Chapter 25: The Western Frontier and a Sinister Omen
“…A withered old tree. Looks like we’re finally getting close to the west.”
“Yeah, the Western Boundary’s right ahead. Cross that, and we’re in the west.”
“To think I’d have to go back to that crazy place, ugh…”
“Still better than the Great Forest, no? For you, the west must feel like paradise.”
“That’s true.”
It had been a week since we left the city for the west.
The signs of approaching the west were becoming visible.
Unlike the south, with its lush forests or sprawling plains everywhere but the cities, the west was a desolate wasteland dotted with barren fields and shriveled plants.
Confirming we were nearly at the western continent, I let out a small sigh of relief.
We’re about halfway there?
Then the plan’s half-succeeded.
Since there’s still no sign of the elves, it means I’ve managed to get us to the west.
…That negotiation must’ve really struck a chord.
They could’ve caught up in four or five days, but a whole week without a trace suggests they debated for at least three days.
Relieved that things were going better than expected, I also felt a creeping unease.
Disappointment and despair hit harder the greater your expectations and hopes.
Sure, you could call it “regression to the mean,” but given the events I’ve been through, this felt less like luck and more like karma.
To my eyes, it looked like the devil’s trick to make me fall from a greater height.
What kind of massive screw-up is waiting for us that things are going this smoothly?
Could we end up fighting the elves right before crossing into the west?
…It’s possible.
Failing just before escape is the most despair-inducing scenario.
With that thought, I urged the party to hurry.
“Let’s move faster. Something feels off.”
“The elves?”
“Yeah. Let’s get to the west quickly to eliminate one risk factor.”
Once we cross into the west, things change. There are plenty of guys who go wild for “beauties,” so we can use them to buy time.
The biggest difference between the west and other regions is that, as a lawless zone, it offers unrestricted freedom.
And that means it’s crawling with lunatics too crazy for other regions to handle.
Especially the ones obsessed with women.
What would those self-centered maniacs do if they saw the Great Forest elves prancing around in outfits screaming, “Come ravish me”?
They’d probably make a choice they’d regret for life.
The west is a madhouse in a different way from the Great Forest. Thanks to these lunatics, as long as we don’t get caught at the outset, we can reach our destination without much trouble.
…If the original story’s setting holds, we just need to pass through the milder folks like the protagonist’s party did.
Pondering the original plot and planning our route, I noticed the Western Boundary, which I thought was still far off, was now right before us. A guard at the city gate threw us a question.
“Who are you, and what’s your purpose here?”
“We’re adventurers. Our goal… is to stop by before heading to the paradise city, Paradis.”
“Pfft, haha! I thought you were someone else, but you’re just fresh suicide candidates. Fine, pass!”
Carl flashed his mercenary badge, and the guard burst into laughter while giving us a pitying look.
Under that wistful gaze, we entered the border city—Western Boundary.
Unlike the small southern city, we didn’t linger long in the border city.
Buying unnecessary things would only weigh us down and make us targets for the west’s lunatics.
And we didn’t know when the elves might catch up.
So we prepared only what was needed to avoid trouble.
We sold the horses we’d ridden from the southern city to the border, stocking up on just enough simple provisions for a week.
With preparations done, the party got ready to leave the Western Boundary. Amid the guard’s mocking blessings, we stepped into the west.
Thud!
The moment all six of us crossed the gate, it slammed shut behind us.
Startled, the priestess spun around, but seeing the party’s nonchalant reactions, she tilted her head awkwardly.
“Uh… does this mean we can’t go back?”
“Pretty much. Think of it as a prison for criminals. It’s basically the polar opposite of the theocracy.”
“So, they really hate priests…?”
“When even the evil god’s followers are here, you think they’d like you? I told you to ditch the priestess robes. Get into trouble, and I’m not helping.”
In other places, priestly robes might be useful.
But here, I can confidently say they’re utterly useless.
Unless you count sparking the criminal instincts of the west’s lunatics, no one treats priests with respect.
At best, you’re a healing shuttle; at worst, a sex toy.
“Defiling a priest devoted to their god.”
This is the west, after all, where the highest concentration of creeps who get off on that sort of thing resides.
…Curious about how witches are treated?
Outside the eastern continent, witches get the same treatment everywhere.
“Handle with care.”
Per the author, they’re like walking nuclear bombs with their triggers armed.
Their volatile personalities mean even the west’s lunatics don’t mess with them lightly.
The theocracy, which does pick fights with them, well… you can guess their level of insanity.
After my warning, the priestess hurriedly stuffed her robes into her bag, glanced around nervously, and sighed in relief.
She seemed spooked by the talk of being violated.
Chuckling at her meerkat-like behavior, I started walking.
Scared already? The real challenge is just beginning.
As I finished the thought, a dust cloud rose in the distance.
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!!!
Soon, the first wave of ferocious attackers appeared.
“Ravish the men and kill the women!!!”
They were burly, muscular men.
Watching the horrifying scene, Veldum pulled a kettlebell from his pack and muttered.
“No reason not to kill them.”
The first battle in the west, one we had to win, had begun.
In a near-ruined temple, a desperate voice pleaded.
“P-please, spare me…! I-I swear I’ll never steal again…!”
“Heh, if you regret it so much, why’d you do it? If you hadn’t started, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Someone cloaked in pitch-black priestly robes mocked the man, slowly approaching.
Then—
Lick.
They quietly licked his cheek.
Savoring the taste with smacking lips, the figure soon smiled softly and whispered in his ear.
“This taste! The taste of lies, isn’t it? Not only did you covet the god’s property, but you lie to my face…”
With a sinister chuckle, the figure drew a ceremonial dagger from their robes.
And in one swift motion, plunged it into the man’s heart, speaking.
“You’ve even killed people? Murder’s a grave sin… and you dare plead for leniency?”
“Gah… cough…”
The man, dagger in his heart, collapsed with a pained expression. The figure stood over the corpse, shouting to the heavens in a frenzied voice.
“O God… I offer you this tribute…♡”
As the lustful voice echoed through the temple, an ominous gray aura began seeping from beneath the corpse.
The gray aura slowly took on a grotesque form.
Moments later, it savagely devoured the man’s body.
Crunch! Crunch!
“Ahh…♡ My God…♡”
Pat, pat.
Was it satisfaction with the meal? Or praise for a job well done?
The gray aura briefly stroked the figure’s head before vanishing. Savoring the moment, the figure soon noticed someone rapidly approaching.
Who was this blasphemer?
What pointless purpose drove them to interrupt this intimate moment with their god?
Raising the gray aura to strike, the figure stopped as the door burst open and a voice rang out.
“M-Master?! T-The witch’s party has arrived in the west!”
“Oh, that’s rather important news.”
She recalled the recent message from the priest sent to “preach” in the south.
[Master? I think we’re fucked.]
[No, we are fucked. That’s certain.]
Then he’d declared retirement, saying he’d provoked the witch.
What an impudent fool.
Blessed by the god, yet abandoning faith so easily.
“Heh, but it’s fine. We’re nearly ready.”
Perhaps she’d overlook such blasphemy.
Gazing down at the paradise city, Paradis, she smiled faintly.
Soon, the true god would descend in Paradis, purifying this vile world.