Kashi’s Inner World.
11:32 p.m. 17 th Banem 1092 .
Kashi appeared in the skies above his inner world, a small smile on his face as he surveyed the bustling scene on the prairies below. Several centaurs trotted in and out of a small settlement built near Yggdrasil. The centaurs held different kinds of beasts, which they carted off to a newly formed forest a couple of miles in the distance.
The centaurs were not the only guests in this world. The daeben spotted King Xafier and a few ministers standing in front of Yggdrasil with stunned expressions. Opposite that party, Hogosha, Leila’s Nespian Tiger, basked in the Divine Tree’s aura with one eye on the cocoon that hung from its branches. Elsewhere, Drixlia darted across the fields at breakneck speeds, thoroughly enjoying the liberating feeling of a full sprint.
“Master,” Drixali greeted as he appeared beside Kashi. “What brings you here?”
“I thought Savi might have some questions,” Kashi replied. “Also, I don’t fully trust the gods. I can’t just leave him here, unsupervised.” The daeben looked at the centaur god. “By the way, where is he?”
Contrary to Kashi’s expectations, Drixali just stared at him with a raised brow. After a brief silence, the centaur god asked, “Who is Savi?”
“Mertian god covered from head to toe in gold,” Kashi answered with a skeptical frown. “Just sent him in. You could not have missed him.”
“I did sense the portal opening,” Drixali admitted. “I came up here to see who had arrived, but I have not seen anyone but you.”
“Huh, Wait. Give me a second,” Kashi murmured and then closed his eyes as he communicated with Yggdrasil. Seconds later, he opened his eyes and announced, “Found him. Come with me.” With those words, Kashi flew down to Yggdrasil.
The daeben landed on a three-meter thick branch where he found the elusive merchant god, Savi, sitting with a pitcher of wine in hand. “Found you,” Kashi remarked with a smile as he approached the god.
“Oh, you have arrived,” Savi softly said as he turned to look at Kashi. There was a strange forlorn aura surrounding the merchant god, but the daeben could not place its source. The merchant patted Yggdrasil’s branch and praised, “I doubted my eyes when at first, but this familiar feeling. It is indeed Yggdrasil, my Father’s greatest creation.”
Kashi’s eyes went wide with disbelief at this reveal. “Yggdrasil was made by Ferulic? I always assumed Aethir created it. It’s the Tree of Life, isn’t it?”
“Tree of Life and Space, to be exact,” Savi corrected with a small smile. “Yggdrasil’s true nature is its ability to connect several worlds, planes, and dimensions.” The merchant god chuckled as he said, “Father was truly a hopeless romantic. He hoped that no matter how far Mother was, she would be able to reach him through its branches.”
Kashi frowned, feeling something was off with the tale. “Why is it only known as the Tree of Life then?”
Savi paused, his gaze downcast as he said, “Mother never utilized its spatial traits. She got hooked to this world after creating the humes and wouldn’t leave for any other plane. However, Yggdrasil was an immensely powerful, divine tree, so she blessed it and set it as a paragon for life in this world. Its destruction set in motion the events that would eventually lead to the famous Calamity.”
“What do you mean?”
“I am sure you have heard of Razznik the Destroyer?” Savi continued after Kashi’s curt nod. “For various reasons, Mother did not like him. Razznik was an embodiment of chaos. He did what he wanted, regardless of the consequences. Even when faced with the threat of mortality, he still refused to bend his will. I think that, to Mother, was the greatest insult she had ever received. But the day Razznik destroyed Yggdrasil, he effectively declared war on her, and she swore to make him suffer for eternity.” Savi downed his mug and then lamented, “A mistake the world is still paying for.”
Kashi frowned as he listened to Savi’s account. He’d always known Aethir had it out for Razznik, but he’d never known the reason why. Especially towards the end of King’s Journey. Razznik lost count of how many challenges and assassination attempts he thwarted in those last few months. Unfortunately for Aethir, no soul could match Razznik in combat.
In the end, it took a coalition of the entire Japanese server filled with millions of warriors and Residents to finally put Razznik down. And even then, they only succeeded because Razznik himself had grown weary of living without purpose.
