CH455

Verbum did not laugh once during the explanation. If anything, it only made him look more horrified, all the more so after he consulted his skill and found he was being told the truth, but it did put a quick end to the first of the investigation sites, leaving them to trudge back to the cart and move onto the next one in an awkward silence.

Interesting to learn at least though. Constantly bombarding plants with that sort of mental enchantment can have that sort of effect, I wonder what would happen if I do the same thing on the possessed tree I have back home? Of course, the god inside of it is probably doing something similar so that’s worth considering too, even if I haven’t seen anything that could be considered dangerous from it.

Still, it was a little embarrassing to be the one responsible for a change that had made people concerned enough that an official investigation needed to be done on it, no matter how accidental it may have been.

And it sure would have been nice to get some sort of heads-up about it. He thought accusingly to the heavens, only for them to remain silent. His god was clearly going to take no blame if he was listening at all and Ben didn’t have it in him to try and get his attention, instead dealing with the uncomfortable silence as they flew back to the gate to get to their next destination to another region.

It was only once they got back to the gate network and began making their way to another part of the world that Ben cleared his throat and spoke up.

“So Verbum, what’s the word on the next destination? Anything to be worried about?”

“There’s nothing to not be worried about,” He said glumly, whatever feelings he had about the last revelation being replaced by the thoughts of what was ahead. “I can’t believe Killi put this as the second destination, why’s she gotta do this to me? I’ve died once already, why does she want me dead again so freaking soon!”

“Verbum, you’re not the only person on this cart that’s died before so let’s focus on the main task and me and Thera will try to make sure it doesn’t happen again. What are we getting into?”

“Hmph, from the looks of it, a mass sacrifice, or at least that’s what I got from the preliminary report,” He groaned, getting shocked looks from both Ben and Thera as he said it. “But we don’t know why, which is why I’m being put out on the chopping block to look into it. The original investigators said there was so much blood it died the earth red and here I fucking go to see it with my own two eyes!”

“Okay, even if this is to help the guy grow, that really sounds like something Killi should have mentioned to us ahead of time,” Ben muttered as Thera focused on the practical concerns of what they were getting into.

“Were there any reports of there still being people there?” She asked him. “And how long ago did this happen?”

“Mmh, well when it was first found and when they originally sent some adventurers to investigate it there was nobody around as far as they could see,” He admitted. “But just because that was true then doesn’t mean that’s true now! You’re both prepared to put your lives on the line for me, right? That’s what Killi hired you to do!”

Nope. Not even a little.

“Of course,” He lied, all the while thinking about what a pain being an adventurer really was to him. “So relax a bit and get to the second part Thera asked about. How long ago are we looking at?”

“A few months at least, but that doesn’t mean anything so both of you stay on your toes for me!”

“Alright, alright, no need to yell everything, we’re not going to let you die. Changing topics a bit, how did you die the first time around?”

“That’s what you change topics to?”

“Might as well,” He said with a shrug. “Come on, we’ve got a bunch of hours together still so we might as well chat. I’ll start. It was in a cave-in while I was on vacation. I was luckily asleep for what I’m sure was probably the painful bit but the hours trapping in it beforehand sucked. Your turn.”

Verbum was quiet for a while, leaving Ben to wonder if he was even going to get an answer until the other spoke up. “Building collapsed while I was in it. I was awake but it was quick enough that I don’t really remember it thankfully.”

“Huh, I was expecting something a bit crazier from you if I’m honest.”

“You don’t get to say that when you died in a cave-in!”

“Ha, fair, it just feels like there should be a few exciting deaths in the different summoned groups, you know? Of course, I haven’t actually asked Yuzu or the grey about theirs so I might have to do that next time I get the chance.”

“Well, I heard one of the aquatic groups had something a bit more interesting at least,” Verbum admitted, letting himself get drawn into the topic despite himself since it served as a good distraction. “They died during a… I guess you would call it an alien invasion, but from what I understand the rules of their universe managed to be radically different enough that there weren’t things like stars or planets. Either way, a world with enough proper tech that it would make my home planet look comparable to this one against an even more advanced alien race and this world’s idiot gods decided to bring ten of both the invaded and invaders.”

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“Okay, wild. Any idea about other groups then? There’s gotta be a bit more craziness to enjoy from the rest.”

“Don’t know, I only heard about that one in the context of them being compared to my own group’s situation.”

Makes sense, I’m sure both cases were awkward as hell and could have used a bit more planning. Seriously, what were the gods thinking with some of the ones they pulled? Of course, I should probably be thankful for however rushed they ended up. If they were able to do a proper look at our souls, I doubt they would have picked someone with affinities like mine.

He was going to ask more, wanting to learn about the foreign world of the other summoned now that they were talking but needed to put it to an end all too soon as Thera brought the cart to the ground with their destination nearby.

“I think we’re close,” She told them, sounding strangely unsure as she spoke. “It should just be west of here.”

He could see there was something on her mind, the area picking at her the way the last one had at him, even if he couldn’t see it himself. He wasn’t getting any sense of familiarity from it, but seeing her on edge was enough to bring up his guard while Verbum had to be dragged forward.

“Everything okay?” Ben asked her, getting a hesitant nod in return.

“Yeah, fine, I think what he said before must have gotten into my head is all.”