After I took Divine Intervention, I went back up to meet the Hero's Party.

"Hey..! Is this the new member? I've already told you we don't need another member!"

He says angrily. It's "Den Mako", the Hero, his party stood in front of me. Ken tried his best to convince them to take me in as part of their group, but Den kept declining him.

"You'll see it when she shows you her abilities..!"

"I don't care how strong they are. It will only be a hindrance if there's one more in the party!-"

One of them interrupts. It's "Liand Err", a mage from the kingdom of Pmonly, East from the kingdom of Djoflour.

"Well... We could have another mage around here too. We don't really have one do we?"

He says. From the looks of it, it is true that there are no significant mages in the group, I wonder how they even managed to survive this long.

"You're just too weak. Liand. She's one of the best in her kingdom. You just can't compare, really."

Holding the role of the swordsman, is "Rayan Cross", a human from the kingdom of elves.

"Sigh... Fine fine. We'll take her. She's at least a better option than these guys."

"How rude of you, Den. We're all strong, you're just the Hero."

"Thank you for the compliment, Lare. Now what was it..? Ah, right. Vixen! Vixen Corr! You're welcomed to the party!"

Says Den, sounds like he has an unlikable personality, but how easy it was to change his mind, seems like they've accepted me into the party already.

"Don't worry about him. He may act like that but actually, he's a good guy."

Says "Lare Niklen" of the support role, he came from the kingdom of "Lanfer", a small kingdom from the other side of the ocean.

"Alright. Can we leave now?"

Says the one with the deep voice, it's "Crowler", a strong warrior from the same kingdom I was born in, he's the second strongest in the team next to the hero.

"Alright then everyone! Let us slay the demons!"

"Yeah!"

"Let's go!"

It was a peaceful day, the sun shined brightly on us, to the demons however, it was the opposite.

10 days later:

"Man..! How long until we get there?"

"Just keep walking..! The heat will get us before the demons do..!"

We were in the desert, the heat of the sun was deadly, my magic energy output was significantly reduced as well. We haven't even reached the battlefields yet. The demons were discovered to have taken an entire city, casualties were major, we couldn't afford to waste more time so we took a shortcut, which is through the desert.

"Is that a scorpion?! Or a crab??"

"Wait..! That's a village!! Let's get a rest..!"

There was a village down the road, should be safe, according to the map.

We arrived at the village and entered peacefully, the villagers were friendly and gave us food and shelter. As we rested for a while, the Village Chief appeared.

"Man. The food is here great."

"Do they actually eat cactus?"

THUD

The door suddenly opened.

"Huh?"

The Village Chief stood in front of the doorway, he held a stick in order to remain standing, he must be very old.

"Good morning everyone... I'm the leader of the Village... You can call me Lanter Amn... I have a request, you see..."

He says. Crowler stands up and walks up to him, he stood over 8 feet tall, how short Lanter was compared to him.

"What do you want?"

"You see... The waters around here have dried up... We might have nothing to drink anymore..."

"How's that our problem? We're only staying here for a few hours."

"Aren't you guys the hero? Why not help a village out? You're supposed to be the good guys, right?"

"We're the fighters for humanity. Not helpers of the poor."

Hah... I guess I had the wrong impression of this team... Suddenly, Den joins in the conversation as well.

"Stop, Crowler. Alright. We'll help."

Crowler then sits down.

"Thank you thank you..! You see... There are no more water sources nearby... We sent one of our people but they never came back... Could you-"

"No problem. We don't need to dig up water or wait for rain. We can just use magic for this."

"Magic? I see... Very well. Pour water into the well..!"

"Alright, lead the way..."

Den and Lanter walks out, leaving the rest of the party inside the house.

"By the way... Vixen... I haven't heard you speak before... Is there something wrong?"

Oh, she's right. I haven't spoken since I've gotten Divine Intervention.

"..."

"What is it, Vixen? Can you tell us?"

"..."

What's this?! I can't speak?! What's going on?! I try to speak but it's impossible, like I never even learned the ability to speak in the first place.

I remember hearing about something like this before... Ah, I remember now! It was that one guy in the forest a few years ago, the appraiser.

"Great Wizard... The path of light isn't too far... Your supernatural abilities aren't natural. Care to learn more about it? Only for 20 coins this time. Kukuku..!"

Stolen novel; please report.

Why did he have the same laugh as Rabbit?! Do scammers always talk like that? I hesitantly gave him 20 coins, which he took immediately.

"Thank you..! Now. Truth be told, your powers will become a curse soon..! For... For if you get take too much..! You commit a major sin... The sin of Gluttony... The Goddess of Order does not like those who surpass their given limits... So to balance things... You will lose a part of yourself..! A part of yourself..! A part of yourself..!"

