Blackwater Town

The next day, at the break of dawn, Luo Wei and Eleya set off for Blackwater Town.

"No need to see us off, we know the way," Luo Wei said with a smile, waving goodbye to the hunter family.

"Make sure to visit us again when you have time!" Hunter Sister said reluctantly.

"Next time you go fishing, don’t bait so recklessly," Hunter Brother teased.

Luo Wei waved over his shoulder as he and Eleya headed northwest along the river valley.

By noon, the two had finally arrived at Blackwater Town.

Luo Wei glanced around. The town was deserted, and compared to four years ago, the buildings were even more dilapidated—hardly any of the brick-and-earth houses remained intact.

"Let’s stay here for the night and head into that forest tomorrow," Luo Wei suggested.

"Fine," Eleya replied flatly.

Luo Wei scouted the ruins, dismantling a few wooden furniture pieces to use as firewood for their campfire.

After gathering a pile of firewood, he took out the dried meat gifted by the hunter family and glanced at Eleya, who sat nearby.

"Hungry? Want something to eat?"

"Not hungry," Eleya answered, her tone still indifferent.

Luo Wei frowned. Ever since last night, the usual Eleya had vanished, and they had barely exchanged a word the entire journey.

"Suit yourself," he muttered, biting into the dried meat himself.

As he ate, Eleya stared intently at the distant black forest, her gaze unwavering.

"The taint is strong here... and..."

"And what?"

"It’s close," Eleya murmured, her sharp eyes locking onto a rundown house in the town.

"Something’s there?" Luo Wei set down his food and warily followed her gaze.

As a wielder of holy light, Eleya’s senses were never wrong. Luo Wei summoned a crimson blade and cautiously approached the building, with Eleya close behind.

Moments later, Luo Wei frowned at the sight of scattered, mangled corpses and broken bones on the ground.

"Looks like something gnawed on them..." he observed. "And the bodies are fresh—they haven’t been dead long."

"That thing can’t have gone far..." Luo Wei raised a [Sigil Shield], his eyes fixed on a tightly shut wooden door. Even he could sense the foul energy emanating from within.

A blast of magic shattered the door, but Luo Wei found nothing inside.

"Below," Eleya said. "In the cellar."

Entering the room, Luo Wei peered into the pitch-black cellar. A nauseating stench of decay rose from the depths.

After casting an illumination spell, he saw the cellar floor littered with mutilated corpses—adults and children alike, identifiable by their tattered clothing.

Perhaps the family had hidden there as a last resort, or maybe the creature simply enjoyed hoarding its prey. Either way, the thing was likely still inside. Luo Wei tossed a pebble into the darkness.

The moment the pebble hit the ground, the cellar rumbled violently, followed by a grotesque, slithering sound—like a nest of writhing snakes.

"It’s coming."

No sooner had Luo Wei spoken than a mass of black, whip-like tentacles surged from the cellar, lashing against his magic shield.

With a sizzling crackle, the shield flickered, and Luo Wei staggered back.

A thunderous crash later, the cellar entrance burst open as the creature forced its way out, revealing its full grotesque form.

Its body was a massive black tumor, from which sprouted over a dozen thick, writhing tentacles. When fully extended, they resembled a living, thrashing canopy.

Worse still, the tumorous mass bore multiple gaping maws lined with jagged teeth, all oozing thick green slime. When they opened simultaneously, a chorus of spine-chilling wails erupted.

As the creature fully emerged, the cramped house collapsed around it. Luo Wei and Eleya retreated into the street, staring up at the monstrosity.

Now, Luo Wei could finally see its lower half—three hoofed limbs, the only feature that somewhat matched its name.

[Black Goat’s Young]

Offspring of the Profane Mother, these creatures lurked in the black forests, preying on any unfortunate souls who wandered too close. Even a single one could inflict severe mental corruption on humans.

Such a troublesome foe was already a handful alone, yet in his first playthrough, Luo Wei had faced an entire horde.

No—an endless swarm.

Back then, for reasons unknown, these things had multiplied like a plague, their numbers surpassing even the rats in Saint Callen’s sewers.

But rats were just rats—Luo Wei could crush them underfoot by the dozen. The [Black Goat’s Young], however, were no pushovers. As progeny of an eldritch god, they far outclassed any aberrant creatures he’d faced before.

So... when these things had poured out like an unstoppable tide back then, Luo Wei and his two companions were instantly overwhelmed. Not even someone as formidable as Tilis had survived.

The incident had left him questioning whether the game was bugged.

Or perhaps it was some unique mechanic—maybe he’d failed because he hadn’t found the right solution.

Either way, after dying repeatedly with no progress, Luo Wei had rage-quit.

Then, after a nap, he’d woken up here...

And now, after all this time, he was facing these abominations again.

Under the cover of Eleya’s divine radiance, he steeled himself and began chanting, hurling spells at the monstrosity.

...

Meanwhile, in the empire of Wignar, within Saint Callen’s capital...

The civil unrest from a week ago had long since subsided. But with Haiglitze Palace in ruins, Ophelia now held court in a private estate in the eastern district.

In the lavishly decorated parlor, Head Maid Caroline escorted wave after wave of imperial officials in and out. By the time the last guest of the day departed, night had fallen, and she exhaled wearily.

These days, Her Highness and everyone around her were swamped with endless tasks.

After executing the rebellious Second Prince and the patricidal Third Prince, the noble houses—led by the Sword-and-Shield family—had begun rallying behind Ophelia. The momentum quickly became unstoppable.

Now, Ophelia stood as the de facto ruler of the capital, the uncrowned monarch of Wignar.

Yet despite this, the upheaval from the royal coup still simmered.

Remnants of the Second Prince’s faction lurked in the shadows, spreading malicious rumors. Old ministers from the Carlton era grumbled about Ophelia’s rise. And beyond the borders, the pressure from the Church remained unrelenting...

Caroline took the tea tray from the maids and gently knocked on the study door.

Even at night, Her Highness Ophelia’s work never ceased. She was buried under piles of documents and reports, her brows furrowed with an unshakable weariness.

"Thank you, Caroline. Just leave it there."

Ophelia looked up, her once-bright eyes now bloodshot from exhaustion.

Caroline watched her with concern. "Your Highness, it’s already late. You should rest soon."

"Don’t worry about me. I’m fine," Ophelia replied, continuing to annotate the papers in her hands.

Caroline sighed inwardly. She could sense an undercurrent of anxiety in Her Highness—one that had nothing to do with the complicated political situation in Wignar, but rather, something else entirely.

Luo Wei was missing.

An entire week had passed with no trace of him. Every time Tilis returned with news of another failed search, Ophelia’s spirits sank further...

After quietly closing the door, Caroline lingered for a moment before stepping away.

Ophelia rubbed her tired eyes and let out a deep sigh.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to rest.

But only by drowning herself in work could she keep her thoughts from spiraling.

Frustrated, she ran a hand through her hair. The events outside the palace a week ago kept replaying in her mind.

She should have restrained Eleya immediately—she never should have trusted that woman, not even for a second.

The divine aspect of Eleya wouldn’t hesitate to disregard Luo Wei’s life. What if something had happened to him?

This was all her fault...