Fateful Encounter?

The early morning air was cold.

Deep within the Geomun Gorge, hidden among the red rock walls, our hideout was shrouded in violet smoke.

Even the moonlight barely reached this place, where my comrades were performing their sacred ritual as they did every day.

“Grrr… Craaah!”

The Canyon Wolf locked in the deepest cell of the hideout let out a pained howl.

Once a sleek and beautiful wild wolf, it now lay with its eyes rolled back, foaming violet bubbles at the mouth, its body convulsing uncontrollably.

“Good, that’s enough,”

a superior figure in a robe muttered in satisfaction.

Dark magic flowed from his hand, seeping into the wolf’s body.

I watched the scene from a distance, feeling a heaviness in my chest.

When I first saw this ritual, I was truly shocked.

But now… I understand that it’s necessary for Abelaxas’ great plan.

Abelaxas wants to grant humanity true enlightenment.

To make them realize how weak and foolish they are, how fleeting their civilization is.

And sacrifices are needed for this process.

“Next!”

Another cell door opened.

This time, it was a Crag Grizzly.

The massive bear was already writhing in agony from the ritual.

I turned my head away.

Even though it’s a sacred ritual, watching the process directly still weighs heavily on my heart.

I gazed into the darkness of the gorge, lost in other thoughts.

It’s been two months.

Since we started modifying monsters here and sending them to the Kingdom of Genes and the Heshet Empire.

The monsters sent to the Heshet Empire are performing exceptionally well.

But the situation with the Kingdom of Genes is different.

At first, it was effective.

The kingdom’s border villages were attacked, and the people trembled in fear.

But since then…

“It failed again,”

the superiors, who had finished the ritual, gathered in the darkness.

As a low-ranking follower, I couldn’t participate in the meeting, but their voices were audible.

“Every time Frostia appears, the monsters we send don’t even get close to the kingdom-they turn to ice!”

“We should give up on the Kingdom of Genes! The power of that dragon is far greater than we imagined!”

“But we can’t keep bringing only disappointing news to Abelaxas!”

The voices grew more heated.

I leaned in closer.

“Then we need another plan. Maybe infiltrate the kingdom directly…”

“Are you crazy? The followers inside the kingdom were all killed after that incident! Do you think we can just waltz into Frostia’s domain?”

“But sending monsters like this clearly has its limits!”

A long silence followed.

“…Let’s prepare for now. Someday, the dragon will let its guard down.”

“Understood.”

Footsteps scattered in all directions.

The meeting seemed to be over.

I sighed.

Even the superiors can’t find a clear solution.

But we can’t give up.

Abelaxas will surely show us the way.

“Rex.”

A voice called my name from the darkness.

“Yes!”

I hurried over to find a superior with a deeply hooded face.

“Take the night watch. Patrol the northern route and check for any abnormalities.”

“Understood!”

I bowed deeply.

Guard duty… It’s not my favorite task.

Walking alone through the dark gorge is always unsettling.

But this too is for Abelaxas.

I checked the sword at my waist, shouldered the torch, and left the hideout.

The night gorge was entirely different from its daytime appearance.

By day, it was vast and majestic, but by night, it felt like being inside the mouth of a giant monster.

The red rock walls glowed ominously in the moonlight, and the wind howling through the gorge sounded like someone’s moans.

Only the sound of my footsteps broke the silence.

But I wasn’t afraid.

I believed Abelaxas would protect me.

As I walked, thoughts began to surface in my mind.

I’m twenty-two this year.

It’s been five years since I started serving Abelaxas.

I was once a ordinary farmer’s son in my hometown, but now I have the honor of serving a great god.

Looking back, I’m truly grateful.

When our village faced famine and starvation, Abelaxas’ messenger appeared.

He brought the true teachings of god and I realized…

How vain and false everything I had believed in until then was.

The god of light, Michel? The sun god, Solaris?

Those are just illusions created by humans.

The true god is only Abelaxas.

Only he can reveal the truth of this world and grant us salvation.

Of course… my family didn’t understand.

Especially my parents, who cried and pleaded with me not to leave.

But I didn’t waver.

I decided to live for a greater family, a greater purpose.

Even now, I sometimes miss them.

But I don’t regret this life of serving Abelaxas.

It’s just that sometimes I think…

When will I ever marry?

At twenty-two, I’m already at the age when people in my village would have married and started families.

Most of my friends back home probably have wives and children by now.

But here…

There are so few women among Abelaxas’ followers.

