The administrative capabilities of the Empire were at a level that could be considered the best in the southern continent.
As soon as Aslan pulled the Anwurtin Council into the alliance, he immediately dispatched troops to the council.
Not stopping there, they even created an organic information network connecting from the council to the Green-skin fortress.
The administrative power of the Empire was such that it wouldn’t be strange to call it the best in Geladridion.
Therefore, Angie’s departure was one of the latest.
There was no need to move locations to acquire the Empire’s information.
When Phey took her sword and left for the Omul pit, and Aslan, Lewena, and Lumel headed to the South Empire.
There weren’t many members of the party left at the Anwurtin Council.
Only Ereta gathering information, unsure where to start, and Tiamat and Richard preparing to return to the northern continent.
When Angie received important news from the Imperial informant, it was natural that she couldn’t consult with Aslan.
“…Is the city collapsing? No, is it the mountain?”
At Angie’s words, the informant nodded solemnly.
“Bifold has collapsed. I barely survived because I was outside Bifold, but the Bifold branch disappeared along with the city.”
He was an informant from Bifold. Not a Green entity but an ordinary human, a seasoned expert who had spent a long time as an Imperial informant.
“No, how?”
Angie couldn’t bring herself to speak rudely to such a person. Even if she did, the informant probably wouldn’t have minded.
“I don’t… really know. But…”
The hesitant informant. Angie didn’t rush him; she simply looked at him, and after some fumbling, the informant finally spoke.
“Something incredibly powerful destroyed the mountain.”
An immensely powerful being.
Various entities flashed through Angie’s mind.
Ash, Supreme Divinity’s Sword, the Tyrant, Abyss, Poison-Spitting Dragon, and even the Supreme Divinity.
To summarize them as merely “powerful beings” seemed insufficient due to their overwhelming might.
High Priests and Evil Deities.
Based on her experiences, Angie judged that whoever had destroyed the mountain was at least at the level of a High Priest.
A High Priest level.
At Angie’s current strength, dealing with such a threat would be entirely manageable.
But what about the level of an Evil Deity?
Or something she had never encountered before?
Perhaps it was the mischief of the Dark Ram that had been tormenting Angie and Aslan all this time?
Angie recalled the battle against Supreme Divinity’s Sword, when no attack had landed, resulting in a helpless defeat.
Had it not been for Phey, most of the group would have perished right there.
That defeat was deeply ingrained in her bones.
Angie began to win only after meeting Aslan.
Before that, Angie had, in truth, known nothing but defeat.
The ancient deity’s chosen one, the savior revered by the Empire—this savior was still Angela Tail, a pauper from the Tail district.
Some facts never change, and some pasts cannot be erased.
Angie couldn’t forget the past that had dominated most of her short life.
The sense of failure lingered and loomed over her.
When she clenched her teeth, the informant looked puzzled.
She forced a smile, pulling up the corners of her mouth.
“Don’t worry. I’ll go take care of it.”
Aslan, even while dying, pretended to be fine to reassure the group.
Though his death greatly shook the group, it allowed them to focus on what needed to be done.
Even death couldn’t stop him—he had died protecting people.
Angie wanted to be like that.
Passing by the informant, Angie moved forward.
The task Aslan entrusted to Angie was to hunt the fearless Bijou.
Whether the individual who shattered the mountain and buried the city under rubble was the Bijou or not remained unknown.
But at least, she couldn’t sit idly by while people were dying.
Recalling the informant’s words about the entire city being buried under rubble, Angie remembered the fight against Supreme Divinity’s Sword.
The image of humans dying like insects haunted her mind.
It was a horrifying sight.
Supreme Divinity’s Sword hated and killed every human its blade touched.
It was a nightmare that disturbed her sleep.
Humans were dying in great numbers, and there was nothing Angie could do about it.
She couldn’t stop it, nor could she save anyone.
Angie felt powerless.
Thinking back to that moment, her stomach churned and the world spun.
The deep sense of helplessness was painful.
So Angie wished for such an event to never happen again.
She desired the strength to stop such hatred.
It seemed that kind of strength wouldn’t work against an Evil Deity, but regardless, Angie had to try.
