A Friend’s Mentor

Abyss Crater.

A massive circular pit located deep within the Arcana Desert.

It was a perfect circle, as if carved out by a fallen star from the sky.

Its depth was unfathomable, and countless monsters crawled out of it endlessly.

It had been two years and three months.

I had been wielding my sword without rest, day and night.

Thinking back to when I first arrived here still sends chills down my spine.

The relentless waves of monsters day and night.

Death Eagles, Sand Worms, Crimson Vipers…

Each one was an extremely dangerous being, above A-rank, yet they swarmed like ants.

On the first night, I couldn’t sleep.

If I closed my eyes for a moment, their claws and venom would target my neck.

I had to stay awake all night, fighting with the Holy Sword in hand.

On the second day, the third day…

Even after a week, the situation didn’t improve.

Instead, my body reached its limit, making things even more dangerous.

And on the tenth day, real crisis struck.

An S-rank monster, the Sand Drake, and a group of A-rank Basilisks appeared.

‘I’m going to die…’

In that desperate moment, I suddenly remembered the root Lycoris gave me.

I quickly applied the root’s juice to my sword and swung it at the nearest Sand Drake.

The violet blade merely touched it, but the S-rank monster convulsed and collapsed.

‘Such power…!’

But my joy was short-lived as the remaining monsters charged at me.

The venom could only take down one at a time, but there were over a hundred of them.

Just as I thought it was the end, my bracelet suddenly heated up and began draining my mana.

In an instant, the sky darkened, and a massive storm erupted.

The monsters were reduced to ashes in the blink of an eye.

‘This… was the true power of the bracelet…’

I realized then.

Lycoris was far more extraordinary than I had imagined.

A being who could casually give away such treasures as gifts.

It was a miracle that such a powerful existence accepted me and Seraphina as friends.

After that, things changed.

With Lycoris’ gifts, I could fight more boldly.

My reflexes quickened, my mana grew purer and more abundant.

My swordsmanship became more refined, and most importantly, my mind was tempered.

After six months, I could finally sleep deeply.

I understood the monsters’ attack patterns and secured a safe resting place.

After a year, I could claim half of the Crater as my territory.

The monsters in that area would retreat when they sensed my presence.

Now, after two years…

“Huu…”

Standing at the edge of the Crater, I let out a deep sigh.

Looking down, a strange sight unfolded.

A gigantic Rock Golem emerged but quickly retreated upon seeing me.

Even the Iron Scorpions, with their steel exoskeletons, fled in terror.

Even the Sand Bears, usually fearless, pushed each other to escape.

‘Is it really time to leave…?’

I examined my body.

It had changed beyond recognition compared to two years ago.

My muscles were denser, my reflexes faster than lightning.

Most of all, the amount of mana flowing through me had increased unimaginably.

Its purity was on a whole different level.

Seraphina’s last words came to mind.

“Bea, you must return safely. I’ll correct the temple’s misguided teachings by then.”

Her warm smile was vivid.

Now, I could return and surprise her with how much I’d grown.

I wanted to show her how strong I had become.

Sheathing my sword, I stood up.

It was time to go back.

Then…

A chill ran down my spine.

An enormous, unfamiliar evil presence flowed from somewhere in the desert.

‘What… what kind of presence is this…?’

My entire body tingled.

This presence was more dangerous than any monster I had faced.

Far beyond any monster.

Instinctively, I drew the Holy Sword.

The blade shone silver, slicing through the air.

I took out a small vial from my waist and applied it to the blade.

It was the last of the venom extracted from Lycoris’ root.

Something I had hoarded for two years.

The blade turned violet, emitting a unique fragrance.

As I left the Abyss Crater, a figure appeared in the distance.

A woman with black hair flowing in the wind, her beauty and elegance unmatched.

She seemed like a goddess emerging from darkness.

Yet, the aura she emitted was horrifyingly evil.

‘Who is she…?’

The discrepancy between her appearance and aura was staggering.

Her angelic face radiated demonic energy.

The contrast was terrifying.

I could no longer hesitate.

My battle-honed instincts warned me.

This opponent required full strength from the start.

I poured my mana into the bracelet.

The sky darkened as black clouds gathered, forming a massive storm.

Lightning struck from the sky toward the woman.

I charged at her with speed faster than the lightning.

It was the result of my relentless training.

Yet, just as my sword was about to strike her neck, my body froze.

