Chapter 349

348 – The Man Searching for His Identity #4

After checking the blessings at the Task Shop, I decided to take a look at the curses.

Curses.

It’s quite unsettling that such things exist in the shop.

“Curse Shop – Curses for displeasing mortals!”

“Single Hole Pierced Bag” – Lose 10% of your earnings continuously. – 10K

“Single Clumsy Tongue Play” – Increased chance of biting your tongue while speaking. – 10K

What the hell kind of curses are these?

Even to me, they seem petty and unpleasant. While blessings consumed 100 tasks, these curses only consume 10.

I began to understand why there are so many cursed individuals compared to blessed ones in this Gaia Continent.

Curses are dirt cheap.

However, the contents were somewhat underwhelming, leaving me disappointed.

Losing 10% of earnings continuously?

Increased chance of biting your tongue while speaking?

It’s all quite subtle.

But unlike my disappointment, the next section of Catastrophes was impressive.

“Catastrophe Shop – Punishment for unbelievers!”

“Swarm of Grasshoppers” – Releases a swarm that eats 10% of crops in the area. – 1000K

“Massive Weeds” – Causes tough weeds to grow, becoming habitats for dangerous insects and monsters. – 1000K

“Land of the Dead” – Drains the life from the area; undead monsters appear at night. – 3000K

“Ultimate Plague” – Spreads the ultimate plague in the area. – 10000K

The Catastrophes section told truly terrifying stories matching their name.

Causing grasshopper swarms to devour crops, growing weeds to increase the number of dangerous creatures, or creating undead spawning zones –

What exactly is this “Ultimate Plague”? There’s no detailed explanation, but it costs 10,000K. It must be something terribly horrifying.

I thought I wouldn’t have any use for these catastrophes. Given their horrifying descriptions, it would be wise to seal them away for now. Thus, I clicked on the last option, “4. Upgrade.”

Beeep!

A warning sound similar to something being wrong rang out.

“Requirement of 1000 believers not met.”

“Collect believers to level up the shop.”

“The effects of various items increase by 1/10 with each shop level up.”

Ah, upgrading means increasing the shop’s level.

If believers gather and upgrade the shop, more advanced blessings can be granted, leading to greater power. This must be what they mean when they say a deity’s power grows with more believers.

Do the God of Light or Venus Goddess have similar situation panels and shops?

In any case, after building the shrine, my newly unlocked situation panel had abilities befitting a deity and leader of religion.

Although I only have three believers and my so-called shrine is no more than a comical stone altar built by Paranoi, it’s still gratifying to have more options and cards to play.

“So, Hassan-sama, what should we do now?”

Then Paranoi approached me while I was deep in thought. I was lost in pondering what to do first.

First, I should gather Task Points and recruit believers.

*

The next day.

I headed to a busy park with many people. The central street with high foot traffic. As I stepped in, I could feel many people glancing at me.

My large build and striking appearance easily drew attention. While it used to make me quite shy, it still makes me somewhat uncomfortable now.

I seized the opportunity to shout towards the people.

“MASSAGES available!”

What? What is he saying?

What kind of massage?

I could feel everyone’s attention suddenly shift towards me. Seizing the moment, I closed my eyes tightly and shouted again.

“Massages! For those feeling unwell! From sore backs in elders to young people – I cure everyone without discrimination!”

Massage?

What kind of massage?

People’s reactions were lukewarm. I was trying to use the temple as a massage clinic to gather Task Points, but they seemed wary of my sudden appearance.

Even if someone appeared out of nowhere offering massages, I’d be suspicious and observe carefully too.

Therefore, no one approached me, merely stopping to watch what I might do next.

It was easy giving massages to acquaintances, but attracting random passersby was much harder than I imagined.

I couldn’t help but look at Paranoi, who had been playing in the dirt in front of me. Noticing my gaze, she slowly stood up.

“Ladies and gentlemen! Attention, please! This individual here is the one and only son of Pluto! The great deity’s bloodline, Lord Hassan!”

What?

Who?

