Angie sat on Aslan’s lap.
The traveling party looked at the scene and were somewhat taken aback.
Also, some were watching warily, wondering if something might happen, but Angie did nothing.
As if sitting was the purpose itself, Angie just sat there and ate.
So at first, while the party was concerned, once the food came out, they had no time to worry about such things.
Though they didn’t consciously feel it, the party had entered the Abyss and would have to fight there for a very long time.
In reality, they were in a situation where they were practically starving, so as soon as the food arrived, the party started eating right away.
Aslan with his determination and Phey who doesn’t feel hunger were exceptions.
When plates full of grilled fish, porridge with minced fish, pies with scallops, rye bread, vegetables, seaweed, and sandwiches with some dried meat appeared, they couldn’t help but reach for the table.
Even Aslan was like that.
Determination only allows one to fight normally despite hunger or starvation; it doesn’t fundamentally solve the hunger itself.
Still, the only concern was Angie.
There was worry that she wouldn’t be able to eat properly since she was sitting on someone’s lap.
But even that turned out to be unnecessary.
“Can you pass me that pie?”
“…Oh, sure.”
Tiamat passed the pie after noticing the others’ gazes, and Angie casually set aside a portion on Aslan’s plate.
While Aslan was cutting the pie with a fork and knife, Angie leaned back so her chest wouldn’t get in the way, pressing her back against Aslan’s stomach.
“Try this. It’s delicious.”
“Oh, okay. Thanks.”
When Angie awkwardly cut the pie and brought it to her mouth, she pulled the bowl of fish porridge closer.
Since Aslan’s arms were occupied with holding Angie, it seemed inconvenient for him to eat, so Angie scooped up some porridge with the spoon she had been using moments ago and fed it to Aslan.
“You’re not very good at this. Open your mouth.”
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t that Aslan was clumsy, but rather that Angie was in the way. However, Aslan didn’t have the leisure to say such things.
All he could do was endure the pressure from the lethal body pressed against him from his groin upwards.
Thus, all Aslan could do was accept the food.
After accepting, Angie smiled contentedly and took back the spoon, and the party’s gaze fell upon Aslan and Angie.
Especially Phey had put down their knife expressionlessly.
As if holding this knife would lead them to do something.
Ereta had a melancholy look like a dog caught in the rain.
But on the other hand, it seemed like Ereta was quietly observing how Angie managed to make Aslan eat well.
Lumel…
“Angie! Angie! It seems uncomfortable for Aslan. How about stepping aside? Aslan must be hungry too, so let him eat comfortably…”
Though Lumel protested, when Angie shrugged, Lumel closed his mouth again.
“It doesn’t seem too uncomfortable. In fact, I’m feeding him, so it’s more convenient. And Aslan said it’s fine.”
And with that confident attitude, Lumel had no choice but to close his mouth tightly.
Though they could have countered, they knew Aslan well.
If asked whether he was uncomfortable in this situation, that gentle man would probably sheepishly smile and say he’s fine.
Knowing this well, Lumel shut his mouth.
Thus, Angie sat back triumphantly, wiggling her hips.
The considerable stimulation felt from the contact of their bodies was an added bonus.
While enduring that stimulation, Aslan grimaced in pain.
It’s not bad. Clearly, it’s good. There’s no one who dislikes such sexual stimulation.
The problem was that this was happening during a meal, and worse yet, in front of everyone.
“Why is she doing this? Did I do something?”
Unable to understand the reason, Aslan silently continued eating and enjoyed the taste without showing it.
The inn was filled with an awkward silence. The one to break it was Tiamat.
When this question arose near the end of the meal, Aslan felt relieved.
“I was just curious… What happened to you?”
Tiamat asked before Aslan could answer, gesturing lightly toward Aslan’s waist.
Right now, where the sword stained with shadow-like hues hung.
“That sword… It doesn’t feel like an ordinary sword to me. The one you originally carried was quite unusual too, but this feels similar to the pure white sword you often used.”
Aslan glanced briefly at his waist at this statement. Sensing this glance, Tiamat rested his chin on his hand.
“Besides, this wasn’t there before we entered. Moreover, if I’m not mistaken, this sword gives off a similar feeling to that woman. Just a gut feeling, but what exactly happened?”
Tiamat’s question was sharp and hit the core.
Perhaps it was due to achieving “Fortune 11,” giving him an acute sixth sense.
Happy to answer, Aslan drew the Abyssal Sword hanging from his waist.
The Abyssal Sword raised high. A blade resembling a leaf with a shadowy glow flowing through it.
When the party saw the sword, Aslan began explaining.
This sword is the Abyss.
A sword created by Lewena’s sacrifice.
At the request for more details, Aslan spoke without hesitation.
Lewena intended to confront and devour the Abyss but failed. Aslan met a fragment of the Formless One and received this cloak.
At this point, Lumel realized the cloak had changed, saying he hadn’t noticed it earlier.
Phey proudly stated they had known from the start, while Angie quietly touched the cloak.
Ereta seemed slightly disappointed, thinking black suited Aslan better, but quieted down again as Aslan continued.