Maybe because of Kashi’s knowledge of Razznik’s life, something about Savi’s account made him uncomfortable. He could not shake the nagging feeling that there was a large piece of the puzzle within that account that would shed more light on the continent’s real history. Luckily, after a momentary pause, it finally clicked.
“Hold on. You said Aethir hated Razznik for a long time, but Razznik only ever interacted with her near the end of his life.” Kashi’s eyes narrowed, his muscles tense as he asked the question bothering him. “Before then, he was like every other Summoned—maybe a little more unpredictable, but he rarely engaged in the world’s politics. So, what exactly did Aethir hate so much?” Kashi paused for a moment to collect his thoughts and then said, “If there was one threat, it was his rapid growth rate.”
“Was that it? Was Aethir afraid he would get stronger than her?” Kashi continued his monologue, talking faster as he began to run through the possibilities. “No. That’s not it. Even with the level cap, there was no chance Razznik could ever reach God-levels of strength. There aren’t enough monsters in the entire world to level up that far. But if it’s neither his strength nor his potential, then it has to be something embedded in Razznik—a quality only he shared.”
Kashi’s eyes narrowed even further as he quickly ran through Razznik’s entire life in his head. At first, he did not see anything odd, but after a few moments, he began to see a pattern emerge. Razznik, for better or worse, never held any respect for the gods. In his quest for strength, he sought and destroyed powerful foes regardless of their alliance. Kashi could not count how many paladins, priests, necromancers, liches, and more had fallen to Razznik’s blade.
Some of these priests and paladins were either champions of the gods or oversaw temples dedicated to them. However, as far as Razznik was concerned, they were stumbling blocks he needed to topple over to reach the top.
“Could that be it?” Kashi mused. “Was Razznik’s disrespect toward the gods the reason Aethir hated him so much? But, almost every Summoned disrespected the gods. If she hated Razznik, then she should have hated all the Summon—” Kashi’s voice suddenly caught in his throat, and then, pupils shaking, he turned to look at Savi. “Wait, tell me. Razznik was a Summoned. What happened to the rest? They should have had Aerith’s immortality, right?”
If someone had asked Kashi this question a day ago, he would have scoffed them off. What happened to the Summoned? They logged out obviously after King’s Journey’s final battle. However, he’d had an uneasy feeling ever since he heard about Razznik’s role as the destroyer—like something did not feel quite right. Savi’s revelation once again brought that feeling to the forefront. Only this time, the picture had begun to clear up.
“They died,” Savi replied with a sad smile as he shook his head. “They all perished while taking down Razznik.”
“That’s impossible,” Kashi replied with a frown. During Razznik’s final battle, everyone the Demon King killed was sent back to the Circle for reincarnation at the nearest temple… or did something change? “The Summoned had Aethir’s immortality blessing. How could they have died?”
Savi sighed and then took a large swig of his wine. The merchant god sighed and later confessed, “A blessing given can just as well be taken. Mother rescinded her blessings right before the final battle. The Summoned, unaware of this, charged at Razznik with everything they had, more than willing to suffer death in exchange for getting even a scratch on him.”
“Hold on. Hold on. Hold on.” Kashi repeated, red eyes smoldering with rising flames. “What you are saying is that Aerith used Razznik to take down all the Summoned? Why!?”
“I told you, Mother loved this world far too much,” Savi replied. “The humes, even with all their flaws, were a controllable bunch who listened to her counsel. All that changed when the Summoned arrived.” Savi sighed and then took another swig of his wine. “The Summoned killed, raped, and destroyed everything she loved with little to no consequences. Jails could not hold them, nor could death. Soon after the Summoned arrived, Residents began to stray from the gods. After all, if the Summoned could get away with their crimes and disrespect toward the gods, why should the Residents follow us?”
“So, her solution was to wipe out all the Summoned!?” Kashi angrily roared. “And she manipulated Razznik and everyone else to achieve that?”
Savi nodded and then said with a rueful laugh. “It would not have gotten to that stage had Razznik not slain the level totem. With her death, a future where Summoned amassed enough strength to rule over the world completely was no longer just a possibility but a matter of time. Even worse, Razznik cut down Yggdrasil, which served as our entrance to the mortal plane. Without Yggdrasil, Mother could no longer descend to the world without being summoned by a mortal, and even then, she could not last long on the mortal plane.”
