“Yes, it’s the Vida Kingdom.”
At Aslan’s naturally calm response, the Count wiped his face with an empty hand.
“Do you fully understand what you’re saying? Didn’t you also mention taking the Saintess with you?”
“That’s right.”
Aslan’s relaxed expression caused the Count to think that thoroughly dissuading him would be the best way to repay his kindness. Perhaps he thought Aslan might not fully comprehend the situation and thus proceeded to explain further.
“If you take the Saintess to the Vida Kingdom, you will certainly encounter the Church of the Universe’s Inevitability. You might even meet a high priest.”
In fact, it wasn’t “might” but “certainly.” Ereta, for all appearances, was the Saintess of Slaughter, one of the most renowned high priests in the Church of the Universe’s Inevitability. The high priest of the Poison-Spitting Dragon, the Artist, was someone remembered by fewer people these days, while the high priest of the Giant remained unseen, only rumors floating around. The most publicly known face was Ereta, the Saintess of Slaughter. Thus, if they went to the Vida Kingdom, her identity would undoubtedly be exposed—whether by the nobles or soldiers of the Vida Kingdom or by priests from the Church of the Universe seeking to eliminate Ereta and deal with Aslan, there was no telling.
Whichever way it went, it wouldn’t end well. Troubled, the Count furrowed his brow.
Aslan perceived the Count’s concern and smiled faintly, a smile revealing little emotion.
“I know.”
“Then why are you heading to the Vida Kingdom? Wouldn’t going to the Varmanz Mountain Kingdom be safer…?”
There were several reasons. However, despite trusting the Count, Aslan couldn’t guarantee information wouldn’t leak, nor could he put the Count in danger. If allies were killed by priests due to leaked information, it would be problematic. So, Aslan offered the most surface-level reason.
“Because I’m confident.”
The Count let out a small sigh at this absurd answer but didn’t try to stop him. He knew trying to dissuade someone who had already successfully hunted high priests would be meaningless.
Eventually sighing deeply, as if giving up, the Count said,
“Well, there’s nothing I can do. Honestly, I wanted you to meet my daughter traveling in Varmanz, but it seems I can’t change your mind…”
The Count hesitated before signaling Aslan.
“I hope you have good fortune. Until we part ways, consider this place your home and rest comfortably. Just don’t leave silently like last time.”
Aslan responded with a slight smile instead of words, causing the Count to chuckle lightly.
Two weeks.
That was how long it took for Aslan to regain mobility. Until then, Aslan had to move around somewhat awkwardly, limping.
Even while limping here and there, Angie followed closely behind.
More accurately, Aslan was the one being trailed by Angie, though the girl seemed unconcerned with such details, answering simply when asked.
“Why are you following me?”
“Huh, to protect you?”
From what? Aslan wondered and questioned her. Smiling slyly, she replied:
“I’ve recovered, but you haven’t, right? So shouldn’t I protect you?”
Despite knowing there was nothing in the Count’s territory that could harm Aslan, the girl genuinely believed this, smiling contentedly.
Thus, every time Aslan moved somewhere, she would ask where they were headed and lead the way, checking ahead for any dangers with her own body, occasionally turning back to glance at Aslan.
Though unsure of its practicality, Aslan couldn’t refuse her goodwill. It felt somewhat like walking a dog, given how restless she appeared.
Since it wasn’t bothersome, he let her be. After all, this wouldn’t last forever.
Once two weeks passed and Aslan had recovered enough for minimal movement, he departed the Count’s domain with Ereta and Angie.
Heading east from Shengqilu Change County towards the Vida Kingdom’s territory, Aslan led the party forward without hesitation.
Although not yet fully recovered, Aslan managed to walk thanks to his high determination, though prolonged walking did stiffen his body.
With Angie’s excellent health, she never tired, so the group usually stopped for one main reason:
Ereta, who was no longer a high priest.
For Ereta, who had become exhausted, Aslan set up a campsite and lit a simple campfire.
Not long after the campfire was lit, Ereta quietly fell asleep, leaving Angie and Aslan gazing at the flames.
After two days since departing the Count’s domain, with no pursuers, Aslan felt relieved.
“Thankfully, things aren’t spiraling out of control as much as I feared.”
In the original game progression, the protagonist should have encountered a martial monk, a priest of the Supreme Divinity, within the Count’s domain.
Of course, what happened afterward was entirely up to the player: defeating the monk to protect the Count’s domain, using it as a disposable base to capture the priest, or abandoning it altogether to flee.
Regardless, after completing the quest, the protagonist had to choose their next path: either head to the Vida Kingdom or the Varmanz Mountain Kingdom.
Originally, it wouldn’t matter which was chosen; the difference would merely lie in the region and the deity involved.
However, Aslan hadn’t met a martial monk or even a regular priest but rather a high priest of the Church of the Universe’s Inevitability—the Saintess of Slaughter.
A character who should have appeared around Chapter 7, mid-game, stood before Aslan.
From that point on, events had twisted significantly, yet the quest was still somehow completable. The problem lay in the aftermath.
The loss of one high priest from the Church of the Universe’s Inevitability, which had three, the retreat of the priest of the Spider Casting Fire after sustaining divine damage—all indicated a divergence from the game.
What repercussions these events would have, Aslan couldn’t predict.
Would a new high priest be selected?
Would the new high priest be from the Spider Casting Fire’s priesthood?
Or from the other two deities’ priesthoods?
What would happen to the Spider Casting Fire?
It was impossible to guess. Perhaps a permanent weakening of the Church of the Universe’s Inevitability would occur. Gaps between the gods could widen, potentially leading to its disappearance or absorption by other gods, permanently disrupting the power balance among them.
