The day after we met Herc, we tell Argo and the others we’ll be back in a day, and go see Kaina in the giants’ village.
Everyone’s responsible for their meals in the meantime. I was going to leave meals for them, but after I mentioned it, they weren’t so sure.
Everyone’s doing well here in the giants’ village. Before we know it, they’re giving us things like vegetables they grew here and medicinal herbs they picked in the forest.
They don’t want my money, so instead, I give them monster meat I got in the dungeon.
The giants being big also means they eat a lot. I appreciate the fact that they still gave us stuff like vegetables.
“Did you come here to get me?”
Is the first thing Kaina asks.
The giants around them seem to have mixed feelings. It looks like they adore her.
“About that, this time… No, can Kaina stay here?”
“But…”
“Ah, I already talked about this with Calotos.”
One of the biggest reasons why Kaina joined us was so she could see the outside world and tell Calotos about it.
The giants look happy about this, but Kaina looks like she has mixed feelings.
“There’s also a reason why you shouldn’t come along this time.”
There are a lot of Appraisal users.
According to Herc, there’s a good number of them in Ale and Ironhammer, but others probably have them too.
They specialize in appraising items, not people, but since Kaina is a golem, they might figure out what she is.
A golem with the mind of a person. I’m sure that would turn into a big issue.
“Yes, it might become known that I am a golem.”
Whispers Kaina.
It would be one thing if it wasn’t the empire, but… Also, judging by what we saw before we talked to her, Kaina is enjoying her life here.
Her expression doesn’t change, because she’s a golem, but that’s the feeling we got.
“I understand…”
She says, probably because Calotos agreed.
“But are you sure? If I’m using this body, that means less fighting power for you.”
“Yes, we’ll figure it out. And I might get materials to make another golem.”
There are golems in this dungeon after all. Although even if I do make one, it will take time for it to gain combat experience, so it won’t be useful at first.
We stay the night in the village, and tell Kaina about the dungeon in Zuirya.
The giants also gather, looking interested. It’s not that exciting, but they might just be curious about the outside world.
This house was made for giants, but even this feels cramped with so many people inside.
“So you freed the kijin god.”
“I guess.”
I can’t help but respond like this.
We dropped by Altair before we came here, and the kijin god… Shuka, manifested.
That was fine and good, but Shuka wouldn’t talk.
According to Eliana…
“Shuka is shy. That will change with time.”
We wouldn’t have gotten anywhere without Eliana and Calotos. Also Eliana and Calotos knew what Shuka was saying, despite Shuka not speaking.
There was gratitude and regret, the latter because the kijin were being used like that in the dungeon.
“Can’t they be freed?”
“…No. They took root after spending so many years there.”
Was how Eliana responded to my question, and Shuka nodded while biting his lip.
We weren’t able to talk any more than that, so we came here after explaining things to Calotos.
“It would be different if there were kijin who took refuge somewhere, like the people here.”
I mumble while lying on a bed.
This bed was made for a giant, so there’s plenty of room even if I stretch my limbs.
“There’s nothing we can do.”
“Yes. What’s done is done.”
Say Chris and Rurika.
They’re right, this happened long before we were born.
They might be freed if the dungeon disappeared, but the seven dungeons will continue to operate even after being conquered.
Actually, they were made using power from the gods, so maybe they will disappear if we free them.
That would be a problem in itself, because some people’s livelihoods depend on the dungeons.
…We just have to do what we can.
I let out a big sigh, and loosen my body, sinking into the bed.
Thanks for the treat.