“I do not understand one thing,” said Kashi in response. “If Aethir hated us so much, why even give us the immortality blessing?”
Savi’s body instantly froze, his face pale like he was… ‘frightened?’ What in seven hells could scare an immortal god? The merchant god required a full minute before he finally regained his composure and turned to look at the daeben. “That, I cannot tell you.”
“Don’t worry,” Kashi consoled, but then added with a hard glare, “You already did. There’s an entity above even Ferulic and Aerith—One whose orders cannot be refused.” The daeben’s lip curled in a slight smile as he stated, “I believe I have an idea who.”
Before Savi could question that statement, the daeben swiftly changed the subject, “So, to get things in chronological order. Something ordered Aerith to bless all new Summoned with immortality. Aerith reluctantly complied but eventually grew to hate the Summoned who laid waste to the world. And even among the Summoned, she especially hated Razznik even more for his blatant disregard and disrespect to the gods. A few manipulations later, she gets all Summoned to engage Razznik in an ambush, but he ends up killing them all. Which, I am assuming, was at the cost to his own life.”
Savi nodded.
“What happened afterward?” Kashi asked, eager to find out as much as he could from this eye witness. “There’s a big gap from being dead to causing the Calamity.”
Savi laughed and rose to his feet. “That, you will have to find out on your own. I felt nostalgic because of Yggdrasil, but that’s as far as I’ll talk.” The merchant god continued before Kashi could plead his case, “As for your world, I am assured of its security. You are in control here. No one can go in and out without your knowledge. Also, as long as Yggdrasil is here, it’ll be aware of everything that occurs in this world.”
The merchant god smiled and looked at Drixali, who stood behind Kashi, “That said, you need to appoint a god to manage security in your world. That way, you do not need to wait until you contact Yggdrasil to find out if something bad is happening.” He lightly tapped the branch with his boots as he explained, “Yggdrasil is too passive. It will only react to world-destroying threats. A god, on the other hand, will have Yggdrasil’s surveillance skill at their disposal but will also be able to act on them.”
Savi pointed at Drixali and said, “I would nominate the centaur for the role. Of all the creatures in this world, he’s the only one who can manage that level of information.” Kashi opened his mouth to speak, but Savi once again cut him off, “I cannot stay here much longer, or it will destabilize your world. My final advice is this: As soon as you can, substitute your world’s cores with non-living entities. Yggdrasil and the dragon are fine, but you cannot rely on the Hydra and the centaur for too long, or there will be dire consequences when your world expands up to a certain point.”
Kashi paused, stunned by Savi’s warning. He had no idea such a problem would ever occur. He immediately asked, reluctant to let Savi go now, “What would you recommend?”
Savi hesitated, but seeing the eagerness in the daeben’s eyes, compounded by the familiarity of Yggdrasil’s aura, he relented. “You need divine items which can grow with your world. You currently need metal, water, and wind. Yggdrasil is the strongest Earth core you could ever find. Your soul is that of a twin-element lightning-fire Elder Dragon. There’s potential there, although it seems you are yet to unleash the lightning element in your inner world.”
“Yeah. Which is weird cause on the outside, I have only unlocked lightning-related skills,” Kashi replied with a weak smile.
“I am no expert on dragons,” Savi confessed and then added, “but I have heard of dragons who unlocked their hidden potentials during intense battles. Maybe that’ll help.”
Kashi shrugged with a care-free smile. “I can only hope.”
“As for the other elements,” Savi muttered, deep in thought. “I suggest you summon Aygor to ask for the location of a good metal core. As for water, the only items I can suggest around Destia are the Black Pearl of Stagnetti and Gorian’s Trident.” Savi preemptively shut down Kashi’s next question with, “I will not tell you their location or even what they are. You must find that out yourself.”
“I had to try,” Kashi said with a laugh, and then asked, “What about wind?”
Savi’s lips curled up in a smile as he stated. “Do not worry about wind. If you survive the upcoming battle, you will find what you need.”
“Huh? What do you me—”
Brrrrrrrr!
Kashi stumbled, nearly falling over as a soft earthquake shook the ground. Yggdrasil’s branches bristled as a sharp wind picked up, swaying back and forth as if in protest.
“It is time to leave,” Savi stated with a smile. “Your world cannot handle my presence much longer.”