No matter the outcome, it was clear that the advantage Aslan gained from knowing the game would diminish. Precautions needed to be taken or measures prepared for all possible scenarios.
While Aslan was deep in thought, Angie approached.
“Cold.”
She wrapped herself in a blanket and sat beside Aslan. The sudden warmth startled him.
“Angie…?”
Sitting close enough for their shoulders to touch, Angie yawned lazily. Her golden eyes blinked sleepily before focusing on Aslan.
“Why are you calling me?”
Instead of answering, she gave him a slightly irritated look.
“Why suddenly act so distant? What’s wrong with us being comrades? Besides, I’m really sensitive to the cold. I can’t sleep when it’s chilly.”
Without a hint of caution, she yawned again, pulling the blanket higher, even covering her mouth, her visible face slightly flushed.
Angie wasn’t a good liar. Recognizing several telltale signs of deceit, Aslan silently observed her.
Why would she cling to him despite lying? Aslan pondered.
Embarrassed by his gaze, the girl scratched her cheek nervously, lowering her eyes and muttering,
“It’s just… you’re frowning so much… shouldn’t I be worried? Just… stop brooding alone. I… I want to help, but I feel shy…”
After rambling for a bit, Angie tightly shut her lips and tapped Aslan’s shoulder with her fist—a punch that, despite her strength level 7, didn’t hurt at all.
“Ah, forget it! Anyway, it’s because I’m cold, so just accept it!”
Though embarrassed, she didn’t get up immediately. Aslan quietly reflected on her kindness for a moment before lightly smiling. He realized his contemplation must have been lengthy.
“Thanks.”
“No problem.”
The campfire continued to burn quietly amidst the commotion.
When the campfire dimmed and the sky began to turn navy blue with the early dawn, Ereta and Angie woke up.
“If you’re awake, pack up. We have a long journey ahead.”
Having woken earlier, Aslan instructed the two women to gather their belongings. After Ereta quietly and Angie lively packed, Aslan led them onward, heading in the direction illuminated by the rising sun. The low grasses underfoot shimmered faintly with a light dusting of blue.
Aslan stepped ahead, crushing the grass beneath his boots, followed by Angie carrying a large backpack and Ereta trailing somberly with her head bowed.
The vast grassland gradually shrank as massive trees appeared on the horizon, eventually becoming barren flatlands. As they approached the towering trees, the ground grew damp and muddy.
“Something’s strange.”
Just as Angie shivered from the mud sticking to the bottom of her boots, Aslan noticed the oddity. According to the main quest, soldiers from the Helsing Earldom should have already found them by now.
But there was no sign of them, the expansive plain eerily silent, as if something had gone awry with the soldiers.
Right at that moment, Aslan’s suspicion was confirmed.
A strong smell of blood wafted through the air between the giant trees.
The scent of human flesh torn apart affected each of them differently as they walked ahead.
Among them, Aslan’s serious expression prompted him to halt and signal the group. Following his gesture, they crouched down and slowly approached the grove.
As they neared, the smell of blood intensified and mixed with another foul odor. It smelled like human flesh but with a stronger urine-like stench.
At the peak of these smells, Aslan could see through the gaps of the giant trees.
Scattered remains of soldiers and a group of monsters feasting on them, along with a towering figure draped in robes.
Confirming this, Aslan glanced at Ereta, whose expression oscillated between hope and anxiety—hope that she might be recognized and saved from this situation, and anxiety if she had truly been abandoned.
Reading this hope, Aslan was certain the robed figure was one of the priests of the Church of the Universe’s Inevitability, specifically the priest of the Giant Who Shatters Earth.
With certainty came no room for hesitation. Aslan drew his double-handed axe.
*
After the banner faded and the sun partially illuminated the sky with a pale hue, Ereta and Angie awoke.
“If you’re up, start packing. We’ve got a long way to go.”
Aslan, who had woken earlier, told the two women to pack their gear. Once Ereta quietly and Angie energetically finished packing, Aslan led them onward. Walking toward the direction illuminated by the rising sun, the low-lying grass they stepped on faintly glowed with a light dusting of blue.
Aslan walked ahead, stepping on the grass, followed by Angie carrying a large backpack, and Ereta trailing behind with a bowed head, looking gloomy.
The vast grasslands gradually diminished as colossal trees appeared far on the horizon, eventually becoming a barren flatland devoid of grass. As they approached the towering trees, the ground became wet and muddy.
“This is strange.”
Finally, when Angie shivered as mud clung to the soles of her boots, Aslan sensed something amiss. According to the original main quest, soldiers from the Helsing Earldom should have already arrived by now.
But there was no trace of them, and the expansive plain remained eerily quiet, as if something had happened to the soldiers.
Just as Aslan suspected, that moment came.
A strong smell of blood wafted heavily between the giant trees.
The scent of shredded human bodies made each of them—Aslan, Angie, and Ereta—react differently.
Among them, Aslan’s serious expression prompted him to stop and signal the group. Following his gesture, they crouched and slowly approached the tree line.
As they approached the tree line, the smell of blood grew stronger and mixed with another pungent odor. It smelled similar to human flesh but carried a strong urine-like stench.
And at the peak of these smells, Aslan could see through the gaps of the giant trees.
Torn-apart corpses and a group of monsters feasting on them, alongside a towering figure wearing robes.
Already certain, Aslan turned his eyes to Ereta, whose expression fluctuated between expectation and unease—expectation that she might be recognized and rescued from this situation, and unease about whether she had truly been abandoned.
Reading this expectation, Aslan was sure the robed figure was one of the priests of the Church of the Universe’s Inevitability, specifically the priest of the Giant Who Shatters Earth.
With certainty came no room for hesitation. Aslan drew his double-handed axe.
