"Hmm, I'm gd we were able to complete the ritual safely.""That's true.""Well, Ingrid-san is used to this, so it's nothing new for her.""No, every time I make a contract involving the gods, I get nervous.""Really?""Yes."

  As the sister had expined, after performing the ritual and successfully forming the contract, we stepped outside the cathedral.

  "Alright, now I can teach Ingrid-san various things. Since it's on our way back, would you mind if we made a small detour?""I don't mind, but where to?""To the branch temple of the God of Commerce."

  Our destination was in the opposite direction of the house we currently lived in.

  "The branch temple? What for?""There's something I need to sell to make Ingrid-san stronger.""Sell? I don't have anything like that with me now. Could it be that our finances are strained because of the money spent on the contract ritual?""It's not that. More importantly, how does the contract feel?""...It's not as restrictive as I expected. If I try to tell others about Libertà-sama's information, I get a warning inside me that says I mustn't speak of it.""Did you already try?""No, it came to me as knowledge when we formed the contract. The gods probably inform me of what actions would trigger the restrictions.""Huh, surprisingly convenient.""Yes, but breaking this contract would be very bad.""Is the penalty that severe?"

  As we walked, we talked about the results of the contract.During the contract ritual in the cathedral's ceremonial hall, after the priest recited something like a prayer, the parchment was enveloped in light, which then split into three—one part vanishing into the sky, one entering me, and the st entering Ingrid-san.

  Checking the effects, it didn't seem like it would interfere with daily life.

  "First, there's a warning. If you try to break it, you get a headache. If you endure that and still try, your heart aches. And if you push through even that, blood gushes from your entire body.""You're joking, right?""No, that's divine punishment."

  However, the penalty we had taken on was heavier than I'd imagined.It might be somewhat better since it was tiered, but what Ingrid-san had shouldered was still quite harsh.

  For a moment, I imagined Ingrid-san bleeding from her entire body and shuddered.

  "Don't worry. Even so, I'm confident in my discretion. It's no exaggeration to say the chance of me suffering divine punishment is zero.""But what if someone forces you to talk?"

  I didn't stop walking, but when I turned to look at Ingrid-san, who was walking slightly behind me, her usual expressionless face seemed to lift at the corners just a little.Did she smile?No, maybe I just imagined it?

  "You're very kind. It's alright. In that case, the divine punishment would fall on the one trying to force me, not me. Trying to break a contract with the gods works like that. So, Libertà-sama, please be careful too.""Okay."

  Wow, gods, are you ying ndmines everywhere?In my past life, the idea of actual existing gods acting as a deterrent was unthinkable, but here it makes a weird kind of sense.

  "But still, Ingrid-san needs to be able to defend herself."Even so, there might be loopholes. Relying solely on the contract for protection feels too risky.

  In the end, since she’s gone this far, I have a responsibility to properly train and strengthen her.

  "About that—does the branch temple hold some secret of yours, Libertà-sama?""Only partially, but yes. Though, I think this is fairly well-known? At the branch temple, you can sell anything and everything to the God of Commerce, Gordos.""Yes, I’m aware. You offer items before the divine statue, and as long as they aren’t disrespectful, you receive currency in return.""Then, did you know you can sell your levels?"

  Now that Ingrid-san had firmly kept her promise, I steeled my resolve and expined my pns.

  "...Is that true?""Huh? You didn’t know?""No, this is my first time hearing of it. Stats are essential for living. If you grow weaker, you lose the ability to do things. Selling them away...""It’s possible. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to make Ingrid-san perfectly strong."

  Back in my FBO days, you could pray to the statue of Gordos, the God of Commerce, and sell absolutely anything.Weapons, armor, medicine, food, rare items, ores—not just physical objects, but even your own levels and skills.However, while you could sell, you couldn’t buy them back. That was important to remember.

  This time, I pnned to use this method to reset Ingrid-san’s levels.Sell off all her levels and return her to level zero.In the process, she’d lose all her skills, but by defeating monsters again, she could regain her levels normally.

  In my field of vision, the destination came into view.Before entering the branch temple, I stepped off to the side of the road and stopped, turning back to see Ingrid-san halting in sync with me.

  "I’m guessing that if my will interferes, selling them might not work either. So, I’d like to offer you a choice here.""Understood."

  This decision would greatly impact her life.

  "First option: We go into the branch temple and reset your levels. In this case, I’ll take full responsibility and ensure you have perfect stats."I raised my index finger, presenting the original pn first.

  "Second option: We skip the branch temple and restart your training with your current stats. I’ll say this upfront—you can still become plenty strong this way. But it’ll be incomplete."I lifted my middle finger, offering the safer alternative.

  "Third option: Do nothing and take time to think. We’d return home, and you could hear my methods for growth before deciding on your future. If you ter express a preference, I’ll honor it. I won’t go back on my word just because you hesitated now. However, the time we spend waiting would dey our growth, so in this case, you’d have to sit out expeditions for a while."I raised my ring finger, presenting the option to defer the decision.Forcing an immediate choice felt unfair, so I added this as a way to give her time to think.

  "Which will it be?""......"

