Chapter 76 Looking for a Blessing
Chapter 76 Looking for a Blessing
"Do you see anything?" Iryoku asked Yumi.
They were both perched high atop a massive tree. In the distance, a city sprawled across the horizon.
Yumi squinted, shielding her eyes from the sun with one hand as she focused.
“I see the gates… demi-humans and humans coming and going,” she said, then glanced at Iryoku beside her. “Looks like a safe city for humans.” She smiled.
“Finally,” Iryoku exhaled, visibly relieved.
They quickly descended and rejoined Reika and Rhogan on the ground.
Mounting up, they rode toward the city—though Iryoku remained fully alert, his guard still up.
As they approached, Reika explained, “This city is called Babel. Since it’s just outside the Uruk Kingdom’s official borders, it makes sense that humans live here too.”
They passed a few guards at the entrance but were let through without any issues.
The place was unlike any they had seen before. People of all races moved about peacefully, going about their day. There was a sense of harmony in the air—something warm and welcoming they could all feel.
After asking around for directions, they made their way toward the edge of town and found a small house.
“Is this really the church?” Iryoku asked. The place hardly looked like one—it resembled an ordinary home.
Above the door, a star-shaped symbol was carved into the wood.
They dismounted Rhogan and knocked on the door. No one answered.
Iryoku glanced back at the girls. They simply stared, uncertain of what to expect.
He slowly opened the door and stepped inside.
“Ojamashimasu,” he called out politely, trying to sound friendly. “Is there someone here?”
Inside, the space was quiet and rustic. The floor was bare soil, and in the center stood a large, star-shaped statue surrounded by flickering candles. A few people sat on the ground around it in silent attention.
At the center, an old man—his features vague, possibly human or demi-human—spoke in a soft, steady voice.
“Dear brothers and sisters, with this, we conclude today’s teachings. Go now, and strive to make the lives of others better. May the Light One be with you.”
The people stood, placed their hands over their chests, bowed, and quietly began to leave. As they passed Iryoku and the girls, they offered gentle greetings:
“Good day, brother. Good day, sisters.”
Yumi let out a soft, relieved breath.
“This feels like a friendly place,” she said, glancing at Iryoku, then at Reika.
They walked toward the old man.
“Esteemed elder, might we speak with you?” Reika asked, trying to sound respectful.
The old man, dressed in a worn white and yellow tunic with a star symbol on his chest, squinted at them as if trying to make out their faces.
“Hello, children. Are you interested in the teachings of the Light One?” he asked in a soft, gentle voice.
This time, Iryoku stepped forward.
“Old man, we wanted to know about the blessing of the goddess… or god,” he said, scratching the back of his head. He wasn’t quite sure if they were the same being.
“Ohhh,” the elder said, nodding. “The Light One blesses us every day—granting us sunlight, life, and warmth. His presence fills the world.”
Iryoku nodded along, though he clearly didn’t follow. He scratched his head again, not wanting to offend.
“Uh, I mean more like… a spectacular blessing. Glowing light, magical energy… superpowers or something. Something tangible.”
Yumi elbowed him sharply.
Reika rolled her eyes.
Finally, Reika stepped forward.
“Esteemed elder, what my friend means is—we had a moment where we were close to death. A golden light appeared out of nowhere… and literally saved us. We’re trying to understand what that was. we belived it was releated to a blessing my friends got from a church”
The elder’s eyes widened. His expression grew serious.
He stepped closer to Iryoku and Yumi, studying them intently.
“Oh, I see…” he murmured, leaning in until his face was just centimeters from Iryoku’s. Then he shifted to Yumi… then to Reika.
“Hmm… yes, yes… I don’t see anything different about you.”
The three of them nearly collapsed in disbelief. For a second, they thought he was about to uncover something profound.
“Which church did you say you came from, children?” the elder asked, thoughtfully stroking his beard.
Yumi quickly stepped in before Iryoku could butcher the name—or add one of his jokes.
“Let’s see… They followed the Love Goddess of Light and Beauty. It was in Staraya Town, back in the Uruk Kingdom.”
The elder nodded slowly, hands clasped behind his back.
“I see… Mmm. Doesn’t ring a bell.”
Iryoku nearly faceplanted on the floor again.
Is this old man senile, or is he messing with us? he thought.
“Ah—Lux! The goddess’s name was Lux,” Yumi added thoughtfully.
“Mmm... It may be... one of the direct children of the Light One,” the elder finally said.
“Though we are all creations of the Light One, His direct children—the ones closest to Him—wield His power and govern the mortal realm."
This time, the group actually felt the old man was finally making some sense.
“Though the old texts don’t go into detail, they do mention that some of His children disobeyed Him and turned evil, spreading mischief and suffering.
From your testimony, I dare say this Lux you speak of likely belongs to the good kind.”
He smiled softly.
“Sadly, that’s all I know. But if you wish to be blessed by the Light One, go out and do good. Act with kindness. In time, He will protect and guide you on your journey.”
Reika, a bit disappointed, spoke again.
“On another matter… we’re searching for a missing companion. She was being chased by dangerous people and had to flee south. We believe she’s somewhere near the Church of the Light Dominion.”
“Mmm… this might be a problem, children,” the elder said, his expression turning grave.
