A Prayer That is a Curse

[There's no surprise about why she's a top-tiered candidate. Her overall ability far surpasses what my boy and girls have]

Aiolos gives praise to Rochelle's overall ability quietly. From head to toe, until her status panel, everything is excellent. The only negative feedback he has would be on her armor, which is at its lowest quality.

"I'm willing to exchange a favor for a favor if you can craft armor of Low-Heaven Tier for my girl. Material wise, I'm sure you know her ability to provide." Hestius said. It is no secret to her that Rochelle's armor is one from the lower-quality made.

"But my success rate varies. In every five Low-Heaven Iron, I might able to succeed only once." Aiolos tells them honestly. In fact, he's not confident at all in creating Low-Heaven gears. Even with all his effort, Alrune's earrings and Yesha's boots still remained as below Low-Heaven Gears.

Of course, that's because he's not using a Low-Heaven Iron during the making. But even if he did, the success rate will only be 10 to 20% higher.

"As a Middle-Tiered Food God, what kind of thing I haven't seen? I hope you'll agree to my request and do me this favor. Plus, the boy's weapon is a demonstration of your capability." Hestius continued. She convinced Aiolos to do her a favor before pointed at the Scarlet Blood.

"Eh?" Hansen raised the Scarlet Blood to his eye level, where even Rochelle is eager to hold it.

But the moment her hand touches the blade, a rejection intent pushes her hand aside. To the Scarlet Blood, only Aiolos and the four youths are qualified to handle it.

"A sentient blade... And you still try to cut your worthiness short?" Hestius interlocked her fingers as she looks at Aiolos.

"Then..." Aiolos hesitates. He looked at Tetros calmly, before turning his eyes to his crest holders and Rochelle Yifan. After a sigh, he confidently exchanges a gaze with Hestius and nods.

"I'll do it."

"Great! Rochelle!" Hestius clapped her hand three times to shows her gratitude. As for calling Rochelle, it's because she'll be temporarily handling her over to Aiolos until the armor is made.

Two strands of Godhood Power creates an emblem in Rochelle's status panel. It was a type of oath without the witness of a God of Law. Usually, a contract like this can be performed confidentially between the gods.

The contract stated is as below:

Craft God Aiolos will present a piece of armor no less than a Low-Heaven Tier. In return of this favor, Rochelle Yifan, the crest holder of Food God Hestius, will be providing her service till the armor complete. Her service will not end if the number of monsters killed does not exceed 500.

"I'll be looking forward to it," Hestius said. She gave Rochelle another kiss on her forehead before she leaves with Aiolos and his party.

"I'll be back as soon as possible. Hestius." Rochelle bowed. Following close behind Hansen and others, they first stopped by Tetros' Grocer before moving on back to their Sanctuary.

Inside the Sanctuary, Aiolos proceeds with what he usually does. Tinkering with their status panel using the available Cultivation Points.

There was significantly more Cultivation Point that before. With Aiolos' participation in their last exploration, they obtained close to 180 Cultivation Points.

== == == == ==

|-Hansen Chenyang-17-Swordsman-|Level 4+1|

[Strength: 9+1 | Vitality: 11+1 | Agility: 4 | Magic: 1+1]

[Skills:]

-Wind Slash(C) / Flame Slash (C)

-Sword Smack (C)

== == == == ==

|-Alrune Liyuan-17-Healer-|Level 4|

[Strength:2 | Vitality: 10 | Agility: 3 | Magic: 12]

[Skills:]

-Light Heal (C) / Full Heal (C) / Quick Heal (C)

-Staff Blast (UC)

== == == == ==

|-Yesha Wu-17-Thief-|Level 3+1|Wind

[Strength: 5+1 | Vitality: 5+1 | Agility: 13+1 | Magic: 1]

[Skills:]

-Mug (C) / Toss (C) / Slid (C)

-Twin Slash

== == == == ==

Pharcis Chenyang-17-Fighter-|Level 4|

[Strength: 9 | Vitality: 7 | Agility: 6 | Magic: 4]

[Skills:]

-Rising Dragon Dance (UC)

-Magical Dance (UC)

== == == == ==

Yesha, who was the lowest level between them, is finally level 4. As for the remaining Cultivation Points, a small part is given to Hansen to level him up to Level 5, and recovering everyone else's skill counts.

The Scarlet Blood is excluded from the leveling option, but Aiolos promises himself that he'll put some points to the blade when there's a chance to do so.

The reason for that is simple. Skills used by the god are all replenished using Cultivation Points. This means although Aiolos won the fight against Battros, the compensation for whatever techniques he used still cost his pocket a hefty number of crystals.

A third of the Cultivation points assimilated into his body and replenish the exhausted energy. Especially for his Hexaltheim, it can be easily discerned by the dimmer golden light.

Very quickly, the work he's supposed to do is finish, but inspecting Rochelle's status comes next. Aiolos moves his palm to Rochelle and extracts her status board.

