No matter which path we traversed along the medium-sized road, the putrid stench of decaying corpses lingered in the air, a grim testament to the suffering inflicted upon this vige.


    Some of the bodies were still fresh, indicating that the atrocities had been ongoing until recently. How much pain and anguish had these people endured at the hands of their tormentors?


    Elena, with herpassionate heart, couldn''t ignore the cries of those in need. She rushed to aid the wounded, attempting to heal their physical injuries.


    Yet, despite her efforts, the scars of their trauma ran deep, etched into their minds and souls. They recoiled from her touch, their gratitude overshadowed by the psychological torment they had endured.


    It was a heartbreaking realization that even healing their physical wounds couldn''t erase the trauma they had suffered.


    Whether it was the influence of demons driving the bandits to such depravity or the darkness within their own hearts, the fate of these bandits seemed sealed.


    ''Today, they would all die''


    I''m, pretty sure Alex is already killing a bandit or two quietly right now… considering his personality.


    As we continued our journey towards the vige center, where the source of the demonic energy could be pinpointed, we inadvertently stumbled upon a child.


    He collided with my side, tumbling to the ground in a heap of tangled limbs.


    "Ow…!"


    The child eximed in pain as he tried to scramble to his feet, his eyes widening with fear as he saw me observing him with curiosity.


    In a flustered attempt to apologize, he stammered, "I-I''m sorry!" before abruptly dropping to his knees and bowing his head to the hard, rocky ground.


    Though his disy of deference was unnecessary, I could sense the deep-seated fear in his eyes.


    It was clear he mistook me for one of the bandits who had wrought havoc upon his vige.


    "Are you alright?" I inquired, stepping closer to him with genuine concern etched into my features.


    "Y-yes," he replied, his voice tinged with grogginess as he struggled to regain hisposure. His gaze remained fixed on me, his eyes brimming with curiosity and apprehension.


    As I pondered the child''s condition, Elena approached my side, her gentle touch grounding me in the midst of the chaos surrounding us.


    "Ian, this ce…."


    Though her face was obscured by the white veil that draped over her features, I could sense the intensity of her gaze as she focused on the strange markings adorning the child''s neck—a telltale sign of a curse.


    "Yeah, it''s worse than I thought…."


    Not even a young child like him had been spared from the horrors that befell them.


    This innocent child had been touched by darkness, his youth and innocence marred by the malevolent forces that gued his home.


    "Kid, may I know your name?" I asked gently, extending a hand in a gesture of reassurance.


    "P-Peter," he replied timidly, his voice barely above a whisper.


    "Peter, huh? That''s a very nice name. Back from where Ie from, it''s a very honorable name for a person who serves God,"


    As I spoke Peter''s name, a small pang of sorrow washed over me, knowing the innocence he embodied had been tarnished by the cruelty of this world.


    But that is how it always works.


    ''The fate of the weak was dictated by the whims of the powerful''


    me could easily be cast upon the bandits who had wrought havoc upon this vige, or the demons whose malevolent influence had tainted its inhabitants.


    Some might even point fingers at my own family, whose actions had indirectly contributed to the chaos engulfing our world.


    But amidst the me and despair, one truth remained constant: those who were born weak and remained so would always find themselves at the mercy of others.


    This vige was merely a microcosm of that harsh reality—a stark reminder of the cruel hierarchy that governed our lives.


    Drawing closer to him, I gently patted his head, offering what littlefort I could to this child who had endured so much.


    Despite his apparent strength in the face of adversity, the fact that he remained unaware of his own demise only added to the tragedy unfolding before us. Elena trembled at my side, her emotions mirroring my own—sadness mingled with simmering anger.


    "You''re safe now, Peter," I reassured him, though my words rang hollow in the face of the grim reality we faced.


    If that bitchy goddess who presided over this world had any shred ofpassion, she would ensure that Peter found peace and happiness in his next life.


    As tears welled in his eyes, I moved swiftly, my hands guided by a grim resolve.


    With a flicker of divine light, I materialized a small sword, its ethereal de gleaming in the dim light.


    In one swift motion, I severed Peter''s neck, the de slicing through flesh and bone with ease.


    His head rolled to the ground, apanied by a faint sizzle as his form began to dissipate. ck smoke rose from his skin, obscuring his features until his true form was revealed—a rotting corpse, its visage twisted in a grotesque mockery of life.


    It was the work of a malevolent force, a cruel deception that preyed upon the souls of its victims, luring them into a false reality of eternal suffering.


    ….


    Arriving at the vige center, our attention was drawn to a rather sizable house that stood out amidst the dpidated surroundings—a structure that bore resemnce to a small mansion.


    It was likely the residence of the vige head, now likely deceased at the hands of the bandits who held sway over this forsaken ce.


    As we approached, our path was obstructed by two guards stationed at the gate.


    "Hey you stop tight there!"


    Their demands to halt fell upon deaf ears as I sensed the ominous presence of demons growing stronger with each passing moment.


    In that moment, the guards themselves seemed nothing more than sacrificialmbs, their souls ripe for the taking.


    I''m sure mom would like them as offerings the number of sins these guys havemitted is much more diabolical than what I originally thought the sweet scent of their tainted souls proves as such.


