Chapter 3 That Goddess used women to train the child.

In the three kingdoms, few had ever received blessings from the gods.

It was widely believed that there were eight types of blessings: four elemental powers and four unique blessings granted only to the most devoted followers of each god.

However, no one had ever witnessed the Final Blessing of the Goddess Eruza.

Though some had falsely claimed to be favored by Eruza and blessed with that rare gift, their lies were exposed, and they quickly faded from others' interests.

…The Hero's Blessing, however, was different.

Many years ago, the gods decreed a divine declaration upon the world. A voice from the heavens declared that four humans would be chosen as heroes, each representing a god.

Possessing the Hero's Blessing granted them equal access to the abilities of all the gods, giving their bodies strength beyond ordinary humans, mastery over the four elements, and four unique blessings.

An instant's strength, From the God of War...

Magic of healing, From the Goddess of Birth...

Eyes that spot each flaw and breach, From the God of Adventure...

And the Final Blessing Nos can't see, From the Goddess of Boundary…

Nos had heard rumors about the other heroes carrying out missions, yet no account ever mentioned this blessing. Even Eruza herself avoided the topic entirely, often deflecting questions or changing the subject without explanation.

Her goddess was enigmatic and peculiar.

Nos often wondered what other gods might be like. From the rumors she'd heard, it seemed only Eruza carried an air of indifference toward humanity.

Sometimes, Nos questioned whether a goddess with such nature truly sought to vanquish the Demon Lord?

For someone who appeared to care for nothing, to aim for such a decisive act, was it merely some wager of the heavens?

"Nos, you've picked too many herbs," a voice pulled her out of her thoughts. "Didn't I tell you that uprooting them entirely will prevent them from growing again? You'll only be able to harvest them now, and they'll be gone forever if there's nothing left for insects to pollinate."

It was the goddess's woman—the adventurer skilled in botany—scolding her yet again.

Nos had been following this woman beyond the boundary for three days now. The adventurer's knowledge was vast, and she always managed to navigate safe paths, avoiding any encounters with demons. For a trainee adventurer like Nos, this made her journey remarkably smooth.

But… Nos had no desire to listen to her lectures. Every time, she simply stood silently, letting the words flow past her like wind through the trees.

All she needed was to endure until the goddess's seven-day cycle was complete. Once that time came, she would no longer have to deal with this woman. Why bother engaging with someone who would soon be discarded?

Since this woman would forget everything, Nos preferred to gaze at the trees and grass that were so rare in the city. She smiled, soaking in the scenery her own two eyes had never experienced before.

Time would take care of the rest. All she had to do was wait… wait until the goddess cast this woman aside.

…But everything turned out differently than Nos had expected.

Despite the goddess entering that strange building with the herb-gathering adventurer, the woman still remembered everything after coming back out.

"My Goddess… why is she still here, teaching me?" Nos's voice trembled with unease, betraying her growing apprehension.

Could it be that the goddess was serious about this woman? Was that smile no longer meant to be fleeting? And why was it her in that place, instead of Nos?

"Because you've learned nothing from her," came the goddess's calm reply.

"But couldn't you teach me yourself?"

"Though I have existed for countless years, that does not mean I know all fields of study," Eruza said, narrowing her piercing blue eyes in faint disappointment. "Learning from others not only enhances your skills but also broadens your ability to interact and understand different perspectives on this world. Do you not wish to know more about this world, little girl?"

"But… why…" does it have to be her?

"Herbal knowledge is the best starting point for a low-level adventurer…She excels in medicinal ingredients to the point of reaching Silver Rank, even while focusing solely on herb-gathering missions. If you refuse to learn from her, I don't know who else could teach you about herbs as effectively."

The listener's smile faded, her hands clenched behind her back, but she let out a soft sigh.

Fine… if that was the case, she would learn.

Nos resolved to study diligently—not out of genuine interest but to ensure the goddess would discard this herb woman as quickly as possible.

As Eruza's "little sister," Nos accompanied the adventurer beyond the boundary, determined to learn everything she could. She began observing soil types and climates, noting how temperature and mineral composition affected herb growth in different areas.

She memorized the side effects of various potions, and learned the proper methods of harvesting, storing in jars, grinding, boiling, and other processes essential to ensuring the medicinal quality of herbs.

