Chapter 05: Man of the Gods

While Adam is trying to figure out the origin of Wolf God, in a village to the east young girl who is resting in her room heard a weird noise outside the house.

It was like something scratching on the wall, for a few minutes she ignored the noise until it got louder. Initially, she was hoping someone else in the house will check the situation but since noise is so disturbing, she decided to go and see for herself.

‘Strange’ she found that their living room is empty “Ren is that you?” she yelled her younger brother’s name thinking he must be playing a prank on her. She listened for a few more seconds but other than the scratching noise no answer is given to her, finally, she lost her calm “I will catch you myself” yelling she got out of the house.

The angered girl made her way toward the back of the house where noise is coming from. But her brother was not there. Strange looking girl with long lost black hair in a white dress in squatting by the house wall and scratching it.

“Who are you? What are you doing here?” girl felt strange and got angry at the same time looking at the stranger who is disturbing her rest. But latter keep doing what she was doing without turning back or giving an answer.

“Hey I am talking to you” she approached the girl and touched her shoulder and the moment she touched he hand went numb in cold as if the other person is made of ice. “Just who……...”

Her voice trailed off looking at the face turned in an impossible angle toward her, there were no eyes, mouth and nose looked as if it was cut off from the face. The most disturbing part was the skin it looked as if it was about to fall off at any moment.

‘No’ she wanted to run off at the moment and with all her remaining strength she turned back to find everything became dark, her house is gone and the village has disappeared “Come let’s play” a harsh voice called her from behind.

Moments later her scream broke out in the dark and then everything went silent.

Inside the house young boy who is playing with his toy looked at the opened door in confusion “Why didn’t sister come back yet?”

“Come back from where?” middle-aged woman who came out with a man from another room ask from the boy.

“She went out just now”

“I will check” the man got out from the house “Nina….”

Within a few minutes the whole village is in alert, even the guards came looking for the girl who has vanished from her own house.

“It’s already the fourth” an old man who joins the search muttered under his breath

…………………………..

The standoff between Karina’s adventurer party and Adam is still going on in the faraway road, mainly because Adam is going through system introduction and pondering himself how to brag saying he is a follower of the Wolf God ‘what’s with this executioner of evil part’ he is sure if he tries to execute someone now, it will be the other way around.

Karina and her people however in a difficult situation, their hands on the weapons as Adam Is keeping his silence making them feel immense pressure.

“Mr. Adam” she tried to speak calmly as possible to him again.

“I am a follower of the Wolf God” finally latter gave them a reply, even if it was only one sentence it gave everyone some relief. Then everyone realized what the man said ‘Follower of the Wolf God?’ Karina barely held her words without letting it out but she was not the only one here.

“Gods in this era?” one young girl among them let loose her tongue making everyone feel helpless, and that moment she felt the piercing blue gaze on her, she immediately looked at the ground with no courage to face the eyes that looks like judging their every move.

“Mr. Adam” Karina wanted to facepalm herself just when the things started to cool down one of their own let her mouth run wild. “She is just a child please don’t take offence”

Karina herself is 8^th tire warrior, among the young warriors she is powerful as empire knights and she did have the confidence to go against even a mage in similar level but she is in no mood to learn what is the capability of this so-called man of the gods.

“We came here because you are alone Mr. Adam” she hopes to make sure there will be no blood tonight “If it’s convenient you can travel with us tomorrow our carriages are faster; we are travelling toward Westwood village”

The last sentence from her caught the interest of Adam, ‘Westwood village’ even though he had no idea where it was, but it can’t be that far from the place he wants to go right?

“I am going to Westwood forest” he made the statement straying to get a hint from the other side, to be honest, he is in full alert and panic as he is unarmed against real adventurers. But all his emotions are hidden under the robe.

“Great we are heading toward the same direction Mr. Adam” she can finally have some relief as latter is ready to travel with them. “Then, shall we go to our camp?”

“How long will it take to reach there?” he wanted to know if he can reach there in time.

