Chapter 109: In the Name of the Blood Pact (4)
A second bombshell rocked Beneta.
[Two days from now, I, Dorneth Gader, will hold a public Blood Pact ceremony.]
Blood Pact!
The already fiery interest was further ignited as though oil had been poured on it.
When what had been merely a rumor was announced under the lord’s name, it became a tangible reality, and the name “Alex” began to burn even brighter.
Moreover, the fact that the Blood Pact ceremony would be held publicly in the city’s grand plaza added to the frenzy.
“The grand plaza?! That means we’ll finally see his face! Do you think he’s handsome?”
“What’s the big deal if he is? He doesn’t even have a beard.”
“I heard the elves from the Blue Rose are going wild over Alex. If even elves are swooning, he must be something special.”
“Don’t you know elves? It’s all about the money for them. That’s all it is.”
“I heard he’s from a noble family too.”
“Pfft, a fallen noble. That’s nothing impressive.”
“…You don’t have a girlfriend, do you?”
“……”
Opinions varied, from gendered perspectives to differences in views based on race. Yet the name “Alex” remained a hot topic that showed no signs of cooling down.
Never before had a human’s name been discussed so fervently in the city of a mixed race like Beneta.
Even visitors who were only briefly passing through Beneta remembered the name Alex, and through their mouths, the news began spreading beyond the city’s borders.
***
At the source of the rumors—Dorneth’s Castle.
While the outside was abuzz with excitement, the villa where Arthur resided remained eerily calm, like the eye of a storm.
The area had become an off-limits zone, inaccessible without Dorneth’s explicit permission.
With no concern for the uproar outside, I focused all my time on training during these remaining days.
Bang!
“……!”
One of the arrows I had enchanted exploded and vanished from the bowstring.
A failure.
Furrowing my brows, I focused my energy on the remaining four arrows.
Moments later, the four arrows glowed with a golden hue.
Success.
I wanted to test their power, but this wasn’t the kind of place where I could just start shooting arrows as powerful as magic bullets.
I dispelled the Bow of Blood, and the arrows dissipated into the air.
Resetting my arrows, I summoned the bow again, gripping the riser firmly as I prepared myself.
Moments later—
Boom!
The air split violently, and a streak of crimson shot into the clear blue sky.
Five minutes to maximum output.
This was part of my training to develop a sense of timing during battle for reaching maximum power.
Once I refocused on the Bow of Blood, five arrows were already nocked on the string. This time, I began running.
Since completing the first phase of physical training, I had devoted most of my time to mastering enchantment control.
Moving erratically, I tried imbuing the arrows with enchantments.
One by one, the arrows disappeared as they failed.
There was a stark difference in concentration between standing still and moving.
This time, only two arrows remained intact.
I reset the bow again and repeated the process of reaching maximum output.
Each time, the Ring of Resolve glowed brightly, replenishing my blood.
It was the driving force behind my infinite arrow generation.
“Phew—”
[When stationary, four arrows are stable. While moving, two arrows are within the safe range.]
Reto, ever the sharp instructor, pinpointed the limits of the Bow of Blood’s effectiveness in combat.
“I’m not improving as much as I’d like.”
[You’re undertrained.]
“You’re saying that to someone who trains 20 hours a day?”
[Even 24 hours wouldn’t be enough.]
Sigh. It felt like arguing with a brick wall.
Wiping the sweat off my face with a towel, I plopped down onto the dirt floor.
Even with a body built for endurance, the intense focus required for enchantment training was mentally exhausting.
After long hours, my vision would start to spin.
Lying flat on the ground, I gazed up at the fluffy clouds drifting lazily across the sky.
Their slow, unhurried movement exuded a sense of peace.
It had been a long time since I’d felt this calm.
But this tranquility would end tomorrow.
The Blood Pact ceremony.
The time to step into the storm was fast approaching. Perhaps that’s why I found myself sighing so often today.
[Why the sighing?]
“I haven’t come up with a suitable name yet.”
[You mean for the guild?]
“Yes.”
[I’ve already suggested some excellent names. What’s the problem?]
“Haha…”
Reto, sensing my dilemma, had indeed suggested a few names as candidates.
[Camireto. It’s the name of an ancient worm with 132 legs. Its resilience was remarkable, perfect for someone focused on survival like you.]
“……”
[Tamara. A turtle species—specifically a Turtle Dragon. Its lifespan is second only to dragons and is associated with baldness.]
“…I’d rather avoid anything linked to baldness.”
He had also suggested names inspired by dragons, gods, and demons, but I rejected all of them outright.
