When The Cute Godkiller Opens A Tavern [OP Mentor, SoL, LitRPG]

"Good kid. Possibly bright future. Just need to deal with that Curse." ~Valor'el zel Valar

It took a while, and Shallies thought that she might have made a mistake with the Cottage Pie, but Arun'dul eventually started eating. He gradually increased his pace, until he was practically devouring everything on his plate. By the second helping, everyone was staring at him, and only when he was about to get the third did he notice the attention.

He settled down. "Sorry…"

"Oh, go ahead, eat lots." Shallies stood and added more on his plate. "You haven't eaten anything for two weeks. You must be famished, but try to take it slow. It's not going anywhere, and I can always make more."

Arun'dul paused, realizing now that he didn't recognize two people in the room. Shallies and Grace. He turned towards Phey'lan, who nodded, as if to say they could be trusted.

With that, Shallies returned to eating, and so did the rest. The slight toast on the crust of potato, turning into a soft, creamy mash, then added with the savory meat and vegetable filling created a harmonious burst of flavors in her mouth. She couldn't get enough of it, and by the looks of the others, they were having the same delightful experience.

The smile on Phey'lan and Valor'el alone was enough indication that her cooking was successful. Grace was having the time of her life eating something new. And Apple… Well, she was having fun in her tea bath as usual, surrounded by a lot of people.

Dinner, while it was quiet, was filled with warmth. Shallies even brought out the dishes she had made that morning. Arun'dul finished them all.

At this point, Shallies realized the lack of desserts in her repertoire. All she had to offer after a meal was either coffee or tea, and whatever fruit was available. Not even juice of any sort. She asked Stachie to take a mental note of it.

[Pies, puddings, cakes, candies, ice cream, lots of options to look for.]

"Let's keep an eye out," she said to her System Assistant. "First, we need to figure out what happened to Arun'dul."

[Agreed.]

After offering everyone sweet, fruit-infused tea, the group settled down on their seats. Eventually, someone had to break the silence, and the other seraphim were respectful enough to give the first question to her.

"So, Arun'dul," Shallies began. The young man stiffened in response. "Do you recognize who I am?"

"Yes. Lady Phey'lan explained to me, ma'am. You're Godkiller Bernadette of the Eternal Myth, now going by the name Shallies Mythernal."

"How come he gets to know you right away?" Grace asked, realizing too late that she was interrupting. "Oh, sorry."

"It's alright," Shallies said, waving a hand to dismiss the apology. "The seraphim are under my direct jurisdiction, because I directly killed their god and because I need to keep track of their Divine Mandate. Valor'el acts as my proxy, as Acting Deity.

"However, not all seraphim are allowed to know who I am. For clarity, I am commonly known as the Godkiller Bernadette of the Eternal Myth. Only a select few, mostly my students and a few trusted people, get to know my full name: Bernadette Shallies Mythernal. Even books and historical records do not have my complete name.

"Now, as for Arun'dul." Shallies gestured towards the seraph. "For one, you're a rare case. The Curse of your previous god lingers in you. There have been a number of cases where a seraph ventures out of their seclusion without permission, but as far as Valor'el's records are concerned, you're the first one to ever re-manifest your draconic form."

"Even I couldn't do it anymore," said the Acting Deity. "It was a forced transformation, a Curse. Extremely few people maintained their wits when it happened."

"I… I became a dragon?" Arun'dul asked rhetorically. He shook his head in denial. "No, that can't be right."

"What do you remember?" Shallies didn't outright correct the young seraph.

Save for the zel Valar, almost none of the Curse's victims had remembered what had happened to them all those years ago. Almost, because each seraphim had different levels of awareness while it had happened. Some had been completely confused, some had remembered a blur, some had been aware but helpless regardless. Only one, a seraph who was not of the zel Valar name, had managed to retain control.

Phey'lan sighed.

"Come now, dear," she began, urging Arun'dul to speak. "You don't have to be afraid. Whatever it is you saw, you can tell us."

