Chapter 373

373 Nectar of the Gods #3

“Alright, I’ll be securing this post now. Pull the rope tight and drive it firmly into the ground, so it won’t break or collapse easily.”

Thud, thud—snap.

I reinstalled the tent that had been blown away by authority, belonging to Hippolyte.

Since I was confident in creating makeshift dwellings like tents, temporary shelters or canopies, I managed to complete a decent-looking shelter in merely a few minutes.

Perhaps it was the result of combining my incredible strength and dexterity, which bore astonishing fruits.

By my side, Hippolyte was picking up the scattered stack of documents from the floor.

Her furrowed brows suggested her annoyance upon seeing the documents marked with pointy footprints. I couldn’t tell if she was mad at whoever stepped on them or the person responsible for the stepping itself.

Maybe both.

After tidying up the surroundings, Hippolyte restored her desk to its pristine state as if nothing had happened and slumped into her chair.

Rustle, rustle—

She flipped through the documents and signed them. I noticed her handwriting was less elegant and more jagged than usual.

She must be disturbed.

This situation forced me to finally ask.

“Who was that woman earlier?”

I recalled the woman who had stormed into the office moments ago.

Her skin was tanned like Hippolyte’s, with a hint of red in her brown hair. She wore a golden armor resembling a vintage gown, along with a fan in her hand.

While Hippolyte gave off the image of a proper female knight, this woman seemed more like a vivacious noble lady.

Still, I wouldn’t call her a noble daughter due to the slightly feral, upward-slanting eyes. She reminded me of the only child of a South American mafia boss, maybe.

She had an edgy and haughty charm but was impressively commanding.

As I was reminiscing about the encounter, Hippolyte paused her pen-clicking, hesitating for a moment before reluctantly replying.

“That’s Penta Shilaya. She’s a Gold Tier Adventurer from the city of Babel in the Tower.”

“Is that so?”

I was familiar with the concept of the Gold Tier Adventurer since she wore a gold necklace similar to Hippolyte’s. But the mention of the city of Babel seemed familiar yet strange.

I had considered choosing between Sodomora and Babel when I decided on my starting city after my liberation from Elpride.

Had I chosen Babel over Sodomora back then, what kind of life and connections might I have had now?

While pondering this thought, Hippolyte added a bit more.

“Shilaya and I have a history of sorts. It can be considered a bad karma. She tends to create trouble with me, though it’s one-sided on her part.”

“You mean she’s provoking you?”

“Yes. She’s also a daughter of Mars, my half-sister if you will, like Antiope.”

Indeed, she belongs to the Amazons like Hippolyte, which I had guessed from her bronzed skin.

“Anyway, she regards me as some rival or enemy.”

“Does that mean that woman is as strong as you, Lady Hippolyte?”

“Huh. I hardly ever remember losing to anyone. And even in those few defeats, I’ve never lost to Shilaya.”

Right.

I felt I began to understand the relationship between Hippolyte and this woman named Shilaya.

Shilaya seems to bear animosity toward Hippolyte, similar to how Hippolyte harbors it toward Gloria.

Shilaya appears to be the perennial silver medalist overshadowed by Hippolyte.

“But the last time we faced each other was five years ago. Since then, she too must have honed her skills after achieving the Gold Tier, so I can no longer confidently claim an upper hand today.”

After her words, Hippolyte seemed lost in thought, closing her lips. Though she said little, I could tell her usually serene demeanor had a sharp edge to it now.

“That woman-”

Just as I was about to inquire further, Hippolyte spoke again, as if reading my mind.

“That woman is here in this city. Compounding my already numerous issues. It is very inconvenient. She causes trouble because she craves human attention, always trying to outshine me.”

An attention-seeker.

The relationship between adventurers and fame, or attention and recognition, is indeed close-knit.

Adventurers often enhance their prestige and recognition, leading to higher notability. In a sense, even I’ve reaped benefits from this fame.

“I don’t know why she’s come to this city just before the Grand Festival, but she certainly won’t stay quiet. Hassan, if you visit the Temple, please inform Antiope that Shilaya has arrived.”

“Sure.”

