The Martial God, the old prophet, and I.

The moment the three of us locked eyes, none of us could say a word.

The old man looked utterly shocked.

The Martial God seemed lost in thought.

And me? I was just… stunned.

Why on earth were the Martial God and that old man together?

And judging by their conversation, they seemed pretty close.

Wasn’t the Knight Order supposed to dislike that old man?

“Well, uh…”

Just as the old man was about to say something, the Martial God’s eyes suddenly lit up as he looked at me.

“Ah! So it’s you—”

“You accursed fool!”

Before the Martial God could finish his sentence, the old man abruptly swung his staff and struck him on the head, immediately silencing him.

“Ugh, mmmph?!”

“Stop spouting nonsense and be on your way!”

“Buh-what?! Mmmpf! Who’s gonna—”

“Oh, you clueless dolt, dragging your feet like this! Come with me, now.”

What followed was an unintelligible exchange as the old man unceremoniously dragged the Martial God outside.

Despite his overwhelming strength, the Martial God didn’t resist and allowed himself to be led away.

Thud.

With that sudden commotion over, I was left standing there, trying to process what I’d just witnessed.

Was there really someone capable of overpowering the Martial God with sheer physical force?

One thing was clear: I should never mess with that old man.

 

++++

As the muffled conversation outside came to an end, the old prophet returned inside alone.

The Martial God, it seemed, had been sent away for good.

There was an unmistakable air of secrecy hanging over the old man, as though he was hiding something from me. But without solid evidence, I couldn’t exactly call him out on it.

“Welcome, Sir Tanton. I’ve been waiting for you.”

“…Waiting, huh?”

“How could I not welcome someone who seeks to understand the Observer’s wisdom? To neglect such a seeker would surely displease the Observer as well.”

Ugh.

The vibe still reeked of cult-like fanaticism, yet somehow, it felt nostalgic after all this time.

Still, now that I was here, how should I bring up what I came for? Could I just… ask outright?

“Well…”

“If the conversation will take some time, why not come in and talk? Have you eaten?”

“Uh, yeah, I had a light meal earlier.”

“Then I’ll prepare a small snack. Please, step inside and wait a moment.”

Sigh.

Was the Observer still hanging around? How else did he know this conversation might drag on?

Without giving me a chance to think, the old man led me to a table and had me sit down.

“Please wait here a moment. I’ll bring some sweet jam and bread.”

The old man disappeared through a door, leaving me alone.

What’s with this sudden VIP treatment? It’s… unsettling.

Feeling awkward just sitting there, I glanced around the room.

The stone walls gave the space a somewhat crude look, yet the interior was surprisingly well-organized.

It matched the image of a stereotypical medieval setting—rustic yet clean.

Still, why did this unfamiliar place feel so oddly familiar?

Like I’d been here before.

“Ah, I see you’re looking a bit bored. My apologies. Here are some bread and jam, and I’ve brought milk to quench your thirst.”

Right on cue, the old man returned, carrying a tray with bread, jam, and a cup of milk.

He set everything down, dividing portions for himself and me, then gestured for me to eat first.

Well, I was feeling a bit peckish.

I took a bite of the bread he offered. It was soft and pleasantly mild—exactly the kind of taste I liked.

“Old man.”

“What is it?”

“The interior of this place is… unique.”

At my remark, the old man smiled fondly, as though recalling a cherished memory.

“Ha-ha, indeed. I’ve always decorated my spaces this way since I was young.”

“Really?”

“Yes, even when I lived abroad, I styled my homes like this.”

Wait, what?

“You lived abroad?”

“I did. The Observer’s revelation led me here.”

So, this old man had been spreading his teachings in various places. If he followed the Observer’s revelations, perhaps he genuinely wanted to enlighten others.

Looking at him now, I couldn’t help but imagine him tirelessly running around, much like myself.

A sense of camaraderie washed over me.

While I’d found him irritating at first, he now seemed… endearing.

Ah, but enough idle chatter. I cleared my throat to refocus the conversation.

“Now, onto the main topic.”

The old man’s eyes grew sharp and attentive, as though ready for anything.

“I came to ask about the Observer.”

“Oh! At last, Sir Tanton wishes to learn deeply about the Observer?”

“No, I’m not here to sign up for your religion or anything.”

I gently pressed his shoulder to calm him down as he grew overly excited.

“Old man, promise me you won’t share this with anyone.”

