Elden Ring: With God Chapter 342: A Lifetime Isn't Enough to Repay the Sun K

When the Elder Jar and Alexander returned, he was quick to give his answer:

“Respected Lord Bai Shi, on behalf of all the jars in this village, I accept your aid.”

“Thank you for extending a helping hand to a people facing such hardship.”

“There is no way to repay this kindness, but if there is anything we can do, you need only ask.”

“All of us jars will engrave this debt of gratitude upon our hearts.”

Bai Shi nodded and smiled.

“Rest assured, when a suitable task arises, I will entrust it to you.”

“If every race can unite and leverage their respective strengths and talents, the Lands Between will only continue to improve.”

“Our future is very bright.”

With another matter settled, Bai Shi felt a great sense of relief.

He had co to the Lands Between to make this place better.

Therefore, Bai Shi would do everything in his power to prevent the tragedies of the ga from repeating, to ensure good people did not die horribly, and to see that the wicked were brought to justice.

Because he did not like those endings.

What would be the point of becoming Elden Lord only to rule over a broken and desolate Lands Between by himself?

The people who had accompanied him on his journey to the throne were what truly mattered.

Bai Shi had already altered the fates of many characters who were supposed to die, and the circumstances of their races had improved as a result.

The bloody massacre of the Albinauric Village and the tragic slaughter of Jarburg had both been averted.

The other races were also coexisting in harmony; everything was on the right track.

Once he dealt with all enemies, both hidden and in plain sight, the Lands Between would know true peace.

Bai Shi looked at the Elder Jar and continued.

“You all should start gathering your things.”

“I will have my army co and escort you to prevent any mishaps on the road.”

The Elder Jar was even more astonished.

He never imagined they would even provide transport. The treatnt was almost too good to be true.

If it weren't for Alexander vouching for him, he might have thought the army was coming to arrest them.

Bai Shi thought of another issue and asked:

“Do you know the locations of or have contact with any other jar communities?”

“Your village is in relatively good shape. The jars elsewhere are likely in a far more precarious situation.”

The Elder Jar quickly replied:

“Jars generally don't record the locations of other villages, nor do we communicate regularly.”

“If we left clear records or maintained contact, and one village were to fall to poachers, the others would suffer the sa fate.”

“However, each village usually has one or two jars who commit the other locations to mory.”

“This is to ensure that if our village is discovered, the survivors have a place to go.”

“I will lead the way and act as a representative to communicate with the other villages.”

“It’s just that...”

The Elder Jar paused before continuing.

“It’s hard to say how many of the villages I rember still exist.”

“As much as I hate to think it, it’s a very likely reality. It truly saddens a jar.”

Bai Shi nodded in somber agreent.

Living Jars, as beings granted life through a ritual, were quite peculiar.

Unfortunately, they also had special uses, which made them targets for many with ill intentions.

Once a jar settlent was discovered, it was often annihilated.

Bai Shi grasped the Elder Jar’s enormous hand.

“Then I’ll be counting on you.”

“Soone will be assigned to coordinate with you all.”

“Everything is going to be alright.”

This settled the matter of the Living Jars once and for all.

With the arrangents made, there was no reason for the group to stay any longer.

The Elder Jar went to organize the other jars for their departure. After bidding him farewell, Bai Shi and the others found themselves with so free ti.

As for Alexander, he went to find the Jar-Bairn, Antico, to fulfill his promise of sharing the tales of his heroic journeys.

This would naturally take so ti, but Bai Shi didn't mind waiting a little while.

Not wanting to interfere with their mont, Bai Shi and Millicent began to stroll casually through Jarburg.

Millicent knelt amidst a patch of flowers, reaching out to touch the proudly blooming blossoms.

This was a scene she would never have witnessed in Caelid.

Flowers...

Millicent used to sowhat dislike flowers.

There were no normal flowers in Caelid, only the aeonian blooms that blossod from the Scarlet Rot.

Besides those blossoms, there was the flower she sotis dread of becoming.

The flower that blood from her own body was vibrant and srizing, utterly captivating.

But Millicent couldn't bring herself to like it at all. On the contrary, she felt a deep revulsion for it.

Every ti she dread of becoming that flower, Millicent was overco with a sense of foreboding.