*

Returning to the temple after finishing some business,

“Come on, raise the column right there. Yep, good. Stack the logs for the walls—right, good job. The roof needs careful placement too.”

“My very first palace in Paranoi should be built earnestly…! We must do our best…!”

Upon returning to the graveyard, Paranoi and Antiope were busy with twelve priests-laborers they had gathered after going through the Hell’s Doorway—or something similar—and were in the midst of constructing something.

Thud, thud.

Squeak, squeak.

Judging from the sounds of hammering and sawing timber, they seemed to be enhancing the old shack the Gravekeeper had left behind into a slightly larger, more comfortable cabin-like office.

“Cool in summer, warm in winter! Let’s build it three stories high. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a hanging garden on the rooftop…!”

Paranoi was busily haranguing the priests draped in black robes. One of them, noticing the absurdity of her demands, paused their work and queried her.

“Paranoi-sama, with the one gold budget you’ve given us building even a two-story structure will be tough. How can we possibly construct a three-story home that’s cool in summer, warm in winter and also have a hanging garden?”

It was Marda, a woman with the number ‘2’ embroidered on her robe’s back, who asked.

Marda, who had attacked my temple and then joined its priesthood following the destruction of her college, spoke up. To be precise, her role was more akin to being Paranoi’s errand girl, but that’s beside the point.

Still, Marda’s point was valid.

Paranoi had given them a budget of one gold, which though a substantial amount, was insufficient to build a three-story mansion with a rooftop garden.

Paranoi narrowed her brows as if irritated.

“This is not some college! It’s not a place where one asks questions expecting answers. To be a priest means being able to think for oneself! Understand?”

To that, someone nearby inquired:

“Um, Lady Paranoi, I roughly decorated the garden for the office. Is this acceptable?”

“Aah! Who planted those thorny hyacinths without permission? They can hurt when stepped on… Why did you decide this without consultation!?”

“But, didn’t Paranoi-sama say we shouldn’t ask questions but figure it out ourselves…?”

“That’s it! Are you questioning me, Chief Archbishop Paranoi? When I used to be the youngest among Pluto worshippers, such things were unimaginable!”

“That, that-.”

“Number Four! Number Four, you’ve always been too headstrong! Haven’t I repeatedly said that to become one with the Dark Brotherhood, you must abandon your personal identity?”

Crash!

Paranoi tripped Number Four and grabbed his collar.

“If that’s how you’re going to behave, go home! Go home and rest for life, because it’s perfectly okay with me, Paranoi!”

“Hiiiiiiik!”

Number Four screamed.

“Ah, ah, sorry! I’ll fix it immediately!”

“Very good! You must understand my words are all guidance for your future. You shouldn’t take them personally!”

She’s something else.

Paranoi was handling the young recruits mercilessly like a tyrannical boss.

Although unexpected, Paranoi appeared to have a genuine talent for training and managing her subordinates.

Judging by the exhaustion on their faces, I thought today’s work was sufficient.

Even though I had no intention of interfering with Paranoi and Antiope’s activities, I approached them this time.

“Hey, that’s enough for today, Paranoi.”

“Ah! Lord Hassan! What are all of you doing standing up?! Prostrate yourselves before Lord Hassan immediately!”

At that, Paranoi startled everybody except herself into bowing.

Clatter, clatter.

It was amusing to see people who were unconnected to me until recently now bowing their heads to me as if I were some grand deity.

Of course, that doesn’t mean I’d let myself laugh out loud.

“Alright, everyone, stand up.”

“Then we shall continue the work…”

“No, no, it’s enough for today. Give them a rest. They’ve been working hard for several days. Instead, have them create a set of precepts and regulations. Around ten.”

The faces hidden beneath the dark robes of the Dark Brotherhood lit up.

“Regulations and Precepts!”

“The establishment of regulations—how amazing! I feel like a real priest!”

“Finally! No more soil work!”

“Lord Hassan, thank you. This is exactly the kind of work we dreamed of doing after graduation.”

Be it intentional or not, Paranoi was playing the role of the whip, and I became the carrot by default.

Taking all the dirty work on her own shoulders—could this be Paranoi’s loyalty in her own way?