“Oh, yeah,” Kashi absent-mindedly replied and then, with a wave of his hand, opened a portal.
Savi looked at Kashi and then said before stepping into the portal, “I did not need to perform this inspection, but I wanted to see Yggdrasil for myself. Thank you. Truly. For bringing it back to life.”
Embarrassed, Kashi scratched the back of his neck and replied, “I didn’t do anything, to be honest. I had no idea it had such a powerful backstory.”
“Perhaps that was for the best,” Savi replied and then disappeared through the portal.
Kashi closed the portal after the god’s departure and then took a moment to organize everything he had just learned. If everything Savi said was the truth, then was there more to the Calamity than initially let on? Was everything as simple as Razznik = Bad Guy?
Well, whatever. It was not like Kashi would figure it out just by worrying about it. He thus decided that he would personally question Razznik if he ever got the chance.
As for now…
Kashi turned and looked up at Drixali. With a sly grin, he announced, “What do you think about becoming a god?”
In response to Kashi’s query, Drixali solemnly bowed his head and replied, “It would be my honor.”
“Good,” Kashi acknowledged with a satisfied nod. But then, after a brief pause, he looked at the centaur demon and sheepishly questioned, “How do I make you a god again?”
Drixali raised his head and silently stared at the daeben. Even though he did not say anything, Kashi could tell from the centaur’s gaze that Drixali was currently judging him.
Luckily, Kashi’s embarrassment did not last too long. His dignity was saved by a new system prompt.
God System Unlocked.
Congratulations, Creator of Worlds. You have unlocked the God System, which allows you to assign the supervision of specific aspects of your world to worthy individuals.
Those chosen to become gods will be bound to and marked by this world. As a result, they will be attacked upon entering another world.
Below is a list of God Roles currently available. More will be unlocked as your world expands and its inhabitants’ faith blossoms into new roles.
The roles currently available are as follows:
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Sentry God: Watches over the activities of every living being in the world and reports suspicious activities to you. Depending on your preference, they might also have the authority to intervene.
Nature God: Regulates the birth cycle of wildlife and plant life in your world.
Warning: World must be named before god can be chosen.
Kashi examined the prompt with considerable interest. He assumed that the reason Sentry and Nature gods were the only ones available was because his world was currently still too small. Perhaps, as the world grew bigger and more stable, more god systems would be introduced.
Kashi shook his head, returning his thoughts to the matter at hand. He had a choice to make. Appoint Drixali as a god, and lose the ability to summon him to the real world for battle, or wait until he found another candidate. He decided to proceed with Drixali’s god confirmation.
If the circumstances were different, Kashi would definitely have chosen to wait until after the upcoming battle to appoint Drixali. The centaur demon was a true powerhouse who was constantly getting stronger with each passing day, making him a valuable war asset. Unfortunately, Kashi knew that Savi would not approve of the bank if he did not appoint Drixali as a god.
With his mind made up, Kashi selected the Sentry God option, after which he received a prompt requesting the candidate’s name. Kashi paused for a moment and then looked at Drixali. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Yes, master,” The centaur demon affirmed with a nod and then confessed, “I have not made this choice solely out of loyalty, but for myself as well. Every living being wishes to one day become a god. Immortal, infallible, and worshipped by many.” Drixali gazed at the vast expanse of land below them as he continued, “This world may be small now; its inhabitants few and far between. But I truly believe that one day this world will grow to heights never before seen, with millions, no Billions of inhabitants. It is for that future, I wish to do this.”
Kashi smiled and then said, “Alright. As you wish.” With that, he tapped on the prompt. “Drixali, I hereby appoint you as Sentry to my inner world…” He paused, trying to think up a name, and then finally settled on, “ Orez .”
BOOM!
An explosive pillar of light burst out of the heavens and struck Drixali, forcing Kashi to take several steps back. Countless light orbs rose from the centaurs in the plains and then rushed into the pillar, swallowed at an extremely greedy pace.
Kashi did not know how, but he instinctively understood these to be seeds of faith that powered a god’s strength. The more ‘faith’ power a god collected, the stronger he or she became. The daeben watched as Drixali was lifted high into the sky, the spectacle drawing the attention of every living being in Orez.
