The moment Ulu saw the man, his mind buzzed, but he forced himself to stay calm, putting on a look of 'delight.' "Kelser, what are you doing here?"

"Hah, the disaster's worse than we thought, so Bishop Corry sent me down to inspect and check on things," Kelser walked up to Ulu, complaining as he spoke. "This is only the second stop, and after here, I've got a few more town churches to visit—making sure the relief grain actually reaches the people."

"I see."

"Yeah... hehe, what's with that face? Worried about something? Come on, you think I don't know you and Priest Lugi?" Kelser gave Ulu a knowing look. "The most devout followers of our Lord, Bishop Corry's most trusted agents. If you two have problems, what hope is there for the Rhyo Church?"

Ulu managed a strained smile in response.

He was worried, but not about the relief grain—Kelser was in on it with them, after all. The grain that came into their hands had already been skimmed by him.

No, the real issue was that Kelser was too familiar—much closer to Lugi than he ever was to Ulu.

If Kelser found out that Ulu had killed Lugi, it would mean the end for him.

"So you're sending a letter to Bishop Corry?" Kelser's gaze landed on the letter in Ulu's hand. He reached for it casually. "You could've just given it to me directly. I'll make sure it gets to him faster than the post... though the bishop's eyesight isn't what it used to be, and reading letters can be a hassle. Why don't you just tell me what's in it, and I'll pass it along to him? Maybe I should just read the letter myself—carrying it around is a bother."

He began to tear open the letter.

"It's not mine," Ulu said quickly, trying to hide his unease. "It's from Priest Lugi. I'm just helping to send it."

He wasn't even sure why he felt guilty.

Hearing it was from Lugi, Kelser stopped tearing at the envelope. "Lugi's letter, huh? Hmm... guess I shouldn't open it then."

He pocketed it instead.

Ulu asked calmly, "You mentioned you were busy. How long will you be staying here?"

He hoped Kelser wouldn't stay even a full day—that he'd leave quickly.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

But Kelser's answer dashed those hopes. "Two days at least. And I can't leave without seeing Lugi. He's at the church, right?"

"Probably."

Kelser raised an eyebrow. "Probably? What's that supposed to mean? Where else would he be?"

"Heh, you know what times we're living in," Ulu gave a knowing look. "This famine has left so many families without food—some are too weak even to come to the church for aid. Priest Lugi couldn't bear to see it, so he went to deliver food to those in need personally."

It sounded innocent enough, but Kelser understood the underlying meaning, and his expression turned a bit strange. "Seriously? He's still doing that at his age?"

Ulu shrugged. "Who knows?"

"... Heh." Kelser patted Ulu's shoulder. "Alright then, go check if he's back. If he is, tell him I'll be by later."

Ulu kept his expression neutral. "He might be back quite late."

"Then I'll wait till then." Kelser had already turned away. He waved a dismissive hand without looking back. "I don't have anywhere else to stay tonight anyway. I'll crash at your place."

Ulu smiled faintly. "I'll have the tea ready for you."

Kelser waved again, and the knights in the post office followed him out.

Ulu stood there, watching them leave.

Just watching, watching.

When they were completely out of sight, Ulu's entire body seemed to release like a compressed spring, and he bolted back to the church.

He was drenched in cold sweat, repeating under his breath, "This is bad, this is bad, this is bad."

Hiroshi's voice echoed in his mind, calm as ever, "Why are you so nervous?"

Ulu blinked.

Kelser's sudden appearance had rattled him so much he'd forgotten he still had a deity residing within him. Now, clutching at a lifeline, he shouted in his mind, "Lord Visah'Su! That man—he knows Lugi! If he finds out Lugi is dead—that I killed him—he'll... he'll kill me!"

"Quiet down. Your panic is irritating," Hiroshi replied, annoyed.

Ulu immediately silenced his mental outburst.

Then Hiroshi asked, "Are you truly that afraid of him?"

"He's different from Lugi. Lugi was just a priest, only knew a handful of spells. But Kelser... he's the captain of the knights. He's far stronger than Lugi. You must've sensed it—he's..."

"To me, there is no difference," Hiroshi interrupted coldly.

Ulu froze.

Of course. No matter how strong Kelser was, he couldn't possibly compare to Visah'Su. No—even comparing Kelser to Visah'Su was an insult.

The only being that could be compared to Lord Visah'Su was his master—the God of Rhyo.

With that thought, the weight on Ulu's heart lifted a little.

He glanced at his left hand, the memory of last night's snap of his fingers flashing in his mind—the moment Lugi's spell was undone.

If it came down to it...

"Then kill him," Hiroshi said coolly, finishing Ulu's thought for him.

"I... understand." Ulu took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with determination.

Hiroshi watched Ulu's change with satisfaction.

Hiroshi knew the real reason Kelser was here. It wasn't the disaster. He had come for something else—something forbidden.

Visah'Su's middle finger.

Hiroshi.

In the game, this was when the main storyline began.

In that storyline, Ulu was a nobody. He only got a bit of screen time because he happened to possess Visah'Su's finger, until he was killed off like a minor NPC.

But with Hiroshi here, Ulu's fate would change.

Hiroshi wouldn't let him die quietly.

He would make sure Ulu's death will be... deafening.