The Devil's Cage

Borl did not find anything, even when the wagon had reached Sircar Land.

In the end, he blamed himself for not being sharp enough.

He assumed that Kieran must have noticed something.

Shortly after they reached Sicar Land, Borl tossed the thoughts aside because a group of riders came up to their wagon.

The group had 50 riders, all equipped with iron breastplates, with muskets on their backs and swords at their waists, extra crossbows at their saddles. The group of riders were fully equipped, not just in terms or arsenals but killer intentions too.

On their breastplate was the sword emblem representing the viscount of Sicar, and above that was the blood-stained sword, which was the emblem of War God Temple.

The viscount of Sicar was a devoted believer of the God of War, so it was natural that his house emblem would fall under the War God Temple emblem.

"Good morning sir."

The leader of the riders greeted Borl courteously, his eyes sizing up Aschenkano and the spoils on the roof plus the captive. His gaze showed vigilance but also jealousy.

The vigilance came from the instinct to battle, the jealousy also came from the instinct of battle.

Battle makes us strong and wealthy but death will come along—the famous saying from War God Temple had etched itself into the hearts of all Northerners.

"Good morning to you."

Borl pushed the door open and walked down. He did not remove his leather coat, clenching his fist and knocking on his chest lightly as a salutation.

The salutation of War God Temple lowered the leader's vigilance a little and when Borl took the identifications to prove his and Kieran's identities, the leader finally eased up.

After that, an extra bottle of wine was given to the leader, putting a smile on the leader's face.

"Brewed wine from Mozaar," Borl said with a smile.

"Leather coats and wine, the best of Mozaar!"

The leader nodded with a smile before he lowered his voice and continued, "Sicar Land isn't safe lately, some bastards are looking for problems, with or without reason. Best for you to reach the town before sundown, and when you go in, tell them you are Carl's friends, you will be treated like you deserve."

"Thank you very much, Sir Carl."

Borl knocked his chest lightly again and a small pouch of coins fell off his sleeve, it was subtly hung over the horse saddle of the leader.

The leader smiled as a reply, lightly knocking his chest and then led the rest of the riders towards the direction where the wagon came from.

Borl saw the riders off before he returned to the carriage.

"I really have to thank Father Mona. If it wasn't for the multiple identity proof, we would be in trouble just now. The riders of Sicar Land won't simply ride out, something must have happened in the area," Borl spoke softly and then looked at Kieran.

Borl thought Kieran should know about this, since the Flaming Devil did notice something he did not.

Were the riders of Sicar attracted by the robbers they killed earlier?

Stop joking.

If it really was because of that, the riders wouldn't be so polite.

Kieran picked up his teacup calmly while being stared at.

Something must have happened, but as for what, Kieran would never tell Borl or anyone else.

Things that involve a God should remain as thoughts and thoughts alone. Any kind of comments towards the divine should be buried in one's heart. It would be the safest option, wouldn't it?

Going up against a God head on?

Not at the moment, it wasn't necessary just yet.

Kieran needed more information, not a sudden fight with a God.

More so, his greatest, highest value, fearless, undying and adaptive companion had gone out to try and make 'contact'. Kieran believed Bloody Mary would soon return with news.

Kieran didn't say anything and Borl dared not ask anything.

"We will continue our journey then. Giddy up!"

Borl tapped the window behind him and told his bodyguard.

"Alright Mr. Borl! We will reach Sicar before sundown! I'll have to go write a letter to that Old Mona at War God Temple and also send him some money from this trip. It should be enough for him to buy a new set of fur-coats and stock up some meat," said Aschenkano.

The wagon then continued forward and it was faster than before.

Father Mona, Aschenkano's foster parent, a working priest at the War God Temple at the edge of Mozaar, the only clergy recognized by the War God Temple of Edatine Castle and also a very kind old man.

Kieran heard about the father from Borl earlier.

According to what Borl said, he gained a lot of help from the father, not just the powerful bodyguard but also some guidance during the early stages.

Of course, the help also included those identifications.

In the Northern Land, nothing was better than the identification from War God Temple, even Edatine royalty was lower than a single temple, let alone the lords of the various lands.

The identifications from respective lords could only be used in their respective lands. Once out of their lands, one has to be careful not to stumble into a rival, or even hostile, land.

It would only attract problems.

Borl had expected this since the beginning, using Mona's identity as priest to get identifications from War God Temple and just to be on the safe side, even preparing extras.

Kieran accepted his own identification from Borl.

The identification had no portrait, only a rough sketch, below the sketch was the name and a simple description: Colin, a young man with dark hair, dark eyes.

The sketch was actually a last minute work from Borl. It was considered good, not exactly lively, but it matched Kieran's characteristics.

"Sir Colin, it's best for you to hold on to it at all times. The identification checking here can be rougher than you thought—'although the gaze from God wasn't around at the moment, we should continue to watch the evil of the mortal realm on behalf of God.' It was a commandment carried out by both War God Temple and Lady Calamity's believers. Even the lords of various lands believed it as well. After all, no one would like something weird to happen to their lands."

Borl reminded Kieran before he looked towards the heater and added more coal inside.

Winter in the north was extremely cold, especially on the outskirts of Mozaar, Sicar and Edatine Castle. If choices were available, most nobles would go to Levia to spend their winter, including royalty.

However, not this year because Edatine VI had just released a royal decree.

Kieran leaned back in his seat and adjusted his posture to a comfortable one before listening to what Borl had to say.

He finally understood the reason why Borl and Lawless could be friends, it must be the single trait that the two of them shared: being talkative.

Lawless was the obvious kind, he could talk for hours without stopping.

Borl was the subtle kind, was quiet in the big city but going out of control once he entered a dungeon world, like now.

