Chapter 47. Lagnis

The agonizing scream of a man.

The crackling sound of a Dark Elf, now kindling, burning.

And surrounding him, the undeniable evidence of Divine Power.

Even amidst the euphoria of his extended life and successful revenge, Lagnis struggled to grasp the situation.

A strange exhilaration he’d felt for a while now was reacting to *something*.

The source of this unease was the masked, enigmatic figure who seemed to have been there all along.

“Hello.”

Their eyes met, and the figure offered a casual greeting.

To Lagnis, he didn't appear human at all.

“...Monster?”

‘That’s harsh.’

Hiding his indignant thoughts, the figure tilted his head slightly.

The silent, bobbing motion felt quite threatening to Lagnis.

“Think whatever you like.”

“...!”

He didn't bother with a lengthy explanation.

She would naturally realize it soon enough.

“Why did you save me?”

Granted the freedom of thought, Lagnis humbled herself.

Ron, pleased with her change in demeanor, decided to answer her question.

[Black Sun's Incarnation: How dare a mere Elf...!]

“You looked like you needed help.”

“What does that...”

Offering help and kindness is, after all, up to the giver.

-Ding!

[Hostile target approaching!]

Simultaneously, he opened the Map and confirmed multiple red dots approaching from near the dense forest.

“It’s not over yet, huh?”

“....!”

While waiting for a brief conversation, he started to conjure black flames around them using Black Name.

A mystical power existing not for mere burning, but for achieving a specific purpose.

-Whoosh!

As I imbued my will into the Divine Power, it enveloped the area, not to incinerate the forest, but to create an impassable barrier.

“.....”

Lagnis seemed lost in thought, observing the phenomenon I had created.

A power similar to the one she had just used to eliminate the Assassin.

By now, she should have a good idea of who I am.

“Let’s chat for a bit.”

Thanks to the Divine Power, she could hold a short conversation, but stepping outside this area would mean instant death.

So, to determine her potential usefulness in my future plans, I decided to have a brief interview.

***

Lagnis was a fugitive.

A heretic banished from the sacred forest for violating Elven taboos.

A world deeply influenced by Constellations.

The lives of Elves were no different from others.

Blessings for those chosen by a Constellation, misfortune for those not.

In Lagnis's case, her misfortune was of a particularly nasty sort.

The Elven Constellation was, naturally, the World Tree, and all Elves relied on its blessings for their continued existence.

“You were their most cherished Elf?”

“...Yes.”

“Then why are you now…”

“I refused the blessing.”

“Oh.”

What a trendy follower.

While others would spend their lives just to catch a whiff of a Constellation, our little Dark Elf had a completely different approach.

Ignoring the Black Sun, fuming at this unprecedented irreverence, I continued the conversation.

“Why?”

“We Elves worship the World Tree Constellation and must return to its embrace when our time comes. Otherwise, we suffer a terrible Curse.”

“Yeah, I know that.”

As someone who played the Game diligently, I wouldn't miss such a minor detail.

The Elves lived in the Great Forest, where the giant World Tree resided.

The World Tree belonged to the Constellation, and all Elven power stemmed from it.

However, I couldn't sense any Divine Power from Lagnis.

‘Is this why she's an Aptitude Holder?’

Just an empty shell.

An Elf devoid of Divine Power and the Mana it provides had a predictable fate.

“When the time comes, Elves must sacrifice their remaining life force as an offering to the World Tree.”

“And you didn’t like that?”

“....”

Her silence was an answer in itself.

“Straightforward, I like it.”

I appreciated the lack of complicated circumstances.

“You hate Constellations, don’t you?”

“I…”

“You can be honest. I hate those Constellation bastards too.”

Lagnis’s expression shifted noticeably.

While it wasn't uncommon for Constellations to dislike each other, openly expressing such negativity was rare.

It was practically spitting in one's own face.

“Now.”

I decided to get to the point.

I pointed a finger outside the barrier.

Although Black Name obscured clear vision, the Map showed over twenty red dots.

They clearly had no intention of letting the disgrace to their clan live.

“If I remove these flames, the same guys who you killed, the Assassins, will come running.”

Lagnis reacted stoically, as if accepting her inevitable fate.

“I am a disgrace to the Elves.”

“So you're just going to die?”

The Lagnis I first saw showed no signs of resignation or surrender.

“Do you want to die a meaningless death, achieving nothing against those who did this to you?”

A beast-like ferocity.

It reminded me of Lisia’s past, the raw, untamed desperation that still remained vividly etched in my memory.

“Even so, it doesn't matter.”

If she hesitated any further, I was prepared to let this be her final moment.

I could find followers elsewhere.

But then...

“...I want to.”

“What?”

“I want revenge…!”

Lagnis finally gave the answer I was waiting for.

“On whom?”

“On the bastards who did this to me… Sob!”

Tears streamed down Lagnis's face.

Red streaks from the wound on her cheek mingled with the tears, making it appear as though she was crying blood.