He tried to make his voice echo, are scammers also comedians?

Anyways, that must be how I lost my voice, did I gain too much strength from Divine Intervention? I pick up a pen and start writing on paper.

"I've been cursed, I can't speak anymore."

"Really? Uuu... When did that happen? Should we try and break the curse..?"

I shake my head.

"Why? Isn't that bad? I'm pretty sure we can break it easily..."

What? How does she know that? She's asking too much questions.

"Rayan. Don't annoy her. She probably had this curse for a long time now, perhaps she already knows how to break it."

"Really? Aww... Too bad... They say that the voice is one of the things that makes a human... Without it, what are you?"

"Aren't you being rude? I feel that Lare and Liand are at least more respectful than you."

"Ho..??! You dare to insult me, Crowler? I'm not rude in any way, this is just how I speak..!"

"Very well. Let us battle-"

"WAIT YOU GUYS!!"

Lare yells. We were all sitting around a carpet just a few minutes ago, until Crowler angered Rayan somehow.

"We're in an unfamiliar village for god's sake! We can't just go around fighting each other either, we're supposed to fight demons, not humans!"

"Heh. We'll stand in peace for now then."

What an unorganized team, is Den the only one holding them together? Liand suddenly gets up from his nap, looking around in confusion.

"... Gah..! What time is it..? Shouldn't we go now..?"

"What a terrible time to wake up..! But no. Den is helping some villager out there. He'll be back soon, and then we'll head to the city."

"Alright then... I'll go back to sleep..."

He did go back to sleep. Seems like things have calmed down now. I take out Divine Intervention and start cleaning it, since it has been left underground for a really long time, it would be the best choice to clean it right now.

"Hm? What's that? Your main weapon? To rely on such things... Hah..! I assume you must be pretty weak without them huh."

Rayan says. She's kind of talkative huh, or is Crowler just quiet?

"I know. I use weapons too, but not ranged weapons..! I'm not that cowardly to just hide at the back and shoot the enemy without them knowing it!"

"Isn't magic the same though... Are you calling us magic users cowards too..? We have to be in a range, you know?"

"Hmm... I guess that counts as ranged too... But don't worry, you're too weak to even damage anything!"

"Sigh... I'm a support..."

Suddenly, the door opens, Den has came back with Lanter.

"Oh, he's back."

"Let's go everyone..! I've given them enough water to at least survive this heat. They've given us a map too! How awesome is that?"

"Thank you thank you... Thank that as my thanks..! And for your payment for staying here... Goodbye..."

Later, we left the village and continued our way to the city. We had our energy back so we weren't as tired as before now.

The "Dessert Rover". An individual, another friend of Rabbit, one who lives in the desert, and in the hot uninhabitable lands. It is said that Dessert Rover will give those worthy enough a special gift.

"I'll have a lot of fish once we get there..! Man... I forgot how fish tastes like..!"

"Speaking of fish... Doesn't it smell fishy around here?"

Den stops on his tracks and raises up his sword in a fighting stance.

"Everyone! This place is rigged to blow!"

"What?!"

How great vision. This place reeked of gunpowder, looks like Den has noticed it already.

"Oooooo... Whoo... Interrupts... My ssslummberr...!?!"

It must be Dessert Rover. Everyone looks around to see an obelisk nearby. We slowly head towards it, careful not to step on any traps.

"Huh?! Who are you?!"

Den yells. For the man in front of us, he wore many expensive jewelries and treasures, he had a rabbit ear headpiece similar to Rabbit's. He sat cross-legged on a rug next to the obelisk.

"Ooooooo.... Fooliishhh mannkind... I shall bestowwww vengeannncceee for my kiinddd...."

Are all scammers comedians? Genuinely, why do they speak like this?!

"Don't worry. I'll take care of him."

Crowler says, taking out the huge sword from his back.

"Wait waiittt.... I am not a doerr of evil deedss... But I am a followeerrr of the great deiitttiess...."

"Hm? What deities!?"

He pauses, putting down his weapon.

"Thee Forgotten one...."

"What are you talking about? Stop speaking nonsense or I'll strike you down."

"The blood God... I'm a priesstt off thee blooddd goddd..."

"Blood God?!"

Blood God?! Doesn't this mean that Dessert Rover is another worshipper of the Blood God? The Blood God's cult is the same cult that Fin is fighting, should I strike this man down? Or should I trust Rabbit..?"

"Ohh... Vixenn... You've arrrivvedd huhh..."

Oh no! He just told all my allies that we know each other! What should I do?!

"Huh..? You and Vixen know each other..?"

I quickly write down on a paper.