“I swear by the Observer, I will keep your secret.”

Swearing by the Observer should be enough, right?

I leaned in slightly and whispered.

“We now have enough forces to take down the Snowy Mountain Giant.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes. With just a bit more preparation and the elimination of variables, we’ll be ready.”

The old man nodded solemnly, seeming to grasp the gravity of my words.

“So, you’ve come to me to better understand the Observer?”

“Yes, that’s exactly it.”

“Then there’s little need for concern. The Observer has always been favorable toward you, Sir Tanton.”

…That answer was a bit deflating.

The Observer? Favorable toward me?

Well, I guess that explains why I was summoned to deal with the heretics in the first place.

“Still, I want to experience it for myself. I’m the type who needs to face things head-on to fully grasp them.”

“A commendable approach. In fact, the Observer might even prefer it!”

The old man declared this with confidence, his enthusiasm almost infectious.

Why, though?

Why were these Outer God-related figures always so friendly toward me?

“If you’re set on going, I’ll give you a map showing the location of a building from my former homeland. You’ll find traces of the Observer there.”

“Ah, thank you! I’ll make good use of it.”

Looks like I’ll need to take a train again.

Who should I bring along this time?

…A hunter would be ideal, but…

Going alone would be scary.

“Thank you for your time, old man. I’ll visit again soon.”

“You’re always welcome, Sir Tanton. I’ll make sure to have bread and jam ready for you.”

“Ha-ha, thanks.”

As I left, I didn’t catch his softly murmured words.

“Every meal shared with you is always a joy, you know.”

 

++++

The map the old man had given me wasn’t for a place I could reach in a day.

The destination was at least a four-hour train ride away.

Wait a minute—wasn’t this supposed to be the heart of the empire?

The old man was more extraordinary than I’d thought!

Well, whatever.

For now, I needed to head back to the branch.

Preparing for the final confrontation required me to be in peak condition every single day.

Eliminate accumulated fatigue, maximize recovery—that’s the first rule of getting stronger.

“Tanton.”

“Branch Manager.”

Huh?

I thought the Branch Manager was supposed to be on assignment elsewhere today.

He was already back?

“You’ve worked hard.”

“No, not at all. It’s nothing compared to the effort you put in.”

The Branch Manager, returning my salute, smiled warmly.

Wait.

Is that a purple hat?

Did he pick that up while he was away?

The Branch Manager had his own cute quirks, apparently.

“Where have you been today?”

“Remember that old man, the one running that cult?”

“Ah, yes. Him.”

“I had something to ask him, so I paid him a visit.”

“Hm. I see.”

He looked like he had more questions but, noticing my exhaustion, refrained from prying further. The Branch Manager was considerate that way.

“Oh, right. Tanton, has anyone dropped by the branch today?”

“Who, specifically? No one’s come while I’ve been here.”

“That can’t be right. Someone was supposed to visit today—they said they’d definitely be here.”

This was… troubling.

If the Branch Manager was saying that, the visitor must’ve been someone important.

No choice, then.

I’d have to go find them myself.

I pulled out my notebook and prepared to take down the name.

“Could you tell me their name? I’ll go look for them personally.”

“Very well. Listen carefully and write it down.”

Clearing my mind, I focused entirely on the Branch Manager’s words.

“Yes, please tell me.”

“Zmiya,” he said.

“Zmiya, was it? …Wait.”

I repeated the name without thinking, and a chill ran down my spine.

Zmiya.

That name… I’d heard it somewhere before.

When the realization struck me, I looked up at the Branch Manager, only to feel my mind freeze and my thoughts go blank.

“Indeed, Tanton,” the figure before me said, “that is my name.”

Golden eyes.

Purple hair.

And the horns rising from her head.

Standing before me was the Slayer.

“So you knew all along, husband, yet refused to call my name.”

“No, that’s not—this isn’t—!”

“Such a shame, husband. It seems humans cannot avoid hearing the forbidden name, no matter the method.”

No.

This couldn’t be happening.

“Yes, my insubordinate husband. You’ve spoken my name. As such, you are bound to come to my domain, just as you did for the weed.”

“No, no! This doesn’t count—!”

“Husband.”

I tried to back away, but the Slayer caught me in a hug.

Her embrace felt more unyielding than any set of shackles.

“Don’t resist. Just surrender yourself peacefully.”

“Gaaaah!”

And so, Raydan Tanton disappeared from the spot without a trace.