Unlike Orma’s listless reaction, Ban, in high spirits, finished his meal quickly with a happy face. Somehow it felt like hope was visible. He didn’t know he’d have to take care of even his god’s situation down there, but anyway, it was better than rampaging and self-harming.
As soon as they finished eating, Jaena appeared fully prepared to go out, as if he knew somehow. Orma looked down at Jaena as if he had a headache, but lost his words at those sparkling yellow eyes and eventually decided to take him along.
“Are you that excited?”
“I am! Isn’t Banan God’s sanctuary famous for being very beautiful! But I heard you can only visit with the god’s permission…… will it be okay?”
“Yes, it should be fine.”
Even so, it wasn’t like they were going on a picnic, yet Jaena was holding a thick bundle, having packed this and that including a lunch box. In the end, Ban headed to the sanctuary together with Orma, Jaena, and even Jaena’s bundle.
Banan’s sanctuary greeted Ban’s party with an appearance similar to Greek temples on Earth. Perhaps because the sanctuary was within the god’s domain and wasn’t affected by the calamity, clear water pooled around the building, and the garden glimpsed beyond was full of lush greenery. Already at the refreshing and cool feeling, the faces of Jaena and Ban, who had been slightly tense, gradually relaxed.
The priests serving Banan wore white and blue clothes and white masks covering from forehead to nose, creating a solemn and sacred atmosphere. They had been coldly refusing the visiting requests of those who came before, but when Ban appeared, they guided them inside without a word. Had Banan informed them in advance?
“Wow…… it’s much quieter than I thought.”
“Isn’t it because of the calamity? Fortunately the sanctuary seems fine, but in the city even the water in the waterways has all dried up.”
It was so quiet that even though Jaena and Ban weren’t talking that loudly, their voices echoed inside the large building. Perhaps feeling a bit self-conscious, Jaena rarely shut his mouth and quietly followed behind the priest. However, the priest who seemed like they would guide them deep inside the temple began walking toward the garden they had glimpsed from outside.
Since the garden in Banan’s sanctuary was said to be a very beautiful place, Jaena’s footsteps became strange with excitement. The action of hesitating, looking around at the surroundings, then hurriedly coming to his senses and walking tododo with short steps repeated, until finally Orma, as if irritated, grabbed and lifted Jaena by the scruff of his neck. Even so, Jaena didn’t mind at all and actually chattered while pointing at the fascinating sights.
“Orma-nim, look over there! Fish are flying!”
“You’re being distracting, so be a little quiet.”
“But! But! How can I be quiet when fish are flying?!”
Jaena’s words weren’t wrong. Ban was also busily looking around the garden with wide eyes.
Among them, the most mysterious were the ‘Vanellas,’ called ‘fish flowers.’ Flowers that only grew in Banan’s sanctuary, mysterious life forms that floated and swam through the sky in fish shapes but were also classified as plants. They were fascinating even in the game, but seeing them in reality gave a different kind of impression. If he had a cell phone or camera, he would have taken pictures of that sight to enjoy again and again, but this world was quite regrettable in that regard.
While Ban and Jaena were entranced by the beautiful scenery of the garden including the Vanellas, finally a woman revealed herself from one corner of the garden. The woman reached out her hand to the Vanellas swimming joyfully through the sky to stroke them, then shaped her life force into a small blue light to feed them. The moment they instinctively realized she was Banan, Banan turned her head toward them.
“Welcome.”
Today she greeted them with golden eyes. But perhaps a god’s eyes were different somehow—the fresh and lively impression from yesterday was nowhere to be found, and instead her face was somehow cold and ruthless. The deep, dark green hair falling to her waist made Banan’s impression calm, and in the center, the brilliantly shining golden eyes flaunted a sacred beauty.
Facing the god, Jaena didn’t know what to do and prostrated himself flat. His tail raised high and his erect ears showed he was very nervous. Orma let out a hollow laugh at the appearance so clearly different from how Jaena acted toward him, but when Banan approached closer, even he eventually shut his mouth and narrowed his eyes.
“Nice to meet you, baby.”
“……Hello. However, calling me baby is a bit……”
Banan, who greeted Ban first as yesterday, troubled Ban with the word ‘baby’ as she had yesterday. Whether she knew Ban was trying not to grimace or not, Banan smiled faintly and held out her hand. At the gesture of naturally offering the back of her hand, Ban wondered if he should kneel like Jaena right now and pay respects by kissing the back of the god’s hand, but before that, Orma struck that hand away.
