Chapter 435

435 Gathering of the Strong #4

Once, Hippolyte said.

Heroes wearing golden necklaces fight for their own reasons.

She said intangible elements such as honor, fame, or faith lead them to the battlefield.

So, to lure such individuals, it’s often difficult to use money alone?

After all, when you’re a Gold Tier Adventurer, you’re unlikely to be in need of money unless you’re doing stocks like Hippolyte.

Hippolyte had said.

To drag even reclusive strong people out into the world, ordinary bait will not do, Hassan.

I asked her then.

So, what should we do?

We need to think about that. What will attract them…

At that moment, something suddenly flashed in my mind like lightning. I wrote it down as a letter and sent it nationwide through a courier.

The results are what we see now.

“Hassan, the scoundrel of Sodomora, who bravely summoned an expedition with such a deceitful letter, come forth and accept the challenge of this body, Atalante!”

The Gold Tier Adventurer, declaring herself Atalante, growled as if she were seriously angry.

Perhaps due to her hair, which was the color of a lioness’s coat, her furrowed face looked fearsome like a beast.

With a shirt so short it showed her armpits and short dolphin shorts, her long limbs made her resemble a model or an athlete.

“Hassan—! I know you’re in this city—!”

But judging by the long bow strapped to her back, she was likely an archer.

In her hands, she nervously clutched a crumpled scroll.

I could tell it was the letter I had worked hard on.

“Come out and accept my challenge—!”

Like a hungry lion, her wild demeanor made passersby nod with their arms crossed or mutter a few remarks.

What an amusing lady.

Her face was quite pretty. From her necklace, it seemed she was also a gold-tier adventurer like Hippolyte.

But why is Hassan being called out like that? A scoundrel from Sodomora seeking divine retribution. She should be a wicked woman.

Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, there were voices supporting me. I could feel my influence growing—making me somewhat proud.

Are they my followers?

Indeed, I recognized quite a few people who I had seen during weekly worship on weekends.

Many among them even wore a swastika-shaped brooch on their shoulders, symbolizing their status as my followers.

That brooch was something Paranoi devised, representing fervent believers and upgrading materials from iron to bronze, silver, gold, and platinum according to one’s faith score, much like an adventurer’s necklace.

The idea was that as tiers were divided, most people would work harder in their faith to achieve a higher tier.

By the way, why did it turn out that shape?

There was no religious symbol coming to mind, and they voted with a majority consent among the priests to settle on the swastika.

Apparently, that shape looked cooler.

“I can’t stand it any longer—!”

Anyway, a man wearing a bronze-tier brooch stepped forward towards Atalante.

He seemed to be an adventurer, robust in build with bronze-colored cords hanging around his neck.

Clang—.

Seeing three sheathed swords at his waist reminded me of my days as a Bronze Adventurer, and it felt fresh.

So I was intrigued as to why he stood before the Gold Tier Adventurer. That man shouted like a furious person.

“I am Paulus, a devotee of Lord Hassan! I have heard that I cannot tolerate the insult to my faith! Lord Hassan is no scoundrel but the only God who cares for the Gaia Continent!”

Oh.

His words moved me quite a bit.

It felt like a guarantee that consuming nectar weekly or massaging many people’s shoulders wasn’t in vain.

However, Atalante, upon hearing this, scoffed as if finding it ridiculous.

She literally laughed at him.

“A Bronze Tier? You are no match for me. Claiming to be a follower of Hassan? Then, hurry and summon your God Hassan! Right now—!”

That sounded more like a growl of a starving beast than a human’s words. In fact, I could see many people flinch and lower their heads.

But Paulus, the Bronze devotee facing Atalante, was not frightened at all. What was even more surprising was what he said next.

“You are insulting the second commandment, not to speak the name of Lord Hassan carelessly! This is an intolerable act, and I shall punish you appropriately with Lord Hassan’s Three Sword Techniques—!”

“Three Sword Techniques? Where did that come from? You can only hold two swords.”

“You, how can you disregard Lord Hassan’s Three Sword Techniques—! The Three Sword Technique of Lord Hassan is the secret of hell, the thirty-fifth deathblow—!”

“What nonsense, what is that—.”

“This guy, don’t think of returning from Sodomora alive! I challenge you to a duel—!”

Thus, a duel was established between the Bronze Tier Adventurer and the Gold Tier Adventurer.

While Paulus drew two swords and panted, Atalante’s expression remained utterly peaceful.

“Yawn—.”

She even yawned, which clearly indicated that this man was not a match for the Gold Tier Adventurer Atalante.

Paulus knew that very well.

However, he did not flee.

“Lord Hassan, please allow me to become a righteous human butcher today—!”

No, rather, he charged first. He lunged with vigor befitting his build, raising both swords high towards Atalante.

“Three Sword Techniques—, Hassan Slash—!”

No, what the hell, Hassan Slash? It feels like I’m the one being slashed.

Nevertheless, his sword never touched Atalante’s body. Paulus simply stumbled and fell as if he tripped over a stone.

Thud—.

“Cough—.”

The Bronze Paulus collapsed onto the floor.

Around him, the crowd murmured.

What happened just now? I didn’t see anything!

I don’t know, he just fell suddenly! What happened?

It seemed that people didn’t know what had occurred. Receiving their gazes, Atalante merely yawned in boredom.

But I knew.

In the fleeting moment when one could blink, Atalante flicked a stone with her fingers and struck the man’s neck.

And that was the end of the fight.

Before long, Atalante, who had gracefully stepped on the man’s neck, said,

“Well, you’ve lost the duel, so now your life and d*ath are at my mercy. Since you drew your sword against me, you must have been prepared to d*e, right?”