The adventurer, seemingly fond of Nos, taught her everything without holding back.

"How does the Memory-Erasing Grass work?" As the seven-day crash course neared its end, Nos asked the question that had been on her mind.

She had read about the Memory-Erasing Grass in books and had seen it used by the goddess on previous women, yet she wondered if there was knowledge beyond the written pages.

"Hmm... Memory-Erasing Grass isn't rare in this region," the herb woman replied, closing the jar of herbs they had collected. "But it's a specialty that only grows in the southern territories. In other cities or kingdoms, its price skyrockets. It's even considered illegal unless ordered by a licensed apothecary."

Suddenly, Nos understood why the goddess had chosen to settle near this town.

Being a guild staff member provided easy access to such resources, and perhaps the goddess herself harvested the herb directly from the forest using her powers…

"The herb can be used raw by burning it, but the effect is weak," the herb woman continued. "For maximum potency, it's best to grind and distill it into liquid form. That way, it can completely erase memories for up to ten days. However, it's not recommended for general use; apothecaries mainly prescribe it to patients seeking relief from emotional trauma.

Relief from emotional trauma...

Would being abandoned by the goddess count as such suffering?

Were those women recipients of mercy, or was Eruza simply cutting ties to avoid future inconveniences?

"Is there a way to counter the Memory-Erasing Grass?"

The goddess had once told her that those blessed with the Hero's Blessing were unaffected by such Memory-Erasing Grass. But how would the goddess deal with someone as knowledgeable as the herb woman?

"You just need to know how to protect yourself—whether it's from the scent, color, or touch…Nos, as your skills improve, you'll learn how to guard yourself against these kinds of poisons."

Her teacher's words sent a jolt through Nos's heart. What would the goddess do? Would this mean Eruza has to stay bound to this woman forever?

Concerned for the goddess, Nos couldn't hold back any longer. When Eruza's seven-day cycle came to an end, Nos decided to break her own promise not to invade the goddess's privacy...

Sneaking closer to the same strange building, watching intently…

Using her All-Seeing Eyes, a blessing from the God of Adventure, Nos could partially see through the structure, though the details were hazy. Her heightened senses, sharper than most since birth, helped her piece together what was happening.

That's when she realized—Eruza wasn't carrying the herb in its raw form. Instead, it had been distilled into liquid and stored in her cheek, only to be passed into the herb woman's body through a kiss.

Nos imagined the scene and involuntarily swallowed hard…

The goddess had skillfully distracted and lured her target, accomplishing her goal before the other woman even realized what had happened.

If the Hero was immune to the effects of the Memory-Erasing Grass, then the gods themselves would likely be unaffected as well… This advantage caught the woman completely off guard.

And so, the herb woman forgot the goddess… effortlessly.

In the days that followed, Nos ventured beyond the boundary on her own to gather herbs.

The Guild purchased almost any valuable item adventurers brought back from outside the boundary, reselling them to merchants under strict legal guidelines. For instance, the Memory-Erasing Grass could only be sold to licensed apothecaries.

According to adventurer regulations, directly selling raw materials to merchants without going through the Guild was strictly prohibited.

Even so, the Guild did not exploit adventurers unfairly. The prices offered were reasonable, considering the Guild's expenses for storing materials, hiring staff to manage resources, and processing items before perishable herbs expired.

Moreover, if the quantity sold to the Guild reached a certain threshold, it was counted as mission progress. Accumulating completed missions contributed toward ranking up.

For low-level adventurers, there were many types of missions available, but as the goddess had rightly said…

Upon reflection, Nos realized that herb-gathering was an excellent first step. Not only did it provide familiarity with the terrain and the world beyond the boundary, but it also imparted critical survival knowledge.

Which plants thrived in damp areas, helping pinpoint nearby water sources.

Which herbs could heal wounds and save lives in emergencies.

It was, in essence, a skill no adventurer should lack.

…The gatekeeper at the city's entrance wasn't particularly keen on letting a twelve-year-old girl venture beyond the boundary alone, which made life difficult for Nos.

It seemed that unless one was a Gold-Rank adventurer, they were required to register their mission details, travel range, and estimated return time every time they left the city. This process allowed the Guild to monitor delays and track adventurers who failed to return on schedule.