“Don’t try your tricks on someone else’s apostle, would you?”
“Orma……”
Banan opened her eyes slightly wider as if a little surprised, then looked at him while calling Orma’s name. Perhaps it was because this was the first time he had shown such an intense reaction to her. Banan looked back and forth between Ban and Orma, then slowly stroked down her rejected hand and said,
“Other gods’ apostles and blessings are unrelated matters.”
“I said I don’t like it.”
“Really? Baby, do you really dislike it?”
Banan naturally turned her head toward Ban to ask, as if she should confirm the party’s own intention. Ban, caught between the two gods in an instant, was flustered and didn’t know what to do, then hurriedly answered at his god’s blazing gaze shouting ‘Say you don’t like it! Quickly!’
“The blessing is fine. Thank you, but I politely decl—”
“It’s not that great a blessing. I’ve also weakened considerably because of the calamity.”
Banan said this while lightly waving her hand to create a faint, bluish light like when feeding the Vanellas. And that light seeped into Ban before Ban and Orma could even react, making Orma rage furiously.
“What! Suddenly blessing him arbitrarily……!”
[A God’s Gift has arrived!
Congratulations! Skin Care (E-rank) acquired!
▷ Skin Care (E-rank): A gift from Banan God that maintains moist and soft skin even in dry temperatures.]
……Skin care? When Ban looked at Banan with bewildered eyes, Banan, as if she had anticipated this reaction, smiled broadly like when they first met yesterday and even let out a giggling sound. Then she shamelessly touched and played with Ban’s face, enjoying herself.
Watching Banan pull his cheeks, Ban realized once again that she was a god who governed water and wind, abundance and love, and even ‘beauty.’
“How is it? Soft as a baby, right? You won’t get wrinkles easily either!”
“Ban, are you okay? I don’t know what blessing it is, but take this back right now.”
“I’m fine. She bestowed a blessing called skin care.”
“What?”
At those words, even Orma was flustered and stopped being angry, staring blankly at Ban’s face. Even in the game, Banan was a god full of mischief……
Ban just blinked his eyes while his cheeks were still being pulled by Banan, showing no particular reaction. Only then did Banan grumble as if bored and let Ban go.
“What a boring reaction. Would you have been surprised if it was a blessing to grow a womb?”
“……Thank you for the blessing. I was surprised because I didn’t expect to receive such a gift.”
So please retract your words about a womb in a man’s body. Ban trembled with fear and hurriedly bowed with both hands clasped, offering thanks to Banan, who was also a god of ‘fertility’ connected to abundance. Only then did Banan laugh with a ‘huhu’ and turned her gaze to Orma. Then, unlike when dealing with Ban, she spoke in a somewhat stern face and reproachful tone.
“But what were you thinking, keeping this fragile one in your heart?”
“……”
“Unlike you, this child will grow old and die someday…… Even after going through that, have you learned nothing?”
Even at the nagging words like a mother’s, Orma couldn’t answer anything and pressed his lips tightly together. However, when his anxious gaze moved busily toward the ground, Ban stepped forward in front of Orma as if blocking and shook his head.
“Please don’t say strange things to Orma-nim. We only came to confirm and purify the calamity that has befallen the sanctuary.”
“Oh my……”
Ban thought she would be angry about him butting into the gods’ conversation, but why was she pleased? Banan opened her eyes wide and raised her hand to carefully cover her mouth while letting out an exclamation. Then with a satisfied face, she slowly looked Ban over from head to toe, then nodded and muttered.
“This much then……”
“Pardon?”
“It’s nothing. Now, baby, follow me. I’ll guide you through the sanctuary. That’s right, since you came all this way, I’ll give you a sacred object too, so take it with you.”
“……Pardon?”
“There’s also a divine artifact, shall I give you that too? Ah, if you need it, also weapons……”
Banan’s words about what she would give continued on and on. Ban looked with a bewildered face at Orma behind him, who had become gloomy, then carefully held his hand. His god, whom he thought would coldly strike his hand away like he had struck away Banan’s hand, obediently held his hand and even interlaced their fingers, then followed Banan who was guiding the way.
