Recruiting a Goddess for Work! (update)

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"Rude! Rude! Rude!"

The angry voice echoed through the temple, and the once gentle breeze turned into a raging storm.

Link Star, now in the form of a bluebird, was being relentlessly pecked by Janna. No matter how he dodged or covered his head, the bird's beak always found its mark on his forehead.

"Stop pecking! I'm sorry, I apologize!"

Link cried out in pain, repeatedly admitting his mistake.

His attempt had succeeded, but the cost was evident.

A goddess awakened from her slumber, still groggy and irritable, was far more terrifying than he had anticipated.

Even in the form of a bird, her only method of attack—pecking—was devastating.

"You're the one with the mop head, you rude little brat!"

"I was just trying to wake you up!"

"But calling me a mop head is going too far," the bluebird said indignantly. "My hair is so flowing, so smooth, and in your mouth, it became a mop head!"

"I already apologized!"

"A goddess does not accept apologies!"

"Stop pecking! I'm your only believer now. If you keep this up, you'll exhaust your power, and without faith to replenish it, you'll fall back into slumber!"

"Nonsense!" The bluebird stopped attacking and perched on a collapsed stone pillar, proudly lifting her head. "I am the guardian deity of Zaun. My believers are everywhere in the Undercity. How could I have no followers?"

"Tsk—" Seeing that the bird had stopped attacking, Link quickly retrieved his helmet and put it back on to protect his head. He activated his Shimmer respirator, inhaling the glowing substance to heal the large bump on his forehead.

As the Shimmer took effect, the pain in his forehead lessened.

Relieved, Link looked up at Janna in her bluebird form.

The bird was small and delicate, surrounded by a gentle breeze, but her form was faint, like a sketch drawn with light ink.

Link gathered his thoughts and asked Janna, "Do you really think you still have believers everywhere?"

"Hmph, ignorant child, don't—" The bluebird's words were cut short as her eyes widened in shock.

Where were her believers?

Where was her faith?

Where was her religion?

Why was everything gone?

In her perception, Zaun, which had once been as clear as the lines on her palm, was now dim and blurred.

The countless believers who had once been like stars in the sky had vanished. The few remaining followers' faith was like a flickering candle in the wind, on the verge of extinguishing.

No, it was already extinguishing!

As she focused, one of her believers completely abandoned their faith, causing a sharp pain in her heart.

"What's going on—" Janna murmured in shock. Seeing her like this, Link understood.

During the twenty-six years Janna had been absent, her believers had gradually abandoned their faith under the weight of reality.

With the rapid advancement of technology in the Twin Cities, the growing gap between rich and poor, the devastation caused by Shimmer and chem-tech, and the escalating tensions between Piltover and Zaun, fewer and fewer people believed in her.

Those who still knew of her regarded her as a legend, a fairy tale used to educate children.

In fact, the followers of the mocking mushroom captain were more numerous than those of the actual goddess.

"Why is this happening?" Janna looked around in confusion, only to realize that her temple was in ruins, a shadow of its former glory.

Seeing Janna like this, Link snorted. "You've been gone for twenty-six years. Do you really think your believers would still be around after such a long time?"

"But... but..." Janna stammered, but the reality she perceived was undeniable. Her eyes dimmed, and she said despondently, "But it shouldn't be like this!"

"I fell into slumber to protect Zaun. Why have all my believers abandoned me?"

"Why is this happening?!"

Janna's voice was filled with sorrow, like a cuckoo crying blood.

Even her bluebird form began to flicker like an unstable lightbulb.

Seeing Janna in this state, Link felt a pang of anxiety. He had gone through so much to wake her up; he couldn't let her fall back into slumber because of the gap between her ideals and reality.

Thinking quickly, Link removed his helmet, clasped his hands together, and began to pray to Janna.

"Wind of Change, hear my call—"

"—Guide my path, so I may never lose my way."

"Bless my skills, so my inspiration may never run dry."

"Praise Janna, praise the Wind of Change!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Link felt a gust of wind envelop his face.

Opening his eyes, he saw Janna, still in her bluebird form, wrapping her wings around his cheeks and murmuring, "My believer, my believer..."

"Ahem!" Link coughed twice, and Janna, realizing her behavior was inappropriate, quickly released him and returned to her perch on the pillar. "Well..."

"Janna, what exactly happened back then that caused you to fall into slumber for twenty-six years without appearing?"

