<h4>Chapter 94</h4>


    The scream reverberated through every corner of the vige, waking the vigers who began to emerge from their homes one by one, each clutching something that could be used as a weapon.


    "..." Urd, an old man with one eye and one arm, was the only one who hade out empty-handed.


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


    "Why are all the warriors gathered over there?"


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


    "<i>Screech! Screech—!</i>" Another scream echoed, so harrowing it seemed to whiten their minds and bring on dizziness. Amid the gasps of the vigers, 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.


    "<i>Squeak! Screech!</i>" 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 vige...?"


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


    "<i>Screeeech!</i>"


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


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


    "...He’sing."


    "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 usuallyposed grandson''s face was now a mix of shock and tion. In contrast, Valeri following him wore an expression as nk as wax. Several warriors hurried down to the vige gate, unlocking the bar that held it.


    <i>Creeeeak—</i>


    The gate slowly swung open.


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


    "By Karha..."


    "He has in that demon...!"


    Everyone waspletely captivated by the sight of the giant head cradled in the arms of the ck-haired foreigner. It looked nothing like the harpiesmonly known. Its hairless, snow-white head shimmered as if covered in scales.


    Where the eyes should have been, there was only a t expanse, and below it, a gaping maw studded with what looked like shards of broken ss. 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 vige, with its neck severed. As the man with ck hair, who had introduced himself as Ian Hope, moved, glossy ck 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 ck 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 vigers whispered among themselves.


    <i>Could it really be that he is actually from the North?</i>


    With the same thought, Urd watched Ianing toward him. ck hair, ck 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 vige 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 isplete. Any objections?"


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


    "None. You havepleted the request."


    His voice involuntarily became reverent.


    "I wille 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 vigers 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.


    <i>Creak, ng.</i>


    The sound of the rusty door hinge signaled the end of the vige''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 vige 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 sphemously without care. Of course, Ian paid no mind to thatment. 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 Sr also shone like that before."


    <i>I hadn''t expected the barbarian gods to show interest in me either. </i>


    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 dly use it."


    <i>Although I would never worship anyone. Not now, nor in the future. </i>


    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.


    <i>Her voice is still lively despite her im of feeling unwell</i>.


    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 particrly dangerous. It was also a matter ofpatibility. 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 ws 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 de could prate 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.


    <i>Indeed, it seems I''ve be much stronger than before.</i>


    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 rtively 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 bing apparent since the scenario reset.


    <i>Though it''s hard to say it''s purely magical growth...</i>


    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 nonchntly.


    "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 difort. It was a bit more familiar now, but it was still an ufortable 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 vige 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 in the White Demon."


    <i>Trying to solidify ties, just an escape from reality</i>, 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 avable, a horse will suffice."


    "Understood."


    Ian then proceeded straightaway. The vigers he passed by bowed their heads one by one. He was ustomed to people''s attitudes changing afterpleting a request, but this time it was more pronounced.


    <i>Don''t get your hopes up. I have no intention of bing your apostle.</i>


    Recallingst night''s quest and ncing 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.


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


    Ian sat down at the table, and Urd promptly ced 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." cing the pouch back on the table, Ian looked at Urd. "What have you done to the head?"


    "We''ve ced it at the banquet hall. It will be on disy 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 vige."


    Ian chuckled. "I don''t serve Karha, nor do I intend to be 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.


    <i>If it''s not an apostle quest, then what does this mean?</i>


    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 <i>Champion of the North</i>?"


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