The wagon kept on moving as Borl spurted his stories non-stop in the warm carriage.

"After the Black Cataclysm wreaked havoc across the region, many weird things happened throughout Northern Land. When I first came here, I heard non-stop babbling in my ears, regardless of day or night and I was sure it wasn't an overreaction or some ghosts. I didn't know what it was and I couldn't sleep for three days. In the end, I went to War God Temple and asked for Father Mona, and with his help, I broke free from the whispers. Sir Colin, do you know what it might be? Besides that, when I followed the merchant convoy in crossing the borderline of Mozaar for the first time, I heard the babbles again at night during camp, even more obvious than before. Fortunately, I had the blessing rune from Father Mona. I held it tight that night and lasted until sunrise. The babbles finally went away, but other than myself, everyone in the convoy went missing! They left their goods behind and vanished without a sign. And, and…" Borl continued.

Father Mona and the blessing rune were repeatedly mentioned throughout Borl's stories.

The priest even played a crucial role in saving Borl everytime, piquing Kieran's curiosity.

"Can I have a look at that rune?" Kieran asked.

"Of course," Borl did not reject the request, taking out the rune.

It was a cobblestone as big as a palm, many lines carved on it, making it hard to tell what the lines formed. It was messy yet maintained a certain pattern and it wasn't that hideous to look at.

However, after Kieran laid eyes on it, he somehow felt... repulsed.

He felt repulsive and disgusted towards the rune but did not feel any danger, neither was there malicious intent. It was like looking at a big pile of poop in front of him with flies swirling on top, the repulsive and disgusting feeling rising from the bottom of his heart.

Kieran frowned and leaned back further.

"Sir Colin, do you want to hold it?" Borl pushed the rune closer to Kieran.

"Nope, please keep it, I've felt how extraordinary it is," Kieran rejected it quickly.

"Of course it is, Father Mona said as long as I don't do something ridiculous when I encounter strange things, it will ensure my safety."

After getting assurance from Kieran, Borl treated the rune in his hand with extra care, caressing it carefully and then putting it within his arms like a baby.

Kieran saw how Borl reacted, pulling his teacup back a little and trying to stay away from him.

He didn't want Borl touching his teacup or him anymore, but… Borl had already touched them.

Unknowingly, Kieran felt repulsive, holding the thought of purifying it with Devil Flame and forcing his thoughts to spread out.

Borl saw Kieran in deep thought, wisely shutting up and adding more coal to the heater, making the carriage warmer.

The warmth in the carriage during winter energized Kieran's thought very much.

First, he had locked down on one point: this world had changed after the Black Cataclysm.

Since this world had Gods, the changes of the world would mean the changes with the Gods, without a doubt.

The authority of the Old Gods were challenged, the New Gods growing stronger day by day.

Amid the conflict, some unknown and strange fella jumped into the mix.

It might be a Demon God, it might be a demon or even a devil, it might possibly be a… human!

Those strange fellas started to create chaos in hopes to maximize their gains and regardless of who they really were, they had their eyes on their own turf. They weren't just highly nervous, they even tested out each other and because of the intense relationship, when Kieran sent out some 'sirens', some related parties quickly responded.

Kieran was no longer a newbie, so he concluded what he had on his hand and then squinted his eyes.

"What are those wicked misty things?" Kieran muttered to himself.

Since commoners couldn't see it, it should be a part of the supernatural, yet this world had Gods roaming in the sky, so anything supernatural or transcendent would easily relate itself with the divine.

"That gaze back there, is it from War God Temple?" Kieran was unsure with his speculations.

He couldn't find connections between the wicked mist and the War God Temple, despite the God of War being evil and slaughtering for sport.

It didn't just lack the test of blood and fire of the battlefield, it didn't even have the presence of war. All the wicked mist had was indescribable strangeness and it seemed very fitting to that Lady Calamity.

"Is it her, then?" Kieran speculated and then thought of the fully armed riders from earlier.

If it was really Lady Calamity's handy work, the fight in this world would be much fiercer than he had imagined.

With any movements from the one side, the other side would immediately react by sending troops out.

"It's already that intense?"

Kieran crossed his arms, putting his elbows on the table and covering his nose and mouth.

He was wondering whether or not Broker had a hand in all this.

Therefore, he sent a new order to Bloody Mary, who had just phased into the ground: actively participate in conflict.

...

"Actively participate? I'm just a demon, not a God! My generous, great, grand, powerful boss, can you let me live my normal way!?"

Hiding in the ground to escape the gaze, Bloody Mary prayed and begged Kieran.

Kieran, however, replied very decisively, "No. Demon is not a human, you can't live a life."

His straightforward words almost made Bloody Mary cry on the spot.

It knew it wasn't human, but it had rights at least?

24 hours per day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year without break. Fine.

Aside from that, no salary, no bonus. Fine.

But could it at least get some respect?

What a bully! What a tyrant!

'If I don't do something to oppose this, I am not a demon!'

"Hurry up and work," Kieran's calm voice sounded in its head again.

"Okay boss, ready to serve with all my best!"

Bloody Mary bowed respectfully before it went to work

As for the grumble in its mind?

What grumbles? Those were just pranks!

But of course, not all were pranks.

At least it was really working hard to carry out its boss' order.

Bloody Mary sensed that patrolling gaze was going away, so it decided to show itself. Its face was pale at the moment, as if it had just suffered from a repulsion, its body bulging left and right, like it was hiding something inside and the something could burst out any moment.

Anyone who saw how ugly Bloody Mary was would believe something extreme was going on inside its body.

Despite its state, Bloody Mary ran at full speed.

The moment it sprung out of the ground, it ran towards the direction where the wagon rode away.

In the same direction, that fully armed rider squad was riding closer.