“Gahhh—.”

“However, if you merely utter the word ‘fool’ towards your God Hassan, I’ll spare you. I’m generous, you see.”

“No—! Lord Hassan cured my mother’s dementia…! No matter what happens, I will not betray Him—!”

Dementia.

I had cured many elderly afflicted by dementia.

It was a simple task of pressing on the white spot on their heads to gather the chaos within.

That man seemed to be a child of one of those countless old people. What amazed me more was his attitude of being willing to embrace d*ath.

Is this faith?

Someone fighting for me and ready to face d*ath because of that?

In that situation, I even felt a kind of madness, as my existence weighed heavily on others more than I had imagined.

Thanks to Paranoi and the priests fervently spreading my faith.

“Grrr—.”

“If I gently press down on your neck like this, you’ll d*e. So, where is your great God? The one who manifested only on the Gaia continent, right? Your devotee is in danger, and He’s not showing up?”

“Th-that person is busy—. I, I’m not worthy of calling such a being!”

“Then d*e.”

Squeeze.

Atalante’s sandals began to tighten around the man’s neck. Each time she exerted force, his face turned a shade of red as if he was suffocating.

Around him, people murmured loudly.

At this rate, a real person will d*e! Someone do something—!

But she’s a Gold Tier Adventurer. What can we do? Unless Lord Hassan himself comes, at least the great vice lord Paranoi should be here—

That’s right—! Everyone, let’s use the power of faith to summon Lord Hassan to this land!

What? Excuse me?

The story was taking a strange turn.

Hassan—! Hassan—!

We need more faith! Show us your faith more!

I was trying to step forward to remedy the situation when suddenly people began chanting my name, making it awkward for me to move.

What should I do?

Just then, someone shouted.

Ah—! Here, Lord Hassan is here—!

R-really. A troll-like figure—! With a thick club and a terrifying gaze, it’s the real Lord Hassan, not a fake Samaritan—!

Why is the busy Lord Hassan among these shabby common folk…?

Fool, that’s obvious! Our faith made Lord Hassan manifest in this land!

Wow—!

In this bizarre atmosphere filled with the heat of madness, I unwittingly found myself as the main character in the center.

As the crowd parted like the Red Sea, a path toward the stage was cleared, and the only thing blocking my way was Atalante, who was stepping on the man’s neck.

“So, you’re Hassan—?”

Shiver, shiver—.

“You are the one who wrote that kind of letter?”

Less intense than Achilles, whom I had just faced, but there was a sharp killing intent, as if needles were being shot.

At that, I briefly glanced at the man turned pale under her foot and said,

“Yes, I am Hassan. And how about letting that man go? We should play with opponents of matching ranks. Aren’t you ashamed to proclaim yourself a hero while tormenting the weak?”

“This man drew a sword on me. What to do with him is my right. But it was getting boring and I was losing interest.”

Swish—.

Atalante removed her foot from the man’s neck.

Paulus gasped out loud as if he were exhaling the breath he had been holding back.

He then began to cry.

“H-huh, Lord Hassan—. It’s really Lord Hassan. That you would come this far just to save me—!”

Perhaps he was moved by my appearance. He picked up the swords lying on the ground, held them out in front of me, and then bowed down.

“That woman insulted Lord Hassan’s Three Sword Techniques…! I attempted to take revenge, but I was weak and failed…! I’m sorry…!”

“No, Paulus—. You did well enough. It’s not that you’re weak; it’s that that woman is strong.”

“How do you know my name—?”

Paulus trembled as if he were astonished that I knew his name. Of course, I had seen everything just a moment ago in the crowd, so it was natural for me to know.

But he seemed not to have time to dwell on such concerns.

Or perhaps he was simply moved that I, a being he worshiped like a God, was mentioning his name.

Whatever the case, I could see a peculiar anticipation rising in his tear-filled eyes.

Not only from him, but in the eyes of everyone surrounding me who had chanted for my appearance.

Those emotions kindled something within me.

Swish—.

I picked up two swords from the ground.

It had been a long time since I had switched weapons from a club back to swords, and it felt quite refreshing.

“What was your intention in sending that kind of letter to me?”

Atalante threw a scroll at me with a thud. As I bent down to retrieve it, I read the letters written on it carefully.

To the cowardly people of the Gaia Continent—.

Why do those who are called heroes and wear golden necklaces achieve nothing great—?

If you’re going to remain hidden from the world, then return that necklace and title and become fertilizer for future generations—.

I am Hassan of Sodomora. If you wish to refute, come and challenge me. Unlike you all, I neither flee nor hide.

That was my provocation letter.

I thought nothing could provoke warriors who fight for various reasons better than that.

Honestly, I was half in doubt, but seeing that a Gold Tier Adventurer had come right away indicated it was quite effective.

The problem was that it was too effective and turned into an enemy.

“I am Atalante, protector of the Cardia Mountains, wild boar hunter, and noble one—! Hassan, I challenge you, who insulted me as a coward—!”

[Author’s Note]

Thank you to thegodenel!!! Caffuccino!!! I썩창I!!! BlueAir!!! ㅁㅡㅁ레인!!! jongja!!! yongho!!! 햄버거먹자!!! Thank you for the support coupons…!!!

Many have also sent manuscript fees…!!! I hope everyone has overcome Thursdays well with the voodoo I sent to restore energy…!!!

Today is Friday…!!! To all readers who have lived through various life gaps during the week, I wish you a last burst of blessing for the weekend…!!!

Also, I will soon wake the nymphs of the foundation from their winter sleep and send them to the mill…!!!

I will stake my honor on that mischief…!!!

7-9 minutes

Gathering of the Strong