89 89 – Upside-down Tornado
“So, what’s really bothering you, Erbau?” I asked when both my servant and Mona had left for the mission. My guess is this building god wants to talk to me without anyone listening.
Maybe he still believes that God’s servants shouldn’t hear too much about divine matters.
Erbau did not immediately answer. He stared at his reflection in the pond for a few seconds, then sighed. “I’ve been feeling something strange lately in the land of Levidna.”
“Something strange?” I frowned. “If you feel it, then it’s related to buildings, right?”
“You have a sharp mind, Ray.” Erbau looked at me with a faint smile. “Yes, there is one building that bothers me. I can feel all the buildings in the world below. I can even see their shape in my head. However, this particular building gives off an aura that is so foreign in the land of Levidna but familiar to us.”
It didn’t take long for me to come to a conclusion. “That building exudes a divine aura?”
“Very little, but it already worries me.” The God of buildings massaged his forehead. “I’ve called Levi and Edna, but they’re busy again.”.
“Yeah, they’re always so busy that I forget what I wanted to ask them.” I threw out a response that made the building god chuckle. “Well, I can help you, Erbau. I can send my servants to check on that.”
Making another god indebted to me is something very useful in the future. So, I do not hesitate to offer my services to Erbau.
“Actually, I really wanted to ask you for help.” Erbau massaging his forehead again. “However, I have to ask that damn Levi and Edna’s permission, or I won’t be able to grant you access. Without my access, you won’t be able to get your servants to where they should be.”
“I’ll always be there to help you, Erbau. Hit me when you get that permission.”
The God of building flashed his smile for a second time. “Thank you very much, Ray. Now I just want to take your mind off by watching your servants do their job.”
I smiled back and patted that God’s shoulder. The pond in front of us began to ripple, making our reflections blurry.
***
A woman in a maroon dress with golden accents was kneeling on the floor. In front of her was a tiered wooden altar filled with plates of various foods, from steaks to a large roasted fowl to fruit like grapes and apples.
The woman intertwined her fingers filled with colorful, sparkling stone rings. Her gaze fixed on the large painting on the altar.
“Oh, wish-fulfilling God. I hope you hear my prayer.” That black-haired woman with a high bun began to pray. “Accept my son Elmer’s wish to become a mighty adventurer. His three siblings have become people who help his father in the family business. Only Elmer is different, my God. He doesn’t want to be a businessman like the rest of his family. He wants to gain glory as an adventurer, explore the world, fight monsters, help others, and…”
The woman’s prayer was stopped by a cloud of fog that appeared above the altar. She then stood up and took a few steps back.
Yua and Elise descended from the fog. Their bodies crushed the altar, broke the plates, and flew the fruits into the air.
A bunch of grapes got stuck in that woman’s giant bun. However, she didn’t care about that. She looked at the ninja and the warrior kneeling before her.
“What is it, madam Lilian!?” The screams from outside made the woman flinch.
“Nothing, Aaron!”
Then, the footsteps of several people who were approaching also started to echo.
“Don’t come in, or I’ll fire you all! And don’t talk anymore. Get out of here right now!” The woman named Lilian was fuming.
The people outside the room answered in unison. “Very well, madam!”
Elise and Yua stood up while looking at the mess they had just made.
Mona is enjoying a piece of steak. However, after receiving a warning signal from her master, she stopped doing so, then sat down with her head down.
“I’m so sorry, madam.” Yua came to Lilian with a friendly smile. “We can’t pinpoint where we will land… Ah, my name is Yua. And this friend of mine is Elise.”
Instead of shaking the kunoichi’s hand, Lilian fell to her knees again. “You two must be Sir Raymund’s envoys, right!? Forgive me for being rude and not paying my respects immediately!”
“P-please, stand up, madam.” Yua was confused by this excessive behavior. “Yes, we were indeed sent by Sir Raymund. We were assigned to help a noble child who wanted to become a knight.”
“Are you guys going to help my son!?” Lilian raised her head and hastily squeezed Yua’s hand. “Please, tell me that you want to help my son!!!”
“Yes, madam.” Yui grimaced. “We will help your child, but can you let me go first?”
“Is this supposed to be Sir Raymund?” Elise looked at the painting on the wall.
With Lilian still holding her hand tightly, Yua also stared at the painting. The kunoichi’s eyes narrowed. The man’s clothes in the picture are indeed similar to Raymund’s, only slightly different in accent and color. But the man’s cheeks were much chubby, his eyes were too big, and his hair was spiky like a brush. However, all of that didn’t stand out too much compared to the shape of that person’s lips. The lips were huge and super red as if they were swollen from a wasp sting.
“That’s definitely not me.” Raymund snorted.
Chuckled, Yua looked up. “You are certainly much more handsome, sir.”
“So the painting is a misrepresentation of Sir Raymund?” Lilian looked at Yua with bulging eyes, then dropped her forehead on the floor so hard it made a nasty thud. “I’m truly sorry! I will replace it immediately! I will be willing to accept any punishment, but don’t kill me!!! I truly ask for forgiveness from your master, Lady Yua!!!”
Now Yua was having a hard time getting Lilian to straighten herself up.
And miraculously, the bunch of grapes was still stuck in the woman’s bun. A bun shaped like an upside-down tornado.