Dragons were revered by wizards as sacred beings. Using a dragon’s name would have spellcasters foaming at the mouth as they came after me.
Gods and demons were no better.
Religion in this world made cults back home seem cute in comparison. And on top of that, religious figures here were terrifyingly powerful.
Mentioning the name of a god or demon in front of them?
I already had enough trouble surviving in this world; I didn’t want to make it any harder.
Retonicals was the perfect choice.
The name of an Undying.
It was also the most fitting term to describe me.
But—
[Do you know why I changed my name to “Reto”? You probably understand it better than anyone.]
The desire to reject one’s existence.
Using that name would feel like mocking him.
Sighing deeply, I continued wracking my brain for a name when I heard a presence at the entrance.
Had time already flown by so quickly?
As afternoon approached, a slender figure emerged from the villa’s entrance, carefully carrying two large plates in both hands.
Setting the food neatly on the lush green grass, the figure’s movements wafted an appetizing aroma through the air, making my stomach growl.
I couldn’t resist food.
Getting up, I walked over to the spread.
Long, flowing blonde hair and a slender silhouette. Once she finished arranging the dishes and stood up, she turned to me and said,
“Come and eat.”
It was Nella, the elven priestess.
“I told you, you don’t need to prepare my meals. Let the wolfman butler handle it.”
“I get bored. I feel at ease when I’m doing something.”
“Think of this as your vacation.”
“Then don’t say that unless you’re going to keep me entertained.”
Scratching my head, I sat down in front of the food.
Managing the Blue Rose and collecting intel, Nella had always lived a busy life. This quiet villa must have felt dull to her.
For the past two days, she had been staying with me at the villa.
At my request, of course.
I needed someone capable of detecting and alerting me to the awakening of a Divine Name.
And only Nella could fulfill that role.
However, as a key member of the Black Rose and the sole priestess of the elves, leaving her by my side indefinitely, without a guard, wasn’t a simple decision.
Naturally, Fenry didn’t take the news well.
When I first broached the subject, I closed my eyes and braced myself, only for her fist to fly at me immediately.
[Listen to my reasoning first!]
[Shut up!]
Fenry had a way of turning every conversation into a brawl.
But my insistence paid off. After prolonged negotiations—and by leveraging the life debt she owed me—Fenry grudgingly agreed to let Nella stay.
And now, here we were, sharing a peaceful meal on the grass.
“Where did you learn to make this?”
“Oh, the sandwich? It’s a trendy recipe right now. It’s really popular with nobles, so we added it to our main menu. You like it?”
“It’s delicious.”
I wasn’t just being polite—it truly was fantastic.
As skilled as Sharbadin was, her sandwiches were just ordinary compared to Nella’s, which were on a whole other level.
I didn’t know Nella was this good at cooking.
Oh, right—she was a pancake master.
“Isn’t it? Our master wanted me to kidnap the recipe’s creator, but Sharbadin wouldn’t let me.”
“Haha…”
Fenry, that money-obsessed elf, never missed an opportunity to squeeze me.
Sharbadin protecting me—it was nice to have someone in my corner.
We ate and chatted, naturally steering the conversation toward Divine Names.
I used these moments to learn everything I could about this world’s Divine Name system from Nella.
It was the second reason I kept her by my side.
As someone whose unique ability was Divine Hunter, understanding the rules and nuances of Divine Names was crucial for me.
“How is it now?”
“Hmm… I don’t see anything.”
“Even now?”
She focused on me for a moment, frowning before shaking her head.
In her hand was a withered branch—a tool priestesses used to summon Divine Names.
The faded branch of the World Tree.
Seeing and touching something straight out of mythology was fascinating, but the sorrow in Nella’s eyes as she gazed at it made me avoid mentioning it.
“Didn’t you say you could see a Divine Name if the owner permitted it?”
“Yes, but I can’t see anything from you—not even a trace of energy. Are you sure you’re a Divine Name Holder?”
“…I am.”
“Really?”
A few days ago, after much internal debate, I had revealed my Divine Name to her.
Since Fenry already knew, it was only a matter of time before Nella found out. I also had something I needed to confirm.
Could a Divine Name Holder be identified on sight by others like her?
The answer: “Conditionally, no.”
If a Divine Name Holder consciously closed themselves off, even a priestess wouldn’t be able to recognize them.
On the flip side, if a Divine Name Holder opened themselves up, even hidden Divine Names could be revealed.
This was why a priestess asked for the Holder’s permission before attempting to see their Divine Name.
So we experimented. I opened myself up completely, yet Nella still couldn’t see my Name.
Not even a faint energy.
She called me special.