“Behold, my master – the son of the great Pluto, Lord Hassan is bestowing blessings! He will personally alleviate the suffering of the poor and diseased who cannot visit clinics! All curses and chronic diseases can be cured!”

Curing curses?

Healing chronic illness?

I could feel the change in people’s gazes.

Perhaps because hearing it from a small nymph sounds more convincing and less threatening than from a big man.

In other words, she’s the barker.

“Come now, everyone! Line up on the straw mat I’ve laid down!”

Chack chack!

Paranoi kicked the straw mat under her feet.

But that was it.

Despite lowering their guard more than when I spoke, the people of this world were not so easily convinced.

It’s not uncommon to see those who falsely claim to be sons of gods.

Son of Pluto? Who’d believe that?

Still, given that she has a nymph, there must be some truth to it. Nymphs don’t just serve anyone.

I could hear them chatting among themselves, but this was expected. Rome wasn’t built in a day. I never expected immediate faith and devotion. It’s enough to have made an impression on the public for now.

Thinking of finishing here for today, Paranoi adds another line.

“First come, first served – 10 people today only! Receive 10 minutes of massage and also get 10 copper coins! Poor and sick ones, come to Lord Hassan!”

They’re giving money?

First come, first served?

d*mn it, 10 minutes for 10 copper coins? That’s enough for two bowls of rice!

The atmosphere and people’s gazes changed instantly. When someone stepped forward, the rest followed, and ten people lined up in front of me rather quickly. Most were younger males.

Apparently the cautious elders and women were less inclined to believe because of the money offer.

But that was fine.

I first had the lined-up guests lie face down.

The first customer was a man whose back was severely hunched. It seemed less like a congenital condition and more due to pain preventing him from straightening up.

About my age? But he looked a bit older, likely from sun exposure or hardship.

And it seemed he hadn’t had proper meals for several days, looking quite thin.

“Uh, should I take off my shirt? Do you need the upper body exposed?”

The man asked me somewhat shyly. Huh? Is he embarrassed about removing his shirt in front of another man?

Seeing the skin disease inside his sleeves, I understood his unease.

“No, there’s no need to take off your clothes.”

In the past, I used to check pulses on wrists and massage bare skin, but now with my awakened mana and aura, I clearly see which meridians to press and when for optimal healing.

Whirrr…

I infused my thumb with aura and pressed firmly on the aching back of the young man whose back had become hunched due to strenuous labor.

His back muscles were excessively tense from bone and joint issues.

Crack!

“AAAAAGH!”

The man screamed and writhed. It probably hurt, but for him, this level of pain is appropriate.

I then used my whole palm to press his back up.

Crackkk!

It sounded like a big beam breaking in his back. This is the charm of chiropractic manipulation. The sound itself can be refreshing to hear.

“Ugh, uh…”

But the man was in visible pain, foaming at the mouth while struggling. The onlookers’ gazers became more intense.

Isn’t his back broken? That was quite a terrifying sound.

That’s Norrth, who became a beggar after the Cult War injured his back and waist. Even healers had given up on him.

Are they saying they can cure him just by pressing his back?

They were seriously assessing the outcome of this series of actions.

“Aaagggh…”

“Can you get up?”

“But, how can I get up? My back still hurts so much…”

The hunched man, Norrth, started tearing up pitifully.

Perhaps I pressed too hard. I feel a bit regretful, but I’m certain I didn’t break any bones, given the “Hunchback” condition was cured and I received 10K Task Points.

“You won’t feel the pain once you get up.”

I helped him up by holding his shoulders.

“Ughh…” With an unusual sound, Norrth grabbed my shoulders, wobbling precariously like he might fall.

But only for a moment.

Look at that! Norrth is standing straight now!

The guy who groaned in pain every night!

The world really does change!

The man who previously bent over like a hunchback stood upright.

“Th-this…”

The man who was crying in pain was carefully moving his shoulders and back, looking confused by his own situation.

“My back, my back isn’t hurting – What exactly did you do?”

To which Paranoi answered on my behalf.

“This is the divine blessing from Lord Hassan!! He performs miracles so great he can cure the blind and heal paralytics!!”