The centaurs instinctively clasped their hands and then bowed in prayer. Xafier and the dwarfs looked upon the scene with reverence. Drixali might not be their god, but they could feel the saintly aura pervading the entire world. They thus bowed their heads in respect to the appointment of this new god.
Vwooosh!
The pillar suddenly exploded, sending a massive gale flying in every direction. Kashi shielded his eyes from the wind as he marveled at the figure floating in the sky.
Drixali always had a regal look and demeanor. But all of that paled in comparison to the majestic centaur god above. The Sentry god’s features were angled and sharp, giving off a dangerous vibe that scared any potential dissidents. His horns were longer, curved, and much sharper. Most impressively, however, was the new suit of beast-skin armor he donned. The primal armor added an air of ancient regality and aggression to the god.
Drixali took a moment to admire his new form, then immediately galloped down to the branch where Kashi stood. Upon seeing his master, the Sentry god bowed his head in solemnity as he said, “Thank you for this honor, Master. I will forever be grateful.”
“No worries. It’s an equivalent exchange,” Kashi said with a laugh. “Also, you’re a god now. Lose the master and just call me Kashi.” Before Drixali could protest, Kashi reasoned, “Think about it. Will you have faith in a god that calls someone master?” Kashi walked over and patted the sentry god’s flank, “Let’s do it for those that believe in us, alright?”
Drixali hesitated but then said with a smile, “As you wish, Kashi.”
“Great!” Kashi said and then pointed at a barren mountain range some distance away. “Now, let’s go test something I’ve been meaning to try.”
Drixali did not understand what Kashi meant, but he followed the daeben to the mountain range.
The daeben stopped above the smallest mountain, which was just over thirty meters taller than its surroundings. “Mm,” Kashi nodded as he descended onto the mountain. “This should do the trick.”
Drixali landed on the rocky mountain and glanced around at the barren landscape. “What are you trying to do, mas—” Catching Kashi’s glare, he instantly corrected, “Kashi?”
Kashi knelt on the ground and said as he placed his hands on the mountaintop, “If I have the highest authority in this world, then it stands to reason I can do whatever the other gods can, right?”
Drixali nodded. “It should be so, yes.”
“Well then, let’s put that to the test, shall we?” Kashi proposed, and then shouted with an excited grin, “Grow!”
Grururururu…
Drixali stumbled as the mountain beneath his feet began to violently shake. The sentry god looked at Kashi with shock and question in his eyes as he asked, “What is happening!?”
“I’m building,” Kashi answered as he rose to his feet. Drixali’s stunned response never made it out as several columns, pillars, and walls suddenly shot out of the ground. Kashi and Drixali took the skies, watching as rocks rose from the earth, unnaturally bending at certain places until a large, stone dome appeared on the mountain.
The dome had no windows, so Drixali could see the stairs and hallways within the new building. The sentry god turned to look at Kashi, “This is?”
“A relay station,” Kashi answered with a smile. “I can’t have just anyone running around my world, so I’ll have a relay station for those who want to travel from one part of the continent to another.” The daeben then pointed at another mountain and ordered, “Rise.”
This time, a large, cube-like structure formed from the mountain’s rocks. Kashi then pressed his hand down, and the cube descended into the mountain until it was out of view. If one looked closely, they would see that a few tunnels suddenly appeared at the mountain’s base. “That’ll be the vault for our banks,” Kashi announced with a pleased smile. “Only authorized people will know of its location, let alone be able to access it.”
Kashi dusted his hands, satisfied with his test. “Now, all we need is to get some workers in here to paint and furnish these buildings, and they’ll be open for business.” The daeben thought about getting the workers for a moment but then shrugged and said, “I’ll let Miote handle that.”
With those irresponsible words, Kashi glanced at Drixali and waved, “Good luck being a god. I’ll come by soon.” He then disappeared from view, leaving Drixali standing in the sky by himself.
Drixali stared at the empty space where Kashi was a moment ago and complained with a slight pout, “He could have made me a home while he was at it.” The centaur god chuckled inwardly and then galloped through the skies to Yggdrasil. Although he could monitor the world from anywhere, he preferred to be as close as possible to Yggdrasil. He might as well regain his strength while watching over the world.
Kashi’s Inner World.
