Chapter 183

Harvester (2)

If there were various senses that especially developed while crossing the boundary of life and death countless times, then the one I, Aiden, could clearly feel without question was this.

The ability to detect danger.

‘……Seriously.’

I had already expected that something would happen when the Main Quest Window notified me, but I never imagined it would erupt this suddenly, and in such a terrifying form.

Thinking that, I looked at the opponent in front of me, who was wrapped in black demonic energy across their entire body.

My wrist throbbed.

From my perspective, having easily blocked the attack the Mountain God had launched not long ago, this kind of sensation was quite bewildering.

The barrier I had just deployed was the exact same one I had used before to block the Divine Beast when it charged at me with full force.

And yet, this opponent hadn’t even attacked with full power, and still this level of shock was transmitted.

‘……Beyond a Divine Beast.’

It meant they possessed combat power far exceeding that of the Mountain God, who was said to be a fragment of a god and held abilities close to true divinity.

Even just thinking about it like that, the gap was undeniable.

It was to the point that it reminded me of when I first faced Teresa, the Ghost Knight, back when I had neither real combat experience nor any proper abilities.

“……”

But if there was a difference—

Unlike back then, I now had the foundation to respond far more calmly.

Taking a deep breath, I spoke briefly.

“Sir Katya.”

Fortunately, unlike before, our side’s forces capable of facing this situation were fully prepared.

The moment I spoke, the two figures immediately rushed out and positioned themselves on either side of me, making me let out a faint chuckle.

‘……Strange.’

In truth, considering status alone, these people weren’t the kind who would so easily take orders from me, yet now they looked completely ready to follow everything I said.

Neither I, who gave the command, nor the two who received it felt any sense of awkwardness.

“……”

And perhaps—

That clarity had formed because they held complete trust in just how much ‘destructive power’ could be produced when they moved according to my words.

Even now, as we prepared for a life-and-death battle against an unknown entity, there wasn’t the slightest trace of anxiety on their faces.

“--”

And perhaps sensing something from that—

The Harvester quietly stood still and looked at us.

“-”

I didn’t know what it said, but to me, it looked like it was scoffing.

The scythe that had been about to strike down Rania, who stood still with her eyes closed, began to disperse into a form of black mist.

“……?”

Seeing that anyone would think it was giving up the fight, I narrowed my eyes.

No, of course I hadn’t thought we would lose—but it was giving up this easily?

Considering what I had gone through every time something appeared under the name of a Main Quest, this was an unbelievably peaceful reaction…….

-System Info

▶ There is a change in the Main Quest.

▶ A follow-up event will occur in 3 days.

“……”

My mouth really brought trouble upon me.

As I glared at the window appearing before my eyes with that thought, the Harvester, having dispersed its weapon, quietly raised its hand and pointed at Rania, who stood silently.

“3 days.”

Compared to before, the words that came out of its mouth were much clearer.

“If the sacrifice is still alive by then.”

It didn’t feel particularly eerie like Urgan’s speech.

It simply felt like the person in front of me was speaking casually.

But precisely because of that—

The truth carried in the words that followed felt even more pronounced.

Not a threat, nor a warning.

“You will all come to envy the dead.”

It sounded like a calm statement of fact.

With those words, the Harvester’s body shattered into pieces and began to scatter in all directions.

It wasn’t that it had run out of strength—it was clearly retreating of its own will.

But it was equally clear that its influence had not disappeared.

The moment its form vanished, Rania’s body collapsed to the ground.

“……!”

Startled, I rushed over and caught her.

The first thing I felt was that she was breathing—she was alive.

The second thing I felt was that her breathing, which had seemed normal just moments ago, had become violently erratic.

“……What…!”

It wasn’t just that her body was hot like a burning flame.

It was clear that something happening inside her body was consuming her life force.

“……The mana inside her is going wild. If this continues……!”

Cretin, who had rushed over after me, said that the moment she examined Rania’s body.

She trailed off, but it was obvious what she couldn’t bring herself to say.

“Let’s move her, first!”

That urgent shout burst out of my mouth.

▣

“……I’ve calmed it down for now, but.”

Inside the hut, standing beside Rania who lay on the bed, the Mountain God, who had been placing his hand on her forehead for quite a while, spoke.

“It’s only a temporary fix. Just buying time. At this rate, she’ll die.”

Cretin’s face, standing beside me, turned pale at those words, but instead of focusing on her, I chose to interpret the sentence differently.

“Then, what do we have to do to keep her from dying?”

“……Do I look like your teacher to you?”

“Come on, help us out. It’s not like it costs you anything.”

“…………If someone had spoken like that to a Divine Beast in the past, they would’ve been hanged for blasphemy.”