‘Aslan… I don’t want to call you.’
Walking across the corridor, she searched for Ados.
She went alone. Even alone, she would hunt the entity that destroyed the mountain.
It wasn’t out of arrogance or confidence.
What she called her usual bravado was more of a habit.
In the Tail district, the slums, appearing weak meant getting taken advantage of.
Thus, it became a habit.
Angie was afraid.
Of having to face an unknown enemy.
And of having to confront and defeat it alone.
Despite her fear, she didn’t seek help.
Ironically, that was the case.
She had become accustomed to pain and fighting.
But not to loss.
When Harrod and Aslan died, Angie felt a deep sense of loss.
She suffered deeply from loving Aslan and was pained by knowing Harrod.
Of course, Harrod wasn’t a particularly unique person.
Like any other chosen one, he had a faint sense of superiority.
That’s why he didn’t act oppressively under the guise of protecting Angie.
Back then, she strongly resisted and responded aggressively, but now she understood.
Although Harrod was dogmatic and had a sense of superiority, fundamentally, he was good.
This was his best plan to protect a girl from the slums.
Harrod acknowledged Angie when she gained strength. He recognized her not just as a mere girl but as a warrior.
Harrod acknowledged Angie before Aslan did.
In a way, Angie’s adventure started with Harrod.
The traces of that adventure had vanished.
Just thinking about it made her throat tight.
Angie disliked loss.
She hated losing things that could never be regained.
Even imagining such losses was painful, so she had to recall things she loved to suppress the lump in her throat.
Angie liked Lumel’s cooking and enjoyed the sound of his voice when he told stories.
She appreciated Richard’s absent-minded but caring expression.
She welcomed Phey’s brusque yet familiar presence sitting beside her as if it were only natural.
Ereta often made her uncomfortable recalling their past battles, but Angie admired her femininity.
Lewena was still difficult and awkward, but when Lewena listened to Angie with ease, it was pleasant to see.
Tiamat felt so close that if all dragonborn were like him, Angie would never have disliked them.
He felt like a relative she’d never met.
Finally, Angie loved Aslan.
She admired Aslan’s resolve to fight without hesitation for what she believed in.
She envied his kindness, which allowed him to feel anger for others’ suffering.
Cold and fierce in battle, yet infinitely gentle and caring towards what he loved—it was endearing.
Even though it was so painful, unlike Angie, Aslan rose again and again without breaking.
Angie wanted to be as strong as Aslan.
That’s why Angie loved Aslan.
Thinking of Aslan made her chest flutter, her breath catch, and her face soften.
She was happy.
Angie cherished Aslan and her comrades, who brought her happiness.
Thus, recalling what she loved helped her steady her heart.
They say you become like what you love. Recalling a casual remark Aslan once made, Angie smiled faintly.
Save Geladridion. Kill all the Evil Deities.
While agreeing with this grand plan, Angie didn’t want Aslan to get hurt or overexert herself.
She didn’t want any of her companions to get hurt.
Rather, it felt easiest for her to get hurt instead.
Thus, Angie stopped walking.
“Alright, let’s try.”
Without Aslan’s help, without the group’s assistance.
She would fight and win alone.
Pain was familiar, and so was fighting.
To avoid loss, she decided to fight alone.
If straining herself could prevent loss, she was willing to strain as much as necessary.
“Angie?”
As Angie paused mid-stride, she turned her head at the sound of her name and saw a giant dragonborn.
Especially large among dragonborn, this companion wielded a bow that didn’t suit his massive frame.
“Tiamat.”
“Where are you going?”
After Angie replied, Tiamat adjusted the backpack and bow on his back.
Richard wasn’t in sight, likely already departed or packing.
Angie hesitated whether to lie but then said,
“To the Empire.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
The dragonborn, blind and wearing an eye patch, nonetheless managed his expressions well.
With skin that could perceive better than eyes, he noticed Angie’s forced blank face.
Angie maintained her composure, but Tiamat stayed silent for a long time, looking down at her.
As silence stretched and Angie began to feel uneasy, Tiamat suddenly said,
“Aslan is surprisingly fearful.”
