Nobody in the village moved and Sophie repeated what she had just said, unsure whether anybody had heard her “I’m here for a guide to the dragon.” When she still didn’t receive an answer, she asked another question “There is a dragon… Right?”

Surprisingly it was the village chief, not his son Sam that answered. “There is girl” he said “but you’d do best not sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. One chomp and you’re gone.”

She secretly hid a smile. It was true that to a normal villager a dragon might seem like a legendary existence, though his words weren’t wrong. It would be suicide to fight that thing if the reports were anything to go by. She was neither strong enough, nor did she have enough magic to fight a fifty-meter long fire-breathing dragon. Luckily for her she was proficient in [Stealth] and could also boost her speed with wind magic. Her position as a worshiper of the Goddess Purity also allowed her access to [Heal] spells.

“I’m not here to fight it” she appeased “Just to find where it lives.”

Now Sam looked at her suspiciously “For personal curiosity, or for a group.”

His demeanour was at odds with the rest of the village, but maybe that’s how he and his father were playing things, good cop/bad cop. If her suspicions about Nord’s vanished villagers and these villagers’ run in with Chos– players were correct, then their suspicions were not necessarily unfounded.

“I’m on my own” she said. A half-truth.

“Do you belong to a group?” he asked again.

“I don’t” she lied. He didn’t like how perceptive he was. She didn’t want to lie, but she needed a guide to the dragon. If the villagers associated her with the guild that they had escaped from, then they would be less likely to help her. All of the guild people had been too fearful to enter the forest, meaning that the villagers were her last resort. The guild hadn’t given her much to go by, except for the local name of the forest – The End Forest. It was a sinister and foreboding name.

“Will you grant me a guide?” She asked. She let her pouch of coins jingle. As the rookie of the Holy Empire main team, she really needed something to prove that she earnt her position. Most villages only traded using copper and rarely silver coins, but if she had to pay in gold, then she would do so.

***

Azrael looked at the kitsune across from him, considering her proposition. It was obvious that she wasn’t going to leave the village until she did get a guide. Already she was spouting promises of support and aid. He glanced at her again. She was suspicious and he didn’t trust her. She claimed that she didn’t belong to a group, but no individual could promise the support that she was promising the villagers at that very moment. Neither would an individual be interested in a dragon. A researcher might, but none of her classes were research orientated. Finally, there was her holy class [Prioress of Purity]. Everything pointed towards trouble. Her next question confirmed this.

“Just out of curiosity, have any of you seen or heard about a large monster on two legs that controls fire and shadows?” She asked.

Azrael froze up. There was only one person and one event that Azrael could think of that matched her query, and that was himself, when he razed the village to the ground.

“You mean the Lord?” one of the ladies asked. Azrael stepped in before anything got further out of hand.

“The Lord?” Sophie asked. He should have killed her there and then, when he first realised that she was a player. He would have done so now, if it wasn’t for the fact that she was a player and could revive. It was beyond all doubt now that she was working with the guild he’d massacred. If he killed her now it wouldn’t take long for her to put two and two together. His only option was to mislead and mitigate the damage.

“The Lord of the End Forest.” Azrael introduced “Is not a monster, but protector of the people. This forest is his domain and he welcomes all people of the land, except the Chosen. They are not welcome here.”

It was technically true. Azrael himself was the Lord, he wasn’t a monster. He had the title ‘Lord of the End Forest’ and [Lord’s Domain] basically appointed this forest as his. He had made the persona to stop players from intruding into the forest, he’d protected the villagers and accepted them and the dwarves, while players weren’t welcome here. Around him a few of the villagers were nodding and he had a spike of childish gratification as Sophie began to look around the village fearfully. A dragon was fine, but a fake demon lord wasn’t. Nice.

Sophie gulped “Regardless, I need a guide to the dragon” she said. The change in tone didn’t pass Azrael.

“I could lead you there” he began “Afterall, I am the strongest in this village…” He let the sentence trail.

“What? But what?” She asked hopeful “I can pay.”

Azrael smiled. He waved a hand around the village. “We don’t need gold.” He said.

Her face fell “I can deliver materials. Iron, Food, animals...”

