“Divine beast.”
It wasn’t a question but a brief answer.
The unique softness of the woman’s voice carried an unusual detachment, and Aslan turned his eyes forward.
The leading tiger.
It was an animal of inconceivable size, with a body length of 5 meters, possessing stealth abilities surpassing even Phey’s and matching lethal power.
Moreover, it had intelligence enough to understand human speech and mimic a human smile to prove its non-hostility.
While it might not be considered the perfect beast due to these traits, Aslan thought it would be even more astonishing if such a creature weren’t divine.
“Are you talking about the divine beast I know, Hyunwoo?”
“Yeah, that divine beast.”
Aslan asked again in a seemingly emotionless tone, receiving a decisive answer. The Abyssal Sword hanging at Aslan’s waist trembled lightly.
Not out of joy or irritation, but as a mechanical vibration meant to replicate a voice.
“What a surprise. I didn’t think any divine beasts were still alive.”
The recreated voice remained detached, faintly tinged with surprise, but nothing more.
The woman’s reaction barely showed anything beyond mild astonishment.
But considering Lewena’s naturally sparse emotions, this was equivalent to someone else reacting with great surprise.
Thus, Aslan nodded and pursued the tiger.
Even while being discussed, the divine beast continued walking without reacting, occasionally flicking its tail.
“How do you plan to handle it? Will you kill it after all?”
“…No, based on what we’re seeing now, maybe not.”
Lewena’s voice wasn’t so quiet that it couldn’t be heard, nor was it directed solely at Aslan.
The subtle vibrations from the Abyssal Sword spread her words around, yet the divine beast moved forward without much reaction upon hearing them.
“Hmm.”
The Abyssal Sword emitted a sound indicating interest. Aslan followed the tiger with a similar sentiment.
The divine beast understood its situation.
Certainly, its stealth and killing power were significant, but they wouldn’t grant absolute superiority against Aslan and Tiamat.
The divine beast was the most perfect beast.
It knew well the gap between itself and its opponents, its own advantages, and their strengths.
It realized the danger of confronting Tiamat and Aslan.
Of course, there must have been more reasons than that.
Its long, dark blue tail swayed gently.
Behind it, the dragon-person swept its crimson-scaled tail low across the ground, adjusting the bow amidst the blowing wind.
Half a day had passed since Aslan and Tiamat began following the divine beast.
The high sun was gradually disappearing behind the forest, and the flowing light burned crimson, gradually staining the ground.
Like the rising tide soaking the sandy shore, the grass field covered with dead leaves was filled and flowed with crimson.
Over it, eight legs stepped in turn.
Regrettably, the sunset did not follow beneath their feet.
Only the two beings and one creature moving forward parted the crimson waves, and within them, Aslan opened his sharp, cold eyes sleepily.
The divine beast was leading Aslan and Tiamat somewhere.
At first, he thought it might be using them to deal with the corpses scattered throughout the forest.
However, they encountered bodies only during the initial pursuit.
After that, the divine beast deliberately avoided paths likely to have corpses and led Aslan and Tiamat elsewhere.
There had to be some purpose behind it.
Whether it was beneficial or harmful, they couldn’t be sure.
Still, with no response from fate and intuitively feeling it was fine, Aslan walked almost without raising his guard.
The time for attacking or luring into a trap had long passed.
In such circumstances, attacking or luring into a trap was behavior far beyond that of a mere beast—distinctly human-like.
Aslan trusted the nature of the divine beast.
Even if problems arose, as long as Lewena remained attached to his waist, the risk of escalation into a major issue was minimal.
Tiamat must have understood this well; the expression beneath her covered eyes visibly relaxed.
Her tail, which had been dragging loosely along the ground, suddenly tensed.
“…Hmm?”
Suddenly, Tiamat let out a sound.
As Aslan snapped back to attention and looked up, Tiamat emitted a low sniffing noise.
Before he could ask why, Aslan understood the reason.
“There’s the smell of the sea.”
Just as Tiamat had said, a scent of the sea wafted from somewhere nearby.
The distinct briny odor tickling his nose.
Mixed with the overwhelming stench of death caused by the Veil of Mercy, it took him longer to notice.
“Is the sea ahead?”
Aslan guessed as much.
And immediately after guessing, he recalled a map he had seen twelve years ago.
The territory of the Pervere Kingdom. The Wolf Valley located at its northwest end.
From there, heading northward, there was a peninsula bordered by the sea and a path that only appeared at sunset.
Recalling what lay at the end of that path, Aslan finally exhaled in realization of the divine beast’s intent.
“…Sanctuary.”
The divine beast turned its head at the word Aslan had spoken.
Though the emotions in its amber eyes were unreadable, Aslan instinctively felt it was correct.
The divine beast was leading them to the sanctuary.
The Sanctuary of Hunting and Prosperity.
A hidden ruin randomly assigned a location each cycle north of Wolf Valley.
As soon as Aslan realized this, he lightly gripped the Abyssal Sword at his waist. Sensing what he desired through this action alone, Lewena spread her senses via the sword.
Suddenly, Aslan’s shadow beneath his feet stretched strangely and extended outward.
