Eh, then I will just introduce you as my friend . 」

Even though Lux declined he was taken away by Seira before he could finish his sentence . Barra and the others were unable to leave Lux alone, they also followed along .

I continued to enjoy the food and drinks after Lux’s Party had left .

「Ayla, this meat is delicious . 」

「Yes, this chicken is the town’s specialty . 」

「Ayla, is chicken your favorite?」

「Yes . The meat is juicy and tender, the flavor is also rich and very delicious . 」

「Is that so, Amy why don’t you also try the chicken?」

「Yes, thank you . Ah, truly delicious, this is not like any other meat I have ever tasted before . 」

I pledge to the two, someday, when our earnings are high enough, all our meals will be this luxurious .

「Thank you everyone for gathering here . 」

Seira is making a closing speech .

「Hibiki, sorry, I’m back . 」

「No worries, the last half was just me eating . 」

「That is certainly true . 」

We all laugh .

I promised to meet again with Kuesu, but it is uncertain as to whether or not I will meet Lux and his other Party members again .

「Well, don’t go forgetting about me now . 」

I don’t know what will happen but I can’t seem to put my thoughts into words .

「Ah, this is our problem you don’t have to concern yourself about us . Anyways, thanks for coming . 」

「I look forward to our next meeting, for now I wish you well . 」

「Hibiki, we will probably stay in town for another week . 」

If they plan to stay here for one week that would mean that Lux’s Party is planning to participate in the rescue operation .

Although Lux refuses Seira’s request to be the Hero his actions are surely that of one .

「We will also be staying in town for a while . 」

While feeling awestruck by Lux’s heroism I say my parting words . My Party and I exit the Church .

「Tomorrow is a day off, I want to spend my free time with Ayla and Amy, is that alright?」

I give the two some time to think things over . Perhaps, they don’t want to spend their free time with me? Anyways, we make our way to the Silver Cup inn .

It appears to be around late mid-night . Unlike Bureto, the streets were lit by magic powered lights .