I WAS The Rank–1 Hero-Chapter 125: My Contractee [3]

"What can I do for you, Sir Paradox?"

Finally, I had met her. Slowly covering the distance, I stopped just in front of her.

"Nathalia," I asked, "what is this place?"

"...Hm?" She tilted her head, slightly looking at me from under the blindfold. "Is that what you called me here to ask?"

"..."

What?

Is she messing with me?

Hey, miss, do you know how far I had to walk just to get here?

I don’t know why, but she sounded slightly annoyed for some reason. Was it because I disturbed her prayer time?

"Heehee," she chuckled lightly, then spoke again. "Don’t worry. I know you have a valid reason for calling me…"

She then looked down at the bunny, who was still rubbing her head against her feet.

"...Lumi informed me of your arrival," she said, picking the bunny up from the ground. "I instructed her to guide you to me."

"Kyu~"

Lumi squeaked in Nathalia’s arms as she stroked her fur.

So her name is Lumi… Wait—her?

That bunny was a female?

Now that I think Lumi actually understood most of what I said to her.

From the corner of her eyes, Lumi looked at me—and then instantly turned her head away.

What? Now she’s playing dumb?

That damn bunny did understand me!

Damn it. I got played by a bunny.

As I stood there grumbling internally, Nathalia stared at me and spoke.

"It looks like you have several questions…"

She placed Lumi gently over her shoulder.

"Let’s sit somewhere and discuss."

Clapping her hands together, the view around me instantly shifted.

"...?!"

Just one blink—and I was no longer in the temple.

This felt similar to that teleportation incident, but this time, I didn’t sense any fluctuation in the Elemental Essence around me.

I now stood in the middle of a wide grassland. In front of me was a white, round table with two chairs placed opposite each other.

"Please, take your seat," Nathalia said.

She elegantly sat on one side, gesturing for me to sit on the other.

I did as I was told. Sitting down, I met Nathalia’s gaze across the table.

"Kyu~ Kyu~"

From behind her shoulder, Lumi popped her head out, lightly nuzzling against Nathalia’s cheek.

"Oh?" Nathalia gasped. "What’s this… Are you hungry?"

She wasn’t asking me—she was talking to Lumi.

Gently lifting her down and placing her on the table, Nathalia snapped her fingers. In an instant, numerous plates appeared in front of us.

Some had cream puffs, others pastries, and a few held simple bread and butter. The aroma reached my nose, making my mouth water as Lumi started wildly munching on the cream puffs.

Wait—am I not getting any?

Seriously, I was so damn hungry. But before my stomach could even growl, Nathalia gestured toward the food.

"Sir Paradox, please help yourself."

"..." I blinked at her.

What a nice lady.

I wanted to politely decline, but I was in no position to refuse… My stomach was completely empty. I even left my half-drunk coffee back in my room.

Wait…

Now that I think about it, is my real body just lying on the cold floor of my room right now?

What rotten luck…

I should have predicted this. Knowing Nathalia is a Dream Authority Holder, there’s only one way she could’ve contacted me—and that’s through my dreams.

Picking up a piece of toast and taking a bite, I looked up at Nathalia before asking, "How did you pull me into this dream?"

She poured tea for both of us. Handing me a cup, she took a sip of her own before calmly replying.

"Our Essence Cores are now linked to some extent, so..."

She took another sip.

"...Locating your coordinates was easier for me."

"Hm..." I muttered, thinking for a moment. Taking another bite of toast and sipping the tea, I nodded. "That makes sense."

Still, I had some lingering doubts about this whole contract thing.

"Let’s just say..." I asked, "if one of us dies, what happens to our contract?"

Silence.

"..."

"..."

We stared at each other for a long moment before she finally answered, calm as ever.

"If one of us dies, then there’s no point in holding any kind of contract."

"..."

I felt really dumb.

Clearing my throat, I changed my question.

"And how will it affect an Authority Holder? Are our Authority Holder powers also tied?"

She thought for a second before she nodded her head in agreement.

"Yes."

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I knew it.

Everything in this world had Essence inside it—whether it’s living or non-living—each one had a unique Essence signature, separating them from each other.

But in my and Nathalia’s case, if our Essence Cores were linked, then it’s highly possible that our Authorities held some connection too.

I got this idea when she pulled me directly into this dream world without giving me any warning. My Paradox Authority didn’t identify her as a threat and didn’t warn me… despite us being from the opposite faction of gods.

My conclusion—we can’t harm each other by using our Authority skills, and for that to happen, our Authorities must have accepted one another.

Now that this fact is clear, I have no fear of her.

But… I’m here to ask her some questions that I didn’t get answers to from Sera.

Till now, I only know the names and powers of all thirteen gods. Beyond that, I have no information about them.

"Do gods have any physical evidence left behind in the mortal world?"

At my question, Nathalia’s ears perked. Sipping her tea, she answered,

"Plenty."

She continued.

"...From temples to underground ruins, and from weapons to artifacts… there are plenty left behind by them here."

My prediction was spot on.

There’s no way gods would disappear from this world without leaving anything behind.

It was a great decision on my part to ask this directly to Nathalia.

Nodding in satisfaction, I asked,

"And how much are those worth?"

Those things left behind by gods must possess some great powers and knowledge.

Finding those means gaining access to knowledge only gods were allowed to know.

Placing her cup on the table, Nathalia answered.

"Worth? You’re asking the wrong question. They don’t have value—they are value, carved into matter by the hands that shaped the universe…"

Staring at me from under that blindfold, she continued,

"They’re worth everything and nothing—because holding them might grant power, but understanding them? That’s what breaks a man."

Hearing her speak so highly of it makes me want to go find them.

The truth of this world, the creation of the universe, every answer one seeks must be hidden in there.

"Where can I find those?" I asked, without even thinking.