Aslan thanked for the compliment and mentioned using the power of the cloak to cross the Abyss and head towards its center.
Thinking the party might be there.
But there was no party, only a dying Lewena.
Lewena, on the verge of death by defeat at the hands of the Abyss and facing annihilation by Void and Chaos.
Aslan fled with such Lewena and was entrusted to ask a woman to kill the Abyss.
Aslan wielded the Abyssal Sword left behind by Lewena and fought.
Harnessing the power to consume the Abyss itself, surpassing merely containing its force, Aslan battled the Abyss.
The rest is what the party already knows.
“I went looking for Lewena because of that. Since death doesn’t exist for the Abyss, I thought Lewena would remain somewhere deep if I consumed all of it.”
That’s why Aslan found Lewena in the deepest part.
Upon Aslan’s elaboration, Richard, who had been silent until now, spoke while shoving a piece of pie into his mouth.
“So, does that mean this sword is the Abyss itself? That’s what it sounds like to me…”
“Yeah. I don’t know what kind of power or abilities it holds, but it will undoubtedly be a valuable asset moving forward.”
Aslan said this, putting the sword away, and the party watched it with faint unease on their faces.
Aslan endured their gaze and spoke.
“So, what happened to you guys? You probably faced Possessors, right?”
“Possessors?”
“The fighter you faced…like that. They’re grouped under the name ‘Formless Ones.'”
When Richard asked back, Aslan responded, causing Richard to look surprised at Aslan.
“You fought 1-on-1 with that monk, right?”
“Yeah…how did you know?”
“Because you used an attack method you usually don’t.”
Richard admiringly but honestly answered at this.
He indeed fought against Tubul Goryu, the monk.
“He was unique. He didn’t finish me off when I fell, nor did he exploit my openings. He simply waited until I got back up. It reminded me of a master.”
Richard’s impression wasn’t wrong. Given the motif of I’taar, it was bound to feel similar.
As Aslan thought this while looking at Richard, Richard scratched his cheek.
“Maybe he lacked the skills to deal with a fallen opponent, but perhaps he didn’t want to. It felt like receiving guidance while opposing him, and I mastered his techniques to win.”
“What happened after? How did you come to help me?”
When Aslan asked, Richard stopped scratching his cheek and smiled awkwardly.
“Not long after winning, I noticed a shining void. On closer inspection, there was a crack, and beyond it, I could see Aslan, so I broke through and jumped in.”
Most likely, this part is similar for everyone. With Richard’s cue, most of the party nodded.
The woman sitting on Aslan’s lap and Ereta, who looked at her sadly, reacted differently.
“I didn’t have anything like that, so I smashed it myself to escape. Though even if I hadn’t, it probably would’ve broken anyway. We met some woman.”
The woman. The girl named Rebecca Clark on the list Aslan had seen.
The girl in a bulletproof vest and tactical gear firing a gun. When Aslan recalled this, Angie spoke.
“When she kept shooting explosions everywhere, Ereta voluntarily drew her attention, and I got close to fight. She was pretty tough.”
Given that Angie, who rarely describes enemies as strong, called her “pretty tough,” Aslan could imagine the difficulties of the battle.
“Actually, maybe it was more like ‘troublesome’? That’s how it felt…”
The woman paused mid-sentence, seemingly recalling something. Aslan stared at her silently, and Angie, glancing at Ereta who looked at her as if expecting food, averted her eyes.
With the conversation pausing, next was Phey.
“Phey faced a mage. They used all sorts of strange magic. Twice, I nearly died, but Phey was faster. Even though I killed them repeatedly, they wouldn’t die, which was quite annoying.”
“I…faced a formidable opponent. They were riding a horse, wielding a spear and an axe as if they were extensions of their own body. I thought I dismounted them, but they naturally regained balance. Later, when they swung the axe… If the ground hadn’t shaken and stopped the horse, I would’ve died.”
While Phey described it smoothly, Lumel looked somewhat uneasy. His fleeting glance went to the scabbard.
“I barely won, but my sword ended up cracked.”
Probably because of that, it broke later. At Lumel’s words, Aslan gazed silently at the sad-looking woman.
“Should I get you a new sword? Or else…”
“Aah, it’s fine. Just…a bit regretful, that’s all. Most importantly, I don’t want to inconvenience Aslan any further.”
“Inconvenience? …”
Aslan tried to say something but couldn’t find words upon seeing Lumel’s genuinely calm smile.
Thus, as silence descended, next was Tiamat.
“My opponent wouldn’t fall no matter how much I shot. They looked like a knight, slightly shorter than me.”
Tiamat, who usually referred to himself as “elder,” didn’t do so this time.
Frustrated deeply, Aslan closed his mouth, and Tiamat stroked his chin.
“They were good for practice. But if anyone else among you had been there instead of me, it might’ve been troublesome. Probably except for Angie and you.”
Following this, Tiamat subtly lifted the quiver tied to his waist.
The quiver he had brought fully stocked now had only a few arrows left.
“I used more than half of them there.”
After surpassing Strength 10, Tiamat’s Chimera Bow adapted to his strength, creating a new bowstring and body, significantly increasing its power.
Even with such a bow, using half the arrows indicated the enemy’s defense was obvious.
