Dragon and Ogre, Sacrifice and Sin (2)

After making my way through the long, long passage between worlds, a dazzling light appeared, accompanied by the suffocating scents of greenery and earth.

As the wind blew and the leaves rustled, the dappled sunlight falling across my face shifted.

It was a forest.

"Huh...? A forest?"

I had been certain we'd emerge at the "First Altar" in the Holy Capital, so I was left dumbfounded.

"————"

"————"

Nock-san and the centurion, who had come out at the same time, looked just as dazed, so I said,

"Ah, no, I thought we'd emerge somewhere a little different. Damn, where are we...?"

"Wonderful."...