Amon's request
Amon was silent for a long time. Many thoughts flashed through his mind. Finally, he nodded and said, "Of course I want to. After all, that is my hometown. But I am the only one left in Duc. What's the point of doing that?"
Yoon Namna hugged Amon's arm tighter, "Of course it's meaningful. It's meaningful for both you and me. That is the land of Duc and my realm. You can build a kingdom and become a King. Our children and grandchildren will inherit the kingdom from generation to generation. And I will become the kingdom's chief god. … You are not alone. There are still survivors of Duc living in faraway places. You have to lead them back to their hometown and build their own kingdom. "
Amon was pleasantly surprised, "I'm not the only survivor of Duc? Who else is still alive? Are my father and Mayor Dusti among them? "
Yoon Namna said, "Everyone in the town died. Your father and the mayor were not spared. But there are still a group of survivors who have become slaves in a foreign land. If you want to lead them back to their hometown and build a kingdom, I will guide you on how to find them and what to do. … I have an agreement with Enril. As long as you do not challenge him, he will not hurt you or stop you from returning to your hometown. This is what I can do as the protector. "
Amon said, "Challenge Enril? How can I do that? "Of course, he did not have the ability to challenge the gods, at least not yet. But maybe in the future. The mission Crazy 'Ole gave him was to unravel the secrets of the gods, find the way to become a god, and even become a god himself. Of course, he could not say these words out loud.
Yoon Namna smiled, "So you don't have to worry about this. All you have to do is to lead the descendants of Duc back to their hometown and build your own kingdom. The gods will not interfere in these things directly. You have to do everything by yourself. But I can guide and help you."
Amon asked, "Can you tell me where they are now? I want to find them. "
Yoon Nam-na gently shook her head. "No, it's useless to tell you now. I won't tell you unless I see that you can do it and are working hard to realize your dream. I heard that you have a good relationship with the cavemen tribe. I also know that you have been there for a long time. You can actually follow Princess Sissila's example and guide the cavemen to move out of the mountains and build a village there. Then you can train and equip them to protect their homeland. "
Amon frowned. "Will they be willing?"
Yoon Nam-na giggled. "You're smart, but sometimes you're silly and adorable. Who would be willing to continue living in the treacherous mountains when there's fertile land? They'll only be grateful for your help and guidance."
Amon asked again, "But the Highland Giants have already gone there. Won't there be any conflict?"
Yoon Nam-na explained, "There are thousands of miles of fertile land there. A few tribes are like drops of water in the ocean. You can choose where you want to establish your foothold, there's no need to fight for a place. At present, it's still a dangerous place surrounded by swamps. The only way to reach the island is from the direction of the Euphrate Valley.
The cavemen living in the mountains will not attract any attention when they come to the plains. It's the best time for them to establish their homeland. Otherwise, Princess Sissila wouldn't have asked the Highland Giants to do so. I can also tell you that the surviving descendants of Duc will retain their original Title Deed. They will be the rightful owners of the most fertile land. "
Amon pondered for a moment before continuing, "You said that the terrain is still changing slowly. How long will it take for it to become a fertile land?"
"At least three years," Yoon Nam-na answered.
"How long will it take for the original site of Duc to be habitable?" asked Amon.
"One year," answered Yoon Nam-na.
Finally, Amon nodded, "Then the cavemen will have at least two years to build their new homes. Life in the mountains is really hard for them. I should help them. Thank you for your advice. One year later, I'll guide the cavemen out of the mountains and settle down in Duc."
Yoon Nam-na smiled happily, "Good. I'll wait for your news. You'll guide them to build the shrine of their patron."
"I'll tell them everything. I believe they'll make the right choice," said Amon. "But I believe that offerings to the gods must come from the bottom of their hearts. No one can force them to do so."
Yoon Nam-na tilted her head and looked at Amon with a strange look in her eyes, "Why are you telling me this?"
Amon answered honestly, "This is what I think in my heart. You just told me that as a god, you can tell if I'm lying or not, and I should tell you the truth. I figured this out after I met Gilgamesh, because of what happened to Humbaba. "
Yoon Nam-na looked at him, as if she could see through his heart. After a while, she smiled and said, "My little Amon, I should thank you for coming to the giants' tribe to save me because you mistook me for Princess Sissila. I'll tell you the whereabouts of the survivors of Duc in the future. But now, you can make another request. As long as it's within my power, I won't refuse. "
Amon turned his head and looked into her eyes. He asked seriously, "Really?"
"Of course. I'm your patron," said Yoon Nam-na.
"I want to ask you about the secret of the gods. Can a mortal become a god? If so, how?" asked Amon.
Yoon Nam-na let go of his hand and took a step back, "Good heavens, Amon, you're really bold. Gilgamesh asked the same question, but he didn't get an answer. This is impossible."