Moreover, considering Tiamat’s description of the knight being slightly shorter than him, it was likely the Immortal Knight.
Hearing everyone’s accounts, Aslan slightly furrowed his brows.
At first glance, it sounded like they faced insurmountable foes, but judging by the results, it seemed everyone had relatively easy battles.
It felt like each had fought an appropriate opponent.
Aslan thought this might have been Lewena’s arrangement.
Or perhaps they were just lucky.
Although they only encountered it briefly, the possessed High Priests were all true powerhouses who had witnessed or approached the end.
Meanwhile, the pattern in which the party faced their opponents felt like a carefully calculated distribution targeting their weaknesses.
The regeneration and resilience of Angie and Ereta would have been torment for Rebecca Clark, who delivered fatal and precise attacks.
The powerful and numerous spells hurled by the reincarnated sage Phey met would’ve experienced their first drawn-out battle against Phey’s speed.
The mounted figure Lumel encountered, likely a crusader knight, was technically superior and powerful, making it difficult for anyone but Lumel, who excels in unyielding judgment and lance techniques.
Richard, possessing the talent to overwhelm combat with combat, was a genius, and the Immortal Knight was a formidable foe unless faced by Tiamat.
The Abyss or the Dark Ram wouldn’t do something so intricately beneficial for Aslan’s party.
Thus, Aslan thought this might have been Lewena’s arrangement, the final will of the Possessors themselves, or both.
Whichever it was, it was something to be grateful for.
Then Aslan suddenly said,
“It’s fortunate none of you are hurt.”
As the party’s gaze returned to Aslan, he smiled faintly.
“Thanks to you all, we were able to defeat the Abyss.”
And with those words, the party finally realized they had truly slain an evil deity.
Even though they were lucky and various conditions aligned, they had genuinely defeated a transcendent being that had existed in this world since ancient times.
“We really did it.”
Tiamat’s monotone voice.
“There are eight left now. Can we eliminate them all?”
When Phey said this, Lumel, looking bewildered while clearing the empty bowls, replied,
“It feels like we’ve become protagonists of an epic. Killing gods… ”
His voice was buoyant and joyful, so Aslan smiled faintly.
Ignoring the subtle scent emanating from Angie’s crown, he spoke.
“Our priority isn’t eliminating them all.”
As the party’s gaze focused on him, Aslan continued.
“Surviving comes first. Living happily comes first. While defeating evil deities is important, I hope we can continue together going forward.”
The sincerity in those honest words resonated deeply, and the party fell silent for a moment.
“Whatever happens?”
Only Ereta managed to speak hesitantly, but Aslan shook his head lightly.
“I intend not to create such situations.”
“Is that possible…?”
“We’ve killed a god, so what could be difficult?”
It sounded overly optimistic.
Just as Tiamat was about to advise against such optimism by sweeping his tail across the floor, Aslan spoke first.
“Of course, the next steps won’t be easy. But I have no intention of giving up just because it’s difficult. The journey ahead will be arduous, but I wish for everyone to find happiness. That’s my goal.”
Far from optimism, this was closer to indomitability.
Thus, Tiamat sighed self-deprecatingly, and the party dispersed only after the bowls had completely cooled, needing sleep—except for Phey, Angie, and Aslan.
Since everyone else couldn’t stay awake any longer, Aslan, despite his determination meaning he didn’t need rest, entered the double bedroom.
To live healthily and happily, one should rest when needed.
Entering the bedroom, there lay Lewena already.
Her eyes gently closed, lying still without a breath.
Aslan placed the Abyssal Sword beside her and sat on the bed next to her after removing his mantle, armor, and shoes.
Now, all he needed to do was lie down and rest.
As he thought this, sitting on the bed,
Creak.
The wooden sound of creaking reached Aslan’s ears, and turning his head, he saw Angie.
She entered and locked the door.
“Angie…?”
Angie glanced at Lewena and blinked. Only her golden eyes stood out vividly in the darkness.
“Sit. I have something to say.”
Angie, clad in a revealing leather pants, approached.
Already seated, Aslan nodded, and Angie climbed onto him.
“Huh?”
Instead of sitting beside him on the bed, Angie straddled Aslan.
Placing her thighs on Aslan’s thighs, she pressed herself against him.
“Angie? Wait, Angie….”
Above Aslan’s groin pressed Angie’s groin, and her heated breath tickled Aslan’s face.
Before Aslan could react, Angie pressed her forehead against his.
Her overwhelming strength pinned Aslan down without crushing him.
An irresistible force that even the arm of the Dragon King couldn’t overcome.
Gripping firmly and pressing, Aslan could feel the skin beneath the leather pants.
Only then did Aslan realize.
The three months Aslan was gone.
When Angie reportedly acquired new knowledge.
When it seemed she often went around with Lumel or carried Lumel’s books, it wasn’t a mistake.
Clearly, Angie had learned to read and, through Lumel’s slightly risqué books or perhaps via Lumel’s explanations, acquired sexual knowledge.
Beyond that realization, Angie was staring intently at Aslan.
Her golden eyes resembled those of a predator eyeing its prey.
