Today is a day of celebration! After all this wait finally, we will be safe! Ah, I was never worried about my own safety. But I do worry about my friends.

Today the sect leader is receiving the oracle telling him all about the new sect defense mechanism. There is no telling how long it will take to set up, however.

I'm guessing if it's a really powerful one, then a long time. Well, it should be reliable. It is sent by a goddess herself after all.

It will protect this place against anyone that has evil intent. Not sure how that will even be possible, but as long as it is strong it's fine.

To occupy myself, I bake and then nap. They'll probably tell me when it will happen.

I'm truly lucky. I have a wonderful place to live. I have wonderful neighbors and friends. I'm still a wanted man, but so what haha. I still remember the smile Gran had when she knew we'd be safe here.

It made her look a few decades younger with how radiant it was. It is moments like these that must be treasured. Thus I slowly fall asleep next to Wolfie.

****

*SHAKE*

What's happening? Who?

Wolfie is shaking me awake while whining, obviously panicked!

This is the first time I've seen her like that. Something big is happening!

She bolts out of the bakery, I'm right behind her.

Are we getting attached? Enemies?!

Everything is silent. The night is relatively warm and quiet. There is no sign of any danger.

She guides me toward the central plaza.

There, I can see all of the Abundance sect members reunited. In the dark, silently. They seem to be …eating?! The atmosphere is weird.

As I look at them, I can see a wide range of emotions. Some are crying, some are simply indifferent, and some have huge grins.

It can't help but scare me a bit.

[What are you guys doing in the middle of the night?]

The leader turns my way. His mouth is stained red from some fruit he is eating.

"*Sigh* We finally completed the array. From now on we will be safe. From now on we will prosper."

His mood seems off. He doesn't seem happy about it. The way he said it sounds ominous somehow.

[Then why are you guys eating here? Celebration? Why didn't you invite the others?]

"*Sigh* We did, and they came, all of them. At first, I wanted to wake you up, but Gran insisted to let you sleep. That she'd break the news to you in the morning. They were the first ones to see it in action."

Wolfie starts growling at him. What has he done?!

[Where are they now?!]

He doesn't say a word. He simply points to the field. I slowly approach it, fearing what I'll find.

The visibility is especially bad. It is only when I am a few meters away that I finally realize what is happening. In the field, there are now big blood-red fruits growing. On each is a peculiar pattern. One that forms a face.

Every fruit sporting a face I know all too well. There are 17 of them, the size of a human head. The remaining 3 being savored right now.

I understand. I understand it all too well. These are my friends.

I don't know why, I don't know how, and I don't even know when.

I can't help but growl:

[You, what have you done!]

"*Sigh* I did what I had to do to protect us all. I followed the orders of the Goddess."

[Save them! Screw that goddess!]

"*Sigh* I am afraid it is far too late. Do not worry we will remember them. Their sacrifice will give us strength. We will consider them heroes, always."

[Bullshit! I don't want them to be heroes I want them alive!]

What can I do to reverse this?

Wait, this doesn't make sense. How did he even manage to…

[How did you trick Gran? She's great at reading people!]

"*Sigh* It's not that I tricked her. I believed every word I told her. It just happened that the goddess had other plans."

This cannot be. Their goddess told them to sacrifice them, so they did. How retarded is that ending!

For what purpose? To gain strength? At what cost. Them all dying would have been preferable to selling their souls.

They are responsible. So is that goddess! She needs to pay!

That is when the wheat seemingly comes alive. It forms tendrils that stretch, clasping me in their embrace.

Then I rapidly get pulled inside the earth. Wolfie tries to help without success.

Everything is dark, oppressive, I am stuck. It fits my mood.

This is dumb. So dumb. I could have helped.

I could have come up with a solution to defend this place.

I don't know what, I don't know how, but I'm sure I could have.

Instead, they created this monstrosity.

It wants to turn me into its nutriments. I can't even pierce my defenses. How is it supposed to guard an entire sect? Plus it's a damn field. People will be able to throw fire at it until it dies.

It is simply a tool used to betray friends. Nothing more…

A useless thing that only invites disaster.

They had to die for this?! This is bullshit.

This is the so-called work of the abundance goddess? I was too naïve. I believed she was different. I believed this place would be our sanctuary.

I am even the one that brought them all the way here. If I didn't convince the wanderers to let us tag along…

If only.

I wish I could go back to the past. But I know it is already too late. Far too late. This place sucks, this realm sucks. It is all because of these gods.

These tyrants have no regard for our lives. They do not deserve to rule over us.

They do not deserve to be put on a pedestal and revered.

They do not deserve any of it.

This Abundance goddess doesn't deserve any followers.

She doesn't deserve my pity.

She should have given up rather than this.

They are playing and we are the ones suffering.

If that's how it's going to be…

*SNAP*

I struggle, breaking countless strands of the demonic wheat.

Then I reach for my pocket, in there is what I am looking for.

A small jar that was given to me by the warden.

One full of spice. One full of poison.

[Let me make a toast! A toast to this evil goddess!]

I'm not sure it will accomplish much, but at least it will get rid of this field!

I pump it full of divine energy before pouring it all over.

[May you enjoy it to the fullest…. cheers!]