Some missions required weeks, months, or even years outside the boundary, and others might start at one city's gate but conclude at another kingdom's gate entirely. In such cases, the guards would simply forward the information to the Guild for follow-up.

All these measures were meant to keep track of the number of adventurers.

If someone disappeared and wasn't deemed significant, they would be written off as another casualty of demons beyond the boundary—left for dead.

For a trainee adventurer like Nos, however, the areas she was allowed to explore were remarkably safe.

Safer, in fact, than when she'd been with the goddess's former herb woman. The Bronze Level Five badge severely restricted her range of movement.

Without higher-ranked adventurers accompanying her, Nos was limited to the nearby herb forest close to the city.

Determined to make the most of it, she worked tirelessly to gather herbs as quickly as possible, nearly forgetting the rule against overharvesting and damaging nature.

Her reward for this effort was a promotion to Bronze Level Four.

El, standing behind the long counter, showed no sign of congratulating her. Without a word, the goddess took Nos's old badge and handed her a new bronze badge.

Nos could only offer a weak smile in return at the sight of El's impassive face.

She hadn't ranked up too slowly, had she…?

Lately, she hadn't spoken much with the goddess.

Eruza returned later than usual, far into the night, yet Nos never neglected her training. Each evening, she honed her other skills to ensure she didn't fall behind. The heavy wooden sword she used for practice had become chipped from overuse, and the short knife she carried outside the city, meant for cutting branches and obstacles, had prevented being repurposed as a throwing blade to improve her aim.

…The next day, as she trained, her thoughts drifted back to the goddess. When hunger struck, she went to the always-cool cellar to grab ingredients for a simple meal.

Eating absentmindedly, Nos stared at the dull blade in her hand.

The goddess's latest victim likely wasn't an adventurer this time… but which woman would it be?

…The next day, as she trained, her thoughts drifted back to the goddess. When hunger struck, she went to the always-cool cellar to grab ingredients for a simple meal.

Eating absentmindedly, Nos stared at the dull blade in her hand.

The goddess's latest victim likely wasn't an adventurer this time… but which woman would it be?

"You're so careless. If you were attacked, you'd lose before even realizing it," Eruza's clear voice suddenly rang out from behind her.

Startled, Nos quickly set the knife down, worried she might accidentally harm the goddess.

Though her senses were sharp, they were still no match for a divine being who could appear anywhere at will.

"My Goddess… you're back?" she asked foolishly.

She knew all too well that today…was the goddess's day of impurity.

"Hmm," Eruza hummed, nodding slightly before holding something out in front of Nos. "A gift for your promotion."

It was a sword, sheathed in a blue scabbard. The hilt bore the emblem of the lily—the symbol of the Goddess Eruza.

Nos took it carefully.

The size was just right—not too long or too short—and its weight was easy to manage, similar to the wooden sword she practiced with daily. One side of the blade gleamed with a razor-sharp edge, so fine it could slice flesh with the lightest touch…

Even a girl with no knowledge of weapon forging could immediately tell that the sword was crafted by a master.

"...So happy you're crying, are you?"

The goddess's voice snapped Nos out of her trance, making her realize she was smiling even as tears streamed down her face.

Tears of pure joy fell onto the carpet below…

"From now on, I'll have you start slaying demons. For that, you'll need a weapon that suits your hand," Eruza said softly, her blue eyes carrying a faint warmth. Her slender hand reached out, gently ruffling Nos's hair. " Train with it until you're accustomed to it. If it chips, take it to be sharpened."

A gift from the goddess... How could she ever bear to use it?

If she could, Nos would treasure the sword, keeping it locked away in a box, safe from prying eyes and even a speck of dust. She'd take it out every night just to admire it…

"The weapons shop is one alley east of the Guild. The smith there won't remember me, but if you need the blade sharpened, ask for the female blacksmith named..."

Nos's smile froze.

What was she hoping for, really?

Of course, the goddess would use her charm to recruit skilled women for her own purposes. Was this sword crafted in exchange for the goddess's time and body…?

Go ahead and break, you stupid sword!

…Sunlight streamed into the Guild hall, casting a warm glow on the blue-haired figure standing near the counter. Her braided hair shimmered like a playful dance with the sun, and her sharp, elegant face could captivate anyone at a glance.

