Chapter 720

By the time they left the valley, the sky was almost dark, and the rain had stopped. In Odor's memory, the planet beneath their feet was called "Mokohulita." It was a strange name, its syllables awkward on the tongue.

Not only that, even the most learned scholars on Mokohulita could not discover from ancient texts what the name meant. Odor, however, did know one thing.

Mokohulita's night sky was beautiful, especially at that hour when evening had not quite become night. His limited command of language could not describe such a sight. Lernus could have, but he never wrote poetry.

The two of them walked the mountain path in silence like that: a giant and a mortal, a demigod and a commoner. Their statuses were not equal, and the gulf in their strength was wider still, yet the giant never showed the slightest arrogance or contempt toward Odor.

Those two things did not exist in him. His gaze was calm. Though sorrowful, it was absolutely rational.

"My lord, I'd say we'll reach my home in about half an hour."

Odor panted, clumsily raising a hand to gesture. His gas mask hung around his neck, and his clothes clung tightly to his back, completely soaked through with sweat. His body was not really fit for a trek like this, especially without any rest.

"That is good news indeed."

Lernus nodded slightly. In the darkness, Odor could not see his face, only two points of glimmering radiance. But his voice inspired such confidence, and his very presence even more so, like a warm rock giving off faint heat, always lending others a steadying strength.

"Then let us keep moving—I truly have been discourteous, unable to bring your family a gift for our first meeting."

He made the joke in an approachable manner,