"Then I accept your condition, so please stop kneeling like that. You are, after all, the Prophet of an entire tribe. If others were to see this, it would not look very good."
With her consciousness returned to her body, Chu Lian looked up at the elegant giantess and spoke.
"As you command, Your Highness."
As if she had absolute confidence in Chu Lian, Norlanna's attitude changed even further the moment Chu Lian agreed. She now believed completely that Chu Lian was the one destined to save her people.
"Though I feel a little embarrassed saying this, looking up at you like this is honestly making me uncomfortable. Could you become a more ordinary size?"
Once Norlanna stood, Chu Lian had to crane her neck even higher. Unable to endure it, she made the suggestion directly.
"Of course, my Highness."
Norlanna obediently agreed. Within a faint blue glow, her body gradually shrank until she became a mature woman standing one meter eighty-two tall, with delicate and graceful features. She wore blue open-toe high heels and a magnificent ice-blue evening gown.
Whether by nature or by racial advantage, as she stood there perfectly straight, the full curves of her chest looked as though they might burst through the fabric. Her slender waist formed a stunning line into her hips. Together with those shapely legs and the silver chain wrapped around her flawless foot, she looked like someone born to stand at the center of a grand stage.
"All right, you're still rather tall, but at least I don't have to tilt my head up so painfully anymore."
Chu Lian was not surprised by Norlanna's transformed appearance. She had always possessed beauty rivaling the finest women of any race. Becoming human merely reduced the proportions, making everything look even more harmonious.
"But how do you know to dress like this?"
Chu Lian was simply curious. Norlanna's clothing looked like something worn by female celebrities attending grand banquets in the main world. How had this giantess known of such fashion?
"The Land of Exile contains countless races from countless worlds. This outfit is the most expensive style from the human empire of Scarlet. I once went there to observe it, so I can recreate it through transformation."
With that explanation, Chu Lian immediately understood. It seemed the humans of the Land of Exile lived rather well. Weren't humans supposed to be one of the weakest races by nature? How had they managed to flourish here?
"If Your Highness believes humans are weak, then that would be mistaken. Scarlet is famed for its technology. Though their strongest artificial warriors are generally inferior to most Heaven-ranked beings, they possess them in enormous numbers. If war begins, they have no fear of attrition. Very few races are willing to waste their own strength in such a thankless conflict."
"As a result, their lives here have met almost no obstruction. These humans are also sensible. They never do things that would provoke the disgust of other races. Thus, they are considered a neutral power here, hostile to none."
Norlanna seemed to know exactly what Chu Lian was thinking and immediately explained the reason.
"I understand. Let's not discuss them further. Those matters aren't something I should be dealing with right now. Once I finish what I need to do with the Giant tribe, I'll leave immediately and return to my own world. When the time comes that I feel I should return, then I will."
Chu Lian shook her head, setting aside matters unrelated to herself and returning to the main topic.
"Right. Aside from the matter you asked of me, is there anything else I can help with? After all, I'm a Plane Merchant. I can obtain vast resources. If you need something, I can help bring it here."
Chu Lian suddenly remembered that her hidden profession as a Spacetime Traveling Merchant ought to have a unique use at a time like this.
"Mm, our Giant tribe truly does face certain difficulties. For example, this region lies near the sea, so many metals are scarce here. Most urgently needed is Onna ore. It is so rare that even the royal family's equipment cannot all be fully forged. If Your Highness can bring us enough Onna ore, then we can arm ourselves properly."
After thinking for a moment, Norlanna admitted there were indeed things they needed.
"Onna ore? Is that the miraculous mineral said to form different textures and densities depending on refining temperature? Supposedly, at the highest temperature, it becomes the most precious ore in the world—Marrowsteel. Though I don't know if that's true."
Naturally, Chu Lian knew nothing about such ore. But Ayase, who had been paying close attention to her, immediately informed her of its wondrous properties.
"Yes. However, a divine treasure such as Marrowsteel, coveted even by gods, seems to exist only in certain mysterious secret realms. Whether it can truly be refined from Onna ore remains unknown. Perhaps it is only legend."
For even Norlanna, the Prophet, to know so little of it showed just how extraordinary it was.