Reactively, the divine beast leaped out of the shadow’s range.
But it didn’t show any signs of alarm, merely observing the shadow with unease.
Without needing to stop the divine beast, Aslan waited for Lewena’s response.
“There’s no watching gaze. No illusion magic either. It’s all real.”
Lewena answered, gauging Aslan’s intent.
“All…”
Repeating part of Lewena’s answer, Aslan frowned uncomfortably.
Directing his uneasy gaze toward the divine beast, he thought.
This divine beast was definitely leading them to the sanctuary.
But why?
Aslan stepped away from the shadow, glaring at the massive tiger licking its mouth despite receiving his skeptical gaze.
He was certain it was hiding something.
Though the divine beast simply licked its mouth with a vacant expression.
Perhaps disturbed by the silence, Tiamat was the one to speak.
“Why are you acting like this, Aslan? Did something come to mind?”
At her words, Aslan opened his mouth to respond but closed it, pondering.
What could be the reason the divine beast was leading them to the sanctuary?
After briefly thinking, Aslan suspected it was related to the “walking corpses” they had encountered earlier in the forest.
And if it was related, he was confident that the one controlling those corpses wasn’t the Dark Ram.
Rather, it was undoubtedly Boren.
If it were the Dark Ram, there would be no need to control corpses; it would use Valerie or manipulate the world itself under its dominion.
But the wandering corpses in the forest did just that.
Furthermore, considering the Dark Ram’s tendency to avoid directly influencing the world or main quest trajectory, one conclusion stood clear.
For some reason, after reviving as a specter, Boren had either found or was searching for the sanctuary, the destination of the main quest.
And the reason was obvious.
The moment Aslan recalled the special nature of the sanctuary, his eyes widened, and a system window floated before his vision.
[Ongoing Main Quest]
[! Complete the Trial of Hunting and Prosperity 0/4]
[Completed Main Quests]
[! Enter the Sanctuary of Hunting and Prosperity]
[Repel the Evil Deity, Abyss]
A phrase that startled Aslan.
Essentially, a message affirming Aslan’s speculation.
Frowning, Aslan shouted.
“Divine Beast! Carry Tiamat! Hurry!”
The divine beast, which had been absentmindedly licking its mouth, sharpened its gaze at Aslan, who placed his hand on his cloak.
“Acceleration.”
Astrasid’s farewell flared brightly as mana radiated outward from his heart.
Simultaneously, the freezing wind of the underworld, capable of freezing even deities, swirled around Aslan.
“…What? Wait, what’s happening?”
At Aslan’s hurried demeanor, Tiamat questioned him. Accelerating, Aslan gazed at the horizon where the salty sea breeze grew stronger.
If it were an ordinary sanctuary, and merely invaded by ordinary priests or specters, there would be no need for such urgency.
However, if the intruder into the Sanctuary of Hunting and Prosperity was the world’s sole necromancer, the situation changed entirely.
The Sanctuary of Hunting and Prosperity.
Alternatively known as the Graveyard of Divine Beasts.
Within it lay the cemetery where ancient divine beasts, who had lived since before antiquity, rested.
The number of divine beasts buried in that graveyard easily exceeded four digits.
*
Boren flinched.
Something was approaching very quickly.
Approaching while effortlessly neutralizing the corpses he had stationed.
Eliminating the corpses with a speed and stealth they couldn’t perceive, Boren shivered and drew his shoulders inward.
Had they become enraged?
Likely so.
Boren smiled twistedly, pleased.
It was good news. So much so that he could rejoice even amidst the subtly perceived malice.
“That divine beast, I suppose.”
Though regretful to be interrupted precisely now, Boren wasn’t particularly worried.
Instead, he quietly turned his head to look at someone.
Someone cloaked in a robe, deeply bowed with a bent back leaning on a staff.
A presence that felt more like a doll than a human.
Seeing this doll-like someone, Boren spoke.
“My disciple.”
The person called a disciple gave no response, remaining bowed as they stepped forward.
Click, click. In the dim corridor of the sanctuary, the disciple approached their master with a deeply bowed posture, causing the master to smile contentedly.
Still impressed by the craftsmanship, the founder of necromancy spoke.
“I saw your explosive mana and pitied your talent, thus bringing you back to life. Do you know this?”
The figure in the robe nodded their head, prompting Boren to continue.
“In the underworld, you were destined to dissolve without even retaining your selfhood, unaware of who you were or how you died. You were fated to become just a part of the underworld, perishing when it collapsed. I saved you from that.”
Even after this statement, the disciple didn’t raise their head, and the master was satisfied with their deference.
“I elevated you from someone not even a hero to the rank of a hero. In gratitude, block the intruders approaching now.”
As Boren spoke, three of his four arms moved, causing the surrounding corpses to shuffle closer.
“Once you’ve dealt with them, come inside and assist your master. Understand?”
Since there will surely be many divine beasts to resurrect, the disciple nodded at the added instruction, prompting the master to inquire.
“Take care of half the corpses. Can you handle it?”
The pressing voice seemed to seek a reply. Then the robed figure responded in a chilling, raspy voice.
“Of course, master.”
Boren grinned satisfactorily at the voice.
