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Chapter 94

"Was that the scream of the White Demon...?"

"Why are all the warriors gathered over there?"

The villagers murmured amongst themselves, but their conversation was abruptly cut short.

"Screech! Screech—!" Another scream echoed, so harrowing it seemed to whiten their minds and bring on dizziness. Amid the gasps of the villagers, Urd realized what was happening. The monster hunters were indeed battling the White Demon.

"...Who knew they’d start this abruptly." Muttering to himself, Urd walked toward the square.

"Squeak! Screech!" The high and low screams continued. The figures of the soldiers standing on the palisade came into the view of the old man’s one good eye.

"Really, just the three of them..."

Urd\'s sigh was cut short as his gaze drifted to a statue in one corner of the square and murmured, "O Northern superhuman..."

The greatsword of the statue was emanating a red sanctity. The blood that gathered at the tip of the sword was evaporating into divine energy.

"Oh... Ooh...."

"Is Karha’s avatar saving our village...?"

The villagers murmured among themselves. Some began to pray toward the statue, even though they knew Karha was not a God who responded to prayers.

"Screeeech!"

The deathly scream erupted once again. The first to turn silent were the soldiers on the ramparts. Their silence spread to the village, quieting the murmuring villagers.

Only the red light spreading from Karha’s statue silently illuminated the surroundings.

"...He’s coming."

"My God... To think he did it alone...?"

"Two? Just the two of them?"

Sigh and awe began to ripple among those on the ramparts. The warriors, one by one, hesitantly moved toward the main gate. Their gaze slowly lowered.

"Open the gate! Now!"

The cry that followed was a very familiar voice to Urd. It was Askel. Urd, shifting his gaze from the statue, saw Askel hurrying along the rampart. His usually composed grandson\'s face was now a mix of shock and elation. In contrast, Valeri following him wore an expression as blank as wax. Several warriors hurried down to the village gate, unlocking the bar that held it.

Creeeeak—

The gate slowly swung open.

On the other side, the black-haired outsider, Ian, strolled into the village. The black-furred beastfolk followed behind, but no one threw a leery look in her way.

"By Karha..."

"He has slain that demon...!"

Everyone was completely captivated by the sight of the giant head cradled in the arms of the black-haired foreigner. It looked nothing like the harpies commonly known. Its hairless, snow-white head shimmered as if covered in scales.

Where the eyes should have been, there was only a flat expanse, and below it, a gaping maw studded with what looked like shards of broken glass. Its sagging, thick tongue was forked like a snake\'s. Two horns sprouted from the front and back of its head, curving toward each other to form a shape resembling a crown.

"The White Demon..."

The monster that had long terrified them was being carried across the village, with its neck severed. As the man with black hair, who had introduced himself as Ian Hope, moved, glossy black blood dripped from the messily cut surface of the neck. Yet he seemed utterly unfazed by it. His face and body were already smeared with the same black fluid.

As Urd watched him in a daze, he suddenly turned his gaze to the side again, feeling that the light from the statue of Karha had grown even more intense. It wasn\'t an illusion.

As Ian approached, the divine power flowing from Karha\'s greatsword grew denser.

"Why would Karha, to such a foreigner...?"

"Could he be from the North?"

A few of the villagers whispered among themselves.

Could it really be that he is actually from the North?

With the same thought, Urd watched Ian coming toward him. Black hair, black eyes, and fair skin. Though he looked too hairless and slight of build for a Northerner, thinking him a half-breed wouldn\'t be too strange. Finally, Ian crossed the quiet village and arrived in front of him.

"Ah... I just bathed today," Ian murmured quietly enough for only Urd to hear, then tossed the head he was carrying at Urd’s feet. The giant head rolled on the ground. His voice remained calm.

"The task is complete. Any objections?"

After looking into Ian\'s indifferent black eyes for a moment, Urd eventually responded.

"None. You have completed the request."

His voice involuntarily became reverent.

"I will come for my payment tomorrow." Ian nodded and turned away.

As Ian approached, the statue of Karha scattered brighter light.

Ian frowned slightly and stopped to look at the statue. The shock was now evident on the faces of several villagers and warriors who had just realized the state of the statue. Ian paused only briefly. Chuckling softly, he continued walking to the house he was staying in.

Creak, clang.

The sound of the rusty door hinge signaled the end of the village\'s nightmarish night. Looking down at the monster\'s head lying at his feet, Urd let out a soft sigh.

"Then could he really be...?"

***

"I feel like I\'m going to throw up." Thesaya groaned, lying in bed. She had been in this state since early yesterday morning.

“You’re really showing your impure nature, aren’t you? And you did nothing.”

"What do you mean, nothing? I found the location of that monster."

"You\'ve done a great deed, indeed, dear."

“Just hang on. We’ll be leaving the village soon.” Ian said as he donned his roughly cleaned gear.

“Why is Karha going crazy all of a sudden? Did he fall for you or something?”

Thesaya spoke blasphemously without care. Of course, Ian paid no mind to that comment. The statue was not merely emanating divinity; it had presented him with a quest he had never seen before.

"Well, it\'s not the first time. The statue of Lu Solar also shone like that before."

I hadn\'t expected the barbarian gods to show interest in me either.

Ian shrugged and swallowed the rest of his words. The barbarian warriors in the game were second to none when it came to their disdain for mages.

