"I never thought the consequences would be this severe," Jiuli muttered, his face pale as he recalled the moment when an elder of the exiled tribe tearfully begged him to become their protector.
But where had the tribe's original protector gone? The fact that the tribe had been forced into exile made the protector's fate self-evident. Jiuli, however, hadn't considered this at the time.
"You shouldn't need someone to spell it out for you," Muria said, stroking his chin. "In any power structure, when it collapses, those at the top rarely escape unscathed."
Muria's golden eyes gleamed. "If you don't want the worst to happen, you must dedicate yourself entirely to strengthening both your power and the tribe you've sworn to protect."
"I can—"
"No, you can't," Muria interrupted, cutting off Jiuli's budding thoughts of escape. "The power of faith binds you to them. You've entered a pact you cannot break. Your only option now is to lead your tribe to rise."
Muria's sharp insight pierced through Jiuli's thoughts. Running away was the natural reaction when faced with unbearable consequences, especially for someone burdened with protecting a goblin-like tribe.
"I..." Jiuli fought the urge to swear, frustration building within him.
"Don't regret your choice. While it might have been made out of a sense of amusement, it was still a wise one in my eyes," Muria said with a faint smile.
"Why?"
"Opportunities and risks are always proportional. You've taken on a great risk, but you'll also reap equal rewards. Haven't you already become a god as a result?"
"A god? You call me an Earth God, but I don't feel any different," Jiuli replied with a self-deprecating laugh.
"The reason you don't sense much change is because your tribe is far too weak. Their limited faith doesn't give you much to work with."
As Muria savored the joy of teasing and then consoling the young Earth God, they arrived at Jiuli's tribe. It was a scene Muria had seen countless times before.
The moment the black-haired youth appeared, all 300 or so members of the tribe, regardless of their status or what they were doing, prostrated themselves in his direction. Even young children, guided by their parents, were arranged in kneeling positions, chanting Jiuli's name in reverent praise.
"I've told them not to kneel, but they won't listen. So I've let it be for now," Jiuli said awkwardly, noticing Muria's curious gaze.
"No need to explain—I understand," Muria replied with a chuckle. "And kneeling to their protector isn't a unique honor for you; it's likely a longstanding tradition of their race."
"Do you really think a minor Earth God can rewrite customs passed down for countless generations? That would be quite presumptuous," Muria said, smiling as Jiuli, now in his golden giant form, walked toward the tribe's center.
"No, I just wanted to make some changes. While their devotion felt flattering at first, it's inefficient in the long run," Jiuli admitted.
The massive golden giant left deep footprints in the ground as he walked. Some of the tribe members hurried over to kiss these footprints, muttering praises as they did.
"Kneeling is the simplest way for humanoid creatures to show reverence to their gods," Muria said, glancing at the green-skinned tribe members. "For now, respect their traditions. Rise to the top first; then you can implement changes."
Muria observed the tribe's settlement. In the center stood a totem pole about seven or eight meters tall, surrounded by simple beast-hide tents, wooden weapons, and rudimentary clothing.
"It's clear your tribe is backward in both construction and weaponry," Muria remarked.
Though primitive, the totem pole and the presence of large, domesticated beasts indicated that the tribe was not weak despite their lack of advancement.
"Their stagnation is largely due to geography," Jiuli said, leading Muria into the largest tree-bark hut. A faint herbal scent filled the air, dispelling the expectation of an unpleasant odor.
"True, island geography makes it difficult to nurture advanced civilizations. Communication is too inconvenient. Still, I noticed that most of the island tribes seem similar, which suggests they were unified at some point in the distant past," Muria noted.
"That's speculation," Jiuli replied, sitting cross-legged and observing Muria's small figure.
"Perhaps, but it's an educated guess based on my experience."
"So, Mr. Muria, you're not from this world either, are you? Like me, you come from another world," Jiuli said, his sharp eyes glinting.
"You're just now realizing that?" Muria raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise.
"...Never mind," Jiuli muttered, deflated but unable to suppress his curiosity. "What's your world like, Mr. Muria?"
"Do you think I'd tell you?" Muria shot him a sidelong glance, making Jiuli's expression turn awkward.
"Sorry."
"No need to apologize. I know you're just clueless. But keep in mind, probing someone's world can be seen as an act of aggression," Muria warned before stepping out of the hut. "I'm going to take a stroll. You take care of your tribe's affairs."
"But..." Jiuli started, only to trail off in frustration. "There's nothing to take care of!"
The tribe's chieftain handled most of the daily responsibilities. As the protector, Jiuli's role was more symbolic, a living talisman that boosted the tribe's morale and efficiency.
Outside, Muria approached the totem pole. At its base, he noticed faded bloodstains and the pungent scent of sacrifice. These details barely caught his attention—blood sacrifices were common in primitive tribes.
What intrigued him were the carvings on the pole. At the top, a depiction of a golden-scaled giant battling a green-scaled serpent captured his gaze.
"Interesting," Muria mused. The intricate carvings hinted at supernatural craftsmanship beyond the tribe's abilities.
"Mr. Muria, I'm planning to visit my homeland. Will you...?"
"I'm coming with you," Muria replied without hesitation, oblivious to how much this decision unsettled the young Earth God.
Jiuli's face stiffened as he weighed his options, constructing and discarding various arguments.
Unbothered by Jiuli's turmoil, Muria grinned. "What's wrong? Don't like it? Too bad. My wings, my choice—you can't stop me."
"...I wasn't going to stop you," Jiuli admitted, realizing the futility of resistance.
"Good. To ease your worries, let's establish a closer relationship," Muria said with a playful glint in his eye.
"What kind of relationship?" Jiuli asked cautiously, his giant form tense.
"I've experienced being a father, but I've never been a teacher. How about becoming my first student?" Muria offered with a mischievous smile.
"You want to be my teacher?" Jiuli asked, stunned.
"What? Think I'm unqualified?"
"No, I just..." Jiuli couldn't shake the feeling that this proposal came with strings attached.
"Then it's settled," Muria declared, brooking no argument. "From now on, I'm your teacher. As a token of our relationship, I'll give you a gift."
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