Judging from her tone, it was hard to tell whether she was telling Amon that a mortal "can't" become a god, or she was telling him "can't". Amon didn't expect to get an answer from Yoon Nam-na, so he said again, "Then I only have one thing to ask of you. I heard that people will go to the Underworld after death. I also want to see my father and the survivors of Duc, even if it's only their souls."
These were the two things Amon cared about most. Unraveling the secret of the gods was his responsibility and promise, and seeing his father was his deepest desire. A young man who had left his hometown suddenly heard that it was destroyed by a disaster. Not being able to see his family for the last time was his greatest regret and pain. Since he could make a request to the gods, how could he not ask?
Yoon Nam-na's expression changed. She finally lost her smile and looked at Amon without saying anything for a long time.
Amon took a few steps back and knelt down again, "My patron, the past and present patron of Duc, can you fulfill this request of mine?"
Yoon Nam-na stood up straight, her skirt hanging down, and her tone changed. She was like a majestic goddess, "Not everyone will go to the Underworld after death. The so-called Underworld is not what mortals think it is. I do know where the souls of many Duc residents go, but I advise you to change your mind. It's not a place you can go, and you may not be able to come back. "
Amon asked again, "Can you do it?"
Yoon Nam-na nodded expressionlessly, "Yes, I can."
Amon continued, "There are many things I'm not sure if I can complete. For example, you asked me to lead the descendants of Duc back to our hometown to rebuild our homeland. I can only try my best to do it. But this is my most urgent wish now. May I ask, patron, is it possible for me to come back even if I may not be able to come back? "
Yoon Nam-na, "Yes, it's possible that I may not come back, but it's also possible that I can come back. If you want me to help you come back again, that's another request. "
Amon, "I dare not make any additional requests to the gods, but if you are really the patron of the Duc people, please let me enter the Underworld to see my father and Mayor Dusti. If you can protect me and help me return to the human world, I will do my best to rebuild Duc, to make it a new home and even a kingdom. I will guide my people to rebuild your shrine, and sincerely worship you as the eternal patron. "
Yoon Nam-na was silent for a long time, as if she was thinking about something. She looked a little hesitant. Amon knelt on the ground silently, waiting for the answer of the goddess. After a long time, Yoon Nam-na finally sighed and said, "The Underworld is in the human world. I will send you there. As for whether the person you want to see is there or not, I'm not sure. I will also try my best to bring you back. If you are unfortunate enough to be trapped in the Underworld, you can find a way to escape. "
Amon bent down and kissed the soil under Yoon Nam-na's feet, "Thank you for your blessing. When will we go?"
Yoon Nam-na, "I have to make some preparations. I will wait for you here in three days. Come back in three days." When Amon raised his head again, the goddess had already disappeared.
… …
That night, Medanzo was packing excitedly. In fact, there was not much to pack, but he kept polishing his weapons and armor. They gleamed under the light. The more he looked at them, the happier he became. He was going back to the capital with Princess Sissila the next day. He still remembered how disappointed he was when he left his hometown, but he never thought that he could go back in such a glorious way.
At this moment, he suddenly heard someone say from behind, "This armor is blessed by magic. It can shake off all the dust with a flick. There's no need to polish it like this."
If it was someone else's voice, Medanzo would have pulled out his weapon and jumped to his feet. But this time, he turned around in surprise and said, "My Amun, why are you back?"
Amon pointed to the stool next to him and said, "Sit down and tell me slowly. I forgot something and came back to tell you. I also heard something else that I need to clarify with you."
After Amon sat down, Medanzo sat down and asked, "What did you forget to tell me?"
Amon said, "The carriage and horses are not mine. A merchant named Leskhut Lee from Uruk lent them to me for temporary use. I have to return them to him."
Medanzo said, "You can take them with you this time. I'm going to town to buy a real warhorse. Although the carriage is good, it's not a knight's warhorse."
Amon waved his hand, "When you leave, leave the carriage and horses at the inn. Pay them enough to take care of them. I'll come back for them later."
Medanzo said, "No problem. Is there anything else you want to tell me?"
Amon's expression turned serious, "I'll just mention the carriage in passing. There's one more important thing that you must pay attention to. I heard you tell me about the princess's summons yesterday. She specifically asked if you have a good relationship with the cavemen and might send you on a mission, just like Ussir. "
Then he leaned over and whispered in Medanzo's ear for a long time. Medanzo looked more and more shocked and nodded repeatedly. After Amon finished, he patted him on the shoulder and said, "This is just my guess. If Her Highness really orders you to do this, I don't think you can refuse. But this is related to the gods, so don't make promises."