I remembered feeling a pang of envy while watching the faithful nymphs like Doris, Eariol, and Alinoy, but this was different. Still, there was something to say.

“Submit your contributions to Paranoi’s desk by midnight. There will be ten items each, and I’ll grade them.”

“Oh, isn’t midnight a bit too tight?”

“Then aim for five items each. You’re the founding members of this temple. This is your temple, so put your hearts into it. If you slack off, it’s a fail. Understood?”

The twelve priests nodded, reassured by my gentle explanation.

Given their former education for priesthood, they surely can produce at least five regulations or basic precepts that any religion generally incorporates.

So, all I need to do is provide guidance and revision based on what they’ve come up with.

When time permits, it might be good to craft sacred texts or precepts as well. Something like the Quran of Lord Hassan, the Absolute Monarch.

“The first line of the sacred text should read, ‘Lord Hassan is the only god, and Paranoi is his prophet’—wouldn’t that be appropriate?”

I was surprised.

“What? Paranoi, can you read minds?”

“Lord Hassan, Nymphs excel in empathy! Guessing your thoughts is only natural as your premier disciple and right-hand, isn’t it?”

“Quite impressive.”

As we chuckled, someone approached us stealthily.

“Hassan, your aura has become impressively robust recently—it’s like a leaping storm.”

It was Antiope.

She prodded my shoulders and arms with her finger.

“Wow, even needle pricks won’t dent you. Your muscles have turned to iron, haven’t they? What’s going on?”

She noticed somehow that I had undergone a metamorphosis after drinking Nectar. My muscles were indeed much stronger and firmer now, almost like tightened wires.

As Antiope kept poking my arm, I told her.

“Hey, your other sister seems to be around. Her name is… Shilaya.”

“Whaaaat?! Shilaya-nee is here in this city?”

Antiope’s features twisted, as if she’d bitten into a cockroach.

“Ah, d*mn it! I hate that sister!”

Despite being half-siblings, there seems to be quite a difference. While Antiope gets along well with Hippolyte, it’s clear she doesn’t get along with Shilaya.

She unzipped her jacket smoothly, pulled out a pipe from somewhere in her bosom, lit it, and put it in her mouth.

“Phew… I’ll take a few days off. That sister will surely come to see me, since everyone knows I’m here. d*mn…”

“Is meeting her going to be a problem?”

“She can’t help but torment people weaker than herself, you know. I’ve had my arms and legs broken before because of her.”

Indeed.

I recalled some scary older students I had seen in my youth.

For all their terror, even bullies feared their seniors. Apparently, Antiope, the mischievous gangster sister, finds the older Shilaya quite difficult to handle.

“Ah, Hassan… I’ll take a few days off. If you don’t see me from tomorrow, you’ll know I’m resting.”

“Sure, you’ve worked hard recently, so a few days off won’t be an issue. There are plenty of priests who can help.”

From my viewpoint, I could see the black-robed individuals numbered from 2 to 12. Their names were unknown to me.

Only numbers marked them. They looked like the evil henchmen from an older-school villain’s ensemble. Though it was funny, it wasn’t far from reality.

But considering their academic backgrounds, they’re smart learners, so it won’t be long before each can handle their duties properly.

“Alright, I need to rest immediately. This is no time to stand around. Hurry up…”

Antiope was about to move swiftly, as if fleeing from something, but she stopped suddenly, her body trembling and staring into thin air. Something unusual was definitely happening.

Click, click—

Soon, the rhythmic sound of metal greaves striking the ground echoed into my ears.

“Hot and sticky here. Also too many bugs and untidy. And Antiope, you work here? How pitiful.”

Suddenly, a golden-haired woman appeared, fanning away the mist.

“Whaaaat?! S, Shilaya…!”

Antiope shrieked, looking like a cat suddenly confronted by a rat. Her ash-colored hair stood straight up, shaking as if she were about to have a seizure.

She resembles Hassan sneaking around only to suddenly bump into Elpride, oddly endearing.

Ssssh—

Still, despite her adorable reaction, the Amazon with spiral curls frowned disapprovingly.

“Isn’t it ‘Shilaya-nee’?”

“Ah, Neechan… What brings you here…?”

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