When they arrived at the inn they saw Damian who staggers as he walks and it was also the same for him.

Just as he was about to call them Ezekiel jumped from the top of wagon before landing perfectly in front of him.

“Yo!”

Damian nodded before pointing towards the mass of carcass, “What's up with that?”

“They suddenly appeared and I thought how they taste like so I hunted one of them that's when the Captain finished the rest.”

“And what are you going to do about them?” Damian asked as he lowered his hand.

Ezekiel tilted his head and answered the only thing in his mind, “Cook it, of course.”

“Hmm.”

Damian's right hand started caressing his chin as he thought of something.

“Why don't you follow me? Let's have someone butcher it and sell the other parts other than meat for money.”

“Alright but what about captain's opinion? He hunted four out of five.” Ezekiel asked as he looked back.

Damian look pass him to where a wagon carrying both Alexis and Lance.

“Be back before sunset.”

When he heard him said that, Damian straighten his posture and gave a smile that close to a grin.

“Then come and follow me Ezekiel!”

“Roger!”

The two of them then moved towards somewhere with the remains of their hunts of the day in their tails.

Only when they’re gone from their sights did Lance turned around and took something out inside the wagon.

“Go inside and use this.”

Alexis took the long strip of cloth Lance handed to him, he nodded in appreciation before jumping off the the coachman's seat.

He then watched Lance turned towards the stable are and only when he was alone that he turned towards the inn and went back to his own room by following the number carved on the key.

When he found the matching numbers upstairs he immediately inserted the key and opened the door leading to his room.

Alexis who was excited about his room before could not roused those feelings back when he saw the bed inside his temporary abode due to the fatigue catching up to him.

He closed the door after he passed through it before jumping to the soft-looking white mattress of the bed.

And like just what he thought the bed was much softer than what he was familiar with that his eyes threatened to fall by itself.

“…No…I…must dressed first!”

Even though just a little more and he would accept the soft embrace of sleep he fought it with all his might, Alexis won a battle that he did not like as he sat up on the edge of the bed.

He first took off the burnt robed then he used the cloth Lance given to him to cover his body.

The cracks that emitted light and heat was once again returned back to normal making it harder for one to notice that there was cracks in it from afar.

Alexis right hand stopped from working as he put down the cloth he's holding then his right finger traced the unnoticeable cracks that blended well in his black burnt skin.

“They spread much more now…if this continue will I break like an egg? If so then would I die or give birth to something?”

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Alexis could not imagined the latter, but the former already gave him the imaginary goosebumps when he thought about it.

No matter how he pondered about that there is no one that would answer and all it did was just make him more tired that he couldn’t help but lay down back on his tempting bed.

In the end he fell asleep without even finishing the rest of his work.

…

Knock! Knock!

A series of knocking awakened Alexis from his slumber.

He groggily pushed himself up away from the seductive bed, but just as he stood up he noticed the cloth dangling on his left hand was unfinished.

Even if his body was already coated in black and there was little to none that could cause him shame he was already accustomed with the bandage all over him.

He was reluctant to go out with just the now tattered robe, but he also couldn't do the rest as it would take time and it was not good thing to make someone's wait, so he took his robe and hold it much closer to his body like a towel as he head closer towards where the knockings came from.

Opening the door he saw Kyrille there standing outside his room with her perfectly shaped eyebrows that are currently both furrowed.

“You sure took your time, letting me stand here without even saying anything.”

Alexis wanted to scratch his head but he scratched that idea and instead earnestly apologized to her.

“I’m sorry.”

He then glanced at her curiously as he asked, “But why are you here?”

“They send me here to remind you that its dinner already. So hurry up.”

Kyrille threw her hair to the back using her hand as she turned away from him.

“Just wait a moment!”

Alexis closed the door before his right hand started his incomplete job but due to hurry the cloth was clumsily tied around his body.

He then went downstairs and found the group on a separate room, on top of the long table were different foods made from the meat of the birds they had hunted, this dishes ranges from soup to barbequed but all of them had the same appetizing looks.

“What took you so long? Hurry up and sit down!” Kyrille said as she patted the chair next to her.

Alexis gave her a bow before he took a seat there, he then filled his plate with food, and started eating like everybody else.

The room then was filled with slurping and chewing sound as they went with their feast.

Ezekiel bit at the bird leg he was holding, it was the size of a child, the juices and fat mix together making the meat tender and he couldn't help but show a decadent smile after taking a bite.

“My judgement was right! thanks to it I could eat something as delicious as this!”

“From what I heard these birds were called Boulder Vultures.” Damian said after putting a cup of beer down the table.

Old Man who was enjoying his soup put down his spoon as he asked with a tone of wonder filled his voice, “Boulder Vulture those monsters are carrion eaters, why would a creature like that attacked a city?”

“You know a lot Old Man!” Damian praise before he pointed at himself smiling sheepishly, “Its most likely because of me.”

“Because of you?” Alexis who was just listening asked in puzzlement.

Damian scratched his head while he chuckled, “That's right because of me, the knights stationed at this city had no choice but to leave.”

“Hmm..” Old Man brushed his beard using his free hand as fell into his thoughts.

“Due to that matter monsters living in the mountain did not get culled and as season of cold comes more beasts would attack the city to find food.” Damian added.

“So that's why the empire lost contact with the frontier.” Old Man voiced those thoughts out.

Lance who just put down his utensils seconded with him, ”Most likely.”

“Right, from what I heard the only road, the valley, was where these guys' nest—” Damian nodded his head as he forked out a piece of meat.

“—Due to that mercenaries have been appearing in the city quite sometime, oh, right, do we still need money?”

Lance put down his goblet and looked at him, “Yes, we need to stock up a lot of food, buy a warm clothes, and change our horse for the coming winter.”

Damian nodded and said, “Then let's become mercenaries.”

“Huh?” Elf Irushka who was just listening couldn't help but utter in the sudden jumped of his thought.

“There will be a big hunt in three days, the lord that governs this city issued a quest to hunt beasts that are running rampant in the mountain up north.”

“What are the rewards?” Lance asked only to given a shrug by Damian.

“I didn't saw the quest I was about to go there when this happened.” he pointed at the dishes on the table. “Why don't you asked him tomorrow?”

“I'll do.”

Lance nodded before picking his utensils again and he started cutting up the meat on his plate, the way he ate was similar with Kyrille it was very elegant.

The sound of chewing and slurping of soup then came back making the place solemn as all of them focused in enjoying their meal, it was only broken when Heretic who have yet to touch any food lower his hands and lifted his heads up.

“Thank you for the blessings my Lord.”

After he said that he started eating like everyone.

“Burp~ excuse...that was delicious!”

Ezekiel complimented before he put down the gigantic bone that was the only thing left.

“Father, I should be the one you're thanking for, and captain too! Not your god.” he said with a goofy smile.

Heretic said after chewing down his food. “I already thanked the two of you when I was praying, I even wished for your well being after that to the Lord.”

“I've been wondering about it priest, why do they call you 'heretic' when you are this pious?” Damian looked at him with pure interest and intrigue.

When he asked that, all of the others except for Heretic stopped their hands and they looked at him with the same light showing from Damian's in their eyes.

Heretic didn't answer immediately instead he slowly chewed his food then drank his water taking all of his time before he opened his mouth.

“It was because I proclaimed that God is dead.”