== == == == ==

|-Rochelle Yifan-20-Warlock-|Level 41|

[Strength:89 | Vitality: 79 | Agility: 40 | Magic: 68 | Godhood Power: 4]

[Skills:]

-All Elemental Magic (Beginner)

-All Elemental Magic (Intermediate)

-All Elemental Magic (Advance)

-All Elemental Magic (Mastery Break)

-All Elemental Magic (Warlock)

-Extraction Magic (Synthesia)

-Remove Magic (Orb of Skills)

[Curse:]

-Physical Skill Removed

-Mental Skill Removed

-Equipment Durability damage +10 (Below Heaven Tier)

-Equipment Durability damage +1 (Low-Heaven Tier)

-Nullified Recovery Magic

-Extreme Hunger upon Kill-Score (Gluttony Effect)

== == == == ==

Although he's mentally prepared to Rochelle's incoming ridiculous status distribution, it still managed to render Aiolos speechless. He can't believe the fact that Rochelle is more than capable of executing all types of magic, of all elements, along with Synthesia.

But at the same time, fate played a prank on her. Tenfold increment to all her gears and onefold for everything in Low-Heaven. Furthermore, Recovery Magic does not apply to her. This also meant Rochelle is only capable of magic and pure physical attack, without any other skills to protect herself.

Also, it was both a prayer and a curse to be inflicted with Gluttony.

[With a status like that, no wonder she's keeping a low-profile. But I hope my grace applies to her]

Aiolos releases his Godhood Power, protecting the gears they're wearing. Surprisingly, his grace applies to Rochelle, but only weaken it. Although the equipment is now holding the Gear Invulnerability, they're still destructible.

The only difference is instead of breaking, the gear is out of order until Aiolos repairs them.

"Rochelle, come back to see me after you settled down. Everyone else should do what they usually do. Pharcis, rest earlier after you took the Starry Ether." Aiolos gave them some instructions to follow.

Hansen had no choice but to behave himself.

While the girls are enjoying their bath, Hansen took his equipment out for a quick rub. An unusual type of polishing oil is applied on his gears before he rubbed it using a cloth.

And after the girls are done, Hansen had his turn into the shower. As for the girls, they escorted Rochelle to a room prepared for a guest. It was a well-fitted room with paper, pen, and even a wardrobe and equipment rack.

Rochelle visits Aiolos after she rejuvenates herself. The enjoyment of a private shower with three other girls is counted as a luxury that Hestius unable to provide.

(Note: The reason behind this is simple. A Craft God is much better in things like this. Remodeling their Sanctuary is a simple matter, compare to making edible food with proper taste. And in Hestius' case, she's a Middle-Tiered Food God, so try to count how many crest holders she got? Perhaps making enough rooms to fit all of them will crush her into orange pulps!)

"Hestius' follower, Rochelle, greets Aiolos, God of Craft," Rochelle repeats what the girls did to Hestius during the lunch. Such a gesture is a must, especially when one was granted a private audience with a god.

In fact, Rochelle is somewhat afraid of meeting Aiolos alone, due to the nature of the contract. The term of service written in the emblem, of course, covers from external to internal, including sexual activity.

But for the only chance to obtain an armor made tailored to her, this will be her only chance.

"Rochelle, you may treat me just like how you're with Hestius. I am not too insistent in courtesy, as you can see. Just become yourself, and treat all of us as your family." Aiolos said. There were over a hundred bangles in various sizes placed on the table.

"Your holiness, this is..." Rochelle was getting afraid. Could Aiolos has fetishes in holding his servant using bangles?

"Oh, this is the body measurement equipment. Let it wraps your body slowly and adjust it as you like. I'll prepare the armor according to how you'll like it." Aiolos smiled. The girls had the same expression during their first year with Aiolos.

And to make sure they had their armor made, Aiolos make use of Hansen three consecutive times to convince the girls.

"Don't tell me I have to get Hansen here once more?" Aiolos thought.

But Rochelle is indeed much more obedient compared to the three lasses. At least, he doesn't need to spend his time calming them. The bangles slowly fit onto her body, starting from her waist. Although she seems like a muscular female warrior, her waist is just two inches wider than Alrune.

As for her shoulders, it was about Pharcis measurement. Perhaps it was due to their nature of fighting in the frontline. What's made her different from the three girls is the bosom comparable to Tetros.

Frankly speaking, maybe the competition will get heated if Tetros, Hestius, and Rochelle is competing in term of bust-measurement.

Aiolos maintained his demeanor as Rochelle adjusted the bangles until they're formed into a piece of armor with shoulder pauldrons, skirting, and neck protector. The design is simple but covered almost every important part of a warrior.

He also noticed something about Rochelle's choice of weapon.

"Are you not a warlock? Why would you use a sword instead of staff?" he asked. If Alrune uses a sword like her, how many times would he have to repair all the chipped part of the blade? He would be thankful if Alrune manages to land a hit using a sword!

"Staff destructive force is lower than a sword. I prefer something like a hammer or a spear, but I had no luck from the drops." Rochelle explains the reason she settled with a sword. When he inspects the weapon, it was actually his creation sold in Micos' Store.

"Then use this bangles too. I'll create a weapon you like, and I'll try to make them before the morning is here." Aiolos took another stack of iron bangles out.

Rochelle felt a hint of relief at Aiolos' professionalism. At first, she's worried that she'll have to accompany him like what her fellow Hestius followers said. But right now, she's feeling at ease because Aiolos doesn't seem like what they guess.

"I'm done. May I return to my room now?" Rochelle politely asked.

"You may. Just make sure to get used to the others tomorrow. I'll see you in the morning." Aiolos signaled to her that she may excuse herself.

After Rochelle left, Aiolos chuckled.

The spear she shaped earlier weighted about 90kiilograms, which is three times the weight of Scarlet Blood. He wondered what will happen to Hansen if he were being given the same weapon.

[Would he be exhausted even before he swings it?]