In our hideout alone, there are forty men but only three women.

And they’re all superiors.

Sometimes I pray to Abelaxas for a personal wish.

To grant me a companion, a beautiful woman who can share in Abelaxas’ teachings.

“Hoo…”

The sigh escaped unintentionally.

Lost in such thoughts, I had walked deeper into the gorge than I intended.

Just as I thought it was time to turn back, I heard a sound.

“Huaaang…”

A faint noise came from somewhere.

I stopped and listened.

Was it the wind?

Or the cry of a wild animal?

“Why do I always end up here! Why does it keep bringing me back!”

It was unmistakably a human voice.

Moreover… a woman’s voice.

My heart began to race.

What is a woman doing in this dangerous gorge at this late hour?

Could she be a scout from the kingdom or empire tracking us?

But her voice… was truly beautiful.

Clear and pure, like the sound of a flower petal touched by morning dew.

Even with tears in her voice, it moved my heart.

Perhaps even more because of it.

I felt my chest tighten.

Not exactly pain, but a surge of strong emotion, as if something hot was bursting from deep within me.

“Um… Are you okay?”

I spoke in the softest voice I could manage.

She wiped her tears and looked up at me.

In the moonlight, her face was… indescribably beautiful.

“Hey you!”

She suddenly shouted.

“Evil God follower!”

What!?

How did she know?

I hadn’t shown any signs of being a follower!

“I won’t kill you if you let me leave!”

Her desperate voice pierced the night air.

Ah, I see.

Realization struck me.

Converting her, it seems, is the trial and blessing Abelaxas has given me!

She is lost, both in this gorge and in life.

So Abelaxas has sent me here to guide her to the right path.

But… if I bring her to the hideout now, the other followers would…

Especially the superiors…

No.

That’s not right.

I can’t put such a beautiful and pure woman in that danger.

For now, I should send her back home.

And after our mission is complete, I’ll find her again and slowly teach her Abelaxas’ teachings.

By then, she’ll understand my good intentions.

She’ll see that Abelaxas’ followers are not just evil.

And in the process…

Perhaps deeper feelings will blossom between us.

“Don’t worry.”

I forced a gentle smile.

“I’ll make sure you get home safely.”

Her eyes widened in surprise.

“We have a wyvern at our hideout. You can ride it and be home in no time.”

“Really! Is that your hideout!? Let’s go! Now!”

Suddenly, she smiled brightly.

In that moment…

Time seemed to stop again.

Her smile was dazzling.

Like sunlight cutting through the darkness, or a full moon rising in the night sky.

The moment I saw that smile, all sorts of fantasies exploded in my mind.

A vast meadow, a small cottage, and us standing hand in hand in front of it.

“We’ll start every morning by praying to Abelaxas and giving thanks,”

I whisper to her.

“With you by my side, even an emperor would be envious.”

She smiles shyly.

“Thanks to you, I’ve come to know the love of the true God.”

Our children run toward us.

A son and a daughter, both as beautiful as her.

“Daddy, Mommy!”

We embrace the children…

“Hey! Why are you spacing out! Let’s go already!”

Her voice snapped me back to reality.

I realized I had a foolish grin plastered on my face, and she was glaring at me with her arms crossed.

“Hahaha… Sorry. Let’s go now.”

I scratched my head, feeling embarrassed.

Maybe I got ahead of myself.

As we approached the hideout, I mustered the courage to ask,

“Um… Would it be okay if… we meet again sometime?”

“Huh?”

She tilted her head in confusion.

“I-I just wanted to check if you got home safely…”

The truth was different.

I wanted to meet her again, to slowly teach her Abelaxas’ teachings.

And… perhaps develop deeper feelings along the way.

“Hmm… I’ll think about it.”

Her answer was ambiguous, but not a complete refusal.

There’s hope!

The hideout finally came into view.

Hidden between the rocks, it was a place that outsiders could never find.

“Wow! Is this it?”

She asked cheerfully.

But…

The guards at the hideout entrance were staring at us with strange expressions.

Their faces… were odd.

Especially Senior Garton’s face had stiffened severely.

His eyes widened, his pupils trembling violently.

Something…

Something was wrong.

“Prepare for battle!”

Garton’s thunderous shout tore through the night.

In an instant, the hideout erupted into chaos.

Followers scrambled to grab their weapons and rush out.

Mages began preparing spells, warriors drew their swords.

What… What is going on?

I looked at Rico in confusion.

But she was still smiling softly.

A sense of unease began to rise.