"I'll do my best to purchase as much as I can. You know how expensive such ore is, and how rarely anyone sells it. I can't guarantee how much I can bring you. In any case, prepare enough trade goods in advance."
Chu Lian memorized the name of the ore, then asked Norlanna about several other urgently needed materials before ending that topic.
"Very well. Our trade ends here. There shouldn't be anything else to discuss. Now can you tell me what relationship you, Selina, and Gulna have with one another?"
Since Chu Lian had already achieved her objective, only one final question remained.
"We are sisters. I am the eldest. Selina is the second sister. Gulna is the third. As for our father and mother, Your Highness should already know."
Norlanna did not conceal it and directly explained their relationship.
Taking a cautious step backward, Chu Lian asked carefully, "Norlanna, the three of you are all daughters of the Giant King. If all three of you marry someone like me—a human girl—and all at once, won't he get angry and come take it out on me?"
As she spoke, the tips of her feet slowly edged backward, clearly prepared to flee at the first sign of danger.
"Rest assured. I would never do such a thing."
Speak of the devil, and he appears. The moment Chu Lian mentioned the Giant King, an enormous voice thundered out.
At the sound of it, Chu Lian jolted forward in fright and immediately hid behind Norlanna, peeking out from beside her waist with only a pair of eyes visible as she looked toward the giant entering through the door.
"Now I know why everything here had to be built so large... it was all designed for you..."
Looking at the giant who entered—nearly one hundred meters tall, wearing a crown, handsome of face, with a beard hanging to his waist and almost brushing the top of the doorway—Chu Lian finally understood why everything in this place had been made on such a gigantic scale.
"Hahaha, Deloris, is it? Should I call you my fine son-in-law or my lovely daughter-in-law? How does it feel to have my three most precious daughters all married to you?"
The Giant King's booming voice echoed throughout the hall. Chu Lian could clearly feel both her own body and Norlanna's trembling slightly. That voice was simply far too loud.
"Father, please leave. I already said that until I had finished speaking with her, none of you were permitted to enter. Do you intend to interfere with all of my decisions?"
Chu Lian feared him, but Norlanna did not. Her gentle voice rang out, yet directly suppressed the Giant King's thunderous tone, leaving him stammering speechlessly.
"All right, all right. I won't disturb you. I'll leave."
The Giant King, who had stood nearly one hundred meters tall, became only one meter seventy-five after transforming into human form. Before Norlanna, who stood one meter eighty-two even without accounting for her heels, he seemed astonishingly small.
Not daring to remain any longer, he turned and left at once, even closing the great doors behind him before departing.
"Whew... you scared me to death. Why did he suddenly come back?"
Only after seeing him leave did Chu Lian dare step fully out again. Patting her soft chest, she let out a breath of relief.
"He had nothing to do and wanted to cause trouble, so he came."
Norlanna did not elaborate. Instead, she turned back to Chu Lian and said, "No matter what, if possible, Your Highness, please complete this matter as quickly as you can. The faster it is done, the more help we can provide you. At that time, not only will we gain freedom, but you will also gain a superb force of assistance. I hope you will consider it carefully."
"I will. This matter's priority will stand above everything else I need to do."
Chu Lian nodded. She naturally understood that things were not so simple, but sometimes it was better not to understand too thoroughly if everyone wished to continue getting along.
[Mercenary Mission System Activated: Host has accepted the task entrusted by Norlanna, Prophet of the Mythic Race Dark Giant Tribe. Seek a method for the Dark Giant Tribe to leave the Land of Exile, turning them from the Exiled People into the Free People.
Mission Difficulty: Fantasy Rank.
Mission Time Limit: None.
Mission Reward: The loyalty of the Dark Giant Tribe, as well as the contracts of the three sisters—Giant Prophet Norlanna, Giant Princess Selina, and Giant Priestess Gulna.
Additional System Reward: One random castle of a race from Heroes of Might and Magic.]
A system mission triggered, and it's a new mission type. It seems future missions will each have their own corresponding categories. I really wonder what everything will look like once the system is fully completed. And just as expected, missions only trigger after certain conditions are fulfilled. I'll have to make good use of this trick in the future to earn extra rewards.
