"The village elder is waiting for you."

Lian got up from the bed. His wounds were almost closed. On the other side of the room, Seris also stood up.

Ryan and the twin sisters had not fully healed yet, but at least they could walk. Their injuries had been extremely severe. Especially since the twins were not even Awakened. Their bodies were completely like normal people.

So they did not have the self-healing power and recovery speed of Awakened.

Mira took them out of the building. The air outside was strangely cold.

Even though no snow could be seen, their breaths came out of their mouths as white steam.

Lian raised his head. The golden peak was still there, right above the village, like a golden sun planted in the heart of the earth.

The more he looked at it, the worse he felt for some reason. As if something from up there was watching them.

An unpleasant feeling went up his spine.

He turned his gaze away.

"I am thinking too much." But even he did not believe that. He looked at Seris, and seeing that the girl was completely calm, he pushed his thoughts aside for now.

The village elder’s house was in the center of the settlement. A two-story building made of dark wood. Not grand, but not poor either. As if it belonged to a modest rich person.

When they entered, the first thing that caught Lian’s attention was the walls. Monster skins, huge horns, and skulls some of which were larger than a human body.

And among all of them, there were several paintings. Paintings of the same golden mountain. As if he had created a small temple in his house with those paintings.

Lian unconsciously paused. All those paintings showed only one thing.

The mountain.

"Come in." The old man’s voice came.

The village elder was sitting behind a wooden table. He had a kind face. His eyes were too calm, like the surface of a lake before a storm.

Mira stood respectfully by the wall.

"I am glad you are feeling better." The old man smiled.

"Thanks to your help." Lian thanked him.

"No. It was the Mountain God’s grace." The old man laughed and then said quietly.

Lian sat down without saying anything. Aldric started asking questions.

About their wounds, about the mammoth bear attack, and about how they had survived.

Everything seemed normal. He did not ask any overly personal questions that would make the atmosphere uncomfortable.

Lian and Aria both answered the elder’s questions as much as they could.

After a few minutes, finally the main question came.

"Which region are you from?"

The room went silent. Lian noticed the twin sisters had become a little hesitant. Seris was looking at them with confusion.

Even he did not know how to answer this question. It was natural. How could they answer? They were not from this world at all.

"We are from distant regions." Before anyone could say anything, Lian smiled. He could not let Aria answer this question.

That girl was too honest. He preferred to be cautious for now.

"We got separated from each other after the monster attacks and wandered for a while."

The old man looked at him for a few seconds. Just a few seconds. But those few seconds were enough for Lian to notice something.

He was not convinced. But he did not say anything to ruin the atmosphere. He just slowly nodded.

"I understand."

The conversation continued.

"Sir, do monsters attack this area too?" Aria asked with a little worry. Being surrounded by that many monsters and attacked had given her a kind of fear and trauma.

Even though this village had its own guards, how could they resist a large number of monsters?

"Haha, young lady, there is no need to worry. This place is under the protection of the Mountain God. With his presence, monsters never dare to attack." Aldric answered with a smile.

"Oh, that is good. So our place is completely safe." Aria’s eyes shone with determination and happiness. She looked at her sister.

Alisa also smiled. It was clear she was relieved too. Ryan did not react much. And Seris... was she upset?

’I think she might have a battle-love syndrome,’ Lian chuckled to himself. Then, seeing an opportunity, he finally brought up what had been on his mind from the beginning.

"Does the Mountain God really exist?"

Suddenly, his question caused a sudden silence in the room. Even Mira raised her head and looked at him with a little worry. Her eyes seemed to be saying, why did you ask that?

Lian could guess why. After all, such a question would be considered blasphemous and insulting.

The old man slowly turned toward the window. Toward the golden peak. He gave it a long, meaningful look. His eyes filled with faith and devotion.

"Of course." His answer was quick and sure.

"Our village has been here for many generations. Our ancestors considered this mountain sacred. The Mountain God protects us."

"That is why monsters rarely come near this area. And whenever they do, they suddenly run away."

Lian listened quietly. But suddenly, something caught his attention. Fear. For a very short moment, fear appeared in the old man’s eyes.

Just a moment. But it was there. As if he himself was afraid of the being he worshipped.

"Then why does no one go to the peak?" Lian asked quietly.

This time, the silence was even heavier. The air in the room felt colder. Mira looked down.

The twin sisters looked at each other. It was clear they were confused about why he was asking these questions. Questions that might upset the people who saved them?

Aria, especially, seemed a little annoyed at Lian for this.

"Because humans should not enter the territory of the gods." The old man smiled, but his smile was dry.

That was it... But it did not answer the question. Not at all. Lian realized that this old man had given exactly the same answer as Mira.

"But why did you suddenly become curious about the Mountain God?"

"Well, in the place where we live—" Lian started to answer, but Aria suddenly interrupted, afraid that his words might upset the village elder more.

"We just wanted to thank the Mountain God whose people saved us."

"In any case, you are still wounded. And the paths outside the village are dangerous. How about you stay here for a few days?"

"When you feel better, you can make whatever decision you want."

The twin sisters agreed almost immediately. Ryan had no objection either. Seris just shrugged. It did not matter to her.

But Lian thought for a moment. Actually, he only pretended to think. Because his answer was already clear. He had no intention of leaving this place.

The key was on that mountain. And this village was the closest point to his destination.

"Agreed."

"Then you are our guests for as long as you want." The old man smiled.

A few minutes later, the meeting ended. After saying goodbye, they left the elder’s house. The sky had become darker. The red light of the sky looked dimmer than before.

As they were leaving, Lian unconsciously looked toward the peak. And at that moment, he stopped.

His eyes narrowed. Something was there. For the first time, he noticed it. On the mountainside, among the rocks, there was a narrow, old stone path. It went straight upward, continuing almost to the peak.

Lian’s heart skipped a beat. How had he not seen it before?

He stared at the path for a few seconds. A cold wind came down from the mountain.

Lian did not take his gaze off the path. Only one question formed in his mind. If no one goes to the peak... then for whom was that path made?