The young seraph leaned forward. "I'm not sure if you'll believe it. I'm not sure if I believe it."

Shallies, Valor'el, and Phey'lan looked at each other. Grace certainly caught something was going on, but she didn't quite know exactly.

"You saw a vision, Arun?" Valor'el asked. "It's like a dream or a nightmare. You see things, different sorts. Some you recognize, but most you don't. The difference is that they feel almost too real."

Arun'dul reacted as everyone expected. His eyes saw a glimpse of hope that he actually wasn't going crazy.

Must've been quite the jarring vision, thought Shallies as she kept herself mostly just listening while the other seraphim urged the young one to speak. He seemed to respond to them better, which was to be expected. They just needed to exercise patience while he pieced everything he remembered together.

"I saw a storm," Arun'dul began. "No, I was the storm. I was… in the middle of the sea, conjuring destruction on whatever island I passed through. It felt so real, and I felt so powerful. I saw people, I think they're called adventurers? But all of them fell. I was… I was…"

"A god?" Shallies ventured a guess.

"It felt like it!" The young seraph's hands shook. "It was maddening. I didn't want to destroy the lands, but I was doing it regardless. I was destroying the world."

"Relax, dear," Phey'lan said, getting a glass of water. "It's just a vision. It wasn't you."

While Arun'dul recovered, all eyes turned towards Shallies. She was contemplating. The coincidences pointed towards one god. They certainly were premonitions. Of what, she didn't know yet. First, she had to make sure they were pointing in the right direction.

"Fello'resh," she said calmly. "God of Famine and Destruction. He was supposed to be a balance to Abundance and Creation. But as it is with most gods that deal with the negative side of the balance, they're the most susceptible to madness. The lack of appreciation from mortals doesn't help either.

"When he turned mad, his first Divine Mandate was the destruction of all the seas and marine life. If he had succeeded, that would've brought an apocalypse over the world, and would've probably led it to eventual destruction. He was the second god I had to kill, so I was still incredibly inexperienced then. It caused a lot of lives to perish, but we managed to stop him."

"You didn't fully kill him, like with our god?" Valor'el asked. His voice had a tinge of accusation, as if to ask why she had needed to sever their god's hope at resurrection. The urge to mention his god's name was clearly there, but he knew it was forbidden.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"No," Shallies replied, ignoring the silent blame. "Fello'resh's role was too significant for the stability of normal life on Ysvil. During that time, he was the only one holding the Concepts of Famine and Destruction. Now, there are others. Your god, I know he mattered a lot to you, but what he did didn't leave me any other choice."

"What did he do?" Arun'dul asked. Grace had voiced the same question, but in a more curious tone. The two looked at each other.

Shallies sighed.

"Was his history not enough? Cursing all the seraphim? Turning every faithful into a monster? Destroying two entire kingdoms in a single night?" She made sure she controlled her voice with every demeaning question. The seraphim before her couldn't respond.

She sighed again.

"Fine. I wasn't going to tell any of you this until you've completed your penance, but I've given your god a single chance to come back."

"What?!" All three seraphim stood in shock. Phey'lan, especially, leaned closer.

"What does he have to do?" Valor'el asked.

"That's all you're going to get for now," Shallie said. "I told you, I wasn't going to tell anyone until you've all fulfilled your Divine Mandate. Besides, your god isn't the problem we have right now. We have to deal with my and Arun'dul's visions."

The young seraph quickly caught on. Shallies turned towards him. "I saw Fello'resh as well. A few nights ago. I was reliving the day we fought him, but I didn't get to see the end."

"That doesn't bode well," Phey'lan said.

"What does it mean?" Grace asked.

Among everyone currently present, she was the most inexperienced with anything involving the concept of divinity, let alone reading its signs. In fact, a Base Class Adventurer like her had no business even delving in such a topic. Not because they were weak, or unworthy, which was a false notion a lot of people mistakenly believed. Everyone had to start somewhere. But people like Grace had more important things to worry about than meddling with gods. At least for now.