As Chu Lian thought this, in Norlanna's eyes she merely stood there in silence, impossible to read.
"Mm, that's all then? Can I leave now? I still need to hunt an Earth-ranked giant dragon, and that certainly won't be an easy task. It may take me quite a long time."
After gathering her thoughts, Chu Lian looked at Norlanna and spoke.
"If Your Highness intends to slay a dragon, then I believe we have something here that would suit you quite well."
Norlanna had originally been worried about what Chu Lian was thinking. Once she realized Chu Lian had only been considering her own tasks, the tension in her heart immediately eased.
"Look at me, I forgot. Your Giant tribe should have an antagonistic relationship with dragons, right? You must have specialized tools for dealing with them."
Chu Lian slapped her forehead. In many legends, dragons and giants were famously at odds.
Though some tales described other relationships, Chu Lian believed most dragons and giants were natural enemies. The reason was probably that each thought the other looked delicious.
"That was the state of the world in the past. Since our exile here, we have rarely opposed them directly. The dragons of the Land of Exile are very powerful, while our numbers are not great enough to contend with them. Only when certain dragon tribes attack us do we strike back and obtain some dragon corpses."
"It is not that the dragons never considered mobilizing all their clans to exterminate us. Unfortunately for them, they are endlessly divided internally. Every different dragon race has its own agenda, and they cannot unify at all."
"Otherwise, they truly might have dominated a region. As it stands, others do not wish to provoke them, yet neither do they fear them. Of course, that is good news for us."
Norlanna briefly explained the characteristics of dragons in this world, then raised a hand. An object appeared in her palm.
Seeing it, Chu Lian asked in confusion, "What is that?"
"Poison Dragon Grass. It is a plant cultivated by poisonous dragons using their own venom. Wherever a poisonous dragon dwells, many such herbs can be found. It is one of the most effective poisons against dragons. Likely because poisonous dragons were once driven out by the other dragon races, they hate them deeply and deliberately added substances especially harmful to dragonkind."
"By the way, poisonous dragons, holy dragons, crystal dragons, diamond dragons, and non-dragonic races are immune to this venom..."
Norlanna's explanation left Chu Lian wanting to laugh and unable to laugh at the same time. Dragons truly were a complicated species. Still, if they liked fighting among themselves, they could continue doing so. It had nothing to do with her.
Taking the bundle of herbs, Chu Lian asked, "How do I use it?"
"Burn it directly. Once dragons smell it, they will weaken for a period of time, and their strength will drop by several levels."
Norlanna's words completely set Chu Lian at ease. She stored it in her space, then lowered the hood of her robe.
"Since we're practically family now, I won't hide myself anymore. This is my true appearance. Though you may already have seen it, I should formally introduce myself."
"My name is Deloris. You may call me Dolos, or by the name I use while traveling outside—Liliana. My profession is roughly that of a Spacetime Traveling Merchant, what you call a Plane Merchant. As for strength... you can see it for yourself."
"Your Highness is still so young. How far you may grow in the future is impossible to know. But I believe you will certainly become one who stands above the highest of all gods. I have absolute confidence in that."
Norlanna still possessed an inexplicably great confidence in Chu Lian, which left Chu Lian feeling embarrassed.
"Ahem. All right, I should go now. Until next time."
Chu Lian gave Norlanna a salute, then immediately used spatial movement and left the place.
With such enormous gaps around the doorframe, seeing the sky outside and teleporting away was hardly difficult.
After leaving, she instantly activated Seraph form and shot into the clouds at her fastest normal speed. In intermittent bursts, after ascending tens of thousands of meters into the sky, she passed through another thin membrane and vanished from the Land of Exile.
"Deloris... your name will one day resound throughout this world..."
Watching the direction in which she departed, Norlanna murmured softly.
"By following in your footsteps, we will surely become once more one of the mightiest races..."
"I believe no one can stop you. Because fate's revelation to me declared that you are the chosen one. Serving by your side is both an insurance policy for the Giant tribe... and for our own future as well..."
That final murmur was destined to remain a whisper heard by no one but herself...