  Her hesitation sted only a few seconds.

  "Then, I’ll take the first option.""Are you sure?"

  Ingrid-san had chosen the first option.Personally, I’d expected her to pick the third, so this surprised me.

  "Yes. From the tone of your voice, Libertà-sama, it seemed you considered the first option the best. Since I’ve already sworn to serve you, choosing the optimal future is only natural."

  And the speed of her resolve—what was that about?Instant decision-making.Did she live by some motto like "decide swiftly"?

  "Understood."I wouldn’t argue with her choice.Resuming our halted steps, we entered the branch temple.

  Unlike the grand cathedral, the branch temple was dedicated to a single deity.Each temple reflected its god’s characteristics, and this one enshrined Gordos, the God of Commerce.

  Thus, the pza before the temple bustled like a marketpce, with stalls lining every partitioned section of the path.

  "It’s lively here.""Yes, for merchants, this pce is like sacred ground. I’ve heard they offer cheap rental fees for up-and-coming merchants too."

  Most stalls sold food or miscelneous goods, and as Ingrid-san said, many were run by young owners.

  Passing through the bustling stall-lined path, we reached the main hall of the branch temple.

  "That’s the statue of Gordos-sama."

  True to the God of Commerce’s nature, the main hall was extravagantly gaudy.It practically funted its wealth.

  Entering required an offering, but merchants paid it casually, as if thinking any divine favor was worth the small cost.

  At the center stood a well-built male deity’s statue.

  "I see."

  Following Ingrid-san’s gaze, I studied the statue and concluded it wasn’t much different from the one in FBO.

  "That must be the offering altar.""Yes, someone’s using it now."

  At the feet of the Gordos statue was an altar where offerings were pced. When people prayed, the items would vanish, repced by a leather pouch.

  In the game, the buyback prices were fixed, not much different from NPC vendors.Naturally, trading between pyers was far more profitable, so hardly anyone sold things here except in rare cases.

  The merchants in line eyed us curiously—we were empty-handed.

  Most here weren’t lining up to earn money but to receive currency from Gordos as a sort of charm.

  Essentially, it was for good luck.They treasured the money obtained from the god as a talisman for business prosperity, keeping the pouch intact.

  While waiting in line, Ingrid-san expined this to pass the time.

  Makes sense. Money directly from the God of Commerce would seem like it’d bring good fortune.

  "Next—oh? If you’re here to worship, the area for that is further up ahead."

  The man managing the line was a priest of this temple—though he looked more like a merchant.

  Seeing us empty-handed, he assumed we were in the wrong pce and tried to redirect us.

  "No, we’re fine. Our offering is right here."

  In response, Ingrid-san pced a hand on her chest—still in its growing phase—indicating that her offering was within.

  "I see. Then, please proceed to the altar. And you?""He’s with me.""Understood. Then, you may go together."

  I didn’t miss the priest’s brief gnce at Ingrid-san’s chest.Well, her gesture had invited it.

  I’d have to be mindful of that too.

  Moving to the altar, I knelt—though my prayer was just for show. With nothing to sell, I mentally muttered, Good job, and watched as an unusually rge leather pouch appeared with a thud.

  Simultaneously, murmurs spread through the crowd.

  "Libertà-sama, it’s done."

  Unfazed by the commotion, Ingrid-san rose smoothly, picked up the rge pouch on the altar, and called out to me.

  "Alright. Let’s leave before we get caught up in anything.""Yes."

  Everyone was stunned.We’d arrived empty-handed but clearly walked away with a fortune.

  Eyes locked onto Ingrid-san, and a few people started moving toward us, likely to strike up a conversation.

  Not wanting to deal with that, we quickly made our exit.

  Once out of the main hall, we blended into the market crowd—no one would catch up easily now.

  "Ingrid-san, are you alright?""Yes, just a little heavier than before.""Let me carry the pouch. Right now, you’re in a statless state."

  Resetting levels via the God of Commerce’s statue had its effects.After just a light jog, sweat beaded on Ingrid-san’s forehead, and her breathing was slightly bored.

  "Thank you.""We’ll head straight home. For now, focus on adjusting to your body."

  Something she once had was now gone.While Ingrid-san was still disoriented by the sensation, I took the pouch and grabbed her hand with my free one.

  "Understood."

  Only after walking a few steps did I regain my composure.Had holding her hand been unnecessary?

  Gncing back, Ingrid-san merely tilted her head slightly.She didn’t seem bothered.

  In the game, when I’d reset my levels, my controls had suddenly felt off, making me stumble.

  The gradual stat increases had conditioned me, and losing that all at once dulled my senses.Things I could do before suddenly became impossible.

  It took time to readjust.

  Knowing that, I’d reflexively grabbed her hand to steady her.

  "Are you alright?""Yes, I’m fine."

  It’d be awkward to let go now.What’s done is done.

  On the way back, I prayed we wouldn’t attract attention and resigned myself to taking it slow today.

  "Ingrid-san.""Yes?""Starting tomorrow, things will get busy.""Understood."

  As we walked, my mind was already occupied with pnning her skill composition.

  Hmm… This is tricky.

  A combat maid or a support maid?