Karina had nothing to wonder as there are many places, they can reach the Westwood forest, but Westwood village is one of the closest. “Day after tomorrow by noon we will be there Mr. Adam”

Adam didn’t know what to say ‘maybe these clothes have some effect’ he thought how he became beggar to Mr. Adam. And getting there in two days is the best ‘completing this mission become too easy’ he thought getting up from the ground. But to Adam, there is no such thing as a free meal in this world.

…………………………….

“What a monster” old Archer keeping the night watch in the camp nudge at the young magician next to him.

“Who?” the young man had no idea who they are talking about

“Keep it down, he can hear us” old hunter nodded toward Adam who is still sitting with his back against a tree

“I thought he is sleeping” the Young man looked at Adam who had his eyes closed and breathing steadily.

“No, since he came here, he is always half-awake, never once let his guard down” old hunter can’t see through the mysterious man.

“Do you believe in gods?” The magician had his doubt, the only thing he knew was there is an old church in West coast city which had a history over a thousand years.

“In other kingdoms, there are some churches for different gods, they also have powerful knights, but most don’t have much followers exce[t for the few” old Archer as seen many things this young man had not seen. “But here in Crimson empire there is almost none, her majesty is not a believer of any god”

“Of course, why do we need gods, we are strong” young man said with pride.

In the crimson empire, their blood is naturally strong even women are born with the ability to practice magic or strength to become an adventurer.

“I don’t know about that but that man is not something people like us should offend” old archer got up to go around the camp again. But when this man around he felt a weird sense of security like around this man there is the protection of gods?

……………………….

Next morning group left the camp after early breakfast Adam is the only one who didn’t have anything to eat. First, he didn’t trust other people’s food especially in this unknown land, second, he can save some food if he eats near to the midday.

Adam got a space in the first carriage with few experienced adventurers who know when to speak and Karina as the leader got on the last carriage to watch the rear. They had few scouts going in the front to check the road.

Adam is fully focused on the road as they diverted into the road leading to the east with much less traffic, according to these people there were few hunting villages in this area guarded by one stronghold. However, the growing number of trees and bushes made Adam feel worried.

Along the way he got hungry and as his attention was fully focused on the road, he almost has forgotten the people around him, and he took out a bun from system storage. Suddenly he remembered there are others, Adam immediately looked around and saw amazement in their eyes, but since there was no hostility he decided to keep quiet and focus back on the road.

But these experienced group of people are wondering how to let their leader know that this man can use space magic and for that, the magician should be at least around 9^th tire. They felt lucky to have accompanied this man, 9^th tire magicians are not rare like 10^th tire but still, they are, like magic warriors, a force to be reckoned with.

Adam, who is worried about the road suddenly noticed the silver glow in the bushes. ‘not good’

“Stop” he immediately ordered. Carriage driver didn’t want to offend the 9^th tire magician and didn’t ask any more questions before stopping.

Adam waited patiently for a moment looking at the bushes and once confirmed there is no movements, he and got out of the carriage to see what is in the bushes.

“Mr. Adam, what is the problem?” Karina who is angry still kept his voice normal, ‘if you want to do something please wait until we stop for lunch’ she complained in her heart. Latter however completely ignored her as he is worried about the safety.

He approached in a bit hurry to the location with silver glow and there was a broken arrowhead fallen in the bushes, but what worried him more was that place was too clean, as if the arrowhead came here alone, but it was new and the small red rust in the steel tip is most probably blood.

Karina also noticed the abnormal place, “we better get out of here Mr. Adam” she was impressed by the man, he noticed something their scouts didn’t see. But if there is a danger, she is not going to face it.

“We are getting near to the Eastern stronghold and if we don’t stop for a break, we can reach their checkpoint before sundown” she looked at the man still keeping his eyes on the bushes. “what do you think Mr. Adam?” she asked with respect for this weird man.

Adam gave a nod and made his way back to the carriage looking at the far where the tall stone walls can be seen ‘hopefully nothing happens’