"Back then—" Janna's eyes filled with nostalgia as she explained the reason for her slumber. "Zaun kept mining deeper and deeper, causing earthquakes that altered the course of the underground rivers. The earthquakes also triggered a tsunami, causing seawater to flood back through the underground rivers."

"To prevent the flooding from engulfing Zaun, I used my divine power to tame the raging underground rivers and seal the mining tunnels, solving the problem."

"But because of this, I exhausted my power and fell into slumber."

"Normally, after exhausting my power, I would have awakened quickly with the replenishment of faith. But for some reason, I slept for over twenty years, until you woke me up."

Link blinked. He knew a little about the underground rivers.

In Zaun, there was an underground port used for black market trade, smuggling, and selling contraband. This port was developed using the underground rivers connected to the sea.

The river Janna had tamed must have been this one.

As for her falling into slumber to prevent a disaster, that matched her backstory.

However, in the original lore, Janna's actions had solidified her believers' faith in her. In this version, her actions had led to her slumber and near destruction.

Was this the result of Riot's retcons and changes to the lore?

Tsk!

Link cursed Riot internally while Janna stared at him, her only remaining believer.

"My believer, I don't even know your name."

Link looked up at the bluebird, his mind racing. He touched the bump on his forehead.

"Ouch, you pecked me so hard my brain isn't working right."

"What's my name again?"

As Link spoke, the bluebird shrunk her neck, thinking to herself, This kid is young, but he's so cunning!

But she couldn't afford to be picky now.

To keep this young man by her side, she needed to offer something substantial.

Janna flapped her wings and flew toward Link, surrounded by a gentle breeze.

Circling him once, the intangible wind became tangible, wrapping around Link. A warm power seeped into him from the outside in.

Link felt a comforting warmth spread through his body, dispelling all fatigue and filling him with energy.

Most importantly, the bump on his head disappeared, and his skin became smooth and elastic.

There was no trace of the wear and tear from his constant work.

However, a sour, rotten milk-like taste filled his mouth.

Link's face twisted in disgust, and his stomach churned as if he were about to vomit.

"My believer, accept my blessing!"

Janna landed on Link's shoulder, panting. Link forced himself to endure the discomfort and the sour taste in his mouth.

"Goddess Janna, thank you for your generosity. But as for becoming a believer... let's just say this is your way of repaying me for waking you up. So—" Before Link could take a step, the bluebird flopped onto his head. "No! You've accepted my blessing and become my chosen. You must be my believer!"

"Janna, you're a goddess. You can't be this shameless."

Link smiled as he looked up at the bluebird, who had popped her head out from his hair. The bird screeched, "No! You woke me up, so you have to take responsibility!"

"Also, I used the last of my power to bless you. You can't just take the blessing and run!"

"I never said I wanted your blessing. This is coercion!"

"So what if it's coercion? You took my blessing, so you have to help me spread my faith and gather believers!"

"But I have so much to do!" Link said quickly. "Piltover and Zaun are on the brink of war. The slightest misstep could lead to massive casualties. And Noxus is watching like a tiger, ready to pounce!"

"I really don't have the time or energy to help you. Please find someone else!"

"I'll help you! If you help me spread my faith, the conflict between Piltover and Zaun will be easily resolved!"

"People believe in science now, not gods!"

"It's fine. We can take it step by step. As long as you help me, I'm in no rush."

"But I'm pressed for time! The tension between Piltover and Zaun is like a powder keg ready to explode!"

"It's fine. I'll help you solve your problems first, and then you can help me spread my faith."

As soon as the bluebird said this, Link immediately asked, "Are you serious?"

The bird felt something was off, but as a goddess, her word was her bond. How could she go back on it?

"Of course I'm serious! As my chosen, your problems are my problems!"

The bluebird lifted her head and patted her chest with her wing. "I, Janna, always keep my word!"

"Even if it means a goddess like you has to work for me?"

"Even if I have to work for—" Janna's words caught in her throat. She widened her eyes and stared at Link. "You tricked me!!!"

The bluebird screeched and began pecking at Link again, sending him running for cover.

"This isn't a trick! You said it yourself!"

"No, this is definitely a trick!"

"Even if it's a trick, you still have to work for me!!!"

"Ahhh, you even trick a goddess like me! You're such an unpleasant brat!!"