Regardless, curiosity must be nurtured.

"We're not sure yet," Shallies replied. "But we intend to find out. At the very least, the signs are leading towards Fello'resh. That might not be exactly the case, but we have to start our investigations somewhere."

"The visions involved Fello'resh, but he might not be the culprit?" Arun'dul asked. "I don't understand."

"Divine signs are complicated like that," Shallies explained. "We can't assume any guarantee on visions alone. We need proof."

The semi-retired Godkiller turned to the two older seraphim. They immediately tensed, understanding what would happen next. Shallies didn't beat around the bush.

"This is not a quest," she began. "You two know how this works."

"We'll leave at the same time Grace departs for her quest," Valor'el said. "This will give us time to prepare and properly assess Arun's condition."

"No. Depart after she returns. Two visions doesn't mean we have to be hasty. Besides, I need to verify where it is."

"You don't know where it is?"

"That was about nineteen millennia ago, Valor'el. Geography has long since changed. There's no telling where they are anymore."

"They?"

"Wait, what's going on?" The half-orc turned from one face to another, looking for answers.

"I'm sending them to Fello'resh's resting places," Shallies said, turning to both Phey'lan and Valor'el. "Yes, there are more than one. If there are any further signs, it'll be in any of those places. Depending on what we find, we'll take action. They'll be a nesting place for high-level monsters for sure, so don't let your guard down."

"We won't."

"That sounds amazing," Grace said, her eyes sparkling. "A non-official quest from the Godkiller herself."

"It doesn't give you rewards," Valor'el said quickly. "She barely gives any rewards."

"I'm right here, you know." Shallies narrowed her eyes. "And it's your responsibility as my student, even after you graduate. Besides, going to those places alone would net you treasures that most adventurers only ever dream of having. I don't take away what you come back with, as long as I ensure they're safe."

"I wasn't your student though," Phey'lan said, smiling. "But I don't mind helping you out. How can I say no to someone so cute?"

Shallies sighed. "Anyway, I'll give you two something in return. It's not much, but I have an entire kitchen to work with now."

"It was merely a jest, Lady Shallies," Valor'el said. "Helping you is a great honor. Not to mention it chips away at our penance a whole lot. It's a win-win."

"Still, is it a good idea to wait?" Arun'dul asked.

Everyone looked at him. For Valor'el and Phey'lan, their trust in Shallies was infallible; they had gone through numerous dungeons, towers, raids, and Divine Wars. They knew to trust each other. But the semi-retired Godkiller always expected the new ones to always question her at first, so this wasn't a surprise.

"Yep," she answered simply. "There are too many things to consider, Arun'dul. Our objective is narrowing things down so we know how to properly allot our resources. If we don't know where to go and what to expect, we'll be caught off guard by something we could've prevented."

"Besides," Phey'lan followed up. "We should ensure you're doing better. I've temporarily restrained the Curse's effects, but I won't be able to hold it for long."

Arun'dul's face darkened as he stepped back in panic. He started shaking again.

Shallies threw Phey'lan a stare. "Why would you tell him something like that?"

"What? Oh, no, I didn't mean it that way!" The seraph reached out to hold the young one's hand. "Look, Arun, dear. You'll be okay. What I meant is that you have to learn how to control it."

"What?"

"The Curse's effects aren't as apparent compared to the one from history, Arun," Shallies explained. "Unlike the others, you can keep this one restrained until you find a way to completely lift it."

"How… How do I control it?"

Phey'lan, now realizing her slip, went back to her chair. "The Curse seeps from your Levels. It amplifies them and makes them manifest into your draconic form. As long as you don't utilize any Skills you acquired from your Hero Classes, you should be able to keep it contained."

"That means no Guardian Armorer or Ascendant Skills," Valor'el confirmed.

"What happens if he does?" Grace asked. Arun'dul's expression said he had the same question.

