Banan’s Sanctuary, Siol
Ban defined the bandits as ‘monsters’ that appeared in the game and began hunting. Orma clapped his hands with a delighted face and couldn’t help but even draw out his golden spear to enthusiastically warm up his body, and seized a large container of water as loot from the bandits. Thanks to that, Jaena was able to quench his thirst refreshingly without whining until they arrived at Siol.
…Is that a good thing?
“This is Siol, the sanctuary of God Banan. We went through this and that, but I’m glad we arrived safely.”
“…”
Orma’s face, which had been happy when massacring the bandit group, quickly became gloomy. Ban recalled Orma’s appearance of being horrified when the name ‘Banan’ came up. As expected, Orma had something happen with the gods, and that’s why he clearly hated them terribly.
“Hmm, didn’t they say Siol is the City of Water? I heard there are waterways around the city, and you can travel the city by operating boats on those waterways.”
The waterways were completely empty without water. Only withered moss barely indicated that water had once rippled here. He had thought this when seeing the cracked and desolate roads on the way, but Siol’s situation also didn’t seem very good.
However, even if he energetically shouted ‘Well then, shall we try purifying the calamity with Orma-nim’s power to save the world?!’ to Orma, who seemed drained of energy as soon as they arrived at Siol, it didn’t seem like it would work at all…
After pondering, Ban decided to first find an inn suitable for staying a few days. He also needed to properly dispose of the accessories and jewels brought from the Sky Island to buy things needed for the journey. It seemed convenient to let the listless Orma, who had lost all motivation, and the noisy Jaena rest at the inn while he moved alone.
Ban, who quickly made plans, immediately headed to a prominently visible inn. The sign was quite old, but the building was large and clean so it looked nice… but when he actually entered, it was sparse with hardly any people.
“Welcome!”
Perhaps because it was an inn with few customers, the inn owner’s eyes sparkled the moment he saw Ban’s party and immediately greeted them vigorously. If they greet this enthusiastically, isn’t it embarrassing to say ‘Actually, we came in by mistake’ and leave again…
Ban eventually carefully removed his hood to reveal his face and began ordering. Whether the inn owner gaped at his face or not, he quickly began spitting out the things that came to mind.
“Three people total, planning to stay about a week. Please prepare meals for only 2 people for lunch and dinner, and we need one large bed for two people. Please prepare bathwater for all 3 people, and if you have cold ale, together with… Are you listening?”
“What? Ah, yes, yes! Haha, I’m sorry. It’s been a while since we’ve had customers staying long-term as a family unit.”
Family? Ban tilted his head and looked at Jaena, who was touring the inn here and there. Aha, seeing Jaena, they must think he’s a younger sibling.
“The child is really cute. Ah, you said you need a bed for two people, right? The child must still need to sleep together!”
“…”
Excuse me. That person is an upstanding 25-year-old beastman youth older than me… The one who sleeps well when sleeping together is this tall man over here… Ban desperately held back from saying that and roughly nodded with clouded eyes.
Then, at this big catch after a long time, the inn owner hummed while writing up the order form. Ban paid the price by roughly handing over gold coins without even properly reading the bill the inn owner presented.
“Then, you two rest at the inn first. I’ll go look around Siol for a bit and come back.”
“…Alone?”
He had been quiet until now, but as if displeased with Ban’s words about going alone, Orma asked back.
“Yes.”
“I want to go too.”
“Please rest as I’ll return soon. Anyway, I’m just going to dispose of jewels and look into what happened in Siol a bit, so there shouldn’t be anything to particularly worry about.”
Like going to the sanctuary alone or such things. No matter how much Ban shared earrings with Orma and could use some of his power, with low Faith Points, there really wasn’t much he could do. Being merely human, there was nothing he could resolve regarding the calamity either. In any case, since he had to restore Orma’s collapsed motivation and visit the sanctuary together, this time was really just a light outing.
Orma looked at Ban for a long while with a listless face, then eventually nodded his head.
“Come back quickly.”
“Yes.”
“If some strange woman talks to you on the street, ignore her.”
“…Hmm? Yes.”
“That guy’s noisy, so you can’t take long. I’ll die.”
Orma said while pointing at Jaena, whose eyes were sparkling, as if he was annoying. …When it came to Jaena, Orma’s words were generally right, so Ban nodded.
