#883 The Ultimate Bean

When the ancient god Cronus was released from his imprisonment, not only did he reconcile with the world, but it swiftly tilted towards peace.

After affirming his bonds with his active son gods, Cronus returned to the underworld, Tartarus.

“I shall return for another feast,” he said.

And with that, gods like Hades and Poseidon chimed in...

“Us too, us too.”

“Me as well, me as well,” they added. 

But doesn’t this mean our farm’s just gotten more divine freeloaders?

Moreover, the gods following Cronus, who were imperceptible during the meeting, returned home, visibly overjoyed.

“Upon release from Tartarus, I was treated to fine sustenance.”

“Much obliged; I shall return for another repast.”

They said.

Are you guys also planning to mooch off us?

It seems that the gods who serve under Chronos belong to a different lineage than the Olympians currently ruling the world.

They’re known as Titanes.

That is, the Titans.

That aside...

Their rise was smoother and more peaceful than expected.

However, it wasn’t without leaving a small but significant mark on the world.

That’s what this story is about.

***

“YEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSS! COME FORTHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

Who’s yelling so early in the morning?

Peeking into the garden to complain about the noise, I spot an evil person radiating an intense fighting spirit.

“BEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANS!!!”

Ah, it’s Letasreit.

What’s gotten her so vocal? Did she stub her little toe on a dresser corner?

“I feel power surging from the core of my being! This is the strength the ancient gods have bestowed upon meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!”

Huh?

Letasreit, did you receive something from the gods?

Perhaps from the Titan gods who just ate and left the other day?

“Indeed, it’s a gift from the ancient gods.”

“Oh, Horkosfon...?”

“In gratitude for the wonderful meal, the Titans decided to bestow blessings upon the farm’s inhabitants.”

They did something like that?

“However, nearly all the farm’s residents already have blessings from the Olympian gods. ‘Gods must not bestow further gifts upon the children of men.’ A covenant set by the Olympian gods, but it seems the Titans also agreed to it for the sake of peace in this world.”

Ah, I remember Hades and others giving out various gifts after their party here.

Most of our residents received some special abilities then.

“However, since Letasreit didn’t receive anything back then, it seems the Titans decided to give her their blessing.”

“And that turned her into... this?!”

Letasreit emits a golden aura and buzzes with power.

I wouldn’t mind receiving a blessing from Cronus, the god of agriculture, myself, but I already have the Hand of Supremacy from Hephaestus.

Thanks to this gift, I’ve been living comfortably in this other world, so I mustn’t forget my gratitude toward him.

“Didn’t you receive anything, Horkosfon? You weren’t here when Hades and the others were giving gifts, right?”

“My existence itself is a divine creation. Any additional functions require careful balancing.”

I see. 

So, what exactly happened to Letasreit after receiving the Titans’ blessing?

Did she level up to an ultimate warrior?

“Look, Saint!”

“Oh. You seem perfectly sane.”

“This is the power I received from the god of agriculture, Cronus!”

And what she holds out in her palm is...

...beans.

Again?

“These aren’t ordinary beans! They’re miraculous beans, infused with the power of the god of agriculture!!!”

The god of agriculture’s merit, housed in beans?

I would’ve preferred a more widespread benefit as a farmer.

“So, what special properties did these Cronus-powered beans acquire?”

“Seeing is believing! Better to show you... no, let you taste them!!!”

With that, Letasreit flicks a bean towards me. 

To be precise, she tosses it right into my mouth!

“Guooooh? What are you doing?!”

I ended up swallowing it in shock! 

Well, it makes sense. Nowadays, Letasreit’s strength far surpasses that of your average giant.

If one were to take a full-force blow from those slender arms head-on, a face like mine wouldn’t just risk a few broken teeth— my jaw might shatter into pieces.

To avoid that, I had no choice but to swallow the bean, taking the full brunt of its force!

And the moment it went down my throat...!

“Hmm? What theeeeeeeeeee...?!”

Power surges from the depths of my being!

My back, long aching from years of tilling the fields! My knees! 

The pain dissipates before my very eyessssssss!

Is this the effect of the bean I swallowedddddddd?!

“This is the power of the bean bestowed by Cronus! Just one bean completely rejuvenates you, erasing all bodily ailments! I’ve never encountered such an incredible bean in all my years of farming. That’s why I’ve decided to name it the god of beans...the Divine Bean!!!”

“The Divine Bean?!”

...Hm.

What is it, this feeling of a pitch barely scraping the inside corner but still feeling like a ball? 

“Swallow one bean, and you’re full of energy! Injuries and illnesses heal instantly!... But the real wonder of the Divine Bean isn’t just that! Holly, would you mind?”

“Of course, Letasreit.”

Summoned forth, the angel Horkosfon, for some reason, stands ready with a massive cannon, barrel aimed directly at... Letasreit?!

“Mana Cannon, full power.”

“Gubaaaaaaaaaaaaj!”

Boooooooom.

Letasreit is sent flying.

Even as one of the strongest in the world, she can’t just shrug off a full-blown attack from an angel.

As expected, she’s a complete mess on the ground.

Isn’t she close to death?

A normal person would have been obliterated by such power.

“A-As expected of Holly. To think you could bring me, in my current state, to the brink of death...!!!”

“It’s an honor to be praised by you, Letasreit.”

She’s praising the person who nearly killed her?

“But even with these near-fatal injuries... if I eat this Divine Bean... look at this!!!”

She revived?!

From being almost dead to full HP?!

“This is the power of the Divine Bean! It doesn’t just heal wounds! It brings you back from death’s door, and you emerge stronger! The power of the Divine Bean makes me even mightier!!!”

...I think that’s more about your own qualities...!!!

This sense of a wild pitch just keeps getting stronger.

If this goes any further, it could end up like those over-inflated battles on Earth, where everything ends up perfectly destroyed.

I think we need to decide quickly how to handle this dangerous item...

“This Divine Bean is incredible... but humanity isn’t ready for it yet...!”

Thankfully, those in charge seem to realize the danger themselves.

“You’re right, Letasreit. If we released such an incredible bean into the market, all other beans would pale in comparison. Humans should explore more possibilities with other beans.”

“Yes... Let’s believe in the potential, in the god of possibilities.”

Somehow, things wrapped up nicely.

Perhaps that’s why God Cronus entrusted the Divine Bean to the likes of Letasreit.

God wouldn’t entrust miracles too great for humans to handle.

Probably.

“Then let’s seal the Divine Bean until the right time comes.”

“Yes, in this bundle of straw.”

Wait.

Hold on. Won’t it ferment if stored in straw?

Because of the natto bacteria on the straw and all...

“I’m curious to see what kind of natto will result from fermenting the Divine Bean.”

“The longer we ferment it, the deeper the flavor upon opening. I can’t wait.”

These two are turning even the Divine Bean into natto.

Is this also the will of God?

The ultimate bean evolves, transforming into natto.

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wild pitch=a baseball pitch not hit by the batter that cannot be caught or controlled by the catcher with ordinary effort and that enables a base runner to advance

im not that familiar with baseball tbh...but it was def a baseball reference