Chapter 102: Chapter 102

Belissar had just dismissed the soldier bees to prepare for the daily purification when Juosiutik suddenly burst into the Tower. Belissar raised an eyebrow.

“Huh, wonder what she’s doing here? It’s kind of late, isn’t it?”

Then, she began to repeatedly thank the Goddess of Bees and put something in the Shrine of Bees’ chest. Well, Belissar certainly didn’t disprove of that, but he still wondered why she was doing it now, and why she seemed…frantic? Excited? He wasn’t sure.

At least until a moment later, that was.

A challenger has been fully blessed.

A challenger has selected a blessing unique to your patron.

Gained additional 10 DP.

Belissar gasped and focused back on Juosiutik. She was kneeling before the Shrine of Bees, which was glowing, and had tears streaming down her face. She was repeatedly saying something though as usual Belissar couldn’t hear her speak at the Shrine.

“My mother…passed before she could teach me. The recipe was too hard for me to figure out, and I barely had any of the ingredients left. But with the mana honey you gave me and the sleepy chamomile you’re growing, I was able to recreate it. It’s all thanks to you and the God of Bees.”

She extended her arms and held out the pouch to him.

“Please, accept this. I wanted to give you two the first batch.”

Belissar’s face fell a bit as Juosiutik spoke and felt his chest grow tight. Something from her late mother, huh? He slowly reached out and took the pouch. He took a deep breath as he considered what to say.

“…thank you. I’ll treasure it.”

Juosiutik smiled, nodded, and then wiped her eyes. Belissar waited for a bit before beginning to speak again.

“By the way, I saw you got a full blessing from the God of Bees?”

Juosiutik beamed once again.

“Yes! I offered some to the God of Bees and then she gave me her blessing! I’m a honey herbalist now!”

Belissar tilted his head.

“If I’m not mistaken, it’s one of the God of Bees’ unique blessings. Chief Rohsuak told us that could happen but that we should only expect the regular ones, so I was surprised! I didn’t even expect to get blessed today! But look, watch this!”

She held out her hand. Mana condensed and grew visible, forming into a familiar hexagonal pattern made of golden light. Honey began to drip from the pattern into Juosiutik’s hand.

“I can make honey now, too! And I’m getting all sorts of ideas on what I can do with it! This is going to be amazing! I can finally become a real potion-maker!”

Belissar was still trying to keep up with the rapid-fire conversation, but eventually caught up and nodded with a smile.

“Ah, congratulations.”

Juosiutik beamed once more.

Eventually, Juosiutik said her goodbye and left the dungeon, walking at a normal pace for once. Belissar stood watching the Tower entrance and rubbing his chin. Niobee flew in front of him.

“Well, I think I sort of get the blessing thing? Maybe it’s something like the bear people...or karnuq...have to accomplish something? Or was it because she used mana honey…or ingredients from the Tower? Well…I guess I don’t get it after all, but I have an idea of how to help, at least. I think if we help them make and achieve things, maybe that will help with the blessing mission?”

Niobee swayed in the air for a bit before beginning a slow dance.

“King should be careful. Stay safe.”

Belissar smiled at her.

“Thanks, I will. But…I don’t think we have to worry about them. At least not Juosiutik, anyhow.”

“Ok…if King says so.”

With that, Belissar and the bees returned to preparing for the next purification. Belissar considered how he could help the bear people, or rather, the karnuq more. He, perhaps, had already done so by giving them access to food, flax, and herbs, but maybe there was something more he could do? Right now there were a handful of things in his Tower that the karnuq didn’t have access to. The apple trees and wood tree resource nodes of the Orchard, the mana flower and flame radish nodes, and then, of course, the beehives themselves and the honeycomb they produced. Belissar still wasn’t comfortable exposing his bees’ homes to the karnuq and wasn’t about to make a beehive the bees couldn’t use, so honeycomb would still have to go through him, but the others bore thinking about. He, of course, could make mana flower or flame radish nodes right on the spot. As for the Orchard…at the moment he would have to escort them there because of the remnants. Unless he could do something about that…?

He waited for a moment but sadly, no new messages from the Tower appeared. It did not seem he would be able to control remnants outright, at least for now. He had seen a rest zone feature that would block them, which wouldn’t make sense to choose if he could just stop them at will, he supposed.

So yes, he would have to escort the karnuq through the Flower Meadow if he wanted to give them access to the Orchard. Although…he did have an extra room slot open. Couldn’t he make another Orchard and place the door to it right by the entrance? Remnants didn’t appear by the Shrine of Bees or a small area around it, so it would be safe, right? Though, that would only get the karnuq to the Orchard. If they then spread out to gather apples, wouldn’t Remnants start appearing in the Orchard? Belissar might need to guard them anyways in that case.