    "Are you deaf?"


    Ignoring the guard''s futile attempts to assert authority, I swiftly unsheathed the holy sword that materialized in my hand.


    "This fucking bastar—"


    With a single fluid motion, I severed the head of one guard, the de slicing through flesh and bone without a trace of blood staining its pristine surface.


    The other guard stood frozen in shock, his eyes wide with disbelief as he witnessed hisrade''s sudden demise. It took him a moment to gather his wits before he finally met my gaze, his expression a mixture of fear and resignation.


    "You… take me to your boss," Imanded, my voice unwavering as I stared into the depths of his soul.


    It was clear that the guard had seen something unsettling in my eyes, prompting him to flee in terror before meeting his demise at Elena''s hands.


    Despite my outwardposure, I couldn''t shake the feeling that my true intentions had been exposed, if only for a fleeting moment.


    "Elena, stay here for now,"


    "Why?" she asked, her hands trembling with apprehension.


    I could see the conflict within her—a conflict born from her innate kindness and sense of duty as a saintess.


    While her resolve was admirable, I knew that there were limits to what she could bear.


    The burden of taking a life, even that of an evil-doer, weighed heavily on her conscience, for each person she struck down was still human in her eyes.


    "Just stay. I''ll take care of them," I reassured her, knowing that her presence would serve as a deterrent to any who dared to challenge us.


    Though I had no intention of letting anyone escape my grasp, they would all die here today.


    ….


    As Ransolph stepped outside, his senses heightened, detecting a shift in the air that hinted at an impending change.


    ''Strange….''


    The usual raucousughter and drunken revelry that filled the air were conspicuously absent, reced instead by an eerie silence that hung over the surroundings like a shroud.


    Confusion furrowed his brow.


    ''Where had everyone gone to?''


    Normally, his subordinates would be indulging in their debauchery, reveling in the spoils of their conquest.


    Yet now, there was nothing but destion and emptiness, as if the very lifeblood of the ce had been drained away.


    Even the subordinate who had informed him of the situation had vanished without a trace. It was all too peculiar, but Ransolph pushed aside his bewilderment for the time being.


    Dwelling on such matters was not his style; he preferred a more straightforward approach to problem-solving.


    With a resigned sigh, he dismissed the oddities and focused on the task at hand.


    If someone had orchestrated this sudden disappearance, then they were likely still lurking nearby.


    And if that were the case, well, Ransolph had a simple solution in mind: eliminate the source of the problem.


    It was a n as straightforward as it was effective, and Ransolph couldn''t help but smirk at the simplicity of it all.


    ''It''s probably the bastard who called for me… how fun!''


    As Ransolph descended the steps, a sense of unease gnawed at him, exacerbated by the inexplicable brightness of the sun overhead despite the ominous clouds. Something felt off, and he couldn''t shake the feeling that danger lurked around every corner.


    Lost in his thoughts, he was jolted back to reality by a voice beside him, cutting through the silence like a knife. Startled, he turned to see a cloaked figure standing nearby, their features obscured by the shadowy depths of the hood.


    Caught off guard, Ransolph''s instincts kicked in, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his weapon. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice tinged with a mixture of caution and defiance.


    The cloaked figure remained unfazed, their presence exuding a palpable aura of power. "So you''re the bandit leader," they remarked, their tone calm andposed despite the gravity of the situation.


    Ransolph''s heart quickened at the implication behind the stranger''s words. Who was this person, and how did they know who he was?


    As the stranger revealed his face, Ransolph was met with a visage straight from his darkest nightmares.


    The features before him seemed to defy all naturalws, exuding an otherworldly aura that sent shivers down his spine.


    It was as if the embodiment of darkness itself stood before him, mocking his feeble attempts atprehension.


    A chill ran down Ransolph''s spine as he beheld the creature''s unsettling gaze, its eyes devoid of any semnce of humanity.


    The grotesque pallor of its skin and the pulsating tendrils that writhed beneath its surface only added to the horror of its presence.


    "What are you?" Ransolph managed to stammer, his voice trembling with fear and disbelief.


    He knew he was facing something beyond his wildest nightmares, something that defied all reason and logic.


    The creature''s smile widened, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth gleaming in the dim light.


    "What does it matter?" it replied, its voice sending shivers down Ransolph''s spine.


    "Run," it urged, the word echoing ominously in the air.


    Instinctively, Ransolph''s survival instincts kicked in, overriding any sense of bravado he might have mustered.


    Without a second thought, he turned on his heels and bolted, fleeing from the abomination that stood before him.


    He didn''t know what horrors awaited him, but one thing was certain: facing this creature was a death sentence he wasn''t willing to entertain.


    He didn''t survive this long as a bandit leader because of his strength alone.


    It was his keen instincts and a hefty dose of luck that propelled him to his current position of power.


    As panic surged through him like a raging river, Ransolph''s mind raced with profanities. ''Fuck...! Fuck...! Fuck...!''


    For the first time in his life, his instincts screamed at him with an urgency he couldn''t ignore.


    They weren''t just warning him of danger; they were telling him that his time was up.


    He was already dead....