‘What…?’

Confused, I looked around and saw black threads touching my arms and legs.

They didn’t bind me, yet I couldn’t move a finger.

Crack!

The lightning finally struck, but the black threads around her absorbed it completely.

With a wave of her hand, the storm dissipated, revealing clear skies.

‘Impossible…’

Despair washed over me.

The power gap was immense.

I thought I had become strong enough, strong enough to make S-rank monsters flee…

But before this woman, it all felt like child’s play.

‘What have I been doing all this time?’

Remorse filled me.

Such an overwhelming existence truly existed…

The woman circled me, sniffing the air as if smelling something.

“Hm… It smells like Lycoris…”

‘Lycoris!?’

My heart pounded.

She knew Lycoris?

“Mmph!”

The threads prevented me from speaking.

Even my voice was muffled.

“Oh, sorry. I’ll let you speak~”

The threads around my mouth and neck were cut.

Yet, my body remained paralyzed.

“Who are you! How do you know Lycoris!”

“Well, since you attacked me first and got caught, shouldn’t you introduce yourself?”

The woman tilted her head, smiling.

Her smile was beautiful but chilling.

“Ugh…”

I had no choice.

I couldn’t lie or resist.

“I am Beatrice… known as the Silver Hero.”

“A hero, huh? Interesting. What’s your relationship with Lycoris?”

“We met three years ago. She… helped me.”

“What kind of help?”

Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“She corrected the teachings I misunderstood… and gave me many gifts.”

I glanced at the bracelet.

“The scent on the sword is probably from Lycoris’ root.”

“Lycoris’ root?”

She approached my sword with greater interest.

Then…

She licked the blade.

!

How absurd!

“Mm~ It’s quite bitter, but not bad.”

She casually savored it like tasting tea.

That was the same venom that could take down any monster in an instant!

Awe surpassed fear.

How powerful was this woman?

Could it be that Lycoris was no match for her?

“Who are you?”

My voice trembled.

“Me? My name is Bellona~ I’m an Evil God~”

“Evil God… Bellona…?”

The world seemed to crumble.

“Bellona… an Evil God…?”

The term ‘Evil God’ alone was despair-inducing.

‘To meet an Evil God right after my training…’

It felt like fate’s cruel joke.

Two years of hardship ending like this.

“Kill me.”

Resigned, I lifted my head.

Die like a hero.

Seraphina’s face appeared in my mind.

Her warm smile, the promises we made…

‘I’m sorry… Sera… I couldn’t keep my promise…’

But Bellona tilted her head and said something unexpected.

“Oh? I don’t kill women. Only men~”

“What?”

It was baffling.

An Evil God sparing a hero?

Especially because I was a woman?

“And you received a root from Lycoris? Are you close?”

“Th-that…”

“Then I can’t kill you~”

Bellona smiled slyly.

The situation was incomprehensible.

“What’s your exact relationship with Lycoris?”

Bellona replied with a proud smile.

“I’m Lycoris’ mentor~”

“What? Mentor?”

It was absurd!

“Lycoris is a devout follower of Michel! She can’t be an Evil God’s disciple!”

Bellona laughed at my words, clapping her hands.

“Ah, I see~ She was Michel’s follower! Something mysterious about her made her invisible. Thanks to you, the mystery’s solved~”

“What are you…”

Lycoris being Bellona’s disciple?

What did that make Lycoris, whom I had known until now?

Bellona explained kindly, seeing my confusion.

“Even gods have different natures. Humans are the same. Some become heroes, others become followers of Abraxas~”

“But…”

“I used to play with Michel a lot. We’re close~”

‘What kind of Evil God is she…?’

My previous understanding of Evil Gods was shattered.

That an Evil God could befriend Michel and converse like this was astonishing.

“Why are you here?”

“To gather followers in the human world? Or to the desert? I came to the human world to gather followers and ended up here looking for a quiet place for my art~”

Bellona said with a cheerful expression.

Art?

Could there be a god of art among Evil Gods?

“What kind of art…?”

“Interested? Lycoris is also obsessed with it~”

Lycoris?

So she was her mentor?

Curiosity piqued.

Moreover, this Evil God seemed less evil than expected, even approachable.

Following such a being could reveal many secrets of the world.

And help me grow stronger…

Slowly, I nodded.

Bellona’s lips curled into a sly smile.

Something meaningful flickered in her gaze.