11:58 p.m. 17 th Banem 1092 .
Kashi opened his eyes to see Shadow and Absalon standing protectively in front of him, protecting his body while he was in a trance. The daeben smiled with appreciation as he tapped the assassin’s shoulder and announced, “Shadow, I’m back.”
Shadow turned around and looked at Kashi with narrowed eyes. “Took you long enough,” the assassin playfully chided as he stepped behind the daeben. “Any problems?”
“Nope,” Kashi replied as he turned his attention to Savi and Miote, who stood in front of the bank building. “Everything went as planned.” Kashi heard a grunt behind him, but when he looked over, as expected, Shadow was nowhere in sight. Chuckling to himself, Kashi thanked Absalon before walking over to the merchant and his god.
Savi noticed Kashi’s approach and asked as the daeben approached, “What did you choose?”
“I appointed Drixali as my sentry god,” Kashi announced, but then, upon further thought, clarified, “The centaur demon, I mean. His name is Drixali.”
“Good,” Savi acknowledged with a nod. “The last thing I need is the gateway to your dimension. The one the bank personnel will use when they want to store the cash.”
Kashi waved his hand, and a large scroll appeared in it. He unfurled the scroll, revealing a painting of a massive hall whose walls were made of stone. A couple of open doorways led out of the stone room to hallways just out of view. “This is the vault,” Kashi announced as he handed the scroll to Savi. “It has a 100 X 100-meter floor span and a height of about thirty meters. The hallways lead to extra rooms which can be used when this one is full. The only way in and out of the vault is through this painting, so there is no chance of theft.”
“How are you so sure of this?”
“Because I just built it,” Kashi stated with a shrug. Yes, this was a painting of the interior of the cube-like structure Kashi made in Orez. When he disappeared from Drixali’s view, he actually traveled to the cube’s interior, both to paint it and to ensure there were no other entrances. “I designed the place myself.”
Unlike Savi, who took the daeben’s explanation in stride, Miote was understandably confused. He couldn’t help but ask, “What do you mean you built it?”
“Inner world shenanigans,” Kashi offhandedly explained with a laugh. “I’ll explain it later.” With that, he turned to Savi and asked, “Do you have everything you need?”
Savi looked at the painting in his hand, feeling the familiar spatial energy in it. He smiled and looked at the daeben and then Miote. “Everything is in order. I shall begin now.”
Kashi and Miote instinctively took a step backward as Savi floated into the air above the building. The merchant god looked down at the Hopeful Maggots and asked, “What is the name of your bank?”
Kashi was about to open his mouth when he felt a hand clasp tightly over it, preventing him from speaking. Before he could free himself, Miote announced, “New Genesis Bank. The bank to usher in a new age of peace and prosperity, or ‘For New Beginnings.’ Still working on the tagline.”
“New Genesis Bank it is,” Savi agreed after no one opposed the name. The god clasped his hands as he began his blessing. “By the authority of the merchant god Savi, son of the merciful Aethir and powerful Ferulic, I hereby formally announce the opening of the New Genesis Bank. This bank has been blessed by the heavens. It shall thus be a beacon of hope to all walks of life, regardless of affiliation or race.”
Unbeknownst to the Maggots gathered, Savi’s voice was currently ringing in the ears of every soul in the world. This was Savi’s [Gods’ Apparition] . It was not as flashy as Aygor’s, but perhaps it was even more shocking.
Savi continued his blessing as massive golden halos began falling upon the New Genesis Bank. “No longer shall common people fear the loss of their savings to the whims of bandits and evil. This bank shall serve as a bastion of wealth, solidifying the base of prosperity and ensuring the future growth of all who invest in it. It is my furtive hope that one day, no one in this world will fear the loss of their hard-earned coin.”
Kashi and the Maggots watched, wide-eyed, as the bank’s building transformed right before their eyes. The building doubled in size, its concrete floors replaced by beautiful marble floors. Gold pillars appeared around the structure, adding even more opulence to it.
This was a bank blessed by a god, and Siva wanted it to reflect that esteemed status. By the time the golden halos disappeared, the building was nigh unrecognizable.