"It seems all the Celestial gods desire you, Ian," Charlotte remarked, almost in admiration.

Indeed, she seemed proud as if it were her own achievement. Her eyes filled only with respect and affection for Ian.

Ian snorted dismissively. "Let them do as they please. If they lend their power, I\'ll gladly use it."

Although I would never worship anyone. Not now, nor in the future.

To him, the gods of this world were merely tools to be utilized, never objects of worship. Beyond emotions, it was a practical stance. There were already enough constraints. Moreover, it was unclear how the divine mark would interact with the fragment of chaos.

“So, how was it? The Harpy Queen,” Thesaya added.

Her voice is still lively despite her claim of feeling unwell.

Ian then responded, "It was nothing special."

Perhaps because the giant specters had been so powerful, the battle with the mutated Harpy Queen hadn’t felt particularly dangerous. It was also a matter of compatibility. The Harpy Queen used powerful mind-affecting charms and deadly screams as her main weapons, both of which Ian’s Mental Fortitude and Resistance could easily withstand. The sharp claws and teeth were more of a threat.

Ian had already known the strategy to attack the wing membranes first to impair its flying abilities, and its defenses were so weak that even the Wind Blade could penetrate them. If he had used more attack magic, he could have captured it without a single drop of fluid on him. The reason he hadn\'t done so was simply because he didn\'t want to reveal himself as a mage to the barbarians of the North.

Indeed, it seems I\'ve become much stronger than before.

Ian mulled over this as he flexed his fist. Of course, facing an enemy as strong as the Legion Commander of a fallen nation, and then battling a relatively easier-named monster made it feel more significant. However, even looking at his stats alone, there was a significant improvement since the beginning. The effects of the stacked quest rewards were slowly becoming apparent since the scenario reset.

Though it\'s hard to say it\'s purely magical growth...

Still, the fact that he was continuously getting stronger was meaningful enough. Ian finished preparing and started to walk out.

"Where are you going, Ian?" Thesaya asked nonchalantly.

"Going to get my payment," Ian replied just as indifferently as he opened the door. He frowned immediately.

Askel was standing in front of the door.

"...How long have you been standing there?"

"About two hours, I\'d say." Askel\'s response was calm, but his gaze held a mixture of awe and discomfort. It was a bit more familiar now, but it was still an uncomfortable feeling for Ian. His actions were not driven by any noble intentions or will. He preferred dealing with those who either feared or hated him.

"Have you been waiting to speak with me?”

"Yes. I wanted to ask if you could stay in the village for a few more days."

"Why?"

"We\'ve decided to hold a feast tomorrow afternoon. It would be great if you could attend since you\'ve slain the White Demon."

Trying to solidify ties, just an escape from reality

, Ian thought and replied.

"Your great warrior probably won’t like that."

"It was Valeri who insisted we must invite you, Ian."

"Is that so...?" Ian shrugged his shoulders. "I\'ll think about it. For now, I\'m going to your house."

"Are you going to collect your payment? My old man will be waiting for you."

Ian nodded and gestured toward Charlotte who followed him out. "I can go alone, just guide Charlotte. She needs to buy things for the journey."

As Askel nodded, Charlotte passed him, remarking, "Finding a carriage might be difficult, Ian."

"I don\'t mind a cargo wagon. Check if it has a roof, and if not, just buy it as is. If that\'s not available, a horse will suffice."

"Understood."

Ian then proceeded straightaway. The villagers he passed by bowed their heads one by one. He was accustomed to people\'s attitudes changing after completing a request, but this time it was more pronounced.

Don\'t get your hopes up. I have no intention of becoming your apostle.

Recalling last night\'s quest and glancing at the statue of Karha, Ian snorted softly and walked past the square.

***

"You\'re here." Urd, an elderly man, stood up from his chair. His expression and tone were not much different, but they were noticeably more respectful.

If I do a few more deeds like yesterday, they might worship me instead of Karha.

Ian sat down at the table, and Urd promptly placed a small pouch in front of him.

"Here is the promised payment."

Ian picked up the pouch. Two gold coins—a substantial sum, possibly from his days of service in past wars.

"Excellent." Placing the pouch back on the table, Ian looked at Urd. "What have you done to the head?"

"We\'ve placed it at the banquet hall. It will be on display at tomorrow\'s feast."

"I thought you were worried about retaliation."

"It doesn\'t seem likely now. Some warriors mentioned that Karha has sent his avatars to protect the village."

Ian chuckled. "I don\'t serve Karha, nor do I intend to become his apostle."

"There\'s been a misunderstanding. Karha does not appoint apostles."

"Not even...? So, Karha has neither priests nor apostles?" Ian narrowed his eyes as he asked.

Urd nodded. "Karha is a superhuman who became God through his own power. That\'s why he needs nothing else."

"...But there\'s still a statue, and he blesses warriors, doesn\'t he?"

"That\'s merely because he holds those who walk the same path in fond regard. There\'s no other reason. The offerings warriors sometimes make to Karha are just to boast of their deeds."

Ian\'s head tilted slightly.

If it\'s not an apostle quest, then what does this mean?

Staring at his quest log, Ian turned back to Urd, believing the old man might have the answer.

"I have something to ask."

"Good, I have something to ask you as well. You go first."

"What exactly does it mean to be the Champion of the North?"

"...!" Urd, who was smiling placidly, widened his eyes momentarily.