“What?”
A statement incomprehensible by Angie’s standards.
Aslan, who fought countless priests and faced any battlefield without fear, fearful?
It sounded insulting.
Angie immediately showed her displeasure.
“Why are you spouting nonsense? Do you want a beating?”
Her threatening posture was naturally intimidating considering Angie’s physical abilities.
Yet, Tiamat only subtly smirked, showing no signs of feeling threatened.
“Come to think of it, aren’t you the same? Your words and actions are rough and savage, but in truth, you’re kind and delicate.”
At his words, Angie furrowed her brow.
“What are you talking about? Are you alright? Why keep spouting nonsense…”
Tiamat chuckled softly, speaking with an unexpectedly gentle demeanor despite his massive build.
“You always talk about hitting or asking for a fight, but in reality, you’ve never done so. You’re careful not to lose control of your strength and rarely touch others.”
Rather, you intentionally keep your distance, don’t you?
At Tiamat’s added question, Angie fell silent.
Acknowledging it silently, Tiamat tilted his head.
“Maybe you don’t trust yourself that much.”
Angie remained quiet, but her expression was clear to Tiamat’s tactile senses.
Avoiding eye contact and tightly closed lips. Tiamat chuckled at the sight.
“Aslan is the same. She trusts us but worries about us even more. It’s because she’s fearful. Afraid that we might encounter problems or lose someone due to unforeseen variables.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. Though she isn’t very afraid of her own death, she’s quite an odd one.”
Indeed, that was true. Recalling Aslan, Angie thought she understood.
Certainly, losing something precious was more terrifying than one’s own death or injury.
“Aslan isn’t here. If she were, she probably would have stopped you.”
Coming out of her thoughts, Angie heard Tiamat’s words and looked at him.
“What are you trying to say?”
“Are you really okay going alone?”
His tone was subtle but direct.
Ignoring the brusqueness, Tiamat answered immediately, causing Angie to flinch.
Leaving the frozen woman aside, Tiamat added,
“Richard can handle his tasks alone without me. He may seem absent-minded usually, but he’s reliable in a fight. Or… you could bring Richard along too.”
Tiamat tilted his head toward Angie, compensating for his lost eyes.
“The three of you together should make it easy enough. Or you could call Aslan. She’d drop everything to come help you.”
Only then did Angie fully consider Tiamat.
Tiamat’s senses were superior even to Aslan’s.
Such a Tiamat couldn’t possibly have missed the conversation between Angie and the informant.
Tiamat was offering his help now.
Or suggesting it would be better to bring Aslan.
Hearing this, Angie thought.
Aslan really would do that.
She would abandon whatever she was doing and come to help Angie.
The urge to do so momentarily arose.
The woman parted her lips.
The opened mouth closed again, and beyond the impulse, another emotion stirred.
Guided by that emotion, the woman shook her head.
Tiamat must have sensed the shake but remained silent.
“I’ll do it alone.”
“Are you really okay?”
The woman clearly conflicted. However, the conflict didn’t last long. Closing her eyes briefly, she nodded.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
Actually, she wasn’t fine. But the woman had made her decision.
“You and Richard have your own tasks. I’ll try handling it alone.”
Smiling wryly, Angie’s expression prompted Tiamat to lift the corner of his mouth.
All the warriors in the group, having experienced countless battles or intense fights, were complete as warriors.
Everyone except Angie had thrown themselves into struggle before meeting Aslan, choosing the path of warriors.
When Angie first joined the group, she was just a child with strength, fighting for and because of Aslan.
Dragonborn rise, take up weapons, choose their foes, and are only then recognized as warriors.
Thus, Tiamat said,
“You’ve grown stronger.”
As Angie’s expression changed in surprise, Tiamat adjusted the bow on his shoulder and continued,
“Come back safely.”
Tiamat moving away.
As the towering dragonborn slowly walked toward the opposite end of the corridor, Angie stared at his back for a while.
Angie clenched her fists.
[Angela Tail]
[Level: 16]
[Strength 18] [Agility 10] [Health 20]
[Mana ■] [Spirit ■] [Luck ■]
