Editing Skill Tree Goddess:Volume1 Chapter3 (section)

===Part 9===

At any rate, it was over now.

But the bearded man shook his head. Looking bone weary.

“I…can’t go with you. I am abandoning the guild job.”

“…”

“We all did our part, but in the end you more or less defeated the SS-rank on your own. …But I’m not jealous about that.”

He wasn’t the only one.

Penelope wouldn’t look Gilbezos in the eye.

“You risked your life to save those high elves in the forest, so I thought you’d be a big softy this time too. I’m disappointed it turned out this way.”

Dancer Juina didn’t bother hiding the contempt in her eyes.

“Are you doing this for the money? Then you’re no different from that priest. I’m through with this. I don’t need that filthy money, so you can head back to the guild alone. So why not take the whole sum for yourself?”

So were they breaking up here?

With a snort of laughter, short Gilbezos left the others.

The limited area of the Sky Territory meant Temple City Aeropremise was the only city there, so where were the others planning to go? They weren’t being realistic. They couldn’t use an ad crane to descend to the surface without the help of the city that was ruled by the priest and was busy devouring the Saint.

He had done nothing wrong.

And if he had done nothing wrong, he didn’t need to argue his case.

“Oh, right.”

She finally spoke once they had entered the city and arrived in front of the temple.

She didn’t lift him up or rub her cheek against him.

Goddess Seliphenia, the constant presence at his side, suddenly came to a stop.

Her voice was stiff.

“''I will not continue past this point or accept anything from the priest.''”

“''Fine.''”

Gilbezos sighed and had her alter his skills one last time. Then he stepped through the giant gate and entered the temple grounds.

This time, he truly was setting foot in another world all on his own.

“Welcome back!!”

The priest stood in a white stone front garden.

His smile was so twisted it looked grotesque. To anyone with ordinary sensibilities.

“So what happened with the wicked dragon threatening our city and our Saint’s life?”

Was that the story he told?

It was hard to avoid laughing when you knew the truth.

But Gilbezos only had to put up with it a bit longer. His job wasn’t over yet.

He pulled a rectangular piece of parchment from his pocket.

The Seal Talisman.

“I sealed her.”

“!!”

Someone made a gasping sound.

No, it may have been closer to a suppressed scream.

It came from the a window high up in one of the temple’s towers. The rumored Saint was there, eyes wide and hands over her mouth. Trembling. Apparently something mattered to her more than her own fate.

Come to think of it, didn’t towers have two primary roles? Watchtowers and prisons?

The priest spread his arms wide and showered Gilbezos with praise.

“Yes, yes. You are indeed our city’s savior! With the threat of that SS-rank dragon gone, our Temple City Aeropremise is all but guaranteed eternal prosperity with the Saint’s support!!”

“I’ll take whatever I can get. So what do you have for me?”

“I can provide many gifts in addition to the reward indicated in the guild job. And not just monetary ones. Your age is no obstacle. You will be given a special position and authority within Temple City Aeropremise. Now, hand the Seal Talisman to me. We should conclude this job before we discuss this further.”

“Out of curiosity, what are you going to do with this?”

“Slice it apart and throw it away. Along with the wicked dragon sealed within. If cut with a blade rather than torn, no harm will come to the Saint. That will allow us to kill the dragon no matter its strength and HP.”

“''Oh, really?''”

The priest held out his hand as if initiating a handshake and Gilbezos waved the Seal Talisman he held between two fingers.

And he tossed it back over his shoulder.

“Huh? …Uwuh?”

The priest made a funny sound.

The short boy couldn’t stand it any longer. And he didn’t have to. He smiled as he spoke.



“''You’re released''.”



White light burst out.

From directly behind Gilbezos. A great form towered up behind him.

And it was within the barrier protecting the temple grounds.

“Y-you did it all for this…?” asked the dazed priest.

“Sure did.”

For this.

Only humans could pass through. So he had waited until he was ''past'' the temple’s sturdy barrier to release Yuileen from the talisman!!

He had said he can’t make a meaningless promise.

…That was true. But he never said he wouldn’t make that mother’s wish come true.

There was no point in letting her rampage outside the barrier. Some other method was needed to rescue her daughter. So he had chosen another method that would actually work!

Gilbezos Overridge drew the sword at his hip.

And made an announcement.

“I know you must be worn out after all that fighting, but keep at it a little longer, dragon mama. Your adorable daughter is right there. Let’s show them that there is still justice in this world!!”

He was answered by a deafening roar.

They stood in the same place and faced the same enemy to rescue the same Saint.

A joint unit of human and monster bared its fangs against the corrupt priest!!