Medanzo let out a long breath and patted his chest. "Amun, thank you for reminding me. If this really happens, I know what to do." After thinking for a while, he smiled again and whispered, "If Link's tribe really builds a village and a temple, they won't worship any other gods. You are the only god."
Amon gave him a punch. "It's fine if you think about it in your heart, but you can't just say it like that."
Medanzo stuck out his tongue, "Of course I understand. Don't worry."
Amon nodded, "That's good. We'll meet in Link's tribe in a year's time. Whether Princess Sissila asks you to do this or not, I'll guide them to the fertile land in the swamp to build a new home. Three years later, I'll lead the descendants of Duc back to their hometown. The fertile land will be large enough for hundreds of thousands of people to live in. But for now, all this is still a secret. Don't tell anyone, and don't let anyone know what you already know. "
Medanzo nodded seriously, "Amun, I'll remember it. I'll do as you say."
… …
Three days later, Amon came to the plateau again. Yoon Nam-na was already waiting for him. No, Mourin was waiting for him. She looked like a goddess today.
She was still wearing the same golden dress. Her figure was still as attractive as ever. But her dress was glistening under the sun, as if it was made of flowing metal. She wore a golden crown, a wreath of gold, and in her hand she held a staff that looked like an ivy vine with green leaves. She wore a necklace of celestial stones, the best that could be found in Duc. She wore earrings with pendants that looked like twinkling stars. She wore a pair of golden bracelets on her slender arms, and on her ample bosom, in the bosom of her dress, was a golden flower.
This was how Amon saw her statue in the shrine when he was a child. But the cold celestial statue was not as glorious as the living goddess. He bowed to her, "Great Mourin, thank you for agreeing to my request. I'm ready to follow you to the Underworld."
Mourin looked at him and shook her head, "You don't have to thank me. I'm just thanking you for saving me, because no one has ever done that. … I don't have the confidence to bring you back from Hell on the spot, so please be mentally prepared. If you get trapped in Hell, don't eat anything there, and don't drink a single drop of water. Only by protecting your own soul will you have any hope of escaping. When we meet again in the sun, you can call me Yoon Nam-na. I like this name. "
Mourin asked Amon to get up and follow her. She told him not to ask any questions along the way. They were walking towards the depths of the Syah Plateau, towards the source of the Euphrate River. The mountains were rugged and steep. With her divine power, she could have carried Amon and flown quickly. But she didn't. Instead, she asked Amon to walk behind her, as if she was testing him.
Amon was better than a supreme mage at traversing the wilderness on foot. If it were a supreme mage or a supreme mage, they would have flown directly. But Amon couldn't fly yet, so he could only walk. He found that no matter how fast he walked, Inanna would always walk a few steps behind him in a leisurely manner, but he would never be able to catch up with her.
The goddess didn't stop, didn't rest, didn't look back, and didn't say a word. They walked from noon to night, from night to dawn, from dawn to dusk … If it were someone else, they would have collapsed from exhaustion. Even if they didn't, they would have fallen off the cliff. Amon didn't have time to stop to eat. He used water magic to condense water droplets in the environment and drank them directly to quench his thirst. He followed the goddess without missing a step.
When night fell again, Mourin finally spoke, "Amon, this road is very dangerous. I'm surprised that you can hold on until now. But we have to walk for three days and three nights, you can give up at any time. I promised to take you to the Underworld, but you have to be able to reach the gate of the Underworld by yourself. If you can't hold on, I won't blame you. If you accidentally fall off the cliff, I will save your life. Consider it as a repayment for your help. "
It seemed that the goddess didn't want to bring Amon to the Underworld, but she had to agree to his request. She used this method to test him. If Amon couldn't follow her to the gate of the Underworld, then it was no wonder that Mourin didn't keep her promise. She moved forward at a speed that Amon could keep up with if he tried his best. But it was too much to say that they would walk for three days and three nights.
Amon replied, "I understand what you mean. I will do my best to follow you. I won't give up."
Mourin didn't say anything else. The two kept walking forward without stopping or resting. Their speed didn't change, but the road became more and more dangerous. But it was a place that Amon could reach without flying. Amon gritted his teeth and kept up. He couldn't catch up with the goddess, but he didn't fall behind.
On the third day, they came to a strange and desolate plateau. There were no longer any green colors around. Rough rocks were exposed everywhere. The shrubs were short and sparse. Traces of snow could be seen occasionally. The wind was very cold, and it felt like knives when it blew on their faces.
After crossing this cold plateau, Mourin walked down and entered a narrow and deep valley. The deeper they went, the more humid the air became. There were steep cliffs on both sides, and the valley became narrower and darker. The surroundings were filled with an inexplicable eerie atmosphere. Although it wasn't as cold as it was on the plateau, Amon couldn't help but shiver.
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