"This is my little sister, Nos," Eruza said with a sweet smile, introducing the twelve-year-old girl standing before the counter. "Take her along on a mission to broaden her horizons a bit."

Little sister... again.

"The adorable sister of El…? Of course. This mission shouldn't be too challenging," replied the goddess's new woman with a bright smile.

Unlike the first herbwoman, this one didn't work alone. She was part of a larger group handling higher-level missions.

All of them were Silver-Rank adventurers, which allowed Nos to sign up for higher-rank missions under the group's name.

…The task involved retrieving the horn of a specific demon species, which required them to leave the city and travel far beyond the boundary.

Passing through the herb forest Nos had once explored, they reached a vast grassland.

And there, Nos saw demons for the first time.

Most of them had four legs, resembling various types of animals, each with a unique appearances. Some had strange patterns of fur, others bore sharp claws and horns. Yet, they all shared the same blood-red eyes…

[ #$%&@ ]

Nos heard an unsettling sound coming from them.

She thought she had prepared herself, yet her skin prickled as goosebumps rose.

The lily-emblazoned sword at her side trembled in sync with her shaky hand resting on the hilt.

"Calm down. They haven't noticed us yet; we're upwind of their position," the goddess's woman, who appeared to be the leader of the adventurer group, said firmly, addressing Nos's visible unease. "The demons in this grassland aren't particularly dangerous. Though they seem numerous, they're weak. Our group is more than capable of handling them."

Nos steadied her breathing, bringing herself back to a calm state.

"The problem is, no matter how many we kill, they always regroup in the same place before long. Who knows how many more of them are deeper beyond the boundary."

Humans hadn't explored beyond the boundary in centuries. Even the highest-ranked adventurers had never reached the western edge of the land, where the Demon Lord's castle was said to be, surrounded by countless demons.

Nos used her All-Seeing Eyes to assess the nearest demon.

This outing was meant to give her experience, observing how others hunted demons. None of the team members expected her to contribute, so she simply stood back, watching as they prepared for the fight.

The demons had noticed them and were heading their way.

Their movements were slower than Nos had anticipated.

No, perhaps it wasn't the demons—it was her perspective. The rigorous training Eruza had put her through had heightened her skills to the point where these adventurers didn't seem capable of teaching her anything new.

But then, Nos's thoughts shifted.

The adventurers worked together seamlessly, covering each other's weaknesses through teamwork.

The goddess's woman was the key force in taking down each demon, precisely striking weak points. Yet, her efficiency relied on her team members distracting the demons with Wind Blessings to hold their attention.

What Nos thought would take the entire day ended in less than half.

She adjusted her perspective.

Eruza had sent her to train with adventurers to broaden her understanding, not to stroke her ego as a Hero.

Thinking herself superior to others wasn't what Eruza wanted. Instead, Nos needed to respect others' skills and adapt their techniques to her own.

Distracting with speed, pulling focus with elemental blessings, and other methods Nos had never considered—they all stemmed from the adventurers' hard-earned experience, something she still lacked.

"We got the part we needed, but the rest dissolved before we could extract it," one of the team members grumbled.

The demon's corpse had evaporated into the air after its death.

The upside was that they didn't have to deal with rotting carcasses that could spread disease to the city. The downside was that adventurers often couldn't salvage all the materials they needed in time.

"Never mind, let's head back. If we don't, the Guild will close before we get there."

Nos watched them discuss, carefully noting every detail she could use to refine her own approach.

To become the perfect tool, she had to polish herself further.

And further...

Nos became acquainted with countless women drawn to Eruza…

She trained alongside new female adventurers who wandered into the Guild of this city, some unintentionally ensnared by the goddess's charm. Eruza's allure was so powerful that even a single smile could compel someone to give their all for her.

Nos suppressed her feelings, convincing herself that this was useful—it would bring her closer to what Eruza expected of her.

It didn't matter how many women there were. The goddess remained with her. It was all just a curse, after all…

"Nos, this one excels at harvesting demon parts before they dissolve."

She would remain the little sister…

"Nos, this is a master of advanced swordsmanship."

The adorable little sister, climbing to Silver Rank by joining others' missions…

"Nos, you must learn how to protect merchants from these people."

The little sister of the goddess, keeping her abilities hidden from everyone until she turned fifteen…