Gorum didn't know what to do.
Mere moments ago everything was as quiet as could be but now the atmosphere was much...busier, to say the least. The group of emissaries all gushing over Gorum and pelting him with questions as they walked down the tunnel at a snail's pace.
"Master Gorum, expanding on my earlier question about your soul items...do you have a favorite?" said the eldest of the two male members.
Soul items, a natural phenomenon of the world. Soul items were produced when a powerful or 'Important/special' being died, and came in three forms: consumables, equipables and tools. And who had the most of these aforementioned items? Naturally, being the man with highest kill count of any knights to date, Gorum likely had the most soul items in the world.
Infact, all of Gorum's equipment; save for his armor, was a soul item. Gorum wore very distinct armor, heavyweight banded armor that was completely composed of scale made into plates that wove over the top of one another, covering his entire body. Instead of chainmail he wore brown dragon-leather clothes underneath the tight banded armor. It was a special set of armor, all woven from the scales of the Star God corpse that Gorum peeled off himself, all of it covered in blood and grime from ceaseless battle.
And what was underneath the armors leather base? Soul items. From head to toe his body was covered in them, whether it be rings, bracelets, necklaces or any sort of soul item that could increase his stats or give him a special effect, he was wearing them. Going so far to make a scarf of 100 necklaces, even wearing rings on all his toes and fingers. Simply because it tipped the scales and put the odds even further in his favor. Although, the edge it gave him was starting to dull as he grew older since his base capabilities were falling.
His spear was a soul item as well, 'The Star Slayer Spear'. It was the soul item he received after slaying the Star God and had been using it for about 3 decades now. Pitch black with no special flaring or engravings, no grips. Just a solid metal spear that's haft was around 8 eet with a large and basic spear head about a foot long itself, with an unfathomable level of sharpness. It wasn't his strongest weapon per say, but it was a weapon he couldn't deny the usefulness of. It was light, sturdy, sharp and gave him extra range.
After a little bit of thought Gorum finally answered.
"I do not have one, I prefer not to get attached to my possessions." After all he never knew if what he had would be taken from him somehow.
As the emissary was about to respond, the youngest of the emissaries spoke over him.
"So, Master Gorum, did you ever find a lover? I mean with your strength, surely you- BHHF!" The young man's question was interrupted as he smashed face first into what felt like an impenetrable wall.
Whining softly and rubbing his nose, the young man looked up to see he had ran into Gorum, who was standing perfectly still staring into space. Dread flooded the emissaries as they stared at the unmoving Gorum, their bodies shivering with fear.
Although yes they were his fans and friendly with him, that didn't change who he was. How strong he was. If they had upset him, it would mean a death so swift and overwhelming that they would drop dead before anyone could blink.
As they all quivered in helpless and quiet panic, Gorum was simply thinking about the question. Had he ever had the opportunity to have a lover? If he did, would he have even recognized that it was such an opportunity? Many thoughts swirling in his head whilst he stood in place, thinking on an answer. Meanwhile, the poor emissaries couldn't tell what was on his mind at all and thought they were moments away from death.
'Surely in all my years, at least once someone had tried to court me sometime or another.' Gorum thought to himself and although he couldn't think of any times, he had indeed been a target for courtship before. However, not for any good reasons. Many noble sons and daughters as well as even princes and princesses had been instructed to attempt courting him for political purposes. Even tricksters and temptresses of the underworld had tried to woo him in one way or another to take advantage of his strength. Demi-Human and monster politicians had their fair share of attempts to tie him down him as well, thinking that perhaps his tastes were simply directed at nonhumans.
But even into old age he remained completely alone and untouched by the hands of a lover. Why? Because to put it simply, he's an idiot. Gorum had always ignored, misunderstood or outright rejected all advances and proposals simply because he couldn't wrap his head around them. After all, he may be an outstanding warrior with an unmeasurable amount of battle experience,but imside he was no more than a young man without education. He was a street urchin before he joined the arm and it didn't really help that soldiers didn't receive any schooling and were only taught basic reading and arithmetic if they became officers.
Gorum just didn't understand what those potential lovers were going on about and always politely refused because he didn't understand or he interrogated them for suspicious behavior. Gorum even turned down his fellow warriors, although it was fairly rare another warrior approached him such a manner. They more often wanted to fight to the death.
After a few more solid minutes of thinking, Gorum spoke up.
"No." Gorum finally said, a wave of relief washing over the emissaries as they all caught their breath and shakily continued down the tunnel with Gorum. Needless to say, they didn't ask him many more questions for the duration of the trip.
After quite a bit more walking, Gorum and the emissaries came upon a very large section of the tunnel, a massively thick pair of black iron doors blocking the path.
"I'll have them open it..." said the lead woman, moving up to a slat in the door and whispering something into it. Moments later the doors began to slowly open, revealing something quite surprising to Gorum.
It was a ballroom, the size of a noble's entire estate. With a ceiling about 80 feet high, ornamental and frilly carvings into the white marble walls, bismuth floors and black metal supporting columns. The entire ballroom was packed with all kinds, humans, demi-humans, monsters and civilized nonhumans alike. There was even royalty from foreign countries as well as politicians from Ugdual, all in formal wear of their culture. Even the Saintess was here!
'Just what the hell is all this?' Gorum thought, dazzled and confused at the strange sight.