The flowers here, however, gave her no such feeling.

These were just ordinary flowers—beautiful and vibrant, nothing more.

Initially, Millicent had embarked on her journey to find Malenia and uncover the truth of her own origins.

But the sights and experiences along the way had shown her heart that beauty truly existed in the world.

“What are your plans now?”

Bai Shi broke the silence.

Millicent turned her head. After a mont of thought, she replied:

“I want to go to the Haligtree to see Malenia, as you know.”

“To do that, I first have to reach the Altus Plateau.”

“But in my current state, even if I made it to the Altus Plateau, I doubt I could take a single step without difficulty.”

Millicent’s expression was tinged with lancholy.

In a place like the Lands Between, for soone with no ans to fight, embarking on a journey was tantamount to suicide.

However, Millicent was not entirely without a plan.

Recalling bits and pieces from her mories, Millicent shared the plan she had long considered:

“In my mory, I’ve seen the golden prosthetics Miquella forged for Malenia.”

“Those prosthetics, made of Unalloyed Gold, wouldn't grow with Malenia, so they had to be replaced constantly.”

“I think if I can find those discarded limbs, I should be able to find a prosthetic arm that fits.”

“An Unalloyed Gold prosthesis also has the effect of suppressing rot, which makes it even more suitable for .”

“Since I have this strange connection to Malenia, I should be able to use it.”

“When that ti cos, I should be able to hold a sword again.”

“So along the way, I want to search for places where a prosthesis might be.”

“Unfortunately, other than the Haligtree itself, I have no clue where such a thing might be found.”

Bai Shi nodded.

“I see. I’ll keep an eye out for you as well.”

“I look forward to the day you can wield a sword once more.”

Regarding the prosthesis, Bai Shi had previously consulted Iji and Hewg, two master blacksmiths.

Although they could forge a prosthetic arm with their skills, it would have significant drawbacks.

Such a prosthesis would lack the necessary dexterity.

It might be fine for soone else who had lost a limb, but not for Millicent.

If the arm wasn't nimble enough, she would be completely unable to perform her flowing sword technique.

A prosthesis like that would be of limited help to Millicent, perhaps even no help at all.

The prosthetics Miquella crafted for Malenia were indeed special, in both material and craftsmanship. This made them irreplaceable.

So, in the end, Bai Shi abandoned the idea of forging an ordinary prosthesis, planning instead to help Millicent obtain the one from the Shaded Castle.

It was a good sign that Millicent had thought of a solution on her own.

It was just that, due to a lack of information, she would likely struggle to find its location by herself.

But even if it was difficult for Millicent to find it on her own, Bai Shi could help her.

The Shaded Castle was full of Malenia’s discarded prosthetics anyway; they were sure to find one that fit.

Receiving Bai Shi’s encouragent, Millicent nodded with a faint smile.

“Yes. I, too, look forward to the day I can hold a sword again.”

Millicent thought to herself silently.

‘When that ti cos, I can beco your blade and repay your kindness.’

Rembering their destination, Bai Shi spoke again.

“Right, you’re heading to the Altus Plateau.”

“Whether you have the dallion or not, the path via the grand lift is no longer passable.”

“The Cuckoos have ascended to the plateau and sworn allegiance to Leyndell. The area is surely swarming with soldiers on high alert.”

Millicent nodded. She had heard about this while at Stormveil.

“Yes, but that’s alright. It seems there is another path.”

“I’ve heard there’s a mysterious rchant in Liurnia who, for a fee, will guide people to the Altus Plateau through a secret route.”

Bai Shi rubbed his chin, a little curious.

The path she ntioned had to be the Ruin-Strewn Precipice.

Those ruins lay at the bottom of the ravine next to the grand lift, an ancient tunnel connecting the Altus Plateau and Liurnia.

However, not many people knew about it, and those who did probably wouldn't make the return trip. Who would be charging a fee to guide people up there...?

A bald head suddenly popped into Bai Shi’s mind.

As he recalled that scoundrel Patches, Bai Shi’s mouth couldn't help but twitch.

Thinking about it, he perfectly fit the description.

He had been with Bai Shi when they learned of this path from Raya.

He knew the way, and this sort of sche was exactly his style.

But Bai Shi was a little confused. Had Patches managed to deal with the Magma Wyrm?