The group immediately grew tense.
“Is your companion a demi-human?” he asked.
“No,” Yumi answered quickly.
“Well… then she might be safe for a while,” the elder replied. “But if she shows kindness to demi-humans…”
He shook his head slowly.
“That place is a no-go zone for demi-humans—and even worse for hybrids like me. You’ll either be killed, enslaved on sight… or worse.”
They all wore worried expressions as they made their way toward the main town square, Rhogan following closely behind. An unshakable urgency had begun to settle over them—a rising need to rush out and search for Alessandra.
Iryoku glanced at Reika and Yumi, both fidgeting nervously.
“Look,” he said firmly, “we’ll stay the night, gather everything we need, and at first light, we head out. Got it?”
Reika and Yumi, still anxious, nodded in agreement. They knew they needed proper rest—and supplies—before continuing.
Iryoku, trying to lighten the mood, joked,
“Kinda disappointing he didn’t give us some mystical power or something.”
Reika, still deep in thought, added,
“I checked the return stone… and it definitely didn’t react the way it did with the Goddess’s power, or with the powers of the demon and Lunara.”
“Then it’s a dud,” Yumi said bluntly.
As they arrived at the main square and began shopping for food, Iryoku noticed one of the shops had a sign featuring a scroll and a running horse.
“Wait a minute—this might work,” he said, motioning for the girls to follow him inside.
He picked up the bag containing Lunara’s remains and entered the establishment.
When they came back out, he muttered, “I really hope it’s not a scam.”
They continued walking through the busy square when, suddenly, all the townspeople stopped and turned in the same direction.
Alarmed by the sudden stillness, Iryoku’s hand went close to his daggers, ready for anything.
“Stay close to Rhogan,” he told Reika and Yumi.
Up ahead, the crowd began to slowly part, people bowing as someone approached.
Iryoku remained calm—he didn’t sense any immediate danger—but the way the townsfolk reacted put him on edge.
“Oh Lord… it’s Mr. K.”
“And he’s accompanied by Lady Goka and Mr. Ligero…”
Several hushed voices murmured through the crowd.
Eventually, the path cleared entirely, revealing three figures walking forward—one in front, and two following a few steps behind.
Iryoku studied them closely.
To the left stood an overly muscular, tall woman clad in heavy red armor. She carried a massive sword and shield. Hair covered her cheeks, and her large, round ears twitched slightly.
To the right was a slim man dressed in light leather armor. His steps were light and nimble, and a bow hung from his back alongside a quiver of arrows. Animal-like ears and two long, thin horns rose from his head.
But the leader was the most striking of them all.
He was tall and slender, with a black face mask covering his mouth. A thin scar ran from the bridge of his nose downward, disappearing beneath the mask—but even so, he looked undeniably handsome. His skin was lightly tanned, and short white hair framed a face marked by sharp yet strangely soft features.
A wide-brimmed black hat with a feather sat atop his head, casting a shadow that hid his eyes. A white fur cloak draped elegantly over his shoulders. He wore black trousers, black boots, and a crisp white shirt—and hanging from his belt was a thin, fencing-style sword.
Yumi and Reika exchanged glances, both silently wondering who—or what—those people were.
“Ahh… Mr. K is so handsome…” someone whispered nearby, just loud enough for Iryoku and the girls to overhear.
The mysterious trio passed by without saying a word. They didn’t even glance in their direction.
But Iryoku felt a sudden chill run down his spine.
His eyes remained fixed on the leader’s back as they walked away.
It went unnoticed by the surrounding people, but for a brief moment, Iryoku imagined what would happen if he attacked the man. Almost instantly, he caught the faintest movement—just a slight shift of the figure’s hand toward his sword. It was so subtle, Iryoku couldn’t be sure if it had really happened or if it was just his imagination.
The sensation vanished as quickly as it came.
Yumi and Reika turned to look at him, noticing the serious expression on his face as he sized them up.
Eventually, the townsfolk returned to their daily routines, as if nothing unusual had happened.
The group finally resumed their plans and found an inn to stay the night. At the counter, after paying for the room, Iryoku decided to try his luck with the innkeeper.
He slid over an extra coin and, in an exaggerated feminine voice, asked,
“Hey, old man, I heard something about the handsome Mr. K. Is he really that handsome?”
Reika and Yumi exchanged a look, then raised their hands in surrender at Iryoku’s antics.
The innkeeper gave him a furrowed glance, coughed awkwardly, and replied,
“Look, young… man… Mr. K is the most respected figure in this city. Without him, this place wouldn’t be as peaceful as it is. So speak about him with respect.”
He paused for a moment, then leaned in slightly and added,
“Although no one has ever seen his full face, everyone says he’s the most handsome man alive.”
Switching back to his normal voice, Iryoku asked,
“So… is he like a celebrity? Or the mayor or something?”
The owner raised an eyebrow, slightly confused by the sudden change in voice.
“This city doesn’t have a mayor or a formal leader. We govern ourselves. But Mr. K… he’s the heart of this place. His power and influence keep the people united.”
Iryoku nodded. “Got it. Sounds like a good guy.”
They headed up to their room and rested for the night.
At first light the next morning, they packed up and quickly set off—continuing their journey in search of Alessandra.