Hakama and the rest of the group arrived, actively searching for their so-called guardian god. She and the koala boy Danpo had come to drag him back to the village, because the entire settlement was waiting for him.
As they headed back, Jin's sharp eyes caught a glimpse of something familiar hanging around Hakama's neck: a research facility access key.
Curious, he asked her about the pendant, wondering exactly how she had got her hands on it. Hakama explained that long ago an incredible individual had told her ancestors to pass it down through the generations as a protective charm. Legend had it that if imminent danger ever threatened the village, this very key would summon the guardian god to protect them.
Hearing that, Jin was deeply moved. He was thrilled that his friend had gone to such lengths to set everything up for him, and it left him feeling profoundly indebted to Kagura.
Back in the center of the village, a full-blown party was already underway. While everyone was busy stuffing their faces and drinking, the children finally paraded their guardian back into the spotlight. The mood shifted slightly as the adult villagers immediately started gossiping at the sight of an inferior species among them. To their narrow minds, it simply did not make sense for a biologically ordinary being to hold the legendary title of guardian god.
Just as they were loudly doubting his potential, Sars suddenly stood up and went off on the entire group for daring to point fingers at their savior. He even went as far as throwing a few well-earned punches. After all, these hypocrites were the very same cowards who had fled the second danger reared its head.
Watching the back-and-forth, Hakama and Danpo could practically smell the hypocrisy radiating off Sars, given that he had been literally the first person to scoff at and vehemently doubt Jin's strength only a few hours earlier.
The village grandmother stepped forward to address Jin personally. Feeling overwhelmingly indebted, she tried to express her utmost gratitude on behalf of the entire settlement. The reality was that if it had not been for his timely intervention, none of them would be standing there at all. The village would have been reduced to ash.
True to form, Jin nonchalantly brushed off the flattery, insisting it was just part of his job.
Still, he knew these people would not let him off the hook without giving him something in return as a gesture of goodwill. Rather than asking for material wealth, he requested something far more valuable: information. Jin wanted a detailed rundown on the current state of the world.
Unfortunately, a group of isolated villagers was not exactly equipped to answer such a daunting question. To get the answers he was after, they strongly advised him to visit the royal capital, where the king of Kermesia resided. Since people from all walks of life gathered in the capital, it was a massive hub for global affairs and vital intelligence. They mentioned that merchants from their own Kodama Village frequently traveled there to sell specialty goods crafted from wood silkworm thread.
The road to the capital was notoriously long and treacherous, but the grandmother reckoned Jin would be perfectly fine, since he was obviously not your average traveler. She even tasked Hakama with being his official guide, suggesting Jin take her along, since the girl had already been planning to head to the royal capital anyway. Hakama was one of the rare few who could wield divine powers, and she wanted to enroll in the prestigious academy dedicated to training magic users.
Jin was genuinely surprised to learn that formal educational institutions still existed in this era.
It also became clear that he had earned himself a very loud, very loyal admirer. Sars enthusiastically volunteered to act as the guardian god's personal bodyguard on the journey. The old woman quickly shot him down, reminding Sars that he had literally zero reason to visit the capital.
Sars loudly boasted that he absolutely did have a reason. He planned to join the esteemed Holy Knight Order. His grandmother, however, knew this was purely wishful thinking, and ruthlessly pointed out that Sars could not even manage to get accepted into the basic academy, so joining the elite knight order was a massive long shot.
That caught Jin off guard. Considering Sars was a divine power wielder, he had assumed the man would breeze through the admission process effortlessly. Hakama enlightened him about the catch. The academy had a required written exam, made to weed out fools, and Sars had sadly fallen victim to his own stupidity.
Banter aside, Jin found himself growing increasingly curious about this elite class known as the Holy Knights.
Elsewhere, far from the village, a heavily armored knight was visibly stunned to learn that the giant invader terrorizing the Kodama Village region had already been completely annihilated. The one delivering this bombshell was the same spy who had watched the entire lake battle from the bushes. The knight demanded she confirm the facts one more time, and the girl firmly corroborated her story without a moment of hesitation.
The Holy Knight was in absolute disbelief. He never could have imagined that anyone outside their elite order possessed the raw capability to solo a monster of that caliber.
Right in the middle of their debrief, a Corruptor attempted to ambush the spy, leaping at her exposed back. The knight reacted with blinding speed, drawing his sword and slicing the monster cleanly in two.
Instead of retreating to the safety of the kingdom, the knight made a bold decision. He was officially too intrigued, and too eager, to do anything but personally track down and meet the mysterious man who had effortlessly slaughtered such an enormous beast.
Jin woke to a gorgeous morning, enjoying the taste of the air, still finding it hard to believe that he could enjoy scenery like this. Part of him regretted that his dear friend Kagura could not see it alongside him.
One of the children brought him his clothes, urging the guardian god to put them on.
Out at the edge of the village, Hakama's grandmother was telling her to fulfill her duty properly as a guide, while Sars sulked about not being the one to lead Jin as a travel guide. Jin took a special interest in him and even praised Sars's movement, assuring him that he would be waiting for his arrival at the royal capital. The remark turned Sars into a squealing fan, wishing the guardian god the best and hoping he would take care of Hakama. Hakama herself was told to be safe.
And with that, the journey of the two of them began.