I recalled healing the young lady paralyzed by a car accident, but don’t remember curing blindness. This was clearly an exaggeration. Anyone listening would probably think it was an absurd tale.

But at this moment, after showing some proof, Paranoi’s wild claims no longer remained just wild claims.

I then treated issues in the waists, shoulders, and necks of the following people.

In this medically undeveloped age, many simple conditions had worsened due to lack of care that could’ve been prevented by stretching or exercise.

“Good lord, my knees, my knees don’t hurt at all. Really, not a bit! Thank the heavens! Now I can work at the drainage station again!”

I treated their illnesses and received their thanks.

By now I had accumulated 200 Task Points.

Being able to collect this many points in one day wasn’t too bad. At this rate, I should be able to upgrade 5 more levels soon using the five totems Luna prepared in advance.

But I didn’t have much time to dwell on this happy thought.

The people who had been suspicious of me earlier were now swarming around me.

“My shoulders hurt, treat my shoulders!”

“My neck hurts terribly, please help!”

Whereas they had been suspicious of me before, now they were pleading for treatment as if they had flipped a coin.

Most of them were impoverished people with poor clothing and nutrition. They surged forward, clamoring and grabbing at me.

“We’ve reached today’s quota of ten patients already…! Excessive workload!! We need to have dinner now…! Please step aside…!”

Paranoi grumbled while being pushed around by the crowd.

“Ahhh!”

Just then, as she tripped over some strange rock –

“The High Kingdom’s law forbids gatherings of more than 30 people without permission. I suggest everyone disbands now.”

Someone grabbed Paranoi’s collar and helped her up.

Are the city guards here?

But seeing the glossy black leather armor and ash gray hair, plus the pipe in his mouth, it was clear someone more imposing than regular guards had arrived.

The familiar newcomer spoke in a casual tone.

“I am Antiope of the Shrine Knights. Friends, you must end this chaotic gathering now.”

“Shrine Knight?!”

At the mention of this powerful organization, the crowd quickly scattered. Fortunately, this allowed Paranoi and me to avoid being trampled or crushed.

“Hey Hassan, long time no see. Your shrine seems to be doing well? But why is your proselytizing so successful? They all seem to be poor folks who won’t benefit much…”

Antiope spat on the ground.

I recalled reading about Antiope’s situation in the Believer Management section – she was too busy to rest.

“Are you also busy these days?”

“Yeah, dead busy. Thanks to some guy claiming to be the son of Pluto building a shrine, I have to take extra shifts.”

“Indeed.”

d*mn, it’s all my fault you’ve been busy.

“Unknown deity Hassan. From now on, I’ll be supervising whether or not you’re engaging in forbidden cult activities. The Shrine Knights will also be sending another supervisor.”

“The Shrine Knights… that includes Vice Vein, the devotee of Bacchus?”

“No, he’s been called by Bacchus to the Prison City due to some urgent situation. A new one will be coming, but it won’t be someone as soft as me or Vice Vein, so don’t try anything rash.”

“Rash actions like what?”

“Summoning undead armies to rebel against the kingdom, for example.”

“I wouldn’t do that.”

Though I did something similar in the graveyard once. I was starting to sweat slightly.

Still, seeing Antiope’s face made me quite happy.

Shall we go eat together? – Just as I was about to say that, I noticed someone who hadn’t yet dispersed following the dispersal order.

It was the first man I treated, Norrth, wasn’t it?

“Do you have something else to say?”

“Uh… well, it’s… now that I know for sure you’re the son of a god… though it’s quite shameless of me to ask, could you help me one more time?”

As I narrowed my eyes, he bowed deeply before me.

“Please, my younger sister is possessed by a ghost. If you truly are Pluto’s son, I believe you can drive out the evil spirit consuming my sister’s body!”

Evil spirit, huh?

I felt a chill run down my spine.

But exorcising evil spirits – performing an exorcism rite seemed highly proper and fitting for the son of a god. Plus, I had a personal interest in evil spirits.

“Let’s go take a look.”

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