“But that’s not the case now, is it?”

“…….”

Of course, I had spent quite a long time buried in the Archive researching theology, but there was hardly anything more reliable than testimony from someone actually involved.

In other words, there was no one better nearby than the Mountain God when it came to asking about Rania’s current condition.

“……It will come again.”

Perhaps his pride had been deeply wounded after being crushed in a single blow by Urgan, as the Mountain God answered in a voice filled with irritation despite groaning in his battered body.

“If you’re talking about the Harvester…… originally, it is a servant that serves Wornil. It harvests the lives of sacrifices offered in rituals.”

An explanation followed that it wasn’t originally something that dangerous.

From my perspective, it was enough to make me tilt my head.

“It’s not that dangerous?”

It seemed far stronger than the Mountain God.

I didn’t say that part out loud, but perhaps he understood the meaning between the lines, as the Mountain God frowned deeply and glared at me.

“……You’ve got quite the bite in your words, don’t you?”

“But you’re still a Divine Beast without a god you serve, aren’t you?”

“…….”

“There’s no need to get angry at facts, right?”

“……What’s with you? Are you trying to pick a fight?”

……Not exactly.

It was closer to the fact that his attitude kept coming off as overbearing, so I responded just as firmly.

“Well, if I keep my promise and help you find your original god, you’ll become much stronger than you are now, won’t you?”

That much was true.

Although I hadn’t obtained much concrete information from my conversation with Urgan, there was at least one thing I had clearly learned.

He, and the Outsider he was in contact with—

Had a very ‘peculiar’ relationship with the divinities of the Pantheon.

If my thoughts about that were correct, then helping the Mountain God find his main god wouldn’t be that difficult.

“……? Why are you looking at me?”

“Nothing.”

When I glanced at Cretin beside me, that was the response I got, but instead of explaining, I just shrugged.

It was undeniably rude, but if I made proper use of the ‘talent’ Urgan had mentioned about me, it definitely wouldn’t be that difficult…….

“…….”

Meanwhile, hearing my words that felt like both an insult and a favor at the same time, the Mountain God rubbed his face in confusion.

He looked as if he couldn’t decide whether to accept it or peel the skin off my face right then and there…….

“……Anyway.”

Fortunately, it seemed he recognized that the current situation was more urgent than peeling my face.

He turned his head toward Rania, who was groaning as if her entire body was being burned alive by scorching heat.

“It’s said that it’s not dangerous because it only cares about taking the life of the sacrifice, so it doesn’t cause much harm to the surroundings.”

“……”

“Soon.”

In other words—

If someone interfered with its sole task of taking the life of the sacrifice, it would become ‘dangerous.’

“……How dangerous are we talking?”

“They’ll all die. Every single one.”

“…….”

“It’s different from a Divine Beast like me that has lost its main god. That thing is a true ‘fragment of a god.’ Even if sealed, Wornil is still a perfectly intact divine being. There’s no way mortals could defeat an agent of such a being.”

So—

Either we hand over Rania’s life,

Or everyone who interferes dies.

As Cretin staggered as if dizzy from that interpretation, the Mountain God spoke again bluntly.

“It’s a merciful one. Even though you interfered with its task, it didn’t overturn everything on the spot, but instead gave a warning and even a grace period.”

“-Then!”

Cretin, who had been listening silently, clenched her teeth and shouted at the Mountain God.

“So we’re just supposed to sit still and hand over my sister’s life?!”

“-Foolish child. This is self-inflicted.”

The Mountain God scoffed and glared at her.

His voice, unlike before, was filled with contempt.

“Even if he is the one who harmed the being I once served, there’s one thing that is certain about Urgan. He is fair.”

“-”

Cretin’s body froze stiff.

“She’s not just anyone—she’s a priestess who served him. Doesn’t it seem strange that instead of protecting her, he allowed another god’s agent to casually take her life?”

The color drained from her face, turning almost ashen.

“This sacrifice was directly handed over by Urgan. That’s why the Harvester is trying to take her.”

“……Is there a reason for that?”

At my question, the Mountain God scratched his head irritably and turned toward me.

It was clear from his expression that he was annoyed at having to explain even this.

“I told you. He’s fair.”

For someone to harm another—

It’s only when they themselves have been harmed by that person.

“That priestess, or someone close to her, must have done something that clearly harmed him.”

“……”

“He’s just collecting it now. Don’t ask me why. I don’t know either. The intentions of gods are always arbitrary.”

Hearing that much—

Something became very clear to me as well.

Looking at Cretin, whose legs were now trembling, I let out a deep sigh and spoke.

“……Let’s talk for a moment.”

It was clear—

She was hiding something.