“When you come back…”
“Yes.”
“Let’s sleep quickly. I want to sleep.”
“…I understand.”
“I can’t fall asleep unless I’m holding you.”
If you say it out loud and openly like this, the customer next to us will glance over, Orma-nim… Ban bowed in greeting before Orma could say anything more, then hurriedly rushed out of the inn before more gazes focused on them.
Coming outside the building, the blazing sunlight momentarily covered Ban’s eyes. Ban stopped for a moment under the shade and thought about where he should go.
First, he should find a jeweler… Because all the water in the waterways had dried up, all existing means of transportation were blocked, so he might have to take a longer detour than usual. What if it takes a long time when he said he’d come back soon? Should he just dispose of the jewels for today?
Siol was barely maintaining its reputation as a beautiful and abundant City of Water with a few fountains where water rarely remained. Seeing large parasols that looked temporarily set up barely blocking the sunlight heading toward the fountains, even this didn’t seem to have completely escaped the calamity’s influence. Since it was cool around the fountains anyway, people unable to bear the stuffiness had gathered there…
Should I go there and ask if there’s a jeweler nearby? Thinking that, Ban walked over and carefully called out to the first person he saw.
“Excuse me…”
Then, the person who turned around was a beauty so fresh and beautiful that even Ban was surprised. Bright, light-toned mint-colored hair fluttered richly in the slightly blowing wind, and the eye color that closely resembled the peridot set in the ring Orma had put on him gave a strangely familiar feeling. Moreover, her brightly smiling face looked innocent as if she didn’t know the fear of calamity at all. Ban, who had paused in surprise at that appearance for a moment, hurriedly came to his senses and opened his mouth.
“Excuse me, but may I ask for directions?”
“Hello, baby.”
“…Yes, baby?”
The answer that came back was something unexpected that wasn’t in Ban’s anticipated responses. At best, he had expected something like ‘I’m sorry, I’m also a traveler.’ or ‘Directions? If it’s a place I know, I’ll tell you.’ But… baby? Ban couldn’t hide his bewildered feelings and paused.
“To call me baby… Aren’t I quite grown up?”
“Really? Everyone looks young to me.”
The woman saying that looked like she was around the same age as Ban. Ban had a feeling that he had somehow gotten caught by a strange person. Could she be someone who’s mentally ill? Ah, I should have asked someone else…
Then, as if noticing Ban’s thoughts, the woman asked a strange question with a brightly smiling face.
“But where is Orma?”
Orma. Ban’s eyes widened greatly when the name of his god appeared. No, that’s not it. Now that he looked, only around this woman did a small breeze blow gently. She was refreshingly clean and fresh on a completely different level from the humans who were there with irritated faces under the scorching sunlight soaked in sweat. Ban, who realized that the being before his eyes was extraordinary, looked around and asked quietly.
“By any chance… are you God Banan?”
“Ahaha!”
What’s so funny? The woman, no, Banan laughed cheerfully and circled around Ban. After observing him in embarrassingly close detail here and there, she clapped her hands in delight.
“Oh my, Orma really! When did he grow up and bring such a pretty lover?”
“…What? I’m not a lover, I’m an apostle who serves Orma-nim…”
“That’s the same thing!”
No, it’s different! Ban quickly shook his head, but it didn’t reach Banan.
“I know Orma well, and you’re exactly that child’s type. I’d believe it even if you said you popped out of that child’s head!”
“…”
Let’s give up, there’s nothing to gain from convincing a god. Ah, maybe this is why Orma said to ignore strange women if they talk to him on the street? And I think I somewhat understand why he doesn’t like God Banan so much… Banan, who had been happily watching Ban’s face become gloomy following his god in an instant, spoke with a regretful expression.
“I should get going now. What a shame. Baby, won’t you come visit the sanctuary with Orma tomorrow? I’ll bestow a blessing upon you.”
“A blessing…?”
“That’s right. Ah, if by any chance Orma throws a tantrum saying he doesn’t want to meet me, tell him about the conversation you and I had today.”
Then he’ll come running with fire in his eyes! Banan swallowed her regret at the thought of meeting a cherished being after a long time, slowly blinked her sparkling peridot-colored eyes, and instantly disappeared from before Ban’s eyes.
lmaooooo I love Banan already