Azrael shook his head. “What’s to stop you from going back on your deal after I show you the dragon?” he asked.

She looked desperate. “Anything” She said “I’ll do anything.”

A predatory smile slid across his face. Hook. Line. And sinker. This was too much fun. She shivered under his gaze, suddenly feeling very naked. “Except that.” She said.

He raised an eyebrow “I was only going to ask you to bless everyone in the village.”

She paused. “That’s it? That’s all” she asked warily.

He nodded. “That and all your gold.”

“But you said!”

“I know what I said, but consider it an offering to the Lord, for… trespassing on his lands.”

She handed him her coin pouch demurely.

Azrael turned to the group. “Who wants to be blessed first?” He asked. When nobody volunteered themselves, he volunteered them instead.

One by one the villagers went before Sophie, allowing her to place her hand briefly on their foreheads, while chanting.

“Hear us Purity, gentle Goddess,

Hear us and know your children call.

Bless these humble sheep, deliver them into your embrace,

and cleanse them of their mortal sins”

A soft glow of lambent white surrounded her hands. Using [Mana Sense] Azrael barely got any reaction, as if nothing was happening. [Soul Sense] however told a different story.

Although he only got a rough picture of what was going on in other peoples’ souls he could clearly see the same light streaming out from under her soul mist, like light given gaseous form. Whatever it was, it didn’t react with her soul directly, instead seemingly using her divine spark as a gateway for the power. From there it flowed from her into the other person, coming in contact with their soul. Like a thin carpet of mist it created a veil above their soul mist, barely perceptible but still there.

He watched until all of the villagers were blessed. He felt a little bad using them as guinea pigs, but it wasn’t like anything bad was happening. When Sophie approached him he rejected the offer for a [Blessing] and she sagged in relief. It seemed that granting it still required something from the caster. Instead, he checked his notifications and [Status]

Congratulations!

For gaining a new insight into others’ souls. You have gained three levels in [Soul Sense].

[Lord’s Domain]

The people are a lord’s power.

This skill provides you with a passive, low level awareness of your domain.

Current Additional benefits:

Respect: All decrees that you issue will yield greater results.

Blessed by Purity: All of your people have been cleansed by the [Blessing of Purity]. For the next week everyone in your domain will be immune to all illnesses, infections and diseases.

Azrael looked at [Lord’s Domain] impressed. It was basically a domain buff against illnesses, simply by blessing a few people. The next notification was also welcome.

Congratulations!

For seeking help for your people you have gained a level in [Lord’s Domain].

Congratulations!

For seeking help for your people from others you have gained a level in ‘Lord’.

WIS+3, END+2, STR+2

Satisfied with the gains he opened his [Status].

Status

Name: Azrael

Class: Runist (Lv.4), Sorcerer (Lv.2), Lord (Lv.4)

Race: Human

HP: 190/190

MP: 63/210

STR: 19

END: 19

DEX: 20

AGI: 15

INT: 24

WIS: 24

Titles:

{Sinner}, {Heretic}, {Master of Status}, {Rune Master}, {God Watched}, {Lord of the End Forest}, {Teacher}

Unique skills:

[Status], [Elemental Mana]

Skills:

Weaving (Lv.2), Crafting (Lv.15), Spear Arts (Lv.20), Mana Sense (Lv.22), Mana Manipulation (Lv. 26), Soul Sense (Lv.15), Mana Control (Lv.26), Dramatic Flair (Lv. 3), Stealth (Lv. 24), Calm Mind (Lv. 11) Lord’s Domain (Lv. 2), Lord’s Insight (Lv. n/a), Leadership (Lv.6), Stone shaping (Lv.26), Reinforcement (Lv.13), Dagger Arts (Lv.22), Meditation (Lv.24), Mana Transfer (Lv.5), Craftsman’s Eye (Lv.1).

A surprise awaited him. [Mana Manipulation], [Mana Control] and [Stone Shaping] had all broken through past level 25 barrier that had seemed to be holding them down. It seemed he had something to thank the alpha wolf for other than wounds.

A chill wind suddenly blew through the village and Azrael remembered why he had come. He turned to Cairn.

“Do you have a jacket I could borrow?” he asked.