“The New Genesis Bank, championed by the Hopeful Maggots, serves as an example of what we as a people should aspire to be,” Siva concluded with a smile. “Merchants that acquire wealth not only for our own greed but to better the world as a whole. That is a true merchant.” Siva paused as he looked at Miote with a smile. “And with that, I thus declare New Genesis Bank…” Everyone watched as the bank’s new Jade doors swung open, revealing a row of clerks from various races lined up with bright smiles. “Officially Open for Business!”
Congratulations! First Bank Opened!
Congratulations! You actually did it! You and your guild managed to open the first bank, despite the odds being firmly against it.
Fame: +1200
Charm:+50
Charisma:+50
This achievement, coupled with all your recent exploits, have granted you the title: Shadow Mogul
Shadow Mogul: You have a knack for starting up brilliant money-making businesses while keeping your name in the background. The world has begun to take notice.
Perks: All business deals associated with your name have a 25% chance increase of concluding in your favor.
People fear and respect the Shadow Mogul: Significantly less chance of someone reneging or cheating you or your associates off a deal.
New Genesis Bank
The first bank of Destia is blessed by the god, Savi. Promises ultimate safety of its patrons’ funds. This bank is owned by The Hopeful Maggots, who have a majority shareholder price.
Current Shareholders:
Hopeful Maggots: 64%
Damah Dumm: 21%
Rosendun’s Treasury: 10%
Others: 5%
Note: Real-World Currency Exchange will open in 40 days. It can only be done through New Genesis Bank. For those who are from Meilfour, do not be alarmed. At that time, simply select the new ‘Money-Exchange’ tab, and a representative will be with you right away.
Kashi finally understood why Savi had to be in charge of the Exchange policy. Aside from security, only a god could ensure every Summoned got access to the facility when they needed it. After all, it would take some time before the New Genesis Bank expanded to other parts of the world.
“Mmm,” Kashi wanted to speak, only then remembering the hand on his mouth. He grasped the dainty hand and successfully pulled it off his mouth while its owner was distracted. He looked over his shoulder and could not help but feel betrayed by the culprit. “Lune? You?”
Lunette, who had been reading the announcement, promptly closed it and turned to Kashi with an embarrassed smile. “Sorry, Kashi, but I had to.”
“What? Why?”
“You’re awesome at everything. You really are, but...” Lunette coyly winced as she said, “Your naming sense. Honestly, it’s atrocious.”
“What?” Kashi blustered. “I know I made a mistake with the Hopeful Maggots—”
"And the Nyte-Nyte drug."
“And the Nyte-Nyte Drug,” Kashi weakly parroted.
“And your paintings.”
“And my paintings...” Kashi muttered, but then weakly retorted, “But this time was different. I did have a good name.”
“I have a thousand things I’m supposed to be doing right now,” Miote said as he approached the couple, “But this I have to know. What were you going to say?”
Kashi puffed his chest as he proudly stated, “Well, it’s the first bank, right?” When they nodded, he said, “So, the First Bank of Destia. No matter what, we’ll always be number one!”
“Oh, my,” Lunette exclaimed, her cheeks red as she realized her error. “It’s actually not bad. A little cliché, but it actually makes sense.”
Contrary to Lunette’s view, Shadow chided as he suddenly appeared next to Kashi, “Stop lying. You probably only thought of that after cooling down. What was your first instinct?”
Kashi glared at Shadow, trying to warn him away with his eyes, but the assassin’s cold gaze mellowed out the heat. Having failed his intimidation tactics, the daeben scratched his chin and sheepishly looked at Lunette, “Uh... it was a toss-up between Big Boss Bank and Bank Infinitas.”
Miote and Lunette’s faces instantly fell while Shadow said as he disappeared with a haunting chuckle, “My work here is done.”
“Wait. Think about it.” Kashi desperately tried to defend himself while Miote turned to attend to the bank’s newest patrons. “Big Boss Bank. Triple B, B-cube. Sounds cool, right? “I’m going to triple B.” Or how about Bank Infinitas? The name implies our bank has infinite Syros. That’s cool, right? Right?” The daeben’s voice trailed off as Lunette placed a hand on his shoulder.
Lunette tapped on Kashi’s shoulder, a warm smile on her face as she comforted him, “... You’ll always have your strength.”
Something inside Kashi shattered to pieces as the Maggots around burst into raucous laughter at his expense...