"It aggravates the Curse," Shallies replied. "It might not immediately manifest, but it's a risk. If you're out on an adventure or a quest, you don't want risks like that. Otherwise, you might kill your own party members."

"Adventure? Quests?" The young seraph was even more confused. "Aren't I supposed to return to Avel Paradise?"

Even Phey'lan and Valor'el had the same concern, but Shallies had a different idea.

"How else are you going to lift your Curse?" She shrugged. "Besides, you're already out, might as well give you an authorization. You have to stay here and get used to your situation first. Then find some party members that you can gain mutual trust with. After that, go find a way to lift your Curse."

"Does that mean, I'll have a classmate?" Grace asked.

"Not really, no. Hero Class Adventurers can't have a mentor. Only Base and Advanced Class Adventurers."

"Oh, I see," Arun'dul and Grace said at the same time.

"Doesn't mean I won't help you out, Arun." Shallies clapped her hands. "Okay. I think that's quite enough for our meeting. It's getting late, we have a lot of things to cover tomorrow."

"Grace, you're from the nearby town, right?" Phey'lan asked as the group stood up. "Mind giving me and Val some romantic spots?"

The half-orc's face lit up, turning from Phey'lan to Valor'el, who was starting to blush. "Yes! Yes! I have some recommendations."

Grace, then, spent a good half-hour interrogating the two of what they wanted before giving them a few recommendations. It reminded Shallies of something.

"Oh, that's right," she said as she gathered all the teacups to wash. "Phey, there's a giantkin in town that survived a noldzwjak poisoning. I'm not sure if you can still restore him into his adventuring state, but maybe you can fix his organs so he can eat properly?"

"Sure!" the seraph said, nodding. "Anything for you, Shallies."

"Is it alright for me to keep using the room upstairs?" Arun'dul asked.

"Yep," Shallies replied. "Clean it before you go back to sleep. You can take a shower down here."

"Thank you."

As the seraphim all took their retreat upstairs, Grace approached with more teacups to wash. "Can I help?"

"Sure. Apple's not going to wake up for a while."

"Oh, I was going to ask if she's taking care of your sleeping needs. I'm guessing the Soul Confidant can do that for you."

"Smart." Shallies smiled. "You're right on the bits."

"I knew it!"

"That, and I can really push away my need to sleep if I have to. But since we don't have to, Apple does some of it for me."

"I see."

"So, have you guys decided when you're departing?"

"In three days," Grace replied. "We're going to do our best attempt at our sparring tomorrow, but after that, we'll prepare for departure."

"Good. Then tomorrow is our last training day."

After cleaning up, Shallies and Grace retreated to their room. The half-orc carried the teacup fairy, admiring the small creature's sleeping face.

The semi-retired Godkiller took a shower first, then the half-orc followed. As part of their routine, Shallies spent time combing Grace's hair. They chatted in whispers, caring not to wake Apple up.

Before they headed to bed, however, the half-orc remembered something.

"I meant to ask, Shallies, you mentioned that Fello'resh was the second god you killed, right?"

"Right."

"Who was the first?"

Shallies took a pause. She was unsure whether to tell Grace the answer.

"I'll tell you if you ask again after you become my student."

"Eh…" The half-orc pouted her cheeks. "Fine. It's a deal, then."

Shallies smiled. "Good night, Grace."

"Good night, Shallies."

It was cold. She was surrounded by a field of flowers and trees as tall as mountains. There was no sun nor moon nor stars, but the lights of the forest made it easy to see.

Shallies stared at a small pond in front of her, staring at a reflection of herself. She made a long winded sigh.

I feel like Grace is intentionally invoking these memories…

"Sure," said her reflection. "But who's really to blame here?"

"Someone who's dead shouldn't be talking."

Shallies drew her sword from the pond, turning it blood red. Her reflection smiled while enduring the pain, before completely disappearing in the red.

Then she forced herself to wake up.