Otherwise, how could he possibly lead people up to the Altus Plateau that way?

Don't tell

he sneaks past while the wyrm is sleeping?

Shaking his head, Bai Shi pushed the thought aside and refocused on Millicent’s situation.

Millicent’s journey was still fraught with peril.

If nothing changed, the mont she left Caelid, 'Sage' Gowry would dispatch her four sisters.

According to Gowry’s plan, the sisters would join Millicent on her pilgrimage, eventually transforming into Scarlet Valkyries to serve the 'Goddess of Rot'.

The other four sisters accompanying Millicent were no pushovers.

They too were born of Malenia, and each was a powerful warrior.

Commander O'Neil had been a top-tier hero in his pri, and even though the rot had diminished his strength, he and his host of spectral soldiers were still beaten down by the four sisters.

If they were to cross paths, Alexander and Millicent would likely stand little chance.

It seed he had to get Millicent a prosthesis as soon as possible.

If possible, Bai Shi would also do his best to help her grow stronger.

Furthermore, what would ultimately happen to Millicent was an unknown that required close attention.

In the ga, Millicent never had direct contact with Malenia; her pilgrimage ended at the Haligtree.

This ti, Bai Shi would certainly not let Millicent et such a tragic end.

Therefore, a eting between Millicent and Malenia was inevitable.

And the completely unknown outco of that encounter was what worried Bai Shi.

But there was nothing for it. He could only take it one step at a ti and do his best to ensure Millicent's safety.

Alexander walked over, standing beside the two.

Millicent also stood up and looked at Bai Shi, awaiting the order to depart.

Bai Shi looked at Alexander, whose expression was clearly complex, and asked:

“Are you ready?”

“It’s clear that the little one looks up to you.”

“There’s still plenty of ti. You can chat with him a little longer.”

Alexander sighed and said to them both:

“Yes, it’s fine. Let’s get going.”

“One can’t beco a hero just by admiring others and listening to stories.”

“From now on, he must forge his own heroic legacy.”

“Besides, if I stay any longer, I’m afraid I won’t be able to resist staying for good.”

“I feel the warriors within

urging

on, hahahaha.”

Though he was laughing, Alexander's mood was sowhat low.

“...We were all in this together, yet I'm the only one who gets to return ho. It feels selfish, doesn't it?”

“I feel a little bad for them, you know.”

Bai Shi patted Alexander’s chassis comfortingly.

“Push on. For their sake, continue your journey to beco a hero whose na echoes throughout the Lands Between.”

“A holand is sothing to be longed for from a great distance.”

“The mont they stepped away from their ho, they were prepared.”

“So they won't mind. They'll only be happy that you still have a ho to return to.”

—

After the group departed, the jars in the village began to pack their things, preparing to leave.

Only the Jar-Bairn, Antico, sat motionless, staring wistfully in the direction Alexander and the others had gone.

The Elder Jar walked over to Antico and patted his lid, saying nothing, just keeping him company in silence.

After a while, Antico looked up and asked:

“Grandpa, do we really have to go?”

“I know that to beco a warrior you have to leave ho, but I still can’t bear to leave...”

“Does having thoughts like this an I haven’t grown at all?”

Antico looked around at everything in the village.

When they first found this place, there was nothing here, just a barren piece of land.

They had built these houses from scratch, bit by bit.

And the flowers and plants here had only grown so beautiful because he had tended to them so carefully.

The Elder Jar knew that Antico was still too young, his experiences too few.

He had personally witnessed his kin adrift in the turbulent Lands Between, casually captured and killed like commodities.

This godsent opportunity was sothing countless beings devastated by war craved but could never obtain.

As long as his people could survive, material possessions ant nothing.

Without jars, what good was a perfect village?

The Elder Jar lifted Antico with both hands and placed him atop his own head.

“Antico, we all know you have the heart of a warrior jar.”

“This is an opportunity.”

“Alexander told

that Stormveil is a gathering place for heroes from all over.”

“There are probably more heroes there than all the jars you've ever seen.”

“A lifeti isn’t enough to repay the Sun King's kindness.”

“If you can beco a warrior jar, you’ll be the one most likely to repay that debt.”

Loyalty! (I need to watch Mujica right now!)