Brain proved to be a shockingly engaging conversationalist, and Momonga began to draw out more information from the blue-haired swordsman.
"So you were just 'born' with a talent? No practice needed?" Momonga asked and Brain simply nodded.
"Yep, I picked up a toy sword and then when I got my hands on a real one, that was all it took. I devoted my life to climbing the peak of human potential with the sword." He looked down into his cup, "I had no idea that the peak for us is barely a step beyond the base of a very tall mountain. Your servant showed me that right enough, that's for sure. I've never felt so inadequate."
Momonga felt a rush of admiration for the man that forced him to reach out and put his hand on Brain's forearm to draw his attention, "None of that! Listen, you faced the impossible, and this place, this sacred place, was built on the truest of friendships, all of us, we may as well be gods to humans now, as near as I can tell, but we all began as something else. Stay here, and I will see that all my friends can reach the peak they long for."
"Can you actually do that?" Brain asked, his heart caught fire at the promise of power and strength… and even a glimpse of the peak that seemed so far away just the day before.
"We can. I can." Momonga said and glanced away from his counterpart at the table.
"But why would you?" Brain asked, "You need my sword? Is there someone you need removed? No, considering the strength of your subordinates, that can't be right." He amended his words and sucked in his breath while he tried to think of a reason.
Momonga's hand came away from Brain's arm and clenched into a fist beneath the table. Brain was the first to really ask that question, but he had no doubt it wouldn't be the last time it came up.
That didn't make it easier to say.
"There was a man, a long time ago, at least it seems that way. He was weak, he was alone, he was naive." Momonga said as he again clenched his hand in a fist that rested on his knee, "He ventured out into a strange and dangerous world, and almost lost everything many times. By chance one day he was rescued by a powerful man, and this man led him to people who he came to call more than comrades, they were friends. Together they increased their numbers, and they became like gods."
Momonga released his other hand's hold on his mug and then held his hand palm up in the center of the table, a handful of banners began to rotate, hovering above his palm. "Each one of them became stronger than before, including that man. They built a home for themselves, and were happy. But one by one, each felt a call to… to another plane of existence, and left that home, never to return. This went on until that man who was once newest to their number became the last."
Momonga's eye drifted toward the door, "Left in the home they all made together were the children of the gods, created beings of great power shaped to serve their will, unbeatable, but also childlike. They 'needed' the guidance of their makers. The man knew that beings created only to serve him could never simply call him 'friend', and when he and these children of the gods appeared in this world… he felt alone, and sought out new companions. Rare, unique, 'special', perhaps his loneliness made him desperate, or a chance to start over made him hopeful. But he had to act, or be left with nothing but memories for all eternity."
Brain listened throughout Momonga's story, it was the least subtle attempt at distancing himself from the focus that Brain had ever seen in any tale great or small. But it did make sense. 'It's lonely at the top.' He recalled the expression he'd once heard a rich man say, arrogance and confidence could only do so much to ease that, even in himself. From a certain perspective, even the bandits served a purpose in simply providing company, however unpleasant they could be.
'And maybe what he says is true?' Brain wondered, 'Perhaps I really could reach the peak.'
"So, what say you, Brain?" Momonga asked, his voice picked up and he relaxed with the story forced out of himself, as if he'd been unburdened just a little bit.
"I'll stay, I'm curious, I can't promise we'll be best friends or anything, I may come and go a little, I'm used to wandering, you see. But, if you'll have me, I think I can stick around for a while." Brain winked across the table and Momonga held up his cup over the center of the circle.
"To new friendships." He said immediately.
"And new adventures." Brain added, before clattering his cup against Momonga's in turn and they began to drink.
When they brought their cups down, Brain asked, "So, what next? Who next? Do you know?"
Momonga shook his head, "It's been dumb luck so far, why? Did you have anyone in mind?"
"If you want those who show something exceptional about themselves, the Golden Princess Renner is supposed to be very beautiful, and also very strange." Brain suggested with a tentative shrug.
"Strange?" Momonga inquired.
"Yes, strange. I wish I could say more, but I've heard that she talks about incomprehensible things, that she was behind the end of the slave trade in Re-Estize and has quite a fan following among the adventurers and the poor alike." Brain suggested, and Momonga felt his collector's instinct tickle in his brain.
"Really… how very interesting. I suppose it can't hurt to look into her at least." Momonga suggested. "Anyone else?"
"The top rank adventurers come to mind, or if you want to look outside the Kingdom, maybe just talent scout the guilds or elite teams of other countries." Brain suggested it, and it was, in Momonga's mind, eminently sensible. 'Look to clear exceptions to the norm where they're easiest, we were an RP guild that went out on adventures, so adventurous people making their homes here? Yes, I think my friends would approve.' Momonga thought, and in his mind, the only one that mattered…
That settled it.