“Yes, yes.”

Good mindset.

I snapped my fingers, and the black flames surrounding us vanished instantly.

[The Elf, 'Lagnis,' has become your follower!]

[A quest has arrived.]

[Follower, 'Lagnis,' must eliminate all 'Dark Elf Assassins' (0/23)]

[Upon quest completion, a reward will be given.]

‘It's been a while.’

As expected, there's a lot of overlap with Lisia's situation.

If I put the two of them together, I feel like some good synergy will happen.

Mainly, Lisia could give good advice as a senior.

Burying the image I was quietly anticipating in the corner of my mind, I opened the skill tab.

I cast invisibility on myself, and at the same time, I cast a small Blessing on Lagnis, my first follower, in the name of Black Name.

“.....”

A densely overgrown forest.

Sharp gazes that seemed to pierce the skin could be felt between the trees.

The gathered assassins were bewildered by the unexpected situation.

“Do as you please.”

I spoke to Lagnis, who was facing them, and decided to quietly observe the situation.

***

“Hmm...?”

Lisia, who was in the midst of dealing with the followers of the hostile Religious Order, tilted her head at an unknown energy.

With one hand, she roughly wiped the blood off her cheek and twisted the spear she was holding, ending the life of the follower she was trampling on.

-Crack!

“Ugh.”

The follower of the Eternal Sleeper died instantly.

-Crackle.

Looking at their Religious Order being swept away by the flames, Lisia felt a sense of accomplishment as she offered her daily Prayer.

“H-How dare you...! This is blasphemy!!”

A crazed follower who rushed in from somewhere didn't need to be dealt with.

-Slash!

“Gah.”

Herien, the Hero's aide and the Sword Saint, had already eliminated him.

“Phew.”

“Is everything taken care of on your side?”

Herien, unfazed by Lisia's cool gaze and question, replied calmly.

“Thanks to the tight encirclement, there's no trace of any escaped followers.”

“That’s good. We can't leave any heretics who oppose Father God alive.”

Could this truly be the same gentle follower from before?

At least, when I first dealt with her, I didn't feel this kind of momentum.

No, it was structurally impossible.

Back then, the situation just unfolded that way.

A minor misunderstanding.

Nothing more, nothing less than that.

But now, it’s different.

The faith she cherishes and loves more than anything has been defiled.

“We must move faster than anyone else. That is my calling.”

“...You don't have to push yourself so hard. There won't be many beings who can oppose the Absolute Being and still live in this world.”

“No.”

Lisia corrected Herien’s assumption as she readied her weapon.

“There are none. There are no beings who can defy Him and live.”

“....”

A truly unwavering, righteous attitude.

Herien subtly turned her Head away at those words.

It was too overwhelming to face directly.

‘But what was that energy from before?’

Something had caught Lisia's senses, which were sensitive to Divine Power.

It was somewhat different from what she would feel in a crisis or urgent situation—

It felt similar to a Revelation meant to achieve a certain purpose.

But it felt like that calling was delivered to someone else, not herself.

‘Interest. Father God’s interest.’

The news that Belladis had received Holy Blood from Lord God came as quite a shock to Lisia.

My true Father God, my Father God.

She never had such irreverent and presumptuous thoughts, but a wicked desire kept whispering to Lisia from a corner of her Heart.

Wouldn’t it be okay to wish for a little more, as much as others desire?

“....”

Lisia shook her Head and moved on to find her next Goal, trying to clear her complicated thoughts.

***

“Huff, huff...!”

Someone runs through the dense forest.

With deep fear in their Eyes, they desperately moved their legs to survive.

In a situation completely opposite to the previous one, Lagnis prepared her trump card with a hollow laugh.

[Dark Elf Assassin (22/23)]

Around her were corpses already burning in black flames.

Every single one of them had rushed to take Lagnis' life.

-Whoosh!

The black flames spreading from Lagnis' left arm manifested once again in the shape of a bow.

In her remaining empty hand, Black Name’s bow was ready, seeking its next prey.

-Creak.

There's no need for a bowstring with the manifestation of Divine Power.

It's enough to simply wish and believe.

She pulled back the imaginary bowstring with all her might and released the arrow.

“....Ah.”

The fleeing assassin looked back.

At the last moment of their life, they faced the swiftly approaching form of death.

“Gah-”

There was no response.

[Quest Complete!]

[Reward has been granted!]

-Clap. Clap. Clap.

The situation was resolved.

Turning her Head at the presence she felt again, she saw an unknown figure looking at her with a satisfied attitude.

“How is it? Feel better?”

“...No.”

Lagnis shook her head.

She wanted more victims.

The desire to repay the malice she had received twofold continued to wriggle within her.

“If I serve you, can you grant my wish?”

“Of course.”

Ron smiled under his mask and nodded.

“If you follow my instructions well, I’ll give you even more than that.”

-Thump. Thump.

Lagnis’ Heart pounded with a strange anticipation.