Chapter 81: A Frank Discussion
As Abyss and Leona, having finished their roasted goose, were looking for a place to wash their hands, they saw Flora emerging from Rebecca’s room, her gait unusual, as if she were trying to keep her legs together. She refused to explain, her face flushed, as if hiding a secret, even when Leona questioned her.
Had Rebecca given her a strange potion? Abyss couldn’t imagine what kind of potion could affect Flora’s walking style.
Unlike the predictable world of alchemy, Abyss’s battles against Outer Gods were unpredictable, a constant struggle for survival. Inspiration was crucial. Before sunset, he had taken Leona, who couldn’t sit still in the guesthouse, on a walk through Shodo Town, observing the people and their daily lives. They returned as dusk settled, not wanting to disturb Givia, who was still buried under a mountain of reports from her guerrilla units, trying to assess the current situation.
Upon their return, Flora was attempting to learn needlework, using an old curtain and a set of needles and thread she had found somewhere. Despite her lack of experience, she was surprisingly adept, her stitches neat and even.
Rebecca was still in her room, conducting experiments, lost in thought. A new, opaque steel container sat on her table, filled with a strange alchemical ingredient. She occasionally retrieved a small amount with tweezers, burning it to ashes in a crucible. Abyss was curious, but Rebecca, like Flora, remained tight-lipped, as if they were planning a prank.
As the sun set, the residents of Shodo Town returned to their homes, the training cries from the military camp ceasing to avoid disturbing the peace. The town was quiet and tranquil.
Leona, who had been reading a novel borrowed from the town’s library, perched on Abyss’s bed, her legs dangling, suddenly perked up. “ABC, someone’s coming. Are those the two people you mentioned earlier?”
“Oh, they’re here?” Abyss closed his notebook, standing up. “I should light a few lamps. It’s a bit dark in here. They might be scared.”
“You should reflect on your behavior earlier today. ‘Come to my room tonight’,” Leona said, mimicking his casual tone, her expression exaggerated. “Any girl would be scared of such an invitation!”
“You’re right,” Abyss said, nodding seriously, using magic to light the lamps in the room. “I’ll be more careful. Go and get Flora and Rebecca.”
The guards at the entrance soon informed Abyss that he had visitors. He nodded, his room now brightly lit, a subtle shimmering effect added to the ceiling with a simple spell.
Alva appeared at the door.
The brave warrior, seeing Abyss, showed no fear. She performed a standard salute, placing her right hand on her left clavicle and bowing. “Mr. Abyss, please accept my sincerest gratitude.”
As she bowed, Haina, who had been hiding behind her, was revealed. She glanced nervously at Abyss and Flora, then quickly bowed as well. “Thank you, Mr. Abyss.”
“Hmm? What are you thanking me for?” Abyss asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Without your intervention, we would have been crushed by the Church’s Supreme Golems. And we wouldn’t have retrieved the Fountain’s Draw—Saint Flora’s pendant,” Alva said, her gaze steady, meeting Abyss’s eyes. “We deeply regret stealing the Saint’s relic, but it was the only way to save Her Highness. The people of Ossi need her. The Restoration Army needs her leadership.”
“You saved our lives, and you saved Her Highness,” Haina added, her voice trembling slightly despite her prepared speech.
“Please, relax. Have a seat,” Flora said, pushing two chairs towards them.
“S-Saint… Saint Flora?” Haina stammered, her eyes wide with fear, too intimidated to sit down.
The Church’s most powerful Saint was offering her a chair. But that wasn’t the most shocking part. This Saint had been dead for over forty years! And now she was here, speaking to them, even offering them hospitality!
“It’s me. But don’t worry, we’re all friends of Givia,” Flora said, smiling gently. Her smile had a calming effect, easing Haina’s anxiety. She sat down.
“I invited you here to clear up any misunderstandings. There’s no need to be so formal,” Abyss said, addressing his guests, who still seemed a bit apprehensive. “I’m sure you have many questions. Why am I with Princess Givia? Why am I traveling with a Saint of the Church? What are my intentions? You want to know, don’t you?”
“Yes,” Alva said, nodding. Although she appeared calm and polite, her curiosity was evident.
“Let me answer the first question. It’s not a secret. We accompanied Givia on her journey to and from the Eastern Empire, offering our assistance. It started as a coincidence, but we realized our destinations aligned. We naturally became friends,” Abyss said, getting straight to the point.
Their expressions relaxed slightly. They were relieved to hear he meant no harm to Givia.
Necromancers had a terrible reputation. Finding one who wasn’t a ruthless killer was as difficult as finding a chaste dark elf. Their concerns were valid.
“Second, since you kept my secret, not revealing my identity to the Church, I’ll share something with you. I’m currently gathering a group of exceptionally talented individuals as my companions. Note that I said companions, not slaves. As you can see, beside you is Flora, the former Saint of the Church, and this is Princess Leona of the Western Empire, the world’s most skilled knight. And this is Rebecca, the youngest business tycoon in history,” Abyss said, introducing his followers.
He saw them gulp, clearly stunned by the revelation. He wasn’t worried about them spreading rumors. They weren’t gossipy, and there was nothing to gain from it. Even if they did, it wouldn’t be a problem. He and Flora could easily erase everyone’s memories.
“And third, my goals. My current objective is to uncover the truth about Prince Kevin and find a way to defeat the Lord of Nightmares. My ultimate goal, however, is to wage war against the gods. I intend to challenge the divine!”
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