"This man is a friend of a friend. We have never met each other before."

"Really then? Who's that friend you're talking about?"

"Probably his co-worker."

"Is that right? Mysterious man?"

Den looks back at Dessert Rover.

"Yesss... Correeccttt... She is The Rabbit of Earthh's frienndd..... She was expected to arrivvve here...."

"Who's The Rabbit of Earth? Vixen, how were you expected to arrive here?!"

I mean... I really don't know... She's just that smart, I guess.

"Well... Whatever it is... He doesn't look like a bad guy..."

"Hm. You're right. Hey! What are you doing around here?"

"I do nottt repeattt my wordsss...."

"Ummm... I think he said something about being a priest..?

"What's a priest doing out here?!"

"I'mmm here tooo spread the worddd of thee bloodd goddd before it is too latte...."

"Before it's too late? What do you mean by that?"

"Repent now... Orr you will sufferrr..."

"Sigh... Alright. So? What's the deal with all this gunpowder in the air?"

"The bloodhounds willl bite me too deathh.... But thee obelisk protects me in case I blow thiss place uppp...."

"Bloodhounds? Haven't heard of them but wouldn't they be your friends? From the name, blood... You know..."

"The bloodhounds are dogs who have fallen under the curse of the blood God.... I must calm down the blood godd by sending a message...."

"What a bad priest..."

"Not only do I worshippp... But I alsoo selll desert fruitts... The people know me as the desert trader.... There are those who stop by to relieve their hungerrr...."

"Oh. How lucky we are then! Everyone, want one? I'll pay!"

Fufu..! He's definitely going to be scammed! Too bad I can't speak..! It will be funny though..!

"For 10 gold coins.... I sell thee delicious roasted cactus.... For 20 gold coins I sell thee apple juiccee... And then for 50 gold coins... The coconuttt..!! Yes, it's a coconut from the lands far awaayyy.... I'm one of the only source of fooddd hereee... So it's alright if I raise the value uppp..."

"How expensive! But, I'm rich already, so... I'll take 10 coconuts."

"Very well thennn...."

Dessert Rover then takes out 10 coconuts before handing them to us. Wow, I knew Den was rich but not this rich, must be the kingdom's money though.

"Whoa..!! Thank you Den! You're the best!"

"Not bad, Hero."

"Hah..! It's been so long since I've tasted something like this..."

We continued eating as we walked towards the city. Also... What did he mean by the curse of the Blood God? Should I be worried..?

After another 5 days of walking, we arrived at the mountains, just 2 more days left until we get to the city, however, the mountains are one of the most dangerous places to be in, filled with monsters and deadly plants, not a lot of people make it out alive.

"Is that true..?! Man... I'd rather go with the long way than go here then..."

"Don't worry, Liand. Crowler exists for that reason."

"Don't say that. I may be a natural warrior but that's not my entire personality."

"Sorry sorry haha..! Well. Let's go now, shall we?"

By the time we entered the mountains, the moon rose to the skies, it casted moonlight down to the forest, brightening it up, which saves us from using light, and getting caught by the dangers of the mountains.

This place had the stench of death, everyone knew that we were going to be attacked by something soon.

RUSTLE

"Who's there?!"

"Vixen! Take out your weapon!"

I aim my Deagle at the bush where the sound came from. Looks like we're being followed. I casted [Spatial Investigation] and found a... Something..? The magic energy field around them was distorted, it was impossible to see the one using it, similar to [Divine Light], but instead of an attack, it's an aura.

"It's a strong one..! Be careful! Crowler, get above the trees! Liand, cast fire! Lare, give us ammo. Rayan, Vixen, stay with me!"

"Got it!"

"Fireball!"

BOOM

A fire erupts from the weak [Fireball] that Liand casted, even without power, intelligence will be crucial, is that why Den took these weak mages into the team?

Suddenly, a beast appears from the flames, their menacing look made Liand and Lare freeze in fear.

"Wh-who the hell is that?!"

"Don't panic! That's the last thing we should do right now!"

"Vixen! Open fire!"

I pull the trigger and shoot the monster, but the bullet only deflects on their magic barrier, this is probably why no one uses guns anymore...

And then, the mysterious figure spoke in a gravelly voice, his metal helmet made him sound more inhuman.

"I am the savior. The one who will bring light into this world of darkness. There shan't be none sinners who stand before me... Though, may I ask? What foolishness are you performing, humans?"

He wore full metal armor under a cloak, blades were on his gauntlet, and on his feet, his tail wagged slowly behind him, it is easy to tell at first sight that he is not man.

Is he an enemy though? I have a feeling that he's not here to attack us, but he does have Bloodlust.